ISS Research’s line is focused on protein powders, meal replacements, gainers and other nutritional support products for the bodybuilding market. There are 3 additional varieties of their popular nutrition bars: Protein Wafer, “Good Grab” (portion-controlled), and Natural. The regular “Oh Yeah!” bars come in 5 different flavors: Chocolate & Caramel, Peanut & Caramel, Peanut Butter & Strawberry, Creamy Vanilla & Caramel and Vanilla Toffee Fudge.

Manufacturer’s Description: No pain, no gain should define your training – not your protein bar! So reward your workout with the gooey, sweet taste of OhYeah!®. Containing 26-28 grams of muscle-building protein, heart-healthy fats, low sugar and absolutely no trans fats in a bar that’s nothing short of amazing.

More than just another flavorless brick, OhYeah!® looks and eats like a real candy bar that’s so good you’ll know how it got its name. OhYeah!® – It’s that good!®

Serving Size: 85g (1 bar) Amount Per Serving Calories 380 Calories from Fat 180 Total Fat 19g Saturated Fat 7g Trans Fat 0g Polyunsaturated Fat 3.5g Monounsaturated Fat 7g Cholesterol 5mg

Sodium 130mg Total Carbohydrate 31g Dietary Fiber 4g Sugars 8g Sugar Alcohol 15g Protein 26g Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 0% Calcium 6% Iron 10%

Ingredients: Peanuts, Protein Blend [(OhYeah!® Blend Consisting of Whey Protein Isolate, Soy Protein Isolate, Milk Protein Isolate, Milk Protein Concentrate, Calcium Caseinate), Hydrolyzed Gelatin], Chocolate Coating [Chocolate Liquor, Maltitol, Cocoa Butter, Sodium Caseinate, Milk Fat, Soy Lecithin (an Emulsifier), Sucralose, Vanillin (an Artifical Flavor), Vanilla and Salt], Caramel (Sugar, Corn Syrup, Non Fat Dry Milk, Maltitol Syrup, Cocoa Butter, Corn Starch, Butter, Sucralose, Soy Lecithin, Natural and Artificial Flavor), Soy Nuts, Glycerine, Peanut Flour, Fractionated Palm Kernel Oil, Lecithin (an Emulsifier), Natural and Artificial Flavors, Salt, Sucralose and Potassium Sorbate Added as a Preservative

Comments: I picked up a couple of Oh Yeah “Chocolate & Caramel” and “Vanilla Toffee Fudge” bars from Netrition.com for $2.09 each – a fairly reasonable price, considering the size (3 oz each). The bars look like traditional candy bars: with chocolate (or vanilla) coatings, real peanuts and nougat-type fillings.

They more-or-less taste like traditional candy bars too. While I didn’t really catch much caramel in the “Chocolate & Caramel” flavor (shown above), it otherwise reminded me of a “Baby Ruth” bar. The Vanilla Toffee Fudge was also pretty good…not particularly toffee-like, perhaps, but still sufficiently fudgey with a good peanut crunch.

Although the bars pack 26 – 28 g of protein and contains only 12 g of “net carbs,” they’re not really low in calories or true meal replacements. If you can afford a candy snack in your meal plan, however, it’s certainly a value-added replacement, that’s also fairly low in sugar.

Some protein bars have come under fire for containing more fat and sugar, and less protein than listed on their labels. To ISS’ credit, certificates of analysis are posted on the web site to show the bars meet label claims (click here for example).

Taste: 5.0/5.0

Quality: 4.0/5.0

Efficacy: 5.0/5.0

Value: 4.0/5.0

Overall: 4.5/5.0

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Zico is the brainchild of founder Mark Rampolla, who was turned on to coconut water as a Peace Corps volunteer in Central America. In 2004, he left his corporate career to “pursue his dream of bringing the healthy, natural benefits of coconut water to consumers across the world.” Zico is being marketed as a “better sports drink” that can also “can become an important alternative agricultural product for the developing world.”

Manufacturer’s Description: For more than 4,000 years, coconut water has been revered as a natural source of nutrition, wellness, beauty and hydration. In times of famine and war, coconut water has been used as an intravenous fluid and saved many lives. It’s the only natural substance that can be safely injected into the human blood stream. Now modern science has validated its effectiveness, especially as a natural sports drink.

ZICO contains the five essential electrolytes your body needs to keep nerves firing, muscles moving and to help manage stress. One ZICO has more potassium than a banana – 15 times more than most sports drinks – to prevent cramping and promote recovery. Drink ZICO before or during a workout for the natural energy you need for optimal performance. After a workout, ZICO replenishes and re-hydrates you to speed recovery.

Serving Size: 11 Fl. Oz (330 ml) Calories 60 Calories from fat 0 Total Fat 0g Cholesterol 0mg Sodium 60mg Potassium 670mg	Total Carbohydrates 15g Dietary Fiber 0g Sugars 14g Protein 1g Calcium 40mg Phosphorus 17mg Magnesium 25mg
Ingredients: 100% natural coconut water, citric acid, natural mango flavor

Comments: Zico Pure Coconut Water is a bit unusual for a “Functional Food” as it has no added nutraceuticals – it IS a food, not unlike milk or orange juice. I’ve included it here in this section for two reasons, however: a) it’s targeted to the sports/nutrition market vs. general use; b) it’s an outstanding source of potassium: an element that is lacking in many Western diets.

It also helps that it’s relatively low in calories and tastes pretty good, too – without added sweeteners or many other additives.

I tried both the Zico Natural and Mango flavor. While I’m not a big fan of coconut in general, the Natural had a very mild taste, with a pleasant, slight sweetness to it. I liked it well enough, although I liked the Mango even better…the fruit flavor complemented the coconut and enhanced the natural sweetness a bit too. I downed the latter following a cardio session, and found it quite refreshing.

One 11 oz. container provides 670 mg of potassium, which puts it in a class by itself as a sports drink. Most sports drinks provide only small amounts of this electrolyte, since relatively little potassium is lost in sweat (potassium found primarily inside cells). Most people don’t come close to the recommended 4700 mg potassium per day, though, so even small losses can be critical. Zico could certainly help pick up some of the slack.

It’s not particularly cheap: the lowest price I found online was $21.94 (US) for a case of 12 ($1.83 each). This is perhaps to be expected, as Zico is a natural product manufactured in Brazil, but the cost means it’s not the sort of drink you’re going to be knocking back throughout the day.

Taste: 5.0/5.0

Quality: 5.0/5.0

Efficacy: 5.0/5.0

Value: 3.0/5.0

Overall: 4.5/5.0

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Lean Body Cookie Bars are manufactured by Labrada Nutrition, a company well-known to the bodybuilding world. The company was founded by Lee Labrada, who holds 22 professional bodybuilding titles, including the IFBB “Mr. Universe.” The “Lean Body” line of products includes a range of meal replacement shakes and 4 different varieties of bars: Lean Body Gold, Rockin’ Roll, Lean Body Granola Bars and – of course – the Cookie Bars. The Cookie Bars come in three flavors: Oatmeal Peanut Butter, Oatmeal Apple Cinnamon and S’mores. Men’s Journal Magazine named them the “Best Breakfast Bar” and “Best Overall” bar in the Dec. 2005 issue.

Manufacturer’s Description: The New Lean Body® Cookie bar will change your idea of what a protein bar can be! Enjoy the homemade goodness of a fresh-baked cookie while building muscle at the same time. Each bar contains 30 grams of protein, 0 trans-fats and low sugar – the perfect snack for training athletes and dieters alike. For a special treat, pop it in the microwave for 10 seconds for a fresh-from-the-oven treat anytime!

Serving Size: 1 bar (91g) Total Calories 360 Calories From Fat 120 Total Fat 13 g Saturated Fat 3 g Trans Fat 0 g Cholesterol 60 mg Sodium 310 mg

Total Carbohydrates 30 g Dietary Fiber 2 g Sugars 13 g Protein 30 g Vitamin A 1% Vitamin C 0% Calcium 5% Iron 3%

Ingredients: LeanPro® Protein Blend (Cross-Flow Micro Ultra Filtered Whey Protein Concentrate, Cross-Flow Micro Ultra Filtered Whey Protein Isolate, Soy Protein Isolate, Agglomerated Egg Protein), Sorbitol, Glycerin, Maltitol, Margarine, Chocolate Chips (Sugar, Chocolate Liquor, Cocoa Butter, Dextrose, Whey, Soy Lecithin), Sugar, Gelatin, Liquid Whole Egg, Graham Pieces (Wheat Flour, Sugar, Canola Oil, Honey Powder [Maltodextrin, Honey], Sodium Bicarbonate, Salt, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavor, Caramel Color and Annatto Color), Marshmallow Nuggets (Sugar, Maltodextrin, Glycerin, Fractionated Palm Kernel Oil, Rice Flour, Dextrose, Gum Arabic and Natural Flavors), Corn Syrup, Palm Oil, Natural Flavors & Artificial Flavors, Mono & Diglycerides, Baking Soda, Salt, Potassium Sorbate, Konjac Flour, Sucralose.

Comments: I picked up a couple single cookie bars from Netrition.com for $2.29 (US) each. This is a considerable savings from the the Labrada web site ($3.29 per bar, sold in a box of 12). Each bar is pretty good-sized: 3.2 oz each. This is approx. 50% larger than a “standard” 2 oz candy bar or large bakery cookie.

I tried the S’mores (above) and Oatmeal Apple Cinnamon flavors. Both were uncoated, dense, rectanglar bars of baked cookie dough…there are no layers, just bits of cookie/candy corresponding to each bar flavor (graham cracker, chocolate and marshmallow in the S’mores; and apple-flavored and cinnamon-flavored chips in the Oatmeal Apple Cinnamon) interspersed throughout.

Each bar was thick, dense and somewhat chewy. They were decent at room temperature, but even better after 10 – 15 seconds in the microwave (as recommended on the package). Warming the bars made them softer, moister and more flavorful…the Oatmeal Apple Cinnamon (which was more spicy than fruity) was especially good with a cup of black coffee, which offset the almost-too-sweetness perfectly.

The bars were also quite filling. They supply a solid whack of protein (30 g of blended whey and soy proteins), and are more moderate on the carbs and sugar than many traditional breakfast pastries. They are, unfortunately, rather light on the fiber, and provide relatively little in terms of vitamins and minerals, so fall somewhat short of a true meal replacement product. Thus, while I agree with the Men’s Journal assessment that they’re “…better than the standard fallback bagel or doughnut,” I’d still be inclined to put them into the “snack” or “treat” – rather than “breakfast bar” category, as the magazine did.

Taste: 4.5/5.0

Quality: 4.0/5.0

Efficacy: 4.0/5.0

Value: 3.5/5.0

Overall: 4.0/5.0

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“Chef” Jay Littmann is the creator of the Tri-O-Plex line of protein-fortified bars, cookies, puffs and brownies.  Chef Jay products are sold through a wide variety of online retail outlets and health clubs, as well as specialty nutrition stores (like GNC) that cater to bodybuilding and fitness. There are eight cookie flavors: Caramel Apple, Chocolate Chip, Cranberry White Chocolate Chip, Double Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Raisin, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter, and White Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut.

Manufacturer’s Description: Tastes home baked. 18-22 grams of protein, soft, moist and individually wrapped. For the entire family at home work or school.

Serving Size 43g (1.5 oz) Servings Per Container: 2 Calories 150 Calories from Fat 54 Total Fat 6g Saturated Fat 3g Trans Fat 0g Cholesterol 30mg Sodium 125mg	Total Carbohydrate 15g Dietary Fiber <1g Sugars 11g Protein 9g Vitamin A 4% Vitamin C 0% Calcium 2% Iron 10%
Ingredients: Chocolate Chips (Sugar, Unsweetened Chocolate, Cocoa Butter, Soybean, Lecithin, Vanilla), Sugar, Unsalted Butter, Protein Blend (Soy Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate), Liquid Whole Eggs, White Wheat Flour, Honey, Brown Sugar, Cocoa Powder (Cocoa Processed with Alkali), Water, Vanilla Extract, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Soy Lecithin, Baking Soda, Salt.

Comments: I tried both the Double Chocolate Chip (shown above) and the Oatmeal Raisin cookies. There are two cookies in each package…these are normally sold in boxes of 12 packages, but I was able to purchase single packs online from Netrition.com for $1.99 each.

The Double Chocolate Chip cookies tasted just like the chain-grocery store bakery kind: chocolatey and moist – cakey, with just a hint of chewiness. The Oatmeal Raisin cookies were both sweeter and firmer…they were tasty, but there was really nothing about them that suggested “oatmeal” to me…they were more like chewy sugar cookies with raisins.

Although “Chef Jay” describes his line of products as “healthy-style bakery goods,” – I’d be more inclined to describe them as “value-added” bakery goods. These are still made from sugar, butter and refined flour, after all, so – while they have less fat and calories than Mrs. Fields’ cookies – they aren’t strictly “healthy” either.

I have to admit, though – they were rather satisfying. Although I wouldn’t recommend these as a meal replacement (due to the lack of fiber and micronutrients), I could think of worse things to eat to satisfy a craving for chocolate or sweets.

Taste: 4.0/5.0

Quality: 5.0/5.0

Efficacy: 3.5/5.0

Value: 4.0/5.0

Overall: 4.0/5.0

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FucoProtein Bars are produced by Garden Of Life, as a part of CEO Jordan Rubin’s “Perfect Weight America” program.  Other weight management products included in the program are FucoTHIN (a weight loss supplement) and ”Perfect Meal” meal replacement powders. The bars come in two varieties: Chocolate Macadamia Nut Crunch and Peanut Butter Crunch.

Manufacturer’s Description: Perfect Weight AMERICA™ fücoPROTEIN™ Bars are deliciously nutritious and high in protein and fiber. These dietary supplement bars contain fucoxanthin, which has been shown in human clinical testing to naturally boost metabolism, burn fat and assist in weight management.

The only dietary supplement bars in the market made with concentrated fucoxanthin from brown seaweed, a non-stimulant thermogenic that supports fat burning.

• 14g of protein from organic whey, native whey and brown rice
• 5g of fiber from organic acacia, organic chia seed and organic chia meal
• Made with 70% organic ingredients and certified organic by QAI
• All natural, No isolates, Non-GMO
• Gluten Free

Serving Size 1 bar (55g) Amount Per Serving Calories 210 Fat Calories 50 Total Fat 6g Saturated Fat 1.5g Trans Fat 0g Cholesterol 20 mg

Sodium 180mg Total Carbohydrate 29g Fiber 5g Sugars 17g Protein 14g Calcium 8% Iron 6% fucoxanthin 7.5 mg

Ingredients: Ingredients: Organic pure wildflower honey, PWA Protein Blend (organic whey protein, native whey protein, organic rice protein), vegetable glycerin, Garden of Life Rainforest Cacao (cacao, macadamia nuts), organic dark chocolate chunks (organic cane sugar, organic cocoa, organic cocoa butter, soy lecithin, organic vanilla), Organic PWA Fiber Blend (organic acacia, organic chia seed, organic chia meal), organic cocoa, natural cocoa extract, organic cashew butter, organic vanilla, sea salt, brown seaweed concentrate (fucoxanthin), Garden of Life Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil.

Comments: I tried both the Chocolate Macadamia Nut Crunch (shown above) and Peanut Butter Crunch flavors. These bars are typically sold in boxes of 12, but I was able to purchase single units from Christine’s Cleanse Corner (www.beyondprobiotics.net) for $2.99 US each.

Both plain, uncoated bars were quite firm, somewhat dry and extremely chewy. The Peanut Butter flavor wasn’t particularly peanutty. Rather, it was mildly sweet and grainy, with a vague, almost fruit-like aftertaste. The same subtle “fruity” flavor came through in the Chocolate Macadamia bar as well, although it harmonized with the cocoa reasonably well. The “Crunch” in each title was a misnomer: there was no discernable crunch to either bar.

These bars may be “good for you,” but they weren’t particularly good: in this case, sincerity won out over palatability. They’re made from whole food ingredients and natural sweeteners, and are reasonably filling, but they were a real chore to chew through – like eating organic, whole grain taffy.

Each bar contains 7.5 mg of fucoxanthin. This is likely well below the amount in a capsule of FucoTHIN – which contains 200 mg combined seaweed extract and pomegranate seed oil. Ultimately, the value of the bar is as a filling meal replacement or snack: each one provides 14g of protein and 5g of dietary fiber.

Taste: 2.0/5.0

Quality: 5.0/5.0

Efficacy: 3.5/5.0

Value: 3.5/5.0

Overall: 3.5/5.0

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JavaFit Diet Plus is one of the fortified coffees created by the Javalution Coffee Company, which was founded in 2002. The company specializes in fresh, “enhanced gourmet coffees” that are marketed to consumers as well as to commercial distributors/vendors. In addition to the “Diet Plus” product, Javalution’s consumer line also includes “Energy Extreme,” “Focus Plus Multivitamin,” and “Immune Plus Multivitamin” brewed coffees. A line of fortified, ready-to-drink lattes is pending.

Manufacturer’s Description: JavaFit® Diet Plus is a high-energy, fat-burning gourmet coffee that helps you stay fit. There is nothing “diet” about the taste of this full bodied gourmet coffee. Brew it like any other gourmet coffee and enjoy its robust aromas, body and flavor. With JavaFit Diet Plus, you can increase metabolic rate, burn more fat, suppress your appetite and exercise longer. Each JavaFit product is formulated using Latin American gourmet beans, creating a delicious full-bodied flavor.

Serving Size 1 tbsp Amount Per Serving Coffee Arabica Beans (Ground) 4.5g Proprietary Blend 670mg	Garcinia Cambogia (50% HCA) Citrus Aurantium Extract (10%) Caffeine USP Chromium Polynicotinate 75mcg
Other Ingredients: Coffee Arabica Beans, Proprietary Blend (Garcinia Cambogia, Citrus Aurantium Extract, Caffeine USP, Chromium Polynicotinate).

Comments: I picked up a 12 oz package of Diet Plus ground coffee from bodybuilding.com for $14.99. The recommendation “for best results” is to drink it 30 – 60 minutes before exercising, so that’s exactly what I did. I always drink my coffee first thing in the morning, so after knocking back a cup, the hubby and I headed to the gym to do some fasted cardio.

I thought the coffee had a pretty good flavor and aroma for a ground coffee. In addition, it provided the “jolt” I normally expect from my morning “cuppa joe” and provided good energy over the 40 min. I spent on the elliptical. I can’t say that I felt any particular “burn” or extra thermogenic effects (such as extra sweating), but – on the other hand – I didn’t feel hungry or hypoglycemic, either. This is a plus, as fasted cardio is something that I normally don’t care to do for precisely those reasons.

Paul has reviews on the nutraceuticals added to JavaFit: chromium polynicotinate, Garcinia cambogia extract and Citrus aurantium extract. Overall, none of the three really provides impressive results. At best, this combination of ingredients (in conjunction with the caffeine) can provide a modest metabolic boost and some appetite suppression. Fortunately, Javalution does not make any extravagant fat loss claims for their product, and present it only as “…a great tasting gourmet coffee that helps us along the path of achieving our fitness goals.” ‘Nuff said.

While JavaFit seems to “work” well enough within the limits noted above, I have mixed feelings about it. It’s a nice idea and a decent product, but it doesn’t quite fit in with the way I drink coffee! I typically drink coffee only once a day…but it’s quite a brew. I like it a) ground fresh from whole beans; b) strong; and c) served in my favorite, 14 oz mug – black and filled to the brim. Like I said, JavaFit is good “…for a ground coffee” – but it’s not quite as good as what I’m used to. In addition, the added nutraceuticals forced me to choose between drinking less coffee, or consuming a larger amount of the ingredients (which include ADDED caffeine) than recommended. So if your coffee drinking habits are anything like mine, this is something to take into consideration before trying a product like this.

Taste: 3.5/5.0

Quality: 4.0/5.0

Efficacy: 4.0/5.0

Value: 3.0/5.0

Overall: 3.5/5.0

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The Chocolite brand of low-carb/calorie chocolate products is produced by Health Smart Foods. The company slogan is: “We don’t make the diets, we make them work!” The products are designed to be compatible with the requirements of several popular diet programs, such as Weight Watchers, F-Factor, Atkins and South Beach. The product line includes protein shake mixes, protein bars and sugar-free/nutrient-fortified chocolates, in addition to low-carb dessert, baking and shake mixes.

The milkshake mix comes in 4 flavors: vanilla, chocolate, cookies and cream and peanut butter.

Manufacturer’s Description: A delicious way to enjoy the sweetness of milk shakes without calories or carbs. Just 1 Tablespoon of milkshake mix and skim milk provides an incredibly delicious milk shake. A healthy treat for adults and kids.

Serving Size 1 Tablespoon (15g) Calories 35 Calories from Fat 4 Total Fat 0.5g Saturated Fat 0g Trans Fat 0g Cholesterol 0mg	Sodium 5mg Total Carbohydrate 8g Dietary Fiber 8g Sugars 0g Sugar Alcohols 0g Protein 5g Net Carbs 0g
Ingredients: Polydextrose, Milk Protein Concentrate, Guar Gum, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Xanthan Gum, Carageenan, Sucralose.

Comments: I purchased a 12 serving container of the chocolate milkshake mix from Netrition.com – a better deal overall than purchasing direct from Health Smart…both in price ($6.99 vs. $9.99) and shipping costs ($4.95 – for my entire order – vs. $7.95).

I blended a rounded (not heaping) tablespoon of the powder into a 16 oz glass, filled with 8 oz non-fat milk and 4 oz of water – as per instructions. The resulting drink was less like a “shake” and more like chocolate milk…the soluble fiber in the mix added some body and mouthfeel to the liquid, but not much. It was sweet, but not quite as chocolatey as I would have liked. It was decent, though, and more importantly, it kept my appetite at bay for a good 2 h while I was writing…more than I expected from a little 140 calorie drink.

I gave it another shot, later in the day, only this time putting the milk and Chocolite powder into the blender with a teaspoon of cocoa powder, then adding ice cubes instead of water. The result was much more like a real chocolate milk shake…maybe not the equivalent of Baskin Robbins, perhaps, but quite good enough for a chocolate “fix.”

Although the product literature doesn’t mention it, the primary fiber used in Chocolite, polydextrose, is a prebiotic. Prebiotics support the growth of beneficial bacteria in the intestine, so this is a product plus.

Taste: 4.0/5.0

Quality: 4.0/5.0

Efficacy: 4.0/5.0

Value: 3.5/5.0

Overall: 4.0/5.0

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The Fuze brand of drinks are part of the “New Age” beverage market. The product line includes 4 different drink categories: “Refresh,” “Tea,” “Vitalize,” and “Slenderize.” The Slenderize drinks come in six different, low-cal/carb flavors: strawberry melon, tangerine grapefruit, tropical punch, cranberry raspberry, blueberry raspberry and dragonfruit lime. Each water-based drink contains 5% juice, along with chromium polynicotinate, Vitamin C, L-carnitine and Super Citrimax.

Manufacturer’s Description: Whether you’re watching your weight or sugar intake…Fuze Slenderize has a crisp, satisfying healthy infuzion for you. The unique flavor combinations have just the right amount of sweetness so you won’t believe you’re drinking diet and your body will thank you for the added energy.

Each bottle of Fuze Slenderize has Low Carbs and Low Calories with no Aspartame helping you to shed pounds.

All the taste without the waist.

Serving Size 8 fl. oz (240 ml) Servings per Container 2 Calories 10 Calories from Fat 0 Total Fat 0g Saturated Fat 0g Trans Fat 0g Sodium 5mg	Total Carbohydrate 2g Sugars 1g Protein 0g Vitamin C 100% Chromium 15% Additional Nutrients L-Carnitine 20mg Super Citrimax 200mg
Ingredients (Blueberry Raspberry): Filtered Water, Apple Juice Concentrate, Malic Acid, Natural Blueberry Raspberry Pomegranate Flavor with Other Natural Flavors, Garcinia Cambogia Rind Extract, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Acesulfame Potassium, L-Carnitine, Sucralose, Vegetable Juice Extract (color), Chromium Polynicotinate

Comments: I bought two bottles of FUZE Slenderize from my local Albertson’s for $1.59 (US) each. Each 18.5 oz bottle holds approx. 2 servings, but like most bottled beverages, there didn’t seem to be much point to dividing them up, especially since they’re so low in cals/carbs overall.

The Tangerine Grapefruit was a little disappointing: I like both flavors, but neither really came through…it was mildly sweet (good), but the citrus flavor was weak and underwhelming. The Blueberry Raspberry was better – about the same sweetness level, but with a more pronounced berry flavor.

Each bottle is fortified with a substantial amount of Vitamin C, as well as three nutraceutical compounds frequently found in fat loss supplements: chromium, L-carnitine, and Super Citrimax (a proprietary Garcinia cambogia extract that’s a source of HCA). These are overrated and/or underdosed…so are pretty meaningless if you’re looking for a fat loss boost.

Overall, Fuze Slenderize is a pleasant-tasting, low carb/sugar drink that’s a good source of Vitamin C and chromium – there’s not much more to it than that, but then again, for me, that would be quite good enough…in general, if I wanted to take either Super Citrimax or L-carnitine, there are more reliable and more cost-effective ways to manage that.

Taste: 3.5/5.0

Quality: 4.0/5.0

Efficacy: 3.5/5.0

Value: 3.5/5.0

Overall: 3.5/5.0

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CocoaVia is a line of heart-healthy chocolate snacks produced by Mars, Inc. – a company best known for its other candy products: M & Ms, Snickers, Three Musketeers and Twix, to name but a few. To make CocoaVia, Mars uses a patented proprietary process, “Cocoapro®,” to preserve naturally-occurring cocoa flavanols, then adds soy sterols, vitamins and calcium to produce value-added treats that help “reduce bad cholesterol” and “promote healthy circulation.”

Manufacturer’s Description: CocoaVia® Brand Heart Healthy Original Chocolate Bars contain natural plant extracts that have been proven to reduce bad cholesterol (LDL). CocoaVia® is made using the Cocoapro® process. This guarantees the retention of high levels of naturally occurring cocoa flavanols which help promote healthy circulation. These cocoa flavanols are similar to those flavanols found in red wine and green tea. Each 22-gram bar of CocoaVia® Original Chocolate contains 100 mg flavanols and 1.1 grams of natural plant extracts. CocoaVia® Original Chocolate Bars are an excellent source of calcium and a good source of folic acid, vitamins B6, B12 and antioxidant vitamins C and E and are a nutritionally responsible 100 calories per serving.

Serving Size: 1 Bar 22g Calories 100 Calories from Fat 60 Total Fat 6 g Saturated Fat 3.5 g Trans Fat 0 g Cholesterol 0 mg Sodium 0 mg Total Carbohydrate 12 g Dietary Fiber 2 g	Sugars 9 g Protein: 1g Vitamin A < 2% Vitamin C 15% Calcium 25% Iron 4% Vitamin E 20% Vitamin B6 15% Folic Acid 15% Vitamin B12 15%
Ingredients: SEMISWEET CHOCOLATE (CHOCOLATE, SUGAR, SOY LECITHIN, NATURAL FLAVOR), SOY STEROL ESTERS, VITAMINS AND MINERALS (CALCIUM CARBONATE, ASCORBIC ACID, VITAMIN E ACETATE, CYANOCOBALAMIN, FOLIC ACID, PYRIDOXINE HCL).

Comments: Unlike many functional foods, CocoaVia has some specific scientific backing – not just for individual ingredients, but for the finished consumer products. Study subjects consuming 2 CocoaVia bars/day in conjunction with an American Heart Association-style diet, experienced modest reductions in total and LDL cholesterol, as well as blood pressure. The results weren’t earth-shattering, but every little bit helps.

They’re rather tasty too…although very dark, high cocoa chocolate may be an acquired taste for some, it has a rich, intense flavor that’s far more interesting than milk chocolate. CocoaVia is only moderately sweet, and has a smooth texture and slightly smoky, deep cocoa flavor that’s rather intriguing. It may not be quite in the “gourmet” category, but pretty good, nonetheless.

Each bar contains only 6 g of fat and 9 g of sugar, so as “guilty pleasures” go, at 100 calories per bar, this one isn’t too bad. Unfortunately, the study subjects consumed two per day: an amount that’s probably a luxury many dieters can’t afford to indulge in on a regular basis. Let’s not kid ourselves here: if you’re on restricted cals, there are better things to eat for “health” reasons. CocoaVia bars may be “value added” candy, but they’re still candy.

Likewise, the price may also keep them in the “luxury” category…a box of 5 small bars (approximately 3 – 5 bites, depending on how you eat your chocolate) cost $5.49 at my local Albertson’s. They’re a bit cheaper online ($4.99), but not by much. Even if you’re not restricting calories, eating the recommended two bars per day would add approx. $15.00 US to your weekly grocery bill.

There are, of course, less expensive/more nutritious ways to consume plant sterols if you’re trying to reduce your cholesterol (such as fortified non-fat milk), but CocoaVia is a pleasant way to go about it, at least now and again – especially as the bars are also a decent source of flavanols, similar to red wine and green tea. If you’re gonna eat sweets on occasion, they might as well have something to offer besides fat and sugar.

Taste: 5.0/5.0

Quality: 5.0/5.0

Efficacy: 3.5/5.0

Value: 3.0/5.0

Overall: 4.0/5.0

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Stevita Breeze is part of a line of stevia-based products produced by the Stevita Company. In addition to various “straight” stevia extracts, the company produces flavored versions, in both liquid and dry/powder form. “Breeze” comes in both 2.8 oz jars, as well as on-the-go stick packets, which are pre-measured for a 16 oz bottle or glass of water.

Manufacturer’s Description: We use only natural flavors and natural colors to be added to our at least 95% pure Stevita extract. Available in boxes with 15 individual stick packets ( on-the-go packets) pre-measured for a 16 oz. glass or bottle of water. Also available in 2.8 oz jars. They come in Lime, Cherry, Grape, Orange and Strawberry flavors. With no calories, no carbs and zero glycemic, they are delicious healthy alternatives . JUST ADD TO WATER, OR ANY OTHER PRODUCT AND ENJOY!!!!

Serving Size 1 packet, 1.8g (.006oz)

Amount Per Serving
Calories 0
Total Carbohydrates 0 g
Sugar 0 g
Vitamin C 72mg
Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni extract (leaves) 270mg

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Other ingredients: Erythritol (made from fruits, grains and vegetables), Citric Acid, Fumaric Acid, Tartaric Acid, Natural Flavors, Natural Colors

Comments: I received a sample stick pack of the Strawberry flavored Breeze Singles at an industry trade show. As per instructions, I added it to a 16 oz glass of water. It took a little extra effort to get it completely dissolved: several small clumps of powder formed on the surface that had to be broken up. But eventually, most of it went in (there were some crystals that stubbornly refused to dissolve).

The resulting beverage was clear, with a pale pink tint, and an appropriately sweet-tart flavor. It tasted much like your typical strawberry-flavored food product…the flavor was reminiscent of strawberry Jello (not my favorite flavor, but not bad either). Stevia normally has a sort of anise-like aftertaste, but this was not particularly noticeable, perhaps due to the purity of the extract (Stevita stevia extract consists of 95% steviosides).

Basically, Breeze is a “Crystal Light” clone – with the exception that it’s naturally-sweetened with stevia. People wanting to avoid artificial sweeteners would like this product. The online price isn’t bad, either: a 15-serving stick pack sells for as low as $6.49 US.

Taste: 4.0/5.0

Quality: 4.5/5.0

Efficacy: 5.0/5.0

Value: 3.5/5.0

Overall: 4.5/5.0

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