“Viso” is a line of energy drinks made by the Viso Beverage Company in Portland, Oregon. Each 20 oz bottle contains 100% of the RDA of vitamins, as well as varying amounts of several important minerals. There are 6 types in all, divided between “organically sweet” (sweetened with organic cane juice) and sugar-free (sweetened with sucralose). There are two “regular” flavors in each type, as well as one caffeinated “energy” version.

Manufacturer’s Description: VISO beverages come in a variety of flavors and functionalities. All our beverages contain only natural flavors, vitamins, minerals and electrolytes. We don’t use any colorants or preservatives. We sweeten our Organically Sweet flavors with Certified Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, and our Sugar Free flavors are sweetened with Splenda (sucralose). Our caffeinated flavors use the best, all natural caffeine available.

Serving Size 1 bottle (591 ml) Calories 0 Total Fat 0g Sodium 0mg Total Carbohydrates 0g Sugars 0g Vitamin A 5000 IU Vitamin D 400 IU	Vitamin E 30 IU Vitamin B1 1.5 mg Vitamin B2 1.7 mg Vitamin B3 20 mg Vitamin B6 2.0 mg Vitamin B12 6.0 mcg Vitamin C 60 mg Biotin 0.30 mg	Folic Acid 40 mcg Pantothenic Acid 10 mg Manganese 2.0 mg Zinc 15 mg Calcium 250 mg Magnesium 40 mg Potassium 175 mg Caffeine 300 mg
Other Ingredients: Filtered Water, Natural Cranberry and Grapefruit Essences, Citric Acid, Natural Caffeine, Calcium, Potassium, Vitamin C, Magnesium, Vitamin E, Vitamin B3, Zinc, Sucralose (Splenda), Pantothenic Acid, Manganese, Vitamin B6, Vitamin A, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B1, Vitamin D, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12.

Comments: Since I live in the Pacific Northwest, VISO was readily available at my local Fred Meyer. It comes packaged in large, 20 oz cobalt-blue bottles…the blue tint is designed to protect the nutrients from photooxidation – which is a nice touch. I picked up a bottle of “Razza”, which is a raspberry-strawberry-flavored drink, and “Will” which is a cranberry-grapefruit energy drink.

I liked the fact that the drinks weren’t cloyingly sweet. “Razza” had a mild berry flavor with just slight “vitamin-y” aftertaste. “Will” on the other hand, tasted downright odd: tangy, with a vague bitterness characteristic of grapefruit…yet there was nothing else about it that really suggested either “cranberry” or “grapefruit” to me. It wasn’t bad, but it just didn’t “work” for me. The 300 mg of caffeine in the bottle did, however. 300 milligrams is a pretty stiff dose (the equivalent of 1 1/2 Vivarin), so I made sure it accompanied a workout, where that much caffeine would do some good. Caffeine-sensitive people would do well to pay attention to the fine print, as there’s nothing on the front of the bottle to indicate it packs this much of a whallop.

Personally, I like the idea of drinks like VISO: the sugar-free versions are much better than drinks like Vitamin Water, which is mostly sugar-water with a few added nutrients, vs. a more complete array. VISO seems to be a well-made product too. If they ever get the flavoring nailed, VISO could truly be a winner.

Taste: 2.5/5.0

Quality: 4.5/5.0

Efficacy: 4.5/5.0

Value: 3.0/5.0

Overall: 3.5/5.0

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Nutiva is the creation of author and activist John Roulac, whose book “Backyard Composting” helped jumpstart the home composting movement in the 1990’s; and whose fight against the US DEA, helped mainstream hemp foods in the United States.  Nutiva markets a range of hemp products: bars, oil, seeds, protein powder and shakes; as well as extra virgin coconut oil.  The Hemp Shakes come in three flavors: Amazon Acai, Berry Pomegranate and Chocolate.

Manufacturer’s Description: The powdered shakes contain nourishing superfoods, such as hemp, blueberries, pomegranates, açai and goji berries, maca root, and ramon nuts, that are rich not only in protein but in minerals, antioxidants, and healthful fatty acids. Hemp protein contains 66 percent edestin—easier to digest than soy—and, unlike most soy protein, isn’t processed with hexane solvents.

Serving Size 4 level tablespoons (30g) Calories 100 Calories from Fat 30 Total Fat 3g Saturated Fat 0g Trans Fat 0g Polyunsaturated Fat 2g Monounsaturated Fat 1g Cholesterol 0mg Sodium 5mg Total Carbohydrate 15g Dietary Fiber 8g	Soluble Fiber 2g Insoluble Fiber 6g Sugars 3g Protein 9g Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 0% Calcium 2% Iron 25% Thiamin 20% Phosphorus 15% Magnesium 30% Zinc 15%
Ingredients: Organic hemp protein, superfood Amazon blend (organic mesquite pods, organic Sambazon® açai, organic maca, organic Brazil nut protein, organic tropical fruit flavor), organic guar gum, inulin from chicory root.

Comments: Ok, I’ll admit it…Nutiva is one of those companies that makes you feel noble just buying their products. Hemp foods are nutritious. They’re green. They’re organic. They promote sustainable agriculture, and provide an profitable alternative for smaller growers. Hemp producers were the underdog in the fight against the DEA (and inclusion of marijuana in the “War on Drugs” never made sense to me, anyway).

But I also have to admit that hemp foods are an acquired taste. Shelled hemp seed is actually pretty good: the seeds are soft, mild-flavored and almost buttery-tasting. But hemp protein powder is relentlessly green and gritty…anyone used to dairy protein powders like whey will be in for a shock. It’s better, however, in the form of shakes such as Nutiva’s.

I picked up a container of the “Amazon Acai” Hemp Shake from iherb.com for $15.00 – this is the equivalent to 14 servings. There is no sugar (or artificial sweeteners) added to the product, which is probably why the label recommends using vanilla rice milk as an “ideal” liquid to blend it in. Needless to state, rice milk isn’t something I keep around the house, so I picked up a quart at the grocery store, to give the shake mix its best shot.

It’s wasn’t pretty to look at: the resulting shake was greyish, with dark flecks. But it was mild-tasting, with a slightly sweet, vaguely fruity taste. As I expected from my experience with hemp protein, it’s gritty, but nonetheless drinkable. Not great, but not bad, either. It tended to be watery at first (thanks to the rice milk, which is quite thin), but got thicker after standing for a few minutes.

Nutiva Hemp Shakes are an excellent source of dietary fiber, and is certainly a more nutritious way to get it than using expensive fiber supplements or “cleansing” products. Hemp is fairly high quality for a plant protein, so is suitable for omnivores as well as vegetarians, too.

Taste: 2.5/5.0

Quality: 5.0/5.0

Efficacy: 4.0/5.0

Value: 3.0/5.0

Overall: 3.5/5.0

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Kombucha Wonder Drink is a lightly carbonated ”infusion” of water, organic kombucha concentrate, green tea and fruit juice – sold in energy-drink style cans.  The company was founded by Steve Lee, who became entranced with kombucha during a visit to Russia.  Kombucha, also known as the “Manchurian Mushroom,” is a symbiotic culture of yeasts and bacteria, that’s used to ferment tea. The fermented tea is then consumed fresh, as a tonic and “good-for-what-ails-you” folk medicine.

The canned drinks come in three flavors: Original, Peach Mango and Cherry Cassis.

Manufacturer’s Description: Wonder Drink’ s new 12-oz cans come in three stunning flavors: Original, Cherry Cassis and Peach Mango. All are made with organic green tea.

• The Original: Discover the sparkling botanical profile of our Original. Spearmint, juniper berries and lemon myrtle give a refreshing edge to kombucha. Ginger ale, tonic water and herbal teas have found their kombucha counterpart!
• The Cherry Cassis: With all-natural cherry and black currant juices, the Cherry Cassis is the tart sparkling Wonder that quenches your thirst. Its lush ruby red color makes it the jewel of any party.
• The Peach Mango: Enjoy the bubbly taste of wellness brought by the Peach Mango! This is a sunny drink that is appreciated by people of all ages.

Serving Size 1 Can (12 fl. oz) Calories 80 Calories from Fat 0 Total Fat 0g	Sodium 0mg Total Carbohydrate 18g Sugars 17g Protein 0g
Contents: Water, Organic Kombucha Concentrate, Organic Green Tea, Organic Cane Juice, Black Current Juice Concentrate, Cherry Juice Concentrate, Carbonation

Comments: I picked up a couple of cans of the Peach Mango and Cherry Cassis (above) in the health food section of my local Fred Meyer. A co-worker of my husband once quizzed us on Kombucha, so I was naturally curious – it was really a sort of impulse buy.

Neither drink was particularly sweet: they were both tart and mildly fizzy. Chilled, the Mango-Peach tasted like a peach-flavored version of the hard cider we used to buy locally when we lived in Oregon. The Cherry Cassis was similar – except with a sour cherry flavor. The taste took a little getting used to…the first taste of each one came as a bit of a surprise, but it grew on me after the first few sips.

Even now, I’m not quite sure that I liked either one, but they’re not bad either…they were rather refreshing, actually.

It’s a little tough to credit the Kombucha mystique when it’s served up filtered, pasteurized and “cut” with other ingredients. The Kombucha used in Russian folk medicine is pretty raw stuff: you ferment the gelatinous culture in tea, pluck it off (and transfer to a new batch), strain out the chunks, and chug it down. Basically, you’re getting a brew of organic acids, live microorganisms, along w/fragments (hyphae, etc.). This would certainly account for the immune stimulating properties associated with the stuff, as well as provide some vites and polyphenols from the tea. Assuming you don’t poison yourself by doing it incorrectly, it could be reasonably healthful.

Are there any benefits to consuming clean, sterile, processed Kombucha? The company claims the benefits of Kombucha are due to the acids formed during the fermentation process – which are retained through the concentration/sterilization process. I suspect there’s more to it than that, however – but the company makes no specific health claims beyond describing “The Kombucha Effect,” (which may, or may not, be associated with the commercial product) so we can leave it at that.

Taste: 3.0/5.0

Quality: 4.5/5.0

Efficacy: 3.0/5.0

Value: 3.0/5.0

Overall: 3.5/5.0

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LÄRABAR is the creation of Colorado-based Humm Foods, Inc.*, a company dedicated to “…creating and marketing innovative natural food products that nourish, energize and enliven the body, mind and soul.”  The bars are made exclusively from unsweetened dried fruits, nuts and spices.  As company president Lara Merriken puts it: “Besides the incredible flavors, I believe consumers will appreciate that we don’t use sweeteners, fillers, chemicals or supplements. LaraBar is unprocessed, uncooked, non-gmo, gluten free, dairy free, soy free, vegan and kosher. It’s the simplest, purest food you can find in a nutrition bar.”

Manufacturer’s Description: LÄRABAR is a delicious blend of unsweetened fruits, nuts and spices – energy in its purest form. Made from 100% whole food, each flavor contains no more than six ingredients. Pure and simple, just as nature intended.

…For LÄRABAR, we source the best possible ingredients. Every time. Every bar. Enjoy.

Serving Size 1 bar (51g) Calories 220 Fat Calories 120 Total Fat 13g Saturated Fat 2.5g Trans Fat 0g Monounsaturated Fat 5g Polyunsaturated Fat 5g Cholesterol 0mg Sodium 0mg	Potassium 350mg Total Carbohydrate 25g Fiber 5g Sugars 18g Protein 5g Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 0% Calcium 6% Iron 8% Vitamin E 10%	Thiamin 4% Riboflavin 8% Niacin 4% Folate 4% Vitamin B6 6% Phosphorus 15% Magnesium 20% Zinc 6% Copper 20%
Ingredients: Ingredients: Dates, Almonds, Walnuts, Unsweetened Coconut, Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

Comments: I picked up a one of the Chocolate Coconut (shown above) and the Cashew Cookie bars at my local Fred Meyer store for $1.99 (US) each. They’re also sold online for $20.00 – $27.00 per box of 16.

The bars are slightly smaller than a standard candy bar, and are as simple as the ingredients suggest: uncoated, and composed of entirely of ground dates and nuts. Both bars were moist and fruity-tasting, with a bit of texture provided by more coarsely chopped (vs. ground) nuts. I wasn’t completely smitten by the Chocolate Coconut bar – it was ok, but the cocoa didn’t quite “go” with the dates. The Cashew Cookie bar, however, was excellent.

The bars are high in fiber and minerals (especially potassium), so are certainly superior to candy bars or other processed snack foods. I think the company goes a little too far, however, in suggesting that the bars are “loaded with nature’s own vitamins and minerals,” as the vitamin content is actually quite modest. Likewise, statements like “The essential enzymes, which are necessary for the digestion and utilization of nutrients, remain completely intact in their most natural, powerful state” are lyrical, perhaps, but inaccurate. If there was extensive digestive enzyme activity in the bars, they would almost certainly have a very limited shelf life.

Nonetheless LÄRABARs are wholesome enough, and if you’re interested in energy bars that are based on whole foods and are free from additives/preservatives, then they’d be a great choice.

Taste: 4.0/5.0

Quality: 5.0/5.0

Efficacy: 4.0/5.0

Value: 3.5/5.0

Overall: 4.0/5.0

* Now owned by General Mills, Inc.

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Quaker Instant Oatmeal should be a pretty familar product to most people – even if they skip it (like I typically do) in favor of the plain, old fashioned variety. The “Weight Control” line has a similar look and feel to the company’s single-serving, flavored oatmeals, but have added soluble fiber and protein (from whey protein isolate), and contain less than 1 gram of sugar per serving.

Manufacturer’s Description: Quaker Weight Control Oatmeal is a delicious way to help you lose weight. Research shows that people who ate Quaker Weight Control Oatmeal as part of a reduced calorie diet with moderate exercise lost weight.

With 7 grams of protein, 6 grams of fiber and whole grain oats, Quaker Weight Control Oatmeal can help you feel satisfied.

Serving Size 1 Packet (45g) Calories 160 Calories from Fat 25 Total Fat 3g Saturated Fat 0.5g Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 1g Trans Fat 0g Cholesterol 0mg	Sodium 310mg Potassium 150mg Total Carbohydrate 29g Dietary Fiber 6g Soluble Fiber 4g Sugars 1g Protein 7g Vitamin A 20% Vitamin C 0%	Calcium 10% Iron 20% Thiamin 20% Riboflavin 20% Niacin 20% Vitamin B6 20% Folic Acid 20% Phosphorus 15% Magnesium 10%
Ingredients: WHOLE GRAIN ROLLED OATS, WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE, MALTODEXTRIN, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, SALT, OAT FLOUR, CALCIUM CARBONATE, GUAR GUM, CARAMEL COLOR, SOY LECITHEN, ACESULFAME POTASSIUM, SUCRALOSE, NIACINAMIDE, VITAMIN A PALMITATE, REDUCED IRON, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE, RIBOFLAVIN, THIAMIN MONONITRATE, FOLIC ACID

Comments: I purchased the 3 flavor “variety pack” – which contains the Maple Brown Sugar, Cinnamon and Banana Bread flavors. It was simple enough to fix: I blended one packet with 3/4 c. water, and nuked it on “high” for 1 1/2 minutes.

The first thing that hit me when I dug into the “Maple & Brown Sugar” flavor was the faux maple flavor – it virtually screamed “artificial.” I don’t blame Quaker specifically for this, however. The reality is that “maple” is just one of those flavors that’s been tough to duplicate successfully (”Log Cabin” and other pancake syrups don’t taste anything like genuine maple syrup, IMHO). Ditto the sweetening: which I felt was overdone. I ended up dousing mine with some milk, to turn down the volume.

The oatmeal (plus milk) was reasonably filling, though. The added fiber and protein almost certainly help with that. The 6 grams of fiber in one serving represents close to one-quarter of the minimum recommended amount per day, so it’s a fairly significant amount. As “diet” cereals go, I’d put it ahead of “Special K” and similar boxed, “ready-to-eat” fare.

A word about the touted research study, however: as can be seen from the details, this was one of those studies I described on the blog, where the “deck” was stacked in favor of the conclusion the researchers wished to draw. In this case, subjects on a 500 calorie deficit/exercise program were compared to controls who did only the exercise. Not surprisingly, the folks who cut their cals lost a modest amount of weight, while the controls didn’t. The fact that the test group also ate a serving of oatmeal each day is secondary to the fact that they reduced total calories in the process (and may have made other healthy dietary changes as well). Eating oatmeal certainly isn’t a bad idea on a diet (unless you’re severely limiting carbs), and consuming the Quaker product is one way to do that…but then again, simply adding a scoop of protein powder to some regular ol’ oatmeal will accomplish the exact same thing (and provide even more protein in the bargain).

Taste: 3.0/5.0

Quality: 3.0/5.0

Efficacy: 3.5/5.0

Value: 3.0/5.0

Overall: 3.0/5.0

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Tri-O-Plex High Protein Food Bars are also part of the “Chef Jay” line, as discussed in the Tri-O-Plex Cookie review. The bars are oatmeal-based, “natural,” uncoated cookie-type bars, that each deliver approx. 30 g of protein from soy, whey and milk protein isolates. There are 10 different bar flavors: Banana Walnut, Caramel Apple, Chocolate Coconut, Cinnamon Raisin, Cookie Dough Chocolate Chip, Crunch Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter Banana, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, Smores and Very Berry.

Manufacturer’s Description: The original whole grain oatmeal bar. Not coated so it won’t melt like other bars.

Serving size: 1 Bar (118g/4.2 oz) Calories: 430 Fat Calories: 140 Total Fat: 16g Sat. Fat: 4.5g Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 130mg Potassium 102mg Total Carbohydrate: 46g Fiber: 3g

Net Carb Count 16g Sugars: 16g Protein: 30g Calcium 60mg Iron 3mg Vitamin E 0.4 IU Folic Acid 15ug Vitamin B12 15ug Phosphorus 60mg Magnesium 72mg

Ingredients: CJ Protein Blend (Soy Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Concentrate, Milk Protein Isolate), Fruit Blend (Fruit Juice, Natural Grain Dextrin), Glucose Syrup, Water, Whole Grain Rolled Oats, Canola Oil, Honey, Salt, Caramel (Sugar, Corn Syrup, Evaporated Nonfat Milk, Butter, Vegetable Mono- and Diglycerides), Apples (Treated with Sulfur Dioxide), Vegetable Glycerine, Natural and Artificial Flavors. Contains 2% or less of the following: Plum Puree, Calcium Propionate, Lecithin, Monoglycerides, Salt, Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Cinnamon, Sucralose.

Comments: I purchased a couple of single bars – the Smores and the Caramel Apple (shown above) – from netrition.com for $1.99 a piece. For a protein bar, this is a very good price: these bars are BIG – over 4 oz apiece – and deliver a solid whack of protein. I’ve paid at least as much for bars half the size of these.

Now if they only tasted better…

They weren’t bad: flavor-wise, they were ok. But they were dense, somewhat dry, and not particularly interesting. Each bar was just a thick, uniform slab of baked, flavored dull. Edible, sure…yummy, no.

On the plus side, they were quite filling – so while the bars aren’t exactly low in calories, they were pretty satisfying. They’d probably make pretty good snacks for backpacking and hiking, as they’re a good source of protein, wouldn’t be easily smashed, and are a good, compact source of calories/energy.

Taste: 2.5/5.0

Quality: 4.0/5.0

Efficacy: 4.0/5.0

Value: 4.0/5.0

Overall: 3.5/5.0

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