EAS is the nutrition/sports supplement company associated with Muscle Media 2000 publisher/Body For Life author Bill Phillips, although the company is now a subsidiary of Abbott Laboratories.  The change in ownership helped EAS expand beyond the sports nutrition market, and onto the shelves of grocery and discount department stores.  The AdvantEDGE product line consists of ready-to-drink shakes and bars…the bars come in 6 different flavors: Chocolate Cream Pie, Cookies and Cream, Chocolate Chip Brownie, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Chocolate Peanut Butter Crisp and Double Chocolate Chip.

Manufacturer’s Description: If you are serious about health, training and diet, chances are pretty good that you have no problems finding enough carbohydrates to meet your daily requirements. What may be an issue is getting in enough high quality protein to get your muscles the nutrients they need to repair themselves and grow larger. AdvantEdge Carb Control Nutrition Bars deliver a high quality, diversified 26 grams of protein to help you meet your daily intake goals, with only 3 grams of carbohydrates per serving. Each bar also contains 26 essential vitamins and minerals to aid you in meeting your daily requirements and avoid any potential nutritional deficiencies.

AdvantEdge Carb Control Nutrition Bars were designed specifically to offer a minimal carbohydrate meal supplement for those who wish to avoid taking in excess carbohydrates

Serving Size 1 Bar (60 g) Calories 230 Calories from Fat 70 Total Fat 8g Saturated Fat 6g Trans Fat 0g Cholesterol <5mg Sodium 170mg Potassium 210mg Total Carbohydrate 27g Dietary Fiber 5g Sugars 2g Sugar Alcohol 19g	Protein 17g Vitamin A 30% Vitamin C 30% Calcium 30% Iron 35% Vitamin E 30% Vitamin K 30% Thiamin 30% Riboflavin 30% Niacin 30% Vitamin B6 30% Folate 20% Vitamin B12 30%	Biotin 30% Pantothenic Acid 30% Phosphorus 15% Iodine 30% Magnesium 10% Zinc 30% Selenium 30% Copper 30 % Manganese30% Chromium 30% Molybdenum 30%
Ingredients: Protein Blend (Whey Protein Isolate, Soy Protein Isolate, Casein, Hydrolyzed Whey Protein), Maltitol Syrup, Glycerine, Maltitol, Fractionated Palm And Palm Kernel Oil, Fructooligosaccharides, Milk Protein Concentrate, Water, Cocoa (Processed With Alkali), Cocoa, Unsweetened Chocolate. Contains Less Than 2 Percent Of The Following: Corn Maltodextrin, Nonfat Milk, Natural Flavor, Canola Oil, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Calcium Carbonate, Caramel Color, Soy Oil, Vitamin And Mineral Blend (Calcium Phosphate, Ferric Orthophosphate, Sodium Ascorbate, Ascorbic Acid, Magnesium Oxide, dl-Alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate, Niacinamide, Zinc Oxide, Copper Gluconate, Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Beta-Carotene, Vitamin A Palmitate, Folic Acid, Chromium Chloride, Biotin, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Molybdate, Sodium Selenite, Phytonadione, Cyanocobalamin), Mono- And Diglycerides, Soy Lecithin, Cocoa Extract, Cocoa Butter, Heavy Cream, Butter (Cream, Salt), Salt, Sodium Phosphate, Tocopherols, Carrageenan And Sucralose.

Comments: I picked up the Chocolate Peanut Butter, Cookies and Cream and Chocolate Chip Brownie bars (shown above) from my local Fred Meyer for $1.59 (US) each: a fairly decent price for a protein bar. Each bar was chewy – as most low carb/high sugar alcohol bars are – but not excessively so. The Chocolate Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chip Brownie bars had a chocolate coating; while the Cookies and Cream bar had a white (vanilla?) coating topped with cookie pieces. All three bars had a flavored nougat center and were sweet, without being too cloying.

Overall, they were pretty tasty – not the greatest I’ve had, but above average. The bars are quite low in sugar, provide a solid amount of prebiotic fiber and contain only 2 – 3 grams net carbs. The protein blend also looks pretty decent. At 60g, the bars aren’t huge (approx. the size of a standard candy bar), but one made a reasonably filling snack.

Taste: 3.5/5.0

Quality: 3.5/5.0

Efficacy: 4.0/5.0

Value: 3.5/5.0

Overall: 3.5/5.0

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The mix1 line of nutraceutical beverages was created by company founders Greg Stroh and Dr. James Rouse.  The original mix1 drinks were designed for people on the go, with a 2:1 carbohydrate-protein ratio, plus antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. The newer antioxidant-fiber drinks, on the other hand, provide less carbs and protein, but more fiber and phytonutrients…the label claims an ORAC value of 4500 per serving.  The fiber drinks come in two flavors: dark-berry and orange-carrot.

Manufacturer’s Description: 

What: 9 servings of fruits and veggies deliciously blended from a broad, quality spectrum of antioxidants & fiber + protein.

Why: so you can actually do the right thing for your body everyday.  It’s never been so easy.

When: enjoy mix1 daily with a meal or as a light snack.

Serving Size 11 fl ox (325 ml) Servings Per Container 1 Calories 115 Calories from Fat 13 Total Fat 1.5g Saturated Fat 0g Trans Fat 0g Sodium 40mg Potassium 95mg Total Carbohydrate 17g Dietary Fiber 8g

Sugars 9g Protein 9g mix1 Proprietary Antioxidant Blend 555mg Green Tea Polyphenols EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate) Vitamin C 100% Vitamin E 100% Lutein Esters Lycopene Zeaxanthin Crytpoxanthin

Ingredients: Purified Water, Whey Protein Isolate, Organic Cane Sugar, Juice Concentrate (Apple, Acai and Pomegranate), Extra Light Olive Oil, Pectin, Grape Juice Concentrate (color), Black Carrot Juice Concentrate (color), Natural Acai Flavor, Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Luo Han Guo (Momordica grasvenori) Extract.Vitamins & Minerals: Green Tea Extract (90% polyphenols), Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Vitamin E (d-alpha tocopheryl acetate)

Comments: I first encountered the mix1 drinks at the Natural Products Expo in Boston last Fall…I hung out at the company booth for a good 20 minutes, talking fitness/lifting with the company principals (including Greg Stroh) – they were an engaging and enthusiastic group of people, with high hopes for their product.

As blog readers know, I take ORAC claims with a grain of salt, and am not necessarily impressed by big numbers.  I do, however, think highly of green tea extract – so ORAC numbers aside, this alone would make mix1 a reasonably healthful beverage.  Beyond that, it certainly doesn’t hurt to also have a shot of high quality protein, a healthy amount of soluble fiber and an overall low calorie content.

Taste-wise, the drinks reminded me of thin yogurt smoothies.  They’re more tangy than sweet, although this is a plus with me (as I don’t like sweet drinks…someone with a pronounced sweet tooth might feel differently), with natural-tasting fruit flavors.  In my opinion, the drinks were a little weak to be a taste sensation, but they were quite drinkable…of the two, the orange-carrot was my preference.

Overall, I thought the drinks were likable enough, and just the right size for a lunch box or bag…so they’d be decent, portable, low cal snacks or beverages to consume with a light meal.

Taste: 3.0/5.0

Quality: 4.5/5.0

Efficacy: 4.0/5.0

Value: 3.0/5.0

Overall: 3.5/5.0

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“Right Size Hunger Smashing Smoothies” are the creations of the Right Size Health and Nutrition Corporation.  They market meal replacements (similar to Slim Fast, in principle), as well as a multivitamin and “AppAssure” – a “metabolism manager” (i.e., weight loss supplement).  The meal replacements come in both powder and ready-to-drink form, in “Chocolate Mousse Reduce” and “SkinniVanilli” flavors.

Manufacturer’s Description: Chocolate Mousse Reduce provides a delicious, rich chocolate flavor. Each bottle contains 2 ready to drink liquid servings. Like all RightSize flavors, Chocolate Mousse Reduce contains Appemine™ a new, cutting edge all-natural appetite manager. Appemine™ is derived from green tea, cinnamon twig, and galangal. Appemine™ is clinically proven to powerfully control appetite and CONTAINS NO EPHEDRINE! Each smoothie also contains 50% of over 20 essential vitamins and minerals including vitamins B6 and B12 which are known to be important in the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats. Unlike diet shakes that taste bad and leave you hungry, RightSize tastes great, knocks-out hunger cravings, helps metabolize calories and fat and has exceptional nutritional value.

Directions: Drink 1 – 2 servings of a RightSize Smoothie in place of a meal to reduce calorie intake, fight hunger and lose weight.

Serving Size 8 fl oz (240ml) Servings Per Container: About 2 Calories 150 Calories from Fat 25 Total Fat 3g Saturated Fat 1.5g Trans Fat 0g Polyunsaturated Fat 0g Monounsaturated Fat 1g Cholesterol 25mg Sodium 380mg Potassium 500mg Total Carbohydrate 21g	Dietary Fiber 4g Sugars 16g Protein 8g Vitamin A 50% Vitamin C 50% Calcium 30% Iron 4% Vitamin D 50% Vitamin E 50% Thiamine 50% Riboflavin 50% Niacin 50% Vitamin B6 50%	Folate 50% Vitamin B12 50% Biotin 50% Pantothenic Acid 50% Phosphorus 30% Iodine 50% Magnesium 50% Zinc 50% Selenium 50% Copper 50% Manganese 50% Chromium 100% Molybdenum 50%
Ingredients: Low Fat Milk, Fructose, Cocoa Processed with Alkali, Gellan Gum, Sodium Citrate, Potassium Citrate, Sodium Phosphate, Carrageenan, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Sucralose (Nonnutritive Sweetener), Salt, Acesulfame K (Nonnutritive Sweetener) Mineral Blend: (Magnesium Phosphate, Zinc Citrate, Sodium Molybdate, Chromium Dinicotinate Glycinate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Citrate, Sodium Selenate and Potassium Iodide) Appemine™: (Providing 50mg of Caffeine) (Soluble Fiber Glucose Polymer Complex, Guarana Seed Extract, Green Tea Leaf Extract, Cinnamon Twig Extract, Galangal Rhizone Extract, Cayenne Pepper Fruit and White Willow Bark Extract) Vitamin Blend: (Sodium Ascorbate, DL-Alpha Tocopherol Acetate, Biotin, Niacinamide, Retinyl Palmitate, Calcium Pantothenate, Folic Acid, Cholecalciferol, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin and Cyanocobalamin) Glycemic Support Blend: [Vanadyl Sulfate (Supplying 200mcg of Vanadium) and Chromium Polynicotinate]

Comments: I’ve already discussed Right Size on the blog – these products are NOT cheap, and on the face of it, not special enough to warrant the cost.

BUT…to be fair, I ordered a 4 pack of “Chocolate Mousse Reduce” ready-to-drink smoothies to check out…at $12.80, they were the least expensive items available for purchase. I waited until I was hungry, then downed an entire 14 oz smoothie (1.75 servings) + a glass of water (a recommended step), to see how effective it would really be at curbing my hunger.

The answer: not very. It tasted good, but went down quickly…too quickly to register that I’d consumed a meal. I started to feel a bit peckish after only about an hour. So, to take my mind off it, I decided to get up from the keyboard and go do some grocery shopping…big mistake. The minute I walked past the deli display the hunger pangs kicked in. The “Powerful Weight Loss Tool” I’d consumed held me less than two hours.

This came as no surprise, however, as there’s really very little to one of these smoothies. You could dupe one simply by adding Sugar-Free Nesquik and a spoonful of FiberSure to a glass of low fat milk, and chasing it with a Centrum or One-A-Day.  And you’d do better with some Curvelle or Lean System 7, or an even more inexpensive supp like Green Tea Hydroxycut - vs. a non-specific blend like Appemine.

Realistically, a “Right Size” smoothie could serve as a between meal snack or “fix” for a chocolate craving…but – in my opinion – it’s ineffective as a meal replacement and appetite suppressant.

Taste: 3.5/5.0

Quality: 3.0/5.0

Efficacy: 2.0/5.0

Value: 2.0/5.0

Overall: 2.5/5.0

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Emerald Balance was originally created by herbalist/nutritionist/cosmetologist Jan Lovejoy as an easy-to-drink nutritional supplement for her mother, who “…was suffering from fatigue, edema, pre-diabetes, and post pacemaker surgery.”  Emerald Balance became the first product for Lovejoy’s company: SGN Nutrition.  It’s a drink powder containing 40+ “superfoods,” phytonutrients, herbs and probiotics and a claimed ORAC value of over 3,000 units per serving. 

Emerald Balance comes in two additional versions: Amazon and Chocolate Emerald Balance Plus.

Manufacturer’s Description: Emerald Balance is a delicious, nutritious superfood drink your body will love!…And best of all we made it taste great, because we know all these wonderful ingredients won’t do you any good if you can’t get them past your nose. Emerald Balance is refreshingly different – a whole-food supplement your entire family will enjoy…Mix just one tablespoon or a convenient packet of this great-tasting drink with 6-12 ounces of pure water, or add to your favorite protein shake to get the antioxidant equivalent of 8-10 servings of vegetables and fruits.

Serving Size 9.4g Calories 39 Calories From Fat 8 Amount Per Serving Total Fat 1g Sugar 3g Total Carbohydrates 6g Dietary Fiber 1.7g

Protein 1g Sodium 11mg Potassium 84mg Calcium 39mg Silicon 54mg Vitamin A 160IU Vitamin C (Natural) 371mg Vitamin E (Natural) 97IU

Ingredients: Nutrient Dense Superfoods 2880mg Barley Grass Juice Powder, Certified Organic Beet Juice Powder, Organic Carrot Juice Powder, Chlorella – Cracked Cell, Parsley Juice Powder, Spirulina Powder, Watercress Juice Powder. Antioxidant Blend (ORAC Value= 3,083) 2675mg Acerola Berry Juice Powder, Bioflavonoids (Citrus), Blueberry Powder, Grape Seed Extract – 92% Green Tea Catechins – 60%, Orange Juice Powder, Pineapple Juice Powder, Red Raspberry Powder, Turmeric Powder, Vitamin C – Natural Rose Hips, Vitamin E (D-Alpha Tocopherol), Dandelion, Aloe Vera – Freeze Dried, Spearmint. Pow R Fiber 790mg Apple Fiber, Apple Pectin, Flax Seed Meal – Certified Organic, Rice Bran Powder. Energizing Cellular Support 1695mg Bamboo, Cinnamon, Gingko Biloba – 24% Horsetail, Lecithin Powder – 99% Oil Free, Siberian Ginseng – Eleurtherococcus, Suma, Stevia. Immune Support Non-Dairy Probiotic Culture – 8.5 Billion 700mg Proprietary Blend: 710mg Astragalus Membranaceous, Damiana, Ginger Powder, Silymarin Silibum Marianum – 80%, Nova Scotia Dulse, Royal Jelly 5% 10-HRD, Plant Enzymes: Lipase, Protease, Amylase & Cellulase.

Comments: I picked up a 30-serving canister of Emerald Balance at bodybuilding.com for $28.79 – a considerable savings vs. buying direct from the company (I’ve seen it as low as $24.98 elsewhere, but I’m a bodybuilding.com regular, thanks to their low, flat rate shipping and fast, efficient service).

Dissolved in water, Emerald Balance looks just like the other “green” supps I’ve tried over the years…dark green with an ever-so-slight hint of grittiness.  It has a rather peculiar flavor…sweet, but with 4 distinct flavors: spearmint, citrus, berry and tea.  It was an odd and somewhat unexpected combination, but not unpleasant…I thought it was drinkable, enough.

Overall, it’s a reasonably healthful brew: it provides a solid whack of probiotic (good) bacteria, packs a good antioxidant punch, and – unlike some other “green” drinks I could name – contains a minimum of fibrous filler (which leaves more room for the actual green stuff).

One problem with drinks of this nature, however, is that the sheer number of ingredients makes it difficult to pack useful doses of individual components into a small serving size. Nonetheless, I expect Emerald Balance could make a decent contribution to a balanced diet (in terms of antioxidant intake and alkalinity), although, in my opinion, it’s not a substitute for eating whole, intact vegetables and fruits.

Taste: 2.5/5.0

Quality: 4.5/5.0

Efficacy: 4.0/5.0

Value: 3.0/5.0

Overall: 3.5/5.0

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As the name implies, Supreme Protein, Inc. markets protein products.  In addition to their line of protein bars, there’s Vectron, an “Extreme Physique Enhancing Agent.”  Vectron is based on Prolibra® – a proprietary whey protein isolate made by Glanbia, that’s designed to enhance fat loss.  Vectron comes in two flavors: chocolate and vanilla.

Manufacturer’s Description: Vectron is a truly innovative, first-of-its-kind supplemental protein designed to promote simultaneous fat loss and muscle preservation.  Vectron is powered an elite new fractionated protein complex called Prolibra.  This breakthrough technology features a potent bioactive peptide matrix along with a special whey mineral complex designed to target key mechanisms of body transformation.

Serving size: 1 Scoop (17 g) Amount Per Serving: Calories 60 Calories from Fat 9 Total fat 1 g Trans Fat 0 Saturated Fat 0 g Cholesterol 0 mg

Total Carbohydrates 1.5 g Dietary Fiber 0 g Sugars 0 g Protein 10 g Sodium 140 mg Potassium 50 mg Calcium 350 mg Phosphorous 130 mg

Ingredients: Prolibra 12.2TM Prolibra® 290 (partially hydrolyzed whey protein isolate, whey mineral complex, lecithin), Sunflower Oil Blend (sunflower oil, corn syrup solids, sodium caseinate (a milk derivative), Mon- and Diglycerides, Dipotassium Phosphate. Contains less than 2% or less of Tricalcium Phosphate, Soy Lecithin, Tocopherols added to help protect flavor), Cellulose Gum, Xantham Gum, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Sucralose.

Comments: I’ve commented on Prolibra before, as I feel that the study validating the effectiveness of the product did not resolve the question of whether any whey isolate would do the job just as well.  At the time, Prolibra was quite expensive, although – as of this writing - the bulk reseller price has come down considerably, so this isn’t as critical as it once was.  Supreme Protein’s version is still pricey for a whey protein isolate, but not out of line with other, smaller (< 2 lb) units sold in health food stores and other non-sports-oriented retail outlets…the price from ProSource (Supreme Protein’s parent company) was $26.95 for 714 grams (1.57 pounds).

I ordered the vanilla flavor – my usual, when it comes to whey products (it goes with everything).  I have to admit, Vectron was unarguably the best-tasting whey protein powder I’ve ever tried.   In addition, it was mildly satisfying.  I used it according to instructions (1 scoop 20 minutes before breakfast and the same before dinner), and it seemed to take the edge off my appetite.  I didn’t lose any weight or fat (wasn’t trying to), and it didn’t really affect how much I ate…but it did seem to hold me a little longer – not bad for only 10 g of protein.

There are some negatives: a) as noted, it isn’t cheap; and b) it falls somewhat short of my standards for a protein powder: it’s a notch under 60% protein (I prefer to see 75%-90%).  It isn’t a miracle powder: the subjects in Glanbia’s study were on a fat loss program, in addition to taking Prolibra, and the results were not overwhelming.  I can see, however, some use for a product like this on a fat loss diet, as it adds some high quality, supplemental protein (which can help preserve lean body mass on a diet), and provides modest assistance with appetite control.

Taste: 5.0/5.0

Quality: 4.0/5.0

Efficacy: 3.0/5.0

Value: 2.5/5.0

Overall: 3.5/5.0

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The SoBe line of  beverages is manufactured by the South Beach Beverage Company* - now a subsidiary of PepsiCo.  Their teas, juices and “Lifewater” drinks are fortified with various herbal extracts, nutrients and antioxidants.  The “Lean” line is fortified with 100% DV Vitamin C + chromium, as well as other nutraceutical ingredients such as Citrimax, ginseng, L-carnitine and/or guarana.  The drinks come in 6 flavors: Cranberry Grapefruit, Green Tea, Mango Peach, Peach Tea, Blackberry Currant and Energy. 

Manufacturer’s Description (Energy):  Be on top of the world and your diet with this low-cal version of SoBe Energy. It’s a thirst-quenching, citrus-flavored drink with zero sugar and lots of herbal infusions such as taurine, citrimax, ginseng and guarana.

Serving size 8 fl oz (240 mL) Servings Per Container 2.5 Calories 5 Total Fat 0g Sodium 15mg Potassium 30mg Total Carbs 1g Sugars 1g

Protein 0g Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 100% Calcium 0% Iron 0% Chromium 35% Caffeine 32mg

Ingredients: FILTERED WATER, ORANGE JUICE CONCENTRATE, CITRIC ACID, NATURAL FLAVOR, LEMON JUICE CONCENTRATE, GARCINIA CAMBOGIA RIND EXTRACT, ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C), PECTIN, GUM ARABIC, ACESULFAME POTASSIUM, SUCRALOSE, CAFFEINE, L-CARNITINE, GLYCEROL ESTER OF WOOD ROSIN, TAURINE, PANAX GINSENG ROOT EXTRACT, GUARANA (PAULLINIA CUPANA) SEED EXTRACT, CARAMEL COLOR, CHROMIUM PICOLINATE, BETA-CAROTENE (COLOR). CONTAINS MILK AND SOY

Comments: I picked up a couple of 20 oz. bottles of SoBe Lean Energy (above) and Blackberry Currant on my last trip to the store. The Energy was my favorite of the two: it’s a citrus-flavored drink, with an interesting sort of tangerine-grapefruit flavor. It was tangy and lightly sweet…without being excessively so. I didn’t note any particular energy boost, but then again, I wasn’t expecting one…there are only 32 mg of caffeine in a serving. The Blackberry Currant was also reasonably sweet and refreshing, with a decent berry flavor, but seemed more ordinary, by comparison.

I noted that – while both flavors ostensibly contained Citrimax and ginseng, there was no information on either the bottles or SoBe web site on the amounts per serving. I would not be surprised to discover these ingredients are largely “label decoration” and not present in any significant amount. Of course, neither one really makes a significant contribution to either fat loss (Citrimax) or energy/stamina (ginseng), so it’s probably a moot point. But the drinks are tasty, and undeniably low in calories, so can legitimately own the label “lean” regardless of whether the nutraceutical content is debatable.

Taste: 4.0/5.0

Quality: 3.0/5.0

Efficacy: 3.5/5.0

Value: 4.5/5.0

Overall: 4.0/5.0

*no connection to the South Beach Diet

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Met-Rx was founded in 1991 by Dr. A. Scott Connelly, who is considered a pioneer in bodybuilding nutrition.  The company is now a part of the NBTY conglomerate, which also owns a variety of other, familiar supplement brands.  The Protein Plus bars feature the company’s proprietary METAMYOSYN® blend, and are relatively low in net carbs.  The bars come in 4 flavors: Chocolate Roasted Peanut w/Caramel, Chocolate Fudge Deluxe, Chocolate Chocolate Chunk and Mud Pie Fusion.

Manufacturer’s Description: Athletes, anyone pursuing a high protein diet and active people from all walks of life require a higher protein intake than the average person – and the new PROTEIN PLUS food bar is the best tasting, most convenient way to get that extra protein. PROTEIN PLUS bar delivers almost twice the protein per gram compared to most other bars, and it’s easily digested and absorbed for faster, more effective lean muscle growth and body fat loss. Each bar contains 32 grams of high quality METAMYOSYN enhanced protein-the exclusive protein formulation that is a fundamental ingredient in other MET-Rx products.

Serving Size 1 Bar (85g) Amount Per Serving Calories 300 Calories From Fat 80 Total Fat 9g Saturated Fat 7g Trans Fat 0g Cholesterol 5mg Sodium 130mg Potassium 100mg Total Carbohydrate 32g	Dietary Fiber 1g Sugars 3g Sugar Alcohol 18g Protein 32g Vitamin A 35% Calcium 25% Vitamin E 35% Riboflavin 35% Vitamin B6 30% Vitamin B12 30% Pantothenic Acid 35%	Iodine 30% Zinc 35% Vitamin C 35% Iron 50% Thiamin 35% Niacin 35% Folic Acid 35% Biotin 35% Phosphorus 10% Magnesium 4% Copper 40%
Ingredients: Vanilla Creme Topping (Maltitol Syrup, Milk Protein, Sorbitol, Palm Kernel Oil, Nonfat Dry Milk, Soy Lecithin, Salt, Natural Flavor, Calcium Carbonate), Metamyosyn® VPP Protein Blend (Whey Protein Hydrolysate, And Milk Protein Isolate), Chocolate Coating (Maltitol, Fractionated Palm Kernel Oil, Whey Protein Concentrate, Cocoa (Processed With Alkali), Calcium Carbonate, Natural Flavor, Soy Lecithin, Sucralose), Glycerin, Soy Protein Isolate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Milk Chocolate Drops (Sugar, Whole Milk Powder, Chocolate Liquor, Cocoa Butter, Milk Fat, Soy Lecithin, Natural Vanilla Flavor), Water, Soy Crisps (Soy Protein Isolate, Rice Flour, Malt Extract, Salt), Coffee Extract, Cocoa (Processed With Alkali), Instant Coffee, Inulin, Natural Flavor , Vitamin And Mineral Blend (Ascorbic Acid, Ferrous Fumarate, Tricalcium Phosphate, D-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate, Niacinamide, Zinc Oxide, Copper Gluconate, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Palmitate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Biotin, Potassium Iodide, Cyanocobalamin), Sucralose, Wheat Germ, Peanut Flour, Almond Meal.

Comments: I picked up a “Mud Pie Fusion” (shown above) and a “Chocolate Roasted Peanut w/Caramel” bar from my local Fred Meyer store, where they were on sale for only $1.67 apiece – quite cheap for bars of this size (3 oz. each).

After my first bite, however, I’m glad I didn’t pay more. Don’t get me wrong: each bar was chocolately and sweet, with a rich flavor. But biting into one of these bars was like chomping down on a chocolate- coated tire. One downside of low-carb bars made with sugar alcohols is that they tend to be chewy. Well, these were two of the hardest, chewiest bars I’ve ever eaten.

(And no…I didn’t accidentally purchase bars past their “best by” dates, either. )

It’s a pity, since the Protein Plus bars are actually rather tasty, and the nutritional profile’s not bad at all…with this amount of protein and the added vites and minerals, a Protein Plus bar could be a pretty decent meal substitute or on-the-go snack. But the corporate brain trust at NBTY needs to get with the program…food technology has advanced a lot over the last decade, and – as the makers of Supreme Protein Carb Conscious Bars have shown – it’s not impossible to make a low carb bar that you don’t have to masticate into submission.

Update: On a recent trip to Ohio, I stopped at a local Kroger’s to pick up a portable snack, and ended up with a Chocolate Fudge Deluxe Protein Plus bar…it was the only low carb, high protein bar on display.  To my surprise, this one had a much better texture than the ones above…sure, it was chewy, but not excessively so.  In fact, it was pretty good.  I don’t know if it this just happened to be a “good” flavor, or I ended up with a couple of duds earlier, but – to be fair – I thought I should make note of it.

Taste: 2.5/5.0

Quality: 3.5/5.0

Efficacy: 3.5/5.0

Value: 4.5/5.0

Overall: 3.5/5.0

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Snapple beverages are a familiar sight on the supermarket shelves. Founded in 1972, Snapple is now part of the Dr. Pepper-Snapple Group, which formed following the breakup of Cadbury-Schweppes. Although there are 65 beverages in the line, the “Metabolism” juice drinks are two of the (comparatively few) low calorie offerings. There are two flavors in the line: Kiwi Pear and Noni Berry.

Manufacturer’s Description: Help give your attitude and metabolism a boost at the same time! Did you know that early Polynesians made frequent canoe voyages of thousands of miles just to transport this unique fruit? But this was no ordinary fruit. The Noni is said to improve energy to promote a happier, more positive outlook. Besides – the fact that you don’t have to travel thousands of miles by canoe to experience this fruit should make you feel better already.

Snapple… made from the best stuff on Earth.

Serving Size: 1 cup (240ml) Servings per Container: About 2 Calories: 10 Total Fat: 0g	Sodium: 35mg Total Carb: 1g Sugars: 1g Protein: 0g
Ingredients: Filtered water, pear juice concentrate, natural flavor, noni juice, citric acid, potassium citrate, aspartame, fruit and vegetable juices (for color) green tea extract (including EGCG [epigallocatechin gallate]), caffeine, acacia gum, sucralose.

Comments: I have to admit…it was the “Noni Berry” that caught my eye as I was walking past the beverage display at the store. Both Paul and I have written extensively about the superfruit craze over on the blog, so I had to take it for a test drive.  It was pretty reasonable: $1.00 for a 17.5 oz. bottle.

The drink itself is light, sweet and fruity, albeit in a sort of generic, berry sense…overall, it was pretty refreshing.  I got a bit of a chuckle out of the label, however.  Despite the paragraphs extolling the virtues of noni, the drink itself is only 5% juice; and of that 5%, the primary ingredient is pear juice.  If I had to guess, I’d say the noni is nothing more than “label decoration” – although this is probably a good thing, since noni juice doesn’t taste very good. 

As you might have guessed, the “metabolism” benefits (such as they are) don’t have anything to do with noni…rather, they’re from green tea extract and caffeine.  As the small print on the label states: “Studies show that consumption of 300mg of EGCG per day (along with caffeine) effectively boosts metabolism.” Even that’s a bit of a fooler, though, as there are only 55mg of EGCG and 30 mg of caffeine in each bottle: far too low for there to be any thermogenic effects. 

Well, whatever.  It still tastes reasonably good for a diet drink, even if the branding is a tad deceptive.

‘Nuff said.  It’s a good drink if you’re just looking for a low cal, decent-tasting, portable drink – just don’t get fooled into thinking it will do anything more for your metabolism than the equivalent amount of water.

Taste: 4.5/5.0

Quality: 3.0/5.0

Efficacy: 2.0/5.0

Value: 4.5/5.0

Overall: 3.5/5.0

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Mega-food manufacturer Kraft is behind the “LiveActive” brand of functional foods, which are designed to promote “digestive health.”  The products in the line are fortified with probiotic, “good” bacteria and/or prebiotic fiber.  The Chewy Granola Bars are unusual, in that the probiotic culture they’re fortified with does not require refrigeration.  The bars come in three flavors: Chocolate Raspberry, Peanut Butter, and Blueberry Almond.

Manufacturer’s Description: LiveActive Chewy Granola Bars are moist, rich, and delicious but they’re more than a great-tasting treat. They help naturally promote digestive health in two ways. First, they’re a good source of fiber*. Second, like many familiar foods – including some breakfast cereals and yogurt – LiveActive Bars contain a beneficial probiotic culture. What’s more, they require no refrigeration, so you can enjoy them anywhere, anytime. Get delicious digestive health on-the-go with LiveActive Bars.

Serving Size 1 Bar (35g) Servings Per Container 5 Calories 140 Total Fat 4.5g Saturated Fat 2g Trans Fat 0g Cholesterol 0mg Sodium 125mg

Total Carbohydrate 25g Dietary Fiber 4g Sugars 7g Protein 3g Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 0% Calcium 0% Iron 2%

Ingredients: Granola [Whole Grain Rolled Oats, Crisped Rice (Rice, Rice Flour, Sugar, Malt Extract, Rice Bran, Salt, Barley Malt, Corn Syrup), Multigrain Crisp (Whole Grain Wheat Flour, Degermed Yellow Corn Meal, Whole Grain Oat Flour, Salt), Wheat Flakes (Whole Grain Wheat, Sugar, Salt, Barley Malt)], Corn Syrup, Sugar, Glycerin, Inulin (for Fiber), Peanut Butter (Roasted Ground Peanuts), Fractionated Palm Kernel Oil, Partially Defatted Peanut Flour, Contains less than 2% of Sodium Caseinate, Soy Lecithin, Nonfat Milk, Salt, High Oleic Sunflower Oil, Butter (Cream, Salt), Whey, Peanut Oil, Sesame Oil, Palm Oil, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Mono- and Diglycerides, L. plantarum

Comments: I picked up a box of 5 Peanut Butter LiveActive bars at my local Fred Meyer for $3.00.  The bars are individually wrapped, and on the small size, so are easy to slip into a pocket, purse or lunch box for on-the-go snacking.  They looked like typical granola bars, with a peanut-butter-y base layer.  They were both chewy and crunchy, with an appropriately sweet, peanutty taste.  If you like commercial granola bars, then you’ll like these.

One thing I noticed, however, is that the boxes on display in the store were already past the “best when used by” date (04JAN09, in my case).  This is one downside, I think, of selling an unrefrigerated probiotic – the shelf life of the culture is going to be much shorter than that of a normal granola bar – something store personnel are less likely to take into account when ordering and stocking the shelves.  This is something a potential purchaser needs to watch out for…assuming the probiotic culture used in the product has any value in the first place.

Does it?  It’s an interesting – and open – question.  While Kraft has supporting literature for the LiveActive cheese, the company is completely silent on the question of the activity, potency, and effects of the “Probi AB” culture added to the bars.  How many live organisms are in each bar?  How many bars/day are needed for optimal results?  There is no information on either the box or the web site.

So, are there really significant “digestive health” benefits to be had from the LiveActive bars?  They are a good (although not great) source of prebiotic (and total) fiber, but otherwise, it’s a tough call.  And – needless to state – the bars don’t offer much w/respect to other nutrients: protein, vitamins and/or minerals. 

My “gut” feeling (no pun intended), is that the probiotic content of the LiveActive bars is overrated…if the bars actually contained a significant dose of active, probiotic bacteria, I don’t see why Kraft wouldn’t tell us all about it…but in this case, the silence is deafening.  Thus, I’d say these bars are probably better for you than a candy bar (thanks to the lower sugar/fat and higher fiber), but are NOT a substitute for a good probiotic supplement or more nutritious food products containing live cultures (such as kefir or yogurt).

Taste: 4.0/5.0

Quality: 3.0/5.0

Efficacy: 2.5/5.0

Value: 3.0/5.0

Overall: 3.0/5.0

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Carb Watchers Lean Body Shakes are made 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 shakes are part of the “Lean Body” line of meal replacements and functional food products aimed at the fitness market.  They come in four flavors: Vanilla Ice Cream, Strawberry Ice Cream, Chocolate Ice Cream and Chocolate Peanut Butter.

Manufacturer’s Description: CarbWatchers® Lean Body® Meal Replacement Shakes provide maximum support for muscle growth gains while minimizing fat storage. Each serving contains 40 grams of LeanPro®, our exclusive blend of the highest quality proteins. It’s low-sugar formula is ideal for athletes who want to get big and lean down, fast! It’s the winner of the American Tasting Institute’s Gold Medal for Taste.

Serving Size: 65 grams Total Calories 250 Calories From Fat 40 Total Fat 4.5g Saturated Fat 1g Trans Fat 0g Cholesterol 25mg Sodium 350mg Potassium 360mg Total Carbohydrates 12g Dietary Fiber 4g	Sugars 3g Protein 40g Vitamin A 25% Vitamin C 25% Calcium 50% Iron 30% Vitamin D 25% Vitamin E 25% Thiamin (B1) 25% Riboflavin (B2) 25% Niacin (B3) 25%	Pyridoxine (B6) 25% Folate 25% Cyanocobalamin (B12) 25% Biotin 25% Pantothenic Acid 25% Phosphorus 45% Iodine 25% Magnesium 30% Zinc 25% Copper 30% Chloride 4%
Ingredients: Lean Pro® (Cross Flow Micro Ultrafiltered Whey Protein Isolate, Cross Flow Micro Ultrafiltered Whey Protein Concentrate, Soy Protein Isolate [non-GMO]), Natural & Artificial Flavors, EFA Plex™ (Sunflower Oil, Creamer [High Oleic Sunflower Oil, Corn Syrup Solids, Sodium Caseinate, Mono- and Diglycerides, Dipotassium Phosphate, Tricalcium Phosphate, Soy Lecithin, Tocopherols], MCT Oil, Flaxseed Oil, Borage Oil), Fiber Plex™ (Polydextrose, Fibersol 2 Fiber, Cellulose Gum, Oat Flour, Rice Bran), Vitamin & Mineral Blend (Di-Calcium Phosphate, Magnesium Oxide, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin E Acetate, Niacinamide, Electrolytic Iron, Zinc Oxide, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Copper Gluconate, Riboflavin, Vitamin A Acetate, Thiamin Mononitrate, Folic Acid, Potassium Iodide, Cyanocobalamin), Salt, Sucralose, Acesulfame Potassium.

Comments: I sampled the three “ice cream” flavors (vanilla, chocolate and strawberry) as part of the “Neapolitan” variety pack. They were surprisingly good mixed in just plain water, with a creamy, not-too-thick/not-too-thin mouthfeel and satisfying flavors. Both the chocolate and vanilla were reminiscent of soft serve ice cream; while the strawberry tasted like a somewhat fruitier version of Nestle’s Strawberry Quik. All three flavors dissolved fairly well with a spoon…a blender was not required.

“Carb Watchers” is a good description for these shakes. They’re probably not suitable for a strict, Atkins-style, very low carbohydrate diet, although they’re perfect for a reduced carb nutrition plan. And – although they aren’t intended to be used as part of a weight control program – I have a hard time seeing why they couldn’t be used for that purpose…at least as a high protein snack. At its current online price ($39.99 for a box of 20 at 1fast400.com) it’s a better protein value than most bars or other reduced cal/carb, high-protein products.

Overall, the Carb Watcher shakes seem to be well-made products. While I’d prefer a little more fiber for satiety purposes, they deliver a solid whack of high-quality protein, taste pretty good, and provide approx. 1/4 of the RDA of major vites and minerals. I could think of worse ways to “spend” 240 calories.

Labrada Carb Watchers Lean Body Shakes are available from bodybuilding.com here!

Taste: 4.5/5.0

Quality: 4.5/5.0

Efficacy: 5.0/5.0

Value: 3.5/5.0

Overall: 4.5/5.0

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