Celsius is a thermogenic soft drink introduced to the market in 2005.  According to the company, it was designed as a “healthier alternative” to energy drinks, sodas, coffee drinks, etc.  The 12 oz. drinks are fortified with a range of vitamins, minerals and nutraceuticals and come in seven different flavors: Cola, Orange, Wild Berry, Ginger Ale, Lemon Lime, Raspberry Acai and Peach Mango.

Manufacturer’s Description: “Celsius is powered by MetaPlus™, a proprietary, scientifically validated combination of quality ingredients that work together to burn calories by revving up your metabolism and providing a sustained energy boost.

It’s the right ingredients in the right combination!  Celsius combines the health benefits of green tea, vitamins and more to boost your metabolism over a three a 3-hour period so that you burn fat calories as fuel.”

Serving Size 12 fl. oz. Calories 10 Total Carbohydrates 1g Sugar 0g Vitamin C 60mg 100% Riboflavin 1.7mg 100% Niacin 20mg 100%	Vitamin B6 2mg 100% Vitamin B12 6mcg 100% Biotin 300mcg 100% Pantothenic Acid 10mg 100% Calcium 50mg 5% Chromium (chelate) 50mcg 41% Sodium 6mg <1%
MetaPlus™ 1,810mg Taurine, Guarana extract (seed), Green Tea leaf extract standardized to 10% EGCG, Caffeine, Glucuronolactone, Ginger ExtractOther Ingredients: Filtered Water, Natural Colors, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Sucralose Contains 200mg total caffeine per serving

Comments: Although Celsius has been around for a while, I wasn’t aware of it until last month, when it first appeared on the shelves of my local Fred Meyer store.  It looked like an interesting product, so I decided to pick up a couple of 4 packs to try. At $5.99 each, they weren’t exactly cheap, although – in fairness – they cost a lot less than most popular energy drinks (a 4 pack of 12 oz. Red Bull, for example, was $9.99).

I was pretty pleased with the purchase.  Both the Cola and Raspberry Acai flavors were light and pretty refreshing.  Ginger is one of the main ingredients in Celsius, and the flavor was fairly pronounced… it blended in well with the Cola, but tended to dominate the Raspberry Acai. This was ok, though, because I happen to like ginger. Used before a workout, Celsius provided a decent lift, as a good jolt of caffeine should.

While I liked the drinks, I liked the marketing even more.  Unlike many “diet” products and supplements, Celsius makes ZERO claims for weight loss.  Rather, the label and web site state that consuming Celsius:

BURNS UP TO 100 CALORIES or more per can*

Raises metabolism over a three hour period*

Sustains energy*

And – surprise, surprise – these claims are supported by research… NOT on the individual ingredients, but on the product itself.  Four studies have been conducted on Celsius, and all were performed by reputable researchers working in established institutions (The Ohio Research Group and the University of Oklahoma).

So color me impressed: the company deserves a lot of credit for its transparency and commitment to quality.  It’s a rare thing to see in this industry.

So as far as I’m concerned, Celsius gets two thumbs up.  It contains the same ingredients (and jolt) provided by popular energy drinks; yet it tastes better, is less expensive and is produced by a company willing to go the extra mile to establish the credibility of its product… what is there not to like?

Taste: 4.5/5.0

Quality: 5.0/5.0

Efficacy: 5.0/5.0

Value: 4.0/5.0

Overall: 4.5/5.0

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Biotest is a brand name that’s pretty well-known in bodybuilding circles.  It’s owned/operated by T-Muscle (formerly known as “T-Nation”), an online resource devoted to bodybuilding training and nutrition.  “Superfood” is one of the newer supps in the Biotest line, and is composed of a spectrum of standardized, vegetable/fruit extracts.

Manufacturer’s Description: “What we’ve done is taken 18 incredibly potent, freeze-dried super extracts of WHOLE fruits and vegetables and combined them in what we believe is the perfect superfood. We chose each for their almost drug-like properties, and put them together in one incredibly potent, incredibly concentrated, incredibly easy-to-use powdered supplement.

No fillers, no extra flavoring agents, no sweeteners, nothing extra — just pure superfood.”

Serving Size: 5 g (2 scoops)Freeze-Dried Super-Concentrated Extracts 5,000 mgBERRIES: wild blueberry (1.5% anthocyanin), orange (40% vitamin C), raspberry (20% allagic acid, 0.7% anthocyanins), strawberry, acai berry (1.5% total phenolic acids, 1% anthocyanins), coffee berry (50% total phenolic acids), goji berry, pomegranate (40% ellagic acid)VEGETABLES: broccoli sprout (5000 ppm sulforophane), kale, spinach (700 ppm lutein), wasabi (20% glucosinolates), wild yam (20% diosgenin), green tea (95% total polyphenols, 65% total catechins, 40% EGCG)OTHER FRUITS: apple, mango, passion fruit, watermelon (1000 ppm lycopene)

Comments: Biotest Superfood is one of many such high-ORAC food-based concentrates currently on the market, which are promoted as surrogates for vegetable/fruit intake.  Biotest goes one step further than most, however. In addition to claiming their supplement is “…equivalent to eating between 10 and 12 average servings of fruits and vegetables”, the company also insists it makes vitamin and mineral supplementation “obsolete.”  This claim is pretty ironic, as there is NO vitamin or mineral information listed on the container or web site to back this up.  Needless to state, plant antioxidants are supremely healthful – but they aren’t replacements for essential vitamins and minerals.  Thus, this line of reasoning:

As such we’ve always preferred to get our vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and various phytochemicals from fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, you know as well as we do that it’s hard to ingest anywhere near the proper amounts of fruits and vegetables every day. Who’s got time to eat 4 servings of fruits and 4 servings of vegetables every single day?

…Enter Biotest’s Superfood.

…We discarded the notion of coming out with a vitamin pill composed of conventional, lab manufactured vitamins and minerals. Instead, we’ve chosen the whole-food route.

…is illogical.  It’s great to get your vites and minerals from fruits and vegetables vs. pills - but to imply that an apparently vitamin-/mineral-less antioxidant supplement can replace the vites and minerals supplied by whole fruits and veggies is ridiculous…it’s comparing apples to oranges (no pun intended).  Extracts contain only those elements soluble in the extraction solvent.  Saying they’re nutritionally equivalent to whole foods is like saying cornstarch is nutritionally equivalent to an ear of corn.

NOT.

Beyond the exaggerated claims, however, the product itself appears to be pretty well-made.  It’s one of the few I’ve seen that uses (some) standardized extracts, and the ORAC value is fairly impressive: 5,315 per serving.  It also handles quite well: it dissolves thoroughly in water and isn’t the least bit gritty.  Quality-wise, it appears to be good stuff.

Unlike some competing products, however, Biotest Superfood is NOT sweetened or flavored in any way.  On the one hand, this is a good thing, as users don’t have to pay for superfluous additives, but the downside is that it really doesn’t taste very good.  It’s not horrible, either, mind you…the flavor, such as it is, is actually rather faint: it tastes like slightly tart, broccoli/berry tea-flavored water (if you can imagine such a thing).  So it’s drinkable as is, although I thought it was best added to other things.  For example, during my taste-tests, I typically dissolved it in a glass of water, then added a scoop of chocolate protein powder, which covered the taste and color up completely.

Overall, I liked Superfood – for what it is, rather than what Biotest pretends it is.  It seems like a great way to add some additional antioxidant phytonutrients to your diet (and certainly better than using Mona Vie or other MLM “superfruit” products)…although it’s still not a replacement for the fiber, minerals (especially potassium) vites and complete spectrum of phytonutrients found in whole veg/fruits.  It’s a good product, but it’s best used as an addition to – not a replacement for – what Mother Nature provides.

Taste: 2.5/5.0

Quality: 5.0/5.0

Efficacy: 3.5/5.0

Value: 3.5/5.0

Overall: 3.5/5.0

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I first encountered the To Go Brands products at the Natural Products Expo in Boston last October.  The company manufactures portable, single serving, antioxidant-rich drink mixes, designed to be added to a bottle of water (one of the product slogans is “Water’s Best Friend”).  The mixes come in five different varieties: Omega-To-Go, Green Tea Energy Fusion, Berrie Crush Plus C, Acai Natural Energy Boost and Go Greens.

Manufacturer’s Description: Go Greens® ~ A Salad Bar in Every Packet™! Do you get enough fruits and vegetables in your diet? Wish you could carry your fruits and veggies with you wherever you may roam? Now you can with Go Greens®! Made with 15 certified organic fruits & veggies, it has the antioxidant power of 6 servings of fruits & vegetables in just 1 packet! A delicious green apple flavor. It’s Healthy To Go®!

Serving Size 8 grams Calories 32 Calories from Fat 4 Total Fat <1g Saturated Fat 0g Trans Fat 0g Sodium 12mg Potassium 93mg Total Carbohydrates 6g

Dietary Fiber <1g Sugars 1g Protein 1g Vitamin A 2100 IU 41% Vitamin C 28mg 46% Vitamin K 29mcg 36% Calcium 23mg 2% Iron 369mcg 3%

Nature’s Greens Blend 1400mg Barley Grass Juice, Chlorella Nature’s Antioxidant Blend 395mg Isoquercetin/Rutin, Aloe Vera Extract, Marigold Extract (10% lutein with zeaxanthin), Cinnamon Bark, Cinnamon Extract, Blueberry, Green Tea Extract, Grapeseed Extract, Cranberry, Raspberry, Tart Cherry, Pine Bark Extract, Broccoli, Tomato, Carrot, Spinach, Kale, Brussels Sprout, Bilberry, Elderberry, Pomegranate, Blackberry Nature’s Garden Blend 1755mg Apple, Lemon, Carrot, Spinach, Quinoa Sprout, Peach, Kale, Broccoli, Acai, Cranberry Nature’s Super Fruits 305mg Acerola Cherry Extract, Apple Extract, Pomegranate Extract, Mangosteen Extract, Acai Extract Nature’s Fiber Blend 2250mg Rice Bran Soluble, Oat Beta Glucan Nature’s Sea Vegetables 70mg Dunaliella Salina, Atlantic Kelp Nature’s Super Tea Blend 160mg Green Tea Extract, White Tea Extract Lecithin 650mg SteviaLite (Stevia rebaudiana) 205mg Other Ingredients: Natural Flavors (plant-based), Erythritol, Silica (prevents caking), Citric Acid

Comments: I picked up a box of 6 packets at my local Fred Meyer for $7.59 – pricey, although less than what they were selling for on the product web site ($8.95). Netrition.com had the best price, however ($5.99) – so if you’re interested in the product, it’s worth doing some comparison shopping online.

The box claims each packet has an ORAC value of 4000 – which is a pretty solid number. The label, however, suggests that the bulk of this probably comes from added, antioxidant extracts (i.e., green tea extract, grape seed extract, etc.) rather than the vegetable and fruit powders. While this doesn’t matter from your body’s point of view, it’s important to not misinterpret statements like “Antioxidant power of 6 servings of Fruits & Veggies” as “Nutritional power of 6 servings of Fruits & Veggies”. Needless to state, a packet of Go Greens is NOT the equivalent of 6 servings of veggies/fruit w/respect to common vitamins, minerals or fiber. Thus, the slogan on the box, “Salad Bar in Every Packet” needs to be qualified, somewhat.

Nonetheless, Go Greens has its advantages: its low in calories and has no added sugar(s), which makes it a suitable addition to most diets. It also has a pleasant, sweet, fruity flavor that belies the somewhat unappetizing color (sort of a pea-soup green).  Of the green drinks I’ve tried, I thought this was one of the better-tasting ones.

Taste: 4.0/5.0

Quality: 4.5/5.0

Efficacy: 3.0/5.0

Value: 2.5/5.0

Overall: 3.5/5.0

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So who hasn’t heard of Red Bull?  From the time it was first rolled out in 1987, it’s spawned a legion of imitators, detractors and devotees.  The company is still going strong with only three basic products: Red Bull Cola, Red Bull Energy Shot and Red Bull Energy Drink.  The latter comes in regular and sugar-free versions.

Manufacturer’s Description: Red Bull® Energy Drink is a functional beverage with a special formulation and combination of ingredients. It has been specially developed for times of increased mental and physical exertion. In addition, Red Bull vitalizes the body and mind.

Red Bull’s effects are appreciated throughout the world by top athletes, busy professionals, active students and drivers on long journeys.

Serving Size: 1 Can (12 fl oz/355 ml) Calories 15 Total Fat 0g Sodium 290mg Total Carb 4g Sugars: 0g	Protein less than 1g Niacin 140% Vitamin B6 360% Vitamin B12 120% Pantothenic Acid 70%
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Sodium Citrate, Taurine, Glucuronolactone, Caffeine, Acesulfame K, Aspartame, Inositol, Xanthan Gum, Niacinamide, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine HCl, Vitamin B12, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Colors.

Comments: I’ve never been one for energy drinks per se, as I prefer coffee/tea, and make use of various pre-workout boosters. And – since I’m not a member of the target demographic – I never really sensed I was missing out on anything.  Nonetheless, Red Bull is an icon, so I figured I should take a crack at it.

Now that I have, I still don’ t think I’ve missed out on anything…

Sugar free Red Bull is rather tart…and the tartness is emphasized by the carbonation.  It has a vaguely citrus-y taste, that’s not bad, but not particularly memorable, either…it’s not the sort of beverage that would appeal to someone with a sweet tooth. It also has a slight (but persistent) “chemical” aftertaste.

It did provide a lift, though, which was noticeable within just a few minutes of drinking. I felt alert, without feeling particularly wired.  Thus, the claim that it can increase concentration and reaction speed seem justified – especially when there’s also some supporting research. 

I can’t say the effect is substantively different or better than other supps and stimulant ingredient combos I’ve tried, however, so I doubt I’ll be a regular consumer.  Nonetheless, Sugar Free Red Bull is certainly an option for a low calorie pick-me-up, especially if you’re away from home and need a little something to keep you going.  If nothing else, it’s considerably more refreshing than an energy shot or capsule/tablet.

Taste: 3.0/5.0

Quality: 3.0/5.0

Efficacy: 4.5/5.0

Value: 3.5/5.0

Overall: 3.5/5.0

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Cranergy Energy Juice Drink is made by Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. – a familar name to most.  Ocean Spray is a grower’s cooperative, similar to Sunkist and Blue Diamond, created to market their own processed products.  Sales of Ocean Spray’s products have been buoyed by recent research demonstrating a variety of health benefits associated with cranberry consumption, so it’s probably natural to see the company venture farther into the functional food arena.

Cranergy is the result: it’s a reduced calorie, cranberry drink fortified with green tea extract and B-vitamins.  Cranergy comes in three flavors: Raspberry Cranberry, Pomegranate Cranberry and Cranberry.

Manufacturer’s Description: Made with real fruit juice and sweetened with Splenda Brand Sweetener, Cranergy has just 35 calories per 8 ounce serving.  In other words, it’s a lift with 50% less calories than other leading energy drinks and traditional sodas.  Plus, it’s available in three flavors – Cranberry Lift, Raspberry Cranberry Lift and Pomegranate Cranberry Lift – all come in a refrigerator-friendly 46 ounce bottle and a convenient 12 ounce 4-pack.  Isn’t that handy?

Serving Size 12 fl oz (354 ml) Calories 50 Calories from Fat 0 Total Fat 0g Sodium 75mg Total Carbohydrate 13g Sugars 13g	Protein 0g Vitamin C 100% Niacin 70% Vitamin B12 70% Vitamin B2 70% Vitamin B6 70% Pantothenic Acid 70%
Ingredients: Filtered Water, Grape Juice from Concentrate, Cranberry Juice from Concentrate, Raspberry Juice from Concentrate, Malic Acid, Green Tea Extract, Natural Flavors, Sodium Citrate, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Pectin, Sucralose (Splenda Brand), Maltodextrin, Red 40 (color), Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B12

Comments: I picked up a 4 pack of the Raspberry Cranberry at the store the other day. The label advertises that it has “50% fewer calories and less sugar” than the regular Ocean Spray juice, which left me wondering precisely where the “energy” was supposed to come from. The juice is fortified with vitamin C, several B vitamins and an unspecified amount of green tea extract, but these have never really energized me, even in large doses. But a trip to the product web site at http://cranergy.com/ satisfied my curiosity.

Cranergy contains 55mg caffeine per 8 oz serving – or 82.5mg per 12 bottle…about the same amount in a can of Red Bull, to be honest. This isn’t a hyoooge amount, but still significant.  People trying to control their caffeine intake should be aware of this, as it’s not printed on the label.

The juice itself is tasty enough – much like Ocean Spray’s other lite/low cal juice products. Cranberry isn’t really one of my favorites, but I thought it was light, tangy and refreshing. Can’t say I really felt all that energized by it, although my son seemed to enjoy it: he put away 3 of the 4 bottles in the pack I bought.

It’s a nice enough product, although I’m hard pressed to see how it merits a higher price, relative to Ocean Spray’s regular juice drinks. I doubt there’s enough green tea extract in it to really punch up the antioxidant power, so beyond being a refreshing, low calorie source of a few odd vitamins, there’s just not a lot of substance to it.

Taste: 4.5/5.0

Quality: 3.5/5.0

Efficacy: 3.0/5.0

Value: 2.0/5.0

Overall: 3.0/5.0

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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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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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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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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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“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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