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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iSatori is a well-known and respected manufacturer of dietary supplements for building muscle and losing fat.  “Voots” is the company’s first foray into more general use supps.  Designed for kids who don’t eat their vegetables, Voots are antioxidant-rich, chewable ”tarts” made from a range of fruit and vegetable concentrates.

Manufacturer’s Description:  Our idea for Voots came from a kitchen conversation about how hard it was to be sure our young daughters were eating their recommended daily three servings of fruits and vegetables.

We thought… wouldn’t it be great to have a product with all of the nutrients in three servings of fruits and vegetables, and so yummy-tasting our kids would love to eat them every day! We then learned that only 7% of kids eat three servings of fruits and vegetables daily, and we realized lots of kids would benefit from such a product, not just ours.

It took a lot of work to develop Voots for our kids, but we finally got it right, and we’re now happy to share them with your family!

Serving Size 1 packet (2 chewable tarts) Calories 12 Total Fat 0g

Total Carbohydrate 3g Dietary Fiber <1g Sugars 0g

Voots Proprietary Fruit and Vegetable Blend (ORAC 1,250 umol/TE/g) 550mg Grape Seed Extract, Apple Powder, Cranberry Powder, Orange Powder, Prune Powder, Raspberry Powder, Strawberry Powder, Blueberry Powder, Carrot Root, Sweet Potato, Zucchini, Green Beans Glycine 10mg Other Ingredients: Sorbitol, Erythritol, Evaporated Cane Juice, Maltodextrin, Natural Mixed Berry Flavor, Citric Acid, Stearic Acid, Sodium Bicarbonate, Potassium Bicarbonate, and Silica (food additive)

Comments:: I ordered a box of Voots direct from iSatori…a box of 24 tarts was $9.99 (12 serving packets). Each tart is roughly the same diameter as a nickel. They’re crunchy and quite sweet, with an intense, berry-like fruit flavor. I thought they were pretty good and kid-friendly, although to be on the safe side, I confirmed this with my kids. At 19 and 16, they aren’t really part of the target demographic for Voots, but they’re still uncivilized enough to be suspicious of “healthy” stuff.

Voots passed the test.

From the look of the label, I suspect that a large percentage of the claimed ORAC value comes from the grape seed extract (GSE) vs. the fruit and veggie powders. There’s nothing really wrong with that, per se: GSE is good stuff.  Nonetheless, this means that VOOTS isn’t the full, nutritional equivalent of three servings of fruits and veggies…they’re missing a lot of the fiber, vitamin C, minerals and other trace nutrients normally found in plant foods.  Still, if your kids refuse to eat their veggies, VOOTS can provide some antioxidant punch.  As such, they’re a handy, kid-tested supp to have around the house.

Taste: 4.5/5.0

Quality: 5.0/5.0

Efficacy: 3.0/5.0

Value: 3.0/5.0

Overall: 4.0/5.0

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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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Sambazon was the first company to market acai on a commercial scale in the US. Founded in 2000 by Ed Nichols and brothers Ryan and Jeremy Black, the company is dedicated to “using acai as a vehicle” to promote sustainable agriculture and preservation of the Amazon rainforest.  The company markets a variety of acai products, including juices/concentrates, smoothies, energy drinks, sorbet, frozen smoothie packs and supplements.  The frozen smoothie packs come in Original, Amazon Cherry and Pure Acai – which is the unsweetened, pure fruit puree.

Manufacturer’s Description: Sambazon acai products are all certified organic and great for anytime you’re hungry or looking for a natural energy boost. And as part of our mission to bring acai to you, we believe we also have to care for the planet and farmers. To do that, we’ve created a supply chain that benefits thousands of local families while protecting the Amazon rainforest through sustainable agriculture.

Serving Size 100g Calories 80 Calories from Fat 50 Total Fat 6g Saturated Fat 1.5g Trans Fat 0g Omega 6 860mg Omega 9 3360mg Cholesterol 0mg	Sodium 10mg Total Carbohydrate 7g Dietary Fiber 1g Sugars 0g Protein 2g Vitamin A 15% Calcium 4% Vitamin C 8% Iron 6%
Ingredients: Organic Acai Palmberry Pulp, Soy Lecithin, Citric Acid

Comments: So who hasn’t heard of acai by now? Both Paul and I have commented on the “superfruit” phenomenon on the blog…suffice it to say, acai is nutritious stuff, but there’s zero human evidence that it can cure cancer, increase energy, help people lose weight/fat, and so on. In Brazil, it’s a popular food, but it’s not regarded as a cure-all.

Nonetheless, I figured I’d give it a whirl: you never know, after all. And the Sambazon product is one of the few relatively unprocessed products on the market…it’s about as close as you can get to consuming it the same way as the Brazilians do. So I picked up a month’s supply direct from Sambazon: 7 packs of 4, 100 g packages of flash-frozen acai – shipped on dry ice. It ran just a skosh under $60 – not exactly a bargain price, but less expensive than buying it freeze dried in caps, or extensively diluted in retort-sterilized, blended juices.

The 100g, single-serving packs were long and thin, so they thawed reasonably quickly. The resulting fruit puree had the consistency of Hershey’s Syrup, with a deep, red wine color – neat. It had a fruity, berry-like flavor, although this wasn’t apparent until I added some sweetener – as is, the stuff is virtually sugar-free. It was ok mixed in water, and pretty good mixed in kefir or yogurt. I pretty much ate it daily, throughout the month of December.

I regret to inform enthusiasts that I did not begin leaping out of bed in the morning, whistling Disney tunes; nor did I experience any dramatic increases in energy or drop a single pound. In short, I experienced nothing unusual: just the same old good health and strength I’m used to. This did not come as a surprise to me, as I normally consume a pretty good whack of antioxidant phytochemicals to start with: My cabinet is well stocked with green and white teas and there are resealable bags of frozen, unsweetened blueberries, raspberries and blackberries in the freezer. I also keep bags of spinach leaves and broccosprouts in the fridge for salads and sandwiches. I consume all of the above, + organic, raw cacao, almonds, walnuts, red wine and other assorted veggies and fruits on a more-or-less daily basis. So I’m doing just fine on the ORAC front already…and expect I’ve reached the point of diminishing returns.

This is not to knock Sambazon’s product – far from it. I doubt you can get closer to what’s available in the rainforest than this, short of a trek to Brazil. It’s pricey, although my local Fred Meyer is now selling it for around $5.50 per pack – which is less than what I originally paid, so it’s likely I’ll buy it again, every so often, as a change from my usual berries. It’s to Sambazon’s credit that they don’t make any wild/unsubstantiated claims about the health benefits of their product – and, if nothing else, I like to reward good behavior. But I see no reason to revise my opinion about acai: it’s a nutritious food, but one of many…a “nice have” perhaps, but not a “must have.”

Taste: 3.0/5.0

Quality: 5.0/5.0

Efficacy: 5.0/5.0

Value: 3.0/5.0

Overall: 4.0/5.0

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The ALL ONE® series of vitamin-mineral supplements is produced by Nutritech® – a family-owned business founded by James Ingoldby, who first entered the supplement business in 1936. ALL ONE supplements are designed to turn “…a glass of juice into a one step, all day nutrition program.”

Manufacturer’s Description(s): ALL ONE Fruit Antioxidant Formula is a high potency multi vitamin and mineral powder in a base of dairy-free rice protein, complimented by a power packed blend of tart cherries, wild blueberries, cranberries, apples and grapeseed extract…The Fruit Antioxidant Formula supplies you with 2 grams of pure fruit pigments to create the most potent single serving antioxidant supplement available.

The ALL ONE Green Phyto Base begins with 2 grams of concentrated juice of organic greens: green kamut (wheat grass), barley, alfalfa, oats, green cabbage, kale, parsley and mustard greens–all grown in fertile, unpolluted soil. These plants of the earth are combined with dulse and other sea vegetables. Powerful micro-algae, chlorella and spirulina also contribute to this phyto nutritional base. This phyto nutritional base is combined with ALL ONE’s high potency vitamins, minerals, digestive enzymes and amino acids, delivering an unstoppable nutritional combination that will help you start the day right.

Serving size: 15g Calories 26 Calories from fat 5 Total Fat <1g Trans Fat 0g Potassium 100mg Total Carbohydrates 4g Dietary Fiber 2g Sugars <1g Protein 2g Vitamin A (Vitamin A Palmitate) 5,000IU Vitamin A (Beta Carotene) 6,500IU Vitamin A (Green Blend, Wheat Grass) 500IU Vitamin C 1,000mg Vitamin D2 500IU	Vitamin E 400IU Vitamin K 5mcg Thiamine HCL 25mg Riboflavin 25mg Niacin 100mg Vitamin B-6 25mg Folic Acid 400mcg Vitamin B-12 25mcg Biotin 25mcg Pantothenic Acid 100mg Calcium 1,113mg Iron 9mg Phosphorus 200mg Iodine 180mcg Magnesium 200mg Zinc 15mg Selenium 50mcg Copper 0.2mg	Manganese 4mg Chromium 50mcg Molybdenum 50mcg Rice Bran 1,854mg Lemon Bioflavonoids 400mg Lecithin 350mg Choline 100mg Inositol 100mg Hesperidin Complex 25mg PABA 25mg Rutin 25mg In a base of: Papain, Betain HCl, Kelp 3mg
Other Ingredients: Organic Green Blend 2g (contains Alfalfa Juice 680mg, Kamut (Polish Wheat) (leaves) 455mg, Barley (leaves) 455mg, Oat (leaves) 180mg, Cruciferous Vegetable Juice Powder includes: Cabbage (leaf), Parsley (leaf), Kale (leaf) and Broccoli (flower/stem), Atlantic Kelp/Sea Dulse Powder 120mg, Spirulina 65mg) and Rice Protein Concentrate, Silicon Dioxide, Trace Minerals, Silicon, Boron, Silver, Nickel. Other Ingredients: Rice Protein Concentrate, 2 grams, Fruit Blend (Wild Blueberry 500 mg, Tart Cherry 500 mg, Apple Fiber 500 mg, Cranberry 500 mg), and Silicon Dioxide

Comments: I reviewed the Fruit Antioxidant and Green Phyto base blends together, as – with the exception of 2 g of the fruit or green blends – they’re virtually identical supplements.

In general, both ALL ONE blends are fairly described as “high-potency” multivitamin/mineral supplements. Most of the antioxidant activity is likely to be from the added flavonoids, however, rather than the fruit or green blends…2 grams of veggie/fruit powders is less than half a teaspoon, after all – not really enough to make a substantial phytonutrient contribution.

The ALL ONE powders provide a minimum of 100% (and often more) of the RDA for all the principal vitamins, with the exceptions of Vitamin K and Biotin. They also provide a substantial percentage of most minerals – including 110% of the RDA for Calcium. This is unusual for most multis, which typically provide 20% or less.

They also appear to be a better value than many high potency multis. For example, a 1,000 g canister of the Fruit Antioxidant blend provides 66 servings…which I found for $46.77 at iHerb.com.

It seems a little unfair to evaluate these supps for taste. They’re designed to be largely tasteless and the instructions clearly specify that they should be dissolved in juice. Unfortunately, I’m not a juice drinker, so I decided to try them in water, instead. The good news is that they really are (more-or-less) tasteless, although they have a somewhat yeasty odor and a not-very-appetizing, murky appearance. But it would be virtually impossible to make a supplement of this nature taste good without a lot of additives, so the fact that it doesn’t taste awful is a credit to the manufacturer.

Overall, the ALL ONE powders appear to be solid products, and would be useful for those who like the idea of taking a high potency multi, but dislike the idea of taking multiple capsules or tablets each day.

Taste: N/A

Quality: 4.0/5.0

Efficacy: 4.5/5.0

Value: 4.5/5.0

Overall: 4.5/5.0

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Omega-3 fatty acids are all the rage, and a number of fortified foods have appeared on the market, such as eggs, cereals and even peanut butter.  Many people (like me!) prefer supplements, however, as this enables them to consume a standard amount of their choice.

Finding quality supplements can be a bit tricky, though: capsules sometimes cause fishy “burps” or have an objectionable aftertaste.  I prefer the liquids from high quality sources like Carlson’s or Nordic Naturals, but – let’s face it – not everyone likes consuming oil off a spoon…even if there’s no particular flavor, it’s still, well…kinda oily.  It would be nice if there were a fish oil supplement you could actually like, vs. barely tolerate.

Enter Barleans’ Omega Swirl.  Barleans has been an industry leader in producing high quality oils, particularly flax oil.  Omega Swirl is designed to deliver a solid amount of EPA and DHA, while having a “smoothie-like taste and texture.”

Manufacturer’s Description: Omega Swirl is an Omega-3 Sensation with the taste and texture of a fruit smoothie! Now everyone can enjoy the benefits of Omega-3 without the oily taste and texture or swallowing large capsules. Rich in vital and essential Omega-3 fatty acids, Omega Swirl flax and fish oil supplements are the freshest, best tasting and most nutritious, naturally. Omega Swirl is the perfect solution for the whole family!

Serving Size 2 tsp. (10 ml) Servings Per Container 47 Calories 45 Calories from Fat 30 Total Fat 3.5 g Saturated Fat 1.0 g Cholesterol 10 mg Sodium 0 mg Total Carbohydrate 4 g Sugars 0 g Xylitol 2 g Vitamin A 84 IU	Vitamin E 2 IU Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fat Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) 365 mg Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) 365 mg Alpha-Linolenic Acid (LNA) 35 mg Other Omega-3 Fatty Acids 220 mg Omega-6 Polyunsaturated Fat Linoleic Acid (LA) 130 mg Other Omega-6 Fatty Acids 190 mg Omega-9 Monounsaturated Fat Oleic Acid 820 mg Other Omega-9 Fatty Acids 190 mg
Ingredients: Molecularly distilled cod liver oil, water, xylitol, glycerine, gum arabic, natural flavors, citric acid, xanthan gum, guar gum, turmeric (for color), ascorbyl palmitate.

Comments: I first encountered Omega Swirl at an industry trade show and was hooked.  It’s a sweet, creamy, lemon-flavored emulsion that doesn’t taste particularly greasy or oily at all, much less fishy…the sales rep for Barleans described the flavor as “lemon meringue pie” – which was pretty accurate, in my opinion.

One drawback is that it is more expensive than conventional offerings.  A 16 oz. bottle costs $19.16 at iHerb.com and provides 47 x 730 mg servings of combined EPA/DHA – which works out to 34.3 g total.  The 16.8 oz. bottle of Carlson’s that I usually order costs about $6.00 more ($25.46) but provides over 3 times as much EPA/DHA (100 servings x 1300 mg = 130 g).

I will readily concede, however, that the Carlson’s doesn’t taste anything like the Barleans!  And while it’s not the most economical choice, it’s not outrageously expensive either.  So, if you’d like to take fish oil, but are concerned about the taste, Omega Swirl could be just the product you’re looking for.

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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