Today CNN Money.com featured a story about the controller and former CEO of Viacom, Sumner Redstone, drinking Monavie and calling it a "miracle drug". Unlike wild claims from MLM distributors, when a guy worth $8 Billion dollars and who isn't an investor in the company makes a statement like that, it makes you stand up and take notice.
Mr. Redstone apparently has turned Bill Clinton, Michael Milken and Wolfgang Puck (and interesting trio) into fans of the fruit juice according to the CNN Money article.
Monavie is similar to Noni, Xango and Goji in that it is a fruit juice sold via MLM, however, Monavie is the newest of these names, and is the only one of the three that bases it's drink on newest health craze, the Acai Berry. While Monavie is a private company, they apparently have over 500,000 distributors after just 2.5 years. That's a shockingly large number in such a short period of time.
One reason is probably the "no" answers you get when I ask the 6 basic "legit" or "scam" questions of any MLM which are:
1. does it require you to buy "business centers"? ($39 distributor fee - and you can't buy extra "spots" or business centers)
2. does it pay you if you sign up a distributor? (no commissions paid on the $39)
3. does it require you to buy marketing web sites? (no)
4. does it require you to pay for training or motivational material? (no)
5. does it require large up front inventory purchases? (no)
6. do they force you to cancel in writing or over the phone? (no)
With 84 year old Billionaires calling it a "miracle", and a very easy business to enter or exit... the only problem Monavie could run into is if it's distributors make claims like Mr. Redstones. Calling it a "drug" or making product claims will definitely get them in trouble with the FTC and FDA... just ask Mannatech whose distributors got caught on tape in a June 1st 20/20 investigation, has a class action suit against them from 2005, and in July of this year the Texas Attorney General began a suit against Mannatech for "operating an illegal pyramid scheme" and "making false product claims".
MonaVie's founder Dallin Larsen is also quoted in the article and definitely distances himself from Mr. Redstone's "miracle drug" statement... but that's still where nutritional MLM's get into the most trouble.
8 comments:
So, Sumner has found a new hobby besides suing the other members of his family. Judging by some of the trash he pushes as entertainment on his Viacom networks I would have to seriously question his judgement. But then, nobody has ever gotten rich by underestimating the gullabilty of the public have they?
Well, you have to look the health aspect of this product. From your blog, i could tell that you are a politician and doesn't have an open mind for science.
Please read Science Journals if you need more information on Acai Berry and Monavie's claim. It's true.
Just read it. ... well. You might have to learn science vocabulary cuz its a little bit confusing for economist and politician.
Scientific References
Schauss A.G., Wu X, Prior RL, Ou B, Huang D, Owens J, Agarwal A, Jensen GS, Hart AN, & Shanbrom E.(2006). Antioxidant capacity and other bioactivities of the freeze-dried Amazonian palm berry, Euterpe oleraceae mart, (acai). Journal Agric Food Chem. 54(22): 8604-10.
Lichtenthäler R, Rodrigues RB, Maia JG, Papagiannopoulos M, Fabricius H, Marx F. (2005). Total oxidant scavenging capacities of Euterpe oleracea Mart. (Acai) fruits. International J Food Sci Nutr. 56(1):53-64.
Rodrigues RB, Lichtenthäler R, Zimmermann BF, Papagiannopoulos M, Fabricius H, Marx F, Maia JG, Almeida O. (2006). Total oxidant scavenging capacity of Euterpe oleracea Mart. (açaí) seeds and identification of their polyphenolic compounds. J Agric Food Chem. 54(12):4162-7.
Schauss A.G., Wu X, Prior RL, Ou B, Patel D, Huang D, Kababick JP. (2006). Phytochemical and nutrient composition of the freeze-dried amazonian palm berry, Euterpe oleraceae mart. (acai). J Agric Food Chem. 54(22):8598-603.
Del Pozo-Insfran D, Brenes C.H., Talcott S.T. (2004). Phytochemical composition and pigment stability of Açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.). J Agric Food Chem. 52(6):1539-45.
Del Pozo-Insfran D, Percival S.S., Talcott S.T. (2006). Açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) polyphenolics in their glycoside and aglycone forms induce apoptosis of HL-60 leukemia cells. J Agric Food Chem. 54(4):1222-9.
Yi W, Fischer J, Krewer G, Akoh CC. (2005). Phenolic compounds from blueberries can inhibit colon cancer cell proliferation and induce apoptosis. J Agric Food Chem. 53(18):7320-9.
Huang D, Ou B, Prior R.L. (2005). The chemistry behind antioxidant capacity assays. J Agric Food Chem. 53(6):1841-56.
Rocha A.P., Carvalho L.C., Sousa M.A., Madeira S.V., Sousa P.J., Tano T, Schini-Kerth V.B., Resende A.C., Soares de Moura R. (2007). Endothelium-dependent vasodilator effect of Euterpe oleracea Mart. (Açaí) extracts in mesenteric vascular bed of the rat. Vascul. Pharmacol. 46(2):97-104.
Matheus M.E. , de Oliveira Fernandes S.B., Silveira C.S., Rodrigues V.P., de Sousa Menezes F, Fernandes PD. (2006). Inhibitory effects of Euterpe oleracea Mart. on nitric oxide production and iNOS expression. J Ethnopharmacol. 107(2):291-6.
These articles validate that açaí is a serious natural supplement and has proven itself time and again as not only a powerful antioxidant but as a super-fruit with various uses!
monavie is for real you might have had a bad experience with other pyramid companies but not this one. This one is for the best all around. I t helps support good health for the kids and gives people a finacial stability they were missing. Just do research before you make un fact statements.
I enjoy the idiots who don't read my posts - but criticize me for not doing research. FIRSTLY - no matter how much research you cite about the Acai berry, or even MonaVie's research showing that antioxidants are found in people after drinking MonaVie... STILL does not make it a "cure" or a "drug". And if you distributors insist on calling it either, the FDA and the FCC will put MonaVie out of business. Only FDA certified/approved drugs can legally be called "cures" or "drugs".
Now go back and read my post... which is a POSITIVE review of MonaVie... but with an admonition to NOT ever call it a cure or drug.
From your post I can tell you don't know what a politician is.... and are so dumb that I can't imagine you've even ever opened a Science journal. Do you MISINTERPRET everything you read??????
I just joined MonaVie a few months back. Making about 1000/mo so far net profit. I wanted to say.. I completely agree with the Blog Poster. it's so apparent also that some of those who commented got bent out of shape about his admonishment regarding MLM's/MonaVie for making illegal claims. The poster probably even believes in the idea that the FDA is the scam when it comes to what they approve/regulate if anything. So please stop sounding like you have to challenge every little thing or defend the company. Just be smart and promote it as a food, tell people what's in it and let them decide whether their IQ is high enough to realize that the MonaVie product is priceless, ultimately. You DO NOT have to exxagerate anything. It already is the best MLM out there and now that OW has come on board, it just gained a billion times more credibility.
Monavie really does work. People have to try it instead of criticizing it without even looking at the product twice.
i am a monavie distributor and a consumer of the product as well. as the author stated it is no drug or medicine, but what it does do is help decrease inflammation and help give you a natural energy boost and balanced diet. the reason why many people say " its a miracle drug or cure" is because many of todays health problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease and many other things have been linked to inflammation. also the high amount of antioxidants from Monavie aides in fighting off free radicals in cells which are often caused by stress, poor diet, lack of sleep etc... . so like the author said it is only a fruit juice blend and that is all i tell people when i sell it to them, what they feel about it is their own opinion.
Post a Comment