It’s all about Mona Vie - a multi-level marketing product that’s really just expensive fruit juice.  I don’t doubt that it’s nutritious or contains some useful antioxidants, but natural products almost invariably need to be taken in either a) highly concentrated form or b) in volume for the user to obtain significant amounts of the active compounds. Drinking a glass of orange juice, for example, will supply significant amounts of vitamin C, potassium, and folic acid. Drinking a couple of ounces (a typical Mona Vie serving), on the other hand, isn’t nearly as effective.

Acai is very chi-chi in Brazil, and the pureed pulp (not really juice per se) is served up in much larger amounts than are provided for in US supplement versions. Yet even in articles like this one, which fully credits the Brazilian mystique, there’s no hint that that the locals view it as a miracle cure for any major illness.  And in Brazil, it’s consumed fresh or frozen, in amounts considerably larger than what you might get in a serving of Mona Vie (which isn’t straight acai, but a blend of a number of different juices).

It’s just like Paul pointed out earlier:

Fact is, many of these miraculous juices are much less about delivering health benefits, and much more about making money.

Consider that next time you hear about some “miraculous” new product marketed through a pyramid scheme.

Ain’t it the truth?

(h/t to Pandagon)

Over the years, I’ve been approached a bazillion times about promoting the aforementioned products, and many others. It’s always some kind hearted marketer doing his or her best to ensure I’m “in on the ground floor” of this “opportunity” (and nothing, I’m sure, to do with having me under them in the “commission matrix”).

Heaven forbid I miss out on the “wave” of “financial well being” and good health that will ultimately follow the heels of the product.

 It comes as no surprise to those who know me, that I steer WAY away from products such as these. Sure, the promotional materials look great; pictures of pristine, cascading waterfalls, untarnished, vibrant rain forest, a montage of happy, healthy indigenous people… you know what I’m talking about. And of course, there’s the obligatory “stock” photo of the “average” users of the product; usually slim, attractive people, beaming with sheer delight as they frolic care-free in some idyllic natural setting with their absolutely perfect 2.5 children in tow.

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I have a confession to make.

Gather ’round closely now, I’m going to whisper it in your ear…

I’m suspicious of products marketed through MLM (multi-level-marketing) schemes. I know, I know, there are some reputable companies that do business in this manner. And yes, I know… some of you are not going to be pleased with me for saying so, but unfortunately, I’ve found the very nature of MLM makes it the ideal medium to market products of dubious integrity.

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