MonaVie
® products are juice blends that are claimed to provide a variety of astounding health benefits. These products contain a blend of various juices and other ingredients, most notable
acai berry. Some MonaVie products contain additional active ingredients, such as
glucosamine or
plant sterols.
In general, the acai berry is promoted as the main active ingredient in MonaVie products.
You may have noticed that MonaVie is not available in stores, as the manufacturer uses multilevel marketing to sell the product, similar to other companies such as Avon or Amway. Of course, as with any product marketed in this way, it is a good idea to view much of the praise of MonaVie products with some degree of skepticism. It is reasonable to assume that much of this praise comes from the many individuals who sell the products.
Does MonaVie Really Work?
If you simply expect MonaVie to serve as a way to add antioxidant-rich berry products to your diet, then it will likely work for your purposes. However, if you expect the product to have significant or astounding medicinal properties, you may be disappointed.
Despite the widespread hype, there is very little scientific evidence to suggest that MonaVie products really work better than any other antioxidant-rich berry products (many of which are significantly less expensive). "Test tube" studies definitely suggest that acai berry products show significant promise due to potent antioxidant activity, but these studies do not always reflect how a substance will affect humans.
There are no clearly established side effects of MonaVie
(see Acai Side Effects for more information).
As a fruit juice blend, MonaVie is assumed to be safe for most people, especially when consumed in moderation. Some people may be more likely to experience problems with it than others. Therefore, you should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking this product medicinally if you have:
- Any chronic or severe medical condition
- Any allergies, including allergies to foods, dyes, or preservatives.
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about any other medicines you are taking, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
(Click Acai Warnings for more information, including any available warnings and precautions.)
Most of the benefits of MonaVie are attributed to the
acai berry content. Acai berries contain a variety of different substances and compounds, such as proteins, lipids, vitamins, minerals and nutrients, anthrocyanins, and flavonoids. MonaVie is a rich source of antioxidants.
There is also some evidence that MonaVie may inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) enzymes, at least in "test tube" studies. Theoretically, this could be how the product works for
arthritis or other inflammatory conditions.
There is no scientifically established standard "dosage" for acai berries, or most of the other ingredients in MonaVie.
What If I Take an Overdose of MonaVie?
It is not clear what exactly to expect from an overdose with this product, or even if an overdose is possible. If you think you or someone else may have taken too much MonaVie, it is important to seek immediate medical attention, just to be safe.
