Aunt Bytes - The Findings Of Nurse Brenda, RN, BSN

Dear Nurse Brenda:

How many servings of fruits and vegetables does the U.S. National Research Council recommend we eat daily?

The U.S. National Research Council recommends that you consume at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day to maintain a proper supply of food derived antioxidants for your body. Research indicates that only five percent of the U.S. population consumes five servings of fruits and vegetables per day.

That’s a lot of food, Nurse Brenda. How can I get these servings without having to shop for, store, wash, chop, peel, (and end up throwing away when they go bad) all the fresh items necessary to meet these dietary demands? I do have other things to do with my time.

We all remember the big “juice craze” in the early eighties. This was a great idea, and many of us bought the specialized gadget, but who really took all the time necessary to chop the fruits and veggies into small enough pieces to fit inside the machine? Much less all the clean-up that went along with the entire process? And now doctors and nutritionists are telling us that commercially prepared juices have too many calories. What now, you might ask? What if I told you that we have found the perfect answer to this problem? (and many other problems we’ll discuss later!)

What is MonaVie?

MonaVie is a delicious and energizing blend of the Brazilian açai berry—one of nature’s top super-foods—and other nutrient dense fruits. Developed with the philosophy Balance-Variety-Moderation, MonaVie delivers the phytonutrients and antioxidants you need to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.

How many calories are in this one?

An ounce in the morning and an ounce after lunch (the typical regimen unless there is illness already present) is only 40 calories and that’s per day!

What is açai?

Açai is a small, round, dark-purple berry with amazing nutritional properties. Its appearance is similar to that of a grape, but it has a smaller amount of pulp and a single large seed. Scientific experts have referred to the açai berry as the most nutritious and powerful food in the world.

Where does the açai berry grow?

The açai berry grows in clusters on the açai palm, a genus of 25–30 species of palms native to tropical Central and South America. These tall, slender, and attractive palms can grow 15–30 meters tall, with leaves up to 3 meters long. The prime commercial source of açai comes from the area where several rivers converge within the Amazon estuary, emptying along the northeastern corner of Brazil into the Atlantic Ocean between the states of Para and Amapa. The people of Brazil refer to acai as the “Milk of the Amazon.”

Does harvesting the açai berry destroy the Amazon rainforest?

No. In fact, MonaVie is helping to preserve the Amazon rainforest by harvesting the açai berry. Each week, poachers illegally chop down 5,000–10,000 palm trees to obtain and sell a 12-inch section of the palm known as the “palmito.” As a result, the entire tree dies. On the other hand, by harvesting the açai berry, the palm tree continues to thrive and the natives have an incentive to preserve the acai-bearing palm tree. It is estimated that in 2006, MonaVie, by buying the açai berry from Brazilian suppliers, will preserve over 250,000 acai palm trees.

Do MonaVie products treat, cure, or prevent disease?

It is not the purpose of a natural product like MonaVie to treat, cure, or prevent disease; the FDA approves drugs to treat, cure, and prevent disease. MonaVie’s products are made with a specific selection of fruits and other natural compounds such as glucosamine hydrochloride and esterified fatty acids. These fruits and compounds have been shown in some studies to protect from various ailments.

What is the M.O.R.E. Project?

The M.O.R.E. Project helps provide food, shelter, clothing, and education to the needy children of Brazil, often left orphaned in the slums of Rio de Janeiro. The M.O.R.E. Project not only stands for MonaVie’s Operation Rescue, but to the orphaned children of Brazil, it also represents More Hope, More Health, More Caring, and More Love.

How does MonaVie help to protect the Amazon rainforest?

Each week, poachers illegally chop down between 5,000 and 10,000 açai palm trees simply to harvest a 12-inch section of the tree known as the heart of the palm (or “palmito”). Once these trees are destroyed, they never return. By creating a demand for the acai berry, MonaVie has given locals an economic incentive to harvest only the berries and not the heart of the palm. This not only preserves the trees and the Amazon rainforest, but it also provides a continual source of income for the locals.

Nurse Brenda, How has Monavie helped you?

Actually, I didn't expect it to help me at all. But before I finished the first bottle, I noticed a dramatic improvement in my energy level. It makes sense, really. I know that I don't consume the necessary vitamins and nutrients every day to keep my body in top form, so it only made sense that I would feel better if I did. But something else amazing happened as well. My left shoulder was badly damaged in a roll-over car accident 3 years ago. It has "bothered me" every day since then, even after surgical repair. I noticed that even after wielding a chainsaw all weekend, I didn't have any pain in that shoulder at all. Not even the nagging ache that has become my constant companion! Wow!

How do I find out more about MonaVie?
Just Click here or on the bottle above to learn more about MonaVie.

Did I mention how yummy this juice is? To me it tastes like blackberry mixed with pear. And I like that it's "Rainforest Friendly", helps the Brazilian native people to find a renewable source of income, and makes me feel good all over....leaving no bad taste in my mouth whatsoever.

Try it and let me know how much it helps you in the first week!

'Til next time,
Nurse Brenda