Medical Researcher “Calls Out” Nutritional Drink Companies

Salt Lake City, Utah - Medical anthropologist John Heinerman, PhD, director of the Medical Research Center in Salt Lake City, Utah and advisory board member of AlpineV, has called upon all nutritional beverage companies to provide greater truth in labeling, dispense from using inexpensive fillers, and provide preservative free formulas to consumers.

"Consumers are becoming far too savvy these days to continue to ask them to consume proprietary blends with weak efficacy, flooded with cheap filler juices in formulas that require more preservatives in their diets," said Dr. John Heinerman, director of the Medical Research Center. "People want to know what they are putting into their bodies, and many would be surprised to find their expensive nutritional drink is sprinkled with viable nutrition while the bottle is filled mostly with water and what the industry refers to as cheap filler juices like apple, grape and pear. I believe companies need to provide further disclosure in their labeling to remain ethical to consumers, even though they are currently meeting legal requirements."

In the network marketing industry, it is common for nutritional drinks to conceal the potency of their main ingredients in a proprietary blend. The thinking behind this practice is a desire to protect the company’s formula from being copied. However, consumers must put all of their trust in the company that it will provide adequate potency, as the company will not reveal it. Dr. Heinerman explained that companies can still protect their formulas by providing the potency of their active or main ingredients on the label and rolling up the remaining less-active or filler ingredients in a proprietary blend. This compromise, he believes, will provide consumers with much needed information while protecting companies’ intellectual properties.

"Companies can either reveal their current potencies for active or main ingredients, or if such a revelation would show weak potency, companies can reformulate to provide products with greater nutritional value," Dr. Heinerman suggested. "In addition, true health or nutritional drinks should be provided where no preservatives are added. Slightly more expensive, nutrient-rich fruit juices can be used in formulas to help stave off the need for added preservatives and the industry’s greedy lust for cheap filler juices."

Dr. Heinerman helped create the formulation of a 100% natural, no preservatives added, supplement drink called AlpineV. This drink boasts 25 grams of alpine sandthorn berry per two ounce serving. The alpine sandthorn berry, also known as seabuckthorn, sea berry and Siberian pineapple is known as Hippophae rhamnoides to scientists. It is a tart-to-sweet fruit that flourishes in the alpine regions of Europe and Asia. It is noted for its unique ability to survive in the harshest of conditions of cold and shallow soil. Those interested in the alpine sandthorn berry are encouraged to search for "Hippophae rhamnoides" at pubmed.gov and google.com. An informative article on the berry, written Dr. Heinerman, can be found at www.AlpineV.com/asb.html.

AlpineV is also an open, distributor-focused business opportunity in the network marketing industry. To learn more visit www.AlpineV.com.

About the Medical Research Center - The Medical Research Center was established in 1978 as an information clearing house for folk medicine, food therapy and general nutrition. The Center serves a mixed clientele of health care professionals, manufacturers, retailers and consumers from the functional foods and beverages industry, and occasionally government agencies. In recent years, its services have expanded to include both randomized and blinded clinical trials on a variety of health food supplements. Some of these studies have later appeared in alternative medicine journals or on Internet information sites. The Center has also been involved in product formulations and the testing of them for a number of large supplement companies. When the Center officially opened, Dr. John Heinerman was selected to be its first director from a small number of worthy candidates and has served in that capacity since. Dr. Heinerman is also prolific writer with over 64 books available on health, nutrition and other subjects.

About AlpineV - AlpineV is a premium functional juice beverage and a network marketing business opportunity. AlpineV is made with the Alpine Sandthorn Berry, an exotic super-fruit found in the alpine regions of Europe and Asia. AlpineV is managed and operated by Functional Brands, LLC, a product development, marketing and business opportunity company. The company's driving force is to create and distribute functional products that enhance the health of users, the wealth of distributors and the holistic interests of the company. For more information regarding AlpineV or Functional Brands, contact Functional Brands, LLC at info@functionalbrands.com or visit the AlpineV website at www.AlpineV.com.

AlpineV and Functional Brands are trademarks of Functional Brands, LLC. All other products, services, companies and publications are trademarks of their respective owners.