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Frequently Asked Questions
About BerryBoost™

Why do you have so many different formulas?

There are literally thousands of different dietary phytochemicals (DPCs) found in food. In just the anthocyanin class, which is found in berries, there are over 300 different DPCs. Different groups of dietary phytochemicals have different affects on the body. Each BerryBoost formula focuses on a different group of dietary phytochemicals.

Which is better – capsules or concentrates?

It's really a matter of preference. There is some evidence that liquid concentrates are more bio-available and enter the blood stream more quickly. The liquids can also easily be infused in drinks, or added to smoothies or even in cooking. Some people prefer capsules for the convenience and easy portability, especially when traveling.

Is there a specific time or order in which I should take BerryBoost products?

Recent studies suggest that anthocyanin products are best absorbed without competition from other foods. If possible, take BerryBoost products 20 minutes before a meal. But having said that, the dietary phytochemicals in BerryBoost products are so beneficial that there's never a bad time to take them. Many people find that taking them in the morning provides a reliable routine and sets the tone for the day. However, others find that taking multiple doses spaced four to six hours apart evens out their energy throughout the day. Many of our customers take Immune Formula or Cardio Formula shortly before a workout and Inflammation Buster after to minimize micro capillary bleeding that causes muscle pain. If you are taking more than one product, take them at the same time if possible to take advantage of their synergistic effects. To support the repair work your immune system performs while you sleep, take a berry formula (Immune Formula, Cardio Formula, or Inflammation Buster) before bed.

Are the concentrates a meal replacement?

No, they're a supplement to your daily meal. Very few people consume the recommended 9 or more daily servings of fruits and vegetables, and of those that do, few get the full color spectrum of purple, red, orange, and green. BerryBoost is an affordable, efficient way to "boost" your DPC content. We are Berry"Boost" and the idea is to boost your DPC content with Boost Products. In fact, think of BerryBoost products as an easy way to get the benefits of a Mediterranean diet.

Can taking too much BerryBoost at once be harmful?

No, but taking higher doses won't necessarily be of help to you either. The body can only use so much at a time, and will simply excrete what it can't use. Smaller, more frequent doses of any specific single product are much more effective than a large single daily dose. Follow the recommended guidelines on the package, but don’t be afraid to experiment a little with the timing and size of doses.

Can I take several products at once?

Absolutely! Since each formula is based on different groups of phytochemicals, you'll get a broader range of nutrients by taking advantage of more than one formula.

If I were only to choose one or two products, what do you recommend?

For general health purposes, we recommend Inflammation Buster (or Immune Formula or Cardio Formula) and Complex. An increasing body of scientific research indicates that inflammation is the precursor of many of the diseases and conditions associated with aging. All of our berry formulas, but Inflammation Buster especially, have a high ORAC content and are rich in anthocyanins. Immune Formula and Cardio Formula also have a high anthocyanin content and anti-inflammatory effect.

Research indicates that different antioxidants appear to protect different organs; that's why variety is so important. BerryBoost's Complex formula, with a blend of 10 different fruits and vegetables, includes a wide range of protective dietary phytochemicals; it's especially rich in carotenoids and anthocyanins.

How does BerryBoost help with stress relief?

The moment you wake up in the morning, your body revs up production of cortisol, the stress hormone. For those who are prone to the effects of stress, this is more pronounced. Any of our berry-based formulas (Cardio Formula, Immune Formula, and Inflammation Buster) will quench the stress hormones. You may want to experiment to see which one works best for you. A regular routine of anthocyanins may also help to even out your blood sugar and prevent the peaks and valleys of blood sugar effects.

How does the nutritional content of BerryBoost compare to pomegranate juice or the acai berry?

Both pomegranate and acai berries have high levels of anthocyanins (their rich red color is a giveaway). However, both these foods still score well below our chokeberry and elderberry formulas in anthocyanin content, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory power.

We are always hearing how healthful blueberries are. Why don't you use blueberries in your formulas?

You hear a lot about blueberries in the media because blueberries are one of the most readily available blue-pigmented berries. Their dietary phytochemicals are powerful antioxidants, and we encourage you to make blueberries part of your regular diet. We actually do use blueberries in our formulas – our Inflammation Buster formula contains European blueberry, which is also known as bilberry. Bilberry contains almost twice the ORAC (a measure of antioxidant power) as regular blueberry.

However, when it comes to anthocyanin and ORAC content, elderberry and chokeberry contain even more. The ORAC in regular blueberries (measured in Trolox equivalents per gram) is 24. European blueberry, or bilberry, contains 46 ORAC. Elderberry contains 61, and chokeberry a whopping 76. Unlike blueberries, you won't find elderberry and chokeberry in the produce aisle of your grocery store – and that's precisely why we created our berry formulas.

You seem to focus on fewer fruits and vegetables than some other whole food concentrate companies. For example some other products contain barley, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, kale, oats, parsley, spinach, and tomato?

We encourage you to eat a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. However, to gain the most protective health benefits, research shows that you must get and maintain a certain level of key dietary phytochemicals (such as anthocyanins, carotenoids, indoles, sulforaphanes, and lycopene). We concentrate on the true super foods that deliver them in concentrations simply not found in other foods. These super foods are chokeberry, elderberry, black currant, bilberry, carrot, pumpkin, tomato, watermelon, and kale.

What exactly are super foods?

Super foods are those brightly colored fruits and vegetables that have the highest concentrations of the phytonutrients shown to confer the most health benefits. The health benefits are measured, in part, by their antioxidant capability.

What about broccoli? Isn't that a super food?

Broccoli is one of the most healthful foods out there, and we encourage you to eat it! However, when it comes to ORAC and the bioavailability of nutrients such as sulforaphane and calcium, kale is far more potent than broccoli. (In fact, the calcium in kale is even more bioavailable than the calcium in spinach or milk!) Kale is also an excellent source of potassium.

What does ORAC refer to?

Food nutrition researchers at Tuft University's USDA-sponsored Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging developed the ORAC system as a way to measure the antioxidant power found in foods. ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity. Under normal conditions, the recommended daily intake is 4,000 to 5,000 ORAC units. If you're under physical or emotional stress, you should strive to get more than that. Unfortunately, the average individual gets only about 1200-1700 ORAC units per day – well under half of what is needed for optimum health.

Can diabetics take BerryBoost products?

The concentration of dietary phytochemicals in BerryBoost products can have a very powerful effect. You should consult with your medical doctor or other health care professional before taking BerryBoost or any other product. We will gladly provide your health care professional with the research behind our products. Immune Formula contains more natural sugars than our other formulas and it may be an issue for some people who are sensitive to sugars. That being said, BerryBoost products have the majority of sugars removed. (Some customers like to add a sweetener to some of our less sweet-tasting formulas.) Elderberry, black currant, bilberry, and most of all chokeberry have shown the ability to lower blood sugar in some individuals. Keep in mind that diabetics generally have higher levels of stress hormones, free radicals, and inflammation than non-diabetics. BerryBoost berry products are, in most cases, a safe way to help mitigate the damage from these three problems. For diabetics, our top recommendations are Inflammation Buster, Cardio Formula, and Complex.

Will chokeberry actually help reduce my blood pressure?

Studies show that chokeberry is very effective at producing nitric oxide from the endothelium of vessel walls, which may help reduce blood pressure. Please consult your health care practitioner. Like any drug, food, or supplement, each individual will have a different response and some individuals will receive more benefit than others. Under medical supervision, you should make appropriate diet and other life style changes including losing weight and increasing exercise levels, and reducing stress. In the context of these recommended lifestyle changes, our chokeberry formula (Cardio Formula) may be helpful.

Once I start taking BerryBoost products, what can I expect to feel or see?

Drugs, food, and supplements affect people in different ways. Depending on which of our products you are taking, you are getting powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-stress phytonutrients that reduce the damage from free radicals, inflammation, and stress hormones. You may not feel these effects at all. For others, depending on the product, you may see blood pressure and blood glucose levels go down. You may see other signs of systemic inflammation reduced in joints and skin. Digestion may improve. Acid reflux, irritable bowel symptoms may diminish. You may see your skin become healthier looking with fewer wrinkles, brown spots, flaking (all signs of oxidative stress and inflammation and excess stress hormones), and you may see your hair grow faster. You may feel less anxious, more energetic, and more rested after a night's sleep. Other inflammation-related symptoms may diminish. BerryBoost products are not a cure for any disease; they simply help protect you against the damage done by free radicals, chronic inflammation, and stress hormones. The benefits of BerryBoost are enhanced with lifestyle improvements in the areas of diet, exercise, stress reduction, reduced alcohol consumption, and smoking cessation.

Why does BerryBoost cost more than other whole food concentrates and berry products?

BerryBoost actually costs less, not more, on a gram for gram basis compared to any other product out there. A single concentrated dose of any BerryBoost formula delivers as much or more dietary phytochemical content than multiple doses of similar products. Even more importantly, it delivers enough to be effective. You need to take several times the amount of other products to get the same nutritional content and antioxidant power contained in a single dose of BerryBoost. When you compare the price of what you're getting, gram for gram, you will find BerryBoost is much more cost effective.

Can the BerryBoost liquids be used in recipes?

Yes. Here are just a few suggestions to get you started, but feel free to use your imagination.

Why can’t I find your products in the store?

Our goal is to provide our customers with the most phytonutrient content at the lowest possible cost. Distributing products through retail stores requires large advertising budgets and slotting fees, which would add to the cost of the product. Even more important, however, is the fact that inexperienced sales people in stores often provide misinformation. By selling direct through our website and through our carefully screened affiliates, we know that the right information will get to our customers. For example, you'll find far more information about the products here on our website than you would ever get in a store.

How did you develop your formulas?

Since the company's beginnings, we have worked with leaders from around the world in the field of phytonutrients, as well as nutritionists and cell biologists. Our formulas are developed in conjunction with with top scientists and nutritionalists that provide us with valuable guidance. In the course of developing each formula, we review literally hundreds of studies and reams of research on the subject. Our goal is nothing less than the most concentrated source of dietary phytochemicals from super foods.

Are there any cautions I should know about when using BerryBoost products?

BerryBoost products are generally safe. However, they can lower blood sugar and blood pressure. If you have an allergy or sensitivity to some of the whole foods used in our products, you should not use BerryBoost. Before taking BerryBoost or any dietary supplement, you should always check with your health care practitioner.

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. BerryBoost products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information contained on this website has been developed from academic research on food supplements and aging and is intended for educational purposes only. This website and the information contained herein is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical care or advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your personal physician.