Mona Vie, anyone using it? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

hunnychile · 05-10-2009, 07:23 AM

People at work are trying & buying the Mona Vie juice, made from the acai berry. They are spending @ $30 per bottle....unless they become salespeople for it, thus part of a MLM scheme i.e. pyraimid. (They won't say it, but that's what it is).

My question is: Has anyone HERE used this and had beneficial results?

Of course all the info. about acai on-line shouts out that it Cures/Helps with various ailments esp. arthritis. BTW, I'm realize there are less expensive ways of obtaining this juice.

NO, it's not fermented!

Baraka_Guru · 05-10-2009, 07:37 AM

Yes, the acai berry is loaded with antioxidants, but so are a plethora of other, much cheaper, foods.

Most products featuring this berry are overpriced, and this is no exception.

Antioxidants have functions that may or may not benefit you in a variety of functions. In pretty much all cases, you won't notice anything. It's one of those "silent" benefits. Antioxidants and their health claims are currently one of the most overstated and overhyped health-related issues currently.

If you want the benefits of antioxidants, eat a variety of fruits and vegetables (even blueberries and fresh pomegranates are far cheaper than many of these acai products) and other things such as tea, coffee, and dark chocolate (cocoa).

I would say this product is a waste of money. How much is in a $30 bottle? A gallon at least, I hope.

hunnychile · 05-10-2009, 08:26 AM

Thanks BG, glad to have some feedback.

And I like that easy to obtain foods are just as beneficial.

Redjake · 05-11-2009, 04:55 PM

One of my coworkers went on and on and on about this for like an hour one day and I eventually got out of her that it's a huge multi-level marketing scheme. The fact this stuff is sold via MLM makes me doubt it does anything at all more than something you could buy off your grocery store shelf for like 1/5th the price.

The seminars my coworker went to (she's been to like three) made it sound more and more like a huge brainwash scheme.

People saying it cures cancer and all sorts of stuff...

I'm sure this stuff feeds off of cognitive dissonance, meaning, if you purchase it for $30 a bottle you will basically convince yourself 100% it really works.

hunnychile · 05-11-2009, 05:52 PM

Agreed Redjake. In fact it's free on several web sites....which makes it seem more idiotic to purchase for $27 bucks a bottle.

Certainly the placebo effect is the "95% mind over matter" factor at work with this juice.

It urks me that all of the folks selling mona vie swear that it's not a pyramid scheme.

Baraka_Guru · 05-11-2009, 06:30 PM

This is, of course, a cliche, but it's often fitting: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Halanna · 05-12-2009, 03:23 AM

I have to confess I've never heard of this product.

Is it simply something to drink to receive the benefits of antioxidants like the POM juice?

MSD · 05-14-2009, 10:13 AM

Whenever I come across something touting a questionable health benefit, Quackwatch is my first stop. Here are some excerpts from an article on Acai.
Consumers Warned of Web-Based Aai Scams

Quote:

Açai began attracting attention in 2005 on the belief that its juice was especially high in antioxidants. In truth, açai juice has only middling levels of antioxidants—less than that of Concord grape, blueberry, and black cherry juices, but more than cranberry, orange, and apple juices. Even so, the extent to which antioxidants by themselves promote health is a matter of some debate. No credible evidence suggests antioxidants promote weight loss.

In early 2008, Açai got a jolt of publicity when Mehmet Oz, M.D., included açai among tomatoes, blueberries, broccoli, and other healthy foods in a segment on Oprah. A guest on Rachael Ray also discussed an açai beverage. Since then, ads on Google, Facebook, and major news media web sites have misleadingly steered consumers to sites with names like Oprah-best-acai.com , OprahsAmazingDiet.com, DrOzMiracle.com, rachaelray.drozdiet-acaiberry.com and dozens of others. OprahsAmazingDiet.com links to a blog post by a woman who supposedly lost 57 pounds using Oprah-endorsed products, and displays authoritative-looking biographies of Oprah and Dr. Oz. It then links to an offer for AcaiBurn, sold by a company that lists an address in Cyprus as its headquarters. Other sites link to FWM Laboratories of Ft. Lauderdale and Hollywood, Fla., which has an F rating from the Better Business Bureau and scores of horror stories about it on Internet complaint forms. Oprah Winfrey, Mehmet Oz, and Rachael Ray have all publicly disassociated themselves from the açai sites that make unauthorized use their names.
...
FWM Laboratories, Advanced Wellness Research, and other acai companies benefit from dozens of fake diet blogs that steer unsuspecting consumers to sites plugging free açai trials. The woman depicted on Tara's Diet Blog, Olivia's Weight Loss blog, Alicia's Diet Blog, Becky's Weight Loss blog, and at least 75 other blogs is a German model named Julia who has nothing to do with acai or any weight-loss product. The German photographer who made the original photos of her available on Istockphoto.com said the pill companies manipulated some of the "after" images to give the impression of weight loss. The fake blogs were first uncovered by a real blog, wafflesatnoon.com, written by an ad-industry insider.
...
One of several online purchases of açai attempted by CSPI was blocked when the fraud department of the credit card’s issuing bank called the group, flagging the charge as suspicious. The reason? The funds would have been routed to an overseas bank.

ametc · 06-06-2009, 10:08 AM

It made me use the bathroom big time!

hunnychile · 06-06-2009, 07:11 PM

Finally got a few free bottles to sample from a friend and the juice tastes like the best fresh red rasberry & cherry juice I've ever consumed. It's extremely dark/thick and makes terrific smoothies. So far I haven't felt any huge differences in health or energy.

However, I find that I've been "in the bathroom" alot too! Nothing outta control, just more intense. So IT DOES cleanse your system and fast!

wooÐs · 06-06-2009, 08:21 PM

Now I don't know the specifics, but I have a cousin who remains a salesperson for this juice, yet she was hospitalized for it. Something to do with her pancreas. She's since had to reduce her consumption. But again, that's all I know.

MSD · 06-08-2009, 12:52 PM

So ... it's the same as either drinking a lot of water or taking a laxative? For $30 a bottle?

05-10-2009, 07:23 AM	#1 (permalink)
hunnychile Alien Anthropologist Location: Between Boredom and Nirvana	Mona Vie, anyone using it? People at work are trying & buying the Mona Vie juice, made from the acai berry. They are spending @ $30 per bottle....unless they become salespeople for it, thus part of a MLM scheme i.e. pyraimid. (They won't say it, but that's what it is). My question is: Has anyone HERE used this and had beneficial results? Of course all the info. about acai on-line shouts out that it Cures/Helps with various ailments esp. arthritis. BTW, I'm realize there are less expensive ways of obtaining this juice. NO, it's not fermented! __________________ "I need compassion, understanding and chocolate." - NJB

05-10-2009, 07:37 AM	#2 (permalink)
Baraka_Guru warrior bodhisattva Super Moderator Location: East-central Canada	Yes, the acai berry is loaded with antioxidants, but so are a plethora of other, much cheaper, foods. Most products featuring this berry are overpriced, and this is no exception. Antioxidants have functions that may or may not benefit you in a variety of functions. In pretty much all cases, you won't notice anything. It's one of those "silent" benefits. Antioxidants and their health claims are currently one of the most overstated and overhyped health-related issues currently. If you want the benefits of antioxidants, eat a variety of fruits and vegetables (even blueberries and fresh pomegranates are far cheaper than many of these acai products) and other things such as tea, coffee, and dark chocolate (cocoa). I would say this product is a waste of money. How much is in a $30 bottle? A gallon at least, I hope. __________________ Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing? —Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön Humankind cannot bear very much reality. —From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot Last edited by Baraka_Guru; 05-10-2009 at 07:40 AM..

05-10-2009, 08:26 AM	#3 (permalink)
hunnychile Alien Anthropologist Location: Between Boredom and Nirvana	Thanks BG, glad to have some feedback. And I like that easy to obtain foods are just as beneficial. __________________ "I need compassion, understanding and chocolate." - NJB

05-11-2009, 04:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
Redjake I'm a family man - I run a family business. Location: Wilson, NC	One of my coworkers went on and on and on about this for like an hour one day and I eventually got out of her that it's a huge multi-level marketing scheme. The fact this stuff is sold via MLM makes me doubt it does anything at all more than something you could buy off your grocery store shelf for like 1/5th the price. The seminars my coworker went to (she's been to like three) made it sound more and more like a huge brainwash scheme. People saying it cures cancer and all sorts of stuff... I'm sure this stuff feeds off of cognitive dissonance, meaning, if you purchase it for $30 a bottle you will basically convince yourself 100% it really works. __________________ Off the record, on the q.t., and very hush-hush.

05-11-2009, 05:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
hunnychile Alien Anthropologist Location: Between Boredom and Nirvana	Agreed Redjake. In fact it's free on several web sites....which makes it seem more idiotic to purchase for $27 bucks a bottle. Certainly the placebo effect is the "95% mind over matter" factor at work with this juice. It urks me that all of the folks selling mona vie swear that it's not a pyramid scheme. __________________ "I need compassion, understanding and chocolate." - NJB

05-11-2009, 06:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
Baraka_Guru warrior bodhisattva Super Moderator Location: East-central Canada	This is, of course, a cliche, but it's often fitting: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. __________________ Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing? —Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön Humankind cannot bear very much reality. —From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

05-12-2009, 03:23 AM	#7 (permalink)
Halanna Insane Location: Over the rainbow . .	I have to confess I've never heard of this product. Is it simply something to drink to receive the benefits of antioxidants like the POM juice?

06-06-2009, 10:08 AM	#9 (permalink)
ametc Psycho	It made me use the bathroom big time!

06-06-2009, 07:11 PM	#10 (permalink)
hunnychile Alien Anthropologist Location: Between Boredom and Nirvana	Finally got a few free bottles to sample from a friend and the juice tastes like the best fresh red rasberry & cherry juice I've ever consumed. It's extremely dark/thick and makes terrific smoothies. So far I haven't felt any huge differences in health or energy. However, I find that I've been "in the bathroom" alot too! Nothing outta control, just more intense. So IT DOES cleanse your system and fast! __________________ "I need compassion, understanding and chocolate." - NJB

06-06-2009, 08:21 PM	#11 (permalink)
wooÐs Sitting in a tree Location: Atlanta	Now I don't know the specifics, but I have a cousin who remains a salesperson for this juice, yet she was hospitalized for it. Something to do with her pancreas. She's since had to reduce her consumption. But again, that's all I know.

06-08-2009, 12:52 PM	#12 (permalink)
MSD The sky calls to us ... Super Moderator Location: CT	So ... it's the same as either drinking a lot of water or taking a laxative? For $30 a bottle?