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My wife is rather fond of Odwalla. Especially their "Superfood" line. While kind of weird-looking (it's a dark green color), it used to be chock full of nutrients, and was the kind of thing you could have on a day when you felt you just weren't going to get enough fruits and veggies and maybe feel a bit better about yourself.
Note the "used to be".
You may be aware that, many years ago, Odwalla had a problem with E. coli poisoning connected to their apple juice. Subsequently, they took to pasteurizing everything. Not uncommon, but it kills much of the vitamin value of a juice. Okay, so they added vitamins back in during production.
Some time along the line, they seem to have quietly ceased or at least significantly reduced putting those vitamins back in. I looked at a bottle of Superfood recently, and was kind of shocked. There's still a chunk of vitamin C in the stuff, but that's just about it. Something like their "C Monster" blend has a ridiculous amount of ascorbic acid, but it's otherwise a nutritional void.
I'm kind of disappointed in them. You'd be better off drinking somthing like V-8, which costs a lot less. Or taking a multi-vitamin with your coffee.
I recognize that pre-made smoothies as a panacea for poor nutrition is a bit of a delusion. But that's really the image that Odwalla sells. And it seems like they're not caring so much about there being any reality behind that image.
Posts: 3826 | Registered: May 2005
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I was disappointed to realize the same thing. However, their "B-Monster" (or whatever it's called) still has a fair amount of vitamins.
Posts: 1327 | Registered: Aug 2007
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That is very disappointing. I didn't realize Odwalla had gotten so careless. They sell their stuff here on my campus, and I would get them every so often to try and boost my health, as well as the other things I eat and drink each day. It's good to know that that won't really work anymore.
Luckily, we sell the V8 products too.
Posts: 7877 | Registered: Feb 2003
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I've read and heard a lot to suggest that the whole idea that taking vitamins in prescribed amounts is, in itself, pretty much useless. Everything you need to survive is in a healthy natural diet anyway- we have already adapted to eating what we need, and putting those vitamins in has no proven benefit.
Posts: 9912 | Registered: Nov 2005
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I've actually read that taking a multivitamin every day can diminish your body's capacity to absorb the vitamins in unprocessed food effectively. For that reason I don't give multivitamins to my kids except when they're on a not-eating-healthy kick (every one or two year old occasionally goes through a hot dogs, white bread, and bananas only phase.)
However, a multivitamin is also good "insurance" if you know that you don't have the healthiest diet.
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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quote:Originally posted by ketchupqueen: I've actually read that taking a multivitamin every day can diminish your body's capacity to absorb the vitamins in unprocessed food effectively. For that reason I don't give multivitamins to my kids except when they're on a not-eating-healthy kick (every one or two year old occasionally goes through a hot dogs, white bread, and bananas only phase.)
However, a multivitamin is also good "insurance" if you know that you don't have the healthiest diet.
Interesting. You recall where you read this, KQ? Not doubting you- just curious.
Posts: 3826 | Registered: May 2005
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kq- I also am interested. I am debating whether or not to give my kid a daily vitamin and I haven't heard any negatives. My doctor was extremely neutral when we asked his opinion.
Posts: 2223 | Registered: Mar 2008
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quote:Originally posted by ketchupqueen: I've actually read that taking a multivitamin every day can diminish your body's capacity to absorb the vitamins in unprocessed food effectively. For that reason I don't give multivitamins to my kids except when they're on a not-eating-healthy kick (every one or two year old occasionally goes through a hot dogs, white bread, and bananas only phase. However, a multivitamin is also good "insurance" if you know that you don't have the healthiest diet.
Interesting. You recall where you read this, KQ? Not doubting you- just curious.
A whole bunch of studies when they came out were featured on parenting sites. I've discussed it with my kids' pediatricians and they actually agree with me.
I should add that I personally DO take a multi-supplement, since my mom made me take one every day as a kid so I figure my capacity is already diminished.
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Orincoro: I've read and heard a lot to suggest that the whole idea that taking vitamins in prescribed amounts is, in itself, pretty much useless. Everything you need to survive is in a healthy natural diet anyway- we have already adapted to eating what we need, and putting those vitamins in has no proven benefit.
It greatly depends on who you are. Individual mileage may vary. I take potassium supplements and a multivitamin in order to tone down the perceptibility of my heartbeat, which was apparently a reaction to vitamin deficiencies.
I've no doubt some people get all they need out of the diets they have, but the nutritional values of our foodstuffs have been getting patchy in the last half-century, so some people need more than what they get from what they do eat.
Posts: 15421 | Registered: Aug 2005
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quote:Originally posted by ketchupqueen: A whole bunch of studies when they came out were featured on parenting sites. I've discussed it with my kids' pediatricians and they actually agree with me.
I should add that I personally DO take a multi-supplement, since my mom made me take one every day as a kid so I figure my capacity is already diminished.
Well, I guess I don't have to feel guilty that my daughter hates Flintstones, then... Posts: 3826 | Registered: May 2005
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Jon, I'm not sure about the comma. I think it does. I occasionally leave mine out though, if it's a short enough phrase.
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