Juice Plus+

Sold as capsules, chewables, wafers, and even gummies for kids, Juice Plus+ supplements claim to offer the benefits of whole fruits and vegetables. Orchard Blend, according to the company website, is a mixture of seven freeze-dried fruits; four capsules are supposed to contain the vitamin C of four oranges. Garden Blend is a combination of ten vegetables; a day’s dose supposedly provides the beta carotene of three carrots and more vitamin E than several cups of spinach or broccoli. The Vineyard Blend offers seven types of berries and grapes, along with green tea extract, coenzyme Q-10, and a list of other compounds. One statement from Juice Plus+ cannot be disputed—that scientists now know that diets high in fruits and vegetables reduce the risk of chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers.

Claims, purported benefits: Boosts the immune system, provides antioxidants, contains all the nutrients in fruits and vegetables. Juice Plus+ literature also claims that Juice Plus+ supplements can reverse the adverse effects of a high-fat meal.

Bottom line: No capsules can substitute for fruits and vegetables, which contain the best balance of nutrients and phytochemicals. You cannot "concentrate" significant amounts of them in a capsule, a chewable, or a gummy. You cannot turn a blueberry or an orange into a magic bullet in a pill. Stick with the real thing. No studies exist to compare the physiologic effects of supplementation with Juice Plus+ and eating whole fresh fruits and vegetables. Moreover, Juice Plus+ is distributed through a multi-tiered marketing scheme with exaggerated value and cost.