New Product Friday: Nouri
Inner Immune Immunobiotic Beverage
One of the biggest up and coming trends in the beverage industry today is gut health. (We talked about the importance of pre-biotics here). COVID accelerated consumers’ desire for immune boosting beverages. But, what is good to see is the intersection between immune health and gut health. That’s where Nouri’s new Inner Immune Immunobiotic beverages come in. There’s a vast amount of research supporting the influence gut health has on immunity. As a person diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, I can tell you first hand that gut health and immune health are related! Let’s take a closer look at this beverage to see if it worth purchasing:
Water: Self-explanatory
Immuno-LP20(R): This is a heat killed bacteria. The supplier has published a study that shows that this ingredient is effective in preventing upper respiratory tract infections (i.e. prevents the cold). This is the only study produced that shows an impact on immune health.
Erythritol: A sugar alcohol that has 70% the sweetness of sugar. This ingredient is popular for beverage companies to use because its cheap, sweet, and does not count towards the “added sugar” claim. For some people (like myself), consuming erythritol leads to digestive discomfort and issues.
L-Glutamine: Glutamine is known to be the main energy substrate used by immune cells. It also increases blood glucose (increases insulin). If diabetic, caution should be taken ingesting this ingredient.
Vitamin C: An ingredient with many functions most notably: immune health and skin health.
Magnesium: The ingredient list did not include the source of magnesium. Different sources of vitamins and minerals can be adsorbed by the body differently. By not putting the source (which is incorrect labeling), its hard to know if this company uses an credible source. With that being said, magnesium is most studied to be effective with increased aerobic exercise and muscle oxygenation (i.e. muscles are able to perform better when exercising). It also helps increase sleep quality and bone mineral density. None of the proven benefits coincide with immune health
Zinc: Once again, this is an unknown source of zinc. So, we are not sure if it is a source that can be used or adsorbed by the body. Zinc is primarily known for assisting in immune health as it can shorten the duration of a cold and/or lower the risk of preventing a cold.
Vitamin B3 (Niacin): Niacin is most known for raising HDL cholesterol and lowering LDL cholesterol. There is some evidence for helping increase some immune cells, but this is not its primary benefit.
Manganese: Once again, an unknown source. So, we are not sure if it is a source that can be used or adsorbed by the body. Manganese is most known for bone health and may reduce inflamation in the body (but only when combined with other minerals/ingredients which are not present in this beverage).
Vitamin B6: Vitamin B6 is most known for providing energy.
Vitamin B12: Vitamin B12 is most known for providing energy.
Vitamin D2: Vitamin D2 is less effective at getting absorbed in the body than Vitamin D3. With that being said, Vitamin D is most known for immune health, acting as an anti-inflammatory, helps with bone and joint health, and helps with cognitive and brain health.
Organic Fruit and Vegetable Juice for Color: The color from organic fruits and vegetables are extracted and included here.
Final Evaluation
Ingredient Quality: C-. Unknown sources of minerals and a source of Vitamin D that is not effectively absorbed by the body. The only worthwhile ingredient in here is the Immuno-LP20(R), but that ingredient only has one study behind it.
Ingredient Clarity: C. Once again, unknown sources of minerals. If this company properly labeled their product, they would need to list the source of mineral.
Functional Benefit: B. Vitamin C, Zinc, and Vitamin D are known to assist in immune health. The other vitamins/minerals have little to no impact on immune health.
Nutritional Value: C-. Erythritol is the only ingredient on the label that would add calories. I’m not sure why this company is claiming a zero calorie beverage, when it should be ~20 calories
Overall Score: D. This product does not call out the source of the vitamins and minerals, so it is unknown whether they are sources that the body will absorb effectively. Vitamins and minerals are included here that have nothing to do with immune health. The only functional benefit is the inclusion of Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Zinc (all known vitamins and minerals that assist in immune health). However, the source of zinc is unknown and the Vitamin D source is one that cannot be fully absorbed by the body. The website also calls out that the product has 5g of prebiotics. There is no ingredient in this product that is a prebiotic.
Would you buy this product?
This product was evaluated purely based upon the perspective of a food scientist. It has not been consumed.