New Product Friday
Most wellness shots focus on immune and digestive health and contain ingredients that support these claims. They also contain ingredients that claim to fight inflammation and improve overall health. And while these benefits are certainly worthwhile, the ingredients that are included (and their respective dosages) do not necessarily mean that the shots are giving the benefits that they promise; especially since the shot is such a small serving size. Remedy Organics makes primarily wellness shakes that contain protein and other simple ingredients. Their newest product line (Immunity+ Shots) contains four different products—Heal, Protect, Energize, and Digest. For purposes of simplicity, the Energize Shot will be examined here.
Remedy Organics Immunity Blend (Water, Acerola Juice, Camu Camu, Zinc Citrate, Vitamin D3, Prebiotics (from Tapioca))—Beware of anything listed in a blend! The combination of all these ingredients allows the company to put this blend at the top of the ingredient list. Acerola Juice and Camu Camu are high in Vitamin C, which provides immunity support. Zinc Citrate is known to increase immune response and reduce the signs and symptoms of a cold. Vitamin D3 also has proven immune health benefits. Finally, prebiotics support gut health. 70% of the immune system is housed in the gut, so a healthy gut=a healthy immune system.
Lemon Juice—Provides lemon flavor to the shot.
Lime Juice—Provides lime flavor to the shot.
Maple Syrup—Balances out the acidity of the fruit juices to provide a slight sweetness to the product. A source of added sugar
Ginger—Ginger is known to support digestion, reduce nausea, reduce oxidative stress and inflammation and more. None of the benefits of ginger support energy production, though.
Honey—Balances out the acidity of the fruit juices and provides a slight sweetness and flavor to the product. A source of added sugar.
L-Theanine—Known to produce a relaxing and calming effect when consumed alone. When combined with caffeine, studies have shown that it provides a sustained, non-jittery energy. Most of the studies with caffeine show an effective dosage between 100-200 milligrams.
Alfalfa—Typically used in traditional medicine, the antioxidants in alfalfa lower inflammation in the body. Preliminary research has shown benefits to lowering cholesterol and controlling blood sugar. None of the studied or traditional uses of alfalfa show any correlation to energy support or function.
Matcha—Matcha is high in antioxidants, which lowers inflammation in the body. It also contains caffeine and L-theanine which help support energy and cognitive function.
Caffeine from Green Tea Extract—The caffeine from green tea extract is isolated and included here. The caffeine here is about 99% pure with the 1% being other components of green tea
Cayenne Pepper—Most known for aiding in digestion, cayenne also is a source of antioxidants and helps protect the heart.
Final Evaluation
Ingredient Quality: A. This product is Certified Organic, dairy free, gluten free, non-GMO, and kosher. Please note that this product is NOT vegan.
Ingredient Clarity: A. All ingredients contribute to the overall taste and function of the products. There are no “filler” ingredients.
Functional Benefit: B+. Beware of a product that contains a blend as the first ingredient! This means that the blend can contain ingredients that would typically be seen much lower on the ingredient statement. As an immunity product, it contains good sources of Vitamin C—Acerola Juice and Camu Camu—and claims 150% daily value of Vitamin C. There is also 25% daily value of Vitamin D3 and 60% daily value of zinc which would also provide great immune support. The other ingredients—alfalfa, ginger, matcha, and cayenne—are not ones typically associated with immune support. These ingredients are high in antioxidants, which help fight free radical production and lower inflammation; but do not provide any direct benefit to the immune system. The energy claims comes from the combination of L-theanine and natural caffeine from green tea. This combination has been well studied to provide sustained, non-jittery cognitive support and energy. Although the L-theanine amount is not known, it is presumed to be in the studied dosage (between 100-200 milligrams) since it is in the middle of the ingredient statement.
Nutritional Value: A-. At 35 calories, it is on the higher end of what would be expected for a shot. However, it is nutritionally dense and does pack a lot of functionality into a small serving size.
Overall Score: B+. This product provides good amounts of proven immune boosting functional ingredients—Vitamin C, Zinc, and Vitamin D. Additionally, the combination of L-theanine and caffeine has been well studied to enhance cognitive performance and energy. The amount of L-theanine and caffeine is within the studied range of providing substantial benefits. The other ingredients—alfalfa, ginger, matcha, and cayenne-- are high in antioxidants, but do not have any energy or immune boosting effects. And while they are good to include, it is not known whether their amounts are beneficial for what they claim. This is especially in the case for the matcha since caffeine and L-theanine are added separately. (The main benefits of matcha is the caffeine/L-theanine effect.) At $4/shot, this is on the pricier side. Noticeable results would need to be proven to make this beverage worthwhile.
Would you buy this product? Why or why not?