Background
Several years ago, while we were living in New York City, my husband and I were introduced to a healthy energy fruit drink named Fruta Vida. Since I have Type Two Diabetes, I was skeptical about drinking Fruta Vida until I read the ingredients label and saw that there were only 4 grams of sugar in each ounce, and the suggested serving size was only two ounces daily. I also read several testimonials, and spoke to a number of people who told me that they or their relatives had very positive results from drinking
Fruta Vida juice on a regular basis. Particularly there were a number of people who remarked on the changes they saw in their blood sugar levels and diabetes control, improved digestion, better sleep, improved energy and vitality, and better mental focus.
· From that moment on, Fruta Vida was for me! And from that time onward I have consumed one apple (to keep the doctor away) and two ounces of Fruta Vida (to help in the process) each morning. As a result my energy level increased right away, and my blood sugar level was somewhat lower and better controlled. Now, I’m not saying that I view Fruta Vida as a “high energy drink” or a “magical cure for diabetes”. What I am saying, however, is that I consider this drink as a “health juice drink” that can reduce the effects of some ongoing physical ailments, improve one’s energy and vitality levels smoothly without the jitters, and improve one’s overall quality of life.
· My husband and I were also very impressed by the fact that Fruta Vida International uses fruits from the Brazilian Rainforest, and cares enough about ecology to use only fruit produced in ecologically friendly and socially responsible farms in Brazil. These botanical ingredients in Fruta Vida rank highly in antioxidants, anthocyanins and essential vitamins and nutrients. And Fruta Vida is the only health and energy juice drink that contains all three of these botanicals. The company also returns a portion of their proceeds to help preserve the people and plants of this ecologically very vulnerable region.
Fruita Vida Ingredients
· Fruta Vida contains a delightfully tasty blend of the Açai berry, Cupuaçu fruit and Yerba Maté tea, each of which contain high levels of antioxidants. If you have been reading about some of the latest in health-related findings, you have probably heard of the Açai berry which is dark purple in color and which contains significantly more antioxidants than oranges and red wine, twice the antioxidants contained in blueberries and pomegranates, and 10 times that of grapes. And the antioxidant concentration in the Açai fruit is five times higher than the popular Gingko Biloba for boosting the brain’s activity along with its antioxidant properties.
· Cupuaçu, the next Rainforest botanical in Fruta Vida, is considered to be “the taste of the Amazon” usually offered to foreigners by Brazilian natives. Cupuaçu is also an important health resource, known as a “pharmacy in a fruit,” containing unique antioxidant phytonutrients called polyphenols, which are also found in other medicinal plants such as green tea and grape seeds. Cupuaçu is probably the next great superfood, and can literally help anything that ails you.
· The third Rainforest ingredient in this Fruta Vida blend is Yerba Maté, a tea which contains mateine (a chemical cousin of caffeine) which provides energy. The properties of mateine are somewhat different from caffeine, in that it has a milder and safer delivery to the body. Therefore, the energy component of Fruta Vida adds no stress to your central nervous system or your muscles. Also, Yerba Maté does not dilute the positive benefits or other foods the way coffee or tea sometimes do. Yerba Maté tea is called “beverage of the gods” and contains a wide range of antioxidants to help the body fight free-radicals.
· To help you with the Portuguese pronunciation of these Fruta Vida ingredients, please read the following:
Açai – “ah-sigh-EE”
Cupuaçu - “coo-PWAH-soo”
Vida – “vee-DAH”
Maté - “mah-TAY”
· Fruta Vida is made with ultra-filtered water, Brazilian juice blend (apple, açai and cupuaçu juice concentrates), yerba maté tea, natural flavor, potassium sorbate (added to maintain freshness), sodium benzoate and malic acid.
· The nutrition facts for Fruta Vida show: Calories = 15, Total Fat = 0g, Trans Fat = 0g, Sodium = 10mg, Total Carbohydrate = 4g, Sugars = 4g and protein = 0g -- for a serving size of 2 tablespoons or 1 fluid ounce. Recommended servings are one to three ounces each morning, with an additional serving when you need a boost.
Some Final Thoughts About Fruta Vida
Once my husband and I started drinking Fruta Vida on a regular basis, we found that there were differences that were peculiar to each of us. First of all, he was able to tolerate two ounces of the fully concentrated Fruta Vida juice every morning. However, my digestive system was too sensitive to accommodate it on an empty stomach that early in the day. But I could take an extra ounce around midday if I needed an extra boost (which was very seldom, if at all).
My solution was to take equal parts of Fruta Vida and filtered water. We use a filtered water system called Living Water II made by EcoQuest. This makes a delightfully refreshing drink any time of the day, and is easy on the digestive system for those who have acid reflux problems. If you have acid reflux disease, I would suggest using this combination from the beginning, and making certain to eat something like an apple, hard boiled egg, or toast before drinking it – just to be on the safe side. Since I have reflux disease, the only medication I would take on an empty stomach is my GERD medication, so this is no reflection on Fruta Vida at all.
My husband also found that it is not wise to take concentrated Fruta Vida late in the evening because the energy it produces can keep you awake. However, on the whole we find that we sleep much better since drinking this healthy juice blend.
