Biotest has a Superfoods (8 vegetables per serving) product coming...
- Thread starter dhuge67
- Start date
JG1777
New member
Nothing wrong with digging a company that make products that have gotten you results. It's not so much on this board, but I don't get people that have tunnel-vision brand loyalty when it comes to supplement companies. I have used many products from many different brands and I go back to the stuff I like and that has worked for me. But I have never felt the need to rip another brand or call someone out for liking a brand I don't use. It's not like I'm sponsored or something. If Biotest (or any other company for that mater) managed to come out with the "magic pill" all the haters would be singing their praises. So why hate in the first place? If you don't like something, just don't use it.
Anyway, the Biotest Superfood product looks good to me but for $39.99 for 28 servings I'll pass; I can get a lot more then 28 servings of veggies and fruits in their native form for $40.
But while we're on the topic, what kinds of greens/fruits powders do people use and like? I use a greens powder in my shakes and it has been a good addition. Anyone have a particular favorite?
jasonschaffin
Well-known member
Reread their writeup. Its more like 280-330 servings of veggies and fruits for $40. While I suppose its still possible to buy/eat that many veggies this would be a real nice way to cover your bases it seems to me. Maybe only take 1/2 serving per day with all your fruits and veggies you already eat.
Rodzilla
Board Sponsor
not bad, I didn't read the whole thing. Is this supposed to replace your multi?
Xodus
Well-known member
I was going to jump on a tub of that too.
Def. no Biotest hater and all of their stuff tastes pretty damn good.
I've tried Greens+ in the past and it gave me horrid ass gas and doesn't taste too great.
They say this tastes like fruity herbal tea!?
While I do tend to get my veg in whole form, supplemental veg probably couldn't hurt.
dhuge67
Active member
I think that's the way they are marketing it.
JG1777
New member
I see what you're saying, but to me a serving of veggies/fruits is the whole deal - the fiber, water, sugar, etc. - not the powdered equivalent which is missing at least the fiber and water, and whatever else is lost in the powdering process. I think powdered veggie/fruit formulas are great, specially for those that don't get good intake of said items, but for someone like myself who likes his veggies and views this as a supplement they priced me out.
For comparison, I went to my local produce stand today and got 2 bunches of celery, 2 eggplants, 10 plum tomatoes, 2 containers of baby portobello mushrooms, 5 green peppers, and 6 cucumbers for $11.25. Not as easy to down as slamming some powder, but darn good stuff in it's native form. I don't know about you guys, but I still like to eat!
For those who bought the superfood, please post your experiences.
JG1777
New member
I'm not sure what is lost during the freeze drying process, but there has to be something. They don't list the fiber count in their nutrition facts on the website, but I imagine that if the can is equivalent to 300 servings of fruit and vegetables (or whatever) all that fiber is not in there. I'm not a raw food zealot, but I do agree that as soon as food is processed beneficial parts of that food are destroyed. It doesn't make that food bad, just not as good as it could be.
I'm not trying to knock the product at all, or say that it is not great for someone who doesn't like to eat fruits and veggies in the whole forms. And I agree with you that some plants are more expensive then others. I'm just saying that something is lost when you process it. That doesn't make it bad, but for 39.99 a can I'll get my stuff elsewhere. As easy as it would make life, not everything we eat can be a supplement.
Xodus
Well-known member
“Dried fruits have a greater nutrient density, greater fiber content, increased shelf life and significantly greater phenol antioxidant content compared to fresh fruits. The quality of the antioxidants in the processed dried fruit is the same as in the corresponding fresh fruit.” But vitamin C that is present in many fresh fruits is destroyed by *heat in the drying process. NOTE * This is not for 'freeze drying'.
While I don't disagree that a raw apple is good, throwing a scoop of 'Superfood' into your shake isn't a bad way to 'supplement' with, for all intents and purposes, a whole food product, albeit in a different 'form' and getting a 'full day's supply' of fruits/veg in at once. Would I try to live on it solely? No, unless maybe I was an astronaut.
While I don't disagree that a raw apple is good, throwing a scoop of 'Superfood' into your shake isn't a bad way to 'supplement' with, for all intents and purposes, a whole food product, albeit in a different 'form' and getting a 'full day's supply' of fruits/veg in at once. Would I try to live on it solely? No, unless maybe I was an astronaut.
Dancebot 2000
Active member
Biotest is over priced, but they are always on the forefront of the industry. They're often the first to come out with products, and a lot of of stuff on the market is clones or interpetations of their line. I'm sure we'll see some clones of this soon.
On a side note, I can't help but think you'd be better off eating the whole foods, but this is certainly good for today's hectic lifestyle.
On a side note, I can't help but think you'd be better off eating the whole foods, but this is certainly good for today's hectic lifestyle.
Xodus
Well-known member
Define 'whole' food, because I would think that it is, for all intents and purposes. The only thing missing from this is water.
It's not like they 'extracted' some part out of the blueberries, another part of broccoli, etc. It is a whole food, devoid of water and then powdered. Sort of like backpacking/astronaut food.
Dancebot 2000
Active member
I think that if the water is missing, it is not a whole food, but I think that's a semantic arguement.
The reason I think it is significant is two fold; first of all, having vegitables helps with satiaty. And second, John Berardi, who is pretty much "the guy" in performance nutrition consistantly recommends having vegitables with each meal. I would suspect that having just one mega dose would not be as good.
bound
Active member
I think they've got a couple good supps. I think a lot of the problem is that they don't put the important info on the labels or in the description. No one knows how much sulbutiamine is in spike. I don't think there's info on res in res-v. They'd do a lot better to publish this stuff so we'd have a chance to actually compare it to other's products.
JG1777
New member
You made my point with your last sentence - "Would I try to live on it solely? No..." I don't know what (if any) negative effects freeze-drying has on plants, but if I eat the real deal I don't have to worry about it. I add a tsp. of greens powder to every protein shake I consume, so I believe there is certainly room for both. But you know there are people out there looking at this stuff as a reason to give up on vegetables, and to me it is certainly not that - you can't replace the real deal no matter how close you get to it.
I've had thousands of protein shakes in my life and never once thought what I was drinking was better then a quality piece of meat or fish. Certainly more convenient and versatile, much better then nothing, but not quite as good as the real thing. Come to think of it, that pretty much sums up my take on Biotest Superfood also.
But look at it this way...if there is one thing you are going to overdose on regardless of the form it comes in, make it fruits and veggies.
Xodus
Well-known member
I wasn't trying to disprove your point. I was just stating that it is a viable whole food 'supplement', not entirely the same nor entirely different than a protein shake. Sometimes you just cannot choke down your 6th cup of broccoli for the day, or while eating steak day in and day out sounds appealing, sometimes you just don't want to chew. I guzzle egg whites just because the thought of another omelet or bowl of scrambled makes me nauseous sometimes. It's not as filling, but is it any less real?
It reminds me of hydroponic vs. organic vegetable growth. Hydro plants are given optimal levels of what they 'need' in an aqueous solution whereas dirt farmers say theirs is 'better'. Well what about organic hydroponics, is that not the 'real thing'? The thing with the superfood is, I think it IS the 'real thing', just sans water content. Probably a bad analogy unless you're a farmer though....
Honestly some days I wish I could just eat 'matrix food' all the time and not have to think about it. Proper macro ratios for my body, ideal macro and micronutrient levels, convenient, etc. hell, if it came in an IV drip it would be ideal. A little 'soylent green', but I digress.
Dancebot 2000
Active member
That sounds like the ideal way. Good plan.
johnyq
Active member
Their stance is that multivitamins are bad. This would definitely not be a replacement, but if you don't take a MV then any superfoods is a decent alternative supplement. I just take both (miracle greens and aor orth-core)
JG1777
New member
I'm with you, certainly a viable whole food supplement. Probably better then most on the market. And I totally get your analogy about the hydroponic vs. dirt argument even though I'm not a farmer...I'm kind of a nutrition geek who really pays attention in the grocery store. Speaking of, hydroponic lettuce is damn tasty stuff.
I guess the thing I'm having a tough time with is the idea of supplementing vegetables. Of course I'm someone who has never had a hard time going back for 3rds, 4ths, and 5ths of veggies just because I like them that much. It's such a no-brainer to me personally to not wonder where I'm getting all my fruits and veggies from, that to see a powder that theoretically replaces that is just hard for me to wrap my brain around. Powdered protein makes sense to me because there is no other way I could get 220 grams of protein per day in on whole food; In that case the supplement allows me to achieve something I couldn't with whole food. But the idea of not getting 8-10 servings of veggies in a day is a total 'huh?' for me. Hell, I'm 3 servings in at the end of breakfast usually. It's my issue, I'll deal with it.
I could see some serious potential for this Superfood stuff for someone who is really wanting to get their carbs down as low as possible but still interested in a very healthy and well-rounded diet. Lots of application there.
I'm so with you on easy food too. I've been pretty much living off protein shakes since the beginning of the year just because it is so damn easy during the work week. No cooking, cleaning, or planning - just blend and go. It can't last forever, but damn it's nice. A fairly painless method of weight loss also.
I've read about some stuff that Poliquin did with I-V Vit. C and L-Glutamine that sounded so cool. It's nutty to say, but imagine what would be possible if we could main line this stuff right into the bloodstream. If it could make Glutamine work well...
bound
Active member
I almost think that we all may need to supplement our vegetables, reguardless of intake. We've all heard of the loss of nutritional content because of farming practices over the years. I eat a ton of veggies everyday, and I'm still considering the superfood. I'll likely try it just to replace my garden of life superfood. In any case, I don't really take a multi anymore, and athe more veggies I getthe better. I'll be starting the anibolic diet soon, and then the superfood will be almost necessary.
johnyq
Active member
They don't state how many carbs, in fact the label (as shown on the website) doesn't state ANYTHING about micro nutrients or macro nutrients. WTF?
There is no way I would buy it until they actually make a real label.
iwannasurf
New member
Have any of you ever tossed veggies right in to the blender w/ your protein shake?
When I wake up in the morning the first thing I do is make a shake w/ a cup ground oats, 1-1.5 cups of frozen broccoli, and a scoop of protein. Sometimes I make it with water, sometimes w/ milk. But either way its tastes pretty much the same as if the brocolli wasn't in there. The texture is slightly different but nothing too crazy. I am sure you could add other fruits or veggies depending on what you are shooting for.
When I wake up in the morning the first thing I do is make a shake w/ a cup ground oats, 1-1.5 cups of frozen broccoli, and a scoop of protein. Sometimes I make it with water, sometimes w/ milk. But either way its tastes pretty much the same as if the brocolli wasn't in there. The texture is slightly different but nothing too crazy. I am sure you could add other fruits or veggies depending on what you are shooting for.
Xodus
Well-known member
Blueberries and the occasional banana for me!
bound
Active member
That's one of the main things that turns me off of Biotest. They don't put the important stuff on the label. Drives me nuts. And it seems like you don't get a real answer half the time if you ask on their boards. Oh well.
Xodus
Well-known member
'Proprietary Blend'. Nature of the beast in supplements, not just Biotest is guilty of it.
bound
Active member
Well, I started reading the thread on t-nation, and TC's answer was that there is a "negligible" amount of carbs in the superfood. That it's really just fiber and nutrients, and that the carbs get sucked out with the water. He also says that they couldn't put a certain number of calories per serving on the container because one orange doesn't have the same values as another and so on.
*sigh* this runaround is getting old.
Edit: the serving size is 5 grams, so there can't be much of anything as far as macros go.
scrappydog
Member
I actually got Biotests superfood today. I can say this, it is much easier on my tastebuds than other greens products I've tried. And I felt good after it, after some of these kinds of formulas I've felt a little nauseous. '
Others were benign. But I like their ingredients here.
I agree that they are somewhat of a hype machine but I like a few of their products.
I never liked Carbolin or Methoxy7, but I like spike, beta 7 and flameout. Even though there are cheaper alternatives, I've had success with those products.
Anyway, this formula tastes more fruity and tea-like, as TC mentioned, than my other greens stuff. You can tell there are a good bit of blueberries in there. The powder is brown but turns purpleish when you add water and you can taste blueberry. I was nervous about the flavor. Biotest used to claim original Surge tasted like angel food cake. But me and everyone I knew thought it was undrinkable....
Superfood tastes pretty good actually.
Others were benign. But I like their ingredients here.
I agree that they are somewhat of a hype machine but I like a few of their products.
I never liked Carbolin or Methoxy7, but I like spike, beta 7 and flameout. Even though there are cheaper alternatives, I've had success with those products.
Anyway, this formula tastes more fruity and tea-like, as TC mentioned, than my other greens stuff. You can tell there are a good bit of blueberries in there. The powder is brown but turns purpleish when you add water and you can taste blueberry. I was nervous about the flavor. Biotest used to claim original Surge tasted like angel food cake. But me and everyone I knew thought it was undrinkable....
Superfood tastes pretty good actually.