Excited about the launch of Reliv's latest nutrition breakthrough, LunaRich? We are too! We also know you probably have some questions about what this amazing new breakthrough means to your health.
We invite you to post your questions below, and Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Carl Hastings will answer them for you!
UPDATE: 1/20/12, 1pm CST - We will reopen commenting on this blog post when Dr. Carl returns to the office on Monday for more answers! Thanks to everyone who participated in the Q&A today and have a great weekend! ~Annie @ Reliv HQ
UPDATE: 1/25/12 - Dr. Carl is vacationing in sunny Hawaii with the Reliv Presidential All-Stars who earned the trip this year. To be the first to find out which product will incorporate LunaRich, attend the 2012 Reliv National Conference! Register today! ~Annie @ Reliv HQ
Tags: ask Dr. Carl, LunaRich, Q&A, Reliv International
Hello Dr. Carl!
I was wondering when do you see this potent LunaRich becoming incorporated into our products? I’m assuming the NOW and the classic? Are there any concerns with this raising the estrogen in people? I’m still getting objections occasionally on soy.
Hello, Julie! We will be announcing which product will incorporate LunaRich at the Reliv National Conference in Reno on February 17. I hope you will be there among all the other Distributors who will have the opportunity to try LunaRich for the first time! As far as your concerns, lunasin has been the subject of many clinical studies and there is no evidence that lunasin causes side effects. Soy isoflavones do not act the same as estrogen does in the human body. Here’s an article with links to several sources in connection with this myth: http://www.soyfoods.org/featured/myth-soy-makes-men-and-boys-less-masculine. Soy is truly a superfood, and you can read more about many of its health benefits at http://reliv.com/soy. ~Dr. Carl
Thanks for taking questions, Dr. Carl! My question is similar to Julie’s. I’m becoming a big fan of soy but what can I tell folks who are concerned about the estrogen in men. I haven’t noticed any of the Reliv men with enlarged breasts but I think they would like more scientific assurance!
Hi, Wendy! Soy isoflavones do not act the same as estrogen does in the human body. Here’s the article I shared with Julie above, with links to several sources in connection with this myth: http://www.soyfoods.org/featured/myth-soy-makes-men-and-boys-less-masculine ~Dr. Carl
Hi Dr. Carl, I Am so excited. Why isn’t this being put into more than one product….. and will this change the price? Can’t wait to hear and learn more… Sue
Good morning, Sue! We are excited too. We do not consider product changes at Reliv without thorough study and testing — even when third-party research indicates the change will improve the product. People who consume our products have come to rely on them for their health and wellbeing. And we do not take that responsibility lightly. Product development takes time. In fact, we worked to develop 24K for more than 2 years! We want to make sure we create the ideal formulation in each and every product we make. Part of the reason we decided to introduce LunaRich into one product for now is that we are exploring a possible clinical study for this product in the future. LunaRich will not affect the price. ~Dr. Carl
Hi, Dr. Carl,
We have a customer who is a farmer. He has asked us if someone could partner with Reliv or the Missouri Science Center to produce the improved soy beans. He is a forward thinking fellow and understands there would be a strict protocol to follow.
Thanks ~
Hello, Terry! Thanks for your interest. Reliv and the Missouri Plant Science Center have partnered with farmers to grow LunaRich soybeans. We will share this interest with the MPSC. ~Dr. Carl
Hi Dr. Carl,
Im hearing more and more people aquiring allergies to gluten. Is gluten in this soy product?
Thank you,
Jennie Cantrell
Hi, Jennie! No, LunaRich does not contain gluten. At Reliv, we are pleased to be able to offer 10 gluten free products, and you can read more about how Reliv can benefit individuals who must remain gluten free in this article: http://blog.reliv.com/publicblog/healthy-living-tips/to-be-or-not-to-be-gluten-free/. ~Dr. Carl
Dr. Carl Hastings! – Thank you for taking this time. My question about LunaRich has to do w/ the cardiovascular benefits. My son who has been diagnosed w/ POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) and bedridden for the most part of the past 3 years has had amazing results w/ Reliv. After being homebound for the past 3 years, he is actually now able to attend his HS 3 days a week thanks to God and to Reliv. Understanding his condition and how much Reliv has given him his life back, I am extremely interested in how LunaRich will benefit him even more. Could you please explain in laymen terms the cardiovascular benefits of LunaRich? Thank you!
Hi, Betty! Basically, LunaRich works to improve cholesterol in two ways. Most cholesterol is produced by your liver. Lunasin has been clinically proven to disrupt production of cholesterol in the liver, and it improves the liver’s ability to clear LDL (bad) cholesterol from the bloodstream. Here is a page on the Reliv website that explains in detail how LunaRich works. I hope you find it helpful: http://www.reliv.com/US/EN/Reliv-LunaRich-Soy-Powder-Cholesterol.html ~Dr. Carl
One more question, if I may. Being a new distributor within the past 5 months, I am fairly new to Reliv. I am being asked over and over again how safe the soy products are. Some have mentioned that soy crops are the most over pesticided crops in the world. Can you please give me some details about Reliv soy crops and their safty? Does Reliv grow their own soy, perhaps in a controled environment? Thank you!
Betty, health and safety are the number one priority for us at Reliv. We work only with suppliers who meet very high standards and every ingredient is rigorously tested throughout the production process – including pesticide testing. And, Reliv’s partnership with the Missouri Plant Science Center and Soy Labs marks a huge step forward in nutrition science. Through this partnership, Reliv now has dedicated fields of LunaRich soybeans grown exclusively for us. We can now direct the entire production process from seed to can to ensure safety, purity and potency. ~Dr. Carl
Dr. Carl, I have several friends who are allergic to soy. Does Reliv make a non-soy based product?
When I was going through menopause in the mid-90′s, I used foods to quell my symptoms(used the latest research then), and while soy was recommended, I had no access to soy other than…uggg…tofu. So I ate sweet potatoes, broccoli, spinach, almonds, sunflower seeds and sesame seeds. Those foods in combination helped with my symptoms wonderfully! I know soy is a “superfood”, but for those allergic, it can be deadly. Any other Reliv opptions for them?
Hello, Gail. Innergize! and 24K from Reliv do not contain soy. ~Dr. Carl
Also an allergy question. Is there any way to determine how much soy is in each product.
Hi, Shirley! All ingredient information is listed on each label’s nutritional panel. You can download view the panels on each product’s web page on reliv.com. The exact amount of soy in each product is part of our proprietary formulas. ~Dr. Carl
Hi Dr. Carl,
Many medical journals have written about the dangers of soy. How do we respond to these people that have read these articles and are afraid to try Reliv?
Hi, Cathy. On the other hand, many more journals have published studies proving the incredible health benefits of soy. I encourage you to check out Reliv’s information about soy, including references to many articles with credible sources. Here’s a link: http://reliv.com/soy. ~Dr. Carl
Dr. Carl,
I believe Dr. Galvez has been studying Lunacin for a number of years. An online article talked about Lunacin reducing cholesterol by it’s action on an enzyme and this results in an increase in LDL receptors, end result being a decrease in LDL. Is this summary accurate? It would be great to hear a summary of some of Dr. Galvez’ research on Lunacin, and I am sure the scientists in the audience would love to read more, see an online lecture, or another format to learn more about Lunacin.
By the way, if I had to wager, I’d put my money on Lunacin being added to CardioSentials!
Good afteroon, Nancy! Yes, Dr. Galvez and I have been working closely on the development of LunaRich. You can view more information about how LunaRich works to improve cholesterol right here: http://www.reliv.com/US/EN/Reliv-LunaRich-Soy-Powder-Cholesterol.html. ~Dr. Carl
Will you be putting LunaRich in the FibRestore?..I know!..you can’t say until Conference but I think it would be a great fit!
Robbie, I can’t spoil the surprise. Just trust me, you definitely want to be at the unveiling in Reno at Reliv’s National Conference! See you there! ~Dr. Carl
Will you be starting the LunaRich in a new line of organic or chemical-free products? There are so many people looking for high standards in the nutrition they consume and will not consume products with food coloring, or flavorings of any kind.
Hello, Sandra. We do not currently have plans to introduce a new product line. LunaRich will be introduced in a current Reliv product. As for high standards, Reliv has some of the highest standards in the nutrition industry. We go far above and beyond the requirements of the FDA in our rigorous testing and near-pharmaceutical production process. Here’s a link to more information about our production process: http://content.reliv.com/old/docs/US/EN/LIfestylePlusSummer10.pdf ~Dr. Carl
Hi Dr. Karl,If someone has MS would they benefit from Using the LunaRich rather than Classic or Now. I am wondering about the effects on anyone with an autoimmune disease. Thank you for your time.
Hi, Kathy! LunaRich will be incorporated into a current Reliv product, not sold as an individual product. LunaRich has not been clinically studied in relation to MS. Reliv’s essential nutrition products are intended to provide optimal nutrition for overall well-being, but they are not intended as a treatment for any specific diseases or ailments. Many consumers have reported improved health results, however, we do not make any claims. We believe optimal nutrition is beneficial for everyone. ~Dr. Carl
Does the soy in your products come from genetically modified/bioengineered soy beans?
Hello, J.H. No. Like all of Reliv’s soy formulas, LunaRich is derived from non-GMO soybeans. ~Dr. Carl
Hi Dr. Carl. Thank you for answering our questions! In addition to being a Reliv Distributor, I am a hospice nurse. The things I see break my heart. I am excited and hopeful about the research that is being done related to Lunasin’s effect on cancer, particularly colon cancer. Do you think it is possible that Lunarich will slow or even help fight back against the progression of cancer in individuals who have it? Also, I know the current research addresses colon cancer specifically. Are there other research being done with other types of cancer? Thank you so much!
Thank you for your interest in and efforts to learn more about LunaRich and lunasin! We chose to develop LunaRich for our products because lunasin promotes better health overall. Soy’s health benefits — from heart health to weight loss — are well-documented, and lunasin has been identified as the key to many of them. With more than five times the amount of lunasin as ordinary soy powder, and in a more bioavailable form, LunaRich is the best soy powder on the market today. Reliv is committed to using the most cutting-edge ingredients available because we believe optimal nutrition benefits everyone’s health and well-being. While we are aware of supporting articles in relation to lunasin and cancer research, in no way are Reliv products intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, including cancer. We do not promote Reliv products in that manner and we train our Distributors to follow our lead. ~Dr. Carl
Got it!! Thanks for your reply.
I read in Ode magazine, Oct./Nov. 2011, in the Health and Healing section, that unfermented soy inhibits the functioning of the pancreas. The article is Be a rebel! Improve your well-being by focusing on promoting health instead of preventing illness. By H.C. Moolenburgh.
The article starts on page 30; the statement is on page 32. It may be on http://www.Odewire.com. The original article was called You can do more than you think, and was published in Dutch by Lemniscaat.
I second the questions about offering product without artificial colors and flavors, and other ‘technical excipient’ additives, and the positive goal of sourcing ingredients organically where possible.
I was product development manager for Source Naturals and Planetary Formulas for eight years, and a consultant to the supplement induatry for six years, and I would like to have a system in place for selling to physicians who practice complementary and alternative medicine, and non-MD practitioners as well. It would seem that we could compete in the natural health market at that level, as long as we can provide original published research that supports structure and function statement labeling, and that demonstrates efficacy superior to what Naturopathic Doctors have access to now. This might or might not be true for all products, but it should be true for your ReverseAge formula that allows release of human growth hormone, and other breakthroughs. I can do that kind of selling. I am not comfortable with enthusiastic stories alone as a process for selecting supplements. My job entailed reading the original research studies, and review articles, and determining for the company whether they were likely to be valid, as well as interpreting them for label and literature copy, systematically establishing the basis for formulation through structure and function statements. I prefer to know all that the company knows, and be able to say what we know to health care professionals who need to know enough to develop a preliminary testing protocol for its use with their patients.
Regards,
Mark Roest
Hello, Mark. Thanks for your feedback. Nothing is more important to me than the science behind Reliv products. That’s why I’ve dedicated my life to making sure our products are effective, safe and cutting-edge. Our products are rooted in the latest nutrition science research. On the product pages, you can find benefits sheets that list key ingredients and how they work. To learn more about the science of Reliv, please visit reliv.com and click on “The Science of Reliv” under the “About Us” tab. And here is a link to more information about our clinical studies: http://www.reliv.com/US/EN/View-Reliv-Clinical-Studies.html. My product information staff is also available to provide additional information or sources you might find helpful. They can be reached at productinfo@relivinc.com. ~Dr. Carl
Salutations Dr. Carl,
CONGRATULATIONS on your breakthrough! We are all grateful for your hard work and dedication to improving our health. Hope that you will consider offering “LunaRich” in more than just (1) product …!
My question is this: Is or will the use of “MONSANTO” and or Genetically Modified (GMO) soy ever be used in the making and or testing of RELIV / MPSC soy products?
Thank you again for all that you do!
Good morning, W.B. Monsanto is not involved in Reliv’s partnership with the MPSC. A list of the partners involved can be found at http://mopsc.org. Reliv products contain non-GMO soy and our testing is conducted on non-GMO soy. ~Dr. Carl
You are my hero, Dr. Carl!
Will LunaRich help people with better absorbtion? Reliv has given me
my health back but I still seem to have trouble with absorbtion! That has to be a reason I’m not completly back to perfect health, I take to much product (8 years) for that not to be why.
Hello, SGS! Bioavailability, how effectively a nutrient is absorbed by the body, has always been a key component in the Reliv Difference. With LunaRich soy powder, we have taken the bioavailability of lunasin, a key peptide in soy, to a whole new level. I invite you to learn more about LunaRich and bioavailability here: http://www.reliv.com/US/EN/Reliv-LunaRich-Soy-Powder-Bioavailability.html. ~Dr. Carl
Hi Dr Carl, I’m excited about the potential for this new breakthrough. My question is will it work to reduce cholesterol that comes not from poor diet, but from hereditary factors?
My mother’s family, and I know others out there too, have high cholesterol that they inherited and cannot be reduced any further by dietary changes, believe me she has tried! Luckily I didn’t inherit, but the potential to help people who don’t like to take drugs reduce their cholesterol more naturally would be a great gift.
With Gratitude for all your work!
Hello, D.M. Most cholesterol is produced by your liver. Lunasin has been clinically proven to disrupt production of cholesterol in the liver, and it improves the liver’s ability to clear LDL (bad) cholesterol from the bloodstream. That being said, specific benefits from nutritional products can vary from person to person. I would encourage you to try our product with LunaRich when we make it available next month to see if it helps with your cholesterol. Here is a page on the Reliv website that explains in detail how LunaRich works. I hope you find it helpful: http://www.reliv.com/US/EN/Reliv-LunaRich-Soy-Powder-Cholesterol.html. ~Dr. Carl
Hello Dr. Carl,
Do we have a product that will help my DAD of Chronic Dermatitis. Itching when it exacerbates, he could not sleep the entire night and not quite happy at daytime.
Nothing helps him with Derma specialists and fellows. Prednisone and tons of blood works only helped for a while but still my poor DAD needs something that is just a supplement like our Product, not a script nor a medicine. I will appreciate if you have time in your busy sched to reply soon. Thank you.
Hi, Luther! At Reliv, we believe optimal nutrition is beneficial for everyone’s health and well-being, but our products are not intended as a treatment for ailments or a substitution for medicine. Many consumers have reported improved health results, and studies have shown that healthy nutrition can improve skin health. However, we do not make any specific claims about our products in relation to any specific skin conditions. Here’s an article that you may be interested to read about nutrition and skin health: http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/features/skin-nutrition. ~Dr. Carl
By the way,
Dr. Carl, I am so proud of Reliv to reach our poor country Philippines but rich in hospitality and warm people.
Thank you, Luther! ~Dr. Carl
Hi Dr. Carl:
You are incredible! Thank you for another great product!How does this work with medical proceedures like gastric bypass, lapband and the removal of portions of the small intestine? Will the protective protease inhibitor break down in time for the Lunasin molecules to be absorbed before it leaves the digestive tract?
Janet, you’re welcome! We do not have studies showing that this would occur but tend to believe the LunaRich would be absorbed prior to leaving the digestive tract. Here is a link to more information about the bioavailability of the lunasin molecules in LunaRich: http://www.reliv.com/US/EN/Reliv-LunaRich-Soy-Powder-Bioavailability.html ~Dr. Carl
Dr. Carl
Hi!
Have been givin the report of a cousin 12 yr old, male, that is disletic, has P.O.T.S., and lastest Physiological or physiologie seizures.
I want to get him on Reliv products but have a idea what to get him on
Do you have any suggestions?
Thank you so much
V.S., Some individuals have reported great overall health improvements on our essential nutrition products Reliv Now and Reliv Classic, but we cannot make any specific health claims. Reliv products are intended to provide optimal health and well-being, but they are not intended to treat any specific ailments or conditions. I would recommend getting him started on essential nutrition with Reliv Now, Reliv Classic or Reliv Now for Kids for his overall optimal nutrition and well-being. We do recommend showing the products to your physician before starting a nutrition program if you have a medical condition. ~Dr. Carl
dr carl,
congrats & thank you sooooo much for all your hard work with all of relivs’ products!! i hope it’s ok to ask about the artificial ingredients… artificial flavorings… in the products! what are they & why are they in the products???? thanks
sonja oberg, dietitian
Sonja, thank you for the compliment! LunaRich is an ingredient that does not contain any artificial flavorings, and lunasin is a naturally occurring peptide found in soy. For questions about other specific ingredients, my staff is more than happy to provide the info you need if you could email your questions to productinfo@relivinc.com and I will let them know to expect your inquiry. I’ve developed Reliv formulas over the past 23 years with one goal in mind: to deliver the best possible products for everyone who uses them, including my own family. We take nothing for granted — purity, potency, taste, color, texture and more. Ingredients are selected based solely on how well they meet the needs of our consumers. ~Dr. Carl