Updated 7/24/23. After I wrote my reviews on Juice Plus, I started to get a lot of questions about another supplement called JuiceFestiv, which is sold at Cosco and Sams Club. Like Juice Plus, Juice Festiv capsules contain powdered mixtures of a variety of fruits and vegetables and are meant to help people increase their intake of these foods. Is JuiceFestiv as good to Juice Plus people asked me. The ingredients between both products are different, so in this review, I will look at JuiceFestiv ingredients – and other information, too – to try to help you get a better idea if it's right for you. Also, read the review of Juice Plus for more information.
See these related reviews too.
- Steve Harveys LEvate Greens Review
- HemoHim Review
- Magnesium & Depression Review
- Magnesium Breakthrough 7 Month Experiment
- Juice Plus Review
What Is Juice Festive?
Like Juice Plus, Juice Festiv is comprised of both fruit and vegetable capsules. It also has some other things too like probiotics and enzymes which I'll cover below. The recommended serving is to take 2 fruit and 2 vegetable capsules per day. I've listed the ingredients of both the fruit and vegetable capsules in the tables below.
JuiceFestiv Fruit Ingredients
A serving of the fruit blend is to take two capsules per day. Two capsules contain the following nutrition information and ingredients:
| Ingredient | Amount | Percent Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin A (100% Beta carotene | 2500 IU | 50% DV |
| Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) | 100 mg | 167 % DV |
| Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride) | 5 mg | 250% DV |
| Folic acid | 120 micrograms | 30% DV |
| Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) | 100 micrograms | 1667% DV |
| Organic Fruit Blend | 750 mg | N/A |
| Apple | ||
| Noni | ||
| Orange Peel | ||
| Peach | ||
| Lemon Peel | ||
| Grape | ||
| Cranberry | ||
| Raspberry | ||
| Cherry | ||
| Acai | ||
| Mango | ||
| Elderberry | ||
| Black Currant | ||
| Pomegranate | ||
| Strawberry | ||
| Papaya | ||
| Banana | ||
| Blackberry | ||
| Plum | ||
| Goji Berry | ||
| Blueberry | ||
| Pineapple | ||
| Prune | ||
| Lactobacillus Acidophilus (200 million CFU (at the time of manufacture) | 20 mg | N/A |
| Fruit Enzyme Blend | 13 mg | N/A |
| Amalase | ||
| Pectinase | ||
| Hemicellulase | ||
| Cellulase | ||
| Protease | ||
| Lipase | ||
| Glucoamylase | ||
| Phytase | ||
| Invertase | ||
| Maltase |
Read the table from left to right. That will tell you which ingredients are present the most and those that are present the least. For example, since apple is listed first, it contributes to the most to the 750 mg blend, while prune (the last ingredient) contributes the least.
The fruit blend also contains these other ingredients too:
| Organic rice flour | Gelatin | Water |
| Organic rice concentrate | Whey powder (milk) | Dibasic calcium phosphate |
| magnesium stearate |
Also, read this table from left to right to learn which of these ingredients is present the most and least.
JuiceFestiv Vegetable Ingredients
A serving of the vegetable blend is to take 2 capsules per day. Two capsules contain 750 mg of the following ingredients:
| Ingredient | Amount | Percent Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin A (100% Beta carotene) | 2500 IU | 50% DV |
| Vitamin E (from d-alpha tocopheryl succinate) | 30 IU | 100% DV |
| Folic acid | 280 micrograms | 70% DV |
| SelenoExcell Selenium (yeast bound selenium) | 200 micrograms | 286% DV |
| Organic Vegetable Blend | 750 mg | N/Z |
| Carrot | ||
| Spinach | ||
| Beet | ||
| Parsley | ||
| Tomato | ||
| Celery | ||
| Red bell pepper | ||
| Green bell pepper | ||
| Garlic | ||
| Wheatgrass | ||
| Barley grass | ||
| Onion | ||
| Collard green | ||
| Kale | ||
| Brussels sprouts | ||
| Spirulina | ||
| Oat bran | ||
| Broccoli | ||
| Pumpkin | ||
| Sweet potato | ||
| Kelp | ||
| Cabbage | ||
| Horseradish | ||
| Vegtable Enzyme Blend | 5 mg | N/A |
| Amylase | ||
| Pectinase | ||
| Hemicellulase | ||
| Cellulase | ||
| Protease | ||
| Lipase | ||
| Glucoamylase | ||
| Phytase | ||
| Invertase | ||
| Maltase |
As before, read the table from left to right to learn which ingredients are present the most and the least. For example, since carrot is listed first, it contributes to the most to the 750 mg blend, while horseradish (the last ingredient) contributes the least.
The vegetable blend also contains these other ingredients:
| Organic rice flour | Gelatin | Water |
| Organic rice concentrate | Magnesium stearate |
Also, read this table from left to right to learn which ingredients are present the most and least.
As can be seen from the tables above, there are a LOT of ingredients in JuiceFestiv. Without getting into the nitty-gritty on the benefits of fruits and vegetables (I'm sure most know about them), let's just cover the stuff that I think would be most interesting to people who are trying to figure this product out.
Vitamin A
Every two capsules of the Juice Festive vegetable blend and every two capsules of the fruit blend provide a total of 5000 IU of vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene. This is 100% of the Daily Value for this vitamin. Beta Carotene is likely used because of its lower toxicity compared to vitamin A. Many supplements contain beta carotene rather than vitamin A for this same reason.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is only listed in the nutrition label of the fruit capsules of JuiceFestiv. I thought this was odd because I know vitamin C is found naturally in some of the
ingredients in the vegetable blend too. I am not sure why vitamin C is not listed in the vegetable capsules.
Two capsules of the fruit blend provide 100 mg of vitamin C. This comes out to 167% of what it's recommended we need.
Folic Acid
Taking 4 capsules of JuiceFestiv per day (2 fruit and 2 veggie capsules) provides 400 micrograms of folic acid per day. That is good because folic acid is well known to reduce birth defects.
Folic acid also helps protect DNA, and it even might play a role in reducing heart disease. Folic acid is also fortified in many kinds of cereal.
Vitamin B12
This vitamin is present in the highest amount of all vitamins in JuiceFestiv. Two capsules of the JuiceFestiv fruit blend provide 100 micrograms of vitamin B12 and this represents 1667% of the daily value for this vitamin. Since B12 is really not found in fruits or vegetables, my guess is that the makers of JuiceFestiv have fortified the supplement with this vitamin.
Healthy people often store a couple of years' worth of B12. Those who may run out include older adults and those who take certain medications.
Vitamin E
The vitamin E in JuiceFestiv is only alpha-tocopherol and is found only in the vegetable capsules. While this is the most abundant form in the human body, there are between 8-10 different types of vitamin E. Most supplements I see provide only alpha-tocopherol. Two capsules of the vegetable JuiceFestiv provide 30 IU (international units) of vitamin E, which is 100% of the daily value.
Vitamin B6
There is a lot of vitamin B6 in the fruit capsules of JuiceFestiv. The 5 mg in two capsules provides 250% of the daily value. Vitamin B6 is sometimes found in other supplements and found in foods too. I'm just not convinced most people to need to take a lot of it. Some research suggests vitamin B6 may reduce anxiety and depression.
What is SelenoExcell?
On the ingredients list, you will see that the selenium used in JuiceFestiv is furnished by something called SelenoExcell. This, they call “yeast bound selenium.”
Selenium is an important mineral being an antioxidant and under some circumstances, it can also help the thyroid work better too.
SelenoExcell is a product of Cypress Systems, Inc, a biotechnology company located in California. This type of selenium is said to be better than other mineral forms. The Cypress website cites some studies about this, but I wonder how many people in the US and other developed countries are lacking in this mineral. In the US, selenium deficiency is rare. Foods that naturally contain selenium include tuna fish and chicken.
Only the vegetable JuiceFestiv has Selenium. The fruit capsules do not. Two capsules of JuiceFestiv (veggie blend) have 200 micrograms of selenium. This is 286% of the recommended daily value (which is 55 micrograms for adults).
Is JuiceFestiv Organic?
If you read the ingredients, you see that the word “organic” is used on both the fruit blend and vegetable blend bottles. On the Natrol.com website (the company that makes JuiceFestiv), it also says “Made with 100% organic fruits and vegetables, certified by Oregon Tilth.”
On the bottom of the JuiceFestiv label, it says “this product contains 70% organic ingredients.”
This got me curious because “organic” and “70% organic” actually have different definitions. According to the USDA, here are the different meanings:
- 100% Organic: This means that the food is 100% organic.
- Organic: Foods bearing the term “organic” are at least 95% organic.
- Made With Organic Ingredients: Foods bearing this claim are at least 70% organic.
On the Natrol.com website (the company that makes JuiceFestiv) they clear this up by saying that the products' fruits and vegetables are 100% organic but that the ingredients that make up the capsules are not. Those ingredients, they say, make up 30% of the product. So, 100% – 30% = 70%. This is why the label says, “made with 70% organic ingredients.”
What Kind Of Protein?
They don't tell us how much protein is in JuiceFestiv. Protein is found naturally in fruits and vegetables. The supplement also has spirulina (in the vegetable blend) and whey protein (listed in the other ingredients listed above). I believe naturally occurring fruit/vegetable proteins, as well as spirulina and whey, contribute to the protein in JuiceFestiv. Overall, the supplement probably does not have much protein.
Is It Vegan?
I don't believe JuiceFestiv is completely vegan because they mention whey protein. The main ingredients are probably vegan but the capsules might not be.
Exotic Ingredients
JuiceFestiv contains some ingredients that I don't believe offer any added benefits over other ingredients. These ingredients include acai, goji berry, and noni. For more on these ingredients, see these reviews:
I also noticed it has lemon peels and orange peels. Why? Most of us don't eat orange or lemon peels, although I'm sure there are some beneficial nutrients in the peels of these fruits. I'd have to know what those nutrients are to comment further.
JuiceFestiv Probiotics
The label for the fruit blend says that two capsules contain Lactobacillus acidophilus at a concentration of 200 million colony-forming units (CFU).
Colony Forming Units (CFU) is a common way used by companies to tell us how many bacteria a probiotic supplement has.
Set aside the issue about whether or not these bacteria help us, the label also says that these 200 million bacteria were present “at the time of manufacture.” In other words, this does not necessarily mean there are 200 million live bacteria present when you buy it.
Simply telling how many bacteria are alive when a product was made does not necessarily tell how many are alive when we buy it.
From what I can tell, the company that makes JuiceFestiv is a well-respected company. I'll assume they have good quality control and the level of bacteria present when you buy it is similar to what it was when the product was made. I mention this because I think this is something to consider for any probiotic supplement you use.
Does JuiceFestiv Contain Gluten
The FAQ page of the Juice Festive website states, “Yes, JuiceFestiv contains wheat and glutens from Barley Grass and Wheat Grass.”
Does It Contain Fiber?
The nutrition label does not mention fiber so I'm going to assume any fiber that might be in JuiceFestiv is pretty low. This is one reason people should not rely on supplements to replace eating food. To be fair, I think most encapsulated fruit and vegetable supplements are also low in fiber.
But I Don't Like Fruits and Vegetables
I get it. A supplement containing fruits and vegetables might be preferable to people who don't like eating those foods. Truth be told, there are some vegetables I'm not a fan of either, so I can understand how a supplement would be an attractive option. I look at it this way: if the supplement gets people to thinking about what else they can do (like eating more fruits and veggies), then I think that's a good thing. Small steps are better than no steps at all.
Another option I'd point out you can always make smoothies with fruits and vegetables. Here is my favorite smoothie. Trust me, you won't even taste the veggies.
What's Up With The Enzymes?
Both the fruit and vegetable capsules of JuiceFestiv contain “enzyme blends.” The types of enzymes are identical between both fruit and vegetable capsules, although the amount of enzymes is different. In the vegetable capsules, it's 5 mg; in the fruit capsules, it's 13 mg.
Tip. You can often recognize an enzyme because their names usually ends in the letters “ase.”
Enzymes are made of proteins and are digested soon after hitting the stomach. They are absorbed not as intact enzymes but rather as individual amino acids. Our bodies use those amino acids to build other proteins – whatever proteins it needs.
If you have problems digesting carbs, fats, and proteins, then OK, maybe they might help you a little bit. But, if you don't have this problem, the enzymes are not needed. For what it's worth, I don't believe most people need these enzymes.
Who Makes JuiceFestiv?
JuiceFestiv is a product of a company called Natrol Inc. Their website is Natrol.com and their contact phone number is 1-800-262-8765. Their address is 21411 Prairie Street, Chatsworth California, 91311. If you google that address, you can see a building that says “Natrol.” That's good. It's a real company and has been in business since 1980.
The Better Business Bureau gave Natrol a rating of “A-” with 1 out of 5 stars. See the BBB file for updates and more information. In 2014, Natrol was acquired by an Indian Pharmaceutical company called Aurobindo Pharma.
JuiceFestiv Research
The Natrol.com website says that JuiceFestiv is “The Simpler Way to Get Your Daily Fruits & Veggies.” To that, I'd say, simpler does not always mean better. Most people know the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables. Does JuiceFestiv have those same benefits?
At this point, I'm not sure. I was not able to find any clinical studies published on JuiceFestiv itself. I didn't see any on the Natrol.com website and when I did a general Google search for “JuiceFestiv Clinical research,” I didn't see anything show up either.
I then searched ClincalTrials.gov for “JuiceFestiv” and didn't see any studies show up there. After that, I searched PubMed.gov (the National Library of Medicine) for “JuiceFestiv” and likewise did not see any studies either. So, if clinical studies exist, I can't find them.
That said, lack of evidence does not mean something does not work. I do believe the vitamins and other nutrients in JuiceFestiv make it into the body and have some effects. What those effects are, I cannot say at this time. Since the company that makes the product is now owned by a pharmaceutical company, hopefully, those studies will occur eventually.
Juice Plus vs. JuiceFestiv
Juice Plus is probably the biggest player in the world of fruit and veggie supplements. JuiceFestiv might have been created to go head-to-head with Juice Plus because they actually mention that supplement on the Natrol.com website. The product website says that Juice Festive is 37% less expensive than Juice Plus.
So which is better?
While Juice Festive is a quality-made supplement, one difference is several clinical studies have been conducted on Juice Plus. Studies on Juice Festive cannot be located. Does that make Juice Plus better? I think it's hard to say until head-to-head comparisons are published.
JuiceFestiv Side Effects
I believe JuiceFestiv is safe. For the most part, it's simply dried fruits and vegetables. Here are some general things to consider when taking this supplement. See your doctor if any of this applies to you.
- Speak to your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Start with less than suggested for the first week to see how you respond
- Stop taking JuiceFestiv and other supplements at least 2 weeks before having surgery
- If you take any medications, such as blood thinners, speak to your doctor first
- If you have any health issues at all, consult your doctor before taking any dietary supplements
Does Juice Festiv Work?
If by “does it work” you mean is JuiceFestiv as good as eating fruits and vegetables themselves, then I'd say no. The same thing for all other fruit and vegetable supplements too. No food supplement – no matter how well made it is – can compare to the broad spectrum of nutrients found in eating fruits and vegetables.
That said, it might be a way to supplement what you think you might not be getting from the foods you eat. If you are healthy, give it a try and see how you feel. Just remember food first. Supplements second.
Here's Juice Festive on Amazon