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
Beverly Cashen says
Hello and thank you for your input.
Wondering if I can still benefit from taking only half the amount per day, like only one of each?
Joe Cannon says
Hi Beverly, My hunch is taking half would still do something. I think its wise to start taking less than is recommended by a company when first starting a new supplement. Hope that helps and let me know how it goes 🙂
Pat says
How much zinc is in daily serving?
Joe Cannon says
Hi Pat, that’s a good question. I double-checked the supplement facts label again and the amount of zinc in juicefestive is not listed. This may be an indication that it does not have much zinc. I can tell you though that zinc is present in some of the foods used to make JuiceFestive.
For example, there’s zinc in mushrooms, parsley, and kelp. They are present in low amounts but they are there. So based on that my hunch is zinc is present in JuiceFestive but it’s not so much that they felt like calling attention to it?
I hope that helps. If you have any other questions, just ask 🙂
Frances Galantino says
I ordered juice festive over a month still have not received it
Joe Cannon says
Frances, so sorry to hear this. Did you order it from Amazon or directly from the company?
Christian cUlwell says
Thanks for your thorough write up on juice festiv. I was looking to add it to my diet to supplement my fruit and veggies intake, but wanted more info first. Your write up was very helpful in that regard. Thanks again!
Joe Cannon says
Christian, thanks so much! I’m happy to have helped you 🙂
Sue says
Just started after ankle replacement. I am on a low carb diet. What is the carb count?
Joe Cannon says
Hi Sue, the supplement facts label for Juice Festive does not mention how many carbs it has. My hunch is this means it doesn’t have many carbs (maybe < 1/2 gram). If you have any other questions, just ask. I hope your ankle replacement recovery goes well. 🙂
Catherine says
Juice Plus is made from high quality raw organic fruits and vegetables, at the lowest price as possible, Amongst others, by not spending money on comercials
So the question that comes up for me, is how is it possible for the manufacturers to sell Juicefestiv to an even 37% lower price than juice plus when the product contains so many different foods and components, and its supposed to be organic too?
Juicefestiv can be bought on Amazon too, and Amazon takes their share as well, so that mean even a lower income for the company that produces Juicefestiv.
Juicefestiv seems to contain gluten, which can trigger inflammation and other problems in the body. With all the good nutrition and their abilities to help support our health, I find it odd that they would add gluten, but also milk which contains lactose. That can also be a trigger to people’s health.
Some people with allergies or sensitivities to these components may respond even to a tiny dose of gluten and lactose and other people with different health issues have also been told to avoid gluten and lactose since it can trigger the immune system and cause inflammation, which again can affect the body`s organs and soft tissues.
How can we know if Juicefestiv actually is being absorbed in the intestines, since no clinical research has been done? And what about the enzymes? Are they really active?
Personally I think enzymes are really important because they play a huge role in our health, that is why it’s important that the fruits and vegetables are raw, so our health can take advantage of those enzymes.
foodenzymeinstitute.com/content/Why-Food-Enzymes-are-Important.aspx
Even tho buying Juicefestiv at a lower price than Juice Plus+, how can we know it has the same effect and results that Juice Plus+ can give (clinical trials ) or will the low price money spend, actually be a waste over time?
Joe Cannon says
HI Catherine, you bring up some good points. If we are looking at just the research, Juice Plus wins. The Juice Plus company (NSA) has been supporting research on their supplement for years. I covered the research in another review here it is: Juice Plus Review of Research.
About the enzymes, while I think there are probably not needed for most people, they may be for those with digestion issues or not making enzymes. I looked up the Food Enzyme Institute. It’s run by a company that makes enzyme supplements. Nothing wrong with that, just pointing it out. Either way, I don’t think enzymes are going to hurt anyone.
I’ve seen the ads for other fruit/veggie supplements. My guess is the higher price of some may be to offset the cost of the ads. Maybe Juice Plus is less because they don’t advertise it? If the supplement is quality made, it may have similar effects but as you say, the only way to know is to do the studies. Here’s to hoping those studies are conducted someday. 🙂
jIM MILLER says
Hi, do you have a review of Balance of Nature?
I believe it is manufactured by Texas Superfoods.
Thanks
Joe Cannon says
Jim, not yet but I hear their advertisements all the time. Texas superfoods, really? I did not know this. I do have a review on that supplement
Texas Super Food Review
Jim Miller says
Hi Joe,
I just searched for Balance of Nature again, and it is not a Texas Superfoods product.
Thanks for the link to Texas Superfoods!
Joe Cannon says
Jim, thanks for looking into that for me. 🙂
Jane McGimpsey says
Im confused on how you came up with Juice Festive being only 37% cheaper than Juice Plus. I used to purchase Juice Plus and it’s $188.00/4 month supply vs Juice Festive at $24.00/4 month supply. That doesn’t include Juice Plus’ Berry blend which is an additional $153.00/4 month supply.
I loved Juice Plus but couldn’t afford to keep purchasing it and was very happy to find Juice Festive.
Liz says
How many carbs are in the two bottles
Joe says
Hi Liz, the Juice Festive Supplement Facts label doesn’t tell us how many carbs it has. My guess is it’s not more than 1-2 grams.
Ccc says
I have started taking the juice festiv supplements. I had gall bladder surgery and have had issues with chronic diarrhea daily since that surgery, and I do mean daily. I also have chronic sinus and upper respiratory infections as well as asthma triggered by exposure.
All of these conditions have improved since I started taking the juice festive. I have stopped taking my collestapall medication for the daily diarrhea because I do not need it now. I am very pleased with the results, whether it is classified as a supplement or food.
Joe says
Hi Ccc, that is wonderful to hear! I’m so glad to read you are doing better since you started taking Juice Festive. 🙂
Natalie says
A very significant difference between Juice Plus and Juice Festiv: Juice Festiv has a supplement label and can only be taken at a set “dosage” and under the supervision of your doctor, beginning at age 8 – this indicates that some people should not be taking it depending on their medical conditions / prescriptions.
Juice Plus has a nutrition label because it is food- the powdered produce is safe for every person from age 6 months to end of life, regardless of medical condition or medication. And since it is food, there is no chance of “overdose”, as there is with any supplement.
Joe says
Hi Natalie, good point you bring up about the labels.
I can confirm Juice Festive has a Supplements Facts label while Juice Plus has a Nutrition Facts label