Update 3/12/20. Have you heard of Juice Plus? Juice Plus (also called Juice Plus +) is a whole food phytonutrient supplement. The supplement contains the extracts of 17 different fruits and vegetables in capsule form. Juice Plus is intriguing not only because it comes from food but also because there are several clinical studies on this supplement. Most of them show it has benefits. In this review, let's look at the Juice Plus research. So you know, I am not a juice plus distributor and have no connection to the company which makes it.
Juice Plus Research
There is clinical research on this supplement -human research. Many of the studies can be viewed from the companies website. The company does support research. Some people take that in a bad way but I don't. I like it when companies take the time – and spend the money -to publish research on their supplements. This is rare and I appreciate seeing it.
Here are summaries of the research conducted on this supplement. To make it easier, I'll try to make reading the research easier by dividing them into different sections.
Antioxidant Research
In one of the earlier studies, researchers in 1996 noted higher levels of various vitamins and antioxidants like folic acid, vitamin E and phytonutrients like B carotene and lutein when they gave Juice Plus to 15 healthy people for days. More specifically, they noted the following improvements
- beta-carotene 510%
- alpha-carotene, 119%
- lutein/zeaxanthin, 44%
- lycopene, 2046%
- alpha-tocopherol, 58%
There was no single ingredient said to be responsible for these effects. The improvements were considered the result of all the phytonutrients working in together.
Multiple studies in both healthy and unhealthy people have documented the supplement improves antioxidant levels. This is one of the most consistent findings in all of the research.
Heart Disease Research
In a separate investigation, researchers tested JP and the Vineyard Blend to see if it slowed the progression of heart disease. Specifically, they wanted to by measuring its effects on blood pressure and calcium in coronary arteries. Doctors sometimes measure the amount of calcium in coronary arteries as an indicator of heart disease progression.
The people in this study were 51 men and women with high blood pressure and pre-high blood pressure (prehypertension). They were given Juice Plus and followed for 2 years. Results showed those who received Juice Plus had:
- lower systolic and diastolic blood pressures
- reduced homocysteine
- slower increase in coronary calcium
In theory, this appears to show JP might slow down some aspects of heart disease. One problem, however, was the lack of a placebo group. Interestingly hemoglobin A1C –a sign of diabetes – also decreased. That is good.
Eating high-fat meals can cause vasoconstriction (closing up) of blood vessels. This is bad. In an attempt to see if Juice Plus might help reduce this from happening, researchers in 2003 devised a study where they took 38 healthy people and split them into the following 3 groups:
- Juice plus only group
- Juice Plus + vineyard blend (Vineyard Blend contains grape and berry extracts)
- Placebo group
After 4 weeks, those taking either JP alone or JP and the Vineyard Blend had less vasoconstriction after eating a high-fat meal, compared to people who took a placebo. In addition, the fruit/vegetable concentrate promoted a small (but significant) reduction in cholesterol levels after 4 weeks (cholesterol changed from 184 to 172).
In my own very unscientific “study” many years ago, I noticed Juice Plus alone (no Vineyard Blend) reduced cholesterol from 260 to 220 after one month. My test subject was in a friend with chronically high cholesterol levels.
One compound thought to contribute to heart disease is homocysteine, a substance that makes blood sticky and easier to clot inside blood vessels. Investigators recruited 32 men (smokers and non-smokers) and randomly gave them either a placebo or Juice Plus for 6 weeks each.
Juice Plus reduced homocysteine levels and raised levels of B vitamins and beta carotene. To be fair, other researchers have raised questions about this study.
Researchers in Tokyo saw that after 4 weeks, Juice Plus supplements reduced homocysteine levels as well as markers of free radical damage.
Reducing Inflammation Research
Chronic, long term inflammation is thought to contribute to a variety of health problems. Being overweight is one thing that can raise inflammation. To see if this supplement helped, researchers in Australia, recruited 56 overweight adults and gave them either juice plus or a placebo for 8 weeks.
The researchers wanted to see if the fruit and vegetable concentrate supplement would reduce inflammation caused by being overweight. The people took either 6 capsules of placebo or 6 capsules of fruit and vegetable supplements (4 JP and 2 orchard blend) per day.
Results showed those taking juice plus had lower markers of inflammation and reduce cholesterol and LDL.
The antioxidants in fruits and vegetables are well known to reduce free radicals. But what if you smoked? Researchers in Italy recruited 101 heavy smokers (more than 20 cigarettes per day) who smoked for more than 10 years. 75 people completed the study. The people were randomly given either:
- A placebo
- Juice Plus
- Juice Plus + Vineyard blend (berry blend)
Those who received JP, as well as the JP/Vineyard combination, saw significant reductions in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and free radical damage.
Boosting Immunity Research
Some research suggests this fruit/vegetable supplement may improve the immune system. In one such study, 59 healthy law students (21-53 years of age) were given JP or placebo for 77 days. Blood tests revealed a 30% increase in T cells and a 40% reduction in DNA damage in white blood cells (lymphocytes) in those who took Juice Plus.
Another study has also noted less DNA damage in lymphocytes after taking the supplement after only 60 days of use.
Prior to this other researchers noted the supplement increased the activity of natural killer immune cells (NK cells) when it was given to 53 smokers and non-smokers for 80 days. Levels of an immune substance called Interleukin 2 also improved.
Other researchers have noted fewer sick days when JP or placebo was given to 41 police officers for 28 days. While the reduction was not significant from a science perspective, in real-world terms it came to 26 fewer sick days. (108 vs. 134 sick days). I call that significant.
To reinforce these findings, at least one study has found Juice Plus caused a 20% reduction in moderate to severe cold symptoms in health care workers. This study involved 529 people who took JP or a placebo for 8 months.
Juice Plus Cancer Research
There is at least one study of Juice Plus improving the levels of antioxidants in cancer patients. This investigation involved 51 women. Other than this, no further research on the effects of the supplement involving cancer patients could be located.
Juice Plus and Pregnancy Research
Preeclampsia refers to a dangerous elevation in blood pressure that can occur during pregnancy. Left untreated, pre-eclampsia can cause organ damage and can be deadly. Needless to say, pregnant women are routinely monitored for this condition.
Researchers in the US recruited 684 women and gave them either the supplement or a placebo before their 12th week of pregnancy until delivery. The women took either 4 capsules per day or a placebo.
These researchers saw no differences in the rates or severity of preeclampsia. But, babies of the women who took the supplement had fewer respiratory problems and lower rates of admissions to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of hospitals compared to babies born to women who took the placebo.
Can It Help Diabetes?
Insulin resistance is the term used when insulin doesn't work as well as it should. It is one of the signs of type II diabetes. To see if the supplement might help, researchers followed 30 boys (21 boys were overweight) for 6 months. They were randomly given the supplement or a placebo, along with nutritional counseling. Insulin resistance decreased in the overweight boys (that's good) and they lost body fat too. This was not seen in the normal weight boys.
Can It Help Gingervitis?
Dental health and heart health seem to be related. So, might this supplement help reduce heart disease by helping reduce gum disease? At least one study has noted JP improved gum disease compared to a placebo. The study involved 120 people who were given either the supplement or a placebo for two months. While more studies are needed, this investigation appears to show the supplement helps some aspects of gum disease fairly quickly.
Does It Improve Exercise?
Evidence suggests naturally occurring antioxidants are better for exercise than taking isolated nutrients (like vitamin C for example). Some JP research has looked into this. In one such investigation, researchers took 48 healthy men and women and split them up into the following groups:
- The control group (placebo)
- JP supplement group
- Vitamin group (400 IU vitamin E + 1000 mg vitamin C)
Those taking Juice Plus received 1 fruit capsule, 1 veggie capsule, and 1 Vineyard Blend capsule twice a day (total of 6 capsules per day).
Everybody performed 3 exercise treadmill tests at the following intervals:
- 1 test before supplementation
- 1 test after 2 weeks of supplementation
- 1 test after a week of no supplementation
Results:
1. Both the vitamin and JP resulted in “modest” suppression of protein breakdown during exercise after 2 weeks. This is good because we don't want our muscles to be broken down during exercise.
2. Neither JP or the vitamins seemed to reduce indicators of free radical damage. This is odd since both JP and vitamin E possess antioxidant activity.
3. Neither the vitamins or JP improved exercise performance.
In another exercise, study researchers gave 41 healthy people either JP or a placebo for 28 days before they performed an intense exercise program. Blood tests revealed Juice Plus reduced various markers of free radical stress but did not reduce pain damage caused by the exercise.
Who Makes Juice Plus
The company is National Safety Associates (NSA). The website is JuicePlus.com.
The company is located at 140 Crescent Drive Collierville, TN 38017-3374. They can be contacted at 901-850-3000 M-F 8 am to 5 PM central time.
According to the Better Business Bureau, they have been in business since 1970. They have an A+ BBB rating and are a BBB accredited business. See the BBB file for updates and more information.
Juice Plus Price
The cost is around $41 a month if you just purchased the original version. The cost would be extra if you also purchased their other supplements such as their Vineyard Blend, protein powder, etc.
Buy Juice Plus
You can purchase Juice Plus directly its website JuicePlus.com. The supplement can also be purchased from one of the many people who sell it. If you don't know anyone, a quick google search of “Juice Plus + your zip code” will likely reveal people in your area sell it.
Currently, this supplement is not sold in stores like Walmart, Costco, CVS, Target, Rite Aid, Walgreens, etc.
Juice Plus Side Effects
In healthy people, this supplement is safe. No published study has noted any significant side effects. While I have no connection to this supplement, I have taken it for extended periods and suffered no problems.
That said, if you have a serious health problem, it's always wise to discuss all supplements you take with your doctor. Here's a shortlist of general things to consider. This list is not complete:
- start with less than recommended for the first week.
- stop taking at least 2 weeks before having surgery
- if you take medications like blood thinners, talk to your doctor first
- As with all supplements, talk to your doctor first if have any health issues
See the Juice Plus Q and A review for more insights.
Juice Plus Alternatives
Because it was likely one of the first whole food supplements, there are now many other competitors out there.
Just a few include:
Of these, Juice Festiv appears to garner the most attention. 
Whether or not these other supplements work the same or better than JP is open speculative. No head-to-head comparison studies between supplement could be located.
Does Juice Plus Work?
Juice Plus has more clinical studies than pretty much any supplement I've looked seen. Overall, the research on Juice Plus is interesting. From that research, I am pretty sure the supplement will raise levels of antioxidants. It will probably also reduce inflammation also. These things may lead to better health. If you want to try it and see how you respond, why not get a full blood test first. Then try Juice Plus for several months and get another blood test. That's good advice no matter what fruit and vegetable supplements you try.
I have pulmonary and cardiac sarcoidosis…an autoimmune disease that affects my lungs, my heart, my liver, my spleen, my joints, my skin…i operate on 42 percent of my lungs, have episodes of atrial fibrillation, incredible amounts of nearly debilitating joint pain, congestive heart failure and sever edema. i have been taking juice plus for a little over a month now, and its the first time i have experienced remittance in ALL of my symptoms for this long in the 7 years i have been diagnosed.
I am sleeping all night, waking with no fatigue, virtually pain free, no heart arrhythmia to speak of, i am craving healthier food and water and have lost 10 pounds, with the swelling being greatly reduced. I am classified as class 4, terminal. Whatever its doing, its working for me, and i will most certainly take it.
Wow Michelle! What a testimony! So glad you are feeling better! Thanks for sharing your story.
Hi Joe, I just wanted to add my two cents. I recently became a JP Distributor because my aunt, a Nutritionist, was so passionate about the product that she paid for my sign up costs and first order. My 10 yr old daughter suffered from terrible seasonal allergies. She would sneeze constantly every morning for almost 2 hours. She also would get sick easily if she didn’t get enough sleep. I was amazed when after taking the children’s gummies for 2 weeks, her morning sneezing stopped.
She has now been taking them for over a month and she says she doesn’t get tired anymore at school. For that reason alone I would continue to take this product. As for me, I definitely have more energy and have lost 13 pounds-something I have been trying to do for years!
Thank you for all your reviews, your sincere concern for your followers, and your hard work!
Mary K.
Hi Joe,
Thank you for the unbiased review on JP. A friend of mine told me about Texas Superfood (http://www.texassuperfood.com/what-is-superfood/) which has over 55 raw, organically grown fruits and vegetables. Have you heard of this superfood brand?
Sandra, this is the first Ive heard of the Texas Super Food. I did look at the website you linked to. I’m not familiar with Dr Black but I do see he is an ND (naturapatic doctor). I’m not aware of any research on the Texas Super Food so its hard to say anything at this time.
Thank you for your quick response. I too could not find any research and the . I may contact them and see if they have any studies/research they may have not published yet.
Sandra, glad to help and if they show you any research on their product – not the ingredients, but specifically the Texas superfood itself – I’d be glad to take a look at it also.
Is JP organic?
Donna, as I understand it yes juice plus is organic fruits and vegetables.
On their website, they claim they use locally grown produce but it says nothing about organic.
http://www.juiceplus.com/content/JuicePlus/en/what-is-juice-plus/farm-fresh-nutrition.html#.U2jXf6K9aD8
Tx! This website is awesome!
Donna, THANKS! I appreciate that 🙂
Many people have lost weight on JP but could you tell me if it would help someone to put weight on?
Nicola, I think anyone who loses weight with Juice Plus does so because it reminds them of what else they can do to be healthy. They might start exercising and eating better for example.
As for gaining weight, JP basically has no calories (or negligible calories) so I don’t think JP alone would help people gain weight. That said, if it helped to get people thinking about what else they can do to help themselves, then I’d suppose it might be possible that JP might be a vehicle that might help in the gaining of weight. But just taking JP alone, I dont think will do the trick.
Hi great review Joe. I am currently taking the JP+ veg and fruit capsules. Before that I was on the Juice Festiv capsules which I was importing in from the US. I took them for a number of months. In my job I do long hours and shift work, I also have two very young babies so I lack in sleep.
From taking the Juicefestiv within 3 weeks I started to notice I could wake up in the mornings feeling bright eyed and awake with plenty of energy. I also noticed that after a night out drinking I would wake up in the morning without a hang over.
My wife was sold some Juice plus complete protein shakes which she started to use as a weight loss program which she see some great results in her weight loss and other things like a fuller head of hair and stronger nails. So she recommended me the juice plus capsules that I have only just started to take in the last couple of weeks. So I really hope they don’t disappoint. Watch this space………
Troy, good luck!
mlmwatch.org/04C/NSA/juiceplus.html
MLM Scam
If skeptical of negative reports, at least try Juice Festiv first, which is sold at Walmart at less than half the price of Juice Plus.
I have been taking Juice plus for two months now and it has taken away my migranes that I have suffered with for 30 years. I had a least 15 a month and have been on several different needs for it. There is something to this juice plus that is for sure…. I am a believer.
Emily, that’s interesting. how long after you started taking juice plus did you notice a reduction in migraines? do you not get any migraines anymore since taking juice plus?
There are many differences between Juice Plus and Juice Festive, besides the fact that Juice Plus now has 31 published studies and Juice Festive has none. They have a different mix of fruits and vegetables, so you can’t say take Juice Festive it’s cheaper and the same thing as JP because no research has been done on the fruit and vegetable combination in Juice Festive.
Also Juice Plus is an industry leader in the technology and standards used to make its capsules and gummies. They use a proprietary process that takes the whole food, peel, seeds and all, and using vacuum, cold processing technology suck out the waters and sugars, leaving everything else. So it is not an “extract” as described in the article but whole food, ie it is not an “extract” of broccoli, it IS broccoli minus water and sugar. No other company uses this state-of-the-art technology.
Not only that, Juice Plus knows exactly the source of its produce. It either owns it own farms or has exclusive contracts with organic farmers. Therefore it has 100% traceability of it produce ingredients. Does Juice Festive Have that? It also has exacting standards that the farmers are required to use in the way they farm and grow the crops. It harvest when it’s vine ripe, does Juice Festive do that?
It also very impressively tests the product 6 times before being released to the market to both prove it is entirely clean of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, bacteria etc and that what is on the label is actually in the capsules/gummies. Does Juice Festive do that?
It is also NSF certified, which only a handful
companies have.
At the end of the day, you get what you pay for!
Simone, thanks for your words. I would content that Juice Plus does provide “extracts” of foods because even though it is based on real whole foods, each capsule only has parts of a bunch of different fruits/veggies. I also agree that they have taken out the water and sugar – and also the fiber too. As a JP distributor I know you also put the emphasis on food first. You are correct that JP does have the research and I also am not aware of any research on Juice Festive.
You do realize that the product is spiked with exogenous vitamins and minerals right? JP is essentially a cheap multivitamin processed with a wisp of fruit and vegetable dust as a marketing gimmick. It is not even a remotely close facsimile of the “real thing”.
Thanks for the unbiased reviews! I just found your site today looking about info on another product. I have been with NSA for 22 years. I am not a vitamin taker, never was, and still struggle to take my JP daily. But I often have people that want to sell me different products and always try to find out what I can about them.
I have never found one like JP that offers the published research that still continues with JP. What I like most is the way we (or most of us) promote it as a way to bridge the gap between what we DO eat and what we SHOULD eat in regards to fruits and veggies. Simple as that!
Angie, glad you found me! feel free to tell your friends 🙂
Any update on comparison of JP to Juice Festiv?
Kmfox, I have not had the opportunity to review Juice Festive unfortunately.
Do you know what the difference would be between taking Juice Plus vs One-a-Day Supplements (for women)??
Luisa, as I understand it one a day multiple vitamin is a vitamin and juice plus is a fruit/veggie supplement. as such if you were to compare them. juice plus would probalby have less of some vitamins/minerals than the one-a-day multi. Because of this I still think taking an inexpensive multi is good to do.
Quite a few of the above comments are fake! It’s a well known fact that the guys over at JP login to review sites using false accounts & names.
Tit tut!
Mike, I’m not sure of that but its possible. Because I know stuff like this does go on when it comes to supplements, I do read all reviews personally and even double check the email address on occasion but its possible some fakers got though. Nobody is perfect but I can tell you that I am vigilant for for spammers /fakers on this and all other reviews I write.
I Googled Juice-Festiv to locate an retailer or local retailer…BUT I got side tracked to this blog by a Google link, the gist of which was a comparison of Natrol’s hawkings vs NSA’s hawkings – AND, some 2 hours later, I still have yet to enact my original plan; as well as, I have yet to find the touted comparison.
However, these past couple of hours have been time well spent. With respect to the NSA story, It seems as if there is very little (if any) gray area where some form of consensus can be realized between the converts/zealots/believers & the nay-Sayers/non-believers. So, here we have more support for the popular notion that there is more than one side for each story.
Now then, just possibly, a rather important point is being ignored. Our state of health (pretty much, each and everyone of us) is dictated by our genetic coding at conception and a vigorous massaging by our environment (familial, physical, emotional, religious, mental, etc). AND, our healthy longevity is predicated on just how healthy our environment really is. Good health is a priceless commodity & trumps great wealth. SO, just about anything we can do to enhance our well being, should merit our attention & habituation.
Altho the NSA products cost may approach a dollar a day, and they are far from being a silver bullet or a panacea, and part of their value may be that they are placebo effective, the real value here, is that we can make a decision to live just a bit healthier lifestyle (with minimally processed/packaged food items).
Further, whether NSA is an MLM selling overpriced products or not, they are none-the-less, still a business…and last time I looked at business’s, the object was to make a profit. And the trickle down effect is profitable business’s employ people, who then spend their earnings, which promotes a healthy economy…
OK, now to my point…you see, I’ve been spending the almost dollar a day for 5 plus years now, & I’m quite happy with the NSA product’s benefits, yet I’m ready to try the Natrol product, for a goodly sum less. Just a simple A : B comparison, without the trappings of the mandated studies mentioned in so many of the postings above…hence, my reason for Googling Natrol Juice-festiv (which, by the by, directly supports my “rather important point”, mentioned earlier in this posting – to save you the time of trying to find it, its most simply stated AS: “HEALTHY HABITUATION!”)
Steve, glad you were able to find me and hope my review helped in some small way. Let me know what happens with your experiment of juice festive 🙂
Juice Plus is awesome and no research or opinion ever said not to eat as much of any raw fruit or veggie you can get your hands on along with taking JP wasn’t advised. I fully have seen results and I am not a salesman so I do not fight the battle with every person I know every day but truly believe that everyone should be on it.
I also know that it is expensive and I have my kids on it and cannot afford for my husband and I to take it also but would if I could. I have taken it on a regular basis and believe that it does make you eat better. It builds your body with exactly the whole foods we should be eating. Think about this…if all you eat is food that is not good for you, when you are hungry, what do you crave and generally go for? The same food. why? because at this point, that’s what your body is made up of. Junk.
So if you build your body up with fruits and vegetables, when your hungry, you are going to want fruits and vegetables. The idea of a salad for a meal becomes fulfilling and tastes great. If you have “junk” as your base, like a burger and fries and a soda, your body thinks it is getting what it needs and really its just clogging the arteries and weighing you down and your hungry again.
Have you ever seen the commercial for the children’s ensure? The one at the soccer game where the kid is playing as a serving of French fries and the mom says to another mom, “he seems slow today” and the other mom says “well, kids are what they eat?” I love it. It is so true. Just think, a serving size on a nutritional label says there are so many grams of sugar, well there is one sugar packet in 4 grams of sugar so if a label says a serving size is 1 cup for a cereal and the sugar is 12 grams that’s like giving your kid one cup of cereal and 3 packets of sugar for them to dump on top. Really….use that analogy and see what happens in one day for what you eat. You will be shocked! So, what I am rambling on about….JP helps you eat better. Take less meds and when your old…you will be grateful!!!
I agree that eating a variety of fruits and vegetables (and nuts and berries) is better than taking Juice Plus, because you do get the fiber, and it’s certainly cheaper and much more delicious. That said, I happen to be one of those people who is carbohydrate/glucose-intolerant because of hypoglycemia and a tendency to accumulate unhealthy abdominal fat on a ‘normal’ diet. This can lead to a number of diseases of aging, such as type-II diabetes, heart disease, dementia, and various cancers.
To keep my body in ketosis (efficiently metabolizing fat over carbohydrates) I cannot eat many veggies and practically no fruits (a few berries/day). So I take Juice Plus to supplement the thousands of phytonutrients I would normally get from a diet rich in fruits and veggies. And I need no other vitamin or mineral supplements.
I started taking JP 4 months ago and I only did it to please my husband, I had been very sick I had depression, constipation, no energy, and basically and overall unhealthy look and state of body and mind. I now have my Dr’s telling me I look good, and I do; and feel soo much better. I’m eating better and exercising , all I can say is J P did it 🙂
Veronixa, thanks for the feedback. I am glad you are eating better and exercising more also! 🙂
This afternoon I was at my doctor’s office for regular check up and she said that I should eat more fruits and vegetables, drink plenty of plain water and exercise regularly. I asked her about JP but she hasn’t heard anything about JP.
Michael JC, It’s hard to be a doctor, keeping up with all the new drugs, medical literature etc. but that’s interesting since JP has been around since the 1990s I believe. I think for a doctor to learn about supplements means going the extra mile as its not something they hear a lot about – expect when a supplement causes a bad reaction. I think it has to be an interest for them to seek out info on supplements.
The study numbers are too small to be significant – any large scale studies done to make this product more credible?
I give JP to my daughter who had trouble falling asleep but now she has been on JP for over 8 months and I noticed that she falls asleep within 10-15 minutes time. I don’t know whether it is because of Juice Plus or something else.
Joe, have you ever heard about a product called Recovery 7.2 from a company called sevenpoint2 – Alkaline? They claim that this capsule brings your ph level to alkaline and thereby removing all sorts of body pain and also cleans the blood. They call it the nitrogen blast.
Michael, Ive never heard of that product but I can tell you that our blood is always on the alkaline side. If the blood really did move too much in the acid or alkaline of the ph scale for a prolonged period of time, we would die. I view all “alkalizing health supplements” with skepticism.
Don’t fall for this nonsense!
http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/DSH/coral2.html.
Id agree, the alkaline / acid idea makes no sense to me either since the blood is always slightly on the alkaline side