• General Overview BeneVia® Products
• General information About BeneVia®
• General Scientific Information Questions
• Scientific Questions About Benevia®
• How Does BeneVia® Compare to Other Products?
• Medical Information and Issues

The top four health issues affecting consumers 60 and older
1. The lack of muscle strength and energy
2. The loss of memory and learning
3. The risk of cardiovascular health issues
4. The need for protection from infections with normal immune response

 

BeneVia® Products: BeneVia® Memory & Focus
1. Omega-3 DHA/EPA helps support memory function
2. A good source of choline helps support memory function
3. Powerful antioxidant lutein helps support brain function with vitamins A, CandE

 

BeneVia® Strength & Energy
1. Helps maintain lean body weight
2. Helps improve lean body weight
3. Concentrated blend of leucine and essential amino acids
4. Highest quality protein source and blend of healthy outcomes

 

BeneVia® Heart Health
1. Natural phytosterols to manage healthy cholesterol levels
2. Heart healthy formula to help reduce the risk of heart disease
3. Leucine and high-quality protein to manage healthy triglyceride levels
4. Helps maintain lean body weight

 

BeneVia® Immune Protect
1. Omega-3 DHA/EPA supports a healthy immune system
2. Amino acid arginine and citrulline help support a healthy immune response
3. High-quality whey protein source
4. Antioxidant vitamins A, C and E

 

Where can I find information about the science behind BeneVia® Products?

• All information can be found at our website http://www.gobenevia.com

What is Therapeutic Nutrition™?

• Therapeutic Nutrition™ refers to specific targeting of diagnosed medical orphysical conditions and the utilization of nutrients scientifically shown to specificallyaddress those conditions.

Why is BeneVia® juice-based?

• Research shows that older individuals prefer juice-based drinks to dairy-baseddrinks. Compliance is largely dictated by taste, and a juice-based drink that tastes goodwill have better drinkability and thus higher compliance.

Is there fiber in BeneVia®?

• BeneVia® contains the soluble fiber nutriose that is broken down in the largeintestine and helps increase healthy microflora.

Are there artificial sweeteners in BeneVia®?

• No. BeneVia® uses all natural sweeteners in there products.

Is the BeneVia® package recyclable and environmentally friendly?

• Yes.

What is lulo?

• Lulo is a tropical South American fruit with a citrus flavor.

How many servings per day should I take of BeneVia®?

• Two servings a day is optimal, taken between meals. However, benefits can beachieved with one serving per day.

Is this protein blend a kind of ‘concentrated’ form I can use for better effect?

• The best way to look at BeneVia®’s protein mix is that it gives you more “bangfor the buck”. It would require as much as four full servings of the typical adult mealreplacement drinks to achieve the same effects on building muscle as one serving ofBeneVia®.

What other vitamins and minerals are provided by BeneVia® drinks?

• In an extensive review of published clinical articles in the last 20 years onthe nutritional habits and practices of consumers 60 years and older, only 11 vitaminswere consistently shown to be consumed at rates below recommended intakes. Other vitaminsand minerals were not consistently shown to be an issue in the consumer use groups andthus BeneVia® provides the optimal level of only the most important nutrients needed.

Where can I buy these products?

• At preferred retailer grocers, drugstores and via certain websites.

Are the flavorings in BeneVia® all natural?

• Yes. BeneVia® uses natural flavors in each beverage.

Where else can I find this protein blend?

• The formulation of protein and amino acids contained in ViaLeupro™ isprotected by intellectual property and therefore cannot be found in any otherproducts.

Are there other flavors I can buy?

• Currently there are four flavors on the market. We will be adding new flavorsin 2010.

 

Is there a difference in how different protein sources work and help build muscle?

• Proteins are made of component amino acids. There are 20 primary amino acidsin protein. Eight of these are called “essential amino acids” because the body does notproduce enough of them to supply all of its needs. Only the essential amino acids areneeded to stimulate the production of new muscle protein. The higher the percentage ofessential amino acids, the more effective the protein in building new muscle.

Is there a ranking to best types of protein sources?

• The traditional means of ranking the quality of proteins is called PDCAAS, theProtein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score. This ranking system is based on thepercentage of essential amino acids composing the protein and the digestibility of theprotein. ViaLeuPro™ has the highest amount of amino acids.

How do arginine, citrulline and Omega-3 fatty acids work to support the immune system?

• The amino acids arginine and citrulline support the metabolism of the cells ofthe immune system. Omega-3 fatty acids are known to support the immune system bypositively influencing membranes. The combination of arginine, citrulline and Omega-3fatty acids is optimal to support the immune system.

Are probiotics needed for immune system support?

• Probiotics can positively influence the immune system by modifying thebacterial composition of the large bowel. BeneVia® contains certain nutrients for thebacteria in the large bowel (prebiotics) that also positively modifies the bacterialcomposition.

Is this product useful to me if I’m younger and fairly athletic?

• Due to the superior blend of protein and essential amino acids, the BeneVia®blend stimulates muscle protein synthesis in individuals of all ages. BeneVia® amplifiesthe effects of exercise by stimulating the production of new muscle protein, regardless ofage. BeneVia® taken before and after exercise will cause much greater stimulation ofmuscle protein production than exercise alone, regardless of the age of the athlete. The beneficial effects of exercise are amplified with a minimal caloric load. BeneVia® is great for athletes of all ages.

Why does leucine play such an important role?

• Leucine plays a key role as a regulator of protein synthesis. As we age, therequirement for leucine increases due to a diminished responsiveness of the molecularmechanisms in muscle that normally respond to elevated levels of leucine to activate theprocess of protein synthesis.

What is so special about the protein blend, ViaLeupro™?

• A series of research studies have defined the optimal proportions of aminoacids to maximally stimulate the production of new protein in muscle. ViaLeupro™ containsthat ideal profile of amino acids. It is a proprietary mixture of high-quality protein andappropriate additions of free amino acids as needed to achieve the optimal proportions.The key to the optimal formulation reflected in ViaLeupro™ is a high leucine content (more than 33% of essential amino acids).

Can’t I just take a leucine amino acid supplement and get the same result?

• Leucine alone has no stimulatory effect on protein synthesis. Further, addingleucine alone to protein doesn’t produce a beneficial effect, because other branch chainamino acids, valine and isoleucine, fall when there is a disproportionate increase inleucine availability. It is only when leucine, valine and isoleucine are added in theappropriate proportions to the high quality protein that the unique quality of leucine can be attained.

Why do I need whole protein and essential amino acids when I take leucine?

• You need whole protein and essential amino acids (amino acids that are notproduced in the body in significant amounts) because leucine alone only activates thepotential for protein synthesis. New protein will only be produced when the potential isactivated by leucine, and at the same time there is an adequate availability of all theother amino acids needed to produce complete proteins.

If I’m over 50 years old, will I benefit from eating more protein?

• Yes. Some of the changes related to aging can be delayed or prevented byincreasing the amount of protein eaten each day. Examples are reduced loss of muscle massand function, reduced cardiovascular disease risk, improved bone health, but alsopromoting wound healing and skin health.

 

Is the protein blend used in BeneVia® more effective at building muscle than these other sources? How much better?

• BeneVia® protein blend uses a base of the highest quality protein (wheyprotein), according to the PDCAAS ranking system. This excellent protein source is thenimproved by the addition of leucine, valine isoleucine and creatine, which have specialqualities that greatly enhance the effectiveness of the protein blend in BeneVia® and istherefore significantly superior to other available protein sources for building muscle.

How much protein do I need? If BeneVia® provides 10 grams of protein blend wouldn’t I be better off using food or supplements to get 40 grams or even more?

• An intake of a large amount of protein, 40 grams or more in a single serving,will provide sufficient essential amino acids to stimulate protein synthetic pathways.However, a large volume of protein could potentially place a burden on the kidneys bymaking the blood more acidic, thus increasing the need to excrete urea. The special blendin BeneVia® actually decreases the urea load on the kidneys by causing more effective reutilization of some of the amino acids that would normally go to the liver for urea production. In addition, the BeneVia® blend does not contain extra amounts of sulfur- containing amino acids that are largely responsible for acidifying the blood. Finally, creatine provides extra energy to the muscle in the form of creatine phosphate.

Do other nutritional supplements provide the same benefits of BeneVia®?

• Due to the patented formulations of BeneVia® and the rigorous supportingscience, there are no other products on the market with the same formula or — moreimportantly — the same benefits and outcomes of BeneVia®.

What sort of science base supports the BeneVia® product?

• The core information supporting the superiority of the BeneVia® portfolio ofproducts was the result of over 10 years and $10 million of sponsored research in proteinuse, the aging and performance response.

Why aren’t there more calories in BeneVia®?

• BeneVia® was formulated such that you get only the most important and criticalnutrients you need that affect health outcomes. The product offers a superior protein mixin a fat-free, great-tasting juice-based format, complemented by specific nutrientstargeting individual health concerns.

Taking two BeneVia® a day is too expensive for me. Can I expect that when I take half a bottle per day that BeneVia® will still be effective?

• Per day, it is advised to take 2 servings of BeneVia®. Therefore, taking onlyhalf a bottle per day will not provide you with the benefits of BeneVia®. In addition,when only half a bottle of BeneVia® is taken, the remaining BeneVia® needs to be stored inthe refrigerator and drunk within 2 days.

How do lutein and Omega-3 DHA/EPA fatty acids work together to support cognitive function?

• Recent studies on memory function have shown that Omega-3 DHA/EPA isincorporated into brain cells which improves their function. Therefore DHA is also acarrier for lutein and antioxidants, DHA helps deliver lutein to the brain cells and isthus able to fight inflammation of brain cells. Inflammation in the brain impairs memory,so reducing brain inflammation improves memory function. Research has shown that the DHA and lutein in BeneVia provides a 40% improvement in memory, learning time and retention versus diets not delivering Omega-3 DHA/EPA.

How do Omega-3 DHA/EPA fatty acids support the immune system?

• Omega-3 DHA/EPA fatty acids contain the fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). In particular, EPA positively supports the immune system,probably by influencing membrane function of the immune cells. EPA can also be convertedin the body into components that influence the immune system positively.

Is there a ranking to the best types of protein sources?

• The traditional means of ranking the quality of proteins is called PDCAAS (live link). This ranking system is based on the percentage ofessential amino acids composing the protein and the digestibility of the protein.ViaLeuPro has the highest amount of essential amino acids.

BeneVia® contains sucralose. Is there a problem with Sucralose?

• Sucralose is the only non-caloric sweetener made from sugar. Sucralose isderived from sugar through a multi-step patented manufacturing process. Joslin DiabetesCenter (Harvard, the leader in diabetes care in North America) endorses alternativesweeteners including sucralose (live link)
• Sucralose has been studied in more than 110 human clinical trials completedover 20 years and reviewed by the FDA in great detail to assess human risk. The results ofthese studies showed no evidence that these sweeteners pose any threat to humanhealth.
• Sucralose has been available in international markets for more than 15 years.The FDA first approved the use of sucralose as a nonnutritive sweetener in 1998 andexpanded this approval in 1999. Currently, sucralose is permitted for use in over 80countries.

 

How do the products MIX1 and Zoic® compare to BeneVia®?

• BeneVia® is formulated to deliver a specialized and superior blend of proteinand essential amino acids high in leucine. Therefore, it is significantly more effectiveat building muscle than any the protein sources in MIX1 or Zoic®. Secondly, BeneVia®delivers only the vitamins and minerals that are limited in the diet. Also, BeneVia®provides creatine, which enables the muscles to store energy that can be rapidly used when needed. Finally, BeneVia® is a great-tasting juice based supplement which has been shown in research studies to be preferred over milk-based products.

If BeneVia® is better than other protein sources, does that mean I either need to buy and take a lot more of my supplement now or can I get better results by using BeneVia®?

• BeneVia® is much more effective on an ounce-for-ounce basis than any otheravailable supplement. Maximal benefit can be obtained with a relatively small amount. Incontrast, it would take many servings of conventional meal replacement drinks to obtainthe same effect.

My doctor advised me to take Juven from Abbott and not BeneVia®. What is the difference between Juven and BeneVia®?

• Juven only contains two non-essential amino acids and no essential aminoacids. BeneVia® contains a full range of essential amino acids and also some importantnon-essential amino acids. Juven can be used together with BeneVia®, although the aminoacid mix of BeneVia® is preferable to the mix of Juven.

 

What age-specific and age-associated health conditions should I be concerned with?

• The most important health issues as you get older are the progressive loss ofmuscle mass and strength, diminished cognition and memory, cardiovascular disease, and lowresistance to infection. In women, loss of bone strength is important. Other importantissues are obesity, diabetes, kidney disease and vision problems.

What is sarcopenia?

• Some progressive loss of muscle mass and function occurs in everyone as theyget older. Even master athletes suffer decline in muscle mass, strength and function asthey age. When the rate of loss accelerates and muscle mass and function becomes limitingfor activities of daily living, it is called sarcopenia. Sarcopenia is not readilyreversible, and it is important to prevent sarcopenia rather than try to cure sarcopenia.

When do I have to start worrying about losing muscle mass? Why? What can I do about it?

• Muscle loss begins at different ages, depending on the level of activity.Regardless of the level of activity, muscle mass, strength and function starts to declinein the fifties. It is important to supplement the diet with extra protein as well as toexercise regularly to minimize the rate of decline.

How common is age-related memory loss?

• Age-related memory loss is very common. The older a person is, the more memoryloss occurs. Usually it starts with some loss of immediate recall memory. Increased memoryloss can be a symptom of the first phases of Alzheimer disease. Recent health statisticshave suggested that approximately 30 percent of 60-year-old consumers may already beexperiencing the early stage of cognitive decline and by 70 years old over 50 percent experience a decline in cognitive function.

Do I need to worry about cardiovascular health as I get older?

• Atherosclerosis and all related health conditions, such as heart failure andinfarction, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, are more common with advancing age.Lifestyle, including activity level and in particular diet, plays a key role in thedevelopment of atherosclerosis and also in its prevention and treatment. Recent healthstatistics indicated that 60 percent of individuals 60 years and older have at least one cardiovascular co-morbidity that is a major health risk factor during the aging process.

Are meal replacements and supplements good approaches to improving health?

• Many studies have looked at the use of nutritional supplements to improvehealth and functioning in elderly individuals. Oftentimes, milk-based supplements acted assubstitutes for meals, meaning that individuals changed their dietary pattern bydecreasing food intake when they introduced the supplements. Therefore, benefits werelimited by the addition of these supplements to dietary intake. A low-calorie, juice-based supplement that provides a maximal “protein boost” could effectively stimulate protein synthesis and immune function to improve overall health, while not influencing normal dietary intake. The advantage of the supplement is that it cam be formulated to contain the desired nutrients, such as essential amino acids without undesired components, such as saturated fat that are offered in naturally-occurring food.

Do I need to consult my healthcare practitioner before using these products?

• BeneVia® is a great tasting juice that can be part of your daily healthmanagement regimen with nutrition. It provides all natural proteins, amino acids, vitaminsand minerals and therefore does not require a physician’s written prescription. Whilepractitioner oversight is not necessarily needed, your doctor can help you maximize thebeneficial use of the product and make BeneVia® part of your total healthcare regimen.

Does it make any difference if I use all four products?

• The use of all four products can be an effective overall health managementregimen by providing effective variety and specific health benefit. Since all four healthissues provided are important as we grow older, all four product varieties can be usedeach week.

Is protein intake more important than overall calorie intake?

• Protein is the most important nutrient with regard to energy, weightmanagement and lifestyle function. Since dietary protein intake typically declines as wegrow older, having a concentrated and highly effective source of proteins and essentialamino acids is much more important than consuming a high-calorie product. A high-qualityprotein/amino acid supplement will support muscle growth whereas a high-calorie supplement will add weight by increasing fat.

My doctor recommended more calories to help me keep a healthy body weight as I’m getting older. What’s the best approach to maintaining my weight in a healthy manner?

• The body mainly contains water, protein and fat. Both fat and proteingenerally are lost with involuntary weight loss. Losing some fat is usually not harmfuland may be beneficial. In contrast, losing body protein is likely to have adverse effectsin elderly, not only in terms of muscle mass and strength, but cardiovascular, bone healthand immune function. Adequate dietary protein is necessary to maintain body protein. Therefore, the primary nutritional goal should always be to eat enough high-quality protein. Additional calories can be added if necessary to maintain weight, but calories in the form of carbohydrate or fat provide much less nutritional value than protein.
• I have taken BeneVia® now for several days and feel nausea and also have vomited once. I think it is coming from the BeneVia® that I take. Please advice.
• BeneVia® will not cause nausea of vomiting other than a normal fruit-typebeverage will do. It is advised to consult a doctor about your health problems.

I had opened a bottle of BeneVia® and kept it in the refrigerator for 5 days. Can I still use it?

• After opening the bottle of BeneVia®, it should be drunk preferably within 1hour. If the bottle is opened accidently, the bottle can be kept in the refrigerator nomore than 2 days.

I am pregnant and want to use BeneVia® for my baby?

• BeneVia® has not been tested to be of benefit for the unborn child. We do notadvise you to take BeneVia® without consulting your doctor.

Can I take BeneVia® with my medication in stead of water?

• BeneVia® contains both protein and carbohydrates and therefore has 2 of themain components of a meal. As such, it contains nutrients that can help with the intakeand digestions of your medications. However, we did not test the interaction betweenBeneVia® and medications and therefore, we advise not to take BeneVia® together with yourmedications.

My mother is 85 years old and her kidneys are not working properly anymore. Can she take two BeneVia® per day? Will that harm her kidneys?

• BeneVia® contains less than 10 gram of a high quality protein and high qualityamino acids. High quality proteins are used in the body for protein synthesis and thuswill not produce a lot of waste products that need to be removed by the kidneys.

I have used BeneVia® now for several months. For financial reasons, I cannot buy BeneVia® anymore. Can I stop taking BeneVia® without a problem?

• BeneVia® is a high quality protein fruit juice drink that stimulates the bodylike a high quality meal. Stopping BeneVia® can be done without a problem, but can lead toloss of muscle mass when not compensated for.

My 6 year old son has drunk 2 bottles of BeneVia®. Is this dangerous? Should I contact my Personal Care Physician?

• The proteins in BeneVia® are high quality proteins. Children can easily copewith high protein drinks. There is no reason for any alarm.

I have a PEG tube into my stomach to feed myself because I had surgery. Can I infuse BeneVia® directly into my stomach?

• When a tube is in place through which liquid drinks and supplements areinfused, BeneVia® also can be used as a high quality drink.

My doctor has advised me to take multivitamin pills. Do I need to take them when I take two bottles of Benevia each day?

• The vitamins in BeneVia® are the main vitamins that are found to be of dangerof becoming deficient in elderly. However, multivitamin pills contain all vitamins andminerals that are required. Therefore, we advise you to continue taking your multivitaminpills when using BeneVia® alone.

I like BeneVia® so much! Therefore, I drink it 5 times every day and have skipped all my meals. Is this dangerous?

• BeneVia® is not a meal-replacement and as such cannot replace normal healthymeals. BeneVia® is intended as a supplement that is advised to be used together withhealthy meals or meal replacement that contain all necessary nutrients.

I want to lose weight and a friend of mine has advised me to only drink BeneVia® through the day and water for 14 days. She said that I will lose a lot of weight. Do you advise the use of BeneVia® for losing weight?

• It is true that when a person stops eating, he will lose weight. However, itis advised not to lose weight to quickly and therefore a certain amount of calories andprotein needs to be consumed daily, together with sufficient vitamins and minerals.Therefore, we advise not to use BeneVia® as the sole nutrient to lose weight.

If I’m over 50 years old, will I benefit from eating more protein?

• Young people have a reserve for almost all physiological functions. Forexample, most young people have more than enough muscle mass and strength to performactivities of daily living, as well as to participate in vigorous sports in many cases.Wounds heal rapidly, kidneys function as they are supposed to, and bones are strong andnot easily fractured. Memory is good, and cardiovascular disease is not typically an issue in young people. All of this changes as we age. Strength and muscle mass decrease, often to the point of impairing activities of daily living. Bones become weak and brittle with aging, kidney function is often impaired, and cardiovascular disease is a major concern. Loss of memory and cognitive function with aging is common. These adverse responses to aging begin in a person’s early fifties and continue until death.A variety of studies have shown that many of these changes are not inevitable consequences of aging. Rather, they can be delayed or prevented by increasing the amount of protein eaten each day. In particular, a higher level of protein intake can alleviate many of the symptoms of the physiological changes that normally occur with age. Increased protein intake minimizes loss of muscle mass and function, and is particularly effective when combined with exercise. Higher intakes of protein minimize cardiovascular disease risk, as well as improve bone health. Disease risk lessens with higher protein intake in older individuals, and recovery is enhanced. Wound healing and skin health is also promoted with higher protein intakes. The importance of higher protein intakes in all of these cases reflects diminished metabolic reserves in elderly, which must be overcome by optimal nutritional intake.