Page 2 - Elderberry Juice Benefits

About the Elderberry

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 by George Pappas

We’ve had quite a bit of interest about Biotta Elderberry Juice every since Dr. Oz mentioned on a recent TV show that elderberry juice can help boost your immune system. This post and the one to follow will give you a little more background about the elderberry—the various types and benefits—and talk about some of the scientific research being done.

The History of the Elderberry
For centuries, elderberries have been used throughout Europe, North America, Asia and

Africa as a folk remedy for many ailments. The most common type of elderberry is the Sambucus Nigra, grown in temperate climate throughout Europe and North America. Hippocrates called this plant the “medicine chest” because of all of the illnesses it could be used to treat.*

There are several species of the elderberry tree. Most information you read and most of the research done has been about the Sambucus Nigra, which is the type of elderberry used in Biotta Elderberry Juice. Other species include the America elder, antelope brush, blue elderberry, danewort, dwarf elder, red-fruited elder, and Sambucus formosana.**

The Elderberry Tree
The elderberry tree grows up to 30 feet tall. Native to Europe, it has been cultivated successfully in the Americas as well.** The tree bears beige flowers and dark purple berries in autumn. All the parts of the tree have been used for medicinal purposes. The leaves are often added to topical creams to treat inflammation, and the bark has been used to treat stomach ailments.***

But the flowers and berries are most often used to treat a variety of illnesses and conditions (see the following post).*** They contain flavonoids that have antioxidants and immune-boosting properties. In fact, elderberries contain “organic pigments, tannin, amino acids, carotenoids, flavonoids, sugar, rutin, viburnic acid, vitamin A and B, and a large amount of vitamin C.”****

Elderberry Juice
Many sources suggest drinking elderberry juice to boost your immune system and improve digestion. Since large doses can cause digestive problems in some people, it is sometimes recommended that 10 ounces of elderberry juice be consumed daily.*

Biotta Elderberry Juice
Biotta Elderberry Juice boosts your immune system and eases the strain on the respiratory system by increasing the production and performance of white blood cells and building resistance to various kinds of infections. When a person becomes ill, he/she may suffer from blocked respiratory passages. The natural active ingredient in elderberries can help regenerate the cilia’s filtering function; that’s why it’s a natural to help relieve colds and flu (some people even drink it to help relieve symptoms of asthma). Biotta’s Elderberry Juice is made from freshly gathered, sun-ripened organic Sambucus Nigra (black) elderberries . Biotta’s Elderberry Juice is available in an 8.4 fl. oz. recyclable glass bottle.

Want more information about Biotta juices? If you’re a consumer and want to know where to find our juices, click on the beet juice icon on the right. If you’re a retailer that already carries our juices, click the carrot juice icon to be included in our retailer directory. If you have any other questions, just email us.

Note: Biotta juices are not intended to diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. We are not medical professionals and are not in a position to provide any medical advice. We recommend you contact your physician for a dietary regimen specific to your needs.

*http://www.brighthub.com/health/diet-nutrition/articles/28842.aspx
**http://www.elderberries.com/2008/01/12/medlineplus-herbs-and-supplements-elder-sambucas-nigra-l/#more-42
***http://www.vitaminstuff.com/herbs-elderberry.html
****http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-elderberry.html

The Juice – Your Questions Answered

Monday, November 23, 2009 by Sara Cox

Every day, we field questions about our Biotta juices—ingredients, potential health benefits, our proprietary manufacturing process, distribution, etc. We thought that, if a few people are asking these questions, then perhaps many of you would be interested in the answers as well. When you see our blog featuring The Juice, you’ll know we are answering consumer questions about our 100% organic juices that may be relevant to you.

Question: What type of tea is used in Biotta juices?

Answer: Three of our juices—Biotta Energy Drink, Breakfast Cocktail and our Elderberry Juice—contain small amounts of tea, used primarily to balance the strong or tart flavors of the fruit juices to make them more appealing. Different teas are used for each of these juices.

Biotta Energy Drink has Paraguay Tea infusion. Paraguay Tea comes from a “large, white-flowered shrub grows wild near streams, largely cultivated in South America for the drink obtained by infusing the leaves. The consumption in South America is vast, as it is drunk at every meal and hour.” The tea is a diuretic and diaphoretic (an agent that produces perspiration).*

Biotta Breakfast Juice includes green tea. Green tea originates from China and has become associated with many cultures in Asia from Japan to the Middle East.** The Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of green tea since ancient times. “Today, scientific research in both Asia and the west is providing hard evidence for the health benefits long associated with drinking green tea. For example, in 1994 the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study indicating that drinking green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly sixty percent. University of Purdue researchers recently concluded that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells. There is also research indicating that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.***

Biotta Elderberry Juice contains tea extracted from the elder flower. Elder flowers are

traditionally used to treat influenza, colds, mucus, sinusitis, feverish illnesses and other upper respiratory tract problems, as well as hay fever. ****
Want more information about Biotta juices? If you’re a consumer and want to know where to find our juices, click on the beet juice icon on the right. If you’re a retailer that already carries our juices, click the carrot juice icon to be included in our retailer directory. If you have any other questions, just email us.

Note: Biotta juices are not intended to diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. We are not medical professionals and are not in a position to provide any medical advice. We recommend you contact your physician for a dietary regimen specific to your needs.

* http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/p/partea05.html
** http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_tea
***http://chinesefood.about.com/library/weekly/aa011400a.htm
****http://www.ageless.co.za/herb-elder-flower.htm#Properties

What’s in a Label?

Wednesday, November 11, 2009 by George Pappas

Do you ever get confused when you look at labels? Juice labels, for instance, can sport many terms, including “fresh squeezed,” “from concentrate,” “100% pure,” “fresh frozen” and “not from concentrate.” What do these labels tell you about the quality of the juice and exactly what you are buying?

The Food and Drug Administration offers these guidelines:

•    "100% Pure" or "100% Juice." This label guarantees that the product is 100 percent fruit juice, complete with all its nutrients. Only 100 percent juice can be labeled "juice." If a bottle contains mixed juices, it can only be labeled "100 percent juice" if each of the juices added to the mixture is, itself, a 100 percent juice.**

•    "Cocktail," "Punch," "Drink," "Beverage," “Blend,” “Sparkler.” If you see these labels, you know that the products are diluted, containing less than 100 percent juice. They often have added sweeteners. These products might contain as little as 10 percent or as much as 99 percent juice. The rest is water or added sweeteners. Check the label to find out how much juice such products contain. As with all labels, ingredients must be listed on the label in order of volume.**

•    "Fresh Squeezed Juice." This label means the juice has been squeezed from fresh fruit. It is not pasteurized and is usually located in the produce or dairy section of the grocery store. Be cautious about offering non-pasteurized juice to children, older adults or others with compromised immune systems.

•    "From Concentrate." This label tells you that water has been removed from whole juice to make concentrate; then water is added back to reconstitute to 100 percent juice or to diluted juice such as lemonade. When water is added back to the concentrate, the product is labeled "reconstituted" or "made from concentrate" and has the same nutrition profile as the original juice. "**

•    "Not From Concentrate." This juice has never been concentrated.

•    "Fresh Frozen." Juice with this label has been freshly squeezed, packaged and frozen without pasteurization or further processing. It is usually sold in plastic bottles in the frozen food section of the grocery store and is ready to drink after thawing.*

•    “Fortified.” “Fruit juice is sometimes enhanced with nutrients intended to provide health benefits because juice is convenient, has good flavor, and is inherently associated with good health. Juices may be fortified with extra vitamins (such as vitamin C), minerals (such as calcium), cholesterol-lowering sterols, and, increasingly, omega-3 fatty acids. Such juices may be a good idea if they're fortified with nutrients you don't obtain enough of in your normal diet.”**

Biotta juices are 100% organic, not made from concentrate. Since our company began in 1957, we’ve been committed to using only the finest organically grown fruits and vegetables. Every fruit and vegetable we use is grown in chemical-free, fertilizer-free and toxic-free land—land that has been organically farmed for more than half a century. All of our fruits and vegetables are vine/field-ripened and are selected using the highest standards in relation to flavor and content.

Biotta takes great care to protect the natural wholesomeness and taste of all our ingredients. Instead of pressing the fruits and vegetables, which can cause some loss of nutritional value, we use a decanting process of centrifugation to pull the juice out. Then, we pasteurize the juice at low heat levels to retain the high nutritional value, bottle our juices in recyclable glass bottles for full flavor retention, label and send. No other company takes more care to deliver a 100% organic product.

Here is how Biotta’s Juices stack up:

100% Juice
Beet Juice
Carrot Juice
Vegetable Juice Cocktail (in this case, the 'cocktail' denotes a blend of vegetable juices)
Bruess® Vegetable Juice
Celery Juice
Sauerkraut Juice
Potato Juice

Fruit juices are typically too tart or strong to consume at 100% juice. Therefore, we blend our organic fruit juices with other juices as well as tea extracts to make them more palatable.

87% Juice

Energy Drink

74% Juice
Breakfast Juice

70% Juice
Elderberry Juice

Want more information about Biotta juices? If you’re a consumer and want to know where to find our juices, click on the beet juice icon on the right. If you’re a retailer that already carries our juices, click the carrot juice icon to be included in our retailer directory. If you have any other questions, just email us.

Note: Biotta juices are not intended to diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. We are not medical professionals and are not in a position to provide any medical advice. We recommend you contact your physician for a dietary regimen specific to your needs.

*http://extension.osu.edu/~news/story.php?id=2081
**http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/diet.fitness/06/11/cl.antioxidant.juices/index.html

Cold & Flu Season is Upon Us

Tuesday, September 22, 2009 by Sara Cox

Good Nutrition and a Healthy Immune System
There’s no time like flu season to boost your immune system! The strength of your immune system can make the difference as to whether or not you get sick when exposed to harmful viruses. So, let’s look at what the immune system is and how you can boost yours in time for the cold and flu season.

What is the Immune System?
WebMD gives this explanation:

In simplest terms, the immune system is a balanced network of cells and organs that work together to defend you against disease. It blocks foreign proteins from getting into your body. If a few happen to sneak by your biological sentry, not to worry. With a powerful "search and destroy" task force, your body deploys a host of additional immune cell forces designed to hunt down these unwanted invaders and ultimately works to destroy them.*

The good news is that you can make a difference and strengthen your immune system through healthy habits and good nutrition. You can bolster your body’s innate ability to manufacture antibodies that will counter harmful viruses and bacteria with which you come in contact.

Give Your Immune System a Boost – with Biotta
One of the easiest and most effective ways to boost your immune system is with a healthful, balanced diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables. Biotta juices are an all-natural way to get the recommended number of fruit and vegetable servings. In addition, certain juices are specifically believed to boost the immune system.

Biotta Beet Juice

Beet juice is fresh, crisp, smooth and refreshing—and great for you! Beetroot juice contains betacyans, which strengthen the immune system. Beet juice is Biotta’s most popular juice, rich with natural minerals and vitamins. Many articles have been written about the benefits of beet juice, including some recent studies that have found that beet juice may reduce blood pressure. Beet juice also helps maintain cell functions and strengthens your body’s own natural resistance to disease.

Biotta Elderberry Juice

A recent study, cited in a PRWeb® press release** noted that some Americans, particularly young adults, are more prone to illness during the change of seasons. In addition to other measures, the article cited the benefits of elderberries in boosting immunity. Elderberries have twice the amount of antioxidants as blueberries and cranberries. Elderberry juice also supplies vitamin C to assist in the prevention and treatment of colds; it’s been medically proven as a strong anti-viral and immune system enhancer. Biotta’s Elderberry Juice is made from freshly gathered, sun-ripened organic elderberries and is available in an 8.4 fl. oz. recyclable glass bottle.

Biotta Carrot Juice

The benefits of drinking organic carrot juice are many. Carotene is an anti-oxidant that has health benefits that may positively affect a variety of conditions and diseases, including building the immune system. Carrot juice is also believed to balance blood acidity and blood sugar, detoxify the liver and reduce toxicity in the body, reduce the risk of heart diseases and stroke by cleansing arterial deposits, protect the respiratory system from infections, ease nasal congestion, lower cholesterol levels, and much more. Biotta’s Carrot Juice is available in 16.9 and 8.4 fl. oz. recyclable glass bottles. **

Don’t Forget
There are many other things that you can do to boost your immune system as flu season approaches.***
1.    Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
2.    Choose lean protein sources.
3.    Focus on healthful fats.
4.    Consume green tea, a rich source of antioxidants.
5.    Maintain a proper energy balance.
6.    Get plenty of rest.
7.    Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly.
8.    Take a multivitamin supplement.
9.    Consume friendly bacteria, including yogurt that stimulates immunity in the digestive tract.
10.    Exercise.

As cold and flu season approaches, follow these guidelines to help boost your immune system,. And don’t forget to make Biotta juices an important part of that regimen.

Want more information about Biotta juices? If you’re a consumer and want to know where to find our juices, click on the beet juice icon on the right. If you’re a retailer that already carries our juices, click the carrot juice icon to be included in our retailer directory. If you have any other questions, just email us.

Note: Biotta juices are not intended to diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. We are not medical professionals and are not in a position to provide any medical advice. We recommend you contact your physician for a dietary regimen specific to your needs.

*http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/features/using-your-immune-system-to-stay-well
**PR Web® - Health News: Immune System Support is Important for Young Adults as Seasons Change, March 24, 2009.
**http://www.juicing-for-health.com/carrot-nutrition.html
***http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/diet.fitness/11/14/cl.best.defense/index.html

Berry Delicious. Berry Healthy.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009 by George Pappas

When you can combine good and good for you, you’ve got a winner. Biotta fruit juices fit that bill very well. And recently, at the “Berry Health Benefits Symposium,” researchers from around the world gathered to report on health benefits of eating all kinds of berries.

Berries, it turns out, pack some powerful health benefits. From inflammation and stress to the development of heart disease, cancer and chronic illnesses, berries are an important part of a healthy arsenal. Britt Burton-Freeman, PhD, reported that high-fat meals trigger an inflammatory response in the body, and that berries can help block that response.*

Don’t Forget About Vegetables, Too
And the benefits are not derived solely from fruits. Research also shows that people who eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables are healthier as they get older—that the compounds found in fruit and vegetable juices calm inflammation and reverse some signs of aging.

Berry Benefits
From cognitive memory to fighting infections, from reducing the risk of stomach ulcers to preventing urinary tract infections, the benefits of berry juices can hardly be overstated.*

That means Biotta Elderberry and Biotta Bilberry Juices are not only delicious, they are incredibly good for you. Elderberries have twice the amount of antioxidants as blueberries and cranberries. Elderberry juice also supplies vitamin C to assist in the prevention and treatment of colds; it’s been medically proven as a strong anti-viral and immune system enhancer. Biotta’s Elderberry Juice is made from freshly gathered, sun-ripened organic elderberries.

Bilberries are highly praised in herbal books because they have a positive influence on the functioning of the blood vessels. Bilberries can also help relieve diarrhea. Biotta Bilberry Juice is made from wild-grown, handpicked wood bilberries and contains an infusion extract of lemon balm that gives the juice a fresh, well-rounded flavor.

Biotta Elderberry juice is available in 8.4 fl. oz. and Biotta Bilberry Juice is available in 16.9 fl. oz. recyclable glass bottles.

Want more information about Biotta pure organic juices? If you’re a consumer and want to know where to find our juices, click on the beet juice icon on the right. If you’re a retailer that already carries our juices, click the carrot juice icon to be included in our retailer directory. If you have any other questions, just email us.

* http://www.miamiherald.com/living/health/nutrition/story/1139352.html

Note: Biotta juices are not intended to diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. We are not medical professionals and are not in a position to provide any medical advice. We recommend you contact your physician for a dietary regimen specific to your needs.

Fortified/Functional Foods: Can You Have Too Much of a Good Thing?

Friday, July 17, 2009 by George Pappas

Pasta with heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, normally found in fish. Probiotics in salsa. Soda with vitamins. Ketchup with additives to aid in digestive wellness. Even marshmallows infused with skin-boosting collagen.

Functional foods—also called fortified foods—refer to “designer foods or ones that have been modified to incorporate nutrients they wouldn’t normally contain for a specific health purpose.”*

Consumer Reaction
These foods abound in our supermarkets and consumers are eating them up—literally. In 2008, functional foods made up a $30.7 billion market, according to the research firm Packaged Facts. And that number is predicted to grow by 40% over the next five years.**

When 1,000 consumers were surveyed by the International Food Information Council Foundation in late 2005, 83% of respondents said they were interested in learning more about foods that offer health benefits beyond basic nutrition.*

Fortified Foods Are Not New
When was the first fortified food introduced? In 1924, iodine was first added to salt in Michigan to help reduce the prevalence of goiter in that state. Soon, the success of this measure led to voluntary iodization in the entire country. And we’ve been buying milk fortified with vitamin D since the 1930s to prevent rickets.

Are Fortified Foods Worth It?
But can you have too much of a good thing? That’s the question that comes to the forefront when talking about fortified/functional foods. Cynthia Sass, a spokeswoman for the American Diabetic Association, said, “The idea of a supplement or fortified food is to fill a gap, to bring a person up to the recommended intake. If you’re already at the recommended intake, it’s not going to do anything for you. It may work against you.”* Exceeding recommended doses of vitamin C, for example, can cause diarrhea, upset stomach and kidney stones.

Consider All-Natural Biotta Juices
While functional foods can be helpful, what better way to get your vitamins and minerals than the natural way? With Biotta, you can get the full amount of your fruits and vegetables with 100% organic fruit and vegetable juices. We offer a wide variety of vegetable juices: Beet Juice, Carrot Juice, Celery Root Juice, Potato Juice, Sauerkraut Juice, Vegetable Juice Cocktail and Breuss® Vegetable Juice. Fruit juices include Bilberry Juice, Elderberry Juice, our Breakfast Juice Cocktail and Energy Drink.

Want more information about Biotta’s all natural juices? If you’re a consumer and want to know where to find our juices, click on the beet juice icon on the right. If you’re a retailer that already carries our juices, click the carrot juice icon to be included in our retailer directory. If you have any other questions, just email us.

*www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17722342
**http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124267976477131801.html

Biotta Juices for Diabetics

Wednesday, May 20, 2009 by Sara Cox

Diabetics can enjoy all the benefits of Biotta juices, providing they count the carbohydrates in their individual diet plans. Biotta’s pure organic juices provide the body with vital nutrients, essential to the person with diabetes.

Which Biotta juices are best for diabetics?

Highly Recommended

All Biotta pure organic vegetable juices, except Potato (high in starch). These juices are very low in carbohydrates but high in vitamins, minerals and essential phytonutrients.

Recommended

Biotta Breakfast Juice, Biotta Energy Drink, and Biotta Potato. These beverages are slightly higher in carbohydrates than pure vegetable juices. However, these carbohydrates are derived solely from the fruits and vegetables themselves and do not contain any added sugar. The sugar profile of these juices shows a high amount of fructose, which is more suitable for diabetics than glucose.

Recommended in Limited Quantities

Biotta Bilberry and Elderberry Juices. When consuming these juices, it is recommended that people with diabetes dilute the beverages with water or mineral water.

Biotta’s pure organic juices are available in 16.9 and 8.4 fl. oz. recyclable glass bottles.

Want more information about Biotta pure organic juices? If you’re a consumer and want to know where to find our juices, click on the beet juice icon on the right. If you’re a retailer that already carries our juices, click the carrot juice icon to be included in our retailer directory. If you have any other questions, just email us.

Put a Spring in Your Step with Elderberry Juice

Monday, April 6, 2009 by Sara Cox

When you say hello to spring, do you say good-bye to cold & flu season? Actually, experts say the flu season can last until May! A recent study, cited in a PRWeb® press release* noted that some Americans, particularly young adults, are more prone to illness during the change of seasons.

So, how can we keep our immune system strong all year round? The article cites the usual advice (drink water, get plenty of rest and exercise). But, it also mentions the benefits of elderberries. Elderberries have twice the amount of antioxidants as blueberries and cranberries. Elderberry juice also supplies vitamin C to assist in the prevention and treatment of colds; it’s been medically proven as a strong anti-viral and immune system enhancer.

Biotta’s Elderberry Juice is made from freshly gathered, sun-ripened organic elderberries and is available in an 8.4 fl. oz. recyclable glass bottle.

Want more information about Biotta juices? If you’re a consumer and want to know where to find our juices, click on the beet juice icon on the right. If you’re a retailer that already carries our juices, click the carrot juice icon to be included in our retailer directory. If you have any other questions, just email us.

*PR Web® - Health News: Immune System Support is Important for Young Adults as Seasons Change, March 24, 2009.