If you’ve been to any dining location on campus, you’ve noticed the colorful bottles with awkward titles claiming to do healthy things for your body. Titles such as Blueberry B Monster or Superfood get passersby to give a second look.
But as a student who usually doesn’t have time or even have a wide choice of healthy options, Odwalla products may seem like a good healthy choice. But is the $4 a bottle we pay worth it? Are the claims they advertise outrageous or actually true?
I grabbed a bottle of the Strawberry Vitamin C Smoothie the other day because I didn’t have time to eat a real meal. As I was sipping away, I turned to one side of the bottle to read the labeling. The side of the bottle read “Vitamin C is an important antioxidant that your body needs. It neutralizes the free radicals that play an important role in supporting a healthy immune system. With multiple sources of vitamin C is a delicious multi-fruit smoothie. This Monster is a wonderful way to ‘C for Yourself.’” I was very surprised because in class we had discussed how antioxidants can control free radicals to prevent them from harming the body. While our class is filled with science buffs (well, at least science majors), the rest of the campus population may not be, and these informational labels can be persuasive for many. I appreciated that Odwalla would print such a semi-scientific yet easy to understand label, but I don’t know how effective their products are.
To further research Odwalla products, I visited their website. Their products include a wide range of elements and minerals such as iron, magnesium, vitamin B-6, protein, vitamin A, and fiber. Under each “goodness” the website gives a mini health benefit for consuming it and lets their consumers know which drinks offer these benefits. I also learned that Odwalla uses flash pasteurization. This process heats the juice rapidly at a high temperature for a short period of time to kill all the harmful bacteria. It is apparently faster than the normal pasteurization procedures and allows for products to extend their shelf life.
I will still continue to drink Odwalla when I don’t have time to eat, but I limit their effectiveness because there haven’t been any significant studies to show that their products actually benefit the human body. I still consider them like any other commercialized nutritional food similar to Balance and Cliff products. You can visit their website at www.odwalla.com or try their products to decide for yourself.
3 comments:
Thank you for writing this entry. I started drinking Odawalla when my biochemistry professor mentioned how it is suppose to be good for you. I don't know if it was simply joking or if it was true. It would be very interesting to know more about these drinks. My favorite is the soy one. According to the label it is packed with proteins so that you won't get tired quickly. It is quite expensive but I still prefer it over fruit punch.
Do you guys really pay $4 for a drink? I am sure it is nutrious, but buy a blender and some fruit and make smoothies. Much more cost effective!
Dr. Norton,
That is very true! I just bought the "Magic Bullet." I can't wait to make my own smoothies!
Post a Comment