C. NORMAN SHEALY, M.D., PhD

 

After years ofexamining every kind of functional food and beverage, and hundreds ofvitamin and herbal supplements, I have finally found a product thatwill actually make a significant improvement in oxidative damage.Routinely, I am approached by companies promoting their “new”super-duper anti-oxidant etc. product, and being open-minded, all I askis that they prove its effectiveness. Up until now, I have never seenevidence that any food supplement could measurably improve free radicaldamage.

 

Several months ago, I wasapproached about a new product called Mistica, which was touted as apowerful anti-oxidant functional beverage containing extracts from theBrazilian Açai Berry augmented with extracts from 9 additionalbotanicals. I was skeptical, because of my previous experience withso-called anti-oxidant products, but I agreed to conduct a trial toexamine the effects of Mistica on free radical damage.

 

Tomeasure the extent of ongoing free-radical damage in the body, I used atest that measures malondialdehyde (MDA), a by-product of free radicaldamage to cell membranes. A small amount of urine is added to acolorless reactive agent that develops color in the presence of MDA.Higher levels of ongoing free radical damage in the body will createhigher concentrations of MDA in the urine and a darker color on theassay.

 

The results of the study were soimpressive that I am submitting them for publication in the biomedicalliterature. Mean (average of the entire group) free radical productionwas reduced after only 3 weeks by 43% with a “P” factor at a highlysignificant 0.001 level.

 

For purposes ofthis news letter, I would like you to know that I am thoroughlyconvinced; Mistica is a powerful and effective anti-oxidant. This newproduct can dramatically mitigate the effects of free radical damage onthe body. This is the first, and only, example of a food supplement Ihave found to have a significant impact on cellular membrane integrity.It appears that Mistica’s unique matrix of “oxygen radical absorbencycapacity” (ORAC) nutrients that span the anti-oxidant spectrum(including anthocyanins, phenolics and catechins) is responsible forthe dramatic outcome.