Reliv Can Kill You! Reliv Distributors Don't Know More Than Your MD

The following is a post I just received from one of our readers. Besides knowing someone personally that this happened to, this is just another example of how people allow the money to get the best of them. These Reliv Distributors DON'T know more than your doctor and NEVER EVER stop doing what your MD has said. Sadly it cost this man his life!

"My husband was persuaded by the Reliv organization to stop all western type medicine for his prostate cancer. His doctor had told him that his hormone drugs were not working as well and his PSA was slowing going up. He had many Reliv salespeople call him and he ended up believing that he could he healed of his prostate cancer by using their products. So he didn't listen to his oncologist, his MD,his family, or his friends, the gospel truth only came from the Reliv Organization that sold him thousands of dollars of their products, stating he would be building up his immune system to fight his cancer and he was told by many that his PSA numbers would go down by just taking their miracle products. Of course the organization has their disclaimers, but, the salespeople tell the tale of the many people with all sorts of horrible diseases like cancer, ALS, etc.,that are cured by their products. I spoke to several of these people and told them what I thought of their scam for profit, they would then just call my husband more with a Doctor on a conference call, or another Reliv Ambassador that would dispel any negatives, and then go on to state that if the current purchased products were not working as well, that now he should try another product. Because my husband was persuaded by these people to forgo the only treatment that would have prolonged his life for several years, he now is facing death because his prostate cancer has spread to his brain, which is rare, but had he listened to his doctors 6 months ago when he was still very healthy and thriving, his family would have been able to enjoy life with him for several more years, like so many of our friends who have successfully beat or kept cancer at bay with western practices. I will be going to Congress with this when my husband passes, to help legislate law that prohibits these type of scams on the sick. I will also be speaking with my attorney soon about this very sad story, and believe me Reliv, and other such scammers, I'm coming for you soon.......And my lawyers are all family, and we won't settle out of court, you have messed with the wrong family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Reliv / MLM Doesn't Belong in Church

Christians REALLY need to get their focus off of money and back to where it really belongs. WHY would a Christian radio station or church members focus so much on selling Reliv or any other MLM? The bottom line is, they aren't reading their Bibles enough. The Bible is clear, "The love of money is the root of all evil". MLM's promise easy money and people / Christians get so focused on making a quick dollar that they forget about the gospel message. Reliv and MLM's are just another trap of the devil to get us side-tracked!

Thank you to one of our readers for sending this in and I'm glad we helped!

"I have always stayed away from Reliv, mainly because of their ads on the Christian radio station in town that does one commercial after another of products that they themselves "highly endorse." Fortunately we have some commercial free Christian alternatives here so that I don't very often have to hear any of that...but that was my first exposure to Reliv. There was also a big distributor in our former church who just didn't want to take no for answer. One evening she called me with her upline wanting to tell me all about the product and the opportunity... I couldn't believe she was so pushy, and politely but firmly as possible I let them know I wasn't interested. Another family friend is also in the business and is wanting us to try one of the products for my husband has been in the hospital now for weeks with a bad viral infection. She also has an upline she wants me to talk to. I found your site just out of curiosity because my gut, once again, recoils at this tactic...I'm sure she is well meaning and I know she believes in the products but I just don't like the company, and now I have more to go on when it comes to the products. Thanks for posting this information."

Lawsuit Against Reliv Over Lead Exposure

The Following is copied from, http://www.3footcrowbar.com/2013/08/why-i-believe-reliv-international-is_14.html

Why I Believe Reliv' International Is Going Back To $1.35

Disclosure: I am short RELV. Here are some the reasons why.

I believe we are going back to somewhere around $1.35 -- not just because that is where the stock had previously been trading, and not just because that is near book value. But because the hype that exploded the stock price does not compensate for the poor fundamentals. And by the way, was the recent press release timed to divert attention from the California litigation?


See, Reliv International (RELV) is in the middle of an accusation of "failure to warn consumers that they have been exposed to lead from several of the company's nutritional health products. Lead is a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects and other reproductive harm." ~ Case: CIV1300429 Superior Court of the State of California

That complaint was initiated in January of 2013 by Environment Research Center, ("ERC")a non-profit corporation. A proposed stipulated consent judgment was later signed by Reliv's CFO and attorney. As usual, the defendant does not have to admit guilt. Nonetheless, according to the proposed consent judgment, as signed by Reliv's representatives,

• Civil penalties must be paid "pursuant to Health & Safety Code Section 25249.7(b)(1)"
• A portion of the above penalty is to be paid to the office of Environmental Hazard Assessment.

And most telling of all,

• "Since receiving ERC's Notices of Violation, Reliv has revised the formula for all of the covered Products to bring the lead levels in the Covered products that are manufactured going forward to below 0.5 micrograms per day, the level at which a warning would be required pursuant to Proposition 65." (Source: Proposed Stipulated Consent Judgment)

How can one bring levels below a required limit without implying that one had been above it?



And what was the big deal with the press release announcing "exclusive rights" to Lunasin? Reliv's price exploded. Ryan Montgomery, Reliv president claimed, "For the first time we own an ingredient in its entirety, from the extraction process to the patented mechanisms of action within the body. And lunasin isn't just any ingredient; it's the world's first epigenetic superfood." ~ Press Release: "Reliv Acquires Exclusive Rights to 'Superfood' Lunasin"

It is hard to know exactly what Mr. Montgomery meant. Certainly he is not claiming to own the natural ingredient, lunasin. He may however be referring to the trademark Lunasin,which according to its registration is for synthetic peptides. (USPTO Trademark Registration) (See my last article below, or on Seeking Alpha: Reliv' the Hype.)

Add to all of this Reliv's disclosure that some of its products contain genetically modified organisms and one wonders what kind of reaction the distributors will have when the news gets out.


RELV SEC filed 10-k

So why do I believe that Reliv's price will go down in the long run? Not "just because" of the points mentioned above. I don't think that any of the above matters as much as the simple fact that Reliv appears to be losing its distributor base -- one year at a time. And with that decrease, its sales are also decreasing -- one year at a time. The numbers say it all ....

Bemer Mat Natural Healing Without Vitamins

I don't usually get involved in suggesting any other products but I would encourage you to look at this one. I AM NOT making any money off this.

"Those of you who know me, know I have a passion for improving health naturally.  I am really excited about a medical device I have recently been introduced to by Dr. Todd Weilly.    We have long known  that micro circulation is the key to good health, whether it be our brain, eyes, limbs, digestion………..I would ask you to take the time to watch the short video below that will explain how easy it can be to restore micro circulation improving eye health, neuropathy, healing decubitus ulcers, many other diseases that are caused by poor circulation.  I have had nothing short of miraculous results in my clinic helping people improve  feeling to their legs and getting rid of their “pins and needles” by restoring circulation to their extremities.   I have had several people notice an improvement with one treatment who suffered from glaucoma and macular degeneration.  One gentlemen left my office to go to the eye doctor for his check up on his glaucoma and the doctor said it was gone! Several of my clients have stated that after one treatment their  “pepper spots” in their eyes have disappeared.  Two of my clients have poor circulation and swelling due to knee surgery.  Both showed immediate improvement after treatment with reduced swelling and pain. I have two clients who have neuropathy due to chemo in the feet.  Both have felt tremendous relief after several treatments with the pain and swelling improving.   The matt does nothing more than improve micro circulation.  The body does the healing without the negative side effects of medicine, or surgery. Of course each person is going to have different results as their body potentially is going to heal on its own time but what we have seen so far is nothing short of amazing!   Please take a few minutes to watch the video and be amazed.  This technology has been in used in  42 countries of the world, was developed in Germany 15 years ago. Finally it is in the USA!

www.bemeramerica/deemiller

Sincerely, Dee Miller

208-448-2808"

Is Reliv good for your Children???

We just received the following from one of our readers. I put this out for all of you to read and hopefully someone will have some answers for Julie Ann.

"I have a 5 year old daughter who has been taking Reliv now for approx 3 years every day as a vitamin supplement . I stress a supplement as distinct from replacing her daily nutritional needs of fresh fruit and veg as a growing child.
In fact it has become more of a " flavour" to add to her milk drink every morning. I had even forgotten that it was a soy based supplement.
I have used various milks - never juices - as the liquid with which to blend reliv. So soy milk, A2 milk ( an Australian based milk product which purports to have the casein from cows milk taken out of it) and , for the last 12 months or so, oat milk. ( since reading about the dangers now associated with soy)

I give my daughter fresh produce daily - and try to avoid processed foods as often as possible. Navigating the minefield of additives thrown at you from every corner of the supermarket is hard and has been a long and involved learning curve for me. Harder now is the fact that my eyesight has just started its downhill slope so I have to take out glasses every time I read an ingredients listing!
Funnily enough in Australia the ingredients listings are controlled by ANZFA - and I have many friends in the food industry who have never been questioned about their products. The government here is too busy chasing up restaurants who have been not following health codes with preparation etc. Our massive explosion in obesity in the Australian population however, has finally caused some fantastic exposure and warnings about our diets which is , in turn, causing the government and the supermarket giants ( of which there are 2 ) to sit up and finally take notice of offering the consumer some healthier alternatives. ( I have always loved my regular visits to Wholefoods in your country and crave for one to open here in Adelaide . )
So you can see that I take a more than active interest in what we survive on as a human species in the world!
So it was with great fear that I recently had my daughter diagnosed with no more than 4 crowns, and 4 fillings which have to be fitted into her little mouth on her baby teeth. You can imagine the shock to learn this when I have been fastidious with her teeth cleaning and regular yearly visits to the dentist since her first tooth came through.
I do not give my daughter sugar in any form - apart from the small amounts found in yoghurt, bread , ( whole grain ) , and the naturally occurring forms in her fruit. So why this bad reaction ? We have ample amounts of fluoride in the drinking water here and I have never given my daughter bottled or filtered water.
So then I re read the back of the reliv tin -
Contains Maltodextrin, sodium chloride, fructose and sucrose.
I rang the Australian hotline when my mother first purchased reliv for my daughter and questioned them at length about the ingredients. Of particular interest to me was the calcium supplement ( as I had decided to take my daughter off cows milk ) , the iodine supplements and the all of the vitamin supplements.

My daughter has been complaining of itchy eyes for the last year.
My daughter has been complaining of bloating for the last year.
My daughter has been complaining of sore joints for the last few months.
My daughter has been unduly tired and cranky on a regular basis.
I have taken her to an eye specialist - nothing wrong.
I have had her blood checked - nothing wrong.

I will be taking her of Reliv after reading this post - too many familiar symptoms here for my liking. Is her tooth decay directly linked to reliv? Who knows as the manufacturers wont get back to me with the amounts of fructose and sucrose in their product. I am just kicking myself now that I didn't think of taking her off it ages ago.

Any other readers out there who have had reactions from their children ?"

Soy Controversy and Reliv, Is it really healthy?

The Soy Controversy - by Vreni Gurd

I found the following article while surfing tonight and I thought that I would pass this on for you to read and consider. More and more they are finding that Soy and Soy products are not as healthy as they once use to be. By doing just a few minutes of research on the Internet you can find PAGES of information about the dangers. And since Reliv is soy based, this is a concern for any and all who use Reliv products. The article below is by Vreni Gurd.

The soy industry has managed to market a waste product as a health food, and gullible consumers are eating their way to health problems.

Soy is often touted as healthy, and it can be if you pick your soy products carefully, but most of the soy that is on the market is actually very hard on our systems. I was completely fooled by the propaganda on soy and bought into this one hook, line and sinker, feeling virtuous switching to soy milk when I found out I was sensitive to poor quality dairy.

Like all grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, soybeans have a phytate layer to stop the beans from sprouting unless there is adequate moisture and warmth. The phytate layer in soybeans is much thicker than in other grains and legumes and cannot be eliminated with soaking, sprouting or long slow cooking. This means that soybeans are very difficult to digest, and the phytic acid reduces assimilation of calcium, magnesium copper, iron and zinc.

Soy interferes with protein digestion, and the soy estrogens are endocrine disruptors, (by binding with estrogen receptors) potentially creating fertility problems and breast or uterine cancer in women, and reducing testosterone in men. These soy phytoestrogens also are anti-thyroid agents, causing sluggish thyroids, possibly thyroid cancer, and weight gain.

Soy increases the body's requirement for B12 and Vitamin D. Soy food processing results in the formation of MSG, which is a well known neurotoxin (nerve poison), and soy contains high levels of aluminum which is known to be toxic to the nervous system and the kidneys. Unless labeled organic, assume that all soybean products are genetically modified.

It is worth noting that in January 2006, the American Heart Association reversed its position recommending the consumption of soy to lower the chance of heart disease, after reviewing 22 recent studies, and noted that the FDA's original recommendation was based on a single study funded by the soy industry. The soy that should be avoided are soy isolate products like:

Soy milk
Soy protein powder/bars
Soy nuts
Soy cheese
Soy burgers
Soy yogurt
Soy ice cream
Soy baby formula

By avoiding packaged food, one can avoid soy disguised on food labels as:

Textured vegetable protein (TVP)
Textured plant protein
Hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP)
Vegetable protein concentrate
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
Lecithin (usually from soy)
Vegetable oil (usually from soy)
Vegetable broth (usually from soy)
Bouillon (usually from soy)
Natural flavour (usually from soy)
Mono-diglyceride(usually from soy)

Soy infant formula is a very bad idea, as the baby gets far too much phytoestrogen for its bodyweight, which messes with the baby's hormones even more than in adults. The estrogenic effects of soy on infants can be irreversible, resulting in delayed or absent sexual maturation in males, and extremely accelerated sexual maturation in females. Soy formula predisposes females to breast cancer and fertility problems later in life.

For those of you that are dairy intolerant and want a milky substitute for your whole-grain cereal, you may be able to tolerate a non-homogenized organic plain yogurt (raw is better if you can get it), or look for a rice milk or almond milk that does not have a vegetable oil listed in the ingredient list, or try organic full-fat coconut milk. Yummy! (No, the fat in coconut milk will not make you fat - lauric acid is a medium-chain fatty-acid that is metabolized immediately by the liver, and is very healthful for the body due to its antibacterial and antiviral factors.)

If you are a soy fan, naturally fermented and/or cultured ORGANIC soy (to avoid GMO) is very healthful, so look for foods like:

Miso – try to find it with unrefined sea salt
Tamari – wheat free
Natto
Tempeh
Extra-firm Tofu with nigari
Organic Edamame, cooked
Organic Soybean sprouts

For more information on the problems with soy, read The Whole Soy Story: The Dark Side of America's Favorite Health Food by Kaayla Daniel.

Reliv is Full of Sugar

"The fact is that the food industry spends about $40 billion a year on advertising, brainwashing you to believe that junk food is somehow good for you and your kids. And the beverage industry is part of that pack." The problem with Sports Drinks and Sodas in the Public schools and in general is becoming a real problem and not many are willing to even stop and look. 

When I read this article this morning, my thoughts drifted to Reliv Innergize. Though it does not contain as much "sugars" as some of the other products, many people are drinking much more than the suggested 1 scoop a day. If you take 2 scoops a day you are getting as much sugar drinking a can of Pepsi. The problem with the American Diet today is the amount of sugars we are consuming and Reliv is just adding to the problem. My advice, find a more natural product and if you think you need the Reliv Innergize, then find a cheaper alternative.

Reliv Innergize - 14g.
Pepsi - 28g.
Gatorade - 14g.
Powerade - 17g.
7UP - 25g.

Are Sports Drinks Junk Food?

Public health advocates are pushing for a ban on the sale of sports drinks and flavored waters in schools, warning that drinks such as Gatorade and Powerade contain as much as two-thirds the sugar of sodas, and more than three times the sodium.

Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) has introduced a bill that would let the government decide, and set nutritional standards for all foods and drinks sold in schools. The issue of whether sports drinks and vitamin waters should be considered “healthy alternatives,” or “junk food,” has now brought this bill to the forefront in congress.

The trade group representing bottlers like Coca-Cola and Pepsi are vehemently countering the bill, stating sports drinks are lower in calories, “appropriate” for high school students, and “essential” to young athletes.

But a report from the University of California at Berkeley warns that students who drink one 20-ounce sports drink every day for a year may gain about 13 pounds. This is no surprise to some nutritionists, who note that when you look at the ingredients, it’s water, high-fructose corn syrup, and salt.

According to Margo Wootan, director of nutrition policy at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, “For years we’ve been programmed to believe that sports drinks are healthy and you need to replenish those electrolytes after you go out and walk your dog. They don’t want any official sanctioning of the idea that sports drinks are associated with obesity.

Washington Post September 26, 2007

Science Daily September 26, 2007

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

It wasn’t until earlier this year that I realized the food industry actually outspends the drug industry in seeking to brainwash you, and manipulate the truth so you will increase their profits, usually at the expense of your long-term health.

The fact is that the food industry spends about $40 billion a year on advertising, brainwashing you to believe that junk food is somehow good for you and your kids. And the beverage industry is part of that pack.

Sports drinks hit $7.5 billion in sales last year alone, and according to the trade journal Beverage Digest, sports drinks were the third fastest growing beverage category in the United States in 2006, after energy drinks and bottled water. Of course they want you to believe sports drinks are healthy!

But when you look at the main ingredients: water, high-fructose corn syrup, and salt, how healthy is that really?

Not very.

The Problem with Sports Drinks

There are situations where use of sports drinks is an option, but after mild exercise, or no physical exertion, it’s just not a wise choice. Unfortunately, less than one percent of those who use sports drinks actually need them.

The only time you should resort to these drinks is after vigorous exercise, such as cardiovascular aerobic activity, for a minimum of 45 minutes to an hour, and you’re sweating profusely as a result of that activity.

Anything less than 45 minutes will simply not result in a large enough fluid loss to justify using these high-sodium, high-sugar drinks. And, even if you’re exercising for more than an hour, I still believe there are far better options to rehydrate yourself.

There are many reasons why you should stay away from sports drinks in all instances. For example, they’ve been found to corrode your teeth. As it turns out, ironically, drinking sports drinks when you exercise is particularly problematic because your mouth is dry, which means you don't have enough saliva in your mouth to combat the drink's acidity.

But that’s just for starters. The real problem lies in their choice of ingredients – the use of high-fructose corn syrup in particular – which should be your first tip-off that this stuff is bad news.

High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is the number one source of calories in the US. It is the most prevalent sweetener used in foods and beverages today, and has been clearly linked to the rise in obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Just like other sugars it disrupts your insulin levels, and elevated insulin levels are going to increase your risk of nearly every chronic disease known to man, including:

• Cancer
• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Premature aging
• Arthritis and osteoporosis

You name it, and you will find elevated insulin levels as a primary factor.

There’s also new evidence that HFCS increases your triglyceride levels and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. Part of what makes HFCS such an unhealthy product is that it will tend to raise your blood sugar levels and cause sugar to attach to many of your body’s proteins, thus causing permanent damage to them. Because most fructose is consumed in liquid form, these negative metabolic effects are significantly magnified.

Although these drinks are often referred to as “energy” drinks, in the long run, sugar does just the opposite. It acts like an H-bomb – a quick explosion of energy followed by a plummeting disaster, as your pancreas and other glands do all they can to balance out the toxic stimulation to blood sugar. Any kinesiologist or chiropractor will show you how sugar dramatically reduces strength!

Your Best Alternatives to Sports Drinks

It is, however, important to replace the water you’ve lost during exercise. But the question is: are sports drinks really as “essential” to young school athletes for this purpose as the manufacturers would like you to believe? Are they the best alternative for your children?

Well, no. They’re not. (After all, these trade group representatives are paid to say whatever their clients want them to say. They’re not nutritional experts.) Neither are “energy” drinks like Red Bull and many others, which are high in caffeine – a natural diuretic – which will actually dehydrate your body further.

Your best bet for your primary fluid replacement is pure, fresh water.

If your child is going to be involved in a long game or match, drinking simple carbs (sugar, corn syrup, and so on), will give him or her a quick spike in blood sugar followed by a fall, causing sluggishness and hampering overall performance. Pure water is a far better alternative to rehydrate.

If your child is involved in athletics, I highly recommend you review my related article, Energy Rules, for great tips on how to optimize your child’s energy levels and physical performance through correct nutrition.

Doctors Don't know Everything. . .

From time to time I get posts from readers challenging me to see my medical degree OR saying that they have world renown doctors "telling" them that Reliv is OK. This is a bunch of BS! Our doctors have sold out to the Pharmaceutical companies OR whoever they happen to be working for such as the doctors that get millions for saying that Reliv is good for you.

I have said before that IF Reliv is working for you great but Reliv does NOT work for everyone and you should not be forcing it down peoples throats. Too many people are told it's OK, and when it doesn't work, they say buy more and take more, etc.

One of my past articles is about someone that I know personally. They had breast cancer, the doctor told them to stop taking ALL soy products but the Reliv Distributor told her doctors don't know anything to take more more more. She died shortly after and her cancer had been in remission.

So don't give me this BS about what your doctors told you, especially IF this doctor is selling or working for Reliv.

Reliv is not for everyone and there are many other products out there that don't have the high soy in them.