Joe Morton is a marketing genius!  He has set himself into a category that few people have ever achieved.  Mr. Morton is the creator of the “XanGo” company.   I praise his promoting abilities, because his company is able to sell a bottle of juice for $37.00

I know the argument for the antioxidants, all the testimonials, and the independent research, are pretty convincing.  However I just can’t justify recommending a product that has inflated its marketing far beyond the scope of its product testing.  Xanthones or more commonly called antioxidants, have been clinically tested, and show an indication that they have many health benefits.  But let’s step back and take a closer look at “XanGo” juice.
 
“The reason the marketers can succeed in selling juice at this price is obvious: when people are suffering from medical conditions for which there does not appear to be much hope, or for which the orthodox medical recommendations are too toxic or expensive, they will actively seek alternatives. And then someone, oftentimes someone they trust, such as a friend or neighbor, convinces them to give some new product a try. Products such as mangosteen exploit humanity's understandable desire to discover simple and painless solutions to intractable problems.”  Dr. Ralph Moss
 
 
Marketing:  Network marketing is the primary way “XanGo” gets into your home.  The company sells through independent retailers who try to build their own sales force.  This turns the consumer into marketers themselves.  Most of these sell to their own personal networks such as friends, family, and neighbors.  The more people they recruit, the more money they make.  Familiar key parts of this process include; some hint of scientific evidence, a compelling tale, a doctor willing to be paid to underwrite the product, and patients talking about some astounding cure.

Sales:  Anyone can be a “XanGo” sales rep.  This means people uneducated in the scientific method of product testing are out there making claims that this product cures all sorts of serious medical conditions.  The “XanGo” company slides under the radar by placing the typical indication on their product that is present on all supplements.
 
“Statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.  This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.”  “XanGo” home web page.
 
 
Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC):                 Previous to the Mangosteen, Prunes were at the top of the list with an ORAC value of about 7000 per ounce.  The Mangosteen plant is claimed to have 17,000 to 24,000 per ounce.  While this amount is not published in any medical journals, let’s say that it is true.  The US Department of Agriculture Research Services states that up to a 20% increase in antioxidants can occur in the body by eating foods with high ORAC values.  However, “in order to have a significant impact on plasma and tissue antioxidant capacity one can only meaningfully increase one's daily intake by 3,000 to 5,000 ORAC units. Any greater amount is probably redundant.”  Dr. Ronald Prior, Tufts University Boston Massachusetts.  So, 24,000 ORAC units taken with “XanGo” will make for some pretty expensive urine.  

Cancer:  All testing done by this company regarding the effects of Mangosteen on cancer were done in a test tube.  No clinical studies have been done on humans. Laboratory studies on cell lines or even animals do not qualify for the title 'clinical study'. Again, one can only absorb so much antioxidant.
 
“…And not one of these are studies of the in vitro effect of mangosteen on human beings, much less randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of a medical treatment, the medical gold standard.” Dr. Moss
 
 
“Mangosteen juice is just a random product-of-the-year sort of thing, a marketing initiative like so many others, conceived in the spirit of profit, and no more likely to produce any special health benefits than any other plant chosen at random out the botanical universe.”  Dr. Steven Bratman.
 
 
Conclusion:  Xanthones are no doubt an important addition to a healthy diet.  There are numerous benefits to a diet rich in antioxidants.  However I cannot recommend a product as expensive as “XanGo” to anyone.  Dr. Moss says it best; “In my opinion, what we have here is simply an overpriced fruit drink. Fruit drinks are often healthful beverages. But the only reason I can see that the promoters of mangosteen can get away with charging $37 for this product is that they are playing on patients' hopes and fears in a cynical way. Without the health claims, open or implied, the product could only be sold for at most $5 or $6 (which, for example, is the cost of antioxidant-rich pomegranate juice).”  Use the $100.00 it costs for a few bottles of “XanGo” juice, and put it towards some really effective personal training at Bodi N Balance.