Recently I had the privilege of having a new multi-level marketing product promoted to me. It is an all natural energy and nutritional supplement called Thrive. The company is Le-Vel. I was specifically looking at Thrive W, a supplement designed for women. Also, I was checking out their DFT patch and beverage. Here is what the company has to say about Thrive W:
THRIVE W - Premium Lifestyle Capsule
• Weight Management • Cognitive Performance • Joint Support • Pain Management • Anti-Aging & Antioxidant Blend • Lean Muscle Support • Digestive & Immune Support
THRIVE W is a premium formula and a premium approach to your daily lifestyle. From years of experience, science, and perfecting, THRIVE W is the only premium lifestyle capsule of its kind. THRIVE W is about reaching for more and achieving more with your daily routine. Formulated for every woman who's thriving for the ultimate daily lifestyle. Our all natural, premium naturopathic formula of Vitamins, Minerals, Plant Extracts, Anti-Oxidants, Enzymes, Pro-Biotics, and Amino Acids is the first and only Ultra Premium Formula ever developed. Live more, be more, experience more, THRIVE for more with THRIVE W.
Sounds AWESOME! I mean, who wouldn't want to take this stuff, right? So, I checked out the product details:
http://cloudoffice.le-vel.com/Content/Downloads/Documents/THRV001W.pdf
I'm not here to argue about the probiotics and vitamin content. However, I am deeply concerned about the sheer number of stimulants contained in this product along with the White Willow Bark extract.
Let's start with White Willow Bark Extract. First of all, I am a BREASTFEEDING mother. White Willow Bark interacts with other medicine in the same way that ASPIRIN does. Therefore, people already taking aspirin or blood thinners should not take this stuff. Also, it can pass through into your breastmilk and you can give it to your baby this way. Aspirin and white willow bark can cause Reye's Syndrome and should not be taken if you are under 16 years of age.
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/willow-bark
Green Coffee Bean - Not going to take an issue with that one. Even my kids pediatrician told me that coffee has been well studied and to try to limit my coffee intake while nursing, but that having too much sometimes isn't going to hurt anything. Not sure I would choose to take an extract vs. just drinking an old fashioned cup of joe, but not here to argue it either.
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1264-green%20coffee.aspx?activeingredientid=1264&activeingredientname=green%20coffee
Theobromine - Similar effects as caffeine. Diuretic effects. Found naturally in lovely food items such as chocolate. So, go eat a chocolate bar! The darker the chocolate, the more theobromine it contains. It is a stimulant. In and of itself, I don't think this is a problem, but when part of a stimulant cocktail in unknown quantities, I have an issue with it.
http://www.food-info.net/uk/qa/qa-fp50.htm
Synephrine - Also a stimulant (noticing a trend here?). Synephrine is a fad in ephedra-free weight loss products. However, it does have similar effects including increasing blood pressure and possible cardiac problems.
http://www.webmd.com/diet/20040830/diet-dangers-ephedra-substitute-risky People with cardiac disease, taking blood thinners, calcium channel blockers, etc... should NOT take Synephrine!
I see the warning that this products contains shellfish. What about the White Willow Bark that can cause Reye's Syndrome? Nope, not a warning! What about not taking while on blood thinners, aspirin, with high blood pressure, or cardiac disease? Nope, no warning there either. How about at LEAST stating to consult a physician if pregnant or breastfeeding. Not a word! WOW! This screams irresponsible. I spoke with my children's pediatrician this morning about Thrive. I asked about taking it while breastfeeding my infant and started listing the White Willow Bark and stimulant content. By the time I listed the second item, the pediatrician was already shaking his head back and forth with pursed lips. He said that he absolutely would NOT want me to take this while breastfeeding and the thought is scary to him.
Let's now move on to the Thrive Mix "Ultra Premium at it's Finest"
THRIVE- Premium Lifestyle Mix
• Ultra Micronized • Nutrient Mineral Dense Formula • Probiotic & Enzyme Blend • Antioxidant & Extract Blend • Lean Muscle Support • Weight Management or Fitness • Gluten Free
THRIVE Mix is the finishing touch to the only Ultra Premium Product Line available — THRIVE. This ultra micronized mix was perfectly designed to complement our THRIVE Lifestyle Capsules. Our blend of Vitamins, Minerals, Plant Extracts, Anti-Oxidants, Enzymes, Pro-Biotics, and Amino Acids is the first and only Ultra Premium Mix ever developed. THRIVE Mix combined daily with the THRIVE Capsules, completes a premium lifestyle, and a premium you. If the saying "not all shakes are created equal" holds true, then our ultra micronized : Premium Lifestyle Mix, is in a category all by itself. Live more, be more, experience more, THRIVE for more with THRIVE Mix.
Garcinia Fruit - This product seems to have quite a lot of this in it. Given that it is the first ingredient listed in the proprietary blend, it is the ingredients of highest quantity. Seems like the jury is still out on whether or not this stuff even works! One study for sure did show that in high quantities it does cause testicles to shrivel. Mmmmmmm...... Now, I'm not even a man so I don't have testicles. Sure makes me think about whether I would want to take it at all though!
http://www.livescience.com/39488-the-truth-about-garcinia-cambogia.html
Caffeine - Yep, a stimulant. Pure, natural caffeine. Awesome. May I please have a cup of coffee? At least I know that if my toddler drinks my Starbucks latte that his testicles won't shrivel!
Once again, I am very nervous about this product. I don't how safe this stuff is and there isn't a whole lot of info provided by the company about it. Sorry, Thrive, I'm not buying it.
Let's move onto the Thrive DFT Patch
THRIVE Premium Lifestyle DFT™
• Weight Management • Mental Clarity • Appetite Control • Derma Fusion Technology • Metabolic Support • All Natural Time Release
THRIVE Premium Lifestyle DFT™ is a technology driven breakthrough in Health, Wellness, and Weight Management. Le-Vel's patent pending DFT™ (Derma Fusion Technology™) delivery system is a category creator, and the first of its kind. Our all natural formula, combined with our DFT™ delivery system, infuses the derma (skin) with a NEW THRIVE Lifestyle Formula, diff erent than the Capsule & Shake formula. The result is a time released delivery, and absorption rate, greatly superior to that of any consumable product. The DFT™ formula rockets the metabolic rate, promoting clean, healthy weight management, without aiding in muscle breakdown or deterioration, like a majority of weight loss products available. Individuals using the THRIVE Premium DFT™, in conjunction with THRIVE Premium Lifestyle Capsule™, THRIVE Premium Lifestyle Shake Mix™, and the THRIVE 8 Week Experience™, will experience ultra premium results, unrivaled in regards to Nutrition, Weight Management, and Fitness.
This is a transdermal patch that still patent pending. Thus, we don't even get a breakdown of ingredients or how many mg are in this proprietary blend! I really don't care to be a guinea pig for the company while it is still working on patents! THIS SCARES ME!!!! What if I had a complication and went to the hospital. I couldn't even truly say what the heck is circulating in my system!
http://cloudoffice.le-vel.com/Content/Downloads/Documents/THRV003.pdf
Forslean - I had never heard of this. Supposedly it can help lower blood pressure (are they trying to correct a problem that their other products are causing???), but can have side effects such as headache and irregular heartbeat. YES, sign me up, please! Oh, and if you have acid reflux, this product is contraindicated because it INCREASES STOMACH ACID. If you have reflux this is a problem!
http://www.livestrong.com/article/494202-the-side-effects-of-forslean-coleus-forskohlii/
Green Coffee Extract - Already covered that. What is fascinating is that I was told by the rep that the DFT patch contains no caffeine. Wonder what they did to this Green Coffee Extract, which by it's very nature contains caffeine. Anyhow, moving on....
Garcinia - Already covered that too. I guess if you didn't get enough from the mix, you may also want to add the patch!
White Willow Bark - REYE'S SYNDROME!!!!! ASPRIN! Sorry, this is so important that I have to say it one more time. How much is in there? We don't really know. Would you take an unlabeled amount of aspirin? How about Advil? How about Tylonal? How about ANY MEDICATION? I sure hope not!
Once again, here is a product with unlabeled quantities of ingredients that Le-Vel reps are actively pitching to breasfeeding women.
So, there you have it. Here is 1,2,3 approach marketed by Le-Vel reps. Take the capsule on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. 20 minutes later take the Thrive Mix. Then apply the patch. Do this every 24 hours and you will be full of awesomeness and be super premium! And, it's all natural!!!!
Perfect! Wanna know what is also natural? Marijuana, cocaine, nicotine.... In fact, I can think of many all natural, plant based products that I would choose to never consume. That statement can be amplified times 1000 when I am pregnant or breastfeeding! Today I had a heart to heart with my kids' pediatrician about Thrive. He flat out told to me NOT TO TAKE THIS WHILE BREASTFEEDING. This is after the Le-Vel rep told me how many doctors and naturopaths are recommending and supporting the Thrive product line. I have been searching and searching to find physician recommendations in writing regarding this product. I can't find any! What I do know is that my children's doctor, a bonified M.D. who I trust with my kids' lives told me NOT TO TAKE IT, especially while breastfeeding.
I write this post out of concern. Le-Vel did an impressive marketing job for a premium lifestyle. Come on? Who wouldn't want this? They have generous MLM compensation and the promoters earn free product for themselves. Please, please use caution. Do your research and TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR!!!! As for me, I suppose I can be labeled as Failure To Thrive, because there is no way in Hell that I will ever consume this stuff.
P.S. I tried to contact the company by phone today to discuss this product line being marketed to breastfeeding women by "promoters". Apparently the phone number listed is a fax number. At least that is my guess. At any rate, it doesn't work.
Contact Us
Le-Vel Brands, LLC
9201 Warren Pkwy Suite 200
Frisco, Texas 75035
A Le-Vel promoter contacted me after I posted on the Le-vel facebook page regarding the non-working number and products being marketed to breastfeeding women by promoters:
Hi Krista, To talk with support you need to do it through a Le-Vel account which is free and you wont get crazy spam or anything. They will be happy to hear what you have to say. If there are any promoters marketing to breast feeding mothers they need to know. my web address where you can enroll is xxxxxxxxxxx
That's some crazy awesome way to get new accounts under you! The only way you can call the company to address a concern is get an account under a promoter? Holy smokes!!!!
Next, this promoter says: "It is a cloud based company. If Le-Vel had offices and had to hire people to answer phones they couldn't charge what they charge for the product ."
So, there are no offices. This is all an on-line company folks. There is nobody in an office to address our concerns. This company gets scarier by the minute!
