Supplement Genius Asked For Autograph?
January 23, 2010
I’m right now in Venice Beach California at the LA FITEXPO promoting my new bodybuilding magazine MUSCLE INSIDER. On route we hit all the usual hot spots here like: The Firehouse, Max Muscle, Gold’s Gym etc. We then went to a supplement store called “LA URBAN FITNESS” around the corner from the famous Gold’s Gym Venice and it finally happened! I went into the store and started speaking with the store clerks who were among the most knowledgeable employees I’d ever met in a health-food store! No joke, they knew their stuff! But this wasn’t just any supplement store folks. No, this was THE supplement store of the pro bodybuilding scene. Absolutely loaded with the greatest selection of supplements I’ve ever seen in any store in my life. When I asked the clerk (Naomi) my usual questions, you know “What’s hot? “What’s new?” etc. all of a sudden she yelled: LA URBAN FITNESS on Main Street.
“Hey, I know you. You’re The Supplement Genius!” She then grabbed a copy of the current issue of Natural Muscle and opened it up to my magazine column! She then pointed at my picture and said: “You’re HIM aren’t you?”
I was so flattered as I’ve tried so hard to get my name out there for a few years now through this site and various magazine columns I write and it’s finally paying off! Naomi then asked for my autograph! It was really cool as for once in my career, I felt like a somebody. Not a huge star like anyone you’d admire, but in this niche area of the supplement industry, I was seen as someone special which felt great. I gladly signed 
my a copy of my magazine column which she held behind the front counter. Top fitness photographer Martin Pillmajer (shown on right) took a picture of the autograph for me to remember. Thanks Martin AND thanks Naomi. If you’re ever in the Venice Beach area, stop by LA URBAN FITNESS and tell them The Supplement Genius sent you!
SupplementRadio.com Teams With MUSCLEHEDZ Creator
December 10, 2009
By: Scott Welch (BASc) Nutrition, CAAP (Advertising)
This week we received an overwhelming response from our posting on the MUSCLEHEDZ cartoons. In fact, we received so many emails requesting more of these hilarious cartoons that we’re still not quite finished opening all of them! As you may already know, we’re launching a new radio show soon called SupplementRadio.com. This show is going to be unlike anything you’ve ever listened to before and we’re sure you’re going to LOVE it! We’re doing all the back-end website development work right now, confirming show hosts (we have 5 confirmed already) and we’re putting together our first 2 shows as I write this.
We Need A Logo
We’ll be branding SupplementRadio.com with T-shirts, gym bags, shaker cups, you name it, we’ll have our logo slapped on it! So how do we make sure we come up with a logo that you love?
- Get THE best illustrator in the industry.
- Get honest feedback from the 101,521 people that have visited SupplementGenius.com thus far! Since this is going to be YOUR radio show, shouldn’t you have a say on how the logo is designed for it?
John Gleneicki To Design SupplementRadio.com Logo
The artist that draws MUSCLEHEDZ cartoons is none other than John Gleneicki and he’s the best illustrator in the business by far. So we got thinking that if our audience loves John’s work that much, why not get him to design the logo for our new radio show? So last week we hired John to tackle it!
We Want YOU!
We want to make the SupplementRadio.com logo one that YOU will love so we’re going to show you all the logos John comes up with. Next, we’ll ask you to vote on which one you like best and collect other feedback from you until we get the logo just right. How’s that for listening to your audience?
Check back with us over the next week to see what John came up with for SupplementRadio.com.
SupplementGenius.com Read In 47 Countries
October 8, 2008
Thanks to serious supplement junkies like you, our readership has grown way beyond our expectations! In fact, since launching SupplementGenius.com this summer, we’ve had over 9,000 different visitors come to our site (well 9,411 to be exact). It’s obvious that readers like you are enjoying what we’ve been serving up. Well we had a meeting at our office in Toronto last night and looked over our web stats and we were shocked to also find out that people from 47 countries are reading our blog! We wanted to take a moment and give a shout out to readers in the following countries and thank all of you for your support:
Australia- Austria
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Chile
- China
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- India
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Lithuania
- Mexico
- Morocco
- New Zealand
- Netherlands
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Puerto Rico
- Qatar
- Romania
- Saudi Arabia
- Singapore
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Slovakia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- Turkey
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States
Advanced Patch Technologies Pays $110,000 For False Claims
October 1, 2008
Marketers of a weight-loss patch called "Peel Away The Pounds" have agreed to pay $110,539 to settle FTC charges that they violated two consent orders by continuing to make false claims that their product causes substantial weight loss and weight loss in all users. After agreeing to the 2004 consent orders, the marketers continued making the same bogus claims they had made previously, but this time they targeted consumers overseas. Some of their false claims include the “Peel Away the Pounds patch would cause substantial weight loss when applied to the skin."
The defendants are barred from:
- Selling any transdermal weight-loss products.
- Advertising that any product causes substantial weight loss in all users.
- Making unsubstantiated claims for any product, service, or program that purportedly provides health benefits.
- The defendants also are prohibited from assisting others in doing any of these things.
SOURCE: FTC
Ellen DeGeneres and Bayor Team Up
September 25, 2008
Ellen DeGeneres and Bayor Consumer Healthcare (makers of One A Day multivitamins) have teamed up to issue a call to action for women nationwide to take an active approach to help maintain their own breast health through the “One A Day Women’s Wake-Up Call” program.
The One A Day Women’s Wake-Up Call Program
During September and October, the “One A Day Women’s Wake-Up Call” program offers everyone the opportunity to go to the One A Day Website and register to have a free personalized phone call from Ellen DeGeneres sent to their friends and loved ones to advise them about the simple things they can do to help support their own breast health. The goal of the program is to reach as many women as possible by the end of October. In addition, One A Day will make a donation to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation to help fund innovative clinical research and also increase public awareness about the importance of doing simple things to support good breast health.
“This is such an important and exciting program for One A Day,” said Jay Kolpon , Vice President, Marketing, Bayer HealthCare and a guy that loves breasts indeed. “We believe that sending or receiving a telephone or email message about this vital health issue will help empower women nationwide to take an active role in supporting their breast health. And, we couldn’t have better partners in this effort than Ellen DeGeneres and The Breast Cancer Research Foundation because they share our strong commitment to women’s health.”
In addition to signing up to send a Wake-Up Call, women should get an annual mammogram, conduct self-exams and take One A Day Women’s multivitamins formulated with twice the daily value of vitamin D. Emerging research suggests that 1000 IUs of vitamin D per day can help support breast health.
“On behalf of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, I’m thrilled that One A Day is issuing the ‘One A Day Women’s Wake-Up Call’ because raising awareness of breast cancer, the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the United States other than skin cancer, is only half the battle. Women also need to take action, and this program can help them do that. Early detection can save lives.” said Myra Biblowit, President, The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
“Every 3 minutes a woman in the U.S. is diagnosed with breast cancer. On behalf of all the dudes reading SupplementGenius.com that absolultely love breasts, I think this is a fantastic initiative. I love breasts (and asses) and support any cause that helps keep more breasts healthy, firm and cancer free! To help the cause, I’m encouraging my readers to ‘reach out’ to women and get involved in breast examinations. To lead by example, I’m volunteering 10 hours per week to teach proper breast examinations to qualified women that need assistance. Send photos to genius@supplementgenius.com.” -SupplementGenius.com
SOURCE: PR Newswire
GNC Helps Troops
September 25, 2008
If you’ve been reading our updates here at SupplementGenius.com you will agree that GNC has really done an outstanding job at giving back to the community through various charity initiatives . It’s great to see a supplement retailer doing more than just selling cheaper supplements. Well GNC has continued this initiative of helping military troops and now shipped nearly 50,000 packages of Pepto-Bismol, Alka-Seltzer, Zicam, Band-Aids and more to our country’s soldiers deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan. This medication donation is representative of GNC’s commitment to the U.S. military and its hardworking men and women who share the company’s mission: to help people everywhere live longer, happier, healthier lives.
“At GNC, we’re dedicated to helping people Live Well ” s aid Tom Dowd , executive vice president at the company’s Pittsburgh headquarters. “This means providing them with trusted nutritional information and high-quality products they need to stay healthy, especially when they’re hard at work overseas. We know our troops use and appreciate these products, so this donation makes perfect sense.”
The over-the-counter remedies will be distributed to active duty men and women all over the United States as they depart for service. GNC has long dedicated itself to the military. The company has 108 stores on military bases throughout the continental United States, Puerto Rico, Alaska and Hawaii, and stores on bases in Japan, Bahrain, Guam and Korea. GNC products are also available in commissaries and AAFES Overseas Exchange locations. Troops buy shitload of supplements.
Detour Lean Muscle Bar Released!
September 12, 2008
Nutrition bar company Forward Foods , makers of the Detour bar, today announced the addition of the Detour Lean Muscle bar to its existing line of energy bars. With 32 grams of protein and only 3 grams of sugar, Detour Lean Muscle is designed to help athletes build and lean mass. Detour Lean Muscle is fortified with 20 vitamins and minerals and provides 2000 mg of healthy Omega 3’s per bar and will launch in the US. this month likely at the Mr. Olympia .
"Our consumer research shows that many serious athletes consider building lean muscle mass to be the next level of physical achievement, and they’re looking for a protein bar to help them reach that goal," s aid Patrick Muldoon, chief executive officer of Forward Foods, which owns Detour. "The Detour brand is known for providing high performance protein and great taste, so a premium bar that also provides vitamins, minerals and healthy fats should really connect with consumers and is a great addition to the Detour product line."
Detour Lean Muscle will be initially available in Cookie Dough Caramel Crisp flavor. Each bar contains 350 calories.
Jason Stephens is the Director of Sales for the Health & Fitness division of Forward Foods and a guy that knows the bar category inside out. Jason has assured The Supplement Genius that this bar is the best in its class.
SOURCE: NPI Center
Anheuser-Busch Increases Energy Drink Focus
September 5, 2008
Beer manufacturing giant Anheuser-Busch who are also makers of the world famous Monster Energy drink have now created a subsidiary to their business called 9th Street Beverages that will specialize in energy drinks, high-end waters and other non-alcoholic beverages. Currently, non-alcoholic brands from Anheuser-Busch include 180 Energy , BORBA Skin Balance Water, Icelandic Glacial and Monster.
“With the success of our non-alcohol portfolio and opportunities to continue the momentum, we felt the time was right to bring further focus to this segment of our business,” said David English, vice president and general manager, 9th Street Beverages. “We have a great strategy and with the addition of a dedicated sales team, we’re excited about the future.”
Sales performance for the company’s non-alcoholic portfolio is up 77% this year.
Bad News For Supplement Distributors. Good News For Consumers.
In a previous post on SupplementGenius.com we discussed discussed how most supplement companies in the U.S. rely on large distribution companies like Europa and Boss to sell their products to the thousands of gyms in America. This is just ONE reason why supplements cost so much by the time you buy them in a store or gym. These distributors have been carrying energy drinks like Isatori’s Hardcore Energize Bullet, VPX’s Redline, Biotest’s Spike, ALRI’s Venom and many others. But it looks like Anheuser-Busch will now be entering these locations also with their own energy drinks. Of course, 180 Energy and Monster will be much cheaper though which will force sports supplement companies to lower their prices (finally)!
“Our focus will be on reaching new consumers in accounts where alcohol products are sold as well as accounts where alcohol may not typically have a presence, such as travel and transportation venues and ‘at-work retail’ and specialty accounts such as spas, gyms and health stores,” Mr. English said. “We’ll also continue working with licensed retail accounts to identify opportunities to augment the growth of Anheuser-Busch’s beer brands.”
The subsidiary will include a formal leadership structure for decision-making, along with a sales and marketing group focused on expanding distribution of non-alcoholic products.
SOURCE: Biz Journals
Former Weight Watchers Employee Sues Company
August 29, 2008
Weight Watchers a leader in the multi-billion dollar weight-loss industry, may in fact assist in weight loss but at what cost? Regina Nathe, in an unprecedented lawsuit has sued Weight Watchers alleging that the food it sells as a part of its overall healthy lifestyle may in fact be killing people! She was employed by Weight Watchers as a group leader for nineteen years and claims to be an expert in nutrition. Weight Watchers immediately moved to dismiss the lawsuit but the motion was denied and the Judge allowed the case to proceed. Weight Watchers, Ms. Nathe alleges, has misled its customers through promotions, brochures, press releases and on its website into believing that its snack foods are healthy and will result in weight loss when in fact the food contains trans fats, partially hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup all of which she may promote health problems including cancer, high blood pressure and death. Trans fats have recently been banned by the State of California. Weight Watchers itself has stopped using Trans fats in its products. The lawsuit is scheduled to go to trial early next year.
Point Of View
Being the “group leader” at Weight Watchers for 19 years definitely exposed Regina Nathe to a host of marketing practices the company used to become a weight-loss leader. As a nation, scientists have learned a great deal about the harmful effects of trans fats and high fructose corn syrup over the past 19 years. Obviously, scientists around the world were not fully aware of the negative heath effects of these substances until recently. As more research has come in, more and more food companies like Weight Watchers, McDonalds, Kraft, and many others are making changes to their food. However, if Regina Mathe had such a moral issue with the company, why did she keep working there for so long? It’s only after she has left that she has launched a suit against her former employer. It would be interesting to see if she’d be willing to donate 100% of the case settlement money to fund obesity research (minus her legal costs of course). Do you think she is just in suing her former employer? Please add your opinion to the comment section below this post.
SOURCE: PR Newswire
Mushroom Extract Boosts Immune System
August 27, 2008
By Scott Welch
Researchers have discovered a rare mushroom extract that will actually boost the immune system. I know I know, you’re thinking “scam” already aren’t you? Well supposedly, there’s actually some substance to this stuff, or at least Yale medical researchers think so! The extract is called “AHCC” which is short for “Active Hexose Correlated Compound”. AHCC is a oligosaccharide (i.e. carb) that is extracted from several mushroom species and has been recommended to the elderly by Japanese health professionals since 1987. It is one of the
leading immune-enhancing supplements in Japan and is manufactured by companies such as the "Amino Up Chemical Company" (see product on left). The market there is estimated to be worth more than $400 million worldwide! However, the supplement is still establishing itself in European and North American markets.
Study Method
Over a 30 and 60 day period, the researchers measured the production of two immune system factors called “cytokines”. One of these cytokines is called “Interferon” (a.k.a. IFN-y) and the other is “Tumor Necrosis Factor” (a.k.a. TNF-a). These are produced by your body to prevent the growth of abnormal and cancerous cells.Study Results
The study found that the production of these two cytokines increased within four weeks of taking AHCC. What’s even more interesting is that AHCC continued to boost the immune system for at least four weeks after AHCC consumption stopped! Hokkaido University is exploring the value of AHCC in cancer therapy, and in particular reducing the side-effects of chemotherapy.“AHCC continues to demonstrate its essential role for healthy immune function, ” said Fred Pescatore, MD, of the Center for Integrative and Complementary Medicine, and medical director at the US AHCC Research Association in response to research presented at this year’s symposium.
Final Thoughts
It’ll be interesting to see if this supplement makes it’s way into athlete’s gym bags. If it does in fact boost the immune system, it should “in theory” help athletes fight off infection and stay healthy. Remember, our immune system is also what’s responsible for repairing muscle tissue after a workout. If you’re sick, you’re not recovering from exercise as fast as you could be.