(Associated Press) Drink's Calorie-Burning Claims Probed - Enviga
 

I knew it was only a matter of time until someone decided to look into this -- but as I noted before -- even if the claims does hold up .... it's pretty pricey (esp. considering you need to drink 3 cans to get the purported 100 calories lost, I'd rather exercise a little more or cut calories elsewhere!) and I'll probably prefer it over other diet soft drinks only if it actually tastes good.

Story pasted below:

Drink's Calorie-Burning Claims Probed
BY SUSAN HAIGH
Associated Press Writer

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal on Monday announced an investigation into claims by Coca-Cola and Nestle that their new drink can burn calories and not "voodoo nutrition."

Blumenthal's investigation focuses on Enviga, a green-tea drink that contains caffeine, calcium and a green tea extract known as epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG. Coke says EGCG speeds up metabolism and increases energy use, especially when combined with caffeine.

An Enviga Web site claims that the drink's blend of green tea and caffeine burns more calories than it contains and can help drinkers maintain an ideal weight. According to a Nestle study, young people who drank three of the 12-ounce drinks a day burned an average of 106 calories.

Blumenthal demanded copies of all scientific studies, clinical trials, tests and papers that prove the calorie-burning claim by next week.

Unless there are credible scientific studies, claims "may be nothing more than voodoo nutrition," Blumenthal said. "Promise of wondrous weight loss must be supported by science, not magic."

Calls were placed to Coke and Nestle seeking comment.

Enviga's Web site says the drink is available in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, with a national release scheduled this year.

A nonprofit watchdog group, Center for Science in the Public Interest, have threatened to sue Coke and Nestle over their Enviga claims. Coke officials called the lawsuit threat a "meritless publicity stunt."

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On the Web:

http://www.enviga.com

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I only saw berry and green tea flavors (blech)....at the cost of $1.25 per can at Pathmark....3.75 per day X 7=$26.25 per week or $112.50 per month.....I'd rather drink regular green tea and pay myself that $$ to exercise a bit extra.

I just saw those - they contain aspartame, my enemy. Oh well! I'd rather not give Coca - Cola any more of my $$ anyway.

Well, I like them. Especially the berry flavor. I didn't realize that they were only available in three states. :?: So why does the Connecticut AG care??

A similar drink has also just hit the market. They claim to be the original calorie burning drink, lol. Given the legal issues Coke is having regarding their own advertising, I don't think I'd want to make any claims!

http://www.celsius.com/

Thanks, Suzanne - I might try that one if I see it. I just looked it up and noticed it is sweetened with sucralose instead of aspartame. Although I try to minimize artificial additives, I will occasionally have sucralose-sweetened things; they don't seem to have the nasty effects that aspartame does.

I can't try them because of the caffeine. :(