Greetings ARIIX Family,
Throughout this year, we’ve examined aspects of the Core Principles of ARIIX Quality. During the first quarter of the year, we discussed the Discipline of Quality. In Q2 we explored the world of Sound Science. During Q3, we’ll review the processes of Formulation, Sourcing, and Manufacturing for Quality.
This month, let’s examine the first of these: Formulation for Quality.
The formulation of a product is an exciting process that involves aspects of nutrition, biochemistry, market research, and many other disciplines, with the intent to answer the following questions:
• Why are we formulating a new product?
• What type of product is it?
• What do we want the product to do?
• Where is this product going to be sold?
• Who is the expected user?
In order to answer these questions, we gather market research to find out what kinds of products the markets are looking for and what attributes are preferred in the desired products. After this research is done, we evaluate what product(s) and product type(s) would best meet the market requests (e.g., a capsule vs. a powder, or a cream vs. a gel). The market research also helps us decide what attributes are preferred in said products, such as the packaging type, the method of use (e.g., pump vs. spray vs. scoop, liquid vs. solid, etc.), and the performance parameters (e.g., nutritional, weight loss, cosmetic, personal care, etc.).
After the attributes of the new product are determined, the ingredients are decided based on how the raw material attributes match the expected characteristics of the finished product and regulatory compliance for the intended markets. After this review* of the proposed ingredients, samples* of the formula are made (this small batch is often called a “pilot”) and tested* for stability and packaging compatibility, and, depending on the product type, preservative efficacy, active ingredient potency, etc.
Once all the required testing has been completed and acceptable results achieved, the formula can be considered ready for normal production.
Once a formula has been established, it can move on to the next phase of the process: sourcing. We’ll review the details of the sourcing process in the August issue of the Journal.
Dr. Strand’s Medical Minute #10: Physicians are Disease-Oriented
Physicians are basically disease-oriented and drug-oriented. After all, this is how we are trained. In medical school, we spend all of our time learning how to diagnose and treat disease. Even what we call preventive medicine does not really prevent disease, but rather aids in the early detection of it. When I did a wellness physical on a patient, I was looking for silent diseases like elevated blood pressure, early diabetes or elevated cholesterol. Pap smears, mammograms, and PSAs were done to detect early cancer. If I didn’t find any disease, I would simply tell my patients that they were fine and that I did not need to see them for a couple of years.
When I received my M.D. from the University of Colorado Medical School, I believed I had become the true health care provider I had always dreamed I would be. This seems to be how my patients viewed me. They would ask me questions about how to protect their health, and I would quickly answer them with the authority of my degree. However, if I had been honest with myself, I knew very little about how to protect their health. In fact, I was not really a health care expert at all, but rather a disease care expert. I understood how to best diagnose and treat disease, but that was the extent of the care I could provide.
After researching the medical literature over the past 17 years, I have learned about the health benefits of taking high-quality nutritional supplements. When I understood that oxidative stress was the root cause of over 100 chronic degenerative diseases, I realized that our bodies give us the best chance of avoiding and preventing these diseases — far better than any drug I could prescribe. When you consume high-quality, complete and balanced nutritional supplements, you optimize your body’s natural immune system, natural antioxidant defense system and natural repair system. This gives you the best chance to protect or even regain your health. I believe I am now the true health care provider I always desired to be.
Introduction to Fernando Swartz
We’d like to introduce you all to Fernando Swartz, the newest member of ARIIX Research and Development.
Fernando joins us as the Senior Director of Product, based in Ireland.
Fernando is an accomplished product developer within the Food and Non-Food (Health and Beauty, Household) manufacturing and retail sectors, understanding the demands and responsibilities for product innovation, safety, and quality.
As a qualified Food and Cosmetics scientist, Fernando holds a diploma in Cosmetic Science, a bachelor’s degree in Food Science and Technology, and a master’s in Food Science and Safety Management.
Fernando has spent the majority of his career in retail, where he learned the importance of balancing commercial and customer demand with value-adding, quality, supplier partnerships and customer insights. He has worked with both multi-national organizations and small independent manufacturers.
Before joining ARIIX, Fernando was Head of Product at a UK-based company which creates and produces food, health and beauty, and household products for major UK retailers.
Fernando currently lives in England; however, he will be joining our team in Ireland. He enjoys traveling and holidays, walks in the forest, and spending time on the beach (should the British weather permit). Journal of
Product News
We’re pleased to announce the merger of ARIIX with LIMU!
LIMU is the global leader in Fucoidan-rich nutritional products. Fucoidan is a complex polysaccharide found in the cell walls of seaweeds and touting various health benefits. Keep an eye out for future Fun Facts about Fucoidan!
Further information can be found at the links below:
Additionally, we’d like to announce that we recently received Kosher certification for Restoriix™ and Giving Greens® through Scroll-K Kosher! Please keep an eye out for further product certifications.
Fun Facts
Most of us are aware that some ARIIX products include Zeolite as an ingredient or component, but what is zeolite?
Zeolites are a group of minerals composed of aluminum and silica which are naturally produced by volcanic action. The aluminum and silica (called aluminosilicate) form a crystalline matrix which includes a network of microscopic pores. These micropores make zeolites excellent at absorbing moisture from the environment. It was this moisture-absorbing property which led to the naming of this mineral group as zeolite. Heated zeolites give off steam (releasing the adsorbed moisture) and were called “boiling stones” in Greek — zeo (boil) + lithos (stone).
In addition to adsorbing water, zeolites can also absorb materials carried in the water and trap them in the micropores. One way this occurs is through the process of ion exchange: as dissolved materials pass through the zeolite matrix, positively charged particles, such as dissolved metals, are attracted to the aluminosilicate material, which has an overall negative charge. Other, smaller ions in the matrix, such as sodium or potassium ions, are released and the ions which have a greater affinity for the zeolite are trapped. Another mechanism which enables zeolites to trap materials in them is through the physical process of sieving: molecules will simply become physically trapped within the microstructure of the zeolite as they enter a pore but are too large to pass completely through.
Extensive research has been done on the properties of zeolites, and many applications of these amazing minerals are currently in use, including not only water filtration but also industrial catalysts, concrete additives, and even emergency blood-clotting bandages!
