JudyCruse.com

I ran across an article recently that stunned me!!  After watching Dr. Cheryl Townsley’s YouTube video about the tests she conducted at her clinic, I felt pretty confident that the Visalus shakes are safe.  I also felt pretty confident that the Visalus shakes not only help you lose weight it also helps you build muscles and if you choose to promote the product improves your finances!

But then I ran across an article by Sara of Healthy Families For God that trashes all soy shakes!!  Although Sara mentioned products by Shaklee, Herbalife, and Ensure as well as the Vi-Shape Shake mix by Visalus, she seems to focus her attention on the Visalus product.  Sara referenced several articles by Dr. Mercola. The soy used in the Visalus product is Non-GMO.  Therefore, I believe that it is not appropriate to apply results from Genetically Modified soy to Non-GMO soy.  However, if you happen to be allergic to soy, it doesn’t matter if the soy is GMO or Non-GMO the results will be the same. 

One of the comments to this article is very compelling.  Here it is in its entirety: 

“Hello. I have carefully read your article regarding soy products. I have a condition, PCOS, whose root cause is glucose intolerance and hyperinsulinemia, which leads to hyperestrogenemia, so avoiding soy has been a normal and meticulous practice for me for years. I have also been diagnosed with hypothyroidism and have been treated with Armour Thyroid for a couple years. 

I am really glad that you are warning people about soy, but, though I am a non-confrontational person, I have to say that I am extremely disappointed that you are referring specifically to ViSalus, and I would like take a peaceful moment to explain why, if I may: 

You write about the dangers of phytoestrogens in soy and their great dangers. True-Spot on. But, please note that ViSalus’ shake mix is completely Isoflavone-Free and therefore Completely Phytoestrogen and hormone-free. No, it is not fermented. To ferment soy enough to remove all isoflavones, one would have to turn it into soy sauce (no protein left at that point). The Soy in ViSalus undergoes Isoflavone removal via a water filtration procedure. I wish that it was stated on the bag that it was estrogen-free; you have to do research to find this. I will be asking the company to consider changing this. I would be happy to provide documentation for you (please call or email me so that I can send it as an attachment, etc.). 

Next, you refer to Genetic Modification. Again, I completely agree with you; GM is horrible, and soy is one of the worst GMs ever used (in my opinion). Again, I stay away from soy products, and this reason ties with the first for why. However, ViSalus is Non-GMO. This is plainly stated on the package, yet your article seems to be referring to ViSalus here as well. 

Your comment about Protein Digestion with Soy: Okay, that might be true (I have never heard of that one). But, ViSalus can never be accused of this. The shake mix has a natural plant extract in it called Aminogen. Aminogen does the opposite of what you are referring to; it actually breaks proteins down into amino acids and carries them into the cells. The effectiveness of lean muscle mass building with ViSalus is something that no one needs to really defend.. But I would like to share with you that the last time that I was able to wear these size-10 jeans, I was 15 pounds lighter, and they fit me much more comfortably now than they did then. One of ViSalus co-founders, Blake Mallen, who has been tiny and scrawny his whole life, just took the 90-Day Challenge to put muscle on and was able to put 23 pounds on in 90 Days (exercised twice weekly?). You can watch his video on YouTube if you would like to see exactly what he did to do this. Many athletes and fitness trainers have benefitted the same way. I can share more testimonies with you by email again. 

Hemagluttin- Can’t speak much to this one except to say this: is it possible that the other nutrients in the shake combat this? I hate to specifically refer to ViSalus if we don’t know that.. since July, when I started ViSalus twice daily, I have never felt so oxygenated, clear-minded, and energetic as an adult. I have a lot of other health testimonies that I can share too, like how my once severe asthma is all but gone..think I used a rescue inhaler once-possibly twice since ViSalus. That is a major life-transformation for me, and it speaks toward oxygenation for sure. Truly, it is amazing how our bodies can heal when they are getting the nutrients that God intended. 

Aluminum and Metal Toxicity: Again, it’s good that you are talking about these things, but I don’t believe that ViSalus should have been referred to in this article regarding this topic either.. ViSalus shakes are loaded with PREbiotics, which actually detoxify our systems by fueling our natural flora. Though what happened to me was very strange to me, my Natural Medicine Specialist confirmed: I broke out in stinky perspiration under my arms, starting the 3rd day of taking ViSalus. This lasted weeks, and now, if I ever use Aluminum-based Deodorant (the only Aluminum that I used to allow near my body-very careful there otherwise), the same thing happens for days again. How do we remove these metals from our bodies? Perspiration is the only way.. Sounds strange, but true. First time in my life that I really had to be cautious about stinking under my arms. No aluminum deodorant, no problems. 

Goiters and Thyroid Issues: Not the case with ViSalus. If you need specifics as to why, please email me, and I will get clinical reasoning for you. But, I will say that it is very exciting that ViSalus shakes contain 30% of the RDA of Iodine in each shake (that’s 60% RDA in 2 shakes daily). Where else do you get this? Salt, or you could supplement with a lot of Kelp. I believe that most people who have weight issues are hyperinsulinemic. One of the side effects of this: low thyroid. Again, I personally, take Armour Thyroid for hypothyroidism. As confirmed by my lab results, my thyroid levels have improved since ViSalus. My doctor is even considering taking me off the medication altogether. I have a friend from church who went from taking a very high dosage of Synthroid down to the smallest dosage since ViSalus, about 10 months ago. She too was told that if she continued with ViSalus that her next TSH might indicate that she too may no longer needs medicinal support for her hypothyroidism. 

Hormones: related to Isoflavones and phytoestrogens, which aren’t in ViSalus, but I wanted to specifically share with you (again, as confirmed by both my physician and natural medicine specialist) that because there are no estrogens in the shake and because the shake as a whole combats hyperinsulinemia so well, ViSalus does (and does for me specifically) help reduce the amount of serum estrogen in a hyperinsulinemic person. It also helps to reduce hyperinsulinemic-induced hypertestosteronemia, which again, is very common. Testosterone converts to estrogen in the body, and the excess of both is very dangerous for a woman.. I also have 2 friends in their 50′s who, beginning their first week of taking ViSalus, no longer have hot flashes or any of their previous menopausal symptoms. 

Regarding the comment on companies being a scam if they talk about how many foods you would have to eat to get similar nutrient- amounts. I felt the same way the first time I saw the video. It confused me, because I didn’t see what was written above each food (specific nutrient that you would be getting the equivalent to..and I now see that the comparison is fair and accurate).Granted, we should all be getting all of our nutrients from organic foods, but since the fall of man, I’m not sure that this is happening with anyone. I have tried. Many of us, who are concerned about treating our bodies like the gifts from God that they are, supplement with Vitamins because of this. ViSalus meals cost less than $2.00 per meal, and I’m grateful that there is such a healthy meal available to me others that I can actually afford. 

In summary, please know that none of this is meant to be an attack on you nor on anything that you stand for. I love the Lord dearly, and I would never wish to offend you, sister. I know that ViSalus was and is an answered prayer for me and for so many others, and I couldn’t just Not share with you the information that I have, which is contrary to this article. I completely agree and applaud your article and its information about soy, but I really wish that you would not have referred specifically to ViSalus.. Actually, I wonder if you, after further researching what I have shared with you, might consider ViSalus a healthy alternative to all of the unhealthy Soy in the world and maybe consider it for yourself. 

Thank you for your time, and God Bless. I do hope to further correspond with you, Carolynn Hunsucker, RN”

Carolynn’s opinion definitely deserves respect due to her standing as a registered nurse!