Is there any side effects of pedigree

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated September 16, 2024

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An Honest Review of Balance of Nature: Pros and Cons, Ingredients, Cost, Side Effects, Complaints and Is It a Scam?

Fruits & Veggies by Balance of Nature is a popular whole food nutritional supplement heavily advertised on TV and radio. It was invented by Dr. Douglas Howard in 1997 and is made in St. George, Utah in the United States.

Heres an honest review of this products pros and cons, ingredients list, cost to take, effectiveness, and if its worth it or a hoax.

Also ahead are potential benefits and side effects, consumer reports and complaints, 3 better and cheaper alternatives, and my verdict on whether Balance of Nature is good for you or not.

My Personal Experience with Balance of Nature Effectiveness

Since I planned to write articles about Balance of Nature on Superfood Profiles, I thought it only fair to get it for myself and try it for a month at the recommended dosage.

With over 10 years experience researching superfood supplements, I can easily assess the comparative strength of different ingredient lists. Perhaps there was some special factor in these fruit and vegetable capsules though.

After taking Balance of Nature Fruits & Veggies myself for 30 days, at the suggested 6-capsule dose, I cant say I felt much of a difference personally. Maybe a little extra energy versus the previous week with no superfoods.

On the positive side, I noticed no negative side effects. Id still expect much more from such an expensive product though.

To be fair, I already eat quite a lot of vegetables and fruit in my diet. I also take superfood powders like Field of Greens almost every day. Someone who rarely eats fresh, unprocessed foods may well have a much better response to Balance of Nature Fruits & Veggies than I did.

Ingredients inBalance of Nature

Any whole food supplement is only as good as the vegetables, fruit, greens, and other superfoods it contains. Here are the full 2024 ingredient lists for Fruits & Veggies capsules by Balance of Nature.

Fruits Supplement Facts Label

Maintain Blend (731mg): Tomato, Papaya, Banana, Apple, Grape, Wild Blueberry, Strawberry, Aloe Vera.
Protect Blend (719mg): Orange, Tart Cherry, Cranberry, Wild Blueberry, Grape, Apple, Grapefruit, Aloe Vera.
Repair Blend (561mg): Raspberry, Pineapple, Mango, Sweet Cherry, Lemon, Aloe Vera.
Nutritional Value: Calories 10, Carbohydrates 2g.
Other Ingredients: Vegetable Capsules (Cellulose).

Veggies Supplement Facts Label

Maintain Blend (720mg): Broccoli, Spinach, Soybean, Green Cabbage, Wheatgrass, Kale, Cauliflower, Celery, White Onion, Zucchini.
Protect Blend (713mg): Garlic, Red Cabbage, Red Onion, Soybean, Carrot, Kale, Cayenne Pepper, Shiitake Mushroom, Wheatgrass, Sweet Potato.
Repair Blend (576mg): Carrot, Kale, Green Onion, Soybean, Spinach, Cauliflower, Celery, Zucchini.
Nutritional Value: Calories 5, Carbohydrates 1g.
Other Ingredients: Vegetable Capsules (Cellulose).

Overall there are some healthy foods here, mixed in with quite a few average additions, and one glaring mistake in my opinion. Ill discuss the ingredients in Balance of Nature in detail in the Pros & Cons and the Benefits, Efficacy and Effectiveness sections ahead.

Balance of Nature Pros and Cons

A good starting point for evaluating this whole food supplement is to examine the main pros and cons of Balance of Nature.

Heres my honest assessment, as someone who has both 10 years experience in this field, and who recently bought Fruits & Veggies and took it for 30 days at the recommended dose.

Pros

1. High Quality Ingredients

The companys website states that all of the produce used in its products are GMO-free, grown without pesticides, and picked at peak ripeness.

Balance of Nature is made in America, is gluten-free, has no added sugar, no fillers, no synthetic vitamins or minerals, and no chemical ingredients of any kind.

2. Careful Processing for Maximum Nutritional Content

Balance of Nature says that the whole foods used to make its capsules are, powdered by an advanced vacuum-cold process to stabilize the maximum nutrient content.

The companys website also highlights that they use a special freeze-drying process called flash-drying, that Dr. Douglas Howard, the founder and inventor of Fruits & Veggies, helped to develop.

Using flash-drying processing would help to ensure that the original vitamin, mineral and antioxidant content of the vegetables and fruit used is retained, rather than lost during manufacturing.

3. Vegetarian and Vegan Friendly

All products in the Balance of Nature range are suitable for vegans. Fruits & Veggies are made with vegetarian capsule shells and the Fiber & Spice product uses only vegetarian ingredients.

4. Smells and Tastes Like Powdered Fruit and Vegetables

Ive opened these capsules and smelt and tasted the powder inside. Theres no smell of chemicals and they taste as I expected tangy and slightly sweet for the fruit blend, and earthy and spicy for the veggie pills.

Cons

1. Expensive with a High Cost Per Month

Even if these whole food supplements are of the highest quality, they are still very expensive at $89.95 for the Fruits & Veggies vitamins. Thats especially true considering you only get 30 servings.

Compare that to the similar but much cheaper Double Wood Daily Fruits and Veggies. This newer competitor has significantly better superfood ingredients, some of which are organic. It also has the same 180 capsules, yet is available here on their website for $70 less than the monthly cost of Balance of Nature.

The Fiber & Spice product at $69.95 is even more overpriced in my opinion. Its made from predominantly cheap psyllium husks and its difficult to see how this high cost can be justified.

You can get $20 off either of these products by becoming a preferred customer for a one-time fee of $24.95. As a warning though, this signs you up to automatic monthly deliveries, which quite a few people have complained about, saying they are difficult to cancel.

Even if you did want regular monthly deliveries, these retail prices are still expensive for the specific vegetables and fruits found in Balance of Nature pills. The only reason I bought this product myself was to try it before writing about it. I wont get it again.

Based on my 10 years of experience researching superfood supplements, I dont see Balance of Nature as good value at all, especially versus the 15 cheaper and better alternatives covered here.

2. Ingredients are not USDA-Certified Organic

Previously, on Balance of Natures website, there was an article that said that their products go, beyond the USDA organic seal and that they choose not to use it on their labels because it, does not approach their philosophies and standards.

This statement does not help customers make an informed decision about the risks of product pesticide contamination though. Could the extra cost of USDA organic certification have been just as much of a factor as any company philosophy?

Its also interesting that new Balance of Nature competitor Upnourish can offer a superior fruit and vegetable supplement, with 480 capsules, and all certified organic ingredients from American farms, yet $50 cheaper here on their website.

3. Soybean in the Veggies Formula

For some strange reason, Dr. Howard, the creator of Balance of Nature, chose to add raw soybean to his veggie pills when he formulated them back in 1997. Even more hard to understand, its still in there 27 years later.

Soy is an estrogenic ingredient with many potential negative effects. It contains anti-nutrients like phytic acid, can cause allergies, and is already in far too many processed foods.

Very few people in the USA are in need of even more soy in their diet. It may be a small proportion of the Veggies formula, but is still an odd inclusion, especially when most supplement makers in 2024 print soy-free on their labels.

4. Recent FDA Warnings and Legal Issues

The Balance of Nature company has been warned by the FDA about problems with the quality of their supplements in 2019 and again in 2023.

Theyve also faced other legal issues and were even temporarily ordered to stop manufacturing and selling products in November 2023, until they demonstrated compliance with FDA regulations.

Theres much more detail on these FDA Warnings in The Truth About Balance of Nature, including their history, owner, location, and other interesting company information.

5. Lacks Nutritional Information and Safety Testing Documentation

The company states on its website that its, dried produce is then independently tested. Yet theres no proof or corresponding certification that I could find on their site.

Compare that with Double Wood Daily Fruits and Veggies, which is much cheaper yet displays third-party testing certificates of analysis on the product page. If they can do it, why cant Balance of Nature?

Nutritional information on the Fruits & Veggies label is limited and few nutrition facts are provided, beyond the various blends used to pad out the ingredient lists. Holding the tubs in my hand now, there is no information on vitamins and minerals, like you would find on a multivitamin bottle.

The company website, while visually appealing, is also unusually light on nutritional details for the product, particularly given the high price point.

I thought this was such a glaring omission that I got to work investigating Balance of Nature Nutrition Facts here to answer peoples many questions on this topic.

Balance of Nature Cost

You can get Fruits & Veggies, Fiber & Spice and the Whole Health System (a combination of both) at balanceofnature.com. Its important though to be aware of the pricing structure and their preferred customer subscription model before making a decision.

Here are the current retail prices in 2024:

Fruits & Veggies: $89.95 (22% off if you subscribe)
Fiber & Spice: $69.95 (29% off if you subscribe)
Whole Health System: $159.95 (31% off if you subscribe)

These discounts only apply if you subscribe & save for a fee of $24.95. This includes free shipping and is the only way to get a 30-day money-back guarantee with these products.

Keep in mind that subscribing signs you up for ongoing deliveries every 28 days, as well as recurring charges that many customers have complained are difficult to cancel.

How Much is Balance of Nature Per Day, Per Month and Per Year?

Balance of Nature costs of $89.95 for a 30-day, 1-month supply if you take it at the recommended 6-capsule daily dose.

That works out to $2.99 per day to take Fruits & Veggies vitamins. Which is exorbitant considering there are many good Balance of Nature alternatives here for a third or even a quarter of the daily cost.

If you took Fruits & Veggies by Balance of Nature every day for a whole year the total cost adds up to $1094. At this much you would really want to be experiencing noticeable benefits to justify this kind of expense.

Is It Worth It or a Waste of Money?

Personally, I cant see any good reason why the Fruits & Veggies or Fiber & Spice products are so expensive. They are not organic, their ingredients are not particularly costly and there are many superior competitors out there for much less.

Take for instance Daily Fruits and Veggies by Double Wood. These superfood capsules have more nutritious ingredients and are independently tested for safety and purity. Yet you can get the same 180 capsules as Balance of Nature for less than a quarter of the cost here on the companys site.

Benefits, Efficacy and Effectiveness: Does Balance of Nature Work?

Many people want to know is Balance of Nature really healthy and effective. Its also often asked if these vitamins are worth the cost, or are they a ripoff?

This is not a cheap whole food supplement to take, especially compared to similar substitutes. So are there any valid reasons for choosing these fruit and vegetable pills over equivalent ones?

How Does Balance of Nature Fruits & Veggies Work in Theory?

The main reason to take Balance of Nature, according to their website claims and sales pages, is to easily get 31 fruits and vegetables just by swallowing 6 caps a day. But is that a legitimate claim? No, not really in my opinion.

Its true that freeze-drying is known to preserve the majority of nutrients in fresh produce. However, a 6-capsule daily dose of Fruits & Veggies provides just 3964 mg of powdered whole foods. Even concentrated, thats not enough to matter to all but the most nutritionally deficient person.

A better and more efficient choice would be to use a green powder, like Field of Greens versus Balance of Nature here. Its much cheaper, the superfood ingredients are far higher in nutrients, and you get a much larger 10,000 mg per serving each day.

While fruit and veggie pills are convenient, you definitely get more bang for your buck nutritionally by taking a big scoop of powdered greens versus a few capsules.

Are Balance of Nature Vitamins Good or Bad for You?

If someone who rarely ate vegetables or fruit started taking Balance of Nature regularly it would do some good for them. Veggies like broccoli, garlic, kale and shiitake mushroom are definitely healthy, even in small amounts. As are fruits such as blueberry, cranberry, grapefruit and papaya.

I personally think raw soybean should be avoided, but the small amount found in the Veggies capsules doesnt make Balance of Nature bad for you overall.

So the question then is not whether Balance of Nature is good for you, its whether its effective and good value for what you get? In my opinion, the answer here is a definite no.

The Fruits & Veggies product is overpriced and if you did want the same formula (minus the soy) then you can save a lot by comparing 12 substitutes and similar competitors here.

Does Balance of Nature Have Side Effects and is It Safe to Take?

There are no side effects of Balance of Nature listed on the companys website or product packaging. Generally, this supplement would be safe to take for the majority of people.

Below Ive listed a few potential precautions and warnings though based on the specific ingredients it contains:

People with a soy allergy should avoid the Veggies product with added raw soybean.
Customers who are sensitive to cruciferous vegetables, onion or garlic may experience intestinal upsets if they take the vegetable pills, particularly on an empty stomach.
Individuals with a rare latex allergy shouldnt take the fruit blend, due to the pineapple and papaya it contains.
Your GP may advise you to avoid the grapefruit found in the Fruits product if you are on certain prescriptions.
Psyllium husks in Fiber & Spice can cause digestive issues, such as bloating and gas when first taken. Starting with a low dose to build up tolerance is recommended. The company could help people make an informed choice by listing this known side effect on the product label.

Negative Side Effects Reported by Consumers

According to my research, the most commonly reported side effects of Balance of Nature Fruits & Veggies in customer reviews and complaints are digestive system problems, such as heartburn, gas and an upset stomach.

Cruciferous veggies, like the broccoli and cauliflower in these vegetable pills, can cause acid reflux and tummy troubles for some people. The garlic, onion and soybean in this supplement are also known to increase intestinal gas.

Taking these capsules with a meal will both lessen the chance of these negative effects and improve nutrient absorption.

Other reported side effects, like nausea, diarrhea, fatigue and low energy, could indicate an allergy, or at least sensitivity, to one of the ingredients in Balance of Nature.

Personally, I would want a refund if I experienced symptoms like these. As covered earlier in the pros and cons though, the 30-day money-back guarantee only applies if you sign up for a subscription with ongoing deliveries.

Correct Dosage and How and When to Take It for Better Results

The recommended daily dose for Balance of Nature is 6 capsules, 3 of the fruit and 3 of the veggie ones, taken once a day. The ideal time for this would be in the morning with a breakfast that contains some healthy fats.

Some of the vitamins, antioxidants, and other nutrients found in Fruits & Veggies are fat soluble. This means they can only be absorbed properly if fatty acids are present during digestion.

Shelf Life and Expiration Date

Balance of Nature does not provide a date for how long their products last. Instead, according to their website they are, stamped on the bottom of the bottle with the manufactured date. This is not an expiration date.

They go on to say that this is when the shelf life starts, but give no indication as to how long this shelf life would be. I can understand why many customers find this unhelpful and confusing.

Nutritional supplements are commonly listed as being good for 2 years from their date of manufacture. Exposure to heat and light will lower this time frame, so ideally store this product in a cool and dark place like a cupboard.

Are Balance of Nature Capsules Easy to Swallow, Can They Be Opened and What Do They Taste Like?

When I took Balance of Nature recently for a month, I noticed that their capsules were quite large compared to other brands. They took some swallowing to get down. Many consumers agree as this is a common theme in negative critiques online.

With their large size, and 6 per day dosage, its not surprising that some people find Fruits & Veggies pills difficult to swallow each day.

There are currently 124 critical ratings on Amazon that mention pill size and problems swallowing these veggie caps. Customer comments like, Capsules are so large they get stuck in the throat, Difficult to swallow and, Not easy to take in my opinion are not hard to find.

You can open the capsules and sprinkle them on food or add them to drinks if you prefer. I opened one of the Fruits blend and found it pretty sweet with an apple taste and citrus tang. Not unpleasant at all.

The Veggies capsule flavor was stronger and earthy. I could taste the garlic and broccoli, with some spiciness from the cayenne pepper. I doubt Id notice the flavor of either pill though if I opened them and mixed them into a juice or smoothie.

Does Balance of Nature Come in Gummies, Chewable Tablets or a Green Powder?

Many people ask if there are Balance of Nature gummies. No there are not and this is a good thing. So-called supplemental gummies, loaded with sugar, glucose syrup, vegetable oil and colorings, are a scam and fraud. They should be completely avoided if you value your health.

There are also no Balance of Nature chewables, tablets or green powders. Their Fruits & Veggies product is only sold together in 2 tubs of 90 veggie caps each.

What is Fiber & Spice?

The Fiber & Spice product is Balance of Natures digestive health supplement. Its designed to prevent constipation and keep you regular. They recommended taking 2 scoops (13g) of it twice a day mixed in water or juice.

Ingredients inFiber & Spice:

Psyllium Husk, Flax Seed, Whole Apple, Monk Fruit, Allspice, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Clove, Coriander, Cumin, Fennel Seed, Fenugreek, Ginger, Mustard Seed, Nutmeg and Turmeric.

This would be quite a healthy product if you took it regularly. Psyllium and flax do help with constipation, and spices like cardamom, cinnamon, clove, fennel, ginger and turmeric are all beneficial.

I personally think its very overpriced though. Fiber & Spice is 14oz and costs $69.95. You can get 16oz of the main ingredient, psyllium husks, for under ten dollars on Amazon. I can also see blended spices there for under five.

Buyer feedback on Fiber & Spice is also mixed, with a 3.7 star rating and quite a few negative comments on taste, mixability, efficiency and effectiveness.

Consumer Reports and Reviews

There are currently over 17,340 customer ratings for Balance of Nature Fruits & Veggies on Amazon as I am researching and writing this article. The overall score is 4.1 stars out of 5. Of these, 76% are 4 and 5 stars, while 24% are 3, 2 and 1 star ratings.

Positive Feedback

The top rated positive report said, I also had better quality bowel movements and slightly better sleep compared to NATROL. The bad, this product is astonishingly expensive.
Another February 2024 reviewer wrote, I walk/jog 5 miles every morning and 1-3 miles in the afternoon. Balance of Nature works. Try it.

Negative Reviews

By comparison, the top critical feedback said, These pills are huge! I was hoping these would give the boost everyone is talking about. But theyre expensive and I can get better results from the Emergen-C packets.
In January, 2024 a 2 star rating wrote, Overpriced and make false claims. Try Texas SuperFood instead. $10 cheaper and more ingredients.

With any product that has been around for as long as Balance of Nature you would expect a wide variety of different viewpoints, especially on its effectiveness and value for money.

Ive shared my personal opinion on this product in this article. It could be seen as a detailed consumer report since buying and using Fruits & Veggies for a month. Whats more concerning though, is the number of complaints about Balance of Nature I found online, both on retail sites and forums like Reddit.

Customer Complaints and Is Balance of Nature a Hoax?

Delving deeper into my research, I discovered serious concerns and legal issues around this company. There were also many former customers stating online that they felt Balance of Nature products were a scam, a ripoff or a con.

Complaints on Better Business Bureau detailed shoppers receiving recurring orders, even though they believed they had only made a one-off single purchase.

Several people on BBB wrote that when they contacted the company they were told they were not allowed to return unopened products. This is poor customer service and ultimately detrimental to a businesss reputation.

Whenever a number of people are searching online with terms like Balance of Nature hoax, or posting on Reddit and Quora and calling your products a con or just hype, its time to take a good hard look at your business practices.

This is especially legitimate when a company is asking people to trust in the benefits of their supplements. Yet provide no proof, beyond what they have written on their site, that these benefits are real and not fake.

A better returns policy would be a good start in reducing the number of people saying Balance of Nature is a scam or a hoax. Currently, the companys website states that only preferred customers can receive a refund and only on their first order.

According to their site, retail one-time orders are not eligible for a return. What if people receive a defective, contaminated or expired product? Why would they not be unhappy at being ripped off for $89.95 with no recourse?

More details should also be provided on the companys subscription model to help counteract all the negative feedback online. In fact, the California Food, Drug and Medical Device Task Force made this very point in a July 2023 case against Balance of Nature.

The FDA also warned the company in 2019 that You failed to fulfill the requirements related to product complaints. They brought legal proceedings against this business again in November 2023. There are much more details on the FDA cases here in The Truth About Balance of Nature.

Final Verdict: Is Balance of Nature Any Good?

Everything written in this article is my personal opinion and honest perspective on the research I conducted, as well as the results I had from taking Fruits & Veggies for a month.

At the start of writing this review of Balance of Nature, I liked the companys focus on selecting naturally ripened fruit and vegetables. And the way they highlighted the careful processing of the produce that went into their capsules.

Unfortunately, those are the most positive points I can make about this product. Balance of Nature is clearly overpriced, costing $89.95 for a 3964 mg daily dose of comparatively average ingredients over 30 days.

The Fruits & Veggies product by Dr. Howard does look healthy, with the exception of the soybean addition. But this is 2024 and there are so many better superfood supplements available now.

New competitor Double Wood Daily Fruits and Veggies has 49 different superfoods versus Balance of Natures 31. Its made in the USA and is independently tested. Despite this, you can get it for $70 less here on their website (even lower with the multipacks).

Organic alternative Upnourish is a better choice as well. It has superior ingredients, is made from American farm-grown produce, has 480 capsules vs Balance of Natures 180, and yet its $50 cheaper here on the companys site.

After a decade of experience researching and writing about superfoods, I dont think that Balance of Nature, with its expensive cost per serving and comparatively average ingredients list, stands up well to its competition in any objective evaluation.

In 2024 there are far better choices covered here in 12 Balance of Nature Substitutes as well as 15 Cheaper Alternatives to Balance of Nature. If youre still looking for a good whole food supplement, then you wont find more comprehensive comparison guides available anywhere online.

Thank you for reading. Please let me know in the comments below your opinion and personal experience with Balance of Nature Fruits & Veggies.