​
An energy drink without sugar, calories, or even caffeine? Unheard of! Yet XS Energy Drink co-owner and Laguna Beach resident David Vanderveen says he does it, in 13 flavours with a healthier approach than the Monsters and Red Bulls of the world.

How did XS Energy Drink start? How did you come up with the name?
It started through another company called Logic Nutrition. I got involved with the owner, and during that process I came up with the idea of energy drinks. And then I decided to refocus with a distribution partner. XS Energy is really just an acronym for excessive energy. But excessive and excess are pretty long, whereas XS is simple.

What is your affiliation with Amway?
They are the exclusive distributors for XS globally. A big part of our success is that we’re able to work differently in these markets. We’re kind of disruptive because of the Amway distribution model, and we don’t have to go through the same channels to communicate with the consumers. Because we have these distributors who can tell more and deliver deeper brand stories and experiences through sharing and sampling the products, it allows us to do more that we’d be able to do off a traditional shelf, where basically we’re limited to television ads, and print ads. We can actually have people sampling, which gives us a lot of presence as consumers discover our products.

What are some of the values that XS Energy Drink promotes?
Liberty. Giving people the opportunity to express themselves, to define their dreams, and pursue them. We think that’s kind of adventurous. The journey is just as and even more important than the destination. What our brand is really trying to promote is supporting the consumers and letting them participate in the distribution and sales to a place where they can actually start to earn enough income to live the life they want to live. XS is about fuelling people’s dreams.

What do you like the most, and what do you like the least about being the co-owner of XS Energy Drink?
My most favourite part is that I get to live my life doing what I love to do. I love that I get to travel and meet new people. The thing I like the least is wrestling with all the technical regulations in every market, which can get frustrating. Another thing I really don’t like is spending weeks a year lobbying for our category in Washington D.C. because we’re being, in my opinion, unfairly picked on by energy drink bigots, and people who don’t really understand what type of drink and formulas are in a category. They say that all energy drinks are the same, and therefore all energy drinks need to be regulated the same way.

How are you dealing with this obstacle?
We have to get very proactive, and try to communicate with health committee members way ahead and say, “Hey, this is who we are. We’re absolutely different. Please don’t categorize us with other people who are doing other things.”

​
What do you think about young athletes being sponsored by brands such as XS Energy Drink?
Here in Laguna Beach, there are a lot of people who own action sports brands, and there’s a number of pro athletes as well. A lot of the kids are getting sponsorships, and so there’s a lot of talk around our house about getting sponsored. What I’ve always said to my kids is, “It’s great if you’re talented and get to be sponsored, but the real long term goal should be signing the front of the check, not the back of it.”

Is XS Energy Drink going to launch any new flavours soon? What are some of the ideal flavours you’ve thought about? How do you usually decide which flavours to launch?
Yes, we’ll definitely continue the exploration of new flavours. We have a couple of hot ones that I’m pretty excited about, for the fall. I can’t tell you what they are yet, but I can tell you how we go about them. We look for flavours that are compelling, unique, and different. Flavours that consumers really love but might feel guilty about. We try to deliver those flavours, but without the guilt that sugar and all the calories bring. We’re really exploring right now how we can create a platform of healthy snacking options that give consumers positive energy while still delivering a tasty flavour.

What are some of the goals and dreams that you’d still like to accomplish as the co-owner of XS Energy Drink?
Our goal right now is to open up more markets with Amway. We just launched XS in Japan, and it was a success. Now we’re looking into some European launches, maybe more in Asia, and even in Latin America. It will take a lot of time, planning, and effort, but we’re very optimistic, and we’ll continue to be a partner for Amway distributors, and show the world more of our brand.

What would you recommend or say to all the kids out there that dream of becoming successful businessmen like you, and getting involved in the energy drinks industry?
I would say live deliberately, which means living with a purpose. A purpose that they have to find. They should take time to figure out what they really care about. I think what’s important in life is to find a destination that really makes someone the best in the world at, and generate enough value that people might give them in return. If people figure that out for themselves, everyday will be a passionate, fun exciting adventure.

As the father of two sons, do you hope that they will take over the business someday? Have they helped you with any of your XS projects? What do they think about your career?
Possibly. We have this set of core values about letting people identify what they think is going to empower their lives that they can be successful at. We’re not trying to tell our kids what they need to do, but to present them what we think are great resources, and walk them through how we ended up where we did, in our belief structures. We give our kids tools for their lives rather than give them the answer. I don’t know if they’ll be in the energy drink industry, but what I’m trying to do is to encourage them to find their paths. I think they’ll be incredibly successful and happy, and I would not be surprised if they exceeded any success that I’ve had.

Find XS Energy Drink at www.xsblast.com or order through www.outrightlife.ca

Just Like This!

I wrote a few blog entries of how proud I was of my wife for her dedication to working on our Ribbon clients and this one client purchased 105 Ribbon Gift Collection cards.  Stack them up and that’s pretty high when compared to a 355Ml can of XS Classic.

The coolest thing about Amway is that if you retail a lot of Ribbon Cards you get an awesome extra bonus above and beyond the regular bonus’s you normally get.  Ribbon is one of the most profitable products that Amway has and it just happens to be one of the coolest as well.  Such a unique different approach to the traditional gift card that often leaves people who get the traditional gift card spending more then they wanted to.  Our card actually gives you something without having to spend over and above, a very cool concept indeed.

We are nowhere near the largest Ribbon Retailers but we enjoy filling the need of the customers that do buy Ribbon through us and we will continue to provide the best damn customer service they’ve ever seen.  That goes for any of our clients, you’ll never see customer service like this at those other stores that’s for sure.

So proud of you Linds!

• Edmonton Journal
• CTV
• CBC

Sorry Edmonton Sun, you don`t cut it as credible news, even if you are just reposting something else.

The main issue here is how some companies are just loading up their energy drinks with a crap pile of caffeine, some as high as 500 mg! while most are on the average of 80 to 140 mg.   They go on to say how most companies are targeting teenagers to buy their product.  Make sense for sure.  However jacking up someone on 500 mg of caffeine is unacceptable and I agree some measures need to be put in place.  However kids are always looking for that quick buzz or something to jolt them awake and even with measures in place and all the news and science out there they will end up drinking what they want.  I was never a huge energy drink drinker and mainly had one while driving long distances.  Also most energy drinks are also jacked up on sugars which end up giving you that lovely crash after a few hours.

I am quite proud of the XS Energy drinks that we carry because they are on the lower amount of caffeine than most energy drinks at  83 mg, some come in a non-caffeine version, and have a multiple variety of flavours instead of just that “Energy Drink” taste.  We will be getting the Classic Blast in Canada soon from what I just heard yesterday as well as the Energy Shots which have the same amount of caffeine as the regular energy drink.  However I think the best part of our energy drinks is the O sugar and 0 carb content as well as the LOW calorie content between 8-16.  I won’t say where our drink ranks because I really don’t have the fact to back that up but what I unofficially heard is that we are number #2 right behind Red Bull which is #1.

Health Canada suggests that kids between the age’s of 10 to 12 shouldn’t consume more than 85 milligrams of caffeine a day which is okay because our drink is 83, room to spare!   All kidding aside I think we stand above most because of these facts and the fact we offer a far more superior product that doesn’t give you that crash. Our energy is mainly from the B12 vitamin instead of relying on caffeine and sugar. 

If your interested in trying one of ours out do let me know and I’d love to sample you one.  We have all the flavours.

If your curious where XS stacks up, check this out:

http://www.xsgear.com/info/askdrchet.asp

Top XS Questions

Vitamin B-12

Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that’s critical to making healthy blood c …

Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that’s critical to making healthy blood cells–your body won’t make enough of them if you don’t have enough B12. Then your ability to carry oxygen becomes impaired, and that means a decrease in energy. B12 is also integral to your nervous system functions and to help your body make DNA (1). Those three reasons are good enough to make sure that you get plenty of vitamin B12 every day, but you may wonder: if some is good, is more better? And how much is too much?

That’s the question that was considered by the Committee from the Institute of Medicine Food and Nutrition Board when they set the Recommended Dietary Allowance for vitamin B12 and other nutrients (2). This is not exciting work, reviewing study after study to find out how much of a nutrient we need, what amount might cause a deficiency, and what amount may be too much. Considering the last question, the Committee did not set an Upper Tolerable Limit for vitamin B12. Why? Because they could find no research to suggest that vitamin B12 was harmful, whether consumed as food or supplement, administered directly into the bloodstream, or injected into muscle. What they did find was research demonstrating that the more vitamin B12 a person took in supplement form, the less would be absorbed. In effect, the body self-regulates the amount of vitamin B12 it will allow.

That begs the question: why take more if it won’t be absorbed? While less will be absorbed the more you take, you will still take in more vitamin B12. For example, based on the numbers used in the research, about 60% of a 5 mcg dose will be absorbed or about 3 mcg. If more than 500 mcg is taken, then absorption could drop to 1% or 5 mcg. Obviously 5 is more than 3, so even though less is absorbed proportionally, more reaches the blood stream. If taken in smaller doses over the day, even more could be absorbed. So if you use a product with high amounts of vitamin B12, there should be no concern about megadosing based on the research to date.

1. http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/factsheets/vitaminb12.asp

2. Institute of Medicine. Food and Nutrition Board. Dietary Reference Intakes: Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin B12, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, and Choline. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1998.

Sucralose

I get asked more questions about artificial sweeteners than just about anything …

I get asked more questions about artificial sweeteners than just about anything else. At the top of the list is sucralose. Why? Because sucralose is the object of several websites dedicated to providing the “truth” on this artificial sweetener, which seems to involve harmful effects and conspiracies. Yet, there’s no evidence of harmful effects in the scientific literature and the conspiracies haven’t been proven. So instead of trying to prove that the gurus are wrong, let me present them with a couple of facts to ponder.

The basis for the alleged harmful effects revolves around the fact that sucralose is a chlorinated sugar molecule. Why don’t the critics fund a study that examines tissue, blood, and saliva to test whether regular sucralose use will increase physiological amounts of chlorine in humans and to see if there are any negative health effects? They continually nit-pick every one of the 144 studies on sucralose, extracting only the bits of data that they claim prove their point. If just once they would put their money where their mouths are, it would bring them some degree of credibility. They certainly have no problem selling documentaries and books that “expose” artificial sweeteners. C’mon, guys–spend a little to prove your point.

And let’s ditch the conspiracy theory already. Given our desire to know the dirt on just about everything, if a conspiracy existed, it would have been proven by now–people in government just can’t keep quiet about anything. On top of that, it would have to be an international conspiracy involving the World Health Organization, the Food and Drug Administration in the United States and their counterparts in countries world-wide, and every organization that provides recommendations for nutrients that are safe for diabetics. Put two healthcare professionals in a room and they won’t agree on the color of the marker to use on the whiteboard, yet we’re to believe everyone involved is withholding the truth on sucralose? In what world does that make sense?

Sucralose is an artificial sweetener that has met the scientific criteria for food safety many times over (1). While some people may have an allergic reaction to it, just like they might have to any natural food, most people will be able to use it as part of a reasonable diet. It can help reduce our dependence on sugar in soft drinks and processed foods. Given the obesity and diabetes epidemic we face, it’s one of many tools that we can use to help control our body weight while satisfying our sweet tooth.

Taurine

I’ve been getting the occasional question about taurine, a popular amino acid th …

I’ve been getting the occasional question about taurine, a popular amino acid that’s found in XS Energy Drinks. Some people have read that taurine is not good for you, and you want to know why. I’ll tell you what taurine is and what I’ve found in the research I’ve done.

Taurine is one of three sulfur-containing amino acids; methionine and cysteine are the other two, and taurine can be produced from either. While taurine is found throughout the body, some organs have higher concentrations such as the brain and nervous system, the eye, and the heart. As a result, a lack of taurine may be related to mental fatigue. Taurine is important throughout our lifetime; newborns require taurine for normal growth and development, but they can’t make it until later in life, so taurine is supplied in breast milk and should be available in infant formula. The foods that contain taurine are primarily meat, fish and other seafood, eggs, and milk. As a result of the growing number of vegans and vegetarians and the fact that a lot of people eat less meat than in the past, many people may not be getting enough taurine from what they eat.

I did a PubMed search which revealed over 400 articles cited as researching the benefits of taurine. Scientists have studied a wide variety of applications: memory enhancement, muscle fatigue, antioxidant attributes, and many others. But the primary reason that taurine seems to be helpful is that it benefits our brain and nervous system. The ability to think clearly and stay focused is dependent on many nutrients, and it seems that taurine is one of them.

But the primary question was about taurine safety, so I did an Internet search on side effects or toxicity associated with taurine supplementation. Toxicity resulted in over one million hits, and I checked out the first 100 websites. There was no toxicity associated with taurine supplementation, nor were there any side effects reported. When I searched PubMed on the uses of taurine in research, I didn’t find any negative effects associated with taurine use.

There’s no established upper limit for taurine. However, after reviewing the data on taurine, the Council for Responsible Nutrition has set 3 grams per day as the Observed Safe Level even though higher quantities have been used with no negative effects. There is 1 gram of synthetic Taurine in XS Energy Drinks.
Based on the research, my opinion is that taurine is a very safe nutrient for healthy people to use. It may help with energy levels, improve performance during exercise, and have other benefits as well. The important thing is that there are no hazards for taurine use based on the current research.

I was blown away with a lot of the information we were given and even as we’ve been building our business we still learnt a lot of good stuff.  Stuff like what are phytonutrients?  To describe, the term "phyto” originates from the Greek word meaning “plant.  Therefore phytonutrient simply means nutrients from the plant.  Phytonutrients are natural components of plants that offer benefits to your health, therefore, fruits and vegetables are rich sources of phytonutrients.  So how do these phytonutrients enhance optimal health? 

• Fruits and vegetables contain important sources of key nutrients such as potassium, dietary fiber, folic acid and Vitamin A, C, and E.
• The best phytonutrients come from organic farms.  Plants raised organically have abundant amounts of high-quality phytonutrients.

Here is something fun for you to participate to see if you are actually getting enough Phytonutrients. 

 Your Daily Phytonutrient Snapshot

Click on “Your Daily Phytonutrient Snapshot”

Some cool facts that really set us apart from the rest of the world in the area of dietary supplements

• A leader in dietary supplements for 75 years
• First multivitamin/multimineral in North America
• Nutrilite is the Only global vitamin and mineral brand to grow, harvest, and process plants on its own certified organic farms

Here are some pictures taken from last nights event.

	This is the XS Energy Shot which is not available in Canada yet.  Health Canada takes forever to approve something.  So it’s pretty much contraband haha 10,000% of your daily B12 intake!
Here is a visual representation of what you get in the concentrated fruits and veggies product that we have.
	Check this out, in the pills you see here, that’s how much calcium you get. 4L worth! Not getting enough calcium? Might want to look at this.
Are you drinking energy drinks?  Want to see what our competitor has for sugar compared to what we have? XS has 0g’s of sugars, Red Bull has 27g’s of sugar! GROSS!  Oh and by the way XS has 0 Carbs and Red Bull has 28g’s.  What would you rather put into your body?