Q. My daughter rarely eats fruits and vegetables; can I give her Juice Plus+ gummy supplements instead?

A. The supplement industry continues to play on our fears that our children aren't eating right. They have convinced people that we can fix poor diets by simply taking a magic fruit and vegetable pill. If only things were this simple.

Juice Plus+ supplements are sold as pills, wafers and gummies. They contain dried fruit or vegetable powders, added nutrients and a few phytochemicals. Nearly all the fiber has been removed. Deceptive claims are often used by distributors to market this product.

Juice Plus+ Gummies are made of 85 percent corn syrup (sugar) and 10 percent beef gelatin, as well as added nutrients. How is that healthy?

The Better Business Bureau issued a complaint against promoters of Juice Plus+ Gummies for falsely claiming their supplements are "low in sugar" and the "next best thing to fruits and vegetables."

Fruits and vegetables are loaded with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and thousands of phytochemicals. Health benefits are derived because these substances work together. Juice Plus+ doesn't come close to providing the thousands of naturally-occurring nutrients and phytochemicals we get from the real thing.

Studies on Juice Plus+ are inconclusive overall. Much of this research is flawed. None of the research compares the effects of Juice Plus+ to the effects of eating fruits and vegetables. Funding for most of the studies is provided by the manufacturer of the supplements themselves, which is a potential conflict of interest.

It's impossible to deliver the nutrients of several cups of fruits and vegetables in a Juice Plus+ capsule that weighs 800 milligrams. The University of California-Berkeley Wellness Letter states, "It would take two dozen 800-milligram capsules to provide all the nutrients in just six ounces of carrot juice!"

Folks who skimp on fruit and vegetables often eat more fatty and processed foods. No pill can make up for a poor diet.

Juice Plus+ is distributed through a pyramid marketing scheme. Distributors receive sales commissions based on how many customers they sign up. A year's supply of Juice Plus+ costs approximately $500.

Juice Plus+ is a waste of money. If your child doesn't eat much fruits and vegetables, serve them in a different way. Try smoothies, 100 percent juice pops, dried fruit and nut mixtures, or vegetable sticks with low-fat dip. You can add an inexpensive multivitamin /mineral supplement for extra insurance.

Amy Tousman is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator with Nutrition Unlimited in Kailua. Hawai'i experts in traditional medicine, naturopathic medicine and diet take turns writing the Prescriptions column. Send your questions to: Prescriptions, Island Life, The Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; islandlife@honoluluadvertiser.com; or fax 535-8170. This column is not intended to provide medical advice.