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All links verified July 11, 2006
Page last updated September 09, 2007
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NOTE: This is one of the few infomercial health products I've seen that appears it MAY do that for which it is mainly advertised, which is to "provide nutritional support designed to help ease minor every day aches and pains, support joint health and enhance flexibility." -BS

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Most of the information, below, deals with Flex Protex.

The Infomercial

Patti McPeak - from ITV Nutracea Products (Rice 'N' Shine & FlexProtex) Infomercials

Patti McPeak
from ITV Nutracea Products
(Rice 'N' Shine & FlexProtex)
Infomercials

This is one of the infomercials from ITV Direct. Patricia McPeak (aka Patty McPeak, aka "Rice Patty" - I kid you not!) is a pretty nice-looking older lady who apparently had "recently" (November 6, 2001) received a patent (see United States Patent: 6902739 ) for using rice bran derivatives as a "delivery system" for various formulations, including "Cox-2 inhibitors" for "treating joint inflammation, pain, and loss of mobility."

Donald Barrett (erstwhile "host" of the "show) interviews her, sometimes with leading questions (his normal style.) However, Donald discusses "his mother-in-law's" being taken off Vioxx and in tremendous pain, asking if Flex Protex will work for her. Of course, Patty picks up the bottle, and says, "Take this to her." He asks, "You're THAT sure it will work?", and Patty says, "Yes... Take it to her." [quotes paraphrased -bs]

At one point - I can't remember who brings it up, seems like Donald mentioned a dog I think he or another relative of his had with arthritic hips - Patty says it will work for horses, dogs, cats, etc. (I assume in different formulations. According to the Patent, it WAS tested on horses.) While I know that other products are tested on animals, and many DO, it just seemed strange to announce in a commercial selling it for human consumption, that Flex Protex also works on pets. smiley - cornfussed! (Yes, I know it's confused)

On the infomercial, I heard that it is good for or helps with: arthritis, osteo-arthritis, rheumatoid-arthritis, (ok, so far)... lowering LDL (bad cholesterol), gout, regeneration of cartilage, collagen, all auto-immune disorders, diabetes, fibromyalgia, carpel tunnel, gradual reduction of bone spurs, etc. Patty also claimed she'd hurt her hands, hip and knees in various falls at various times (she's over 60), tearing cartilage, etc., and by taking Flex Protex, she avoided all surgeries recommended by her doctors.

Rice 'N' Shine

FlexProtex

The Products

ITV Direct, itself, does not create the products it sells (as near as I can tell). It creates and produces infomercials (most appear to feature Donald as the interviewer). They help their clients market their products, and, as I've said, have been in a fight to get legislation passed called the "Health Freedom Protection Act (HR 4282)" Off Site New Window (introduced in the House of Representatives by US Congressman Ron Paul on November 10, 2005). ITV does buy lots (not bunches, cases or pallets) of product from the supplier(s) for a discounted price, and sells them.

Patty McPeak's products are all based on Stabilized Rice Bran. From NutraCea at their "About Rice Bran" page:

Rice Grain - Nutracea

"Rice is a staple food for approximately 70% of the world's population. Unfortunately, more than 60% of rice's nutrients are destroyed during traditional milling processes. Its bran — all 60 million metric tons of it — is either thrown away or used for low-level animal feed each year. Unprocessed, rice bran is valued at just 0.2 cents to 0.6 cents per pound.

NutraCea believes that rice bran is too rich in nutrients to ignore. Although rice bran and rice germ comprise just 8% of the entire kernel, they house a staggering 65% of the kernel's nutrients.

The bran's density of protein, vitamins, minerals and more than 120 known naturally occurring antioxidants, and its affordability and widespread availability create a powerful value proposition for bolstering humanitarian efforts and commercial opportunities that stimulate global distribution. "

They (Patty? Scientists at Nutracea?) figured out a way to stabilize it. From their "Stabilizing Rice Bran" page:

"Via traditional milling methods, a rice-kernel enzyme called lipase renders the bran rancid in a matter of hours from the time of milling. In effect, traditionally processed rice bran has no shelf life and, therefore, little commercial value.

But NutraCea's unique, patent-protected manufacturing and processing technology is converting one of the world's most wasted food resources into nutrient-dense foods. By stabilizing the rice bran and preserving all of its vital and heat-sensitive nutrients — without using synthetics or chemicals — the company's rice bran has a shelf-life guarantee of one year, and typically stores well for much longer."

Nutracea has seven (7) patents for various uses, and Patty and a couple of others developed "Flex Protex ... a Patented Dietary Supplement for Joint Health to help ease minor every day aches and pains, support joint health and enhance flexibility."

As I stated, above, I believe Patty and Nutracea might have one of the few health-related infomercials that may actually do that for which it is mainly advertised. As for other claims made throughout the infomercial ... (?)

Product Websites

Following are links to what appear to be "main" sites for the product.

Research

Searching for "Flex Protex", I could find very few actual comments on it. As for negative comments, most of those were that Flex Protex "did nothing" for them. Patty McPeak has been producing Rice bran-based products for years, and, as you can see below, it appears the company was going down hard in 2004. About that time, ITV became involved, producing the Flex Protex infomercial, and the rest, as they say, is history. Sales skyrocketed, and now it appears Flex Protex is one of the best all-natural joint pain products. Even so, it was not listed in the top 25 joint support listings (see below) for 2006.

Searching for Rice 'n' Shine, again, I could find few negative comments. Rice 'n' Shine is a chocolate or vanilla-flavored meal replacement drink made from rice bran.

The FDA and FTC DO have problems with some of the claims made about the Flex Protex product, but I don't believe relief from joint pain is one of them.

If joint pain is your main concern, it may work well for you. Be careful, if you are buying it for any of the other claims.

Reviews and Warnings

This section lists the sites where I found comments about the people and company, and/or the product. Some of the terms "sham", "scam", "scams", "flim-flam", "complain", "complaints", "rip", "rip-off", "fraud", "warning", similar words, and maybe just "review" were used in searching for negative comments.

WARNING: If you consider their (or others') offers, at least do as much research on them as you would in looking for a new house, car or doctor before buying anything. Also, be sure to read and understand any company's Privacy Policies and Terms/Conditions, too.

 

by Bill Sanders © June 11, 2006 - email:  
(If you will allow me to publish your name on my Responses page (see below), please say so in your correspondence.)

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