Growing Naturals Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ SECTION: General | Certifications, Testings, Claims | Health | Ingredients & Manufacturing | Packaging & Storage | Purchasing
SECTION: GENERAL QUESTIONS
What makes Growing Naturals products different?
As a general rule, all Growing Naturals products are allergen-free, thus they can be enjoyed by everyone, especially people with food allergies. Each product is special in its own category, featuring something different that you can't find elsewhere. With our proteins it's foremost that we have created the only rice isolate (90%). The rice milk is the first in multiple ways including being truly whole grain, a significant source of protein and powdered for increased portability and stability.
What does it mean that Growing Naturals products are Allergen-Free?
It means that the 12 million people in the U.S.A. who have food allergies can enjoy our food products, without the risk of experiencing an allergic reaction. We use as few ingredients as possible and work hard to meet the requirements for being organic, kosher, and vegan. As much as its important what goes into Growing Naturals products, it's sometimes more important what doesn't go into them, which is why the are all free of allergens including gluten, lactose, dairy, nuts, soy and corn.
How can I purchase Growing Naturals products?
You're in the right place. You can do some research and make a purchase, all right here. If you sign up as a Growing Groupie we will be able to keep you up to date on which new products are up and coming, where all our products are available and how best to enjoy them.
How many ounces of milk/protein can a 1lb. pouch produce?
Proteins
Depending on your desired thickness and taste preference, you may mix with 6 to 12 ozs of liquid per serving.
Vanilla Blast Protein- 15 servings per 1lb pouch
If you mix with 8ozs liquid per serving = 120 ounces = almost 1 gallon
If you mix with 12ozs liquid per serving = 180 ounces = 1.4 gallons
Chocolate Power Protein - 14 servings per 1lb pouch
If you mix with 8ozs liquid = 112 ounces 0.875 gallons
If you mix with 12ozs liquid = 168oz = 1.3 gallons
Original Flavor - 17 servings per 1lb pouch
If you mix with 8ozs liquid = 136 ounces = 1.06 gallons
If you mix with 12ozs liquid = 204oz = 1.59 gallons
Milk
Depending on your desired thickness and taste preference, you may mix with 6 to 12 ozs of liquid per serving.
If you mix with 8ozs of liquid per serving = 1 gallon of rice milk
If you mix with 12ozs of liquid per serving = 1.5 gallon of rice milk
What steps are taken to minimize oxidation of the fatty acids contained in the rice sprouts, which are unstable in the presence of oxygen?
We sprout our rice prior to the introduction of the bio-fermentation process. We soak the rice in water for 12-18 hours and allow the rice to sprout. After that we split the carbohydrates and the protein using and enzymatic and mechanical process which allows us to concentrate the brown rice protein to a 90% isolate. Our fat levels are below 2.5% and our free fatty acids are well below .1%. This reduces any chance of rancidity during the drying process.
Do you use any QC test for oxidation such as Anisidine and/or Totox(total oxidation) values to insure a quality product?
We don't specifically test for free fatty acids all the time; we know that during our process if the moisture and fat levels are below 2.5% we will not have any rancidity in our product. Furthermore, the sprouting affect and the actual extraction process are not related in determining the free fatty acids. If our product shows higher than normal moisture levels and higher fat levels after testing each batch, we test for free fatty acids and determine rancidity. We have already performed shelf life tests on our product and have confirmed a shelf life of at least 3 years if the product is contained in a cool dry environment.
Back to the top of the page
Country and State of origin of the rice sprouts?
Our rice sprouts are a product of the US and China. Our product is manufactured in Los Angeles, CA, USA.
What makes your product Raw?
Our process is considered raw because of its low heat fewer than 118 degrees Fahrenheit.
Where do all of the ingredients come from?
Organic Cocoa? Ciranda
Organic Stevia? Pyur, China
How is rice milk's calcium compare with the calcium in milk?
The calcium is the same quantity as whole milk, but arguably provides better absorption.
Animal protein and sodium, in particular, tend to increase calcium excretion. Dairy products increase the urinary excretion of calcium as a result of their increased sodium, sulfur-containing amino acid, and phosphorus content.
What is the amino acid profile?
SECTION: CERTIFICATIONS/TESTING/CLAIMS
Is your rice and pea protein powder non-GMO?
Absolutely yes. We should have our certification available online this year.
Does your processing of organic brown rice involve any chemicals or gases such as hexane?
No. The processing of our rice protein involves a proprietary, natural/enzymatic procedure using distilled water. There are no chemicals involved. For more detailed information please visit: http://www.growingnaturals.com/ingredients.php
What are your gluten free testing levels?
Our manufacturing facility is Certified Gluten Free, therefore tests for less than 10ppm. Each lot is tested during production and the results are sent to Growing Naturals' Quality Control Team.
What does "isolate" mean?
The primary difference between isolate and concentrate is that the isolate is more pure. Isolate contains more protein with less fat and carbs per serving. Isolates usually contain between 90-94% protein while concentrates have a protein ratio of 70-85%. Growing Naturals has the ONLY rice isolate on the market, with 90% protein.
Could you please explain what you mean when you say "96% correlation to whey protein amino acid profile?"
Our rice protein is considered to have a complete amino acid profile according to the World Health Organization (WHO). However, many consumers compare our rice protein to whey protein due to its popularity, therefore we compared the amino acid profiles. Whey protein is slightly higher is lysine and arginine, therefore the rice protein has a 96% correlation to whey.
SECTION: HEALTH
Can toddlers drink the protein drinks?
It is probably best to consult a pediatrician with regards to a toddler's consumption of our products. Although our products are organic and gluten-free we cannot determine how well it will be tolerated by a toddler due to their individual health. We suggest bringing the nutritional information to the pediatrician to have them clear the child's health before any consumption.
Why 24 grams of protein per serving?
According to a positon statement published by the ADA, DOC and ACSM the human body needs between .8 grams per kg of body weight for the sedentary person and 1.8 grams per kg for serious athletes, pregnant women, under a large amount of stress or recovering from an illness or injury. What this works out to is:
105 grams/day for the male who exercises regularly and weighs 154 lbs.
So ask yourself this question: Am I getting enough protein in my diet? Protein serves many functions.
Calculate your protein needs:
1. Weight in pounds divided by 2.2 = weight in kg
2. Weight in kg x .8-1.8 grams/kg = required intake of protein
Can I drink all my daily protein at one time?
Yes. It is OK to consume your daily protein needs at one time. However, you should consult your doctor or physician depending on your individual health.
Will the protein I drank yesterday help me the following day?
Unfortunately no. As with all daily required nutrients, we must replenish on a daily basis. By the end of the day, the protein you consume will be broken down into amino acids (AA) to be absorbed by the body. On average, about 60% of AAs are catabolized (used for energy) in the liver, 20% of AAs will be used for protein synthesis, some will be released to circulate in the blood, and even smaller amounts stored in the liver. As far as any excess protein your body doesn't need, the body will excrete the toxic parts and store the energy parts.
Back to the top of the page
SECTION: INGREDIENTS & MANUFACTURING
What is "Oryzatein™" and what organic grain brown rice syrup solid is made from?
Oryzatein is a trade name for our whole grain brown rice protein ingredient. Oryzatein is protein extracted from whole grain brown rice. The brown rice syrup solid is a spray dried version of brown rice syrup which is extracted from the whole grain brown rice.
Is your brown rice sprouted?
Yes, our organic rice grains are soaked in water and sprouted before the extraction process.
Where are your products made?
All of our products are formulated, produced, and shipped out of Southern California.
Where is your organic brown rice grown and how to do you manage the quality?
Growing Naturals takes pride in having complete control of production, from the rice seed to the finished product. We work with local farmers in China and Thailand to create dedicated Organic fields. The brown rice is then shipped to the United States where it is blended with Organic ingredients to create a finished product. The formulations (or recipes), and the production facility where the ingredients are blended together, are in Southern California. All of the ingredients are tested multiple times at the seed level through to the final product, including FDA testing, to insure quality and claims, including Non-GMO and Gluten-Free.
Other than the organic brown rice protein, is there any sort of fruit pectin that make up the product?
No. There is no fruit pectin in any of our products.
SECTION: PACKAGING & STORAGE
Is there a scoop included in the products sold in a bag?
We only have scoops in our new canister packaging, not the bags. There is no exact science to convert grams (weight or mass) to cups (volume).
In addition, powdered products often settle significantly between when they are blended, packaged and delivered. Because of this difficulty we have changed our packaging to include a pre-measured scoop to help achieve a more accurate and consistent serving size.
Can you store the rice protein in a glass jar/in sunlight?
Yes, the rice protein may be stored in a glass jar; however we would recommend keeping it out of direct sun light.
The light is not so much an issue, but the heat is. The higher the temperature the lower life expectancy the rice protein will have.
SECTION: PURCHASING
Where do you ship internationally and who do I purchase through?
At this time the available options are:
Europe
Aggressive Health Shop
http://www.aggressivehealthshop.com/products-1/supplements/growing-naturals.html
Australia
Ezy Health Food
www.ezyhealthfood.com
New Zealand
Ceres Organics
www.ceres.co.nz
We currently do not ship to other international areas but we are growing our international network quickly so check
back within 6 months to see where we go next!
What stores are you sold in?
We should have our location finder up at www.growingnaturals.com by the end of 2012. In the meantime, email us at info@growingnaturals.com and we'll help you out. While we don't have a complete list of our retailers, as there are new ones selling our product every day, we'd be happy to give you a list of the locations in our area if you put "Need retail locations" in the Subject line and make sure to include your city, state and zip code in the body of the email.
When will the unsweetened rice powder be available?
We thought our unsweetened rice milk would be available by now. However, our crystal ball has been a bit hazy. We promise to make it worth your while once it is available--hopefully within the next 6 months. Special promotions will be available at that time.
Back to the top of the page
