Whole Story

The Official Whole Foods Market® Blog

Orgain

By Carly Price, August 10, 2012  |  Meet the Blogger  |  More Posts by Carly Price

We love our producers, suppliers and vendors and we think most of them have some pretty interesting stories behind their products too. We’re sharing some of our favorites here in an ongoing series.

In 1999, a devastating diagnosis led Andrew Abraham to become a physician and create the world’s first organic ready-to-drink nutrition shake.

During his senior year of high school, Andrew was faced with a rare cancer that required aggressive chemotherapy. During treatment, he relied on liquid nutrition and was appalled to find the only ready-to-drink options were made with specific ingredients that many physicians consider a “no-no” for cancer patients, including high-fructose corn syrup and artificial preservatives, sweeteners, flavors and colors.

“After an exhaustive search, I couldn’t find anything better, so I started blending my own organic shakes at home,” Andrew explains.

During the next decade, Andrew survived cancer, finished medical school, earned an MBA and became a family physician, yet little changed in the world of ready-to-drink shakes.

So Andrew decided it was time to develop Orgain.

After tireless hours of experimentation, 55 formulations and five blenders, he perfected a smooth, great-tasting blend of organic whey, organic brown rice and organic fruits and veggies and bottled it for grab-and-go convenience.

 

 

“We hear one resounding word all the time: Finally!” Andrew says. “People are so happy to find our product.”

Orgain was developed with a complete nutrition profile suitable for almost anyone, and it’s become the go-to drink for many athletes and physicians. It also continues to play a vital role in the lives of people with illnesses that affect appetite. Through organizations like Feeding America, the company donates thousands of cases of Orgain every year to cancer patients with financial hardships.

Do you have an Orgain story? Tell us about it!

 

Category: Supplier Stories

 

62 Comments

Comments

Nikki - Community Moderator says ...
@LAURA - I would encourage you to check directly with Orgain to find your answer. I did not see that the products were listed as lactose-free. You can find their contact info online at http://www.drinkorgain.com/.
01/29/2013 1:31:02 PM CST
Ethan Davis says ...
Was so so so happy when i found this a couple years back. I've always been into healthy eating, but just recently i have been able to buy more groceries for myself, so i have been buying more Orgain! And for the last year I've been working out a lot. Now, i love it even more (and i didn't think that was possible). I use it for breakfast, post workout, and a snack when I can't find anything that will suffice. I recommend it to everyone I know! It's completely perfect other than one rather important aspect...I really wish it was more affordable, because then I know alot more people (including myself) would buy it much more frequently.
02/10/2013 8:18:19 PM CST
Deb says ...
After losing my husband and mother-in-law to cancer in the same year, I was not eating properly - either not eating at all or eating comfort food. I was feeling the effects of that and a colleague told me about Orgain. I now drink it for breakfast every day, eat a decent lunch and sometimes drink another Orgain for dinner. I realize now that I was not getting the level of protein that my body needed and I can feel confident now that I am. I feel so much better and buy Orgain 6 to 10 cases at a time whereever I find it on sale.
03/10/2013 12:31:44 PM CDT
Herve Gregoire says ...
I like Orgain especially the chocolate flavor because it organically combines Whey and brown rice ( two high quality protein sources), real chocolate, plus fruits and veggies. Add a spoon full of flax seed oil and it would be perfect. They should make a version with flax oil for omega 3 fatty acids. I would drink it all day if i could afford to, tastes great.
03/12/2013 2:55:48 AM CDT
Michelle Ofak says ...
Do you carry Orgain Kids yet in Marlton NJ store
03/22/2013 8:19:32 PM CDT
Nikki - Community Moderator says ...
@MICHELLE - I called and spoke to the Grocery team at the Marlton store. They currently carry the 4pks of the Orgain drinks but they do not have the kids version yet. Definitely let them know you are interested next time you are in the store and they can check to see if they are available for ordering yet!
03/26/2013 1:59:33 PM CDT
Janet says ...
I am never hungry for breakfast in the morning... I used to just drink coffee and not eat for hours. Now that I am in my forties, just coffee was making my stomach feel a bit queasy. Since discovering Orgain, I still drink my coffee, but when I get to work, I drink an Orgain. It soothes my stomach without making me too full. It's the best--so tasty it's hard to believe it's really good for me.
04/08/2013 9:57:50 AM CDT
Victoria Sharp Kaufman says ...
Your product was the absolute best after my jaw surgery in Dec. 2012. I could not eat or talk--just on liquids for 2 months! Drinking Orgain allowed me to continue my school studies and start a spring internship. Now 4 months out, although I can eat and talk again, I could not give up Orgain so I have have included an 11oz Orgain into my daily diet at tea time when I need the energy boost the most. When Dr. Abraham solved his problem, he solved others as well. Thank you.
04/09/2013 7:48:45 AM CDT
richard says ...
What is the difference between Orgain organic nutritional shake and Orgain meal replacement shake??????I am confused about this.
04/27/2013 3:29:28 PM CDT
Nikki - Community Moderator says ...
@RICHARD - I looked on their website and did not see a difference in shake options. I was only able to find the organic nutritional shake for adults and a kids version. For specific answers you can reach out to Orgain at http://www.drinkorgain.com/ and I'm sure they will be happy to clarify this for you!
04/29/2013 3:57:37 PM CDT
Jordan says ...
Hi- i was wondering if this product is offered at all locations. I am near the Sandy Springs and Buckhead locdations in Atlanta, GA. Please let me know if they would carry them. Thank you in advance, Jordan
05/06/2013 2:48:20 PM CDT
Kelly Wittmers says ...
I am in tears that I have finally found what I'm looking for! My under 2-year-old daughter has Cystic Fibrosis, and the greatest indicator of lung function over her lifetime is her weight to height ratio in her first five years. Hers is suffering right now, but she is in otherwise good health. The doctors have recommended Ensure-like products, but I have told them I will not give them to her because of their horrible ingredients. I am beyond thrilled to find this product! Patients with CF need 2/3 more calories than the rest of us, so that means over 1700 cal/day for my daughter and between 5000-6000 for an adult with CF because of the body's inability to process nutrients properly. I am going to order some Orgain right now! Thank you, Andrew Abraham and Whole Foods Market!!!
05/13/2013 6:05:24 PM CDT

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