BrocStar (SmarterNaturally) Reviews 

155
TrustScore 4.5 out of 5

4.6

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Reliable service and respond to emails quickly. Good product and hoping it does as it says on the label. Blood results on Cholesterol improved since taking this but also been mindful of better diet.... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Very good timekeeping - just as I'm about to run out, like magic, the next box arrives! Broccoli soup '+' is tasty and of course, easy to make up. My only negative would be that the new box packaging... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

This product is a must for any man dealing with prostate issues. You need to incorporate this into your diet. The research is there to prove that the contents of this product will help. I am certain i... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I ate badly and I had an HbA1c of 46. Doctor said "you're about to be clinically diabetic" That was October 2022. I started these soups in January 2023. By October 23 my HbA1c was 41 and a year on in... See more

Company details

  1. Health Food Store
  2. Food Products Supplier
  3. Research and Product Development
  4. Vitamin and Supplements Store

Written by the company

BrocStar (formerly SmarterNaturally) creates consumer-friendly food products using its unique BrocStar GRextra broccoli, which naturally provides a much higher amount of active nutrient Sulforaphane than standard varieties of broccoli. Sulforaphane is one of the key health-boosting compounds that gives broccoli its 'superfood' status. Once in our gut, the high levels of glucoraphanin in the BrocStar broccoli is converted into Sulforaphane, which turns on anti-oxidant genes in our cells. This can help maintain a healthier metabolism – particularly as we age. A healthier, younger metabolism is linked to all kinds of health benefits, including, reduced and more stable blood sugar levels, lower blood pressure, protection against heart disease, reduced risk of some forms of cancer and neurodegenerative disease, and even supporting weight loss, muscle gain and boosted sporting performance. It for all those reasons that we're we're so excited to be creating functional foods backed by more than 20 years of high-quality science that are convenient, affordable, tasty and could make a really significant contribution to improving the health and quality of life of people across the UK. Our first product, is BrocStar SmarterNaturally SuperSoup: research suggests eating just one bowl a week can meaningfully contribute to a range of health benefits and contribute to a reduced risk of a range of chronic health conditions. We're also working hard to create new products so people can work our health-boosting compounds into their diet in the ways that work best for them. We also sell a re-sealable pouch of our broccoli powder that you can add to your food and drinks as you wish, at the point of consumption.


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4.6

Excellent

TrustScore 4.5 out of 5

155 reviews

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4.6

All reviews

(155)

28 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Not what it claims to be

Took this soup and felt awful not long after. I decided that it could have been something I took before drinking the soup. Continued for a few more weeks but still felt awful. I checked the ingredients and found that the oil is seed oil (sunflower oil) which is harmful to one's health. The products used are not organic but are highly processed. Emailed them but was told that they are in the process of changing the oil used. I have not heard from them since. Like the others, I have cancelled my subscription. I will go back to sprouting broccoli sprouts which are high in sulphanine or take NAD.

January 13, 2024
Unprompted review
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Reply from BrocStar (SmarterNaturally)

Hi - I'm sorry to hear you found our soup didn't agree with you. There is indeed a very small amount of sunflower oil in our soup, but this wouldn't normally be noticeable so I am sorry you feel it has affected you.

The soup is very rich in dietary fibre, which is great for our gut health but can sometimes make one's stomach feel a bit strange if it's a lot more fibre than you normally get in your diet. So it is also possible that the high fibre content may be a contributing factor to any symptoms you experienced.

We're sorry to see you go, and I hope we can welcome you back as a customer in the future once we launch our new pure broccoli powder product, which we are planning to not contain any oils at all.

All the best,
Aran

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Good soup, great service

I've been enjoying this soup since I saw it featured in a Guardian article in 2023. I don't know whether it's made any significant difference to my health (I don't have blood results for example) but it's a good way for me to eat more vegetables! I find the soup very tasty, needing little adjustment - just a crack of black pepper on top. Customer service is excellent, helpfully changing renewal dates and text message reminders to meet my needs. I can't fault them. Thank you!

January 29, 2024
Unprompted review
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Reply from BrocStar (SmarterNaturally)

Hi Addie - thanks so much for this review, and really glad you're enjoying our soup! We've got some exciting new vegetable-packed new ideas coming soon, so stay tuned....

All the best,
Aran

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

A recent convert, would recommend giving a go

As a new user I am finding the soup and the accompanying recipes delightful, the pesto pasta being a particular favourite.

Looking forward to experiencing some of the associated health benefits.

January 24, 2024
Unprompted review
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Reply from BrocStar (SmarterNaturally)

Hi Chris - really glad you're enjoying our recipes. The pesto pasta is indeed a firm favourite amongst our staff too!

All the best,
Aran

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Delicious soup which leaves it to those…

Delicious soup which leaves it to those who want to enhance it in myriad ways. Bone broth in place of water? Poached salmon added? I always look forward to the different things I could do with it each week.
And is has helped to bring down my Diabetes2 level.

January 18, 2024
Unprompted review
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Reply from BrocStar (SmarterNaturally)

Hi May, really glad to hear your enjoying our soup and it's helped to bring down your blood sugar levels. We'd love to learn more about how it's helped you - if you're happy to chat to us, just drop us a line at hello@smarternaturally.com!

All the best,
Aran

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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Not suitable for diabetics

Contains Maltodextrin, Sugar and Dried Glucose Syrup. This cannot be claimed to be suitable for diabetics! Apart from Broccoli, the majority of the ingredients are ultra-processed food additives. Broccoli is the sole beneficial ingredient, the rest do nothing for diabetes. Eat Broccoli…not this soup…
Having received a reply to my review, Smarternaturally claim to have revised their recipe to take account of my concerns…yet I can find no information on their website as to what the new ingredients are. Only the claim that we all need small amounts of sugar in our diet. There is plenty of sugar in fruits and vegetables to satisfy our needs, we, especially diabetics, do not need additional sugar, especially when it is of the refined and therefore rapidly absorbed variety. What are the ingredients in your “new” formula and why don’t you declare this on your website?

January 11, 2024
Unprompted review
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Reply from BrocStar (SmarterNaturally)

Hi Nick,

Thanks for your review. It seems like you have received and reviewed the older formulation of our soup, which did indeed contain a small amount of these ingredients.

In the quantities Maltodextrin and glucose syrup (no added sugar) this didn’t present a problem with the benefits the soup could provide and we have many customer case studies to demonstrate this. However, it is good to avoid these ingredients so in response to testing a customer feedback, we have since removed these ingredients from our soup recipe and worked hard to keep our label as clean as possible from any processed ingredients. Our soup now has a much less processed ingredients list.

You mentioned in your updated review that you struggled to find the new ingredients list on our website - it is listed on our product page under the nutritional information header, but I will include it here too for ease:

Ingredients: GRextra broccoli (50%), Chicory root fibre, potato starch, natural flavourings, sunflower oil, onion powder, yeast extract, salt, peas, ground black pepper.

Our GRextra broccoli has been developed over decades using traditional breeding methods and its development has been publicly funded. Whilst eating standard broccoli is always a healthy option, cooking can destroy the bio-activity of it and standard varieties only contain a very small amount of the key compound. GRextra reliably delivers a really high quantity in every portion of soup.

If you would like to exchange your boxes of our old formulation of soup for the new recipe that doesn't include these ingredients, I'd be happy to arrange that for you. Just drop us an email at hello@smarternaturally.com and I'll make sure that gets arranged for you.

Best Wishes,
Laura

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Healthy lunch once a week

Delivery always on time ! Now the soup it’s is exactly as description but I would recommend adding either Parmesan cheese or chilli flakes to make it easier to eat as it is very bland it does take getting used to but the health benefits out way the fact one lunch a week is a little dull !

January 9, 2024
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

SmarterNaturally

I have been a customer of this company for the last year. I have on a couple of occasions had a question to ask regarding the excellent product. My query was dealt with very quickly and efficiently and very much to my satisfaction. I shall continue to be a customer purchasing SmarterNaturally soup with full confidence in the product and the SmarterNaturally Company. A great product with great health benefits.

January 4, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

This soup is a real asset.

Their broccoli soup is a real asset in managing my type 2 diabetes. It provides a simple, tasty meal which is nutritious and low carb in seconds. Just add water!

Lunch is often a struggle to find a grab and go option that is healthy and low fat, low carb. This hits the spot. The taste and texture is fine. I add a little salt and an occasional grating of cheese but other than that I have it as is once a week every week. I prefer it not too hot too - fuller flavour.

Great job! Company are easy to order from and deliver on time every month hassle free.

January 2, 2024
Unprompted review
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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Good product

Good product. Delighted team resolved one issue that came up.

December 11, 2023
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Reply from BrocStar (SmarterNaturally)

Hi Krzysztof - we're sorry to hear your emails have gone unanswered. We work hard to reply to all customer emails in a timely manner, so it's disappointing to hear yours must have slipped through our systems.

We have recently switched over from a previous batch of our product to a newly manufactured batch. We timed this switchover to try and ensure that customers had plenty of time to use up any soup ordered before the best before date printed on the box, but apologies if this did not give you enough time.

Our product has a long shelf life, so if you'd like to exchange the boxes you are worried about wasting with newer ones with a later best before date, this is something we can arrange. Please email us at hello@smarternaturally.com and we'd be happy to help.

All the best,
Aran

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I was diagnosed as being pre-diabetic…

I was diagnosed as being pre-diabetic about two years ago and only decided to do something about it at the beginning of this year. I joined an NHS Diabetes Prevention Group then read the Guardian article about broccoli and your soup. Both together have resulted in my no longer being pre-diabetic.

December 11, 2023
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I had my first soup yesterday and was…

I had my first soup yesterday and was really surprised with the taste, It wasn't too runny or thick, just right and tasted great. Hoping that 1 a week will make me feel better as I have a touch of IBS.

December 8, 2023
Unprompted review
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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Excellent product.

I have been using SmarterNaturally since June 2022 and it has helped to lower my Hba1c to normal levels. I eat it once a week and it is very palatable and easy to make.

December 3, 2023
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Excellent customer service

Just had a glitch with my subscription being paused and contacted them. I got a reply within minutes and it was then sorted straight away so I am very pleased with the response.

November 21, 2023
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

If you are claiming your soup has…

If you are claiming your soup has health and medical effects you should not be concerned about any cost for a double blind study which is the only study you can use to prove your claim. You can sell a lot more on international level if you can prove your claim, so future profit is much larger than cost of a study.You're not straight with your customers because your claim is not holding.

November 7, 2023
Unprompted review
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Reply from BrocStar (SmarterNaturally)

Hi Faz - thanks for sharing your thoughts again after your last review. As mentioned previously, there is lots of clinical data from a wide range of trials (including some done by us and some independent studies) supporting the role glucoraphanin can play in supporting diabetics with their management of high blood sugar levels.

We are indeed committed to doing the trials you mention to add to this evidence base, but due to health claims regulations even once we have a strong supporting clinical trial, we still wouldn't be able to make any direct claims about the effects our product can have on diabetic health unless our product has been specifically reviewed and approved by the UK Health Claims Register - which is itself a slow and complex process that can't be completed until after such trials are completed.

Due to this, rather than deprive those who could benefit from our soup for the years it will take to complete these processes, we have elected to make our product available to those customers who want to try it on the basis of the already strong evidence base that exists - whilst we keep doing additional research to build that evidence base into an even stronger position.

All the best
Aran

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The honest review

The service is great and the soup tastes delicious. I hope it works well too.
It's too early to know but I do hope it reverses my diabetes.

October 23, 2023
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Glucose spike :/

Hello,
With the use of a continuous glucose monitor I realised that my glucose levels spiked severely after eating the soup. After the second time I’ve stopped using the soup and put my subscription on hold -waiting for the new formula I was told they are working on

August 16, 2023
Unprompted review
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Reply from BrocStar (SmarterNaturally)

Hi Ilonka - I'm sorry to hear you've been seeing glucose spikes on your CGM when eating our soup. The active ingredient in our soup (glucoraphanin) can support healthier blood sugar management over the long term, but obviously seeing sugar spikes in the short term is not ideal.

As you mentioned, we have already reformulated our soup to improve it - and one of the big changes we've made is making it very low-carb and low-sugar (as well as much higher in fibre!) The new formulation is almost ready, so I hope we can welcome you back once it's available (the best way to hear about that would be to sign up to our mailing list at https://smarternaturally.com/contact/sign-up-npd/

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