Our Company

1991

Craig Keeland, the Founder & C.E.O. of VíaVienté asked a simple question, “Can you slow down the aging process to live a longer younger life?” He put together a "Who's Who" of researchers to explore this simple question. After many months they had assembled papers and articles from around the world on the subject of aging and found that there were experts in this field who believed you definitely could slow down the aging process.

One name kept popping up in many articles—a scientist by the name of Dr. Richard Cutler. His specialized field of study was antioxidants and the role they play in extending life. Craig visited him in Baltimore, MD at The National Institute on Aging and they struck up an instant bond, with a common goal to develop a product to slow down aging and help one live a younger, longer life.

Through Craig’s research, he discovered one of the secrets to energy was the absorption of minerals into one’s system. Another name that popped up repeatedly as an expert in this field was Dr. Mark Pedersen. Dr. Pedersen had recently joined with Dr. Harvey Ashmead, the founder of Albion Labs, who also possessed over 50 patents on chelated minerals (a process of binding amino acids to minerals to increase absorption). Dr. Ashmead had admired Dr. Pedersen’s work in the field of nutrition for many years. Dr. Pedersen had been at Nature’s Sunshine for ten years as their lead product formulator. He was one of a handful of scientists who understood how to combine vitamins, minerals, and herbs to get a synergistic effect (1 + 1 + 1 = 5).

1992

Craig assembled an elite group of doctors who had world-renowned credentials in extending youthfulness and who were interested in joining Craig's quest to help the world“live and look younger longer.” The subsequent discoveries, along with Dr. Cutler’s antioxidant research, Dr. Pedersen’s knowledge of herbs and vitamins, Dr. Ashmead’s expertise in mineral absorption, and now Dr. Walker’s “secret,” came together to make possible the process of slowing down aging while living younger longer. The true “Dream Team” was in place!

1993

Craig knew that the “Dream Team” of Dr. Pedersen, Dr. Cutler, Dr. Ashmead, and Dr. Walker could formulate and produce a product that would energize the body, slow down the aging process, and allow you to feel younger longer. This product would accomplish Craig’s dream to develop a “fountain of youth” drink. What Ponce de Leon had attempted and failed now was attempted and achieved. Craig gave the “Dream Team” the following directives:

Create a liquid that was good tasting
Use the “secret” from Vilcabamba (unique profile of minerals that allows higher absorption)
Incorporate the highest levels of antioxidants (using the fruits throughout the world that are richest in their antioxidant values)
Use herbs that boost the power and value of the formula
Manufacture it in a pharmaceutical laboratory to obtain the highest degree of potency and cleanliness possible.

Craig was also invited to Dr. Linus Pauling’s home in Big Sur, California. Craig had always admired his discoveries of the benefits abounding in Vitamin C and the fact that he is the only winner of two Nobel Prizes (unshared). Dr. Pauling was at the very end of his life, but immediately bonded with Craig and his dream, because he too shared Craig’s dream. He told Craig to count him in on the team, which Craig did. Six months later Dr. Pauling passed away at age 92. (Interesting note, Craig Keeland was one of the last people ever to visit with Dr. Pauling).

Dr. Pedersen, who headed up the “Dream Team,” reported that, “A liquid that tastes good is not a possibility since minerals that hold stability with the antioxidants are inherently bad-tasting!” Intitially, he felt a capsule would have to be used to cover up the bad taste.

At the time fruits were fruits - there was no testing or scale value assigned to the potency of fruits. In other words, an apple compared to another apple appeared to have the same antioxidant value. Several difierent types of products using the “secret” minerals were produced and manufactured in a pharmaceutical lab, but were only available in dry capsule form.

Craig’s dream of a product that would allow one to have more energy, live and look younger longer, with less pain, was partially achieved. But Craig would not give up! For the next 10 years, Dr. Pedersen and Dr. Cutler, along with others, pushed forward to find the perfect mix of antioxidant potency with flavor and energy.

2003

After 12 years, Dr. Pedersen, as the lead product formulator, shared with Craig a new technology that would make his dream a reality. He invented a way to have the “secret mineral mix” he needed taste good and hold its potency. Also, Dr. Cutler and several other colleagues had created a way of testing the antioxidant values in specific fruits. The O.R.A.C. Value Scale was now accepted around the world as the standard for such measurements.

While Dr. Pedersen and Craig were on a trip to Vilcabamba, they made a vital discovery. Fruits grown by the Equator on the edge of a rainforest, when tested for their antioxidant values on the O.R.A.C. Value Scale, were off the charts! Craig then developed the most effective way of acquiring the fruits by freezing them immediately after being picked. They were then put on a refrigerated ship to the U.S. and trucked to a pharmaceutical lab in the Dallas, Texas area.

It was finally true: Craig’s Dream was Reality! He summed it up best by declaring the product’s motto as “Alive with Youth.” The word he created to encapsulate his vision was “VíaVienté.”

During this twelve-year process of pursuing his dream at all costs, Craig never ever gave up. Now he is sharing it with all mankind. VíaVienté is changing lives around the world. It is sold in 21 countries and territories, and projections are that within the next 5 years, VíaVienté will be in 50 countries. This energizing, antioxidant whole food puree transcends all ages, nationalities and both genders. It is the “bridge between science & nature” for which the world has been searching.