New Tell-All Book Offers Detailed Account of the Rise and Fall of the Controversial Metabolife Supplement Empire
The Metabolife Story represents former CEO Michael Ellis' detailed account of the rise and eventual fall of Metabolife. The book details the company's tremendous business success, while also exploring the unfounded accusations surrounding the safety of ephedrine as an herbal supplement.

SAN DIEGO, CA, February 10, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- "The Metabolife Story: The Rape of Cinderella" (www.themjellisgroup.com) represents author and former CEO Michael Ellis' detailed account of the rise and eventual fall of Metabolife, one of the most successful, yet unfairly characterized dietary supplement companies in history. This book finally reveals the entire story of what became of one of the greatest business success stories of our time. It also explores in detail the unfounded accusations surrounding the safety of ephedrine as an herbal supplement.

The timing of this controversial book's launch coincides with the release from prison of Ellis. After numerous years of investigation, including allegations of $93 million in tax evasion, Mike Ellis was convicted last June of supplying misleading information to a government agency. Ellis details why despite millions of dollars, and years of investigation, the government was forced to create a charge, just to save face in the absence of any real criminal activity.

Now free from government scrutiny, Ellis is finally able to "set the record straight." This "tell all" story follows Metabolife from its humble beginnings, focusing on its struggles and successes in the face of tremendous opposition. The book details the sudden rise in popularity of the weight loss product known as Metabolife 356. The supplement was discovered by accident when Ellis was trying to find an all-natural way to give his cancer-stricken father a more comfortable way of life in his remaining years. His father convinced him to make the product available to the public. It was then discovered that in addition to its ability to significantly boost energy, it also accelerated the metabolism, resulting in the loss of weight. The general public hungry for a simple, yet safe solution to weight loss, ate the product up. Within a year, Metabolife was generating over a billion dollars in sales.

After much public scrutiny, but little scientific evidence, Metabolife 356's active ingredient, the natural occurring ephedra, was banned from the market; only however if produced and marketed by an herbal supplement company. It still remains possible for consumers to purchase products containing this supposedly dangerous substance, but only as offered in products produced by pharmaceutical companies. Interestingly enough, the amount of ephedra and the use of another active ingredient, caffeine, in these FDA approved pharmaceutical products far exceed the levels the FDA deemed as "unsafe" in Metabolife. The book provides scientific and legal evidence to support the theory that Metabolife was destroyed at the hands of a conspiracy. This evidence paints an unflattering picture of the FDA and its relationship to American pharmaceutical companies.

The Metabolife Story: The Rape of Cinderella was written to give the American public, not only the opportunity to read all of the facts, but more importantly to stand up to the institutions created to protect their interests. These organizations are in fact prohibiting their constitutional rights when it comes to their health and the products they can legally put into their own body, in essence the right to freedom of choice. The book also provides observations on the truth and fiction behind both eastern and western medicinal practices, and the lengths government agencies will go to keep the American public from the truth. This is the true account of three business partners who found more success than they ever dreamed possible. But at its heart is a cautionary tale of how success of this magnitude can often come at a steep price.

Press Release Contact Information:

Robert Bailey
Rob Bailey Communications
President
310 Route 17 South
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey
United States 07458
Voice: 201-760-0200