How To Lower Cholesterol Naturally | Benefits Of Eating Berries

In a study on strawberries conducted the University of Oklahoma, researchers discovered that supplementing diet with dried strawberries equivalent to 3 cups of fresh strawberries over a period of eight weeks  reduced low-density lipoprotein or LDL.

In another research on blueberries that was published in the April 2010 issue of the “Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry”, it was reported that hamsters fed with blueberry extract and blueberry peels recorded lower LDL and total cholesterol levels. The researchers attribute the benefits of berries to an antioxidant known as anthocyanin.

Other studies conducted on bilberries [another fruit that has high level of anthocyanins] also show similar results insofar as lowering of LDL and increasing HDL.Further clinical trials have confirmed that consumption of anthocyanins have positive effects on blood lipid levels.  For example, a 12-week double blind clinical trial conducted at Sun Yat-Sen University on 120 patients aged 45 – 65 years with poor cholesterol profile, demonstrated that the consuming 320 mg of purified anthocyanins increased HDL by 13.7% while LDL cholesterol dropped by 13.6%. This is significant as it translates into a 27.3% reduction is coronary heart disease risk.

 

Patagonian Maqui Berry Juice, our signature product, is a blend of juices from 6 different types of berries, namely, maqui berry, strawberry, blueberry, bilberry, cranberry, elderberry. It also contains 70+ different types of ionic minerals.

Ionic minerals are nutrients activator: it makes any nutritional product more effective and works faster.

It is quite common for people to be deficient in certain minerals for years without knowing about their condition as their medical checkup does not cover this aspect. Research shows that medical conditions that are related to mineral deficiencies may take years to manifest – often as long as 5 – 20 years.

Consuming Patagonian Maqui Berry Juice provides the body a broad spectrum of nutrients and comprehensively addresses mineral deficiencies.

 

 

Research On Berries For Brain Health | Anthocyanins Power

There is a vast body of evidence that berries are beneficial to our brain and may be the most potent weapon against age-related health challenges like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson's disease.

An article by the ACS Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry during the first quarter of year 2012 says that berries are a rich source of antioxidants. These compounds prevent inflammation in the brain thereby reducing the risks of neuronal damage.

In an issue of the Journal Of Neurology, it was reported that men who consumed flavonoid-rich foods like berries, apples and fruit juice are 40% less likely to develop Parkinson’s disease.

The American Chemical Society also published an article saying that blueberries contain many phytonutrients. Some of these compounds like anthocyanins are beneficial to aging people as research shows that a control group who drank commercially available blueberry juice daily for 2 months reported improved learning and memory capacity.

Researchers at Harvard also discovered that regular consumption of berries that are packed with anthocyanins and total flavonoids are associated with slower decline in memory loss in women.

Anthocyanins in berries may work by protecting and nourishing a region of our brain known as hippocampus. Scientists found that older animals fed with blueberries maintain a high rate of new cells generation in that area of the brain and prevent memory loss in rats.

Berries that are rich in anthocyanins are maqui berries, cranberries, blueberries and bilberries.  

Maqui Berries | Best Food For Brain | Alzheimer's Care

Recently, a local newspaper quoted a headline from USA Today – “Alzheimer’s Cases Expected To Rise At A More Rapid Rate”, and published list of food that are considered best for brain health. The entire 20 items mentioned are vegetables and fruits only. This is not a surprise!

There are however two observations which are worth examining:

-  The vegetables and fruits listed does not mention berries though it has been long established that the latter has strong antioxidant capacity;
-  All items mentioned have low antioxidant or ORAC readings.

Here’s the complete list of food mentioned in the article of 20 October 2012:

[Numbers next to the food item refers to its antioxidantcapacity or index per 100 gm. The higher the number the higher the ORAC capacity]

Cherries [670]

Kiwifruit [602]

Baked beans [503]

Pink grapefruit [483]

Kidney Beans [460]

Onion [449]

White grapes [446]

Corn [402]

Eggplant [386]

Cauliflower [377]

Frozen peas [364]

Potatoes [313]

Sweet Potatoes [313]

Red Cabbage [298]

Leaf Lettuce [262]

Cantaloupe [252]

Tofu [213]

Banana [221]

Apple [218]

Carrots [207]

Food not mentioned in the said article with high antioxidants index include:

Blueberry [6,500]

Pomegranate [10,500]

Mangosteen [22,500]

Goji Berries [30,000]

Acai Berries, powder [30,000]

Maqui Berries, powder [94,500]

Benefits Of Liquid Collagen Supplements | Re-build Youth Skin Naturally

Liquid collagen products are widely available in retail stores and online as anti-aging supplements for re-building smooth youthful skin. Some commercial products apply collagen to the skin though it is a well-established fact that it does not work like that. The benefits of products that introduce foreign collagen into the body are limited due to the following reasons:

- It may not contain the complete amino acids that the body requires

- [External application] do not work as the skin does not allow collagen to penetrate

- It does not address the underlying condition of the individual [such as why the skin losses elasticity, etc.]

- Impairment of the body natural capacity to utilise the amino acids

The last 2 points above are significant. It should be noted that the body produces its own collagen naturally. Our body’s capacity to synthesize collagen decreases by 1.5% after the age of 25. By the age of 50, we may lose as much as 30% [or more] of that ability.

Other than the effects of aging, other factors that may accelerate the decline in collagen production include,

- Smoking
- Pollution
- High level of stress
- Infection
- Drinking alcohol
- Medication

With impairment of body capacity to regenerate damaged connective tissues, the skin loses its youthful glow.

The obvious signs are sagging, wrinkles, thinning and change in skin pigmentation.

The following 3-prong strategy is recommend for re-building glowing youthful skin,

-       Boost the body’s natural capacity to synthesize collagen
-       Shield accelerated collagen damage due to environmental factors with antioxidants like anthocyanins
-       Consume a wide variety of food [best food that support collagen synthesis are fish, nuts, soymilk, berries, dark green vegetables].

PURPLE VITALITY LIQUID - THE NEW MAQUI BERRY JUICE PLUS

Repairs DNA, enhance collagen production and protects cells from oxidative stress

 

Research On Resveratrol Benefits – USA Health News 2012

The news release of 2 February 2012 by National Institutes of Health, USA, disclosed that researchers have discovered that resveratrol confer its benefits by inhibiting certain types of proteins that regulate cell energy.  

According to the publication, the findings conclude the debates on the benefits of resveratrol, and paves way for pharmaceutical companies to create drugs that mimic this naturally occurring chemical that is found in certain plants for combating diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer’s and heart disease.

In a year 2008 research publication by “Nutrition Research”, it is reported Resveratrol decrease LDL cholesterol, inhibit the clumping of platelets that causes blood clots, and prevent fat deposits from forming on the wall of the arteries. The nutrient also relaxes blood vessels and promotes maintenance of optimal rhythm of the heart beats.

In a study published in March 2011 by a research team from The University of Queensland, Australia, the authors indicated that Resveratrol improved blood pressure, heart function and inflammation.

Natural Antioxidant Supplements – Cell Health

Natural antioxidants promote health from basic cellular level, and are being widely consumed as supplements by millions of people around the world for supporting general health, for improving mental alertness, for balancing immune systems, for combating allergies and as agents for anti-aging.

All fruits and vegetables are known to have certain amount of antioxidants. Among all, berries have been known as super food as these have strong health promoting properties. In recent years, the Acai and Maqui has overtaken Blueberries as the new superberries.

According to a 2007 report by USDA ORAC, the Maqui has the highest antioxidant rating – an ORAC value of 27,600 for every 100 gms – and significantly higher than any other fruits including the Acai and Mangosteens.

Dr Juan Hanke, a scientist attached with the University Of Chile did research on Maqui with a US$ 5 million grant from the World Health Organisation. His research shows that this South American berry from the Patagonian region contains a wide range of compounds like anthocyanins, flavanoids, delphinidin, cumarins, triterpenes, malvidin, petunidin and cyanidin. The fruit is also rich in potassium, calcium, iron, vitamin C and vitamin A.

As Maqui has strong anti-inflammatory, anti-bacteria and anti-viral properties, and has the capacity to increase insulin levels, it is beneficial for a broad spectrum of health issues including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Smokers, people under high stress, and those who are constantly exposed to adverse environmental factors like pollution and radiation will find the berry useful as protection against cellular damage.

What Is Orange Juice Good For | Antioxidants For Heart Health

Orange contains more than 170 different types of phytochemicals and 60 flavonoids that have pharmaceutical properties and therefore good for health. One of the flavonoids found in orange juice, that is also found abundantly in citrus fruits, is hesperidin.

Hesperidin is an antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory properties. Various studies have shown that hesperidin is good for cholesterol and blood pressure in rats. According to a study at the Cleveland Clinic of Ohio, drinking two 8-ounce glasses of orange juice a day can reduce systolic blood pressure by 7 percent and diastolic blood pressure by 4.6 percent. The improvement seems miniscule. What is not clear is, whether drinking more juice will contribute to better blood pressure readings. Obviously of concern will be the amount of glucose or sugar found in over-the-counter orange juice.

In terms of ORAC index, the standard indicator for antioxidant level, a recent study by the US department of agricultural, shows that orange is rated quite low with reading of only 726. That is about 9 times lower than blueberries. When compared with acai and maqui berries, orange is simply not impressive, with ORAC index respectively lower than these berries by 41 times and 130 times. 

About superberries and antioxidants for superior health