Phytonutrients & Polyphenols: Let Food Be Thy Medicine
Phytonutrients & Polyphenols: Let Food Be Thy Medicine! Phytonutrients and Polyphenols 1. What are Phytonutrients? Phytonutrients are beneficial chemicals/compounds found in plants (including fruits, legumes, nuts, seeds, herbs, coffee/teas, and veggies). They often have benefits that promote plant health and vitality and can benefit human health and vitality in turn when consumed/used appropriately. Phytonutrients are not […]
Let’s Talk About Antioxidants!
Let’s Talk About Antioxidants! What are Antioxidants? 1. Free Radicals & Antioxidants: 1.1. What are Free Radicals? Free radicals are molecules that easily loose electrons, making them unstable, and causing them to seek out other molecules’ electrons for stability (damaging other molecules and their tissues in the process). Do you remember the kid at lunchtime […]
Let’s Talk About Smoothies
Let’s Talk About Smoothies! To Smoothie or Not to Smoothie? Glycemic Index, Weight, & Cardiometabolic Markers Myth #1: “All Smoothies are Liquid Sugar” Many commercial smoothies these days are indeed: 1) void of fiber; 2) laden with artificial sugars or sweeteners; 3) closer to milkshakes than smoothies. Read More Micronutrients and Polyphenols Although some smoothies […]
Smoothie Recipes Here!
Smoothie Recipes Here! Smoothie Recipes Sweet Buster Smoother This simple smoothies delivers 100% daily fiber needs, heaping doses of iron, manganese, magnesium, and great healthy fats that will bust cravings and keep you fueled throughout the day. My clients have 1 for breakfast or 1/2-servings as morning, afternoon, or before bedtime snacks. Show More Anti-Inflammatory […]
Let’s Talk About Flaxseed!
Let’s Talk About Flaxseed! Flaxseed is a surprisingly high source of antioxidants with a variety of health benefits. The flaxseed antioxidant lignin alpha-linolenic acid has been attributed with producing a variety of beneficial actions on the cardiovascular and reproductive systems. For example, flaxseed has shown anti-arrhythmic, anti-atherogenic, anti-hypertensive, and cholesterol-lowering actions in animal and human […]
Let’s Talk About Cocoa!
Let’s Talk About Cocoa! Cocoa contains very high amounts of polyphenols (potent anti-inflammatory antioxidants), including the flavonoids catechin, epicatechin, and procyanidin (Katz et al., 2011). A variety of research points to benefits of cocoa’s polyphenols in a variety of different health contexts. The epicatechin can up-regulate nitric oxide production (the active ingredient in Viagra) and […]
Let’s Talk About Beets!
Let’s Talk About Beets! Beets are powerhouse sources of antioxidants as well as a variety of additional vitamins, minerals, and micronutrients. Beets contain a variety of compounds that facilitate nitrogen metabolism through nitric oxide (NO) binding, nitrite reduction, and nitrate (NOD) formation (Eriksson et al., 2019). These compounds enable beets to have potent vasodilating effects […]
Let’s Talk About Cilantro!
Let’s Talk About Cilantro! Cilantro is a form of Coriandrum sativum along with coriander and Chinese parsley. Research suggests coriander offers beneficial properties, particularly related to liver health, detoxification, heavy metal detoxification, skin infections, glucose utilization, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia, as well as anxiety and pain (Abascal & Yarnell 2012). https://www.innerpath.com.au/matmed/research/Coriandrum%5EsativumACT2012185.pdf Kidon ́ […]
Let’s Talk About Purple Carrots!
Let’s Talk About Purple Carrots! Purple carrots are major sources of the antioxidants carotenoids and phenolic acid (as well as other polyphenols), with twice as much a- and b-carotene as other carrot colors. Purple carrots also contain anthocyanins (a type of flavonoid antioxidants that are more stable in purple carrots than in other sources) (Kidon […]
Let’s Talk About Bananas!
Let’s Talk About Bananas! Bananas are great natural sweeteners but they also have tons of micronutrient benefits! Generally known for their mineral electrolytes. They are great sources of potassium as well as magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, and iron. These are all critical for muscle, heart, brain, and nervous system function. Bananas are also great sources of […]
