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 […]
Let’s Talk About Pumpkin!
Let’s Talk About Pumpkin! Pumpkin is a rich source of dietary antioxidant vitamins (e.g., Vitamins A, E, and C), carotenoids (e.g., B-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin), and phenolic compounds (e.g., caffein acid, gallic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, protocatechuic acid, and rutin). It is also a great source of dietary fiber, minerals, and unsaturated fatty acids. Because of […]
Let’s Talk About Blueberries!
Let’s Talk About Blueberries! Blueberries are rich sources of a variety of beneficial antioxidants, including flavonoids (mainly anthocyanidins), polyphenols (procyanidin), phenolic acids, pyruvic acid, chlorogenic acid, and many others (Ma et al., 2018). Through these antioxidants (especially polyphenols, anthocyanins, and carotenoids), blueberries have preventative/protective and reductive effects against cancer, obesity, inflammation, aging, degenerative diseases, cognitive […]
Let’s Talk About Dark Leafy Green Vegetables
Let’s Talk About Dark Leafy Greens! Dark leafy greens contain a variety of beneficial antioxidants and micronutrients with a large variety of metabolic, weight/anti-obesity, cardiovascular, arterial, gastrointestinal, dermal (skin), anti-inflammatory, nervous, cognitive, and mood/emotional benefits (Guerrera et al., 2009; Alkhatib et al., 2017; Zurbau et al., 2020; Persia et al., 2022; Erlinger et al., 2001; […]
Smoothies & The Gut Microbiome
Smoothies and the Gut Microbiome The University of Minnesota recently conducted an interesting study in which 34 subjects provided detailed dietary records of all food and beverages consumed daily for 17 days and daily fecal samples used for microbiome sampling (also for 17 days)(Johnson et al., 2019). The researchers correlated daily microbiome samplings with personalized […]
Brenna’s Low-GI Antioxidant Smoothie
Brenna’s Low Glycemic Load Antioxidant Smoothie This smoothie is based on Kidon ́ et al’s 2022 findings that fruit/veggie-based smoothies that blend raw bananas, pumpkins, purple carrots, lemon juice, and water provide excellent sources of antioxidants including total polyphenols, carotenoids, anthocyanins, and vitamin C that have a variety of potent health benefits, ranging from anti-diabetic […]
