super nutrition

THERE’S MORE TO NUTRITION THAN WHAT’S ON THE PACKAGE

In recent years, you’ve probably noticed less emphasis on familiar nutrients such as vitamins A, C and E and more exotic sounding ones such as quercetin, lycopene, anthocyanins and polyphenols. That’s because new research is finding thousands of highly potent nutrients produced by plants - phytonutrients or “Phytos.”

There are more than 100,000 different disease-preventing phytonutrients that keep plants healthy, protect them from insects, fungus and the sun’s UV radiation. They can be found in fruits, veggies, seeds, beans, nuts, spices, tea, coffee, even cocoa. Sure, oranges are an excellent source of vitamin C, but they also contain more than 400 other phytonutrients that Mother Nature has packed into this wonderfully delicious, perfectly tart fruit. Phytos have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities; they enhance immunity, fuel your brain, repair DNA damage from exposure to toxins, and detoxify the nasties from your body. 

The effects of phytonutrients last from only a few hours to a few days, so frequent consumption is important…and this is something we can’t just take in a pill. When it comes to food, the whole is often greater than the sum of its parts because phytos work together in order to make us healthier. Last year, a large population study in Europe reported that a higher intake of plant antioxidants, polyphenols, was associated with a longer life span. Despite the health benefits of Phytos only 1 out of 10 adults meets the recommended intake of fruits and vegetables per day.

WHY DO WE NEED ANTIOXIDANTS?

Every one of us uses oxygen to convert nutrients into energy. During the process, highly reactive oxygen molecules called Free Radicals can be formed. Our bodies use some of these free radicals to destroy bacteria, detox the liver, eliminate viruses, and perform other beneficial functions.  At the same time, our body needs antioxidants to keep these free radicals in check.  Some antioxidants (endogenous) are produced by our own bodies – SOD, catalase, alpha lipoic acid, glutathione – but they require micronutrients like magnesium, iron, manganese, selenium, zinc to be built.  Other antioxidants (exogenous) come from our food like vitamins A, C and E, polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids and hundreds other natural compounds.

Excessive free radicals can create Oxidative Stress, an imbalance between the destructive force of free radicals and the antioxidants that keep them in check.  High levels of free radicals are toxic to cells and damage your tissues, causing chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease, digestive disorders, immune system malfunctions, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, premature aging, cancers.  Oxidative stress can cause the immune system to go into overdrive – a state of perpetual chronic inflammation – which produces even more free radicals.

Antioxidants to the rescue!  

Our bodies may not make all of the antioxidants we need to keep free radicals in check, so food-based antioxidants stabilize and deactivate free radicals before they attack healthy cells.