Nutrition and Spirulina
Spirulina is a blue-green algae which is believed to be the first form of plant life on earth, nearly 3.5 billion years old. It is the richest source of vegetable protein. It is rich in beta carotene, iron, vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, folate, vitamin K, biotin, pantothenic acid, and inositol. All this from an alga that measures approximately .0196850394 inches in length. Because of its digestibility and amino acid balance, the usable protein in Spirulina is around 90%. In comparison, an 8 ounce steak is about 22% protein only 15% of which is usable by the body, while Spirulina is 70% protein and 90% digestible. For vegetarians, soybeans in the form of tofu or soy flour are often cited as a high protein source with 37% protein and 25% digestible. That is three times better than steak, but only 1/7th as good as spirulina. In addition, most of spirulina’s proteins are already in the proper form that the body itself creates so there is little energy lost in digestion. Next to water, protein is the most abundant compound in your body, and dietary protein is essential for the maintenance and rebuilding of new cells.
- Many nutrients which protect our bodies are densely concentrated in Spirulina, making it a powerful defense against oxidant stress. This remarkable plant has some of the most powerful protective nutrients of any food to help you stay young.
- Spirulina beta carotene is ten times more concentrated than carrots. So even if you don’t eat the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables every day, you can get your natural beta carotene insurance from spirulina to support your body’s antioxidant defenses.
- Spirulina is a very good source of zeaxanthin, which is especially good for the eyes.
- Iron is essential to build a strong system (but the most common mineral deficiency). Spirulina is a rich source of iron.
- Spirulina is the world’s richest natural source of protein, iron, vitamins, and minerals. It is the ideal food supplement for weight loss diet.
- It is the world’s richest natural source of Pro-Vitamin A, which helps protect your eyesight.
- Only vegetable source of vitamin B12 to help calm your nerves and fight stress.
- It is the world’s richest natural source of GLA, which reduces cholesterol and benefits the heart.
- Spirulina is the most prolific source of biliproteins (building blocks of the body) known.
- Spirulina gives as much calcium as milk, 15 times more vitamin A than carrots, 3 times the iron of sirloin steak, 2.5 times the vitamin B-12 of calves’ liver, 3.7 times more potassium than rice.
- The 18 amino acids provided by spirulina are in near perfect ratios.
Nutrition and Acai
This exotic berry from the Amazon has been named one of the most powerful foods in the world. Acai (pronounced ah-sigh-ee) contains a remarkable concentration of antioxidants, amino acids, and essential fatty acids. Acai tastes like a vibrant blend of berries and chocolate. It is a good source of vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein, Omega-3, Omega 6, and Omega 9 fatty acids. It is also rich in copper, potassium, and unusually high in manganese. It truly is a super food.
- It’s considered one of nature’s best offerings to combat premature aging thanks to its high monounsaturated oleic acid content.
- This berry has ten times more antioxidants than red grapes, twice that of blueberries, and 10 to 30 times the anthocyanins of red wine.
- A synergy of monounsaturated fats, dietary fiber, and phytosterols to help promote cardiovascular and digestive health.
- An almost perfect essential amino acid complex in conjunction with valuable trace minerals, vital to proper muscle contraction and regeneration.
- The acai berry is very rich in healthy omega fats. Nearly 50% of the Acai berry is fat – with 74% of the fat coming from healthy unsaturated fats such as Omega 3, Omega 6, and Omega 9.
- Amino acids are the building blocks of protein and nineteen different amino acids have been identified in acai.
- Three plant sterols (photosterols) have been identified in acai, which have been shown to have numerous health benefits for maintaining healthy heart and digestive function.
- Vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C and E are all present in acai, along with potassium, calcium, magnesium, copper and zinc.
- The fiber in acai is beneficial to the body in so many ways. It can help in weight loss efforts, lower cholesterol, lower glucose levels, reduce the possibility of colorectal cancer, prevent hemorrhoids, and help maintain a healthy digestive system.
- Acai contains the highest concentration of antioxidants as compared to other foods. Using a reliable measurement for evaluating the antioxidant content of certain foods, the acai berry measures 610, while the next are Cranberry and Blueberry measuring 94 and 92.
Nutrition and Walnut
Adding walnuts to your diet can be an important step in improving your cardiovascular health. The main claim to fame for this delicious nut is their omega-3 fatty acids, which help fight heart disease. Eating a handful of walnuts about five times a week will reduce your chances of getting a heart attack between fifteen and fifty percent. It makes sense that nuts and seeds are rich sources of a wide variety of nutrients, because they are, after all, nature’s nurseries. A nut or seed is basically a storage device that contains all the highly concentrated proteins, calories, and nutrients that a plant embryo will require to flourish. The walnut’s concentration of omega-3s has many potential health benefits ranging from cardiovascular protection, to the promotion of better cognitive function, to anti-inflammatory benefits helpful in asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis. In addition, walnuts contain an antioxidant compound called ellagic acid that supports the immune system and appears to have several anticancer properties.
- Walnuts are the flagship nut in the SuperFood category, and they are just plain delicious.
- Walnuts contain lots of antioxidants, and plant sterols, which lower cholesterol.
- Besides the reduction of coronary heart disease, walnuts also reduce the risk of diabetes, cancer, and a host of other chronic ailments.
- They are one of the few rich sources of plant-derived omega-3 fatty acids along with canola oil, ground flaxseed and flaxseed oil, soybeans and soybean oil, wheat germ, spinach, and purslane.
- Omega-3s benefit the cardiovascular system by helping to prevent erratic heart rhythms, making blood less likely to clot inside arteries, and improving the ratio of good cholesterol to potentially harmful cholesterol.
- Alpha linolenic acid, the omega-3 fat found in walnuts, promotes bone health.
- And all this is important because more than 95% of the US population is lacking a daily amount of Omega-3 fats.
- Walnuts are a good source of fiber, protein, magnesium, copper, folate, and vitamin E. They are the nut with the highest overall antioxidant activity, including at least 16 antioxidant phenols, vitamin E, and gallic acid.
- Their flesh consists mainly of a blend of vegetable fats(60%), a very respectable amount of protein (24%), and carbohydrates (10%).
- What’s great about walnuts is that medical studies have shown them to promote weight loss (even with a high caloric content).
- Melatonin, which is involved in inducing and regulating sleep and is also a powerful antioxidant present in walnuts.
- Walnuts also contain an antioxidant compound called ellagic acid, which blocks the metabolic pathways that can lead to cancer. Ellagic acid not only helps protect healthy cells from free radical damage, but also helps detoxify potential cancer-causing substances and helps prevent cancer cells from replicating.
- 5-10 Walnuts a day is all it takes to regain a big slice of your health back.
previous – Nutrition and Blueberry
Nutrition and Blueberry
Blueberries are an excellent source of vitamin A, C, E, K, and beta-carotene, as well as being rich in the minerals potassium, manganese, magnesium. They are also packed with antioxidants and phytoflavinoids which help protect the body against the damaging effects of free radicals and chronic diseases associated with the aging process. Not only can they lower your risk of heart disease and cancer, they are also anti-inflammatory (inflammation being a key driver of all chronic diseases). So you can see that blueberries have a host of benefits, all of which puts them in the category of Superfood.
- Researchers have shown that blueberries are one of the fruits with the highest antioxidant activity, and the capacity to destroy free radicals.
- They also contain anthocyanins and phenolics that can act as antioxidants.
- Blueberries are also high in potassium and vitamin C, making them the top choice of doctors and nutritionists.
- When selecting blueberries, the darker they are, the more antioxidants they have, and frozen are just as good as fresh.
- Blueberries help with short-term memory loss associated with aging.
- They can help improve vision.
- Blueberries have compounds called proanthocyanidins that promote urinary tract health and reduce the risk of infection by preventing bacteria from adhering to the cells that line the walls of the urinary tract.
- These berries are very low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium.
- Blueberries include a flavonoid called kaempferol, and one study revealed that women whose diets provided the most kaempferol had a 40% reduction in risk of ovarian cancer.
- They improve memory and work to defend the brain from aging.
- They are also a good source of dietary fiber. A diet high in fiber contributes to heart health, helping to keep cholesterol in check, aids in digestions, and helps maintain regularity.
- Manganese, which is found in this berry, plays an important role in the development of bones and in the metabolism of protein.
