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Lillian wrote:
Not everyone loves to eat their greens. But the benefits of green foods are too important to be ignored. For instance, we know that a diet high in vegetables lowers the risk of chronic disease and cancer.The good news is that there are many ways to get your greens these days. Many green food nutritional supplements are available, including powdered beverage mixes, tablets, capsules, and even delicious chewable green supplements!
Dark green leafy vegetables offer a spectrum of potent antioxidants that boost immunity and protect body tissues from damaging free radicals. Research also shows that less well known plant constituents are critically important for health. For example, consider the carotenoid lutein. Lutein and beta-carotene account for over 80% of the carotenoids of greens. Lutein concentrates in the macula of the eye where it helps prevent damage by oxygen free radicals. In addition, vegetables provide ingredients whose functions in the body are only now being appreciated.
Chlorophyll
Green foods are high in chlorophyll, which has varied potential health-promoting properties, including blocking carcinogens, reducing liver cancer, acting as an antioxidant, and limiting antioxidants.Clorophyll-rich foods provide multiple nutrients essential for health and they form the foundation of a healthy diet. The chlorophyll content of greens is often related to the level of beneficial carotenoids. Green food supplements may help balance a compromised diet. However, the price of green supplements varies immensely, and this should be weighed against the comparative cost, time commitment and culinary pleasure of incorporating plenty of dark green leafy vegetables into your diet.
Spirulina
Blue green algae are among the simplest photosynthetic organisms, and the most commonly used food forms are Spirulina maxima and S. platensis. While spirulina occurs in salty lakes, it is also grown commercially in outdoor reservoirs under controlled conditions.Spirulina has ten times more beta-carotene than carrots, is 60% protein (more than steak, by weight), and more iron than spinach! It appears to provide a variety of health benefits, including lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood, reduction of tumor growth, stimulation of immune defenses, and support of cardiovascular function.
Note: Aquatic organisms harvested from contaminated water may accumulate toxic heavy metals and other pollutants; we carry only reputable brands. Furthermore, blue green algae other than Spirulina may synthesize neurotoxins; therefore contamination must be monitored.Chlorella
These single-celled plants, aquatic algae, are a rich source of chlorophyll. The type found in supplements is Chorella pyrenoidosa, which contains levels of vitamins and minerals comparable to Spirulina. Chorella contains carotenoids such as zeaxanthin and beta-carotene. Carotenoids act as antioxidants and can stimulate the immune system.Barley grass, wheat grass.
Young barley and wheat grasses from sprouted grains are frequently used in juices and drink blends. In addition to chlorophyll, they contain carotenoids, vitamins such as folic acid, and minerals. Like many vegetables, these foods contain substantial levels of potassium and less sodium, thus helping the body become more alkaline and counter metabolically induced acidification. Boron and manganese are also important constituents of barley grass, and vitamin C is also well represented.Summary
To be sure of getting enough nutrients, nutritionists recommend eating a variety of minimally processed plant foods to cover all of your bases. Whole foods also enhance synergistic effects, so that one ingredient can help another for greater health benefits than is possible with either alone. However, the levels of key nutrients and phytochemicals actually present in a given food will depend on the plant source, the soil or growth conditions, as well as the methods of cultivation, harvesting, processing and storage.
Click here to learn more about green food benefits and nutritional supplements including more detailed information on chlorophyll, green food supplements, spirulina, chlorella, barley, and wheat grass.
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