Wednesday, July 6, 2011

More Antioxidants!

Today I am going to finish out the Antioxidant section of the Shakeology ingredients. This list is completed with grape seed extract, green tea, Maca root, and pomegranate. So lets start with grape seed extract.

Grape Seed Extract
To obtain the grape seeds used for grape seed extract are generally obtained from wine manufacturers. Grapes and their leaves have been used since ancient Greece for medicinal purposes. Grape Seed Extract is used to treat conditions that are related to the heart and blood vessels, some include high blood pressure, high cholesterol or poor circulation. This can also be used to treat complications related to diabetes, nerve and eye damage, vision problems and swelling after an injury or surgery. Grape Seed is also used  for cancer prevention and wound healing.

Green Tea
Green Tea is produced from the Camellia sinesis plant which is the same plant that produces black and oolong teas. The difference is in the ways the tea is produced. To make the green tea the plant is steamed. The extract that is looked for in  green tea is the component EGCG, which has been used to prevent and treat a variety of cancers including breast, stomach and skin cancers. Some other uses for green tea are: improving mental alertness, aiding in weight loss, lowering cholesterol levels and protecting skin from sun damage.



Maca Root
Maca is grown in the high Andes of Peru and the fleshy root is used a vegetable and also as a medicinal herb. Maca when dried has the nutritional value of rice and wheat, which is a compostioion fo 60% carbohydrate, 10% protein, 8.5% dietary fiber and 2.2% fats.  It also has essential minerals such as selenium, calcium, magnesium and iron. Maca is reported to have beneficial effects for sexual function which could be attributed to  the high concentration of proteins and vital nutrients.
Pomegranate
Pomegranate is  a fruit that grows on trees or shrubs that are between 5 and 8 meters tall. They are native to the Himalayas in North Pakistan and Northern India. Pomegranate contain 16% of an adults daily vitamin C requirement as well as a good source of vitamin B5, potassium and polyphenols. They are high in fiber and unsaturated oils found in the seeds.  Some labratory research has found that pomegranate maybe able to reduce heart disease risk factors.


That concludes the look at the antioxidants that are found in Shakeology. I will be starting the looking at the Phytonutrients or Green Super Foods on Friday. Until then if you are interested in trying Shakeology you can visit My Shakeology site or email me at balancinglifeandlove@gmail.com.

Have a great day and Healthy meals!

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