What Are The Benefits Of Red Vs. Green Superfoods?
Superfoods are nutrient dense foods packed with antioxidants and disease-fighting properties. Studies suggest their power in boosting the immune system, warding off heart complications and even helping you to live longer. Foods belonging to this exclusive group include spinach, kale, acai and goji berries. Yet as many as 90% of us don’t consume enough basic fruit and vegetables. In our busy lives, we might not take time to prepare a healthy diet.
Fortunately, at TM Wellness, we have powdered red and green superfoods available to keep our clients well. Read on more to find out what green and red superfoods are and their specific health benefits.
What Are Red And Green Superfoods?
Green superfoods are primarily composed of greens, and include health-boosting foods like:
- Spinach
- Parsley
- Kale
- Spirulina
- Chlorella
- Broccoli
- Swiss chard
- Collard greens
- Beet greens
While red superfoods are normally berries, but also refer to other red fruits and vegetables, such as:
- Peppers
- Papayas
- Goji berries
- Acai berries
- Red beets
- Pomegranates
- Grapeseed
- Strawberries
What Are The Benefits Of Green Superfoods?
Green superfood powder generally contains one serving of your recommended five a day but is packed with a more nutrient-dense punch than one portion of fruit. Green superfood powders are also combined with other health-boosting supplements like bee pollen and complex enzyme blends to enhance the digestive properties of the superfoods. They have a number of health benefits when used regularly as a supplement.
Boosting The Immune System
Green superfoods are full of vitamin A and E, which boost the immune system. Vitamin A is known as an anti-inflammatory vitamin, and is primarily responsible for boosting the growth and development of the epithelial cells in our body. Epithelial cells line the inside of our body and are often the front-line defense against disease. Vitamin A helps these cells secrete mucus, which traps dangerous pathogens and stops them entering the bloodstream. Vitamin E helps the immune system by maintaining the structure and signals of our T-cells, the cells in our body that defend against invading harmful pathogens.
Reducing High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure has a number of negative health effects, as your heart has to work harder to pump blood around the body. High blood pressure, known scientifically as hypertension, can cause strokes, heart attacks, kidney disease and even dementia. Vitamin E in green superfoods encourages the widening of the blood vessels, which can reduce high blood pressure. The wider the blood vessels, the better the blood flow and the less pressure required to transport blood through the body. Studies into the link between green superfoods and high blood pressure have existed since 2009, when a vegetable mix taken by a group over a 90-day period was shown to reduce high blood pressure.
Protection From Oxidative Stress
Oxidative stress occurs when the body does not have a natural balance of free radicals and antioxidants. Free radicals in the right quantity can help fight off disease, but in higher volumes can negatively react with DNA, proteins and fatty tissue in the body. Antioxidants help regulate the function of free radicals and reduce their negative impact. Green superfoods are packed with antioxidants, to help protect the body’s balance of free radicals.
Why Do Organic Green Superfoods Play A Vital Role In Health?
Organic green superfood powder is an important way of ensuring you are consuming the best superfoods available. Organically sourced greens contain up to 60% more health boosting antioxidants, contain half as much dangerous trace-metal, and 75% less pesticides. With organic green superfoods you are further increasing the potential health benefits. Organic foods are also fresher and contain less preservatives, and organic farming on the whole is far better for the environment.
What Is Chlorella And How Does It Help The Body?
Chlorella is a freshwater-growing algae that is also one of the green superfoods. Chlorella must be taken as a supplement as intact it has a hard cell wall that humans cannot digest. But in powder form it is packed with Vitamin B12 and Vitamin C, as well as iron, antioxidants, Omega-3 and protein. It is often used as a supplement for anemic pregnant women due to its high iron contact and nutrient-boosting properties.
Early studies suggest that Chlorella may help improve symptoms of:
- Fatigue
- Cholesterol levels
- Inflammation
- High blood pressure
- Crohn’s Disease
- Digestive issues
What Are The Additional Health Benefits Of Red Superfoods?
Red superfoods contain all the health-boosting benefits of their green counterparts, with some additional bonuses.
Improving Mobility
Certain red superfoods, like papaya, contain anti-inflammatory properties that help boost joint mobility. Papaya is the only source of the papain enzyme, which reduces inflammation in the human body. Cherries also reduce inflammation, and a recent study suggests that a study group consuming cherries were 35% less likely to have an attack of gout. Gout is a form of arthritis that is normally found in the feet, but can also affect joints in all your limbs.
Protecting Vision
Red peppers contain Vitamin A which helps promote healthy vision. Red peppers also contain an enzyme which helps prevent degeneration of the eyes and counteract some of the impact on the eye caused by aging. The enzyme, lutein, does this by reducing inflammation within the eye, and can help prevent cataracts, Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and a variety of other eye conditions.
Combining Red And Green Superfoods For Better Health
Both red and green superfoods are essential for keeping your body healthy. When combined with other supplements like resveratrol, they can promote:
- Better heart health, reduced risk of strokes, heart attacks, and even heart failure
- Reduced pain in chronic diseases, through a decrease in inflammation
- Better brain function, quicker thinking, and better problem solving skills
- Combat the effects of ageing
Resveratrol is a chemical that comes from plants and acts in a similar way to the human immune system. It is a plant’s defense against pathogens. When used in the human body it is thought to help boost antioxidants and aid superfoods in strengthening the immune system.
At TM Wellness, we want to help you on the path to better health with our range of superfoods. Want to find out more? Contact us today to benefit from our red and green superfood products.