What are antioxidants and why do we need them?
We see the term "antioxidants" commonly used in the media and even labeled on many products however it is very important we first understand what they are and why our bodies need them. Antioxidants are powerful nutrients used to protect our bodies from dangerous and harmful toxins. Oxidants, commonly referred to as "free radicals," are the harmful elements that attack our bodies in a negative way. Oxidation occurs when free radicals (highly reactive, high-energy particles) ricochet wildly throughout the body and damage cells. Free radicals can be produced within the body by natural biological processes or introduced from outside via tobacco smoke, toxins, pollutants and sub-optimal eating habits. Free radicals are believed to accelerate the progression of cancer, cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue, and age-related diseases. Antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables help to neutralize free radicals in our bodies.
How can we optimize our intake of Antioxidants?
Today’s
fast-food society and nutrient deficient soils makes it difficult, if
not impossible, to obtain the quality and concentrations of daily
nutrients necessary to positively impact our health.
Berry Radical
is a revolutionary organic, superfood, designed to assist the body in
attaining vibrant health, wellbeing and longevity. The ingredients in
Berry Radical have been proven to assist the body in neutralising free
radical damage. Make a super-nutritious beverage by blending Berry
Radical with hot water and milk of choice. Sweeten to taste. Add to
your favourite smoothie recipe to supercharge it!
Why Do Plants Contain Antioxidants?
Photosynthesis is the process whereby plants convert light energy from the sun into stored physical energy. Photosynthesis
exposes plants to a massive number of free radicals. Plants produce antioxidants to protect themselves from damage by
these free radicals. Antioxidant plant pigments, primarily carotenoids and polyphenols that are responsible for the bright
colours of many orange, red, blue and purple fruits, berries and algae, provide most of this protection. Research has shown
that human ingestion of these plant-based antioxidants result in similar protection. Research also shows that antioxidants
work synergistically (where the combined effect is greater than the sum of the individual effects) and are far more effective
when a spectrum of antioxidants are ingested, rather that individual isolated compounds.
Advantage of this powered Supplement vs A Juice Form.
By utilising raw, freeze-dried powders we have concentrated all the nutrition from the fruits and berries into a much more
potent, nutrient
dense form. Which is why 1 box of berry radical is equivalent to 12
bottles of mangosteen juice 17 bottles of goji juice and 41 bottles of
noni juice, in terms of antioxidant capacity. Our organic fruit and
berry powders are highly concentrated foods, with all the nutrients and
enzymes in the fresh fruit. Only water has been removed. Gram
for
gram, powders are far more potent and concentrated than waterdown
juices. Many fruits are more than 90 percent water, which mean you get
at least 10 times the nutrients in a freeze-dried fruit than the fresh
fruit or a rehydrated juice. Powders do not require the preservatives
that juices do. The freeze drying process does not kill the enzymes. It
puts them in a state of suspended animation. They are brought back to
life by adding the Berry Radical to liquid.
How Much Caffeine Does Berry Radical Contain?
Interesting research on caffeine in the field of homeopathy indicates caffeine’s stimulating effect when cooked, but not when eaten raw. One experiment conducted with a decoction of roasted ground cacao beans in boiling water produced an excitement of the nervous system similar to that caused by black coffee and an excited state of circulation, demonstrated by an accelerated pulse. Notably, when the same decoction was made with raw, unroasted cacao beans neither effect was noticeable. A cup of tea contains an average of 40mg of caffeine, compared to 85mg as found in a cup of freshly brewed coffee. A cup of hot chocolate usually contains about 4 or 5 milligrams of caffeine, which is about 1/20 that of a cup of regular coffee. A serving of Berry Radical contains about 6mg of caffeine, about as much as in a hot chocolate, but considering the coffee berry and cacao in Berry Radical are both raw, there will be no stimulant effect.
Food vs Supplements
If you’re supplementing with single dose antioxidants, or a combination of a few isolated antioxidant nutrients, you may not
be getting the benefits you hoped for.
Whilst
isolated nutrients may have powerful antioxidant benefits in vitro
(test tube) they rarely have significant benefits in vivo
(humans). Whereas foods high in antioxidants have proven benefits in both humans and in vitro. It is known that a diet rich
in fruits and vegetables can help prevent cancers, coronary heart disease and strokes. Synthetic antioxidants appear to be
so
ineffective that they may actually increase cancer risk. In fact, every
large clinical trial that has used isolated antioxidant
nutrients has failed to show benefit for cancer and cardiovascular disease. 61,62,63,64
Most isolated antioxidant nutrients are chemically, and structurally, different to those found in foods; and do not have the
desired effect in the human body. Research has found that whole tomato powder but not lycopene, a carotenoid found in
tomatoes, inhibited prostate carcinogenesis in rats, which demonstrates the superior functionality and efficacy of whole-food
nutrition compared with high dose, isolated nutrient, supplementation. 65
What Are ORAC Units And How Many Do We Need?
ORAC, short for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity, is a standardised measurement of the total antioxidant power of a
substance. Antioxidant power is the ability to neutralize oxygen free radicals. The more free radicals a substance can absorb,
the higher it’s ORAC score. Nutritionists recommend that we consume around 5000 ORAC units per day to significantly
impact antioxidant activity in the body and reduce free radical damage. One serving (half a cup) of fruits or vegetables
provides approximately 500 ORAC units. If you’re not eating at least 10 servings of fruits and vegetables a day, you’re not
getting the recommended amount of ORAC units to mop-up the damage caused by free radicals in your body every day. The
ORAC (total) score of 1 gram of Berry Radical is 1448. So, one 5g sachet of Berry Radical contains over 7000 ORAC units!
One 150g of Berry Radical box contains over 217,000 ORAC units.
Berry Radical's Ingredients are as follows:
Berry Radical contains 10 of the World's most potent, antioxidant, superfoods.
- Raw Cocoa
- Coffee Berry
- Acai Berry
- Goji Berry
- Blueberry
- Raspberry
- Strawberry
- Pomegranate
- Olive Juice Extract
- Dunaliella Salina
I personally enjoy Berry Radical mixed in warm milk and smoothies. It's absolutely yummy in these forms.
Here are recipes for you to try!
Cuppa-Radical
Serves 1
1 x sachet Berry Radical
1 x teaspoon organic raw sugar
hot water
organic milk/cream of choice
BAR Shake -- Banana Radical
Serves 2
2 x sachets Berry Radical
1 x tablespoon organic honey
1 x organic banana
250 ml organic milk of choice
Mix together in a blender (preferably rinse out the left-over
alcohol from last night’s daiquiris first!)
Bananas have sugar in the form of fructose. They also contain
potassium, which is one of the nutrients you lose the most
of when you drink. Bananas are also a natural antacid which
can help out with nausea. They are high in magnesium (as
is the cacao in Berry Radical) which can help relax those
pounding blood vessels causing that hangover headache.
Chai Radical
Serves 2
2 x sachets of Berry Radical
1 x small can of coconut cream (270ml)
Pinch of each to taste (allspice, black pepper, cardamon,
cinnamon, cloves, coriander, ginger, nutmeg, star anise,
fennel)
1 x bay leaf
1 x vanilla bean
1 x tablespoon honey
270ml water (fill empty coconut milk can with water)
Gently simmer spices, coconut milk and water over low heat
for 10 minutes to infuse flavours.
When ready to serve, add Berry Radical and stir well.
Pour through tea-strainer into big mugs.
Narelle’s Radical Raw Smoothie
Narelle, Director of Product Development for Miessence shares with us her scrumptious smoothie recipe -- her secret for a super-charged way to start her day. She states, it's her organic, raw, green, smoothie. It’s a delicious, nourishing, meal that keeps her going until lunchtime.
1 x baby green coconut (juice and flesh)
½ cup of fruit of the season (paw paw, mango, peaches,
pears, berries)
1 x banana
1 x handful of goji berries
1 x tsp bee pollen granules
1 x tsp maca root powder
2 x tsp In-Liven
1 x sachet Berry Radical
1 x tbs spirulina (or chlorella)
1 x tbs barley grass (or wheat grass)
2 x tbs crushed linseed (or chia seed)
1 x big handfull of spinach (or other leafy green)
1 x tbs flax oil (or evening primrose or hemp, or good EFA
blend)
2 x tbs undenatured whey protein
Blend in a powerful blender (like a vitamix or ice-tank) until
smooth, creamy and green!
Additional hint: to crush the linseeds or chia seeds, purchase
an inexpensive coffee grinder from your local supermarket.
Want to preserve your youth even more?
Then simply start applying sunscreen before venturing out into the sun. SPF will protect you ONLY from the sun's harmful rays and not all damaging free radicals.
Rust proofing our bodies is now being
simplified with this powerful Berry Radical Antioxidant Superfood. We
all can now experience the ultimate longevity.
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