_______________________________________________________________________________
Don't Be Fooled By These 5 Miracle Elixirs
By Colleen M. Story
5 Superfoods You Can Skip
http://us6.campaign-archive2.com/?u=b20ac417a4482573a9392d0e4&id=09667bf615&e=87f244d0b5
We’re flooded with information about food these days. It can be hard to separate the wheat from the chaff, especially because most food, in its natural form, is good for us. Still, we can only consume so much per day, so we have to make choices.
Of course, we want to choose those foods that will give us the biggest bang for our buck, in terms of wellness. That means we’ve got to leave some out. But which ones?
We found five foods that were touted as superfoods over the last decade or so, but that we may be making the following mistakes with:
Look over our list and let us know what you think. We may add to it at a later date!
1. Goji Berries
Oprah and Madonna endorsed them. They reduce signs of aging, prevent cancer, and even increase libido, according to claims.
Claims that the FDA reprimanded the manufacturers for in 2006.
Grown in temperate and subtropic regions of China, Mongolia, and the Tibetan Himalayas, the goji berry was traditionally used for treating skin rashes, eye problems, allergies, and other ailments. Modern marketers touted the berry as the key to longevity, as well as the superfood that would improve brain health, digestion, cardiovascular health, immunity, and even help shrink cancerous tumors.
All for about $17 a pound.
So far, however, we’re lacking any credible scientific support for these claims. Goji berries, like all berries, are a good source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, but eating a handful of the berries or even a glassful of juice won’t get you near the concentration used in the few studies that did get published—and even these were weak.
In 1994, for instance, Chinese researchers treated a small sampling of cancer patients with immunotherapy and a concentrated solution of gogi berry polysaccharides, while others were treated only with immunotherapy. Those who received the goji berry compounds seemed to have a better response to treatment (with the cancer regressing), but the study design and the goji berry compounds used were called into question, as specific information was lacking.
Another 2008 study of only 34 people attempted to show how goji berry juice affected brain activity, digestion, and overall wellbeing. Though participants reported some improvements in energy level and feelings of well being, real data on physical measurements such as visual acuity and blood pressure during the study showed no significant changes.
Instead:
Forget the expensive goji berries, unless you just enjoy them and want to splurge. (Remember that dried berries have a high amount of sugar.) Other more economical berries—like strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries—work just as well if not better at providing antioxidant protection. Spinach will also give you similar health benefits at a cheaper price.
2. Noni Juice
It comes from the fruit of the Morinda citrifolia tree, which grows in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. It came to the North American market in the 1990s and early 2000s. Sold in supplement and then juice form, it was touted as perfect for treating cancer, diabetes, heart disease, HIV, allergies, arthritis, and more.
(This will do the trick, sir!)
In 2004, the FDA issued a warning letter to one of the manufacturers for making unfounded health claims about their noni juice, and marketing it as a medical product without the necessary clinical evidence.
The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center lists some preliminary evidence that noni plant extracts (not the juice) may have antitumor properties. So far, these are all laboratory and animal studies. One laboratory study also suggested the fruit extract may inhibit the oxidation of LDL “bad” cholesterol.
Human studies are limited, but do include one that showed the extract (again, not the juice) was effective at reducing postoperative nausea. As with goji berries, however, we have little solid, human evidence that noni has any of the health benefits marketers advertise.
The problem here is that people are consuming large amounts of noni juice expecting miracles. As fruit juices are often high in sugar, consuming large amounts can be dangerous for diabetics, and likely to add pounds and spike blood sugar in the rest of us.
Noni is also rich in potassium, which can be dangerous if you’re taking high blood pressure medications that increase potassium, or if you have kidney problems.
Instead:
Enjoy a bit of noni juice now and then if you like the taste. You’ll enjoy its vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and potential health benefits, but watch out that you don’t consume too much sugar at the same time. Remember, too, that most studies so far showing benefits are on the fruit extract, not the juice.
3. Wheatgrass
A type of grass in the wheat family, wheatgrass is sold as a dietary supplement and in liquid form, to be taken as a vitamin or added to smoothies and tea. Fans say a one-ounce shot gives you as many nutrients as over two pounds of your finest veggies, but scientific analysis says that pound for pound, you’ll get about the same nutrients from broccoli, spinach, and other similar healthy vegetables.
This one’s claim to fame is that it builds red blood cells, tames inflammation, and yes—shrinks tumors and extends the lives of people living with cancer. It’s also supposed to rid the body of waste, cleanse the liver, and
By Colleen M. Story
5 Superfoods You Can Skip
http://us6.campaign-archive2.com/?u=b20ac417a4482573a9392d0e4&id=09667bf615&e=87f244d0b5
We’re flooded with information about food these days. It can be hard to separate the wheat from the chaff, especially because most food, in its natural form, is good for us. Still, we can only consume so much per day, so we have to make choices.
Of course, we want to choose those foods that will give us the biggest bang for our buck, in terms of wellness. That means we’ve got to leave some out. But which ones?
We found five foods that were touted as superfoods over the last decade or so, but that we may be making the following mistakes with:
- Eating too much of it
- Spending too much on it
- Thinking it does more for our health than it really does
Look over our list and let us know what you think. We may add to it at a later date!
1. Goji Berries
Oprah and Madonna endorsed them. They reduce signs of aging, prevent cancer, and even increase libido, according to claims.
Claims that the FDA reprimanded the manufacturers for in 2006.
Grown in temperate and subtropic regions of China, Mongolia, and the Tibetan Himalayas, the goji berry was traditionally used for treating skin rashes, eye problems, allergies, and other ailments. Modern marketers touted the berry as the key to longevity, as well as the superfood that would improve brain health, digestion, cardiovascular health, immunity, and even help shrink cancerous tumors.
All for about $17 a pound.
So far, however, we’re lacking any credible scientific support for these claims. Goji berries, like all berries, are a good source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, but eating a handful of the berries or even a glassful of juice won’t get you near the concentration used in the few studies that did get published—and even these were weak.
In 1994, for instance, Chinese researchers treated a small sampling of cancer patients with immunotherapy and a concentrated solution of gogi berry polysaccharides, while others were treated only with immunotherapy. Those who received the goji berry compounds seemed to have a better response to treatment (with the cancer regressing), but the study design and the goji berry compounds used were called into question, as specific information was lacking.
Another 2008 study of only 34 people attempted to show how goji berry juice affected brain activity, digestion, and overall wellbeing. Though participants reported some improvements in energy level and feelings of well being, real data on physical measurements such as visual acuity and blood pressure during the study showed no significant changes.
Instead:
Forget the expensive goji berries, unless you just enjoy them and want to splurge. (Remember that dried berries have a high amount of sugar.) Other more economical berries—like strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries—work just as well if not better at providing antioxidant protection. Spinach will also give you similar health benefits at a cheaper price.
2. Noni Juice
It comes from the fruit of the Morinda citrifolia tree, which grows in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. It came to the North American market in the 1990s and early 2000s. Sold in supplement and then juice form, it was touted as perfect for treating cancer, diabetes, heart disease, HIV, allergies, arthritis, and more.
(This will do the trick, sir!)
In 2004, the FDA issued a warning letter to one of the manufacturers for making unfounded health claims about their noni juice, and marketing it as a medical product without the necessary clinical evidence.
The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center lists some preliminary evidence that noni plant extracts (not the juice) may have antitumor properties. So far, these are all laboratory and animal studies. One laboratory study also suggested the fruit extract may inhibit the oxidation of LDL “bad” cholesterol.
Human studies are limited, but do include one that showed the extract (again, not the juice) was effective at reducing postoperative nausea. As with goji berries, however, we have little solid, human evidence that noni has any of the health benefits marketers advertise.
The problem here is that people are consuming large amounts of noni juice expecting miracles. As fruit juices are often high in sugar, consuming large amounts can be dangerous for diabetics, and likely to add pounds and spike blood sugar in the rest of us.
Noni is also rich in potassium, which can be dangerous if you’re taking high blood pressure medications that increase potassium, or if you have kidney problems.
Instead:
Enjoy a bit of noni juice now and then if you like the taste. You’ll enjoy its vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and potential health benefits, but watch out that you don’t consume too much sugar at the same time. Remember, too, that most studies so far showing benefits are on the fruit extract, not the juice.
3. Wheatgrass
A type of grass in the wheat family, wheatgrass is sold as a dietary supplement and in liquid form, to be taken as a vitamin or added to smoothies and tea. Fans say a one-ounce shot gives you as many nutrients as over two pounds of your finest veggies, but scientific analysis says that pound for pound, you’ll get about the same nutrients from broccoli, spinach, and other similar healthy vegetables.
This one’s claim to fame is that it builds red blood cells, tames inflammation, and yes—shrinks tumors and extends the lives of people living with cancer. It’s also supposed to rid the body of waste, cleanse the liver, and