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Top 10 Healthiest Vegetables

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Astaxanthin

What is it?

Astaxanthin /æstəˈzænθɨn/ is a keto-carotenoid. It belongs to a larger class of phytochemicals known as terpenes, which are built from five carbon precursors; isopentenyl diphosphate (or IPP) and dimethylallyl diphosphate (or DMAPP). Astaxanthin is classified as a xanthophyll (originally derived from a word meaning "yellow leaves" since yellow plant leaf pigments were the first recognized of the xanthophyll family of carotenoids), but currently employed to describe carotenoid compounds that have oxygen-containing moities, hydroxyl (-OH) or ketone (C=O), such as zeaxanthin and canthaxanthin. Indeed, astaxanthin is a metabolite of zeaxanthin and/or canthaxanthin, containing both hydroxyl and ketone functional groups.

 

Astaxanthin is found in microalgae, yeast, salmon, trout, krill, shrimp, crayfish, crustaceans, and the feathers of some birds. It provides the red colour of salmon meat and the red colour of cooked shellfish. Professor Basil Weedon's group was the first to prove the structure of astaxanthin by synthesis, in 1975.

 

                  Anti-Ageing Benefits of Astaxanthin

Gorgeous Skin and Sunscreen Protection!

Astaxanthin has been shown to protect the body's largest organ. The studies are clear and consistent and show excellent results for helping with skin moisture levels, smoothness, elasticity, fine wrinkles, and spots or freckles.
It helps protect against sunburn and risk of illness.
It prevents the sun's harmful UV rays damage from occurring.
It reduces hyperpigmentation (better known as age spots).
It reduces the risk of skin cancer.

It increases physical endurance and reduces muscle damage.
It reduces joint and tendon pain caused by inflammation.

It reduces eye fatigue and improves visual acuity.
It provides wrinkle reduction by internal supplementation.

It provides cytokine regulation; inhibiting the expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines.

It improves gastric health; and reduces infection/inflammation of H. pylori, spiral-shaped bacterium that can damage stomach and duodenal tissue, causing ulcers.

 

 What Makes Astaxanthin Special?

There are many properties that make this carotenoid unique. Here are the main differences:
Astaxanthin is by far the most powerful carotenoid antioxidant when it comes to free radical scavenging: astaxanthin is 65 times more powerful than vitamin C, 54 times more powerful than beta-carotene, and 14 times more powerful than vitamin E.

Astaxanthin is far more effective than other carotenoids at "singlet oxygen quenching," which is a particular type of oxidation. The damaging effects of sunlight and various organic materials are caused by this less-stable form of oxygen. Astaxanthin is 550 times more powerful than vitamin E and 11 times more powerful than beta-carotene at neutralizing singlet oxygen.

Astaxanthin crosses the blood-brain barrier AND the blood-retinal barrier (beta carotene and lycopene do not), which brings antioxidant and anti-inflammatory protection to your eyes, brain and central nervous system and reduces your risk for cataracts, macular degeneration, blindness, dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Astaxanthin is soluble in lipids, so it incorporates into cell membranes.
It's a potent UVB absorber and reduces DNA damage.
It's a powerful natural anti-inflammatory.

There have been no adverse reactions found for people taking astaxanthin. It is very safe and non-toxic.

Protection from the Sun

 

 

The sun offers enormous benefits in terms of vitamin D. But too much of a good thing can be harmful.
Many athletes often feeling ill from overexposure to the sun after long trainings outside. And many report that astaxanthin has allowed them to stay in the sun for longer periods of time without feeling ill, and without burning. Less burning can mean lower skin cancer risk.

How does it do this?

 

 

The answer lies in how the Haematococcus pluvialis protects itself from intense ultraviolet radiation. The algae creates the astaxanthin pigment as a natural sunscreen, and by consuming this pigment, you are creating your own "internal sunscreen." In other words, the same powerful antioxidants that protect the algae from the sun's rays can help protect YOU as well.

Sunburn is actually an inflammatory process. Although the exact pathway by which astaxanthin protects your skin from burning is not yet known, it is almost certain that its anti-inflammatory activities are involved.

Current research suggests, if you take at least 2 mg of astaxanthin daily for a month, it will be less likely for you to get sunburned. It takes two to four weeks for the pigment to build up enough in your tissues to offer protection from sunburn, so two weeks of treatment is about the minimum. It is important to use only natural astaxanthin, not the synthetic version.
  

 

Natural sources

As a natural source, the following can be found in nature (or a production facility) with the approximate astaxanthin concentrations:

Source	Astaxanthin concentration (ppm)
Salmonids	~ 5
Plankton	~ 60
Krill	~ 120
Arctic shrimp (P borealis)	~ 1,200
Phaffia yeast	~ 10,000
Haematococcus pluvialis	~ 40,000

  

Salmonidae is the name of a family of ray-finned fish, the only living family currently placed in the order Salmoniformes. It includes salmon, trout, chars, freshwater whitefishes, and graylings. The Atlantic salmon and trout of the genus Salmo give the family and order their names.

Plankton are a diverse group of organisms that live in the water column and cannot swim against a current. They provide a crucial source of food to many large aquatic organisms, such as fish and whales.

Krill are small crustaceans of the order Euphausiacea and are found in all the world's oceans.
Most krill species display large daily vertical migrations, thus providing food for predators near the surface at night and in deeper waters during the day.

Arctic shrimp (Pandalus borealis) is a species of caridean shrimp found in cold parts of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The FAO refers to them as the northern prawn. Other common names include pink shrimp, deepwater prawn, deep-sea prawn, great northern prawn, crevette nordique and northern shrimp.
  

 Phaffia yeast Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous exhibits 100% free, non-esterified astaxanthin, which is considered advantageous because it is readily absorbable and need not be hydrolysed in the digestive tract of the fish. In contrast to synthetic and bacteria sources of astaxanthin, yeast sources of astaxanthin consist mainly of the (3R, 3’R)-form, an important astaxanthin source in nature. Finally, the geometrical isomer, all-E, is higher in yeast sources of astaxanthin, as compared to synthetic sources.

Haematococcus pluvialis is a freshwater species of Chlorophyta from the family Haematococcaceae. This species is well known for its high content of the strong antioxidant astaxanthin, which is important in aquaculture, and cosmetics.  The high amount of astaxanthin is present in the resting cells, which are produced and rapidly accumulated when the environmental conditions become unfavorable for normal cell growth. Examples of such conditions include bright light, high salinity, and low availability of nutrients. Haematococcus pluvialis is usually found in temperate regions around the world. Their resting cysts are often responsible for the blood-red colour seen in the bottom of dried out rock pools and bird baths. This colour is caused by astaxanthin which is believed to protect the resting cysts from the detrimental effect of UV-radiation, when exposed to direct sunlight
 

 

 

 

 

Astaxanthin, unlike several carotenes and one other known carotenoid, is not converted to vitamin A (retinol) in the human body. Like other carotenoids, astaxanthin has self-limited absorption orally and such low toxicity by mouth that no toxic syndrome is known. It is an antioxidant with a slightly lower antioxidant activity in some model systems than other carotenoids. However, in living organisms the free-radical terminating effectiveness of each carotenoid is heavily modified by its lipid solubility, and thus varies with the type of system being protected.
While astaxanthin is a natural dietary component, it can also be used as a food supplement. The supplement is intended for human, animal, and aquaculture consumption. The commercial production of astaxanthin comes from both natural and synthetic sources.

Synthetic sources  

Nearly all commercial astaxanthin for aquaculture is produced synthetically.
However, synthetic production of astaxanthin is not preferred in some cases because synthetic astaxanthin contains a mixture of stereoisomers.
Astaxanthin is fairly abundant and obtainable from natural sources, and some consumers prefer natural products over synthetic ones.

Some aquaculture companies are beginning to use natural astaxanthin instead of the highly inferior synthetic astaxanthin, even though it costs more. They realise that it's better for the health of animals, and it's far superior for production of a healthy colour or pigmentation. Animals fed fish food with natural astaxanthin have higher survival rates, better growth rates, better immunity, fertility and reproduction.
Unfortunately, synthetic astaxanthin still dominates the farmed salmon industry worldwide.
If the salmon label does not read "wild" or "naturally colored," you're probably going to be eating a colouring agent somewhat closer to motor oil than antioxidant. Natural astaxanthin is more than 20 times stronger as an antioxidant than synthetic astaxanthin.
Wild salmon are 400 percent higher in astaxanthin than farmed salmon, and100 percent of their pigment is natural astaxanthin, rather than synthetic. Plus, wild salmon have much higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids than the farmed version.


  References:   Seyoung Choi and Sangho Koo, J. Org. Chem
Cooper, R. D. G.; Davis, J. B.; Leftwick, A. P.; Price, C.; Weedon, B. (1975). "Carotenoids and related compounds. Frank Shipley Collins. Lorentz, R. T., and G. R. Cysewski.  S. Boussiba, and A. Vonshak.  Dr.Nicholas Perricone.  Dr. Mercola.

Silica

What is it?

Silica is a trace mineral which is only required by the body in small amounts and whilst there is no RDA for silica, most nutritionists agree that a daily intake from our diet is important. Silica is found in compounds called glycosaminoglycans, which are components of structural tissues such as arteries, tendons, skin, bones and cartilage. Most silica supplements use silica extracted from horsetail but it's better to use bamboo gum as a source of natural silica. Bamboo gum contains over 90% organic silica, which is more than 10 times the level found in the widely used horsetail plant, where the level is as low as 5-7%. Good dietary sources of silica include grains such as oats, barley and rice, although refining processes can strip much of this mineral away. Silica has become a popular supplement for healthy skin and joint health.

                                   

Silica is a relatively unknown mineral which is absolutely astounding bearing in mind what it does for the body, which is nothing short of miraculous. Also known as Silicon, it is a combination of silicon and oxygen, the two most abundant elements on our planet. It is within the grass that herbivores eat whilst meat eating animals have much less of it within their bodies. Silica is found in many vegetables including leafy greens and onions as well as whole grains.

Silica is absolutely essential to bone growth and for the development of the body. When you are young, your body has abundant levels of silica which is why children normally have beautiful silky hair, soft skin and perfect nails. We are born with large amounts of silica and low amounts of calcium and as we age, we lose silica and our bodies deposit calcium in our glands which leads to what is termed “calcification” of our tissues and the eventual loss of gland functions. Calcium requires vitamin D3 for its absorption but it also requires silica for the utilisation of calcium into building strong bones and teeth. A calcium deficiency is invariably associated with a deficiency in silica. Several studies have indicated that people with broken bones heal a lot quicker when silica levels are high irrespective of their calcium levels in the bloodstream. In fact, without silica your body could break apart!

Silica also promotes proper mineral balance between calcium and magnesium within the body. This mineral balance in turn helps with hormonal balance. This hormonal balance in turn is important because it is precisely hormonal imbalances that lead to osteoporosis. By achieving hormonal balance and its ability to enhance bone mineralisation, silica is invaluable in the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis and ideally every good calcium supplement should have some silica within the formulation.

 

Silica is used by every single cell and every internal gland within our bodies. Silica has an impact on strengthening the cardiovascular system as well as the central nervous system which relies of calcium and magnesium for the optimal transmission of nerve impulses. Silica also may be of value in the elderly for offering protection against Alzheimer’s since it counteracts aluminium’s effects on the body by aiding its removal.

So how is Silica of benefit for skin, hair and nails?

Silica may be of great value when the skin begins to sag which obviously makes us look prematurely aged. One of the biggest components of collagen is actually silica. Since collagen is the connective tissue that makes up most of our skin, it is not difficult to realise the importance of adequate silica levels within our bodies. Having sufficient and well toned collagen will make our skin look soft and young which in turn helps with suppleness and an increased capability of being moisturised.

Whenever collagen is damaged in skin, and incidentally this is occurring all the time due to free radical damage, silica is required to take care of this by rebuilding and regenerating this connective tissue.  Incidentally, silica is also an excellent supplement in combating mild to moderate acne. It does so by firstly enhancing collagen production which ensures healthy outer cell layers of the skin which are less likely to get inflamed from the hormonal waste that is connected with acne.  Additionally, silica supplementation is great for the removal of toxins which arise as a result of digestion. These toxins normally seep into the bloodstream and cause inflammation leading to acne and dull lifeless skin!

  

 

 Silica is a vital mineral when you are shedding your hair excessively leading to hair loss and it also helps both women and men for lack lustre and thinning hair. It is important to understand how silica works to achieve healthy looking vitalised hair.

Silica’s role for hair health appears to be two-fold. Firstly, as mentioned above, silica helps to achieve hormonal balance.  An imbalance in the female sex hormones is one of the biggest single causal factors for hair loss and the thinning of hair. An intake of silica will most definitely help to prevent hair thinning, restore vitality to hair and may even address hair loss without the need for hormone mimicking herbs. This property is particularly suitable for those with cell mutation associated with excess oestrogen.

Secondly, silica bonds with many minerals in the body as mentioned above. Aside from removing aluminium from the body, silica takes many nutrients to the peripherals of the body, namely the hair, skin and nails, and thus ensures that the hair follicles are supplied with all the vital minerals necessary for hair growth and vitality.

Your nails are one of the hallmarks of beauty in modern culture. If you are not happy with the state of your nails, whether they are brittle, have spots on them, ridges or simply are not happy with the way they look, then silica supplementation may be beneficial. As mentioned above, silica takes all the nutrients to the nails helping not only to impart strength but also feeds the nail bed with all the vital nutrients for encouraging healthy and strong nails.

Aside from its role in hair, skin and nails, silica’s much wider role throughout the body means that we really have to ensure that we do not have a deficiency in this important mineral. Silica is found in numerous vegetables and fruits and very little research has been carried out as to the possible deficiencies that exist in the general population though it is generally accepted that with silica’s wide role of activity, deficiencies are more than likely.

 

Sources of Silica

Animal sources provide much lower levels of silica than plant sources. The refining and processing of foods reduces the amount of silica content, and soils are often depleted of this mineral.  Good food sources of silica include unrefined cereals, apples, cherries, almonds, oranges, fish, oats and seeds. Unfortunately, most of the silica rich foods that are consumed provide silica as alumina-silicate or silica in a non-bio-available form again accounting for possible deficiencies.

Supplements are the best source of correcting silica deficiencies and these are generally derived from the herb Equisetum arvense, commonly referred to as Springtime Horsetail, or Bambuosa vulgaris, often referred to as Bamboo.

 

Most silica supplements supply this important mineral by using Horsetail extracts which unfortunately only supply between 5% and 8% of organic silica depending upon the brand. Supplements containing Bamboo Extract are the richest source of silica containing 70% of organic silica which is roughly ten times more potent for a more prominent effect on healthy hair, skin and strong nails.
Bamboo Extract helps:

• to build healthy bones, teeth and nails
• helps prevents wrinkles and keep skin beautiful
• helps promote growth of thick, beautiful hair.

Bamboo Extract is not a supplement for the young who have an abundance of silica. If you are in your forties then it is very likely that you will be deficient in silica. If you care about the state of your hair, skin and nails, then ensure that you obtain your silica from one source – Bamboo Extract!

Is Silica the ultimate beauty vitamin?
Silica is a beauty trace mineral that is related to healthy and strong connective tissue – the muscles, tendons, hair, nails, cartilage and bone, and ultimately, healthy skin.

If your diet is lacking in Silica, or if you’re suffering from a deficiency, it can result in slackening of the skin and impaired wound healing. It can also mean weak nails and dull, brittle and fine hair. Conversely, if your diet is sufficient in silica, you should enjoy great skin, thick, shiny hair and strong nails, among other things.

Now, because occasionally our diets may not include all the goodness we need in terms of vitamins and minerals each day, sometimes we need to take supplements. Nutritionist and naturopaths often recommend the temporary intake of high quality supplements, either in tablet or liquid form, to help remedy misbalances.
For those of you that don’t like taking tablets, you can also take Silica in a gel form … simply add a little each day to your morning breakfast smoothie, and you’re good to go! Try Qsilica Colloidal Silica Gel, $32.94 for 500mL, or you can buy a value pack (2x 500mL gel) for $59.90, http://www.qsilica.com.au. 

Alternatively, try drinking a cup or two of Bamboo Leaf Tea each day, too. It is reputed to be high in Silica, and I love that it’s a natural, sustainable source of silica. You should be able to find it at any good health food store, or buy it online at http://www.bambooleaftea.net.

References: Shabir Daya

Chlorophyll

What is it?

 Chlorophyll is the green coloration in leaves

Chlorophyll is the molecule that absorbs sunlight and uses its energy to synthesise carbohydrates from CO₂ and water. This process is known as photosynthesis and is the basis for sustaining the life processes of all plants. Since animals and humans obtain their food supply by eating plants, photosynthesis can be said to be the source of our life also.

Chlorophyll as a Photoreceptor

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 Chlorophyll is the molecule that traps this 'most elusive of all powers' - and is called a photoreceptor. It is found in the chloroplasts of green plants, and is what makes green plants, green. The basic structure of a chlorophyll molecule is a porphyrin ring, co-ordinated to a central atom. This is very similar in structure to the heme group found in hemoglobin, except that in heme the central atom is iron, whereas in chlorophyll it is magnesium.

This sunlight is in the green region of the spectrum, and since it is reflected, this is the reason plants appear green. Chlorophyll absorbs so strongly that it can mask other less intense colours. Some of these more delicate colours (from molecules such as carotene and quercetin) are revealed when the chlorophyll molecule decays in the Autumn, and the woodlands turn red, orange, and golden brown. Chlorophyll can also be damaged when vegetation is cooked, since the central Mg atom is replaced by hydrogen ions. This affects the energy levels within the molecule, causing its absorbance spectrum to alter. Thus cooked leaves change colour - often becoming a paler, insipid yellowy green.

As the chlorophyll in leaves decays in the autumn, the green colour fades and is replaced by the oranges and reds of carotenoids.

Chlorophyll is the green liquid found in plants. It is has been compared to blood by botanists, and like blood it sustains life. Chlorophyll is commonly used as a health supplement in the United States and abroad.

What are the benefits of using liquid chlorophyll?

Because chlorophyll is a renewing agent, it is able to help preserve a youthful appearance. It works by maintaining healthy tissue throughout the body. Chlorophyll helps red blood cells collect oxygen to boost cell regeneration. Because haemoglobin, the red blood cells and chlorophyll share similar molecules, chlorophyll can be used to treat anaemia.

 Red Blood Cell Regeneration
Chlorophyll works much the same as haemoglobin does within the body because chlorophyll and haemoglobin have nearly identical molecular structures. Chlorophyll stimulates and aids in the regeneration of red blood cells, and its magnesium component aids the blood in collecting and transporting oxygen throughout the body. J. Howell Hughes and A.L. Latner, from the Department of Physiology, University of Liverpool, showed through experiments that highly anaemic animals can improve rapidly with their blood cell counts improving to normal when they are given liquid chlorophyll.

Anticarcinogenic
Liquid chlorophyll has been shown to act as an anticarcinogenic by "inhibiting the metabolism of procarcinogens within the body and decreasing the carcinogen's ability to bind and damage DNA," according to the Healthcare Information Directory. Liquid chlorophyll's protection against carcinogens extends to airborne pollution, fungus-laden foods and toxins in meat products.

 Bad Breath
Liquid chlorophyll is a remedy for bad breath. It has been used for years as an additive to a dog's water to aid in reducing the bad smells that often reside in dog's breath. In humans, liquid chlorophyll acts as both a deodoriser in the mouth and aids in maintaining a healthy digestive tract.

 Pure Liquid Chlorophyll

When you choose a supplement, take only pure liquid chlorophyll that is extracted from plants. Chlorophyll extracted from alfalfa is the most common. Take 1 tbsp chlorophyll with ½ cup water. Since chlorophyll varies from plant to plant, it is a good idea to also ingest chlorophyll by adding green plants, algae and grasses to your diet. This will help to vary the types of chlorophyll in your body, allowing you to obtain even greater benefits.

 

  

 

 References:  Professor Paul May
BSc, PhD(Bristol), CChem, MRSC

Resources:

• SeacoastVitamins.com: Liquid Chlorophyll Chelation Therapy
• General Nutrition Centers Inc.: Nature's Way Chlorofresh Liquid Chlorophyll
• EveryNutrient.com: Health Benefits of Chlorophyll