Carrots - What Do You Know

Over the next 6 days I'm going to be asking you some questions about carrots.

Carotenoids, a phytochemical, give carrots their yellow, red and orange hues. But do you know what gives purple carrots their purple color?

hint - it's not the carotenoids.

What gives purple carrots their purple hue is anthocyanims. These are very potent antioxidants which have anti-inflammatory effects as well. Look at the other post in the list to learn more about anthocyanims.

Almonds - Another Brain Food?

Yes almonds are another brain food, but they are much more than that. First, let me just say that when you eat almonds, you want to be eating the raw almonds. Not dry roasted or salted, just plain raw almonds. The benefits of the this nut will astound you.

Almonds are a source of vitamin E, protein, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, and iron. They also contain phytonutrients (sometimes referred to as phytochemicals). These phytonutrients are the antioxidants which are not vitamins, such as lycopene, anthocyanins, and flavanoids. All of these offer the body essential nutrients to fight off disease and to maintain wellness.

Let's look at some of the benefits. I think one of the most exciting things is the research that has shown the benefit to someone who wants to lose weight and also to diabetics (who often need to lose weight). You may wonder how this works. Two things have been identified. First, almonds slow the absorption of carbohydrates. This in turn results in a slower increase in blood sugar levels which helps keep insulin levels in check. Big benefit to diabetics.

The second thing identified in the research is that almonds give you a sense of fullness (satiety) which means you will actually consume less calories. They are great as a healthy snack and you can see the benefit if you are attempting to lose weight.

Acai Berries

You've probably gotten a lot of emails about acai berries. Be cautious. The research has shown that yes these berries provide antioxidants, but they are not the "super antioxidant" that ssome would have you believe.

Studies have demonstrated that the antioxidant value of acai berries is less than red wine. Now there are folks out there who will tell you they have a higher value. But, the berry itself or the powder made from the berry does not. The product that they are selling likely has been fortified with other antioxidants. Here is a good test. Look at the ingredients before you buy. If the ingredient says that there is any amount of Vitamin C, then the product has been fortified with Vitamin C.

What these berries do contain is anthocyanins. See my posts on anthocyanins by clicking on the word. There is also another post on November 23, 2008.

If the product is indicating that it is a weight loss product, use extreme caution. There is no evidence that acai berries have any effect on weight.

Grapes

John's Hopkins has also looked at the effect of grapes on health. Grapes have been shown to have high antioxidant value. Red grapes contain polyphenolics and green grapes contain catechins, both of which have strong antioxidant effects. The polyphenolics in red grapes is contributed to the anthocyanins in the skin. For more info on anthocyanins, see my earlier posts here.

Green grapes contain catechins. Catechins are polyphenolics which are specifically flavon-3-ols. These are very potent antioxidant that decrease plaques in the blood vessels, thereby decreasing heart disease. They also decrease cancer.

A friend asked me if this is true, then is wine good for you. The answer is yes, but in moderation. To get beneficial effects from wine, red wine is better than white. Red wine can also assist in lowering angiotensin, which in turn decreases blood pressure. It can also assist in dilating blood vessels which assists cells in getting oxygenated blood and sustaining less damage from oxidation.