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A Perfect Food that's Berry Good for You
by Lorin Shields-Michel
The Most Perfect,
Perfect Food
 We all have our version of the perfect food. To some, it’s a giant
cheeseburger; to others, a garlic-crusted salmon fillet (wild-caught,
of course). You may love a big plate of pasta, a bowl of cereal, or a
tub of popcorn. Anything with chocolate may make you’re a list. Most
people don’t list greens in the perfect food category, but there is
ample evidence that green foods are, in fact, the perfect food when it
comes to obtaining vital nutrients while maintaining weight, strength
and vibrant health. It’s good to be green ‘Green foods’ is a term usually used to describe young cereal grasses
like wheat, barley, oats and alfalfa, as well as spirulina, chlorella,
kelp and other sea vegetables. They tend to be rich in beta carotene,
calcium, iron, protein, fiber and vitamin C, and are very nutrient
dense. Cereal grasses in particular are extremely potent at the young green
stage when they are deep green in color and have the look, feel,
taste, nutrient and chemical makeup of green leafy vegetables.
Recognized by the Council on Foods of the American Medical Association
since 1939, cereal grasses are the first line of defense in green. In
fact, nearly every major health organization recommends eating five to
nine servings of vegetables (and fruits) every day. Yet, according to
the U.S. Department of Agriculture, less than nine percent of American
adults actually consume that amount. One way to make sure you’re
feeding your body the perfect amount and consequently, the perfect
food, is through supplementation. High quality green food products are ideal for anyone who isn’t able
to incorporate enough green foods into their diet. And let’s face it,
that’s most of us. A perfect green food supplement, in powder or
caplet form, supports healthy carbohydrate metabolism, digestive
health and immune system function. The perfect green food should also
include healthy intestinal flora known as probiotics.
Why probiotics? Probiotics are defined as live microorganisms, including Lactobacillus
species, Bifidobacterium species and yeasts, and are intended to help
the body's naturally occurring flora within the digestive tract to
reestablish themselves. The dietary use of live microorganisms has a
long history. Mention of cultured dairy products is found in the Bible
and the sacred books of Hinduism. Soured milks and cultured dairy
products, such as kefir, koumiss, leben and dahi, were often used
therapeutically before the existence of microorganisms was recognized.
The use of microorganisms in food fermentation is one of the oldest
methods for producing and preserving food. Much of the world still
depends upon various fermented foods that are staples in the diet. Élie Metchnikoff, a Russian zoologist and microbiologist recognized as
the father of modern immunology, spoke highly about the possible
health benefits of the lactic acid-bacteria (LAB) Lactobacillus
bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus in his writings in the early
1900s. In his book, “The Prolongation of Life,” he wrote that
consumption of live bacteria in the form of yogurt was beneficial for
gastrointestinal health as well as for longevity. Some recent research
suggests that certain live microorganisms may also have positive
immune system and anticarcinogenic effects. Modern companies like Garden of Life are continuing this philosophy
with their Perfect Food brand utilizing probiotics delivered via
their proprietary Poten-Zyme fermentation process. This process uses
living probiotic organisms and their enzymes to transform nutrients
into bioactive forms that your body can easily assimilate. They call
it Poten-Zyme, and it’s a potent way to give your body what it needs,
in the most natural way possible: through fermentation, which is also
a natural part of the digestive process. In fact, a healthy body
contains more probiotic microorganisms in the digestive tract than
total cells in the body. The Poten-Zyme process brings you the
benefits of fermentation and it does so in two phases. In phase one, probiotic microorganisms are introduced into a base
vitamin and mineral blend where they break down the cell walls of
nutrients, making them easier to absorb and digest. In phase two,
probiotic cultures like Lactobacillus plantarum are introduced,
producing lactic acid and acting as chelating agents to complete the
assimilation of nutrients into food form. The result: predigested
living foods or nutrients that are much more body-friendly and thus
more body-healthy. Perfect Food from Garden of Life contains more greens per serving than
other leading green food formulas, providing 7,700 milligrams (in the
Original formula) and 6,400mg (Super Green powder) of total greens per
serving. For digestive health support, they both contain probiotic
strains. They offer an excellent source of natural vitamin A from
beta-carotene and are a good source of natural vitamin C. Perfect Food
formulas also contain algae and cereal grasses for a natural source of
alkalizing minerals.
And now Perfect Food is available in a super green fruit and vegetable
formula called
Perfect Food Berry.
Berry good for you
 Perfect
Food Berry
contains 50 whole food ingredients, including 21 vegetable juices,
bran solubles and 13 fermented sprouted grains and legumes, and five
whole fruits and berries, most of which have been organically grown
and shown to have higher phytonutrient antioxidant content than their
conventionally grown counterparts.
The formula contains young cereal grass juices from barley, alfalfa,
oat and wheat so they contain more chlorophyll, vitamins and amino
acids. Chlorophyll has been studied extensively for its chelating
properties (the ability to bind heavy metals), supporting normal
detoxification.
But what makes this Perfect Food so berry special is its blend of five
organic freeze-dried whole fruits: strawberry, tart cherry, blueberry,
blackberry and raspberry. One serving provides the equivalent of nine
grams of berries and fruits. Plus these antioxidants support the
body’s ability to more effectively utilize vitamin C. In a major study on fruit and vegetable antioxidant content published
in the June 9, 2004 Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry,
berries were at the top of the list in terms of the amount of
available antioxidant ability. Antioxidants are disease-fighting
compounds that scientists believe help repair and/or prevent the
stress of oxidation, a process that occurs naturally during normal
cell function.
This comprehensive study used cutting-edge technology to gauge
antioxidant levels in more than 100 foods, among them fruits,
vegetables, cereals, breads, nuts, and spices. Among the fruits
studied, cranberries, blueberries, and blackberries ranked highest. In research conducted by Dr. Shiow Wang at the U.S. Department of
Agriculture on berries and natural antioxidants: “Blackberry,
raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, cranberry, lingonberry and deerberry
have high content of flavonoids and high free radical scavenging
capacity against peroxyl radicals, superoxide radicals, hydrogen
peroxide, hydroxyl radicals, and singlet oxygen.” With
Perfect Food Berry, you get the perfect food supplement to feed
your body the vitamins, minerals and nutrients you need, along with
one of the most powerful antioxidant, free-radical fighting compotes
available. It’s like having your perfect food, with a little bit of
dessert thrown in. It’s berry good, and berry, berry good for you! For
more information about
Perfect Food Berry, click here.
Resources Garden of Life natural products and supplements combine the best of
nature and science and offer a proven path to healthier living.
Supported by education and constant innovations, the more than 40
products offered assist each individual in taking control of their own
health with lifestyle changes and advanced nutrition. For more
information about
Garden of Life Whole-Food Nutritional products,
click here. The statements contained on these pages have not been evaluated by the
Food and Drug Administration. The information contained here is not
intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Suggestions
and ideas presented in this document are for information only and
should not be interpreted as medical advice, meant for diagnosing
illness, or for prescriptive purposes. Readers are encouraged to
consult their health care provider before beginning any cleanse, diet,
detoxification program, or any supplement regimen. The information in
this article is not to be used to replace the services or instructions
of a physician or qualified health care practitioner. |
