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.