Ever wondered about the secret superheroes of nutrition with less-than-appetising names? Enter anthocyanins, the focus of this exploration. Despite sounding more like industrial chemicals than natural pigments, anthocyanins are the compounds that give vibrant foods like blueberries and strawberries their eye-catching colours.
Anthocyanins belong to the flavonoid family, a group of plant-based chemicals that, despite their misleading name, aren’t biological weapons but rather essential molecules that support our health and longevity.
So, beyond their peculiar name, let’s dive into anthocyanins: what they are, where they’re found, and how they can help combat or alleviate metabolic disorders, as revealed by recent research.
Understanding Anthocyanins
Ever wondered how plants protect themselves from the sun’s harmful rays? Anthocyanins act as natural sunscreens, imparting rich red, blue, and purple hues to fruits and vegetables.
The highest concentrations of anthocyanins are found in raspberries, blackberries, cherries, plums, cranberries, pomegranates, and chokeberries. Blueberries and strawberries also boast significant anthocyanin content. Among vegetables, anthocyanins are abundant in eggplant, red cabbage, purple cauliflower, purple carrots, and beets. Starchy sources like purple corn, purple yams/sweet potatoes, purple potatoes, black beans, and red kidney beans are also excellent sources.
Health Benefits of Anthocyanins
According to recent findings, anthocyanins offer promising benefits in addressing metabolic syndrome—a combination of conditions including abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and abnormal blood lipids. Left untreated, these conditions can significantly increase the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Research suggests that anthocyanins provide a range of cardiovascular and metabolic benefits, including:
Prevention of arterial plaque formation
Reduction in blood pressure
Inhibition of blood clot formation
Anti-inflammatory properties
Increase in HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels
Reduction in LDL (low-density lipoprotein) and total cholesterol levels
Enhancement of antioxidant capacity
If these benefits sound appealing, here’s where you can find significant anthocyanin concentrations in your diet.
Source: Precision Nutrition
Why Do Anthocyanin Levels Vary?
Similar to humans, foods are products of their environment. Factors like growing conditions, harvest timing, and post-harvest handling can influence the nutrient content of fruits and vegetables. Additionally, the form of the food—whether whole, juiced, powdered, or processed—can affect anthocyanin levels.
Addressing Abdominal Fat
Excess visceral adipose tissue, which accumulates around internal organs, is a known risk factor for metabolic disorders. While animal studies suggest that anthocyanins may help reduce abdominal fat and overall body weight, evidence in humans remains inconclusive. However, observational studies indicate that increased consumption of anthocyanin-rich foods like blueberries and strawberries is associated with less weight gain over time among large study populations.
Key Takeaways
Embrace a Diverse Diet: While anthocyanins offer significant nutritional benefits, remember that a balanced diet should include a variety of nutrient-dense foods, including colourful fruits and vegetables rich in anthocyanins.
Exercise Caution with Supplements: Exercise Caution with Supplements: Unlike essential vitamins and minerals, anthocyanins do not have a recommended daily allowance (RDA) because deficiency is not a concern. While supplements and processed forms of anthocyanin-rich foods exist, whole foods are generally recommended for maximising health benefits. Moreover, when choosing supplements, partner with a supplement brand you can trust.
As research continues to uncover the potential health benefits of anthocyanins, incorporating these colourful nutrients into your diet can contribute to improved overall health and well-being.
If you have specific health concerns or need guidance on incorporating anthocyanin-rich foods into your diet, consider consulting with a nutritionist or healthcare provider. They can provide tailored advice based on your individual health needs and goals.
Calcium: the cornerstone of sturdy bones and teeth, yet a potential menace when it finds its way into your arteries. The delicate balance between bone strength and arterial health underscores the importance of vitamin K—a nutrient that holds promise in safeguarding against arterial calcification. Join us as we delve into the latest research exploring the intricate relationship between vitamin K supplementation and heart health.
Unveiling the Findings: The Role of Vitamin K in Artery Health
In a comprehensive review encompassing 14 randomised controlled trials and over 1500 participants, researchers set out to unravel the enigmatic link between vitamin K and arterial calcification. Employing Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) testing—a precise diagnostic tool capturing images of arterial calcium deposits—the study shed light on the potential benefits of vitamin K supplementation in mitigating arterial calcification.
Key Insights from the Study
Arterial Protection: Participants receiving vitamin K supplements exhibited a notable reduction in arterial calcium buildup, as evidenced by their CAC test results. This promising finding underscores the potential role of vitamin K in preserving arterial health and mitigating the risk of heart disease.
Mixed Findings: While the overall trend favoured vitamin K supplementation in curbing arterial calcification, studies yielded varied outcomes regarding its impact on the calcification of the aortic heart valve—a critical gateway regulating blood flow from the heart. While some trials reported no discernible effect, others showcased tangible improvements, highlighting the complexity of arterial health dynamics.
Navigating the Terrain
Supplemental Considerations: Despite emerging evidence hinting at the benefits of vitamin K supplementation, caution is warranted. Regulatory bodies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) refrain from endorsing vitamin K supplements for heart health, citing the need for further research and potential risks associated with supplementation. Individuals, particularly those on blood thinners, should exercise prudence and consult healthcare professionals before incorporating vitamin K supplements into their regimen.
Dietary Strategies: Embracing a vitamin K-rich diet emerges as a cornerstone of heart-healthy nutrition. Found abundantly in green leafy vegetables, vegetable oils, and fermented foods, vitamin K offers a multifaceted approach to arterial health. Incorporating an array of vitamin K sources—ranging from spinach and kale to cheese and organ meats—ensures a balanced intake of this vital nutrient, supporting both bone integrity and arterial resilience.
As we navigate the intricacies of arterial health and heart wellness, the role of vitamin K emerges as a beacon of hope in the quest for optimal cardiovascular function. By embracing a holistic approach encompassing dietary diversity, evidence-based supplementation, and informed lifestyle choices, we embark on a transformative journey toward lifelong heart health and vitality.
If you’re familiar with the fitness scene, you’ve likely heard the advice that consuming roughly 30 grams of protein after a workout is optimal for building muscle. But what if this widely accepted notion isn’t entirely accurate? Recent research from Maastricht University suggests there might be more to the story. This challenges our understanding of how much protein is needed post-exercise to maximise muscle growth.
The Study Unveiled
Researchers at Maastricht University embarked on a study involving 36 healthy, active men. After engaging in a rigorous strength training session, participants were given protein drinks containing varying amounts of protein – zero, 25, or 100 grams. Over the next 12 hours, their muscle protein synthesis rates were closely monitored through blood samples and muscle biopsies.
Surprising Discoveries
Contrary to conventional beliefs, the study revealed that higher doses of post-workout protein led to sustained muscle protein synthesis. Participants who consumed 100 grams of protein exhibited significantly elevated synthesis rates compared to those who consumed 25 grams. What’s more, this heightened response persisted throughout the entire 12-hour observation period, challenging the idea of a cap on post-exercise protein effectiveness.
Unveiling the Implications
Refining Protein Timing
Traditionally, there’s been emphasis on consuming protein immediately after exercise to capitalise on the so-called “anabolic window,” which refers to the period immediately following a workout when the body is believed to be most receptive to nutrient intake for muscle repair and growth. However, this study suggests a more nuanced approach, indicating that the impact of post-exercise protein intake extends beyond the immediate aftermath of a workout.
Total Protein Intake Takes Centre Stage
While the study highlights the potential benefits of higher post-workout protein doses, it underscores the importance of overall protein consumption for muscle growth. Rather than fixating solely on post-exercise intake, prioritising daily protein targets within the range of 1.6-2.2 grams/kg body weight emerges as crucial for maximising muscle gains.
Optimising Protein Distribution
The study prompts a reevaluation of how we distribute protein intake throughout the day. While consuming 100 grams of protein in one sitting may not be practical for most, spreading protein intake evenly across four meals emerges as a promising strategy. This ensures a consistent supply of protein to support muscle repair and growth without solely relying on immediate post-workout consumption.
In the ever-evolving realm of sports nutrition, this study challenges long-held beliefs surrounding post-exercise protein intake. While the concept of an ideal post-workout protein dose undergoes scrutiny, the overarching importance of total protein intake for muscle growth remains indisputable. By adopting a comprehensive approach to protein consumption and embracing emerging research insights, individuals can navigate the complexities of post-workout nutrition to maximise their fitness goals
Are you happy with your nutritional status? Are you getting the right amounts of nutrients to support optimal health? If not, what are you doing to improve your nutrition?
The best advice when it comes to nutrition is to eat more whole, minimally-processed foods. However, even if you are doing your best to do that, there are other factors that could mean that you are not getting the nutrients that you need to enjoy optimal health. Improving your knowledge on nutrition and healthy eating, and making small, sustainable changes in your diet and eating habits will help you beyond your physical health.
Taking quality multivitamins is one of the daily habits that we highly recommend. However, there’s a lot of conflicting advice out there regarding the need for supplements. It’s important that you do your own research, objectively look at what both sides have to say, and decide based on the amount and weight of the evidences you see. Read on to see if any of the evidences below will make sense to you.
1. More Plants Are Growing In Nutrient-Poor Soils
Our physical health depends on the health of our topsoil. The plants manufacture vitamins and antioxidants and receive minerals from the soil. However, with over-farming practices, the soil is not given enough time to recover the nutrients it needs before new crop is planted again. Fertilisers are not enough give optimal amount of nutrients for the plants, either. This soil degredation leads to the loss of soil micro and macronutrients. Nutrient-poor soils are not able to produce healthy food for the animals and humans that depend on them.
This is not new to us. In 1936, US Senate Document 264 quoted: “The alarming fact is that foods, fruits and vegetables and grains, now being raised on millions of acres of land that no longer contain enough of certain needed minerals, are starving us – no matter how much of them we eat! Between now and 1936, population and farming demands have grown even more.
At the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (known as the Earth Summit) in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, reports included soil mineral content depletion. Agricultural soils in Africa, Europe and Australia lost 74%, while US and Canadian agricultural soils lost 85% of their mineral content. Asian and South American soils dropped 76%.
A study in Great Britain between 1940-2002 revealed 15% – 62% mineral losses. In Canada, between 1949-1999, the spud lost 57% of its Vitamin. C and iron, 28% of its calcium, 50% of its riboflavin, and 18% of its niacin. Fruits and vegetables had 80% loss of calcium and iron, 75% loss of Vitamin A, 50% loss of Vitamin C and riboflavin, and 33% loss of thiamine.
In short, if optimal nutrients are not in the soil, they’re not in the plants, they’re not in the animals that eat them, and they’re not in our body.
2. Not Getting Enough Micronutrients Is The New Kind of Malnutrition
Micronutrients are mostly our vitamins and minerals. In 2006, the United Nations talked about a new kind of malnutrition: multiple micronutrient depletion. It is not the quantity of food that is the issue; it is the quality.
Not Eating Enough Fruits and Vegetables
In 2018, only 28% of adults in UK meet the 5-a-day fruit and vegetables recommendation. The average was 3.7 portions per day. Fewer men than women meet the 5-a-day guideline, and young people aged 16 to 24 are also less likely than other adults to get their five-a-day. In 2018, 18% of children aged 5 to 15 ate five standard portions of fruit and vegetables per day.
In addition, vitamins are not fully retained during the cooking process.
Eating More High-Fat, High-Sugar Foods
Many are overweight yet undernourished. In 2016, more than 1.9 billion adults, 18 years and older, were overweight. Of these over 650 million were obese. In 2020, 39 million children under the age of 5 were overweight or obese. This is due to an increased intake of high-fat, high-sugar, high-salt, energy-dense, and micronutrient-poor foods, coupled with an increase in physical inactivity.
In 2000, WHO reported that more than 2 billion people in the world were estimated to be deficient in key vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamin A, iodine, iron and zinc. The groups most vulnerable to micronutrient deficiencies are pregnant women, lactating women and young children, mainly because they have a relatively greater need for vitamins and minerals and are more susceptible to the harmful consequences of deficiencies.
3. Chronic Nutrient Deficiency Leads To Degenerative Diseases
Vitamin and Mineral Deficiency
Suboptimal intake of some vitamins is a risk factor for chronic diseases and common in the general population, especially the elderly. Suboptimal folic acid levels, along with suboptimal levels of vitamins B6 and B12, are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, neural tube defects, and colon and breast cancer; low levels of vitamin D contribute to osteopenia and fractures; and low levels of the antioxidant vitamins (vitamins A, E, and C) may increase risk for several chronic diseases.
Free Radical Damage
Free radicals also contribute to cellular damage. Free radicals (or ROS – Reactive Oxygen Species) are atoms or molecules that have an unpaired electron in its outer shell. This loss of electron is called oxidation, and it is a normal part of metabolism. UV light, radiation, smoking, air pollution, stress, intense exercise, and inflammation increase the levels of free radicals in your body.
Every cell in the body is hit 10,000 times by a free radical everyday. Imagine what will happen to the cells if they are constantly under attack by free radicals. Eventually, the cell membrane collapses, which leads to damage in various parts of the cell such as the mitochondria and DNA. Every structure in the cell is susceptible to damage and degeneration. It doesn’t end there, because these damaged and mutated cells also replicate.
Go back to imagining every cell in the body being hit by free radicals 10,000 times a day. This can really hurt various cells of the body — in the heart, skin, kidneys, joints, lungs, brain, immune system, blood vessels, eyes, and all the other organs. This is what we call oxidative stress, which leads to systemic inflammation. The damaged cells can no longer function well, and that is when you start to see signs and symptoms of disease.
4. Nutrients Are Needed For Cell Regeneration And Repair
We have over 100 trillion cells in the human body. Every cell in your body eventually dies and is replaced by new cells. The human body is in a constant state of regeneration, from the cells in your skin to the cells in your skeleton.
Your skin rebuilds itself in 1 month
Your liver rebuilds itself in 6 weeks
Your stomach lining rebuilds itself in 5 days
Your blood rebuilds itself in 4 months
Your body builds a whole new skeleton in 10 years
You need optimal amounts of vitamins and minerals to ensure healthy cell regeneration.
How Antioxidants Work
Antioxidants are important as our defence against free radicals. Remember that free radicals have a missing electron, that’s why they’re unstable. What they do is they keep “stealing” an electron from their neighbouring atoms, turning them into free radicals, as well. It becomes a chain reaction, leading to extensive free radical damage. Antioxidants help us by donating an electron to the free radical. This stops the electron-stealing chain reaction, and so the free radical becomes harmless (neutralised).
Your body can create antioxidants, but in inadequate amounts. That is why you need to get it from our diet. One exogenous (coming from diet) antioxidant can neutralise one free radical. However, one endogenous (produced by your cells) antioxidant can neutralise dozens of free radicals. Usana’s patented InCelligence Technology sends communication signals to your cells so they can produce their endogenous antioxidants, so you can have more powerful antioxidant action in your body.
In the study of Dr. Myron Wentz, a microbiologist and Albert Einstein Award recipient, he found that antioxidants provide a marked improvement in inhibiting cellular damage.
Human cells under the microscope as seen by USANA’s founder, Dr. Myron Wentz
5. Hundreds Of Studies Confirm The Health Benefits Of Supplementation
In the 1980s, the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) published that people of normal health do not need to take supplements, and can meet all their nutritional needs through diet alone. In 2002, they changed their stand. JAMA said that modern diet is not enough; supplementation is a preventive measure against chronic disease.
In 2004, a study on Vitamin K2 supplementation in Rotterdam had 4,807 subjects. They saw a 57% reduction in death from heart disease. People who took Vitamin K2 supplements live 7 years longer, and had reduced vertebral (60%), hip (77%), and non-vertebral (81%) fractures.
In 1992 the journal Epidemiology published a 10-year study on men who took 800 mg/day of Vitamin C. They lived 6 years longer than those who consumed the RDA of 60 mg/day, and they had extended average lifespan and reduced mortality from cardiovascular disease and cancer.
In 1996, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition studied 11,178 elderly people. Those who receivedsupplementation with Vitamin E showed reduced the risk of overall mortality by 34% and reduced the risk of coronary disease mortality by 47%. Supplementation of Vitamins C and E reduced the risk of overall mortality by 42% and reduced the risk of coronary disease mortality by 53%.
In 1997, the British Medical Journal studied 1,605 healthy men with no evidence of pre-existing heart disease. They found out that those who were deficient in Vitamin C had 350% increased incidence of sudden heart attacks compared to those who were not deficient in Vitamin C.
In 1998, a study was done on 88,756 nurses who took folic acid as part of a daily multivitamin. Findings included the following: (1) 400 mg/day or more of folate had lower risk for colon cancer (compared to 200 mg/day); (2) After 5 years of use: reduced risk for colon cancer; (3) After 15 years of use: 75% reduction in the risk of colon cancer.
Those who took Vitamin B6 supplementation had reduced risk for heart attack by 30%. Those who received Folate + Vitamin B6 can reduce homocysteine levels by up to 32% in healthy individuals (which means they have a lower risk for heart attack and stroke).
In 2008, a study on post-heart attack patients taking omega-3 supplementation showed lower risk for arrhythmia and 85% reduction in the risk for premature death.
In 2010 in Norway, elderly men without heart disease who supplemented with fish oil showed 47% reduction in the risk of premature death compared to those who did not supplement.
A 19-year study revealed that men with poor Vitamin D status have three times the risk for colorectal cancer than those with sufficient Vitamin D.
Researchers of the University of California conducted a meta-analysis of worldwide studies from 1996-2004. They found out that 1,000 IU/day of Vitamin D lowers risk for colorectal cancer by 50%.
A 2008 review of current research findings revealed that 1,000-4,000 IU/day intake of Vitamin D can protect against cancer of the breast, colon, prostate, ovary, lungs, and pancreas.
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