QUESTIONS - Superfoods Flashcards
What is a superfood?
A food that contains all or nearly all the vitamins, minerals and trace minerals the body needs.
They are rich in vitamins and minerals, and generally contain phytonutrients, enzymes, essential fatty acids and antioxidants
what is and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) score
A laboratory test that aims to quantify the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of a food
what are phytonutrients
Plant nutrients
name some super foods
Chlorophyll
Seaweed
Microalgae: Spirulina and chlorella
Wheat grass
Barley grass
Sprouts, especially broccoli sprouts
Bee pollen
Whole grains
what do many super foods have in common?
Chlorophyll
what is chlorophyll and what is it used to produce?
Plants used chlorophyll to trap light; it is used in photosynthesis to produce ATP
what are the energetics of chlorophyll?
Cooling, calming for Yang excess
What gives plants and algae their green colour?
Chlorophyll
name some rich sources of chlorophyll
Green leafy vegetables e.g. spinach, rocket, parsley, cress
what is chlorophyll similar in structure to and how does it differ?
Haemoglobin
It also has a porphyrin ring back the central atom is magnesium instead of iron
what vitamins is chlorophyll a good source of?
Vitamins: A, C, E, K
What minerals is chlorophyll a good source of?
Minerals: magnesium, iron, calcium, potassium
name some of the benefits and clinical applications of chlorophyll?
Detoxification
Antioxidant
Reduces inflammation
Supports energy production
Promotes wound healing
Deodorant properties
how does and what chlorophyll detoxify?
Chlorophyll combines with certain carcinogenic chemicals (e.g. heterocyclic amines, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and aflatoxins).
It positively influences detoxification of carcinogens in the liver by down regulating phase 1 enzymes and inducing phase II
What is a heterocyclic amine
A carcinogenic chemical found in cooked meats
what carcinogenic chemical is found in tobacco smoke, grilled/tribe meats?
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
what is an aflatoxin?
A food-borne toxin produced by certain fungi
how is chlorophyll and antioxidant?
It decreases oxidative damage, especially by chemical carcinogen and radiation treatment.
what type of antioxidant activity does chlorophyll promote?
Endogenous
what can activate TNF-a-gene and what from?
Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) released from bacteria
Which pro inflammatory marker does chlorophyll reduce?
TNF a gene
what is a lipopolysaccharide?
It acts as an endotoxin and is in bacterial cell walls
where are lipopolysaccharide’s released from?
Intestinal bacterial infections /intestinal permeability
How does chlorophyll support energy?
It is rich in magnesium which is required for the production of ATP
how do you use chlorophyll for wound healing?
Topically as a cream or ointment
what deodorant properties does chlorophyll have and in what circumstances is it used?
It can reduce odour e.g. from colostomy, ileostomy or incontinence
How can chlorophyll useful in diseases such as cancer, osteoporosis, arthritis and kidney stones and why?
It is alkalising and has a high alkaline mineral content.
Excess acidity in the body can cause diseases such as cancer, osteoporosis, arthritis and kidney stones
what is the normal blood pH?
7.35 - 7.45
What does acidity do to cellular function?
Tissues can become acidic (due to certain diseases, drugs, diet) causing alterations to normal cellular function and increasing the risk of chronic disease
how should you cooked chlorophyll rich foods?
More slightly steamed
what happens when you overcook chlorophyll and how can you tell?
Overcooking destroys chlorophyll, retaining the green retains the benefits
what are chlorophyll supplements usually made from, and how does it differ from chlorophyll?
Chlorophyllin - a semi-synthetic mixture of sodium copper salts derived from chlorophyll.
During synthesis, magnesium is replaced with copper
What are the three major groups of macroalgae?
Red algae
Brown algae
Green algae
Name some red algaes
Dulse
Nori
Laver
What ares some brown algaes?
Kelp
Bladderwrack
Wakame
Name some green algaes?
Sea lettuce
Spongeweed
what is another group of algaes (that is not a seaweed and not included in the three major groups)?
Blue green algae e.g. chlorella
what is a macroalgae?
Seaweed
what are the energetics of seaweed?
Cooling
Moistens dryness
what nutrients are seaweed a good source of?
Particularly, iodine, iron and calcium B12 (nori)
Omega-3
A range of amino acids
Which seaweed is a good plant source of B12
Nori
What are the 7 benefits and clinical applications of seaweed?
Anti-oxidant
Anti inflammatory
Thyroid function
Healthy weight management
Blood sugar control
Management of blood lipids
Digestion and GIT health
What is the component of seaweed called that has the antioxidant effects?
A carotenoid called Fucoxanthin is found in edible brown seaweed such as wakame and has powerful antioxidant effects
Which inflammatory proteins does seaweed reduce?
NG-kB and COX-2
How does seaweed help thyroid function?
The high iodine content is useful for the production of T3 and T4
Which seaweed is considered rge most therapeutically effective for thyroid function and associated weight gain and why?
Bladderwrack - it is rich in bioavailble iodine, other minerals and amino acids such as tyrosine to support thyroid
Which amino acid is required for healthy thyroid function?
Tyrosine
How is seaweed goof for weight management?
It boosts minerals and vitamins while being low in calories.
Contains fibre which increases satiety
Fucoxanthin upregulates expression of mitochondrial uncoupling protein (UCP1) - involved in metabolic thermogenesis (decreases fat accumulation)
What is the nutrient and related protein in seaweed called that is involved in metabolic thermogenesis (decreases fat accumulation)?
Fucoxanthin - (a carotenoid antioxidant)
Mitochondrial uncoupling protein (UCP1)
How does seaweed help control blood sugar levels and what enzyme is involved?
It increases insulin sensitivity through its effects on the tyrosine phosphatse enzyme.
What metabolic condition is seaweed useful in controlling?
Seaweed promotes better glycaemic control and is good for insulin resistance.
What does seaweed do to triglycerides and lipids?
It reduces serum triglycerides and improves the LDL:HDL ratio
HOW does seaweed help bind cholesterol?
The gel-forming fibre in seaweed binds to cholesterol in the intestinal lumen leading to increased clearance of cholesterol
Explain how the fibre in seaweed helps digestion and GIT health
The fibre enhances growth of beneficial bacteria (supports GI tight junctions) and bowel elimination
How does seaweed help conditions like ulcers, constipation and colitis?
It nourishes inflamed digestive tract
What toxins can seaweed accumulate, name some examples?
Heavy metals including cadmium, mercury and lead
Which seaweed has a soft, chewy texture?
Dulse
Which seaweed is usually dried into sheets and added to cooking, or soaked in water to soften?
Kelps
Which seaweed has a strong mineral-rich flavour and is often used in soups?
Kombu
Which seaweed has a mildly sweet flavour and firm texture which is often sold as granules, flakes and a salt substitute?
Arame - a kelp
What is microalgae?
Microalgae is phytoplankton - freshwater, single celled photosynthesising algae or bacteria
What are the the types of microalgae?
Blue-green algae
Spirulina
Chlorella
What type of algae is Blue-green algae?
Freshwater cyanobacteria (not an algae)
Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA) wild blue-green algae
What type of algae is spiulina?
Blue-green spiral shaped Cyanobacteria
What type of algae is chlorella?
Single celled fresh water green algae
What are the energetics of micro-algae?
Cooling
Moistens dryness
What nutrients are high in microalgae?
Chlorophyl
Iron
50-70% protein
Excellent source of available B12 and D2
What is there a notable absence of in chlorella?
Iodine
what shape and colour is spirulina?
Spiral shaped, blue–green algae
where does spirulina grow?
In both fresh and salt water
why is spirulina easily digested?
Because it lacks cellulose walls
what are the two species of spirulina that are cultivated worldwide?
Arthrospira platensis and arthrospira maxima
What nutrients is spirulina high in?
Highly nutritious
60 to 70% highly bioavailable protein
Contains all the essential amino acids
Rich in beta-carotene, phycocyanin, chlorophyll
Rich in vitamin B1, B2, B3, A, K
Rich in copper, iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, potassium
what are phycocyanins?
A pigment binding protein that exert anti-cancer activity
the spirulina contain B12?
It contains analogues of vitamin B12 which are not absorbed in the gut - it is not a reliable source of B12 for vegans
Name 8 benefits and clinical applications of spirulina
Detoxification
Immune enhancing
Anti-inflammatory
Anti-cancer
Exercise performance
Antiallergic effects
Antihypertensive
Positive effect on blood lipids
How and what does spirulina detoxify?
It acts as an accumulator (biosorbent) of heavy minerals due to ‘ion-exchange binding’.
It binds with heavy metals including cadmium, arsenic, lead and mercury
what does biosorbent mean?
A biomass that allows a contaminant to bind to it cellular structure
What part of the immune system does spirulina enhance?
It increases natural killer cell activity and has anti-viral properties
What anti-inflammatory pathways does spirulina reduce?
It reduces the production of pro inflammatory cytokines by inhibiting the NF-kB pathway
What is phycocyanin?
What superfoods contain it?
What properties does it have?
Phycocyanin is a protein extract from spirulina.
It has anti-cancer properties, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiproliferative effects
how does Spirulina help exercise performance?
It increases endurance, whilst the high amino acid content supports muscle hypertrophy
What anti allergic effects does Spirulina have and which allergic condition has been linked?
It inhibits histamine from mast cells
Allergic rhinitis
How does Spirulina have a positive effect on blood lipids?
It lowers LDL and VLDL cholesterol and triglycerides whilst increasing HDL