Superfoods Flashcards
Legumes are very nutrient dense, what 7 nutrients in particular do they contain?
Protein Iron Potassium Selenium Magnesium Zinc B vitamins
Studies show that consumption or legumes improves which 5 conditions?
Type 2 diabetes Cardiovascular disease Cancer Coronary heart disease Hyperlipidaemia
How do legumes help type 2 diabetes?
Low GI delays return of hunger, thus eating less and aiding weight loss
Improves blood glucose control
How do legumes help cardiovascular disease?
Rich in soluble fibre - cholesterol lowering effect
Rich in folate which lowers homocysteine levels
Source of magnesium and potassium which may decrease blood pressure
What are the 3 ingredients in beans that scientists think play a role in cancer prevention?
Saponins - inhibit reproduction cancer cells
Protease inhibitors - slow division of cancer cells
Phytic acid - slow the progression of tumours
How do beans help coronary heart disease?
Please who ate dry beans, peas or peanuts at least 4 times a week had a 21% lower risk of CHD than those that didn’t
How do beans help improve hyperlipidaemia?
Improves serum lipid and lipoprotein profiles
What type of cancer are legumes particularly good at preventing?
Prostate
What 4 particular nutrients are oats a good source of?
B vitamins (thiamine)
Manganese
Magnesium
Copper
Oats have a greater proportion of ________________ _________________ than any other grain
Soluble fibre
Oats contain beta-glucan, what 4 ways do they lower cholesterol?
Soluble fibre binds with bile acids in the gut and increases faecal bile acid excretion
Inhibits the formation of micelles which are necessary for fat absorption
Soluble fibres ferment to short chain fatty acids in he gut - absorption of these may inhibit cholesterol synthesis in the liver
Oats can reduce total and LDL cholesterol
Give 3 ways beta-glucan improves diabetes?
Increases the viscosity of food in the small intestines and delays absorption - reducing the insulin spike
Slows stomach emptying thus helping to control appetite
High fibre content increases stool weight - accelerating colonic transit time
Cranberries are a good source of what 3 things?
Vitamin C
Dietary fibre
Manganese
Cranberries contain proanthocyanidins, what do they do which make cranberries preventative for ITI’s?
They interfere with bacterial adherence to the urinary Tracy epithelial cells
Also ‘wraps’ around ecoli which is the cause of most UTI’s
Cranberries contain a high molecular weight compound (yet to be identified). What 2 things does is help?
Prevents periodontal disease as prevents adhesion of plaque bacteria
Prevents adhesion of H. Pylori in the stomach
What component of cranberries has an anti-inflammatory, anti-platelet and anti-tumour effects?
Salicylic acid = the active metabolite of aspirin
How much cranberry juice has shown to be effective in treating recurrent UTI’s in women?
300ml a day
What drug may cranberries interact with?
Warfarin - increasing the risk of bleeding
Goji berries contain ___________ which show antioxidant activity in vitro.
Polysaccharides
Açai berries are good sources of what 5 nutrients?
Calcium Vitamin A Phosphorus Iron Thiamine
What component of açai berries account for most of their antioxidant capacity?
Anthocyanins
4 historical uses of the acerola cherry?
Enhancing the immune system
Growth and repair of tissue
Increasing iron absorption
Supporting production of anti-stress hormones
6 nutrients found in high levels on acerola cherries?
Vitamin A Vitamin C Calcium Potassium Magnesium Folate
Tart cherries contain perillyl alcohol (POH), a powerful compound in reducing what?
All types of cancer
3 side effects of acerola cherry?
Same as associated with high dose vitamin C:
Migraines
Diarrhoea
Abdominal cramps
3 drug interactions for acerola cherries?
Due to vitamin C content…
Anticoagulants - blood thinning effects of warfarin
OCP - increase absorption
Anti psychotics
3 things blueberries contain?
Fibre
Vitamin C
Numerous phytonutrients
3 therapeutic uses of blueberries?
Anti cancer activity
Reduces normal oxidative cellular damage that occurs with ageing
Like cranberries - prevent bacterial adhesion to the bladder
Black current seeds are rich in what?
Omega 6
3 nutrients found in high concentrations in blackberries?
Vitamin C
Tannins
Potassium
What phytochemical found in blackberries inhibits the inflammatory mechanism?
Anthocyanin
Tomatoes are a major dietary source of what carotenoid?
Lycopene
Increases lycopene in blood is associated with what?
Decreased prostate cancer risk
What 4 things can tomatoes help?
Prostate cancer
Other types of cancer for example ovarian
Cardiovascular disease
Cataracts
3 potential health benefits of pomegranates?
Cholesterol lowering
Cancer treatment
Atherosclerosis
2 drug interactions with pomegranate?
Blood thinners ACE inhibitors (high blood pressure meds)