Superfoods (TS) Flashcards
TWO superfoods = good source of vitamin B12.
- Nori
- Chlorella
Why is it beneficial to include alkalising foods in the diet?
To help balance pH in tissues.
Excessive acid-forming diet changes acidity (subtle) in cell and surrounding area which alters cellular function. Increases risk of chronic diseases: oestoarthritis, heart disease.
Fruit and veg in gen as well as chlorophyll-containing veg contain alkalising minerals.
What plant compound is particularly useful as an alkalising nutrient?
Chlorophyll
TWO mechanisms by which chlorophyll supports detoxification of carcinogens and toxins.
- Can bind with carcinogens eg heterocylic and polyxxx to remove from body.
- Downregulating P1 detoxifcation and upregulating P2. So can be elminated via bowels and kidneys.
Nutrients in seaweeds to support thyroid function?
Iodine
Tyrosine
Zinc, iron etc other supportive nutrients.
TWO ways that barley grass supports GIT function.
- High fibre - improves bowel working. Some of the fibre produces SCFA to help in many ways (nourishes microflora, tight juncitons).
- Compounds that reduce inflammation in the gut.
TWO specific benefits of broccoli sprouts.
- Sulforaphane and i3C to support detoxifcation (P1 modulation and P2 upregulating)
- I3C to good for deactivating oestrogen (endometriosis, fibroids, breast cancer)
- Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory
Difference between whole and refined grains?
Wholegrains contains the whole grain: bran, germ, endosperm etc.
Nutrients concentrated in germ and bran.
Refined nutrional content removed (endosperm only)
TWO heavy metal chelators?
Spirulina and chlorella.
Seaweeds also valuable and anything chlorophyll-rich will be beneficial.
What is a superfood?
Superfoods contain all or nearly all the vitamins, minerals and trace minerals the body needs and generally contain:
- phytonutrients
- enzymes
- EFAs
- antioxidants.
Name 3 superfoods
Algae
Sprouts
Bee pollen.
How is the antioxidant status of a food measured?
ORAC score.
Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity.
Lab test that aims to quantify total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of a food.
Not that reliable!
What is a porphyrin ring?
Type of organic compound that can bind metal ions.
Chlorophyll’s basic structure similar to haemoglobin ie with a porphyrin ring but central atom is Mg not Fe.
What is chlorophyll?
Green substance in plants that traps light.
Used in photosynthesis to produce ATP.
Energetics of superfoods?
Chlorophyll: cooling, calming for Yang excess.
Spirulina: & Chlorella For Yin deficiency or excess heat (Yang)
Seaweed & microalgae: cooling, moistens dryness
Wheatgrass & Barley Grass: Cooling, cleanses toxins from the body and drain dampness
Sprouts: cooling
Bee pollen: Yang, highly nutritive, sweet and warming
Wholegrains: neutral
Top individual sources of chlorophyll?
Parsley 38.0
Spinach 23.7
Cress 15.6
Green beans 8.3
Rocket 8.2
Leeks 7.7
Endive 5.2
Which vits and minerals does chlorophylll contain?
Vitamins A, C, E, K;
Minerals: Ca, Fe, Mg, Fe, K
Best way to cook chlorophyll-rich foods?
Raw or steam slightly.
Overcooking destroys chlorophyll; retaining the ‘green’ retains the benefits.
Three types of seaweed (microalgae)?
- Red algae: Dulse, nori, laver.
- Brown algae: Kelp, bladderwrack, wakame.
- Green algae: Sea lettuce, spongeweed
Nutrients in seaweed?
Wide range of vitamins and minerals, particularly:
- iodine
- Ca, Fe
- nori = good plant source of B12
- omega-3 fats
- amino acids
What is fucoxathin?
Carotenoid
Found in brown seaweed eg wakame
Powerful antioxidant.
Upregulates expression of ‘mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1)’, a key molecule in
metabolic thermogenesis — decreasing fat accumulation.
5 therapeutic benefits of seaweed?
- Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
- Low thyroid function
- Healthy weight management
- Blood sugar control
- Elevated blood lipids
- Digestion and GIT health
Name 2 inflammatory proteins
NF-kB
COX-2
Seaweed reduces production of such inflammatory proteins
Why is bladderwrack so good for thyroid health (and associated weight gain)?
- Rich in bioavailable iodine content (T3 and T4 production).
- Tyrosine
Explain seaweed’s blood sugar control abilities
Effects on tyrosine phosphatase (enzyme improves insulin sensitivity).
How does seaweed improve elevated blood triglicerides and LDL:HDL ratio (cholesterol)?
Due to gel-forming fibre in seaweed, which binds cholesterol in the intestinal lumen
leading to increased cholesterol clearance.
Three ways seaweed helps with gut health?
- High in fibre - good bowel elimination
- Enhances growth of beneficial bacteria (supporting GI tight
junctions) - Nourishes inflamed digestive tract
- Good for ulcers, constipation, colitis.
Define edible microalgae (phytoplankton)
Classified as mostly freshwater, single-celled photosynthesising algae or bacteria
Name TWO cyanobacteria
– Blue-green algae: freshwater Cyanobacteria (not an algae)
– Spirulina: Blue-green spiral shaped Cyanobacteria.
– Chlorella: Single-celled fresh water green algae (not Cyanobacteria)
What is phycocyanin?
Pigment-binding protein that exerts anti-cancer activity. Antioxidant.
Found in blue-green algae eg Spirulina
Describe spirulina
Spiral-shaped, blue-green algae able to grow in both fresh and salt water.
Lacks cellulose walls so easily digested.
Two key species:
1. Arthrospira platensis
2. Arthrospira maxima
Cultivated worldwide
Highly nutritious contents of spirulina?
1.60–70% highly bioavailable protein: contains all essential amino acids.
2. B1, B2, B3, A, K; beta-carotene
3. Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, K, Zn.
4. Phycocyanin
4. Chlorophyll.
No B12
NB contains analogues of vitamin B12 which are not absorbed in the gut; not a reliable source of vitamin B12 for vegans.
What is biosorbent?
Biomass that allows a contaminant to bind to its cellular structure.
Accumulator (biosorbent) of heavy minerals due to ‘ion-exchange binding’.
Can bind with heavy metals including cadmium, arsenic, lead and mercury
Eg chlorella is a biosorbent of heavy metals
8 benefits of spirulina?
- Detoxification - biosorbent of heavy metals
- Immune-enhancing - NKC/anti-viral
- Anti-inflammatory
- Anti-cancer
- Exercise performance (amino acid content supports muscle hypertrophy)
- Anti-allergic effects (histamine)
- Anti-hypertensive - reduces VLDL / LDL cholesterol and tryglicerdies and increases HDL
- Positive effect on blood lipids
Name four heavy metals that seaweed can bind to?
CALM
Cadmium
Arsenic
Lead
Mercury
Two benefits of phyocyanin (found in spirulina)
Spirulina’s phyocyanin:
1. Anti-cancer
2. COX-2 inhibiting
3. Anti-inflammatory
4. Antioxidant
5. Immune-boosting and anti-proliferative effects ie stops cancer cell growing.
Describe chlorella
Single-celled green algae
Nutritionally similar to Spirulina but in contrast, has tough cellulose walls and requires pulverising to increase availability of the micronutrients within Chlorella.
Nutrients contained in chlorella?
- Highest amount of chlorophyll of any known plant
- 60% bioavailable protein
- Contains EFAs
- Very high in Vit D2.
- Good source of β-carotene, vitamin B1, B2, B3, B6 and B12
- Magnesium, iron, phosphorus and zinc.
- Contains bioavailable B12 (205-223mcg per 100g) - unlike spirulina.
- Safe for people on Thyroxine, unlike seaweed
What is GLUT4
Cell membrane glucose transporter
Joint benefits of chlorella and spirulina?
- Detoxification - biosorbent of heavy metals (chlorella also chelator of radioactive particles after radiation treatment)
-
Immune-enhancing
- Spirulina NKC/anti-viral
- Chlorella increases IgA (increases mucosal resistance to infection eg decreases risk of respiratory, gastrointestinal and genitourinary infection). - Anti-inflammatory