What is an antioxidant? To understand the answer, first we must understand what oxidative stress and free radicals are. As a cell ages, and all cells age, they become more susceptible to stress. This happens in the form of a charged particle, or free radical. Cells contain many molecules that need to be kept in balance, similar to your car tires that need to be kept at the same pressure and balance. If one tire runs low on air, your car does not perform as well and is more apt to need more repairs. As our cells go out of balance, they age at a much faster rate. Antioxidants make sure our cells are kept in balance. Whether we cause free radicals from a poor lifestyle, full of television watching and computer use or even by exercising, the free radical damage can lead to diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. Antioxidants come in a variety of sources, including water, fruits, vegetables, vitamins, supplements and even deep breathing exercises.

In the past , we had no way to measure the effectiveness of antioxidants except from anecdotal stories. But now, we have something called an ORAC score. This measures the oxygen radical absorbance capacity. In other words, how good is the product at making sure my tires are all balanced?

It is difficult to tell how healthy a certain food is but a good rule of thumb is, the more colorful your diet, the higher the antioxidant level it contains. A diet full of foods that contain all the colors in the spectrum is a recipe for anti-aging we all should be consuming.

List of 23 Natural, Powerful Super Foods -

Goji Berry ( Wolfberry) -This bright, orange-red fruit has been traditionally used to support the immune system as well as to promote eye health*, plus it is an excellent source of Omegas 3 & 6, zeacanthin and polysaccharides.

Mangosteen-Helps maintain a healthy digestive system, plus the phytonutrients contained in the manosteen-zanthones- may support increased longevity *.

Acai Berry -This exotic, black - purple berry is a super-antioxidant, plus it contains protein, dietary fiber, and is rich source of Omega 6 & Omega 9 fatty acids.

Sea Buckthorn Berry-These bright orange berries are hearty and rich in nutrients. Boasting more than 190 bio-active substances, sea buckthorn berries are widely recognized to revitalize skin tone and texture. It also provides gastrointestinal support and benefits*.

Noni Fruit - This renowned tropical fruit contains a broad array of phytochemicals including lignans, polysaccharides, falconoid, catechins, and omega fatty acids.

Ginseng - Ginseng contains the active compound ginsenosides, traditionally used to boost energy levels*. As an adaptive, ginseng also works with the body to correct imbalances and keep the body functioning optimally*.

Reishi Mushroom - Through its immunomodulatory and immunotherapeutic properties, reishi provides nutritional support for the liver and promotes a strong, healthy immune system*.

Aloe Vera - Aloe Vera juice includes more than 200 active compounds including 20 different minerals, 20 amino acids, and 12 distinct vitamins to support healthy digestion.

Grape Seed - Grape seed is known for its beneficial support of cardiovascular health and healthy inflammation response, plus it’s an abundant source of the well-researched anti aging nutrient Resveratrol*.

Grape Skin - Taken from the nutrient-rich skin of the fruit, it is a plentiful source of antioxidants, and a concentrated source of Resveratrol*.

Green Tea - (decaffeinated) Green tea leaves contain polyphenols and other antioxidants, but are more widely known for their use as a diet aid and for their ability to promote natural energy*

White Tea - ( decaffeinated) White tea is made from very young tea leaves that are steamed immediately after harve3sst to deactivate polyphenol oxidase and increase catecheins. They are believe to support cardiovascular health*.

Aronia Berry ( Chokeberry) - This deep purple berry possesses a strong and tart flavor. Its dark pigmentation arises from dense concentrations of phenolic phytochemicals, especially anthocyanins.Pomegranate - Pomegranates are rich in antioxidant polyphenols and vitamin C, with significantly higher levels of antioxidants than red wine or green tea*.

Acerola - Known for its vitamin C content - roughly 32 times the amount found in the epuivalent form of orange juice - acerola provides an aggressive boost to the immune system*.

Wild Blueberry - These dark - hued berries have long been recognized for their high antioxidant content and concentration of vitamin C. They also provide support for urinary tract and prostate health*.

Cranberry - These berries are packed with vitamin C, phytochemicals, antioxidants, and other essential micronutrients, plus they play an important role in kidney an urinary tract health*.

Prune - Well recognized as a good source of fiber to support digestive health, prunes contain the natural laxative dihydrophenylisatin*.

Raspberry - Rich in vitamin C and potent antioxidants such as poyphenols and anthocyanins, raspberries support the immune system and cardiovascular health*.

Wild Bilberry - This fruit is rich in antioxidants such as quartering and anthocyanin pigments. Bilberries are traditionally used to promote general capillary health and healthy eyesight*.

Tart Cherry - The sour or tart cherry is increasingly respected for its potent antioxidant potential*. Research shows that the Montmorency tart cherries support cardiovascular health and promote a healthy immune response*.

Strawberry - This delicious fruit is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants.

Apple - Apples contain high quantities of fiber and are rich in pectin - which has been shown to promote cardiovascular health*.

It is clear that a diet rich in raw, fresh, whole fruits and vegetables is ideal, but difficult to achieve in the recommended quantities. A healthy alternative is to choose an all natural, liquid product created from whole foods.

I have been able to find just one alternative. Jus ( pronounced “Juice”) contains a vast array of super foods from all over the globe. Many of these exotic foods aren’t even available for purchase in stores. Jus has an ORAC score of 8,687 per once as determined by Brunswick Labs. Vitamin water has a ORAC score of 133 per once.(Simulated antioxidant superfood chart) Unfortunately, Jus is not available in stores at this time. However, you can get a bottle of it online at ==>http://www.JusToday.net<== . If you just do not have the time to put together your 13 servings of fruits and vegetables as recommended I suggest you take charge of your health and get some Jus today. You have a 90 day empty bottle guarantee. You have nothing to loose and all your health to gain.

Hope this investigation of antioxidants helps you to become healthy, wealthy and wise.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Thanks to John Gegan for contributing this article to our Ginseng blog:

Korean Red Ginseng Tea

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In this day and age it has become critical to stay at the top of your game. If you don’t, you’ll most likely get left behind in a trail of dust, sitting on your behind and wondering what went wrong. Whether you are part of the consumer rat-race or an able investor, a sharp mind is key to maintaining focus on all your tasks at hand. The question is… how do we stop ourselves from sinking into an abyss of bumbling brain cells that are blinded by dull darkness and insipid ignorance?

 The good news is that there is hope for those who seek out a better life with a better mind. Researchers have spent plenty time finding out what works and what doesn’t and the results are substantially conclusive. The findings all say the same thing - make simple changes in your daily routines, such as sleep and exercise; stock pile your medicine cabinet with a plethora of multi-vitamins and supplements, and finally exercise your brain directly with stimulating content. It’s all there, ready for the taking, and waiting to help give you a sharp mind well into old age.

 The best place to start would be with you. By making a conscious choice to improve your lifestyle and your daily living habits, you will then be on track to a healthy and sharp mind. Research has shown that by having a sufficient amount of quality sleep, it will aid in memory function and concentration during the day. They say a minimum of 7 hours a night is enough to give your brain time to recoup; collate and store events from the day into long term memory, and leave your mind ready to face the day with precision and clarity. Too much sleep, on the other hand, has been shown to cause heart disease, so I think a good balance is required in order to maintain good health. Stress is also important as it affects our ability to concentrate, to learn new things and our normal mental functioning in general. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you ways of reducing stress. We all have our own ways that help us get through it, like taking a walk, watching your favorite show, playing with your kids in the garden; all of these would be beneficial to relaxing your mind.

 The next place to start is your diet and I could probably write an entire article on this alone. I’m sure you know that you need all the daily required nutrients for your entire body to function properly, especially your mind. The best place is from fresh produce and meats. If your daily intake doesn’t cut it, you’ll have to find supplements that can! You can always speak to your local pharmacist for advice on which one is best. You can consider alternatives to the vitamin range that help stimulate your mind, such as Gingko Biloba, Ginseng, Guarana, Taurine, DMAE, Tyrosine or any combination of these will help stimulate your mind leaving you feeling alert, able to concentrate and ready to handle any task in front of you. Caffeine on the other hand, is not a preference as it can affect your sleep patterns and as I mentioned previously, that’s not a good thing.

 Lastly, the general rule to nature is - use it or lose it! Exercise your mind daily to keep yourself ahead of the game. Sudoku, word searches, crosswords and chess to name a few things that you can do. Listen to new and varied types of music or tune in to talk radio for a change, it all adds up to a fresher perspective in life.

 The bottom line is that by combining all these things into the mix, it will put you well on your way to a healthy and sharp mind, and in the long run it will be you that’s laughing at your friends that leave their keys in the refrigerator!



Thanks to Shayne Nowikow for contributing this article to our Ginseng blog:

Wisconsin American Ginseng

There is quite a bit of information you can find about how to cure various illnesses with the use of alternative medicine. Many people believe this is the only right way for them to take care of such ailments that come their way. However, there are many that take this process even further. They are turning to alternative medicine in order to prevent those illnesses from every occurring.

This does make sense when you think about it. How many people take a daily vitamin supplement? It seems to go along those same lines as there aren’t any negative side effects from doing so. They also won’t interrupt what any prescription medicines are to do for them. One of the common ones is drinking green tea each day. This is said to help people lose weight. Therefore they are less prone to certain diseases such as heart disease and diabetes that can be onset due to excess weight.

Green tea is also a natural antioxidant so various types of toxins are removed from your body. Since they aren’t in place they can’t develop into any type of problem for you. Green tea tastes very good and is a healthy alternative to drinking sugary drinks all the time. If you don’t like the taste of green tea though you can take it in a tablet form.

One area that is strongly promoted is the concept of eating well balanced meals.

Sure, we hear that all the time. Yet there are said to be certain types of foods that contain ingredients to prevent illnesses including cancer. They include certain types of berries as well as other fresh fruits. People do pay a premium price to get them shipped from far away areas.

For those that have a family history of cancer and other illnesses, there is nothing they won’t try to reduce their risk. Alternative medicine certainly offers them some options that don’t involve prescription medications that can be expensive or have side effects associated with them. There is plenty of information about what types of alternative medicine to try for certain types of prevention.

Identify what your risk factors are so you can incorporate those concepts that can offer you the most protection. Pay close attention to how you feel before and after you start that method. Some experts believe that people can convince themselves something works there is a placebo effect going on and nothing else. Those that partake regularly in alternative medicine to prevent common illnesses though will have to disagree with them.

You will have to decide for yourself if you want to engage in forms of alternative medicine in order to prevent common illnesses. Some people don’t put much stock in it while others will tell you they haven’t been sick like they used to be since they started such a regiment. There haven’t been enough substantial tests done on such products to really know.

It is important to understand that people react differently to various types of alternative medicine. That is another reason why it is so hard to give it complete credibility. What may work well for one individual may not offer you the protection you seek. So their opinion would be that it does work while you would have to disagree.



Thanks to Cindy Browne for contributing this article to our Ginseng blog:

Ginseng Tips