A-Z wellness support Articles

Chrysin is a type of molecule known as a flavone. It is commonly extracted from the blue passion flower (Passiflora caerulea) but is also found in honeycomb and Indian trumpet flower (Oroxylum indicum).

Discover How Chrysin Inhibits Aromatase

Early evidence in the 1980's showed chrysin as an effective inhibitor of an enzyme called aromatase. Aromatase is the enzyme responsible for the synthesis of estrogen in the body. When it is inhibited, estrogen synthesis decreases. Some recent research has found that chrysin is not well absorbed in the body and thus may not have as significant of an effect on hormone levels as initially expected. Further research is required to be sure.

Key Health Benefits of Chrysin

Anti-Inflammatory Effects

Chrysin and flavonoids in general have been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects in the body that can help to prevent many health concerns that stem from inflammation. Interestingly, current research has also implicated it as a potential future therapy for immunodeficiency viruses, as it may be able to inhibit the virus from expressing its genes during infection.

Anxiety Support

Interestingly, research in the last 25 years has found that flavonoids can affect the central nervous system. Chrysin was the first flavonoid found to have anxiety-reducing properties. This would help to explain the anxiety-reducing ability of passion flower.

How To Safely Take Supplements For Well-Being

Because there is very little research on this flavone in humans, the effective dose is not yet known. Generally, it is recommended at 1-4g daily in divided doses. Follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer.

Cranberries are the fruit of a bush (Vaccinium macrocarpon) that have a tart flavour and are commonly used in cooking, baking, juice, or eaten plain. Cranberry sauce is frequently paired with turkey during Thanksgiving celebrations in North America. Traditionally, cranberry has been used for hundreds of years to prevent and and treat urinary tract infections and today, the cranberry supplement are available in concentrated forms to support urinary tract health.

In the current medical model, a large amount of scientific research has been performed to confirm this traditional usage, and has also shown it to decrease the severity of established Urinary Tract Infections as well. It is now widely used by naturopathic and medical healthcare practitioners around the world.

Understanding How a Cranberry Supplement Can Help

Cranberry contains compounds called lectins that prevent bacteria from sticking to the walls of the urinary tract. When they cannot stay stuck to the bladder wall, they are easily flushed out with the urine and do not lead to infection. This is particularly true of the most common urinary tract pathogen, the bacteria commonly called E. coli.

The increased activity against E. coli may also be due to the mannose content of cranberry. Supplementation with cranberry also acidifies the urine, which makes it an uncomfortable environment for many bacteria to live and reproduce.

The Powerful Nutritional Benefits Found in Cranberries

In addition to the antibacterial sugar mannose, cranberries also contain significant amounts of vitamin C, which is important for the healing of the lining of the urinary tract. The chemical compounds called proanthocyanidins found in cranberry have been shown to have positive effects on healthy cell growth in preliminary laboratory testing. More studies are needed to determine if cranberry will be clinically useful such purposes.

The Great Debate: Concentrated Cranberry Supplement vs Cranberry Cocktails

It is important to avoid drinking sweetened cranberry cocktails, because they often contain little actual cranberry juice and lots of sugar. Sugar actually feeds the bacteria that cause urinary tract infections, and can allow them to reproduce more quickly.

Shopping For Quality, Highly Concentrated Cranberry Supplements

Cranberry can be purchased as raw or dried berries, encapsulated dried berries, encapsulated extract, pure, concentrated juice or in powder form. The concentrated unsweetened, pure juice is the best way to consume cranberry for its medicinal qualities. The juice is very tart but be sure to only dilute the juice with water, not other fruit juices to avoid adding extra sugar.

Encapsulated cranberry ranges in strength and quality. Purchase a product that gives an equivalent value of raw cranberries or concentrated cranberry juice. Combination products for urinary tract infections may contain cranberry. The dose of unsweetened juice recommended is generally 300ml daily (diluted as desired with water), and the dose for tablets is 400mg three times a day for at least a month. In children, the dose of concentrated juice is 15ml per kg of body weight (diluted as desired with water).

You're probably familiar with turmeric, that vibrant yellow spice with mega health benefits that are added to everything from curries to golden mylks and smoothies. Turmeric comes from the curcuma longa plant and has been used for thousands of years. Its use can be traced back to Vedic India, where it was used as a condiment, a healing remedy, and even as a textile dye.

In the last several years, you've likely read about how turmeric and its active ingredient, curcumin, can be used to help improve joint pain. One reason for this is curcumin's ability to act as an antioxidant.

What exactly does this mean? Read on to learn about why antioxidants are important and how the active ingredient from this curcuma longa species can provide health benefits.

Introduction to Antioxidants

While there is no fountain of youth out there, antioxidants come close. Antioxidants are compounds that help protect your body from free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules with an unpaired electrons. In their search for another electron, free radicals can cause damage to cells, leading to inflammation, premature aging, and disease. They're formed when you eat processed foods or cook with high heat. They also come from outside sources, like pollution in the air. But luckily, antioxidant molecules have an extra electron that they can donate to these unstable free radicals.

In general, antioxidants can be either fat-soluble or water-soluble. The antioxidants found in supplements from the curcuma longa species are fat-soluble, which means that it must be taken with a fat source to enhance bioavailability (we'll get to that in a minute).

Curcumin: More About Its Active Ingredient

Turmeric from the curcuma longa species has been used for centuries in traditional medicine to treat pain and inflammation (like arthritis). It contains anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce swelling, stiffness, redness, and heat associated with arthritis symptoms. Interestingly, in countries like India and China, where a lot of turmeric has traditionally been consumed, there are lower incidences of disease.

In recent years, researchers have been able to isolate and study the active compounds found in the curcuma longa plant. Curcumin is the most "active" compound found in turmeric. And it's the reason for turmeric's beautiful golden colour. If colour gives any clue to benefits, you can tell that you will get many benefits from consuming curcumin. Read on to learn how curcumin acts as an antioxidant in your body.

• Neutralizing free radicals: As mentioned, free radicals are unstable molecules with an unpaired electron. They can be present in your body as a result of the food you eat, chemicals you're exposed to (including pesticides), and even stress. Unfortunately, prolonged free-radical attacks can accelerate the physical signs of aging. But because curcumin molecules contain an extra electron, they can neutralize free radical damage.
• Combating oxidative stress: Oxidative stress is the process that occurs when the body is exposed to too many free radicals. Interestingly, chronic pain is believed to be due in part to oxidative stress. Curcumin works by neutralizing these free radicals and preventing oxidative stress from occurring. One review of scientific research found that curcumin was able to neutralize oxidative stress by helping the body remove reactive oxygen and nitrogen, as well as removing heavy metals. Also, because it can regulate certain enzymes in the body, curcumin can help reduce oxidative stress.
• Stimulating the production of glutathione: Glutathione is a sulfur-based molecule made of cysteine, glycine, and glutamic acid. It is an important antioxidant that helps detoxify the body by neutralizing harmful free radicals. You may also be interested to learn that glutathione production slows as you age, making it even more important to supplement with curcumin.

Curcumin Supplements: Benefits, Dosing and Formats

If you are wondering whether curcumin may be for you, here are some situations that could benefit from this ingredient:

• If you experience joint pain
• If you suffer from an inflammatory condition 
• If you want to support healthy aging
• If you want to support a healthy brain (including mood and cognition)
• If you have an active injury
• If you are healing from surgery

How To Take This Supplement

Curcumin is a fat-soluble substance. Our ability to absorb it is low. Health experts have questioned its ability to reach the bloodstream, where it does its therapeutic work.

Traditionally, curcumin supplements have been combined with black pepper (including a substance found in black pepper called piperine) to enhance absorption. Some supplement manufacturers have also used fermented turmeric to enhance absorption.

Recently, supplement companies have developed new formulations, including liposomal curcumin and curcumin nanoparticles, to make the curcumin more readily absorbed into our cells.

A good dose of curcumin is 500–1000 mg, standardized to 95% curcuminoids.

Curcumin FAQs

Are curcuma longa, curcumin and turmeric the same thing?

Curcuma longa is the plant/root in which turmeric comes from. Curcumin is the active ingredient in turmeric. Curcumin is a major component of turmeric and gives it its yellow colour.

Can curcumin help with weight loss?

Curcumin may help with weight loss by reducing inflammation. Studies show that it may reduce adipogenesis (the process of forming fat cells) in mice and rats. However, this is animal research and more studies are needed to see if the same benefit will occur in humans.

Are curcumin supplements safe?

Yes, curcumin supplements are safe. Studies show that it is well-tolerated and has a low risk for side effects and fun fact, it comes from a flowering plant called curcuma longa that is also apart of the ginger family!

References

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7694612

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92752 
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15650394/

Rooibos tea, pronounced “Royboss”, is known as Red Tea. Its popularity is sweeping Europe and North America. Coffee conglomerates are now offering “Red Espresso” made from this unique red tea. The health benefits of Rooibos are growing as studies continue to come out exclaiming the many health promoting properties of this Native South African plant.

What is Rooibos?

Rooibos, from the Aspalathus Linearis plant, is almost exclusively grown on the west coast of South Africa. The problem is it has been unsuccessfully cultivated in other parts of the world. So it is almost completely dependent on the unique climate on South Africa’s west coast. Rooibos is a very hardy dry land crop and depends on deeply course acidic sandy soil specific to that region. It is so hardy it can survive at temperatures as low as zero degree centigrade and as high as 45 degrees centigrade. Unfortunately rising temperatures and decreasing rain falls are threatening the survival of this indigenous bush.

Rooibos tea can be found in either green or red varieties. Green Rooibos is unfermented – similar to green tea. And Red Rooibos is fermented, which is similar to black tea. Red Rooibos tea is more available and popular as its flavor is sweet and earthy. Green Rooibos is more malty flavored and is more expensive. Studies comparing the two for their health benefits vary as to which is the healthier variety.

Although historically used by South Africa’s native culture, Rooibos tea came to the world’s attention when Dutch settlers arrived in South Africa. The Dutch found the tea to be similar in taste black tea. This was attractive to the Dutch because of its availability and affordability compared to importing customary black tea.

Benefits of Rooibos

Rooibos has many health benefits and, while not studied on humans, has been studied extensively on animals. Benefits include its antioxidant properties, effects on your immune system, cardiovascular and cholesterol lowering effects.

Heart Health Support

Rooibos has very low caffeine and tannin content so it is a great substitute for those who are sensitive to caffeine or have stress, tension and a fast heart rate, which caffeine exacerbates.

Rooibos tea is healthy for your cardiovascular system. Studies show that ingesting just a couple cups of Rooibos tea daily will actually reduce your risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease. This is again due to its high antioxidant, phenolic compound and flavanoid content. It was shown to significantly reduce lipid peroxidation (where fats, cholesterol and cell membranes are damaged), reduce negative LDL cholesterol, and reduce triglyceride levels. Rooibos also increases protective good HDL cholesterol. Overall, researchers concluded that Rooibos significantly reduced risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease.

Antioxidant Protection

It’s most popular quality is its antioxidant concentrations, specifically high in two called Aspapathin and Nothofagin. It’s also high in phenolic compounds called flavanols, flavones, and flavanones. Two of its more commonly known flavanoids are called Quercetin and Luteolin. Antioxidants, phenolic compounds and flavanoids are excellent in treating and managing inflammation and cardiovascular health.

Pain Management Support

Rooibos helps pain and inflammation mainly by two mechanisms. Its antioxidant content neutralizes free radicals and toxins that cause damage and inflammation to joints and connective tissue.

Rooibos also inhibits the enzyme called Xanthine Oxidase. By doing this your body does not convert Purines (from animal protein and sea food) to Uric Acid. Uric acid causes pain and inflammation, particularly to joints. The classic disease caused by high Uric Acid levels is called Gout or Gouty Arthritis. This disease mostly affects the joint of the large toe but can also cause inflammation in your knees, ankles and feet, and less commonly in the joints in your upper limbs. High uric acid can also cause kidney stones.

Immune Health Benefits

Studies have also shown that Rooibos has a positive effect on your immune system. It increases immune modulators, which means if your immune system is too reactive, as in allergies and autoimmune disease, it will reduce its reactiveness. And in cases where your immune system is under functioning it elevates its responsiveness and activity warding off infections.

Shopping For Quality Tea

Rooibos can be found in both green and red varieties, most commonly in its fermented red state.

There are various grades. Higher grades have less stem in it. The leaves, which look like fine red needles, are where the taste and health benefits reside. The needles are dark red which gives the liquid tea a dark rich flavor. Fewer stems in the tea results in less sediment and is described as less “dusty” in aftertaste. You want to look for a liquid tea that is dark, sweet and clear.

Studies show there are no side effects from drinking this tea so you can drink as much hot or iced Rooibos as you like. The larger the quantity of tea consumed, the greater the antioxidants and other health benefits you will be getting.