Tag: health
Polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins – all antioxidants, but are they different?
Our bodies contain a wide range of antioxidants, some manufactured by our bodies, and some only obtained from the food we eat. Polyphenols are one of the most commonly occurring antioxidants in the food we eat, particularly in fruit and vegetables. These are compounds with multiple (poly) phenol groups, chemical ring structures with one or more hydroxyl (OH) groups attached,
What are antioxidants and how do they keep us healthy?
Reactions of biochemicals underly all the functions of our body. How we turn food into energy, the function of our brains and other organs, the movement of our muscles, these all require the reactions of biochemicals inside and outside the cells of our body. A natural consequence of these reactions is the generation of free radicals, highly reactive intermediates of
Living a long and healthy life
Part of the natural process of aging includes changes to our bodies that unfortunately usually results in a decline in function. We find we can no longer do what we did when we were younger. As if this wasn’t bad enough the risk of us suffering from one or more of the diseases associated with aging increases as we grow
Wake up with blackcurrants instead of coffee
Many of us appreciate the boost that first coffee of the day gives us. For some of us topping this up with a second cup after lunch helps get us through to the end of the day. It is the caffeine in coffee that stimulates our brains, increasing alertness and reducing drowsiness. However, caffeine can also cause nervousness, restlessness and
What makes a food super?
When choosing food to include on our shopping list we are often attracted by a claim that a particular item is a “superfood”. It is important to understand that while we are all looking for foods that really are “super”, the term “superfood” is a marketing term and not a scientific term. Marketers generally use this term to describe a
New Zealand blackcurrants boost the human immune system
Our bodies are continually exposed to pathogens such as bacteria and viruses that can cause illness if they gain entry into our body. The epithelial cells lining our nose, mouth, lungs and gut are sites where bacteria and viruses can enter the body. Fortunately these cells secrete molecules that activate the body’s own pathogen killing mechanisms and prevent these pathogens
