If feeling a “zest” for life, looking your best, and living an active life are important to you then you need to know all the ''buzz'' about red foods is true. Many of nature’s top fruits and vegetables that support a healthy heart, circulatory health and healthy energy levels are some shade of red. However, there are some essentials you need to be aware of when it comes to choosing a berry drink. Thanks to BioTrust for this great article. Let’s start by having you assess if you experience any of these more than you feel you should: - Low energy - Old-looking skin - Lack of stamina/feeling worn out - Feeling “foggy” - Cold hands and/or feet - For men and women, occasional difficulty in the bedroom - Slow recovery from physical activity - Activity-related muscle cramping and/or discomfort Now, if you said yes to any of these, “sluggish blood” is likely something you should be concerned about. A healthy circulatory system transports about 2000 gallons of blood through its 60,000 or so miles of blood vessels each day. And this circulatory system is a vast network of vessels and organs whose job is to move blood around the body. It’s responsible for the proper delivery of oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and immune factors to tissues and cells, as well as carrying away waste products. Very common lifestyle habits that are also harming our health in so many other ways, such as: - Consuming too many omega-6 fatty acids - Consuming too many processed foods - Inadequate amounts of exercise - Lack of routine stretching - Not getting enough restful sleep - Excess stress
As you may have seen, there is a fast-growing number of powders and energy drinks out there. And it’s important to be aware of key issues with some of them. For example, you’ll want to watch out for: Nitric Oxide Boosters Yes, nitric oxide is very important. It’s a vasodilator that helps open up blood vessels to allow for optimal blood flow. However, like most things in the body, it’s about balance – having the right amount at the right time. In other words, too much of anything can be bad news, and that can even be the case with added nitric oxide boosters. Many are Loaded with Caffeine and/or Other Stimulants Caffeine, stimulants and other habit-forming compounds can lead to dependence and tolerance. Brands Not Using the Most Effective Ingredients For example, l-arginine is a common ingredient, but it has been shown largely ineffective at increasing nitric oxide synthesis and/or bioavailability. Bad Taste and Poor Mixability Some reds powders can have mediocre to terrible taste, unpleasant textures such as grittiness, and poor mixability (otherwise known as “clumpy mess”). Artificial Sweeteners, Added Sugars, and Other Junk Some energy drinks and reds powders can contain these, and you don’t want them in your body.
So here are the top food sources for your circulation system.
Beets
Beets are known as a “circulation superfood”. They’re a rich source of phytochemicals and bioactive compounds, and can help support healthy nitric oxide levels, blood flow/circulation (including to the brain), mental and physical energy levels, endurance, and more.
Apples
Apples are rich in polyphenols called flavonoids, which can be especially important for supporting healthy circulation, such as by promoting the production of nitric oxide. These flavonoids may support the activity of nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), an enzyme that generates nitric oxide. eNOS has been referred to as a “major weapon” in the fight against SLUGGISH BLOOD.
Pomegranates
Pomegranates are revered as a circulatory superfood. One reason is that they may enhance eNOS activity, which promotes nitric oxide production. What’s more, tannins in pomegranates have been shown to provide additional support for healthy endothelial cell (endothelial cells line the blood vessels), offering further support for healthy circulation.
Grapes
Grapes are rich in certain polyphenols shown to support healthy blood flow, effects believed to be related to increasing the availability of nitric oxide, the vasodilator responsible for relaxing blood vessels.
Cranberries
Cranberries are loaded with certain bioactive polyphenols that have been shown to provide powerful support for healthy, flexible arteries and healthy vascular function.
Blackberries, Raspberries, Strawberries
One of the many powerful polyphenols in these berries are anthocyanins. These can help promote vascular health by supporting the body’s natural antioxidant pathways. This is important because oxidative damage to the endothelial cells may interfere with their ability to produce nitric oxide, a well-known vasodilator. Anthocyanins also support healthy blood flow by promoting the expression of eNOS, an enzyme that generates nitric oxide.
And Remember you can introduce more of these into your diet either fresh, cooked, frozen or as powdered supplement. Make smoothies or add to breakfast bowls or make a winter compote... The possibilities are endless.
If you are interested in learning more or have a loved one who would benefit from cleansing the body of pollutants and other impurities check out my book Internal Cleansing. Find it here in digital or print format.
Why not feel gloriously better? Every day our bodies are bombarded with pollutants from food, air, and stress. This buildup of toxins is bad for you and ultimately leads to fatigue, depression, and a host of other chronic health problems. In my book there are ways to help you give your body a fresh start and achieve vibrant good health. Here is a recipe with circulation boosting ingredients from my book, Internal Cleansing.
Antioxidant fruit salad.
Yield; 3 to 6 servings
2 oranges or 1 grapefruit peeled and sliced
2 kiwis chopped into bite-sized pieces
2 crisp apples cored and sliced (peeled optional)
1 cup blueberries fresh or frozen
fresh pineapple chopped into bite-sized pieces
1 cup halved strawberries fresh or frozen
1 mango chopped into bite-sized pieces
Place the oranges or grapefruit and the kiwi in a bowl. Then mix the other ingredients. The ascorbic acid from the citrus and the kiwi will coat the rest of the fruit and protect it from oxidizing turning brown.
The delicious salad is high in vitamin C, vitamin A, beta carotene, fiber, anthocyanins from the blueberries (good for your vision) , antifungal substances from the banana and proteolytic enzymes (which can kill parasites and decrease pain and inflammation) from the pineapple.
note; if some of the fruit is frozen, microwave it for up to 2 minutes or heat over a double boiler until softened and then mix with the other fruit.
Use my book to rid your body of toxins and feel fantastic naturally.
As always...here's to your best health! Dr. Linda
Fun Fact: The word berry comes from the Old English berie, which originally meant “grape.” As the English language spread to the Americas with colonization, many native grape-shaped fruits that grew in bunches took on the berry suffix: blueberry, cranberry, elderberry, etc. ... Even cucumbers and tomatoes are technically berries!