Five Superfoods You Don't Know About

Medicinal mushrooms

While many of us have foraged for mushrooms in the woods, few of us realize the nutritional benefits those mushrooms pack.

Researchers at Penn State University – as part of the organization’s Mushroom Science and Technology department - have found that mushrooms have high concentrations of L-ergothioneine, an antioxidant known as ERGO for short, that is able penetrate deeply into cells.

According to Robert Beelman, professor of food science at Penn State, the antioxidant is concentrated in mushrooms, and may help maintain a healthy immune system and support efficient inflammatory management. (Ref. 1)

What better reason to add our Xtendlife Zupafood ELITE or GREENZ to your diet?

Our product contains four different mushroom varieties.

The varieties include:

Cordyceps, which may help support healthy cardiovascular function;
King Trumpet, which contains many times more of the antioxidant ERGO than wheat bran and more than any other mushroom;
Agaricus, a button mushroom variety that may help support healthy blood sugar levels; and
Lion’s Mane, which was shown in a study appearing in the Journal of Health Science to have the potential to help support healthy brain function and nervous system. (Ref. 2)

Barley grass

While wheatgrass gets the most attention – and is more famous at juice bars than its roughneck cousin – barley grass has been used for many years to help support general wellness and health

It contains a myriad of nutrients including beta-carotene, vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12, pantothenic acid, and folic acid, as well as the minerals potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorus and magnesium and other heavy hitters including chlorophyll, amino acids, protein, fiber and enzymes. (Ref. 3)

It is also a powerful antioxidant, so barley grass was an obvious choice as one of the ingredients in our Zupafood GREENZ and Zupafood ELITE, both of which easily rival any juice bar selection when it comes to nutritional support.

Red grape skin extract

While most red grape skin extracts are fermented and turned into red wine, our Zupafood series includes a special red grape skin extract in all three formulas from non-fermented grape skin, so you get the healthy cardiovascular support of red wine, without actually taking a drink.

Our extract is derived from the skins of red grapes using a water extraction process that protects the nutrients, allowing all of the skin’s active ingredients to remain intact. (Ref. 2)

Spirulina

While zinc gets a lot of attention for supporting a healthy immune system, spirulina may be a better option.

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, studies have shown that the blue-green algae’s mix of protein, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants may also help maintain healthy immune responses and overall inflammatory management. (Ref. 4)

Spirulina attracted attention when it – along with the orange drink mix Tang - went into space with astronauts in the 1970s. It is currently being used by the European Space Agency in bar form mixed with goji berries to provide nutrients to astronauts during missions.

Chlorella

This fresh-water algae offers a wealth of potential benefits, including the ability to bind with toxins and help support healthy excretion management within the body. As one of the important ingredients in our Zupafood Greenz and Zupafood Elite, chlorella may also help support healthy cholesterol levels as well as maintain a healthy metabolism.

And while chlorella – as well as the aforementioned spirulina – are both superfoods on their own, together, experts say, the synergistic effects boost the benefits of both.

The two contain complementary nutrients – chlorella has more chlorophyll and iron than spirulina and is also better at maintaining a healthy immune system, while spirulina has more protein for muscle support and gamma-linoleinic acid, a fatty acid that helps maintain brain health and function.

Together, the two provide excellent nutrient support, making our Zupafood Greenz and Zupafood Elite a smart addition to even the most well-balanced of diets.

References:

http://plantpath.psu.edu/mushroom-industry-conference/52-mushroom-industry-conference/Bob%20Beelman.pdf
http://www.xtend-life.com/zupafood/compare-zupafood
http://www.drugs.com/npc/barley-grass.html
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/spirulina
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18800884