Powerful Health Benefits of our Green Power Super Greens

Description

If you have become overwhelmed by the many choices of green powder food blends on the market, you have clicked on the right article.

That’s because, if you have not yet tried Z Natural Foods' deliciously-nourishing Green Power functional food blend, you are in for a wonderful surprise!

For many years, green food powders have been considered a modern food product created from an individual or a wide variety of dried or juiced grasses, vegetables, and seaweeds to develop a quality source of concentrated nourishment for supporting the health of human physiology. 

Green foods have a tremendous reputation for providing high-quality nutrition, like micronutrients and phyto-compounds. When prepared and utilized correctly, they can be an excellent and easy way to add concentrated nourishment to your diet. 

There is overwhelming evidence that green foods are incredibly nutritious and provide our detoxification pathways tremendous support with critical nutrients and compounds needed for optimal function. 

Some examples include:

1. Chlorophyll 

Chlorophyll is a compound in plants that gives them a deep, vibrant green color. This is the primary compound that helps in photosynthesis (using sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water). 

Simply put, the deeper green the vegetable, the more chlorophyll it contains. Two primary types of chlorophyll are found in plants (Chlorophyll A & B), both of which are fat-soluble compounds with highly nourishing and protective properties. 

When chlorophyll is ingested, it moves throughout the body via molecular groups called micelles, which help the body absorb lipids and fat-soluble nutrients (they also help transport fat-soluble nutrients to the small intestines). 

Chlorophyllin is a compound produced from chlorophyll through a process called saponification. This process takes chlorophyll paste and adds sodium hydroxide to create a saponification reaction (breaking the ester bonds between fatty acids and glycerol, resulting in free fatty acids), adding copper to crystalize, purify, and making sodium formation, thereby creating a sodium-copper chlorophyllin end product. 

In simple terms, chlorophyllin is the water-soluble version of chlorophyll. In earlier human studies, it was shown that by taking 100mgs of chlorophyllin daily, there was a 55% decrease in DNA damage in individuals with preexisting liver issues.

Other reports have discussed the relationship between eating fresh vegetables (including leafy greens) and those with advanced gastrointestinal issues that chlorophyll may modify specific agents that damage DNA. 

2. Vitamin K  

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past ten years, it will come as no surprise the vital importance of vitamin K on human health. Before we get into the nourishing qualities and sources of the vitamin K family, let’s break this down so we understand all of the vital details. 

Vitamin K describes the family of K vitamins 1, 2, and 3. This family of fat-soluble vitamins is implicated in many essential biological processes like blood clotting (by assisting in the conversion of particular coagulation factors into their mature forms), bone building (activating osteocalcin, a protein that supports the accumulation of calcium in bone and teeth), and possibly reducing calcium deposits in the arteries (activated matrix GLA protein which prevents calcium accumulation in soft tissue). 

Technically, there are three forms of vitamin K, but what we know as K3 has been banned by the FDA due to its potentially toxic effects. It seems that the nourishing qualities are found in K1 and K2. 

• Vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) is primarily found in green leafy vegetables 
• Vitamin K2 (Menaquinone) is found mainly in fermented foods, milk, meat, eggs, and cheese and has multiple subtypes; MK-4, MK-6, MK-7, and MK-9. 
• MK-4 is primarily found in aminal fats like egg yolks, lard, and butter. 
• MK-7 is a product of cheese and fermented foods but is mainly found in Natto (a fermented soybean product). 
• Ultimately, K1 and K2 have the same functions and work via the exact mechanisms of action, except that K2 works more efficiently. 

A randomized controlled study discussing Vitamin K and its association with mortality risk stated that those who increased their intake of phylloquinone and Menaquinone had a lower chance of all-mortality compared to individuals who decreased or did not change their intake. 

3. Carotenoids

Phytonutrients are compounds produced by plants to help them resist external environmental threats. 

These compounds are believed to have nourishing qualities that may support various human health factors. Carotenoids are a class of red, orange, or yellow fat-soluble pigments produced by plants, algae, and photosynthetic bacteria. 

There are more than 600 types of carotenoids (some of the most common include alpha and beta carotene, lycopene, lutein, and beta-cryptoxanthin), all with unique attributes that are researched for their ability to take on antioxidant-like qualities potentially. 

Carotenoids are classified into two primary groups; Xanthophylls (primarily protect from too much sunlight, contain oxygen, more yellow pigment, and are associated with nourishing the eyes), which closely associate with green leafy vegetables, and Carotenes(have no oxygen and are associated with orange pigment).  

An article published in 2001 discussed the importance of green leafy vegetables (specifically spinach, kale, and purslane) and assessed (based on supporting healthy biological function) the most essential phytonutrients in leafy greens like spinach and kale are the carotenoids lutein, beta carotene, and zeaxanthin. 

But today, green powder formulations are a whole new ball game because they are not just greens.  

Modern research confirms the importance of adding a variety of other functional foods with bright, vibrant colors that contain a wide range of potent polyphenolic compounds to support the repair process from the damage caused by stress, helping to create a more balanced internal environment. 

By adding one or several properly selected, high-polyphenolic functional foods, will ensure your body receives a powerful synergy that will flood the body with extraordinary nourishment, and depending on the specific food, will provide a unique benefit. 

For example, beets and ginger give the body much more than profound nutrition; they have unique mechanisms of action that support blood flow creating an environment for other foods in the formula to work better. 

Ultimately, greens and the wide range of colorful foods contain various distinctive and potent compounds that profoundly affect our physiology and work better together because they complement one another's effects.

Some of these potent compounds include:

Polyphenols are a term used to describe a general category of compounds found in a broad spectrum of fruits, vegetables, and tea that work as “reducing agents” along with other compounds known as antioxidants to support a healthy inflammation response and the body's ability to protect and repair damaged tissue caused by oxidative stress. 

While over 8000 polyphenols have been identified, some of the most common are flavonoids, flavonols, and anthocyanins. The importance of discussing these various compounds allows you to more clearly understand the wide range and complexity of nourishment you are getting from these powerful foods. 

• Flavonoids   

Flavonoids are a group of water-soluble polyphenolic secondary metabolites found in plants thought to provide health benefits through cell signaling (The process when a cell responds to a substance outside the cell through signaling molecules found on the surface of that cell) and antioxidant effects. 

Secondary metabolites are substances manufactured by plants that make them compete in their environment, exerting a wide range of effects on the plant itself and the surrounding living organisms, including flowing, fruit setting, signal deciduous behavior, and acting as antimicrobials. 

Over 50,000 secondary metabolites have been discovered, and many modern medicines rely on them for their mechanism of action. There are six major subclasses of flavonoids;  Anthocyanidins, flavan-3-ols, flavonols, flavanones, flavones, and isoflavones. These account for around 60% of all polyphenols. 

Flavonols are polyphenols belonging to the flavonoid family with a ketone group studied for their wide range of biological activities (antioxidant, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, modulating inflammation, and vasodilation). They primarily accumulate in the outer tissues (skin and leaves) of fruits and vegetables, are the building blocks of proanthocyanins (compounds that attribute to the colors of fruits and vegetables), and are most widespread in the human diet. 

Anthocyanins are a part of the flavonoid family of polyphenolic compounds. They represent the pigments that exhibit the bright red, purple, and blue colors found in fruits and vegetables. The six most common are Cyanidins, Delphinidins, Malvidins, Peonidins, Petunidins, and Pelargonidins.  

What makes Z Natural Foods Green Power Unique?

There are many green powder formulas on the market, claiming to be unique because they have combined a vast array of potent ingredients. 

These products range from fifteen to ninety foods containing various greens, fruits, and vegetables in multiple colors, functional mushrooms, tonics, adaptogens, pre and probiotics, sprouted beans and grains, and various proteins, all containing thousands of nourishing compounds. 

So, calling today's greens powders a functional food powder blend would be more appropriate. 

Let’s briefly discuss some of your options when purchasing a functional food powder blend. 

While taking a product with up to 90 ingredients sounds exciting because you are receiving a wide array of potent nourishing compounds, you should consider a few facts that play a significant role in providing a good result. 

It is vital to understand that many root herbs and some mushrooms must be provided in a proper format (extracts/extract powders) to utilize their nourishing qualities. 

These are not foods you can just mill into a fine powder and get their benefit because the material is too difficult for the body to digest. For example, a Reishi mushroom in its raw and unprepared form would be like eating a piece of wood. Therefore, if the formula has any of these types of ingredients, they must be prepared appropriately and delivered in an appropriate concentration. 

To obtain fully optimized benefits, ensure these ingredients are provided as full spectrum extract concentrates. A full spectrum concentrate is an extract of a food or herb that gives you all the constituents found in that food at a much higher level than in its natural state. Although the fiber has been removed, all other nutrients and components are perfectly balanced and more concentrated. Don’t be concerned if the amount you see of a specific ingredient in extract form is only 30-50 milligrams. If the extract powder is concentrated to a 10:1 ratio, you are actually getting the equivalency of 300-500 milligrams.   

If the product you purchase has a simple lineup of ingredients containing only grasses, seaweed, vibrant color vegetables, and medicinal roots that don’t need to be specifically prepared to obtain their nourishing qualities, consider the potential benefits you receive from such a product. The ingredients in a whole-food green powder are dried, milled into a powder, and left in their original whole-food state with all fiber and constituents in their naturally occurring levels. The water has been removed, and nothing has been purposely concentrated. 

Z Natural Foods used a tried and true concept in old-world herbalism when creating Green Power by adding two simple yet powerful foods to this nourishing formula to take it up a notch.

This tried, and true concept is about adding ingredients that support blood flow and nutrient uptake providing better results. 

Beets

Beet extracts and freeze-dried powders are highly nutrient-dense, versatile, functional foods with a wide range of uses and unlimited potential for nourishing the human body. 

Beet powders have been shown to support antioxidant activity and the end product's functionality. While it is true that a powder is not the same as eating a fresh beet, its nutrient density and versatility are considered several of many positive attributes. These attributes must be considered when deciding if a functional food powder can provide equal or more benefits for supporting functional mechanisms of action. 

A review titled The Potential Benefits of Red Beetroot Supplementation in Health and Disease concluded that “ beetroot supplementation is a new and exciting area of research that to date has been shown to induce favorable effects in several facets of health and disease. This indicates that beetroot supplementation holds promise as an economical, practical, and, importantly, natural dietary intervention in clinical settings. Because of beetroot’s high biological activity, there are still several unexplored areas in which supplementation might confer health benefits. This includes but is not limited to; pain reduction, cognitive function, vascular function, insulin resistance, cancer, and inflammation, especially in older and diseased populations.”

Nitrates, Nitrites, and Nitric Oxide

We have heard for years how nitrates and nitrites are harmful to our health. Similar to what we were told about saturated fats, nitrates, and nitrites can have positive or negative effects depending on specific factors. 

• Nitrates (NO3) are formed when nitrogen is combined with oxygen and are found in vegetables like beets. 
• Nitrates turn into nitrites during Entero-Salivary Circulation with bacteria and enzymes found in the mouth and body. 
• Nitrites (NO2) are a salt or ester of nitrous acid. The primary difference between the two compounds is the oxygen they possess. Nitrates contain three oxygen atoms, and nitrites contain two oxygen atoms. 

• Nitrites are then converted into nitric oxide, which helps the body transmit arterial cells that relax the system and control cardiac rhythm supporting healthy blood pressure by dilating blood vessels which relax muscle cells.
• If there is an excess amount of nitrites, it may also be converted into nitrosamides known to be carcinogenic. Nitrosamides are created when nitrates are exposed to high heat, like smoked and highly processed foods. 
• Vegetables like beets are high in nitrates; the large amount of antioxidants is the primary reason nitrites don’t become nitrosamides. In simple terms, it may not necessarily be the nitrites and nitrates that are carcinogenic but the various factors for potential conversion.  

Nitric oxide is composed of nitrogen and oxygen and is created in the human body from dietary Arginine and nitrates. Its primary roles are as a

• Vasodilator 
• Vascular tone modulator 
• Blood pressure modulator 
• Support hemodynamics (how blood flows through your blood vessels).

In simple terms, nitric oxide is also an endothelium-derived relaxing factor (A vasodilator elaborated by vascular endothelial cells in response to various stress signals). 

A review discussing nitric oxide's role stated, “Nitric oxide (NO) is now known to play important functional roles in various physiological systems. Within the vasculature, NO induces vasodilation, inhibits platelet aggregation, prevents neutrophil/platelet adhesion to endothelial cells, inhibits smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration, regulates programmed cell death (apoptosis), and maintains endothelial cell barrier function.”

Ginger 

While very popular in the traditional dishes of Asia, India, and the middle east, this prized culinary spice is used for so much more than its aromatic and spicy kick. 

Ginger has been well-researched, and many of its traditional uses have been confirmed. 

It is a warming remedy, ideal for supporting healthy circulation, thereby perhaps supporting healthy blood pressure levels and possibly keeping the blood thin in higher amounts. 

In her book '10 Essential Herbs', author Lalitha Thomas describes the properties: "The primary active ingredients in ginger are terpenes (quite similar to the chemical action of turpentine) and an oleo-resin called ginger oil. These two, and other active ingredients in ginger, may support healthy circulation. In traditional Chinese medicine, ginger dispels cold dispositions and supports healthy energy levels. Whereas in Ayurveda, ginger is used to support healthy digestion.

According to Stephen Buhner, the author of the book "Herbal Antivirals," which takes a more Western approach to herbs, ginger may possess anti-viral effects, thereby supporting a healthy immune system response. According to modern research, ginger is rich in specific active compounds called gingerols (6-gingerol, 8-gingerol, 10-gingerol) which are believed to be the primary reason for its ability to support a healthy inflammation response, immune response, support healthy blood flow. 

In conclusion, compared to many other products, you may look at Z Natural Foods Green Power and think there is nothing special about it.  

You are correct if your opinion is solely based on the number of ingredients. It is a simple twelve-ingredient product in a whole food form, providing a full spectrum of nutrients and compounds as they occur in nature. Sometimes less is more, and keeping it simple is one of the keys to good health. 

Go here for more information about our Green Powder - Organic SuperGreens Blend. 

Go here for more information about our Green Powder - Organic Delicious Greens Blend.