Fruit and vegetable intake have a well-recognized correlation with health. But what exactly makes them so healthy? The answer is polyphenols. Fruit especially contains a wide range of these bioactive compounds that contribute to antioxidant protection and support cellular health.
Unfortunately, most of us probably fall short of the recommended 8-11 servings of fruits and vegetables per day. In fact, the CDC found that in 2019 only 12.3% of adults ate the recommended amount fruits daily. Maybe you have cut out fruit as part of a dietary regimen, maybe you don’t like fruit, or think they have too much “sugar”. Fortunately, it is possible to isolate the beneficial bioactive phytonutrients into a concentrated source that becomes a convenient way to augment the intake of fruits. And that is where TruFruits & Berries™ comes in.
TruFruits & Berries™ has concentrated extracts from nutrient-dense fruits such as grape, pomegranate, blueberry, chokeberry, mangosteen, cranberry, goji berry, apple, and bilberry. These fruits are selected because of their phytonutrient content, antioxidant-supportive properties, and especially their high polyphenol concentration which plays a significant role in promoting and maintaining health. Polyphenols (phenolic acids, flavonoids, stilbenes, and lignans) are produced by plants and are the medicinal part of the plant. Scientist have found that polyphenols protect the plant from UV radiation, oxidation, and pathogens. Polyphenols also plays many protective roles in the human body:
- Polyphenols can interact with reactive oxygen species (ROS) and terminate chain reactions before serious cell damage occurs.
- Polyphenols may suppress (ROS) formation through scavenging of free radicals, inhibiting enzymes involved in their production, or upregulation/protection of antioxidant defenses.
- Polyphenols can modulate the inflammatory processes possibly through the activation of the transcription factor Nrf2 which plays a key role in cellular protection against oxidative stress and inflammation.
- Polyphenols have some antibiotic properties and can reach the colon where they are metabolized and help form helpful bacterial metabolites.
- Polyphenol’s anti-inflammatory actions can play an important role in many chronic conditions: cardiovascular, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, cancer, neurological diseases as an adjuvant treatment.
TruFruits & Berries™ capsules are a unique blend of ingredients and benefits:
- Berries are some of the richest sources of polyphenols and other health-promoting elements.
- Blueberries, cranberries, and chokeberries have been found to contain high concentrations of compounds with highly effective free radical scavenging abilities.
- The consumption of bilberry and chokeberry has been shown to significantly increase the concentration of health-supportive polyphenols in plasma.
- Goji berries have been consumed for their health promoting benefits for over 2000 years. Contemporary research suggests that goji juice supplementation significantly increases antioxidant markers in human subjects.
- Mangosteen is another “berry type” fruit; its peel, rind, and hull have a long history of use as a traditional medicine and experimental studies have demonstrated that extracts of mangosteen have antioxidant, antitumoral, antiallergic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral activities.
- Pomegranate juice supplementation was found to have an inhibitory effect on lipid peroxidation in plasma, lipoproteins, and macrophages that can be supportive of cardiovascular and cellular health.
- Grape polyphenols may have direct effects on vasorelaxation and reduce blood pressure and circulating cell adhesion molecules supporting improvements in cardiovascular function in men with metabolic syndrome.
- Apples, a symbol of a healthy diet, contains polyphenols that appear to play a protective role in oxidative stress. Apples are among the most frequently consumed fruits and not only a rich source of polyphenols but also fiber, which is a bonus for the gut microbiota.
- There is now considerable scientific evidence that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can improve human health and protect against chronic diseases beyond their antioxidant capacity. Human and animal intervention studies demonstrate beneficial effects on lipid metabolism, vascular function (endothelial function and healthy platelet aggregation) and inflammation. And a few studies have attempted to link these mechanistically with the gut microbiota and the potential link to cardiovascular health.
- TruFruits & Berries™ ingredients undergo stringent quality assurance testing through the Adulterant Screening Program. This program screens for economic adulterants, pesticide residues, solvent residues, ETO (ethylene oxide), irradiation, and GMOs (genetically modified organisms).
I recommend getting your polyphenols from whole, fresh, organic, locally grown fruits and vegetables and supplement with TruFruits & Berries™ to fill in the gaps, especially if you have any chronic medical conditions. I take one capsule every day, just to insure I am getting this powerhouse of nutrients!
To your health and resilience!
Dr. Vliet
