The Superfood You've Never Heard Of

From eNewsletter 2/10/2020

DID YOU KNOW that enset, described as "a banana on steroids," is the superfood you've never heard of, let alone tasted, but could be a life saver for the planet? The plant, which grows up to 39 feet, is a staple for 20 million people in the Ethiopian Highlands who turn it into bread and porridge, construction materials, packaging, cattle feed and medicine. People are saying this is a new wonder crop. It's amazingly resilient. It's said to be very drought tolerant. Enset is a close relative of the banana. It's orange fruit is full of bullet-like seeds and inedible. Instead, starchy tissue from the trunk and giant underground corm, the bulbs can weigh up to 220lb, is turned into a pulp.

NOTE: If you've had a great start to the new year, be mindful that research says good intentions start to wane in early February. Don't let doubt creep in. Stick to your positive wellness goals!

MAJOR COGNITIVE BREAKTHROUGHS

Bonnie and Steve: Three new, very exciting studies confirm what we've known for a while...prevention through an optimal diet is the best way to avoid cognitive decline.

First Evidence Dietary Flavonols Linked to Lower Alzheimer Risk For the first time, dietary flavonols, which are components of many fruits, vegetables, tea, and supplements, have been linked to a significantly lower risk of developing Alzheimer disease (AD). In subjects participating in a six year study appearing in the January issue of Neurology, those with diets highest in the flavonols kaempferol, isorhamnetin, and myricetin, had a rate of incident AD that was 48% lower than that of their counterparts who consumed the lowest levels. Kale, beans, tea, spinach, and broccoli were the top food sources for kaempferol. Tea, wine, kale, oranges, and tomatoes led the list for myricetin. Pears, olive oil, wine, and tomato sauce were associated with the highest intake of isorhamnetin. Supplement Regimen Enhances Quality of Life A study from the January issue of Nutrients explored the effects of a high-dose omega-3 supplement, in combination with antioxidant vitamins, on cognitive function and functional capacity of older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) over a six month period. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, subjects were given omega-3 fatty acids in the form of fish oil, vitamin A, and mixed tocopherol vitamin E, or a placebo containing olive oil. The results showed that supplementation improved cognitive function and functional capacity in older adults. In addition, favorable improvements for the participants receiving the nutritional supplement were shown in fatigue, the physical health component of quality of life, and daily sleepiness. Mitochondria Is Key Mitochondrial dysfunction and the aggregation of misfolded proteins are the key features of age-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease. The overproduction of reactive oxidative species (ROS) and/or suppression of antioxidant systems in mitochondria can induce severe oxidative stress, which plays an important role in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration. Maintenance of the major antioxidant systems predominantly superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase pathways are crucial for normal function of the mitochondria and limits the amount of oxidative damage. Both of these pathways are screened for in our Pure Genomics panel. Vitamin E (a major scavenger of lipid peroxidation in brain), vitamin C (an intracellular reducing molecule), and CoQ10 (a coenzyme that transfers electrons from complexes I and II to complex III, optimizing the proton gradient of the oxidative phosphorylation mechanisms) are the most effective for therapeutic use, according to a new study from Journal of the American College of Nutrition.

SIBO UPDATE

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