Five Superfoods You Don't Know About

The list of superfoods is growing continually, but while the colorful ones like pomegranate and acai berry are getting all the attention, others are slowing topping the charts and kicking the biggest stars, including kale, to the curb.

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 Xtend-Life 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:

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

3 Responses

Hi tanks for

the information on super foods,I discovered,

barley green 25years ago and have used it

everyday since,with outstanding results,I am very surprised at your recent findings as I thought all your recent discoveries,are to me common knowledge,

yours sincerly,tony

tony drinkwater April 17 2015

I agree Xtend in recent years has been pretty slow at product development wherea 5 to 8 years ago always lead it and others played a catchup with them. Total balance example has not been updated for many years.. And their skin care too… And with super foods.. Most stuff in Zupafood had been in the market for many years!  That product should have been in the market like 4 years ago before superfood took off proper 

Alex April 20 2015

Hi Alex,  

Thanks for your comment.  I can understand how you feel about some of this.  However, we are still working hard to ensure that our products continue to be the best available.  We dont necessarily want to be the first to market but we do want to deliver the best quality and value.  

We have also been making ongoing refinements to our supplements.  We are always working to improve the ingredients we use in our supplements.  Just one recent example is the replacement of Calcium Citrate with Aquamin TG.  Aquamin TG is derived from a form of highly sustainable seaweed. This comes with exceptional bioavailability and without the negative aspects of traditional forms of calcium.  

You are right about most of the ingredients in our Zupafoods having been available for some time, however its the dosages, glutathione, the special unique mushroom mix and the custom developed natural fruit flavorings etc. that really make those products stand out from the crowd.  

Also, we have just launched the biggest reformulation of our skincare range this week.  These have got rave reviews from everyone involved and all of the testers over recent months.  We believe these are the best products on the market anywhere.  

If you would like more info or to test these, please post a message on our contact us to my attention and I will email you directly.  

Best regards,

Kane Matthews

Kane Matthews April 23 2015

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