Top 5 Foods with Anthocyanins

Top 5 Foods with Anthocyanins

You’ve probably heard time and time again the importance of eating your fruits and vegetables. These foods contain vitamins, minerals, fiber, and more, all essential for maintaining a healthy body. In addition to these health benefits, many fruits and vegetables contain incredible compounds called anthocyanins.

Anthocyanins are a subset of a larger group called flavonoids. You’ve most likely heard this term in reference to green tea, red wine, and cocoa. Flavonoids are antioxidants. Anthocyanins are as well, but they are much more powerful. Many studies have shown them to have twice the antioxidant power of vitamin C. There are over 500 individual anthocyanins that have been identified. In addition to giving foods their bright blues, purples, and oranges, they are also a powerhouse of nutritional benefits.

The Benefits of Anthocyanins

There are several incredible benefits of anthocyanins. One of the biggest benefits, much like the benefits of other flavonoids, is that anthocyanins may help to fight cancer. There are plenty of lab and clinical studies that suggest anthocyanins, and foods rich in anthocyanins, can provide anti-cancer effects and can help to stop tumor metastasis.

A 2009 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that supplementation with anthocyanins resulted in a 13.7% increase in good cholesterol and a 13.6% reduction in the bad cholesterol. Lowering bad cholesterol is essential for reducing the risk of heart disease, the number one cause of death in the United States. Other research has found that anthocyanins can help to protect the heart by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation while also helping to reduce blood pressure.

Other benefits of anthocyanins include

  • They may help to fight obesity.
  • Improving vision.
  • Healthy liver function.
  • Boosting cognitive functions.

5 Foods Chock Full of Anthocyanins

There are several types of foods that contain anthocyanins. The top 5 foods that contain these incredible antioxidants include:

  1. Dark berries – blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, cranberries, elderberries, and more – are ranked top in terms of antioxidant power. Acai berries, small, reddish-purple berries, are even richer in anthocyanins than any other type of berry. The antioxidant content, which is measured by the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Content (ORAC), of 100 grams of Acai is 15,405 where the content of 100 grams of blueberries is 4,669.
  2. There are many different types of cherries. Tart cherries have a higher anthocyanin content than sweet cherries. Typically, the darker the color of the cherry (as with any other antioxidant rich food) the higher the concentration of anthocyanins. Studies have shown that individuals who consume tart cherries regularly experience relief from conditions such as osteoarthritis as well as soreness following a workout.
  3. Purple grapes. Purple grapes are not only an excellent source of anthocyanins, they also help to eliminate uric acid crystals. The skin contains a compound called resveratrol, which helps to fight inflammation. Red wine, made from purple grapes, is also a good source, and has been found to lower cholesterol as well as blood pressure.
  4. The dark purple skin of eggplant is rich in anthocyanins. Anthocyanins taken from eggplant skin have been shown to scavenge free radicals and prevent lipid peroxidation. One particular anthocyanin found in eggplant may also have anti-angiogenic properties and prevent cell DNA damage. Many recipes call for peeling the skin from the eggplant because it tends to be bitter. In order to get the anthocyanins, however, leave the skin on.
  5. Black rice. Black rice is also commonly called “forbidden rice.” It has this name due to the fact that only the emperor of ancient China was allowed to eat it. Black rice has been found to have six times more antioxidants than brown or white rice. Additionally, a single spoonful of black rice bran has the same anthocyanin content as a spoonful of fresh blueberries.

There are many foods that contain anthocyanins. Typically, the darker the color of the skin, the more anthocyanins it contains. In order to get the most health benefits, it’s best to eat a varie

Buy here Mr Ros Acai Juice Berry Powder

Wildcrafted Acerola & Acai vs Organic

wildcrafted acai

Our Açaí and Acerola berry powders are wildcrafted and people have asked us what this “wildcrafted” means. Let’s have a look at what the difference is between wildcrafted, organic and conventional ways of growing and harvesting plants.

Wildcrafted Acerola & Acai vs Organic vs Conventional

Wildcrafted, organic, and conventional are three ways to grow and harvest plants.

Wildcrafted

Wildcrafted Acerola & Acai grow in nature without any human involvement. There are natural stressors in this environment, like competing plants, fluctuations in sunlight and temperature, the availability of water, insects and disease.

The Acerola and acai are forced by these stressors to fully develop their nutrients and phytonutrients, which they need to thrive under these conditions. As a result, plants become more resilient, and the strength of their phytonutrients increase.

The body has greater chemical affinity and better recognizes wildcrafted plants because they grow naturally. Wildcrafted plants work better in reversing disease and supporting homeostasis than organically and conventionally grown plants.

Using wildcrafted plants is is also eco-friendly. Following wildcrafting harvesting guideline protects the plant’s environment. As a sustainable practice, herbalists gather roots, leaves, and seeds at the correct time of year during their highest potency. Careful to only gather a small percentage of any stand, wildcrafters have been ahead of their time in preserving the earth’s resources.

Harvesting Wildcrafted Plants

  • There are guidelines to follow when harvesting wildcrafted Acai & Acerola:
  • Never harvest an endangered species.
  • Do not pick immature plants.
  • Do not collect more than 15% of a particular in an area.
  • Do not harvest more plants than needed at a given time.
  • Do not damage surrounding plant or environment.
  • Never harvest plants that are close to industrialized areas or highways to avoid pollution contamination.
  • Do not harvest from compromised environments.
  • Plants seeds if the whole plants needs harvesting.

By following these guidelines, wildcrafting is environmentally sustainable, because this method will ensure new growth that will help maintain the environment’s ecosystem.

Organic

Commercially produced organic Acerola and Acai grow in controlled farm environments. Stressors are absent in these controlled environments, and so there’s nothing to bring out the full resiliency of the plant’s phytonutrients.

Organic plants shouldn’t be a product of genetic manipulation, yet they can be a product of hybridization. Hybridization is the combining or cross-pollination of two or more plants to create a new plant species.

There is no place for harmful synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides in commercially produced organic plants. It’s also not allowed to grow plants on polluted land.

Conventional

In terms of conventional growing of plants, there is very little regulation. You can genetically modify (GMO) or hybridize conventional plants, which can negatively affect the plant’s nutrient composition.

It is also possible to grow conventional plants using synthetic fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides, and as a result increase the risk of cancer.

GMO and the use of synthetic fertilizers consequently develop abnormally big plants, which is good for production.
The plants become contaminated with these chemicals, and as a result often become carcinogenic and undermine the medicinal value of the plants.

Read more on Our Acerola here

Read more on our Acai here

 

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Recipe for Acai Bowl with Strawberries & Banana

Acai bowl recipe

Acai bowls…..they’re definitely a hype. But what’s so great about a smoothie that you can eat from a bowl? Well, a lot!

This seemingly minor change-up from glass to bowl, is exactly what makes an acai bowl so special. Because it’s in a bowl, topped with all sorts of goodies, it asks you to take it slow, and spoon and savor each and every bite.

Acai powder adds that bit of oomph to an otherwise more-or-less-standard fruit and nut drink. And don’t get us started about the toppings: the options are endless!

Here is one of our favorite acai bowl recipes for breakfast or brunch.

Acai Bowl with Strawberries & Banana

Ingredients (yield: serves 1)

1 cup of frozen strawberries
1 frozen sliced banana
2 tablespoons acai powder
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 tablespoon nut or seed butter
1/2 tablespoon honey (more or less to taste)

Toppings

Your pick of fresh fruit, sliced. We used bananas, strawberries and raspberries in this recipe.
Bee pollen
Clear, runny honey
Granola
Unsweetened coconut flakes
Dried goji berries
Chia or hemp seeds

Directions

Add the frozen fruits, acai powder, almond milk, nut or seed butter, and honey to a blender. Blend until creamy and smooth, adding extra almond milk as needed to get the blender running. Aim for a frozen-yogurt consistency (it should be thicker than a smoothie).

Spoon the acai mixture into bowls and top with sliced fruit, bee pollen, a drizzle of honey, and the optional toppings (if using).

Mr. Ros Wildcrafted Acai Berry Juice Powder

Our non-GMO Acai Juice Powder contains up to 30 times the level of good anthocyanins found in grapes. It’s packed with antioxidants and omega 6 and 9, and promotes skin health, a healthy digestive system and even aids in weight loss.

 

 

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