Why Not Go Natural?

Before the popularity of the acai berry gained notoriety we had only vitamins A, C and E consumed by drinking orange juice or taking vitamin supplements. But today, we are not talking about just small preventative measures taken, but a real blow to sickness and disease, which has taken the form of antioxidant rich functional health beverages that many consumers swear by in their quest for health and wellness.

Currently, the antioxidant gaining the most attention the Acai (pronounced ah-SAH-ee) berry which is known as a super antioxidant. The acai berry is a small dark blue fruit, similar in size to a blueberry or small grape but with less pulp, that grows in clusters of berries on acai palm trees. The acai fruit is popular among health food enthusiasts because it is high in many important vitamins and minerals, including B vitamins, Omega-3 fatty acids (such as Omega-3, Omega-6 and Omega-9), and anthocyanin/anthocyanidin phytonutrients which are members of the flavonoid class of antioxidants.

The dark purple berry, which tastes something like a blend of berries and chocolate, supposedly contains 10 to 30 times the flavonoids contained in red wine. Traditionally, Brazilians used the fruit to treat stomach disorders and skin conditions. The fruit is highly unstable when picked and rots easily, so it is rare to find the acai fruit whole when you are not in the region where they are grown. Outside the tropics the fruit is usually found in either juice or pulp form. This wonder food is purported to fight cancer, control cholesterol, increase energy, improve physical intimacy and helps weight loss. Some people even use acai as a facial astringent because the fruit has high anti-bacterial properties.

Cupuacu (coo pwAH soo) is referred to as The Taste of the Amazon. Cupuacu is a member of the chocolate family. The indigenous Indians have used the fruit as a primary food source for years. The Cupuacu fruit grows on the Cupuacu tree, which is a small to medium tree in the Rainforest that belongs to the Cocoa family. This fruit is known for its creamy exotic tasting pulp. The pulp is used throughout Brazil and Peru to make fresh juice, ice cream, jam and tarts. The fruit ripens in the rainy months from January to April and is considered a culinary delicacy in South American cities. The seeds contain a sweet-smelling, white butter, which can also be used to make excellent-quality white chocolate.

This particular fruit, Cupuacu has not gained the national attention as the acia berry or yerbe mate. Its benefits has not been publicized nor is it contained in many health related beverages, supplements or foods. Cupuacu contains unique antioxidant phytonutrients called polyphenols. You may be familiar with polyphenols from other common medicinal plants, notably green tea and grape seeds. Cupuacu also contains at least nine other known antioxidants including Vitamin C and Vitamin A, making it a well-rounded antioxidant cocktail. The top three reasons to make Cupuacu part of your diet include: the increased ability to fight disease and cancer, more youthful and healthier looking skin and hair and it reportedly lowers cholesterol levels.

Indigenous people, as well as local communities along the Amazon, have cultivated Cupuacu as a primary food source for generations. In former times, Cupuacu seeds were traded along the Rio Negro and Upper Orinoco rivers where indigenous people drink Cupuacu juice after it has been blessed by a shaman to facilitate difficult births. The “beans” are utilized by the indigenous Tikuna people for abdominal pains.

Cupuacu also has a unique type of polyphenols called theograndins. Theograndins have potent antioxidant activity and provide cardiovascular protective and immune supportive benefits. Yet, everyday brings new findings of other advantages of theograndins that are unique to cupuacu. For example, in tests on some types of cancers, theograndins were uniquely effective at killing colon cancer cells. Research is underway to determine whether cupuacu or isolated theograndins have a place in modern cancer therapy.

Yerba mate (pronounced yer-bah mah-tay) is also one of the ingredients in this functional health beverage in addition to Aloe Vera Gel Pulp, CoEnzyme Q10, Cat’s Claw Bark and over 100 other nutritional ingredients. Although yerba mate has not enjoyed the same level of media exposure as the acai berry has recently, it certainly commands respect and attention. Yerba mate is a tea like beverage popular in Argentina. The word mate derives from the word Mati that names the gourd that is used to drink the tea.

It is widely held that this tea contains mateine, a chemical cousin of caffeine that has subtly different properties. Though similar to caffeine in its ability to provide energy, it can have a milder and safer delivery to the body. Although, yerba mate is not known to interfere with sleep cycles, it does have a tendency to balance the cycles, inducing more REM sleep. Many people report that they require less sleep when using mate; usually such an experience is accompanied by a deeper, more relaxing sleep experience.

Yerba mate is replete with antioxidants that help the body fight free-radicals. Yerba mate may assist with the following: increased mental awareness and elevated mood, weight loss, increased ability to fight off disease and increased energy and vitality.

Additionally, yerba mate helps relieve allergies. It has been noted that yerba mate is helpful in opening respiratory passages to overcome allergy symptoms. It has been shown to reduce the severity of some allergies and hay fever. Yerba mate works by stimulating the adrenal glands to produce corticosteroids, which help suppress the inflammation and immune response due to allergies.

Does yerba mate exhibit anti-cancer properties like green tea? Aside from its significant antioxidant effects, research from the University of Illinois suggests yerba mate could in fact be a potent ally in cancer protection. Labs around the country are starting to test the Acai to find what possible medical use it has. There is no doubt that this amazing fruit has a promising future in the medical world. While more study needs to be done to prove the effectiveness of some of these claims, there is no doubt that adding any of one of these plants or fruits to your diet will improve your overall and future health!

The health beverage industry is a booming market. It is currently producing over 4 billion dollars in sales and is forecasted to grow to over 10 billion in the next few years. The growth is being fueled by one thing: consumer demand. It should be no surprise why so many companies are jumping on the functional health beverage band wagon.

Why not go natural and checkout alternative cures for what ails you instead of the usual pills or injections. Go natural with functional health beverages. Additional information about this product can be found at: http://www.u2canhavesuccess.com/readproductinfo.htm.

Try this beverage, it contains all three of the popular Superfoods: Acai, Yerba Mate and Cupuacu.  http://www.u2canhavesuccess.com/tryityoulikeit.htm .

Medical Disclaimer
“Information on this site is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to act as a substitute for medical advice provided by a qualified health care provider, nor is any information on this site is intended to diagnose, treat, care or prevent any diseases. Statements have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration.”

The Surge In Functional Health Beverages

Improve your memory? Lift your mood? Relieve tension? A growing market of “functional health beverages” enhanced with herbs and other ingredients promise to improve your health. But do these drinks really offer health benefits? Judging by the reaction to these products the answer is a resounding, yes.

Americans want to be healthier and also discover the fountain of youth and longevity. The food industry is rushing to fulfill this new desire. The new buzzword is “functional health beverages and foods.”  Functional beverages (also known as “neutraceuticals”) are beverages fortified with dietary supplements and herbal medicines. And they are becoming a multi-billion dollar industry.

Experts predict Americans will buy more bottled water than coffee or beer. Artificial flavors are losing ground to drinks with “all natural” claims. Antioxidant tea products are now the rage. And at least one brand of coffee is adding herbs and minerals to its beans.  Energy drinks are the fastest growing supermarket category — with sports drinks right behind.

Japan was a pioneer in functional beverages and foods consuming nearly twice as many functional beverages as any other nationality. The Japanese have always made the direct connection between what you eat and drink and what you are, and they’ve long viewed their diets as being a primary source of health and medication.

Energy drinks have been established in Japan for decades and are also known as tonic drinks. Initially targeted at young consumers (and routinely used by this demographic as alcohol drink mixes), these drinks are now being aimed at people of all ages who need a healthy energy boost.

People now understand that almost everything we take in has some kind of effect-this is a new kind of knowledge. Consumers are more empowered because of this knowledge, and companies are responding to this new found personal edification.

Other market sectors are continuing to expand. Enriched juices and juice-based drinks fortified with vitamins and minerals are gaining in popularity, as are herbal-infused beverages. All this goes well for the functional beverages industry. Functional health beverages are going more mainstream, because consumers have become much more holistic-minded, so companies are now meeting them in the middle. There is a consciousness out there now that very small amounts of something can have a very significant effect.

The functional beverages industry has attracted the attention of traditional beverage manufacturers focused on expanding their product ranges in the face of falling sales of old stand-bys such as carbonates. Pepsi’s purchase of Gatorade and South Beach Beverages Sobe, Cadbury Schweppes’ purchase of the Snapple and Mistic brands and Coca-Cola’s acquisition of Mad River Traders are a few examples.

Products affiliated with major sporting brands, such as Reebok and Umbro sports and performance drinks, also are infiltrating the market. More sophisticated products, such as fast-rehydration drinks, are becoming popular, especially in Japan, where stamina enhancing sports drinks with added ingredients to aid performance are becoming more popular.

Wellness and nutraceutical drink products are increasingly being targeted at specific segments of the population, for example, age, gender, lifestyle and particular health conditions. Examples include Sunny Delight for children and drinks for women. Targeting specific segments of the population has been the motivation for many new products such as, women-specific products, issue-oriented products, for example, prostate and breast cancer prevention.

At present, the sports drink market is the most mature and therefore presents little opportunity for growth, which has become apparent already in the US and Japanese markets. Across all functional health beverage product lines, energy drinks are the fastest-growing sector, a trend that shows no sign of slowing in the immediate future.

The nutraceutical-wellness drink sector is the least developed but possibly the most exciting category, with drinks containing ingredients such as probiotics, prebiotics, soy proteins and phytosterols. Over-the-top premium pricing policies have also restricted sales in some circumstances, although a recent US survey showed 40 per cent of consumers were willing to pay a premium for products containing added nutritional benefits.

The same study ranked these benefits and found energy enhancement, illness prevention, heart health, anticancer effects, relaxation, mood enhancement and sexual enhancement were the most desirable. With interest in these kinds of products higher than ever, the future looks bright for this category.

The 1990s fueled a health and lifestyle revolution that resulted in consumer demand for foods and beverages that provide both nourishment and good taste, at the right price. The beverage industry, with functional drinks, has successfully met those desires by selling a broad range of products–juices, energy drinks, smoothies, soy-based beverages, enhanced isotonics, enhanced water, teas that fulfills a nutritional need.

Claims for many of these drinks have not been proven and the amount of added ingredients is neither standardized nor identified on the label. And their safety — optimal doses, interactions and long-term consequences — isn’t known.  Some skeptics believe the best approach for healthy living and feeling energetic is to eat healthfully, get regular physical activity and give yourself time to relax.

US consumers spent more than $25 billion dollars on ‘wellness drinks’ in 2005, making up 12% of all soft drinks spending across the US and Europe. The market represents a major opportunity for drink marketers, as consumers become aware of the link between diet and lifestyle.

What is important about the Wellness Industry? How about the definition: wellness is anything that makes you feel healthier, stronger, see better, hear better, feel better, or fight symptoms of ageing. 

The Sickness Industry’s definition is more in line with healthcare: anything concerned with being sick and treating symptoms of sickness. The Sickness Industry has little to do with preventing illness, being stronger or healthier which increases the popularity of the functional health beverages and food products. People are tired of popping pills for everything that ails them and are taking a more holistic or as some say looking at alternative health treatments rather than the traditional medical care that most of us have grown accustomed to. 

The Wellness industry is going through a boom. Before the end of this decade, it is estimated that the Wellness industry may surpass the dot.com revolution. This is an exciting time.

Whether its drinks or spreads, yogurts or desserts, functional foods and beverages are among the fastest-growing categories in the food industry. If this looks like the 80s all over again, this newly discovered health trend has got to be the strongest yet.  Consumers approach to health is different this time; it’s more aggressive, sophisticated, and here to stay.

You can find out more about a new product that has all three of the superfoods in one bottle! Go to Janice Willingham’s website at: http://www.u2canhavesuccess.com/yourhealthmatters.htm .  

To try 3 Superfoods In One Bottle go to Janice’s website at: http://www.u2canhavesuccess.com/tryityoulikeit.htm .

Medical Disclaimer
“Information on this site is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to act as a substitute for medical advice provided by a qualified health care provider, nor is any information on this site is intended to diagnose, treat, care or prevent any diseases. Statements have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration.”

Welcome To Health & Wellness

Thank you for stopping by my Health & Wellness Blog. I hope we can educate and discuss with each other alternative health remedies that are beneficial and work!   As consumers we need to be educated on alternatives to surgery and pill pushing.  I will be posting health and wellness related articles, business reviews and relevant industry news.  You are welcome to comment on anything I post here, and if you have any information to share about health and wellness that would be beneficial to readers, I’d love for you to post here.Thank you for coming by and if there is any information you would like for me to cover on Health & Wellness, please let me know. I look forward to your posts.

Janice Willingham is an experienced network marketer on the web. Checkout my health and wellness pick: http://www.u2canhavesuccess.com/yourhealthmatters.htm

No pressure or hyped up claims… just real information you can use.

Get your bottle here: http://www.u2canhavesuccess.com/tryityoulikeit.htm 

Medical Disclaimer
“Information on this site is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to act as a substitute for medical advice provided by a qualified health care provider, nor is any information on this site is intended to diagnose, treat, care or prevent any diseases. Statements have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration.”