1. Raw Cacao (Chocolate!)*

Grown and harvested ethically and sustainably in Ecuador, raw cacao contains the antioxidants polyphenols, catechin, epicatechin, and gallic acid. Epicatechin and its metabolites have been singled out as providing cacao’s vasodilation benefits, which help protect against thrombosis formation and hypertension. Cacao provides significant protection to cardiovascular health and has been found to provide more than 21 times the free radical protection of green tea.

Cacao and Magnesium
Cacao is believed to be the richest source of magnesium of any common food. Magnesium is one of the most important minerals in the body and is the number one mineral that assists and supports healthy heart functioning. It is vital for over 300 enzyme systems in the body – more than iron and zinc combined, yet nearly 70% of the population is deficient in magnesium. Many experts believe that even with a healthy diet, produce may still be grown in mineral-depleted soil and lacking in this vital nutrient.

Studies have shown magnesium may have a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system. Low magnesium levels have also been found in patients who have died from heart attacks. Magnesium has also been found to be beneficial in asthma, where it promotes relaxation of the bronchial smooth muscle. Magnesium may help prevent calcium crystallising in the kidneys to create kidney stones. Magnesium deficiency is strongly implicated in PMS. Symptoms like abdominal bloating, breast pain, headaches, fatigue, fluid retention, mood swings, insomnia, and anxiety are all symptoms of magnesium deficiency and PMS!

Magnesium supplementation is as important as calcium supplementation in the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis. It helps the body metabolise calcium and converts dietary vitamin D to an active form.

Magnesium is also beneficial for gastric disturbances (heartburn and flatulence) as it neutralizes stomach acid, converting it to magnesium chloride. With less acid available, less gas is produced, resulting in alleviation of the symptoms. Magnesium may also help relieve constipation by relieving pressure on the bowel and allowing fluid to soften bowel movements. Studies have found magnesium supplementation may help relieve tension headaches, muscle tension, and associated pain and cramps. Low magnesium levels have also been found in chronic migraine sufferers.

Like many plants, coffee distributes its powerful nutrition throughout the whole fruit, not just the seed. Whole coffee fruit is loaded with high concentrations of beneficial antioxidants and other extraordinary nutrients, including polyphenols, chlorogenic, caffeic and ferulic acids.

Coffee plants grow on the slopes of high-altitude, volcanic mountainsides. Nourished by mineral-rich soil and warmed by intense tropical sunlight, coffee plants produce a profusion of wonderful, bright red fruit. Coffee fruit is exceptionally rich in antioxidants because it grows in high altitude, low-latitude regions where the sun’s rays are strongest. As the plants mature, they develop powerful antioxidants to protect them from damage caused by high doses of the sun’s radiation and the natural by-products of photosynthesis. One gram of our coffee berry provides the same free radical protection of over two kilograms of grapes.

Raw Coffee Fruit Concentrate and Glyconutrition
The whole coffee fruit also contains many healthy poly-, oligo- and five of the eight essential mono-saccharides. Polysaccharides, such as mannans and aribinogalactans, make up nearly 50% of the coffee berry. Conventional roasting destroys these nutrients, so they’re not found in traditional coffee.

We all know that carbohydrates provide the ‘fuel’ we use to run our bodies. Until recently, it was thought that energy creation was the only role carbohydrates played in our body. During the last few years, however, emerging science has suggested that eight carbohydrates: Mannose, Galactose, Fucose, Xylose, Glucose, Sialic acid, N-Acetylglucosamine, and N-Acetylgalactosamine are essential to life because they are the basic building blocks of all biological communication. Scientists believe that this family of eight mono-saccharides is essential in order for our immune systems to function properly. Coffee berry releases unusually high levels of mannose, galactose, fucose, xylose, arabinose, and glucose during digestion.

Wild harvested sustainably and fairly from the Amazon Forest, the powerful purple berry, Açaí (ahsigh-ee) contains the potent antioxidant, anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are a group of phytochemicals found in red wine that are thought to contribute to the French Paradox, i.e. that France has one of the lowest incidences of heart disease of any western society despite the prevalence of smoking and a diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol. Açaí contains the potent antioxidant, anthocyanins, at 10-30 times the concentration found in red wine.

Other potential physiological effects of anthocyanins include radiation-protective, chemoprotective, vasoprotective, and anti-inflammatory agents.

4. Goji Berry*

The ‘red diamond’ of Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 2000 years, Goji Berry contains the powerful carotenoid antioxidants zeaxanthin, beta-carotene, lutein, lycopene, cryptoxanthin, and xanthophyll. Carotenoids are thought to protect against cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases, vision-related diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma, and are anticancer agents.

5. Blueberry*

Blueberry contains the polyphenolic antioxidant, anthocyanins. Anthocyanins, which are flavonoids, were found in one study to have the strongest antioxidant power of 150 flavonoids tested. Anthocyanins have been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory properties and protect both large and small blood vessels from oxidative damage, including those in the eyes.

6. Raspberry*

Raspberry contains the polyphenol antioxidant, ellagic acid, which has been shown to reduce heart disease, birth defects, liver problems, and promote wound healing. Ellagic acid may help inhibit different types of cancer causing agents, including aflatoxin and nitrosamines. Ellagic acid seems to have some anti-cancer properties and has been found to cause death in cancer cells in the lab.

7. Strawberry*

Strawberry is a rich source of the polyphenol antioxidants, quercetin, ellagic acid, and anthocyanin.

Quercetin has been shown to protect colon, breast, ovarian, and gastrointestinal cells against cancer growth. Quercetin has also been shown to protect against strokes, cataracts, viruses, and allergies.

8. Pomegranate*

Pomegranate contains the polyphenol antioxidants, punicalagins and ellagic acid.

Research suggests that pomegranate may be beneficial for artherosclerosis, heart disease, osteoarthritis, and prostate cancer.