It is becoming apparent that some of the greatest health benefits are from anthocyanins, plant chemicals that provide the red and blue colour in a variety of fruit and veg.

Surely it’s no coincidence that many non-communicable diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer are more prevalent and seem to be increasing in many Western countries like the USA, Australia, New Zealand where the intake of colourful fruit and vegetables is dropping! In the US for example, daily anthocyanin intake has dropped from 180-215mg/day a few decades ago, to just 12.5mg/day.

By comparison, current anthocyanin intake in Italy is around 54.5mg a day; perhaps another argument for leaning toward a Mediterranean diet.

So how do anthocyanins help your health?

It’s in the antioxidants. The antioxidant properties of anthocyanins destroy substances called free radicals. Free radicals are a by-products from pollution, alcohol, cigarette smoking and sunlight.

Anthocyanin consumption has been shown to:
• lower blood pressure in those with hypertension,
• reduce cholesterol and plaque formation in the arteries,
• improve speech and memory in those over 70 years

There is also some evidence that it may reverse drug resistance and increase tumor sensitivity to chemotherapy.

Not only can anthocyanins help your wellness, they come in the most delicious berries. You can boost your daily intake with a handful of cherries, a blueberry pie or just grab a health shot like SHOJO – the handy functional tonics include so many super fruits; Goji berries, cherries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries.

Start your day with this antioxidant blast

In a Blender/Nutribullet add:

• 1 x FOCUS (Red Ginseng and Goji) SHOJO shot
• 1 handful spinach
• 1 cup frozen mango
• ¼ cup goji berries
• ½ cup raspberries
• add water as necessary for thinning

Drink and enjoy 🙂

REFERENCES
Carolyn Lister. Antioxidants – A Health Revolution (2003), NZ Institute for Crop, 2003

Wallace TC & Giusti MM. Anthocyanins in Health & Disease. CRC Press 2014

Mattioli R, Francioso A, Mosca L, Silva P. Anthocyanins: A Comprehensive Review of Their Chemical Properties and Health Effects on Cardiovascular and Neurodegenerative Diseases. Molecules. 2020 Aug 21;25(17):3809. doi: 10.3390/molecules25173809. PMID: 32825684; PMCID: PMC7504512.

Lin BW, Gong CC, Song HF, Cui YY. Effects of anthocyanins on the prevention and treatment of cancer. Br J Pharmacol. 2017 Jun;174(11):1226-1243. doi: 10.1111/bph.13627. Epub 2016 Oct 25. PMID: 27646173; PMCID: PMC5429338.