by Dan-N on November 19, 2009
We sure like to put the word “super” in front of anything in this industry. Superfoods, SuperFruits, SuperSize …whoops - that one is for the fast food industry! Around this time of year you hear a lot of talk about what will be the top SuperFood of 2010. Of course, that question would be easier to answer if we could all agree on a definition for superfoods.
What is a SuperFood Anyway?
Here is how Wikipedia defines a SuperFood -
Superfood is a term sometimes used to describe food with high phytonutrient content that may confer health benefits as a result.
That clears it all up, right? No, such a broad definition of SuperFood would make almost any fruit, by definition a SuperFood. When every fruit can fall into a definition, that definition loses any significance. If every fruit is a superfood or superfruit, what makes one fruit more super than the next???
How Does the FDA Define SuperFoods and SuperFruits
They don’t! It is important to understand that there is no legal definition of SuperFoods or SuperFruits. There is no science to apply to a food and determine if it is a super food. As far as the FDA is concerned, all this talk about Superfoods is just marketing.
What About Acai, Muscadines, Resveratrol, Noni, etc. - I thought they were SuperFoods?
We do believe that Muscadine Grapes, Acai Berries and Resveratrol all have super nutritional profiles and some impressive health benefits. So, it seems fair to call these elite fruits SuperFoods - and almost everyone does. However, if you twist our arm and ask us what scientific formula we use to determine if a food makes it to SuperFood status - we have a one word answer - Oprah!
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by Dan-N on July 20, 2009
In our article, “Rhodiola Rosea, The Best Energy Supplement You Have Never Heard Of” we began examining the fascinating health benefits of Rhodiola Rosea. In this article we want to give a summary of some of the more impressive health benefits of Rhodiola and its history in the Soviet Union.
The Russian-Afghan War and Rhodiola
In 1980 Russia was involved in a brutal war in Afghanistan. Zakir Ramazanov, fresh off completing a double major in biochemistry and plant physiology in 1978 at a Russian University, was stationed in Afghanistan. Ramazanov wanted to go to graduate school and get his PhD, but first he had to serve his commitment in the Soviet Army.
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by Dan-N on July 14, 2009
Rhodiola Rosea
Tired? Who isn’t these days? If you are looking for a supplement to pick you up you may have tried caffeine, ginseng, Vitamin B12 or Royal Jelly. All decent supplements, but probably the best energy supplement is one you may have never heard of - Rhodiola Rosea
What in The World is Rhodiola Rosea?
Rhodiola Rosea is a plant that grows in cold, high altitude climates like Siberia. The root of the plant has been used for thousands of years as an energy and mental clarity tonic.
Here is the quick rundown on Rhodiola Rosea:
Rhodiola has been the subject of over 190 studies over a 40 year period.
Classified as an adaptogen herb - balances all aspects of the body without side effects.
Used by the Soviets in the Olympics to increase speed and endurance
Rhodiola produced such positive effects on stamina, energy and reducing stress than the Soviet Military classified the research as Top Secret during the Cold War
Secretly used by Soviet astronauts to increase stamina and performance while in space.
Named the best energy booster by Alternative Medicine Magazine (10/2004)
If Rhodiola Is Such a Great Energy Supplement, How Come I Have Never Heard of It?
Time to let you in on another Supplement Industry Secret…
Supplement companies promote ingredient featured on Oprah rather than in Science Journals.
Some ingredients become media favorites and start to appear on all the mainstream broadcast and publications. It is these ingredients that are the supplement industry makes into products and heavily promotes. Meanwhile, many of the ingredients with the strongest science and published clinical studies do not get the same exposure. But don’t worry, we are exposing all these secrets now…, so I guess it is not a secret anymore.
Where Can I Learn More about Rhodiola Rosea?
Here are some great resources to learn more about Rhodiola Rosea:
The Science Behind Rhodiola Rosea
Read Over 200 Clinical Studies on Rhodiola Rosea
HerbalGram Complete Research Paper on Rhodiola Rosea
