A leading Australian researcher at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology has designed new compounds that mimic the activity of antioxidants found in wine and chocolate, which have potential applications in fighting disease. Dr Aaron Micallef is a free radical chemist and associate investigator for the Australian Research Council’s Centre of Excellence for Free Radical Chemistry and Biotechnology. He believes the new compounds will promote the body’s natural antioxidant... ...Read more »

Blueberries are one of the best-known ‘superfoods’, with a high level of antioxidant chemicals. But are all blueberries equal? New research suggests that some of the less well known cousins of the commercial blueberry may be even better at scavenging free-radicals. The first analysis of the healthful antioxidant content of blueberries that grow wild in Mexico, Central and South America concludes that some of these fruits have even more healthful antioxidants than the blueberries —... ...Read more »

Sour cherries could help athletes reduce muscle damage to recover faster from a tough workout, according to new research published in the American College of Sports Medicine’s journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. Researchers at the Sports and Exercise Science Research Center at London South Bank University, in the UK, gave 10 trained athletes 1 ounce of a proprietary cherry juice concentrate, CherryActive (made from sour Montmorency cherries) twice daily for seven days prior... ...Read more »

Eating blueberries can guard against high blood pressure, according to new research by the University of East Anglia (UEA) and Harvard University. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is one of the major cardiovascular diseases worldwide. It leads to stroke and heart disease and costs more than $300 billion each year. Around a quarter of the adult population is affected globally, including 10 million people in the UK, over 2 million Australians and one in three adults in the United States. Published... ...Read more »

Dietary supplement manufacturers often include health claims on products made with berries from the Vaccinium family – cranberries, blueberries and bilberries. Suggested benefits include prevention of urinary tract infections, reduced risk of certain cancers or Alzheimer’s disease, and improved night vision. Consumers may take such claims at face value, but one common problem with dietary supplement products containing berries is the risk of economic adulteration — dilution with... ...Read more »

Uncle Tobys has added a new variety to its Plus muesli line of breakfast cereals, Plus Essentials for Women. The Plus line integrates a variety of vitamins, functional and ‘superfood’ ingredients into one of the most popular items for nutritional enhancements: breakfasts. The Nestlé-owned company has created the new 97% fat free cereal with pomegranates and berry oat clusters, and added five “essential nutrients for women’s wellbeing”: antioxidants A & E, fibre, iron,... ...Read more »

Cinnamon extract could help reduce risk factors associated with heart disease and diabetes, according to new research. In the investigational study, the water-soluble cinnamon extract, which contains antioxidative compounds, was given to obese participants with impaired blood glucose values – a condition known as ‘prediabetes’ – for twelve weeks. Prediabetes occurs when cells are resistant to the higher-than-normal levels of insulin produced by the pancreas (in an attempt... ...Read more »

The first measurements of antioxidant levels in commercial bottled tea beverages has concluded that health-conscious consumers may not be getting what they pay for: healthful doses of polyphenol antioxidants, which may ward off a range of diseases. Dr Shiming Li analysed six bottled teas, and found that they contained significantly fewer polyphenols than a single cup of home-brewed green or black tea. Some contained such small amounts that consumers would have to drink 20 bottles to get the polyphenols... ...Read more »

Scientists have reported the first evidence that eating blueberries, strawberries, and acai berries may not only help with a variety of health benefits, but may also help the aging brain stay healthy. Research from the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging suggests that antioxidant polyphenols present in berries, and possibly walnuts, activate the brain’s natural “housekeeper” mechanism, which cleans up and recycles toxic proteins linked to age-related memory loss and other mental decline. Dr... ...Read more »

Super Foods For Super You is a new easy-reference guide by nutritionist and avid gardener Amber Jessica Mackenzie. The book lists entries for a wide variety of ‘super foods’ or ‘functional foods’, as well as offering plain-English explanations of terms like ‘antioxidant’ and ‘phytochemical’. Each entry in the book, from Acai to Yoghurt, includes basic information on the food, a list of its properties and recommended uses, and tips on gardening. Allergy... ...Read more »