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EAT MORE

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TAKE A BIG BITE OF POWERFUL, PROTECTIVE PHYTONUTRIENTS! We are constantly reminded of the absolute importance of vegetables and fruits as the foundation of a healthy diet, but just how much are we really supposed to be eating every day? And which kind of vegetables and fruits should we aim to buy?

(fruits

&

veggies)

Remember that both variety and quantity are important. Some authorities recommend “eating a rainbow every day.”1 In this way we can begin to achieve the diverse mix of phytonutrients that our bodies need to fully protect itself against the dreaded lifestyle-related or chronic diseases.2 But it is also important to note that fruits and vegetables bring significant levels of potassium and fibre to our diet.1 Fruit and vegetables fall broadly into five different colour categories: red, purple/ blue, orange/yellow, green and white/ brown. It is the coloured pigments or phytonutrients, that give fruits and vegetables their distinctive, often vibrant colour and of course, many of their healthgiving properties.

Sadly, today few South African adolescents or adults reported consuming even half of the recommended daily minimum of 5 portions of fruits and vegetables.3

According to the WHO and FAO, East and West African populations are not eating nearly enough fruits and vegetables.

Consumption in the East African region is estimated at 38% of the daily 400 grams recommended to contribute to the prevention of chronic diseases. In parts of West Africa, an average Ghanaian for example consumes about 3.5 portions compared to the 5 – 6 portions recommended by the WHO4. Increasing fruit and vegetable consumption in Africa remains an important public health strategy for weight management and reduction of risk for chronic disease.

Based upon a global assessment of specific fruits and vegetables and the quantities consumed, it has been estimated that average intakes of phytonutrients vary greatly between geographical regions.

People eating high amounts of fruits and vegetables were found to have between 2 and 6-fold higher intakes of the selected phytonutrients studied: principally of the carotenoid and flavonoid families. The authors suggested that future research in this direction might help establish specific guidelines for these phytonutrients.5 continued on page 6...

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35%

of US adults & adolescents reported they did not consume fruit even once a day6 PORTION SIZE MATTERS!

Ground breaking studies conducted on a wide scale in Europe have gone a long way to clarifying the enormous health benefits of every extra portion of vegetables and fruits above the conservative “5-a-day.”

The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition project (otherwise known as EPIC), was designed to investigate the relationships between diet, nutrition, lifestyle and environmental factors.7 More than half a million adults living in ten different European countries took part in the investigation and follow up study. The aim of the study was firstly to help us understand more about the health protective-effects of eating more vegetables and fruits, and secondly to assess the amounts and varieties of vegetables and fruits needed for this protection. The results were clear, in that those subjects who ate more than 570g (or 7 portions) per day had a lower risk of dying due to heart health, respiratory health or digestive-health related causes when compared to subjects who ate less than 250g (or 3 portions) per day. The benefits attributed to eating vegetables were stronger than those from fruits.

Of particular interest was the apparent greater protection associated with the consumption of raw vegetables.

Furthermore, raw vegetables were particularly protective against cancers and mental health disorders. Researchers concluded that the mode of preparation of vegetables might be particularly important as well as other lifestyle factors.

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SQUEEZE IN MORE ‘RAW ’ SCIENCE! The Mediterranean diet and accompanying lifestyle has been known for many years to be associated with a long and healthy lifespan with a lower overall likelihood of developing chronic lifethreatening conditions.8 This type of diet pattern includes high quantities of vegetables, fruits, olives and olive oil, nuts, fish and only moderate amounts of lean meats.

Whole food phytonutrient intakes, and particularly the polyphenols and carotenoids are particularly high in the Mediterranean diet, and the way in which foods are cooked lightly (or consumed raw) also helps preserve the nutrient and phytonutrient quality.9

PROTECTIVELY COMBATING CHRONIC DISEASE

In spite of the extensive nature of many studies around the world, including the EPIC project there are still many questions regarding the daily amounts and particular types of vegetables and fruits which confer maximum benefit. In order to try to further unravel these associations, researchers from Imperial College London have recently published a paper after examining 95 studies on fruit and vegetable intake, covering all regions of the world.10 The Imperial College team concluded that the greatest protection against cardiovascular diseases and all-cause premature death occurs with a daily consumption of 800g of fruits and vegetables. In their conclusion they emphasise that this level, at 10 portions per day, is about twice the amount recommended by various authorities. The researchers also reported that high consumption of apples/ pears, citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables/ salads and cruciferous vegetables were particularly protective against heart disease and premature death. In terms of cancer risk the most protective were green-yellow vegetables and cruciferous vegetables. Overall they attributed the protective effects of vegetables and fruits to the “complex network of nutrients they hold.” In other words, the phytonutrients.

!

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P ER S O NA L CARE TIP! Forget tanning...

Get a Healthy Glow from Fruits & Vegetables!

Human skin colour is influenced by melanin formed through unprotected sun exposure, carotenoids from fruits and vegetables, or from hemoglobin. New studies in Australia investigated which skin colour young people associate with a healthy complexion. The overwhelming result was that young people preferred skin colour associated with a higher fruit and vegetable (or carotenoid) intake.11

DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR?

At NeoLife we have been recommending going much higher than the often recommended “5-a-day” portions for years. Since 1958 we have been developing whole food supplements containing the very phytonutrients that help you achieve that target: Products such as Carotenoid Complex, Cruciferous Plus, and Flavonoid Complex.

Take FULL advantage of the synergistic relationship of all three products with PhytoDefence. This phytonutrient protection pack has the power of six optimal servings from a variety of fruits and vegetables in each sachet, to support your body’s natural defences. continued on page 8...

PhytoDefence #2503 – 30 sachets

(defence) 7

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HAPPINESS & WELL-BEING Fruits & Vegetables Make You Feel Good & Look Good!

Recent research has also revealed really interesting findings about the effects on well-being that comes with a higher fruit and vegetable intake. In a study of dietary habits conducted by Australian and U.K.-based researchers it was found that individuals who followed recommendations to eat more fruits and vegetables scored much higher in life satisfaction, happiness and general wellbeing.12 These improvements took effect rather quickly and were very significant when 8 portions of fruits and vegetables were consumed. The researchers speculated that higher circulating levels of antioxidant phytonutrients such as carotenoids may be involved in this effect.

(protect) CAN YOU ‘SEE’ THE PROBLEM?

New benefits to these super phytonutrients continue to be unveiled as the research community builds on the foundation of knowledge, which first led to the development of NeoLife's Carotenoid Complex back in the 90’s.13

2 HRS OF USING A DIGITAL DEVICE IS ENOUGH TO C R E A T E E Y E S T R A I N 16

The importance of carotenoids to eye health is also long established, and it is known that consumption of carotenoidrich foods can help prevent age-related macular degeneration (AMD).14 In spite of this knowledge, AMD continues to rise in populations around the world because people are still not getting enough portions of carotenoid-rich fruits and vegetables!

The Lancet projects the number of people with age-related macular degeneration in 2020 at 196 million, increasing to 288 million in 2040.15 Today, new techniques have allowed for a greater understanding of exactly how carotenoids protect the eye. And this protection is even more critical in today’s technology driven world of indoor living as we are constantly exposed to blue light, not from the sun, but from the LED screens of our computers, smart phones and iPads.

It is thought that just 2 hours of using a digital device is enough to create eye strain, fatigue and dry eyes.16 That is well below the estimated use of the average toddler today, and far below the estimated 11 hours of the average American adult!

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SCIENCE CONTINUES TO VALIDATE WHOLE FOOD NUTRITION! As a company NeoLife has built a solid foundation of products integrating the super phytonutrients.

Academic research continues to strongly back the benefits of polyphenols such as the family of flavonoids from fruits and vegetables as the best strategic approach to the prevention of all types of chronic disease.17 Furthermore, and of great importance to tackling the current epidemic of “diabesity”, polyphenols are increasingly being cited for their positive effects in the prevention of type-2 diabetes (T2D).18

Carotenoids, particularly lutein, zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin are highly concentrated in the retina where they perform important physical and metabolic protective functions.15 They enhance contrast sensitivity improving visual performance and help filter blue light which could otherwise damage the sensitive tissues of the macula and ultimately advance macular degeneration.

Carotenoids working as antioxidants and as possible antiinflammatory phytonutrients in the macular region assist in protecting our delicate eye tissues from free radical damage and oxidative stress.

Recent studies now also support the importance of lutein and other carotenoids for general brain health. Indeed, recent findings show that there is a high concentration of carotenoids in the brain, and a selective concentration of lutein, which makes up about 60% of the total carotenoids.19

So keeping carotenoids high can be tremendously beneficial. Just how do you top up with these vital phytonutrients?

NeoLife’s clinically tested Carotenoid Complex contains 15 different carotenoids in high potency. A single capsule provides the carotenoid equivalents of 1 portion of carotenoid-rich fruits and vegetables.

1. British Heart Foundation. Should you eat a rainbow of fruits and vegetables? Available at: https://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-matters-magazine/ nutrition/5-a-day/colourful-foods.

2. Zhang YJ, et al. Antioxidant Phytochemicals for the Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Diseases. Molecules. 2015 Aug; 20(12):21138-56.

3. Mchiza ZJ, et al. A Review of Dietary Surveys in the Adult South African Population from 2000 to 2015. Nutrients 2015 Sep; 7(9), 8227-8250.

4. http://www.fao.org/ghana/news/detail-events/en/c/522653/ 5. Murphy MM, et al. Global assessment of select phytonutrient intakes by level of fruit and vegetable consumption. Br J Nutr. 2014 Sept;112(6):1004-18.

6. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. State Indicator Report on Fruits and Vegetables 2013. 2013 May; 8.

7. Leenders M, et al. Fruit and vegetable intake and cause-specific mortality in the EPIC study. Eur J Epidemiol. 2014 Sep;29(9):639-52.

8. Sofi F, et al. Accruing evidence on benefits of adherence to the Mediterranean diet on health: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010 Nov; 92(5):1189–96.

9. Hoffman R, Gerber M. Food processing and the Mediterranean diet.

Nutrients. 2015 Sept;7(9):7925-64.

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Flavonoid Complex is drawn from a select group of nature’s most powerful and unique fruits that are naturally rich in bioactive compounds, called polyphenols, and which have the remarkable ability to promote health.

EAT MORE, REMEMBER MORE...

The blood levels of the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin were independently associated with better scores in global cognition, memory, and executive function type tests in a large population of elderly individuals. In addition, it was found that higher zeaxanthin levels were associated with sharper information processing speed.19 The next question the researchers are asking is how the enrichment of these nutrients in different populations (e.g. the healthy population and patients with mild cognitive impairment) can impact scores in cognitive function tests.

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BE BERRY HEALTHY FOR METABOLIC FITNESS!

Exciting new research just published in the British Journal of Nutrition reveals that many types of polyphenols are able to positively influence metabolic syndrome - considered to be a prediabetic state. A polyphenol drink containing just a third of a gram of strawberry and cranberry polyphenols (equal to 2 servings of fresh fruit) was consumed daily for 6-weeks by overweight and obese adults who were insulin-resistant. The polyphenol drink improved insulin sensitivity and also the performance in an oral glucose tolerance test.20

10. Aune D, et al. Fruit and vegetable intake and the risk of cardiovascular disease, total cancer and all-cause mortality–a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies. Int J Epidemiol.

2017 Feb. Epub ahead of print. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyw319.

11. Pezdirc K, et al. Perceptions of carotenoid and melanin colouration in faces among young Australian adults. Aust J Psych. 2017 May. Epub ahead of print. doi: 10.1111/ajpy.12163.

12. Mujcic R, Oswald JA. Evolution of well-being and happiness after increases in consumption of fruit and vegetables. Am J Public Health.

2016 Aug;106(8): 1504–10.

13. Carughi A, Hooper F. Plasma Carotenoid Levels before and after Supplementation with a Carotenoid Complex. Ann NY Acad Sci. 1993 Dec;691:244-5.

14. Sommerburg O, et al. Fruits and vegetables that are sources for lutein and zeaxanthin: the macular pigment in human eyes. Br J Ophthalmol.

1998 Aug;82(8):907-10.

15. Wong WL, et al. Global prevalence of age-related macular degeneration and disease burden projection for 2020 and 2040: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Glob Health. 2014 Feb;2(2):e106–16.

Carotenoid Complex

Flavonoid Complex

#2564 – 30 capsules #2565 – 90 capsules

#2790 – 60 tablets

These are exciting new findings which further demonstrate the power and diversity of benefits of polyphenols to human health. At NeoLife we have built these benefits into many of our products.

One great example is Flavonoid Complex which contains powerful array of polyphenols from berries and grapes.

Phytonutrient power and protection for the body is here now and is here to stay.

NeoLife, with our strong scientific heritage and portfolio of existing phytonutrient products are uniquely poised to continue to provide the right solutions. n

16. The Vision Council. Digital Eye Strain. Available at: https://www.thevisioncouncil.org/content/digital-eye-strain.

17. Del Rio D, et al. Dietary (poly)phenolics in human health: structures, bioavailability and evidence of protective effects against chronic diseases.

Antiox Redox Signal. 2013 May;18(4):1818-92.

18. Mursu, J., et al., Intake of fruit, berries, and vegetables and risk of type 2 diabetes in Finnish men: the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2014 Feb;99(2):328-33.

19. Feeney J, et al. Plasma Lutein and Zeaxanthin Are Associated With Better Cognitive Function Across Multiple Domains in a Large Population-Based Sample of Older Adults: Findings from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2017 Jan. Epub ahead of print. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glw330.

20. Paquette M, et al. Strawberry and cranberry polyphenols improve insulin sensitivity in insulin-resistant, non-diabetic adults: a parallel, double-blind, controlled and randomised clinical trial. Br J Nutr. 2017 Feb;117(4):519-31.

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