Mother always told you to eat your greens. Most likely, she was referring to nutrient-packed vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, and peas. Today, there’s a whole new generation of super green foods to choose from. However, these “new” greens are not only served on a plate, but also available as supplements.

Special Component for Super Green Foods

Not a “green food” in and of itself, but a critically important component in super green foods, chlorophyll is known as the lifeblood of all plants, since it is very similar in molecular structure to the hemoglobin of human blood.

Seven Super Green Foods

The seven super green foods include wheatgrass, barley grass, alfalfa, chlorella, spirulina, blue-green algae (AFA), and green tea.

1. Wheatgrass for super green foods. Researchers agree that wheatgrass — the delicate, immature wheat plant before it produces seeds — is loaded with protein (some say 25 percent), containing more of this nutrient than meat, eggs, fish, or dairy products.

2. Barley grass for super green foods.Young barley grass is a source of amino acids, enzymes, calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, copper, phosphorus, manganese, zinc, beta carotene, B vitamins, vitamins C and E, selenium, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and a newly discovered antioxidant, 2-O-GIV.

3. Alfalfa for super green foods. Important information keeps emerging about another important green product, alfalfa. Scientists have discovered that it not only reduces cholesterol levels, but also reduces atherosclerotic plaque. alfalfa brings many health benefits, because “it is a kidney tonic, a liver tonic, a superlative restorative tonic, a digestive tonic, a prostatic tonic, reproductive tonic, a musculoskeletal and glandular tonic.”

4. Chlorella for super green foods. On this polluted planet, it is comforting to know that the green supplement chlorella exists. A single-cell, fresh-water algae and a green treasury of chlorophyll, chlorella is an all-purpose cleanser that can rid the body of such toxins as cadmium, present in tobacco smoke, smog, and tire dust on roads, and uranium. Rich in B-complex vitamins, chlorella contains more pantothenic acid (an anti-stress nutrient) than any other natural source. It also boasts magnesium and other trace minerals. Vegetarians will delight in the fact that third-world countries use it as a cost-effective substitute for meat, due to its high content of protein from the super green foods.

More good news about chlorella is that it enhances the growth of friendly bacteria in the colon, promoting the healing of ulcers there, reports Atkins. Crohn’s disease and diverticulosis all improve when chlorella is taken regularly. It also strengthens the immune system and boosts production of body-protecting interferon.

5. Spirulina for super green foods. This spiral-shaped, blue-green, freshwater algae gets its color from chlorophyll (green) and phycocyanidins (blue) and is typically grown in man-made ponds.

Nutrient-dense, it is a particularly rich source of protein and one of the few plant sources of vitamin B-12; it is also a good source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and antioxidants. Research shows that  super green foods spirulina has a systemic effect on the entire body, especially immune function. A 1988 animal study showed that spirulina may help to suppress tumor development. Other research has shown that it possesses anti-viral properties, particularly in relation to herpes simplex virus type 1.

6. Blue-green algae (AFA) for super green foods. AFA, which stands for Aphanizomenon Flos Aquae, is called blue-green algae because of its color and is usually harvested from natural resources. In addition to containing 22 amino acids and a full spectrum of naturally chelated minerals (organically bound), it is rich in betacarotene and most of the B-complex vitamins, including vitamin B-12.

Research has shown that consumption of AFA may help to prevent the development of cancer and viral infections. It is also said to promote physical endurance and brain wellness.

7. Green tea for super green foods. Another cancer-fighting green “food” is green tea. Although it contains chlorophyll, it’s main protective ingredients are phenolics, a white crystalline compound composed of various acids — caffeic, ellagic, ferulic, and gallotannic.

Many biochemists theorize that phenolics in super green foods green tea prevent cancer by entering cells and surrounding the DNA, protecting it from cancer-causing substances. This may be true. However, these phenolics also block cancer in another way. When sodium nitrites or nitrates in cured meats such as bacon, ham, sausage, hotdogs, and canned meats join ever-present chemical compounds called amines, they form nitrosamines, substances that can cause cancers.

Compounds found in super green foods green tea and, to some extent, black tea, block the formation of nitrosamines in the intestinal tract. Test-tube studies by Hans Stich, Ph.D., at the University of British Columbia, revealed that polyphenols found in both green and black tea, in the moderate amounts consumed by most people, effective-ly stop cancers from developing.

Catechins are the potent polyphenol antioxidants found in super green foods green tea, and include: gallocatechin, epicatechin, and many others. They are as powerful as beta-carotene in preventing mouth cancers in users of snuff and chewing tobacco, according to Stich’s research. Preliminary tests indicate that catechins may be a lifesaver for those addicted to chewing tobacco.

So there you have it, no more excuses for not getting your super green foods. Remember, green foods can be as good as gold when it comes to their role in protecting and preserving our health and well-being, so dig in.

Hope this article can be useful for explaining about super green foods.

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