GOLDENBERRIES AND THE POWER OF ANTIOXIDANTS.

In our previous blog “5 things you need to know about the mighty Goldenberry”,we talked about the
amazing health benefits goldenberries can provide to our body. The high levels of antioxidants present in goldenberries has led them to become the new “superfood”, that’s why we wanted to go a bit further this time and explain which kind of  antioxidants goldenberries have and the role they play in our overall health.

Antioxidants are chemicals that block the activity of other chemicals known as free radicals, the body generates free radicals as the inevitable byproducts of turning food into energy. Free radicals are highly reactive substances that have the potential to cause damage to cells by stealing electrons, this can lead to dramatic changes in the structure and function of our cells. Free radical damage can change the  instructions coded in a strand of DNA, these can also alter a cell’s membrane, changing the flow of what enters the cell and what leaves it, such alterations can cause healthy cells to mutate into cancerous ones.

Antioxidants, like the carotenoids and polyphenolic compounds found in goldenberries, can neutralize free radicals, these antioxidants are powerful cancer fighters, prevalent in goldenberries as
well as in wide variety of fruits and vegetables.

Carotenoids are colorful plant pigments and powerful antioxidants that can help prevent some forms of cancer and heart disease, they act to enhance your immune system’s response to infections. Some
carotenoids poses the ability to turn into vitamin A once they are consumed. Lycopene, the orange-red pigment found in goldenberries and tomatoes, is a type of carotenoid that does not turn into vitamin A,  however is still of significant value, since it is an antioxidant even more potent than beta-carotene.

Orange and yellow fruits and vegetables have high vitamin A activity because of the carotenoids they contain. Generally, the deeper the color of the fruit or vegetable is an indication of a higher
concentration of carotenoids. Carrots, are also a good source of beta-carotene.

Polyphenols are antioxidants also found in goldenberries, these have recently been termed
“lifespan essentials”, and they actively work in the body to prevent certain disease mechanisms from occurring.  Polyphenols are antioxidants from plant foods that work in the body to enhance health in complex ways, their specific health-promoting actions are still being actively researched, and it is generally recognized  that they can reduce the risk factors for cardiovascular disease and basically help to protect many body systems from the risks or ravages of many types of chronic disease. It is possible that the health  promoting effects of polyphenols present in goldenberries are not due to their antioxidant qualities, but  rather because they help control blood sugar spikes after meals, these is why the consumption of goldenberries is recommended to people with diabetes.

Boosting the intake of carotenoids and polyphenols on a daily basis by eating goldenberries is easy to do, and can be a tasty, gourmet adventure.