Polyphenols –The Anti-inflammatory Power of Fruits and Vegetables

Polyphenols are the phytochemicals that not only give fruits and vegetables their color, but also provide powerful health benefits resulting from their anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative actions. In addition, polyphenols also activate the key enzyme (AMP kinase) that helps restore cellular ATP levels. This is why fruits and vegetables are the cornerstone of the Zone Diet. The Careu Dietis primarily composed of carbohydrates consisting of fruits and vegetables. At high enough levels, these polyphenols can exert an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting the activation of inducible inflammatory proteins (such as COX-2 and inflammatory cytokines) that normally occurs once the innate immune system has been activated.

Zone Labs offers three powerful products that deliver rich Polyphenol content, in addition to having other significant health benefits:

SeaHealth Plus is an innovative aloe vera based, liquid antioxidant / trace mineral nutritional supplement that naturally contains certified antioxidant activity derived from 10 antioxidant rich fruits, as well as up to 74-plant source trace minerals derived from our nine varieties of freshly harvested sea vegetables. SeaHealth Plus is a 100% natural, cold processed supplement of exceptional quality with a great natural black cherry flavor.

Zone Polyphenols combines 17 different varieties of isolated polyphenols from fruits and vegetables. This supplement, in an easy to swallow 300mg capsule, has also been shown to have significant anti-inflammatory properties. There are more than 4,000 known polyphenols, and the richest sources are fruits and vegetables. In general, the more color a fruit or vegetable has, the richer the polyphenol content. The Bulletin of the World Health Organization found that in the US, individual consumption of fruits and vegetables is significantly less than the recommendation 5 to 13 servings of fruits and vegetables daily.

Dr. Sears Zone Organic Olive Oil

There is more to olive oil than great taste. Dr. Sears' Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil (omega-9 fatty acid) is considered essential support  to help reduce inflammation. Nutritionally, each variety of olive has its own unique anti-oxidant content. Not only can the same variety grown in different regions have a different taste and aroma, but the anti-oxidant value can fluctuate greatly.

Dr. Sears Zone Organic Toasted Sesame Oil

For thousands of years, extra virgin olive oil has been used as the primary health elixir in the Mediterranean area. However, sesame oil and especially toasted sesame oil has been held with the same high regard in India and the Far East. Why? We now know the health benefits of both lies with a group of chemicals known as polyphenols. In high enough concentrations, these polyphenols act as anti-inflammatory agents that inhibit the genetic expression of pro-inflammatory proteins. Toasting the sesame seeds prior to extraction produces other polyphenols, such as sesamol, that inhibit the formation of arachidonic acid and stimulate the production of fat-burning enzymes. Now all of these benefits are available in our Organic Toasted Sesame Oil. The reason it has to be organic is that once the toasted sesame oil has been extracted, it can’t be further refined as that would take out all the polyphenols.