Scotland’s The Press and Journal has provided good coverage of recent research that demonstrates HealthSpark’s Bergamot Max’s ability to reduce cholesterol. 

In a 30 day placebo-controlled study, 237 patients with high cholesterol, the Bergamot Max group had substantially lower cholesterol levels, in some cases by as much as 38%.

The Italian research team, led by Vincenzo Mollace, professor at the faculty of pharmacy, University Magna Graecia, concluded that “Citrus Bergamot could be considered as an alternative treatment in patients with a relevant intolerance to statins”.

Revolutionary new digestive health product from HealthSpark labs gives you the highest load of gut friendly bacteria available. Using the latest technology we’ve packed 30 billion pro biotic bacteria into each capsule of Pro and Pre-Biotic Support.

This is a ground breaking product that combines  30 billion probiotic beneficial bacteria as Lactobacillus Acidophilus & Bifidobacteria Bifidum. This is 50% more than our competitors, but crucially we’ve also included the prebiotic Fructooligosaccharides (FOS). FOS can be thought of as the ‘food’ for the beneficial bacteria. The capsules are enteric coated to ensure optimum delivery of the bacteria to the digestive system.

HealthSpark Pro biotics gives groundbreaking 30 Billion Friendly Bacteria

The best case for probiotic therapy has been in the treatment of diarrhea. Controlled trials have shown that Lactobacillus GG can shorten the course of infectious diarrhea in infants and children (but not adults). Although studies are limited and data has been variable, a large metastudy indicates that probiotics reduce antibiotic-associated diarrhea by 60%, when compared with a placebo.

Irritable bowel sufferers (IBS) have often found that conventional treatments have failed, and interest in probiotic supplements has therefore been on the rise for some time. Some digestive disease specialists are recommending them for disorders that frustrate conventional medicine, such as irritable bowel syndrome. Since the mid-1990s, clinical studies have established that probiotic therapy can help treat several gastrointestinal ills, delay the development of allergies in children, and treat and prevent vaginal and urinary infections in women.

Healthspark’s breakthrough pre- and pro-biotic combination is the most powerful on the market and is currently available at the introductory price of £9.99 – click here to buy now.

Red Yeast Rice Extract

Red Rice Yeast extract has been known to be helpful in reducing cholesterol levels for some time. In the late 1970s, researchers in the US and Japan isolated lovastatin from Aspergillus, and monacolins from Monascus (which is the same fungus used to make red yeast). Lovastatin was patented as a statin drug (Mevacor) for Merck & Co. Some claimed that the pharma giants then colluded to ban red yeast rice extract.

However, Red Rice Yeast Extract has survived as a 100% legal natural supplement, and the UK and EU authorities now allow retailers to make the claim that “red rice yeast extract may reduce cholesterol”.In the Wikipedia article on red yeast rice extract, mention is made of the 2006 meta-analysis where it appears that red rice yeast extract is more effective than prescription drugs:

These heart attack and cardiovascular death outcomes appear to be better than what has been reported for prescription drugs. A 2008 review pointed out that the cardioprotective effects of statins in Japanese populations occur at lower doses than are needed in Western populations, and theorized that the low amount of monacolins found in Xuezhikang may be more effectively athero-protective than expected in the Chinese population in the CCSPS study for the same reason. Others have speculated that phytosterols or unknown substances in Xuezhikang also contribute to the benefits.

For the first time, we are pleased to offer Red Yeast Rice Extract for sale on the HealthSpark site. This special formulation is equivalent to a month’s supply, with four capsules daily yield Red Yeast Rice 2600mg, which in turn provides Monacolin K 10.4mg. This accords with the levels used in clinical trials:

The amount typically used in clinical trials is 1200–2400 mg/day of red yeast rice containing approximately 10 mg total monacolins, of which half are monacolin K. This does raise a question about the function of the other monacolins and non-monacolin compounds in the products, as the monacolin K content is lower than what is usually considered effective for lovastatin (20–80 mg/dy). In 2006, Liu et al. published a meta-analysis of clinical trials. The article cited 93 published, controlled clinical trials (91 published in Chinese). Total cholesterol decreased by 35 mg/dl, LDL-cholesterol by 28 mg/dl, triglycerides by 35 mg/dl, and HDL-cholesterol increased by 6 mg/dl. The incidence of reported adverse effects ranged from 1.3% to 36%.^[10] Of the clinical trials reviewed in the meta-analysis, the only study conducted in the United States reported a 22% reduction of LDL-cholesterol after 12 weeks

 Red Rice Yeast extract is available at the introductory price of £11.99 now.

Acai berries frequently appears on top 10 Superfood lists as being one of the most powerful and nutritious superfoods on the planet. Dr Oz, Dr Mercola and David Wolfe also endorse these high-energy low GIberries of the Amazon rain forest that have been used for centuries by the natives of Brazil as 40% of their diet and sustained them in times of famine.

Acai Berry Statistics

Acai berries come from the Acai Palm (Euberpe badiocarpa and Euterpe Oleracea) and can grow from 50 – 80 feet tall. 4-8 trees often grow from 1 seed.  The tree produces brownish-purple flowers that produce large bunches of berries that when ripe are dark blue-purple in colour and are about the size of a large blueberry. The edible pulp is thin surrounding a large seed. Once the berries are picked they have a 24 hour shelf life. This is the reason that most products are freeze dried into a powder or juice as soon as they are picked to keep the integrity of the nutrients intact.

Acai palm is a climate specific tree that can only grow in tropical regions near the equator. The UV rays are so intense there that the berries have to protect themselves in order to grow. They do this by producing their own “sunscreen.” The “sunscreen” factors they produce are “antioxidants.”

Antioxidants are needed to mop up free radical damage that causes inflammation that leads to disease and premature aging. It is estimated that we need 6000 ORAC’s per day. ORAC’s are a score of antioxidant quantity given to foods and plants. For example, an apple has an ORAC value of 218.

The ORAC value in 100g of Healthspark’s Acai berry products is 70,000!

This is x10 more than red grapes and x10-30 of anthocyanins of red wine.

As well as being high in antioxidants Acai berries also contain 19 amino acids, dietary fiber, the essential fatty acids omega 3 and 6 and the omega 9 monounsaturated fatty acid know as oleic acid a beautifying oil. Oleic acid helps omega 3 fish oils penetrate the cell membrane and together they make the cell membrane more supple. A supple cell membrane helps hormones, neurotransmitters and insulin receptor sites function more efficiently. Reducing inflammation and premature aging. They are also rich in minerals and vitamins especially calcium, phosphorus, beta-carotene and vitamin E.

Jack F Bukowski MD, PhD former Harvard Professor and currently Director of the Nutritional Science Research Institute says “while additional research is still needed, pilot studies suggest in otherwise healthy overweight adults, daily consumption of pure organic sugar free Acai reduces cholesterol and several markers of metabolic syndrome associated with increased risk of diabetes, and stroke” This is due to the plant sterols present, especially beat sitosterol that inhibits the absorption of excessive animal food based cholesterol in the GI tract.

According to research Acai appears to help regenerate stem cells. These are the embryo cells that help rejuvenate and heal us faster by becoming any cell needed in our bodies.

With all this in mind Acai berries are a very helpful addition to a well balanced diet to promote a healthy cardiovascular system, radiant skin and increased energy and wellbeing.

Healthspark’s Acai berry products are “Sustainably grown (certified USDA ORGANIC), wild-harvested, collected and manufactured in a Fair-Trade supply chain (certified by Eco-Cert) that supports over 10,000 family farmers and protects 1.6 million acres of Amazon Rainforest  Sustainable Amazon Partnership).”

At HealthSpark we only sell freeze-dried pure Acai Berry. Be careful not to buy a cheaper extract, where the antioxidant capabilities of the berry will be lost in manufacturing.

Try our incredible Weight Loss Salad dressing recipe 

3oz Acai juice (mix 100g HealthSpark Acai powder with 25ml water)

3 tbsp apple cider vinegar

dash of garlic powder

dash of onion powder

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

2 tbsp tahini

Whisk all the ingredients together and pour over a salad.

References

Books

D Wolfe, (2009): Superfoods: North Atlantic Books; California

Websites

http://www.acai.org (accessed 9 May 2012)

“Brazilian Berry Destroys Cancer Cells in Lab.” Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry. (filed under Research, Health, Sciences, Agriculture on Thursday, January 12, 2006) http://news.ufl.edu/2006/01/12/berries/

MJ Plotkin, MJ Balick; Vol 10, Issue 2, Journal of Ethnopharmacology; (1984); Medicinal Uses of South American Palms; http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0378874184900011 (accessed 9 May 2012)

Opray Winfrey’s Top Ten Superfood list http://www.oprah.com/health/Acai-Dr-Perricones-No-1-Superfood (accessed 9 May 2012)

http://www.sambazon.com (accessed 9 May 2012)

The Acai Research Organization www.acairesearch.org (accessed 9 May 2012)