We all know eating fruits and vegetables is good for our health, but it’s always helpful to quantify just how good they are.
A 2017 meta-analysis done by researchers at the Imperial College of London collated data from 95 studies on fruit and vegetable intake that included 2 million participants worldwide. They concluded that eating more than five servings of fruit and vegetables daily can reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, cancer, and early death. And if you eat 10 portions per day – around 800 grams – you reduce your risk of heart disease by 24%, stroke by 33%, cancer by 13%, and overall risk of premature death by 31%.
But, 10 servings – or even just the minimal five servings (400 grams) – can be difficult. For some reference, a medium-sized apple is about 100 grams. A cup of strawberries is about 150 grams. One cup of broccoli is 175 grams. Leafy greens, however, provide less in terms of weight; one cup of raw spinach is just 30 grams, and one cup of shredded romaine is around 47 grams.
If all that sounds like too much for your busy life, or there is no way your children are going to choke down three cups of broccoli, Kore Reds and Greens Superfood blends can help fill the gaps in your family’s diet. Kore Greens, which has an apple flavor kids will love, includes everything from superfoods like wheatgrass and spirulina to veggies like broccoli, beets, and kale. It also contains probiotics and enzymes to support healthy digestion. Kore Reds is a berry-flavored blend of superfruits like pomegranate, acai, tart cherry, pineapple, and pumpkin. The two can be combined for a superfood cocktail that comes in at just 35 calories, can be added to a variety of smoothie recipes or can be mixed into yogurt for an extra-nutritious snack.
Reds and Greens: What’s in there?
Kore’s Reds and Greens Superfood powders are loaded with the plant compounds polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and carotenoids. These molecules defend plants against pathogens, and they can do the same for you!
Flavonoids
Flavonoids are the largest group of phytonutrients, or plant chemicals, that are responsible for the vivid colors and aromas of fruits and vegetables. They are anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic, and are rich in micro-nutrients. Think strawberries, red bell peppers, pomegranates, raspberries, cranberries, and oranges, all of which are found in Reds Superfood.
Anthocyanins
Anthocyanins are the pigments that give red, purple, and blue plants their color. They are a type of flavonoid and therefore have antioxidant properties. They also have anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-cancer benefits, can enhance heart health and improve cholesterol levels and blood sugar metabolism. Some anthocyanin-rich foods included in Reds Superfood are beets, acai, blackberries, blueberries and tart cherries.
Carotenoids
Carotenoids are the plant pigments that give fruits and vegetables an orange or yellow color. They are anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer and can reduce the risk of eye disease. Carotenoid-rich foods in Reds Superfood include orange, mango, sweet potato, carrot, and pumpkin. While we often think of pumpkin as a Halloween decoration rather than a health food, it is high in vitamins A, C, B6 and K, and potassium, folate, and fiber.
Fiber
Fiber is essential for gut health, and Kore Greens Superfood includes a fiber blend sources from Jerusalem artichoke, also known as the sunchoke, organic flax, and organic apple. Jerusalem artichokes are high in both soluble and insoluble fiber, and the prebiotic fiber inulin, which feeds the good bacteria in the digestive tract. They also contain high quantities of the electrolyte minerals potassium, iron, and copper. Flax, in addition to being a good source of fiber, is also high in omega-3 fatty acids.
Green Veggies
When it comes to your diet, greens are the superstars of the vegetable world, and Kore Greens Superfood is a great way to get your daily dose. Greens are filled with micronutrients, amino acids, trace elements and enzymes and can boost immunity and digestive health. They also slow the rate of cognitive decline, fight belly bloating, give you glowing skin, support bone health, improve our inflammatory response and delay the shortening of telomeres in our DNA, which slows the rate of aging. In addition, they help to raise the pH in the body by alkalizing the highly acidic foods and beverages of the standard American diet.
Plant Enzymes
Enzymes help us break down our foods to help us get maximum nutrition out of the food we eat. Kore Greens Superfood contains an enzyme blend to improve the bioavailability of nutrients that can be trapped within fibrous plant cell walls and help us get the most nutrition from fruits and vegetables, which can often be difficult to digest.
Probiotics
Probiotics are live microorganisms, most commonly specific strains of bacteria, that help maintain digestive health and boost the immune system when ingested. Both Reds and Greens Superfood powders contain Kore’s probiotic support blend.