The Science
Micronutrients
Micronutrients are essential elements required in varying quantities throughout life to coordinate a range of physiological functions for health maintenance. For human nutrition, micronutrients are required in amounts generally below 100 milligrams per day, while macronutrients are required in gram amounts daily.
Vitamins and minerals are essential micronutrients. Essential nutrients cannot be synthesized in humans, either at all or may be in insufficient amounts, and therefore must be obtained by the diet. Vitamin C can be synthesized by some organisms but not by others; it is not a vitamin in the first instance but is in the second. In humans there are 13 vitamins: 9 water-soluble (8 B vitamins and vitamin C) and 4 fat-soluble (A, D, E, and K).
The five major minerals in the the human body are calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and magnesium (macrominerals or macroelements). The trace elements with specific biochemical function in human body are iodine, sulfur, zinc, iron, chlorine, cobalt, copper, manganese, molybdenum, and selenium. Calcium makes up 920 to 1200 g of body weight (about 1.5% of body weight) of an adult, with 99% of it contained in the bones and teeth. Phosphorus occurs in amounts of around 2/3 of calcium, and makes up approximately 1% of an individual's body weight. The other macroelements (potassium, sodium, magnesium, chlorine, and sulfur) make up only around 0.85% of the body weight.
In every serving of Emerald Nutrition, you'll find a source of 25 vitamins and minerals this includes the methylated versions of both B9 and B12 (allowing the rate at which they can be absorbed by the body to be greater) as well as L-Choline Bitartrate. The latter considered to be a nootropic and often used in supplements aimed at supporting brain health and cognitive function.
Phytonutrients
Plant foods contain thousands of natural chemicals. These are called phytonutrients or phytochemicals. "Phyto" refers to the Greek word for plant. These chemicals help protect plants from germs, fungi, bugs, and other threats. Phytonutrients can be found in Fruits and vegetables as well as whole grains, nuts, beans, coffee & tea.
More than 25,000 phytonutrients are found in plant foods, and have antioxidant as well as anti-inflammatory properties that can help support a healthy human body (1).
Phytonutrients are not essential nutrients, however they have important properties such as antioxidant activity, antimicrobial effects, modulation of detoxification enzymes, stimulation of the immune system, decrease of platelet aggregation and modulation of hormone metabolism, and anticancer properties.
Phytonutrients in every color
Diverse health benefits can be obtained from the various hues of phytonutrients found in Emerald Nutrition.
- Red fruits and veggies, like Beetroot and contain lycopene which may guard against cancer, heart disease and protect the brain.
- Orange and yellow produce, such as carrots and pineapples, provide beta cryptothanxin for heart health.
- Green foods, like broccoli, kale, spinach and matcha tea not only have a comprehensive micro nutritional profile, but are high in antioxidant compounds such as chlorophyll and flavonoids.
- Blue and purple options, such as haskap and acai berries, feature anthocyanin that can help combat aging and support heart health.
- White and brown items, including mushrooms, contain allicin and flavonoids that may help promote anti-tumor and antioxidant effects.
Synbiotics
Pre and probiotics, known as synbiotics, promote digestion and enhance nutrient absorption. To maximize nutrient absorption, our bodies rely on the gut and gut microbiome. These systems work together to digest and transform nutrients, making them more effective in the body. The probiotics use the prebiotics as a food source, which enables them to survive for a longer period of time inside the human digestive system than would otherwise be possible. Probiotics are generally concerned with bacteria in the small intestine, while prebiotics with bacteria in the large intestine and colon. Synbiotics [probiotics + prebiotics] enable to improve the viability of probiotics and to deliver specific health benefits.
Emerald Nutrition utilises pre and probiotics to support these vital processes.
- Prebiotics include Chicory Root (Inulin), Organic Baobab fibre, Pineapple Fruit, Apple fruit juice powder,
- Probiotics include Bacillus Coagulans (ActiBio™) 1 Billion CFU