- Sea buckthorn fruit, which has been used as a medicinal plant for centuries, contains powerful antioxidants, according to new research.
- The results of this study showed signs that sea buckthorn fruit could be useful in treating diabetes and obesity. in vitro test.
- The harsh coastal environment where sea buckthorn fruit grows may produce more antioxidants in response to environmental stressors.
- Sea buckthorn joins a growing list of powerful nutritional supplements whose long-held medicinal properties have been confirmed by modern science.
New research from Memorial University in Newfoundland, Canada, has identified a potential antioxidant powerhouse in a shrub that grows in coastal Newfoundland.
This study claims that the fruit of the plant sea buckthorn has unique nutritional properties that may treat diabetes and obesity.
The results of this research have recently Food and Agriculture Science Journal.
This is not the first time that sea buckthorn berries have been identified as having important value for human health. This berry is already popular in Asia and is also used to treat arthritis and other inflammatory conditions in Europe.
Sea buckthorn fruit contains powerful antioxidants that inhibit or prevent free radical damage to the body’s cells. (Free radicals are thought to be products of the environment and other stressors.)
The fruits and leaves of this shrub are widely used for nutritional supplementation and have also been used as medicine.
Because of its health properties, Canadian government agencies introduced sea buckthorn into the country in the early 2000s. Preliminary studies at the time suggested that the plant had enormous commercial potential.
vegetable oil, powerful source of information Contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, polyphenols, and vitamins E, B, and A.
according to Dr. Menka GuptaNutranourish’s Ph.D. in Functional Medicine, who was not involved in the study, said sea buckthorn berries have been used for centuries in traditional medicine in Tibet, China, and several other countries in Asia and Europe. “It has been done.”
“The most documented uses are for digestive health, stomach and intestinal problems, cardiovascular health, skin diseases, and ulcers,” Dr. Gupta said. Today’s medical news.
The authors of this study report that promising research results were observed for sea buckthorn berries in the treatment of diabetes and obesity. In vitro.
Michelle Ruthenstein is a registered dietitian and nutritionist. complete nutrition.comAlthough not involved in the study, he cited the vitamins C and E found in sea buckthorn, as well as “flavonoids, carotenoids, phenolic compounds and their dietary fiber content.”
“These may play a role in their potential effects on diabetic cells by reducing oxidative damage and inflammation and potentially improving insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism,” Rosenstein explained. .
Similarly, when fighting obesity, these antioxidants and dietary fiber may reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, support metabolic health, and aid in weight management efforts.
“The combination of anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects [sea buckthorn] May have a positive impact on gut health. Improved gut health has a positive impact on metabolic health and may help manage diabetes and obesity. ”
— Dr. Menka Gupta, Ph.D. in Functional Medicine
The discovery of the medicinal properties of plants is often inherited from traditional uses of plants, before modern scientific research superseded doctors’ experience with the benefits of plants.
Dr. Gupta cited several common plant-based nutritional supplements as examples.
“They contain specific bioactive compounds that provide health benefits through a variety of mechanisms, including antioxidant properties, anti-inflammatory effects, and effects on gut health.”
“They have also been shown to improve immune function. The polyphenols found in the above foods may improve blood vessel health and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease,” Dr. Gupta added. Ta.
Rosenstein points to several other modern nutritional supplements.
- resveratrol — Antioxidant properties found in black grapes, certain berries, and peanuts may benefit heart health by reducing inflammation, improving blood flow, and preventing oxidative damage to blood vessels.
- Astaxanthin — Carotenoid pigments abundant in algae and seafood such as salmon and shrimp that have demonstrated anti-inflammatory and vasodilatory properties.
- lignan — Flaxseeds and sesame seeds have antioxidant properties and may support heart health by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress.
- plant sterols and stanols — Found naturally in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds, it may help lower LDL cholesterol levels by inhibiting the absorption of cholesterol in the intestines and ultimately reducing circulating LDL cholesterol .
Sea buckthorn is a hardy, prickly, deciduous shrub that typically grows along windswept coastlines.
Dr. Gupta says there are many plants along the coast that have powerful antioxidant properties, including cranberries, rosemary, and lavender.
Ruthenstein lists a few more. Hibiscus tiliaceus, Sydium corymbosa, Calophyllum inophyllumand Corubrina asiatica Commonly known as beach hibiscus, water apple, Alexandrian laurel, and Asian snakewood, respectively, they are also known to have antioxidant properties. ”
Ruthenstein and Dr. Gupta thought that coastal climates might have a unique ability to produce powerful antioxidants.
“We suspect that the difficult conditions in which coastal plants grow, such as highly saline soils, fluctuating humidity, and poor nutrients, likely increase oxidative stress in these plants,” Dr. Gupta said.
“This leads to an adaptive response in these plants, leading to the production of higher levels of antioxidants,” Dr. Gupta said, which we may benefit from.
In any case, these are hardy plants and can be found along coastlines as well as in other poor environments.
“A few years ago, I was surprised to see buckthorn berries growing wild in Ladakh, India,” Dr. Gupta recalled, noting that Ladakh is the highest plateau in India. “[Sea buckthorn] It is thought to be drought tolerant and able to withstand extreme temperatures,” she said.