UNCOVER THE SECRETS OF ÓPTIMO

We have compiled some of the most important and interesting features and benefits of ingredients and superfoods you can find in Óptimo products.

The truth is that there are volumes and volumes of scholarly articles, news write-ups, features and even videos out there on Coco Sap Sweetener or Coco Sugar, Ginkgo Biloba, Green Tea and Grape Seed Extracts, Psyllium Husk and Chia Seeds. The information we have pales in comparison to pages returned by a quick Google search.

Of course, we have researched and tested our products diligently. We have applied for and received FDA clearances. But, as every person is unique, we recommend consulting with your physician before subscribing to any of the information you find here or elsewhere at your disposal.

Ginkgo Biloba

Ginkgo Biloba, also called maidenhair tree, is among the most popular supplements available in the market today. It continues to be a top-selling herbal medicine. Ginkgo Biloba extract comes from the plants dried green leaves and used today for a variety of reasons. Of course, the use of Ginkgo Biloba is traced back to traditional Chinese medicine.

Towards the later years of the 20th century, the popularity of ginkgo extract increased significantly due to supposed memory-enhancing properties. It was then that the chemical constituents of the plant were studied further for its potential to treat Alzheimer disease.

In 2003, an article in UCLA Newsroom reported that a research conducted by the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute has shown significant improvement in the verbal recall of patients with age-associated memory impairment when they took Ginkgo Biloba for six months.

The study used positron-emission tomography (PET). It found that for patients on Ginko Biloba, the improvement in recall were also correlated with better brain function in key brain memory centers.

In 2010, German researchers performed a meta-analysis combining nine studies that tested if Ginkgo Biloba was more effective than placebo in reducing memory loss or Alzheimer’s disease. They found that overall, worsening of memory loss or Alzheimer’s disease was less likely for people taking Ginkgo Biloba, compared to the people who took a placebo.

While it is best to consult with your doctor before taking in traditional and herbal medicines as well as supplements, below is a list of benefits that have been associated with including Ginko Biloba in people’s diets:

  • Help slow down dementia and Alzheimer’s
  • Improve thinking and memory
  • Improve the ability to socialize and behave in a social setting
  • Improve the ability to perform everyday tasks
  • Promote good blood circulation in the brain
  • Prevent neuronal damage in the brain and other parts
  • Help alleviate symptoms of anxiety
  • Improve the vision of people with glaucoma
  • Delay the effects of macular degeneration
  • Reduce the symptoms of Reynaud’s disease
  • Prevent bed wetting
  • Increase sexual energy
  • Soothe bladder irritations

Óptimo Premium Coffee has Ginkgo Biloba extracts, allowing you to reap the benefits of this plant in a strong and tasty cup of coffee, that uses low-glycemic coco sugar, and therefore may be taken even by people with diabetes.

 

Sources:

GREEN TEA EXTRACT

Green Tea is made from the useful parts – leaf bud, leaf, and stem – of the Camellia Sinensis plant. Unlike other teas, Green Tea is not fermented. It is produced by steaming fresh leaves over high temperatures. Thus, it is able to maintain important molecules called polyphenols and these are likely to be responsible for the many benefits of Green Tea.

While research still has to explain how, polyphenols are thought to prevent inflammation and swelling, protect cartilage between the bones, and lessen joint degeneration. They also seem to be able to fight the human papilloma virus (HPV) infections and reduce the growth of abnormal cells in the cervix (cervical dysplasia).

By weight, Green Tea is about 30 percent polyphenols and has large amounts of catechins (EGCG), natural antioxidants that help prevent cell damages, reduce free radicals in the body, and protect cells and molecules from damage. The same antioxidants also help protect the heart and blood vessels.

The Medical News Today reported that the National Cancer Institute has found that polyphenols in tea have been shown to decrease the growth of tumor in laboratory and animal studies. Also, that polyphenols may ward off ultraviolet UVB radiation damage.

The article further listed some cancer types that according to studies were positively influenced by Green Tea, including in the following:

  • Breast
  • Bladder
  • Ovaries
  • Colon
  • Esophagus
  • Lungs
  • Prostate
  • Skin
  • Stomach

Green Tea and Weight Loss

Fairly recently, studies have started to show how Green Tea’s flavonoids and caffeine can speed up metabolism, helping the body to break down, burn and process fat faster. According to one such study, people who consumed green tea on top of their normal diet lost an average of 2.9 pounds over a 3 month period. And yet another mentioned that 2 cups of Green Tea can help burn up to 100 calories per day.

Clearly, it makes sense to add Green Tea to your diet. And that need not be difficult because you can get your daily dose of Green Tea extracts from your cup of Óptimo Premium Coffee.

 

Sources:

GRAPE SEED EXTRACT

Grape Seed Extracts come from the ground-up seeds of red wine grapes.

According to WebMD, there is strong evidence that Grape Seed Extract is beneficial for a number of cardiovascular conditions. Grape Seed Extracts may help with a type of poor circulation, called chronic venous insufficiency, and high cholesterol. It also reduces swelling caused by injury and helps with diseases of the eyes typically associated with diabetes.

The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health reported on the findings of researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. According to the researchers, mice treated with grape seed extract had significantly reduced Alzheimer’s disease-type cognitive deterioration compared to the control mice. They chalked this up to Grape Seed inhibiting the formation in the brain of a molecule called amyloid which has been shown to cause Alzheimer’s disease-type cognitive impairment.

Healthline summarized the benefits of Grape Seed into 10:

  • Help inhibit cancer in various human cell types. Also, it appears to reduce toxicity induced by chemotherapy in animal studies without negatively affecting treatment. However, there’s still a need for more human-based researches
  • Help reduce blood pressure, particularly in young to middle-aged and overweight people
  • Improve blood flow, reduce the risk of blood clotting and thereby benefit people with circulatory problems
  • Reduce the risk of heart disease by inhibiting the oxidation of “bad” LDL cholesterol and by reducing oxidation to heart tissue during times of stress
  • While human-based research still needs to be done, lab and animal tests have found Grape Seed Extracts to benefit arthritis and collagen health
  • Show potential in inhibiting degenerative characteristics of the brain as well as cognitive decline
  • Promote kidney health by offering protection against damage from oxidative stress and inflammation
  • Inhibit a variety of microbes and protect against antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, foodborne bacterial illnesses and fungal infections, such as candida
  • Protect the liver against toxicity and damage from taking in too many medications and drugs
  • Increase growth factors in your skin, hastening wound healing and therapy for aging skin

 

Sources:

PSYLLIUM

Psyllium is a soluble fiber derived from the seeds of Plantago Ovata or Psyllium plant, and commonly used as a gentle, bulk-forming laxative. But more than your bathroom buddy, studies now show that taking psyllium is beneficial not just to your digestive health but to other parts of the body, including the heart and pancreas.

Psyllium is also prebiotic, promoting the growth of good bacteria in the gut. Good bacteria in the digestive system is necessary to maintain good immune function. That is, the body becomes more capable of fighting infection, reducing inflammation, and maintaining healthy tissue and cells.

An article in the Medical New Today lists 6 other benefits of taking Psyllium:

  1. It has been found to relieve constipation
  2. It can help treat diarrhea
  3. It can help manage insulin and blood sugar levels
  4. It promotes weight loss by giving a feeling of satiety
  5. It can help lower cholesterol levels
  6. It may help reduce blood triglycerides, blood pressure, and heart disease risks

It’s always best to get your daily fiber needs from whole grains, vegetables, and fruits. But as is the case for many people today, busy lifestyles make it difficult to eat a balanced diet.

An easy alternative would be to make Óptimo Premium Coffee Cereal a part of your daily routine. With both Chia Seeds and Psyllium in it, you get the fiber and energy boost you need at the same time you drink your coffee.   

 

Sources:

CHIA SEEDS

Chia Seeds elicit great interest among consumers these days. There’s an almost mysterious if not mythical undertone to Chia, especially since they have been found to be food for the Mayans and offerings for the Aztec gods. It was traditionally believed that the Aztecs themselves would carry a small pouch of Chia seeds with them as their way to gain energy during their intense runs.

As ‘chia’ is the Mayan word for strength, it seems fitting that these grains are now considered among the most popular of superfoods.

To demonstrate the power packed in these small grains, just two tablespoons of chia seeds – 1 ounce or 28 grams – contain the following:

  • about 140 calories
  • 4 grams of protein
  • 11 grams of fiber
  • 7 grams of unsaturated fat
  • 18% recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for calcium, and
  • trace minerals including zinc and copper.

Chia is the richest plant source of omega-3 fatty acids, even more so than flax seeds. And, it is a complete protein with all the nine essential amino acids that our bodies cannot produce.

In a recent article released in Dr. Axe, nine benefits have been associated with Chia Seeds. These include the following:

  1. Support Healthy Skin – the antioxidants in Chia seeds fight free radical damage, prevent oxidative stress, promote tissue repair and protect against skin damage
  2. Promote Digestive Health – Chia seeds are loaded with fiber so that just an ounce of it gives you 44% of your daily fiber needs, preventing constipation, promoting gut health, and making you feel full over a longer period
  3. Improve Heart Health – the anti-oxidants and heart-healthy fats in Chia helps reduce inflammation and decrease several risk factors of heart disease
  4. Balance Blood Sugar – studies suggest that the alpha-linolenic acid and fiber in Chia Seeds can help maintain normal blood sugar levels to fight diabetes and insulin resistance
  5. Boost Energy and Exercise Performance – the Journal of Strength and Conditioning found that Chia Seeds enhanced exercise performance for workouts that lasted 90 minutes the same way a sugar-laden sports drink would except Chia doesn’t have all the unhealthy sugar
  6. Build Stronger Bones – the calcium and manganese in Chia seeds help strengthen bones, preserve bone density and reduce the risks for osteoporosis
  7. Aid in Weight Loss – By increasing your intake of protein-rich foods like Chia, you can curb cravings, cut caloric intake,  and promote weight loss
  8. Fight Cancer Growth – the alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a type of omega-3 fatty acid found in many plant foods, help limit the growth of breast and cervical cancer cells
  9. Enhance Oral Health – Chia Seeds have calcium that strengthens teeth, zinc that prevents tartar, and vitamin A and phosphorus which are also important for a healthy mouth


Chia seeds have a mild nutty taste so they are quite easy to add into your diet. They can be sprinkled on your cereals, vegetables, rice, and yogurt. You can even bake them into your pastries.

To get them hassle-free, try Óptimo Premium Coffee Cereal, your healthy on-the-go meal in a cup!    

 

Sources: