Ingredient Portfolio (now 20+ pages)

The Ingredient Portfolio section at the back of the 2nd Edition will help you with quick reference to the description, history, health benefits, uniqueness, and marketing phrases for the 55 major active Gel-nutritional ingredients. 

1. Açai (Euterpe oleracea) (pronounced a-sigh-ee)

• small, purplish fruits grow in clusters from the tops of exotic palms
• grow in Amazon rainforests of Brazil
• traditionally used in Brazil as a poor man's energy drink
• benefits: cardiovascular, circulatory, colon, energy, anti-aging
• B-vitamins, vitamin C & E, fatty acids, anthocyanosides, calcium, potassium
• 3-7 times more antioxidants than dark grapes, 10 times more than raspberry
• Açai contains 60-80 individual antioxidants and a very high ORAC value

7. Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium)

• medium-sized shrub yields pea-sized, blue-purple skinned berries with white pulp
• native to North American woods and mountains, harvested in 35 US states
• Native Americans mixed blueberries with ground meat as traveling food
• Benefits: cardiovascular, cancer prevention, coordination, memory, circulation
• catechin, epicatechin, myricetin, quercetin and kaempferol flavonoids
• 25 flavonol glycosides of delphinidin, malvidin, petunidin and cyanidin
• Blueberries contain 40-60 antioxidants with high ORAC value

16. Magnesium

• Magnesium is an essential macromineral for stamina
• Adult RDI 240-420mg, children 80-130mg, infants 30-75mg
• most magnesium reserves are bound in bone and teeth
• enzyme cofactor in facilitating efficient biochemical reactions
• necessary for muscle contraction, blood clotting, regulating blood pressure
• required for metabolism of food to energy & immune system
• deficiency signs: weakness, confusion, bizarre muscle movements, fatigue
• in water, nuts, whole grains, green leafy vegetables, chocolate and seafood

25. Rooibos (Aspalanthus linearis) Mountain Tea, Bushman Tea, Long-life Tea

• bush with numerous thin branches and small, oblong leaves, turn green-to-red
• Rooibos is pronounced "roy-boss" in Africaans meaning "red bush" 
• native to the mountainous areas of South and Western Africa
• traditionally African tribes used for insomnia, headaches, stomach disorders
• benefits: sedative, weight-loss, immune, circulation, brain protection
• flavonoids, aspalathin, oligosaccharids, polysaccharides, orientin
• aspalathin is unique to Rooibos and in high quantities (5%)
• Rooibos contains 20-30 types of antioxidants, many are unique

33. Vitamin B₃ (Niacin, Niacinamide or Nicotinic acid)

• Niacin is an essential water-soluble B-vitamin - classified as vitamin B₃.  
• Adult RDI 12-18mg, children 6-8mg, infants 2-4mg
• coenzyme with NAD and NADP for metabolism of food to energy
• promotes fatty acid synthesis (fatty acid membrane wall that defines each cell)
• promotes steroid synthesis (growth-stimulating & regulatory hormones)
• essential amino acid tryptophan can be converted into niacin
• deficiency signs: fatigue, no appetite, indigestion, diarrhea, dermatitis, confusion 
• in dairy products, meats, peanuts & whole grains

38. Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid or Ascorbate)

• Vitamin C is an essential water-soluble vitamin
• Adult RDI 45-120mg, children 15-25mg, infants 40-50mg
• required for neurotransmitter synthesis (helping with coordination)
• required for efficient metabolism of amino acids into ATP energy
• required to maintain connective tissue & absorption of iron for blood
• required for thyroid, steroids, bile acids, DNA synthesis, liver detoxification
• deficiency signs: poor wound-healing, bone fractures, aching joints, ruptured blood vessels, improperly formed teeth, common cold
• in citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits), citrus juices, berries (blueberries, blackberries, boysenberries, raspberries), fruits, & green vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts), tomatoes, potatoes, green/red peppers