A Look at Xanthones and Mangosteen

We've all heard the news for years about how important it is to get the right amount of antioxidants in order to keep our bodies healthy and ward of disease. Now there's a new classification of antioxidants called xanthones, first discovered in the mangosteen fruit, which are poised to be one of the biggest discoveries of modern science in terms of health benefits.
While the concept of antioxidants may seem even more confusing when adding in another aspect, xanthones are fairly easy to understand, given their clear-cut, scientifically-proven benefits.
What are Xanthones?
Technically put, xanthones are a set of chemical compounds that can be synthetically produced, but are more often found and more potent in their natural settings. Xanthones are powerful antioxidants in a family of phytonutrients.
To date, researchers have discovered and classified approximately 200 xanthones, 40 of which are found in the mangosteen fruit. As a matter of fact, xanthones were first discovered when scientists began studying the health benefits of mangosteen based on its traditional indigenous medical uses.
Research into the medicinal properties of xanthones found in the mangosteen began in the 1970s, and gradually picked up pace as scientists began finding more exciting nutritional properties. Between 1996 and 2005, an exponential amount of research has been done in regards to mangosteen and its xanthones, and even more studies are in the works.
Xanthones in Mangosteen
To recap, xanthones are powerful antioxidants, and out of the 200 xanthones known to science, 40 of them are found in mangosteen.
But what do the antioxidant properties of the xanthones in mangosteen do for you? Antioxidants function as a balance for free radicals in the body. Free radicals are potentially harmful, yet oftentimes natural substances in your body that, when left free reign, build up and cause diseases like cancer, heart disease, and more.
The xanthones function to travel through your body, literally mopping up the free radicals on their way, leaving your body cleaner and healthier than before.
Some of the most important xanthones found in mangosteen include:
Alpha-mangostin Beta-mangostin Gamma-mangostin Garcinone Garcinone A Garcinone C Garcinone D Mangostanol Gartanin
These, among other xanthones, have been touted by independent researchers to have properties to include antiinflammatory, anticonvulsant, antiallergic, antitumor, and antiplatelet, to name just a few.
Known Benefits of Xanthones
Scientific research has made it abundantly clear that no other fruit compares in its health benefits to mangosteen, due to its xanthones and other nutritional properties.
Helping to fight cancer is just one of the many properties that different xanthones perform. For instance, one study performed in Japan showed that the xanthone alpha-mangostin had apparent properties that suppressed the development of tumors. Another, performed in China, found the xanthone garcinone E to show significant anticancer effects in terms of liver, lung, and gastric cancer cells.
In addition, some xanthones have shown significant antimicrobial effects in terms of fighting MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus), which is a bacterial strain known for its tenacious resistance to pharmacologic antibiotics. One scientific study also showed that alpha-mangostin, beta-mangostin, and garcinone B to have pronounced inhibition effects on a strain of tuberculosis.
As if that isn't enough, xanthones have also been scientifically proven to help lower LDL, the bad cholesterol, by protecting the LDL from coming into contact with free radicals, thus leaving it unable to oxidize and attach to arterial walls and cause atherosclerosis.
Taking into account the anticancer, antiinflammatory, antimicrobial, and cholesterol-lowering effects of the xanthones found in mangosteen, here is just a sampling of the other many benefits that science has either researched or is in the process of discovering:
Antiviral Helps lower blood pressure Helps fight fatigue Antidepressant Prevents stomach ulcers Aids with weight loss Antiaging Combats diarrhea Pain reducer Heart protective Analgesic Anti-parkinsonian and anti-Alzheimer Lowers fevers Builds immunity to disease Antiallergen Antifungal Antiparasitic
Indeed, even now some health practitioners are suggesting drinking mangosteen juice for relief to people who suffer from the following diseases:
Infections Skin ailments like psoriasis, seborrhea, or eczema Joint problems and arthritis Dementia Anxiety and depression Cancer Chronic pain Chronic fatigue syndrome Ulcers Diabetes
The Fruit with Xanthone Power
As time goes by, it's becoming less and less uncanny how traditional and folk medicine seems to have a grasp on the nutritional properties of food better than modern science has in the past. Indeed, it seems in some cases, especially in that of the mangosteen, science is working to catch up.
The mangosteen fruit is believed to have originated in the Moluccas and the Sunda Islands. It's been used for decades upon decades by people from Thailand, the Philippines, and China in folk medicine to treat dysentery, skin disorders like eczema, diarrhea and cystitis, among other ailments.
One of the reasons why mangosteen is only now gaining notoriety and popularity is because, for many years, direct importation of the fruit from other countries has been illegal, based on governmental regulations to help quarantine the Asian fruit fly. Unfortunately, the mangosteen tree doesn't grow well in most or all climates in the United States, so attempts to grow the fruit here have been relatively unsuccessful.
However, as science has begun proving the unsurpassed medical value of the rare mangosteen fruit and its xanthones, juices and preserves are becoming more and more readily available.
In terms of taste, the mangosteen itself is considered one of the most exquisitely delicious fruits nature has to offer. Often called the "Queen of Fruits," the taste of mangosteen is unique, but is often described as sweet and tangy with hints of pear, ripe strawberry, and grape.
After sampling mangosteen, it's easy to see why this fruit is so popular in Thailand due to its taste. And after learning about the benefits of the xanthones found in mangosteen, it's even more clear how nutritionally beneficial this amazing fruit is.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Leslie_Martin

For more information about the mangosteen, it's juice and where to buy capsules or mangosteen juice, visit http://www.mangosteen--juice.com/.

Mangosteen Juice Products - Which Brand to Purchase?

Mangosteen juice has been used by various cultures, as a food and medicine staple, throughout Southeast Asia, India, and many Pacific Islands, for over 400 years. It is only over the past thirty years, that scientists have determined why the mangosteen is so effective at fighting illnesses and restoring health. It is effective because of more than forty nutritionally active components called xanthones contained within the rind and the pulp of the mangosteen.

Xanthones have very powerful anti-inflammatory properties and they are very potent antioxidants. The mangosteen fruit is considered safe and also helps protect the entire gastrointestinal system, unlike many drugs which are not safe.. The body requires antioxidants because of the damage done to the cells by free radicals , which can trigger the initial phases of certain illnesses. Dirty air, smoke, stress, over exercise, and environmental pollutants are the cause of free radicals getting into the body. These free radicals are neutralized by antioxidants, helping to stop disease from occurring and promote wellness.

There are 14,000 papers from researchers all over the world, reporting positive results from testing of the xanthones in the mangosteen. In addition, numerous people are getting positive results for a number of health concerns, after taking the whole fruit mangosteen juice with the rind and the pulp. These results have been confirmed by blood tests taken before and after taking the mangosteen juice product.

Here is a partial list of properties found when studying 6 of the Xanthones found in Mangosteen:

* Anti-depressant, * Help relieve migraine, * Natural Pain Relief, * Anti-viral/fungal, * Lower Blood Pressure, * Healthier digestion, * Increased Energy, * Anti-diabetic, * Relieves Urinary Pain, * Relieves PMS, * Anti-tumour, * Anti-oxidant * Immune and modulating * Cholesterol-lowering * Anti-eczema/psoriasis * Anti-arthritic * Anti-asthma * Improved skin quality * Anti-bacterial * Anti-eczema * Anti-Diarrhoeal * Stabilises Thyroid * Heart protective * Anti-inflammatory

Choosing a Mangosteen Juice Product

On the market, there are many Mangosteen juice products to choose from . If you are lucky enough to be able to buy mangosteen fruit and you want to eat the mangosteen itself, you must eat the rind and the pulp to get all the health benefits that mangosteen juice supplements can provide. Like in most fruits , the rind and the pulp is bitter , so you will miss out on the xanthones from that part of the fruit.

The following are things to look for when selecting from all the mangosteen juice products available:

A. Independent testing, Amount of Xanthones, Phytonutrients and ORAC value

The most important thing to look for is independent laboratory tests on the product. The tests should clearly display

1) How many Xanthones in the supplement. The more xanthones in the product, the more benefits there will be.

2) How many Phytonutrients in the product. Phytonutrients can protect against disease and promote health,

and they are nutrients which are derived from plants we can eat.

3) The ORAC value. The power of antioxidants to neutralize free radicals, can be measured, and this is called the ORAC value.

Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity. More free radicals will be neutralized as the value of ORAC in your blood is higher.

If an antioxidant supplement has an ORAC value of 90,000 to 100,000 plus, it is claimed by experts to be effective.

So, if you want to receive the full benefits of the nutrients in the mangosteen, it is best to check for independent laboratory tests

performed on a particular mangosteen juice product.

B. Method of Preparation

Research has found that a mangosteen juice using cold processing when being prepared, is of much higher quality.

This is because it's been found that some nutrients in the mangosteen fruit die at the time they are cooked.

Cooking the juice can render some preservatives more harmful, and also make the juice acidic.

So, it's better to select a mangosteen juice which uses cold processing when being prepared, is therefore of a higher quality.

C. Is the Mangosteen Pericarp and the Whole Fruit contained within the Product?

The seeds and the pericarp of the mangosteen are the main source of xanthones, therefore a high quality mangosteen juice supplement should utilize the whole fruit puree. The whole fruit puree consists of a milling of pericarp, seeds and entire fruit-pulp together. Only a high amount of xanthones contains the full healing and nutritional value of mangosteen,

and these will be found only in those products utilising the whole fruit process. If you are only drinking the juice and not the pericarp, it will not do you much good.

D. Are there other Nutrients within the Mangosteen Juice product?

A good quality mangosteen juice supplement will also contain other nutrients, which work together with the mangosteen to enhance the benefits. These are some of the additional nutrients the product could contain:

1) Minerals

When minerals are added to mangosteen, the additional effects are huge. Mineral deficiencies are high in chronic conditions, especially neuro degenerative conditions. After 60 years of the environment being exploited, the nutrients in vegetables and fruit, are not there anymore. Few people eat properly anyway, and most people eat packaged food and fast food, which contains few nutrients.

Minerals are required for energy production and protection from free radical damage, as well as other vital functions.

2) Additional Vitamins may be included

Research shows that depletion of certain vitamin types is related to diseases like alzheimer's, cancer and dermatitis.

3) Aloe Vera may be included in some Mangosteen Juice products

Research has shown that when Aloe Vera is present, the delivery of vitamins into the blood is improved by up to 20%. Also, the vitamins are held in the blood longer when Aloe is included, which gives the body a greater chance to utilize the vitamins.

4) Some mangosteen juice products may contain Green Tea

Green Tea is well known for its traditional healing properties and also provides additional antioxidant power.

E. Is the Mangosteen product liquid?

A liquid formula is more bioavailable (body ready) so that the cells in the body can absorb it more readily. The phytonutrients and xanthones are within the mangosteen whole fruit, which includes the pericarp and the pulp, and they work synergistically. Powders and pills cannot include the mangosteen whole fruit, so these may not provide the health benefits that a liquid product provides.

Summary

We have examined what to consider when looking at the different brands of Mangosteen Juice supplements - Independent testing, amount of xanthones, amount of phytonutrients, the ORAC value, the other nutrients in the product, the way the product is processed, and whether it is a liquid product or not. For a fair comparison of quality and price, have a look at how many bottles of a less expensive product you would need to give you the same amount of nutrients as a more expensive product has. What you think is a 'cheaper' product may be a lot more expensive when you do the mangosteen juice product comparison carefully.

Julieanne van Zyl is interested in health and nutrition and is also a distributor of Mangosteen Juice Products

Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Julieanne_Van_Zyl

Buy Mangosteen Juice - Various Options

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Mangosteen The Queen of Fruits

What is a mangosteen?

The mangosteen fruit, although well known in tropical and subtropical climates, is a relative stranger to most other countries. Given its name, the mangosteen may be easily confused as a hybrid of the mango. Although the mangosteen and the mango are of the same family and grow in the same areas, these two fruits not only look different, they have a much different taste.

A mangosteen fruit is approximately the same size as an orange, but with a deep purplish-colored skin. The outer rind of a mangosteen is very leathery, with scars, and serves to protect the delicious inner pulp. Found on each mangosteen fruit is a scar at one end, displaying remnants of the flower that once grew there. Interestingly, based on the number of flower segments still found in the scar, one can tell how many segments of fruit will be found inside.

The taste of a mangosteen has been likened to that of no other fruit, hence the nickname "Queen of Fruits" or "Food of the Gods" on some Caribbean islands. While it's difficult to describe its taste, many people compare it to a cross between strawberries and oranges, with just a touch of acidity. However, the texture of the rich inner pulp is much like a ripe plum. Traditionally, the mangosteen is a fruit best experienced fresh and unprocessed. However, as it begins to gain popularity in countries all over the world, mangosteen can be found canned or frozen, and is made into syrup, preserves, and, most popularly, juice.

The Origin of Mangosteen

While Chinese and ayurvedic practitioners have known of the high nutritional and medicinal value of the mangosteen for hundreds of years, it was first "discovered" by the French explorer Laurentiers Garcin in the 1700s. It is from him that the scientific name for mangosteen, Garcinia mangostana, comes.

The mangosteen tree does not grow well as a "wild plant," and fares best if it is cultivated in the perfect climate. Most of the plants are found in Thailand, a country so enamoured of the mangosteen, it adopted it as its national fruit.

Although efforts have been made to grow orchards, because of their finicky growth patterns and unpredictable harvest times, mangosteen trees are mostly found along the banks of rivers or lakes, as the tree roots need almost constant moisture.

Because of governmental regulations, import of the fresh mangosteen fruit into the United States is illegal. Fears of introducing the devastating Asian fruit fly into the country have mainly kept the fruits themselves from crossing the borders, although occasionally one may find a mangosteen fruit on the shelves of a small Asian grocery store. And because mangosteen trees only grow in certain climates, attempts to cultivate the fruit within the country have yet to "fruitfully" succeed.

Making it additionally difficult to mass-produce mangosteen, a tree takes many years after planting to begin producing fruit. From the time of planting a mangosteen seed, the growing tree will take ten years or more to start producing fruit. Uncharacteristically for a tropical fruit tree, the mangosteen tree will only grow to about 10 to 20 feet in height. Once it matures to full growth, one average tree will produce approximately 500 mangosteen fruits per harvest. However, the longer a mangosteen tree stands, the higher the yield. There have been reports of 30-year-old mangosteen trees producing up to 2000 fruits in one season.

Enjoying Mangosteen

As mentioned, the import of mangosteen into the United States is currently illegal due to health regulations. However, fresh mangosteen can be found in countries like Thailand, the Philippines, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Cuba, sparingly in Puerto Rico, and scattered around the West Indies.

Care should be taken when eating a fresh mangosteen. The outer rind is quite hard and leathery, and the deep purple-red juice of the rind stains nearly anything it comes into contact with. Traditionally, the shell of the mangosteen should be broken by hand, not cut with a knife. As the rind begins to crack, the delicious inner fruit segments may be peeled away. To enjoy mangosteen to its fullest, one should avoid the hard, leathery outer shell by pulling the segments out before eating, as the sap from the shell is quite bitter and unpleasant.

It may be possible to find canned mangosteen; however, it is widely known that through the process of canning, much is lost in terms of the fruit's flavor. In the Philippines, many of those who attempt to preserve the fruit will boil them first in a heavy brown sugar syrup.

Other Uses of Mangosteen

While the rind of mangosteen is sometimes used in tanning leather, and the twigs from the trees are favorite "chewsticks" for those in Ghana, the most popular alternative use of mangosteen is nutritional and medicinal.

From Singapore to China, different aspects of the fruit are used to treat and heal a wide variety of medical afflictions. From dysentery to eczema, it appears that scientifically the mangosteen has a multitude of beneficial uses.

It is believed that much of the reason why mangosteen is such a powerful curative is because of its high level of xanthones, which are biologically active plant phenols that are somewhat similar to flavonoids. While most fruits contain xanthones, the mangosteen appears to encompass at least 40 of the currently discovered 200 types of xanthones, making it incredibly rich in its nutritional properties. Indeed, it is somewhat of a "wonder fruit," in that it is the only fruit as yet known to science to contain such a high percentage of xanthones.

In addition, mangosteen is also high in several other necessary nutritional properties, including fiber, calcium, iron, and thiamine.

Given its delicious taste and exponential nutritional value, the mangosteen is truly deserving of its nickname - "Queen of Fruits."

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rob_Russell

For more info on mangosteen juice visit: http://www.mangosteen--juice.com

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The Power of Antioxidants

by: Karen Myton

Antioxidants are becoming some of the most researched substances in health circles these days for good reason. They seem to be responsible for better quality of life, more energy, clearer skin, even tales of slowing the aging process. When free radicals and antioxidants are out of balance problems arise. Eating more dark-green, leafy vegetables, carrots, yellow and red fruits are strongly recommended. Some examples of antioxidant are Vitamins C, E, and Beta Carotene, to name just a few.

Some findings indicate that people who are low in antioxidants are more likely to develop arthritis and other diseases than those consuming higher amounts. Good sources of antioxidants are salmon, legumes, extra lean meat, leafy vegetables and colorful fruits.

Another important nutrient, the catechin shows they work well together with antioxidants, have fat burning and antibacterial qualities. In nature there are always numerous nutrients working together, and we are just scratching the surface deciphering those combinations. One thing is certain, you can never get too much of a good thing when it comes to antioxidants.

Supplements Are Necessary

Many dietary authorities agree we need to supplement with antioxidants. CoQ10 is one vitamin like supplement manufactured naturally in your body, but it's never enough to combat the amount of free radicals you're exposed to every day. Because of this daily free radical load, your best defense is to take antioxidants as a supplement as your food doesn't provide enough.

Vitamin E has been an extremely popular antioxidant vitamin in recent years. Alpha-tocopherol is traditionally recognized as the most active form of vitamin E. It's a fat-soluble vitamin in eight forms which is a much more powerful combination compared to any single form of Vitamin E. Vitamin C is important for the function of the immune system, tissue repair, and is also an antioxidant. It has been found that vitamin C can reduce cold symptoms because of its antiviral and antioxidant effects. Vitamin A is an antioxidant necessary for good vision and has also been shown to have a protective effect against cancer.

The Powerful Antioxidant List

* Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is derived from plant or animal tissue. Proanthocyanidin, or OPC, is another powerful antioxidant.

* Vitamin K was been approved for the treatment of osteoporosis in Japan in 1995.

* Milk thistle is a powerful antioxidant for liver protection and body detoxification.

* Green tea is the most powerful antioxidant beverage known today.

* Olivus olive leaf tea is a good tasting tea with powerful antioxidant, anti-virus, anti- bacteria and anti- fungus properties.

* The whole fruit puree of the Mangosteen fruit is a powerful natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.

* Fermented Papaya is the new body antioxidant from Japan. Grape seed extract is another antioxidant that's easy to take.

With this list of powerful antioxidants you can choose one or more to suit your budget and taste.

Which One is Best?

Of all the available antioxidants, Mangosteen seems to hold the most promise. Originally from South East Asia, Mangosteen is a highly revered botanical and the most expensive fruit at the market when it comes in season. It is used to combat numerous ailments by local Physicians and is the most prominent medicine in most Doctors kits there. Mangosteen can be found in a few health food stores but only one company makes the a puree with the whole fruit.

To get the full benefit from Mangosteen the juice must be made with the whole fruit, otherwise it's healing potential is about the same as apple juice. There is one nutrient in Mangosteen that is not available anywhere else, the Xanthone. Keep your eyes and ears open for that nutrient... Xanthone. You'll be hearing more about it soon enough.

About The Author

Karen Myton discovered good health by accident in the early 80's when she was first introduced to Aloe Vera. Health benefits were apparent right away, and 4 years later the results of a good immune system saved her life. In early 2006 she found that Aloe Vera had a super nutrient called a Xanthone. Imagine her surprise when at the same time, she discovered another Botanical source with 43 Xanthones! Wow... just imagine what 43 Xanthones can do!!

*** Xanthones... The Super Star of Antioxidants ***
Discover why people are raving about Xanthones...
The most powerful Antioxidants known to Science.
http://www.aboutantioxidants.net

Mangosteen Juice is very high in xanthones and antioxidants, why not try some today!

Natural Arthritis Remedies

Arthritis is a generic term for conditions involving inflammation of one or more joints. It is not a single disease. There are actually more than 100 different types of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis being the most common. Unfortunately this condition affects millions of people around the world.

A few common arthritis symptoms are; joint pain, swelling, and stiffness or limited movement especially in the morning. The area may also be warm or reddish in color. The sooner you see a doctor to verify your condition, the better off you will be. Once you know what you have, you can then move on to treat it with prescriptions and or alternative therapies.

One of the main factors with arthritis is that your joints are inflamed (irritated & swollen), so doctors frequently recommend you take either prescription or over the counter anti-inflammatories, depending on the severity of the condition. These will also help with pain, but could cause other side effects such as; stomach pain, over acidity, indigestion or worse ulcers. Taking these with food will help. Some additional side effects can be hair loss, flu like symptom, ringing in the ears, weight loss, fatigue and could cause kidney or liver damage.

Natural Arthritis Remedies

Keeping active increases your blood flow and can help a little with symptoms, but natural anti-inflammatories, as I will describe here, may be a better option for pain and swelling.

Green Tea

As it's been hitting the headlines a lot these days, you may already be aware of the many health benefits of drinking green tea. If not, here are a few; it can lower your bad cholesterol and raise your good cholesterol, prevent abnormal blood clotting and strokes. Green tea is rich in anti-oxidants so it will also help prevent cancer by protecting your cells from free radical damage. One of green teas many properties is an anti-inflammatory, so drinking it can help with your arthritis symptoms. Caffeinated green tea has about half as much as caffeine as coffee and won't raise your blood sugar as high as black tea. A good thing for diabetics. You can get premium decaffeinated green tea as well as regular many places on line. I've got some listed on my site here: green tea

Aloe Vera Juice

Aloe vera is a wonderful plant from nature which can soothe your insides, increase regularity, alkalize your body, help with hemorrhoids, help with many intestinal problems, increase circulation of the lymphatic system and so much more. Aloe vera juice also helps to reduce inflammation and can help your arthritis and other joint problems. Unfortunately the taste of 100% pure aloe vera juice isn't always appealing to most. You can add it to juice to help mask the somewhat slimy consistency. I've got an aloe vera blend you'll just love the taste of on my site here: aloe vera juice

Mangosteen Fruit

Known for it's many anti-oxidants, the mangosteen fruit contains some of the highest xanthone levels. Xanthones are a type of anti-oxidant which have a very high anti-inflammatory effect. It has been proven to be a cox-2 inhibitor and some say it beats the pants of Vioxx as far a reducing arthritis symptoms. Unfortunately the mangosteen fruit isn't locally available for most. It is grown in tropical climates. You can buy mangosteen juice many places these days. I've got several options for you to choose from juice or capsules on my site. Check it out.

Supplements

Some supplements to consider taking would be the Omega's; 3, 6 & 9. You can get Omega 9 by using Olive oil in your cooking and salads. It has anti-inflammatory properties as well. Fish and nuts will supply your Omega 3 and safflower oil will give you Omega 6, as well as sunflower oil, corn oil, soybean oil and sesame oil. These oils will help lubricate your joints. Of course you can simply purchase a quality supplement on line or at your nearest health food store. It's best to buy one that has all three. It should already be in the correct proportions that are best for your body.

Eating a healthy diet can really help you with your arthritis as well. Avoid foods high in sugar. Eat foods low in saturated fats, and higher in mono-saturated and polyunsaturated fats. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables, take a multi-vitamin and drink 8-10 glasses of water per day.

If you employ some of these natural anti inflammatories, I'm sure your arthritis will be much less of a problem for you.