AMIGO JUICE: The Power of Antioxidants Times Three © Paula Rothstein

In the third grade I was told I could write a paper on any topic for an English homework assignment. I chose the subject of scurvy as it affected sailors who were away at sea for long periods of time and the resulting discovery of Vitamin C as its cure. I remember the paper well for I was literally transcended from ignorance to a place of awe at the intricacies of the human body and its response to nutrients.

Today, antioxidants are the word on the street. They are used to boost energy (forget caffeine - this stuff rocks!) and these antioxidants fight infection, and address a whole range of health issues.

Before XanGo, Tahitian Noni, Fruta Vida, (containing, respectively, mangosteen, goji, and acai) and now Amigo Juice (a marriage of all three super foods), we had our Vitamin C, E, and A. For many of us, it was all about drinking that cup of orange juice at breakfast or taking a vitamin supplement. But today, we are not talking about just a punch but a real blow to sickness and disease, taking the form of antioxidant rich health beverages that many consumers swear by in their quest for wellness.

Living in today's very toxic world, antioxidants deserve a special place in the area of nutritional supplements and are certainly worth examining closer to see what they are all about and learn how we can implement them into our daily routine.

Quite simply put, at the molecular and cellular levels, antioxidants serve to deactivate certain particles called free radicals. In humans, free radicals usually come in the form of O2, the oxygen molecule. The oxygen molecule desires to be oxidized, and this oxidation process can sometimes be carcinogenic. Free radicals are the natural by-products of many processes within and among cells. They are also created by exposure to various environmental factors, tobacco smoke and radiation. Of course, this certainly includes air quality and all the junk we put into our bodies that our immune system is forced to combat.

If allowed to run amok, these free radicals can cause damage to cell walls, cell structures, and genetic material within the cell. They are the bully on the playground and need to be dealt a firm hand for the damage eventually can lead to disease and ultimately death.

Antioxidants play a key role in cleaning up the destruction caused by these free radicals. They clean house before free radicals get a chance to harm the body. Researchers have even determined that antioxidants have the ability to prevent carcinogenic effects of oxidation.

To that end, a variety of health companies, most notably in the form of multi-level marketing, have cropped up offering antioxidant rich health drinks, as captured in the "pericarp," "hull," "pulp," "rind," basically the whole fruit, the kitchen and its sink, ground and mixed and served up in tasty 1 oz. servings. Not to mention the mangosteen fruit has introduced an entirely new classification of antioxidants, called Xanthones with professed health benefits too numerous to list, many years of research, and centuries of positive use.

These antioxidant rich drinks created three distinct camps. One decided the mangosteen is their drink of choice, goji has its determined followers, and there is also acai (description of each to follow). It became difficult to navigate through hype and look for substance. According to numerous reports by customers, they all have their benefits.

In March of this year, however, one product was introduced, integrating all three important fruits into one single product in a dried formula, omitting any need for pasteurization, cutting back on the cost of shipping, and providing the most bang for the buck. Most importantly, each of the three super foods had very distinct benefits. Now we have a marriage of all three fruits in one drink, making Amigo Juice, a drink with outstanding health benefits. For Amigo Health has increased the typical 15 to 50 mg. (per serving) of mangosteen, goji, and acai found in each of the three dominating super powers of fruit drinks, now increased to an astonishing 500 mg. of each fruit per serving. They also cut out the middleman which is usually a separate Internet marketing company, making the product much more cost efficient.

THE BIG THREE SUPER FOODS

The following is an in depth look at the three fruits: acai, mangosteen, and goji.

ACAI:

The Acai berry, or Acai Fruit (ah-sigh-ee) grows on majestic palm trees in the Amazon Rainforest and looks like a purple marble or grape. Acai has a delicious tropical berry flavor and provides exceptional nutrition. Acai contains high levels of Antioxidants, Omega Fatty Acids (healthy fats), Iron, Amino Acids, Fiber, and many other vitamins and minerals. The people living in the Amazon region in Northern Brazil, have consumed Acai for hundreds of years and its healing and sustaining powers are legendary.

According to the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, extracts from Acai berries triggered a self-destruct response in up to 86% of leukemia cells tested. For more information on this study, visit: http://news.ufl.edu/2006/01/12/berries/

Acai Berry is known to harness the following properties: Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Anti-inflammatory, Antimutagenic, Cardiovascular System. Acai berries contain very high amounts of essential fatty acid and omegas proven to lower LDL and maintain HDL cholesterol levels. They also contain a remarkable concentration of antioxidants to help combat premature aging.

Acai Berry is a dense source of a particular class of flavonoids called anthocyanins. The ORAC value of Acai Berry is higher than any other edible berry in the world. Acai Berry is also an excellent source of dietary fiber. Acai is extremely rich in organic vegetable protein which does not generate cholesterol during its digestion and is more easily processed and transported to your muscles than animal protein (such as what is found in milk or meat).

Besides its outstanding content of protein and unsaturated lipids, Acai is also rich in carbohydrates, providing your body with the necessary energy while working or practicing any kind of sport.

There is also an amazingly high concentration of antioxidants useful in combating premature aging. The proanthocyanidine contents in Acai Berries contain 10 to 30 times the anthocyanins (these are the purple colored antioxidants) of red wine per volume. Although the French consume a high fat diet, they have a low incidence of cardiovascular disease compared to the western countries. They contribute this factor to their consumption of red wine. Acai Berries can help promote a healthier cardiovascular system and digestive tract, because of its synergy of monounsaturated fats (these are the healthy fats), dietary fiber, and phytosterols.

They provide the body with an excellent source of fiber. Fiber promotes a healthy digestive system. Research studies suggest soluble fibers may help lower blood cholesterol. The insoluble fiber may help to reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancers. Essential amino acid complex along with trace minerals, which are vital for proper muscle contraction and regeneration.

MANGOSTEEN:

The mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) is a tropical evergreen tree, believed to have originated in the Sunda Islands and the Moluccas. The tree grows from 7 to 25 meters tall. The edible fruit is deep reddish purple when ripe. In Asia, the mangosteen fruit is known as the "Queen of Fruits." The outer shell of the fruit (pericarp) is rather hard, typically 4-6 cm in diameter, resembling a spherical, black cartoon bomb. Cutting through the shell, one finds a very pale, fleshy fruit 3-5 cm in diameter. Depending on the size and ripeness, there may or may not be pits in the segments of the fruit. The number of fruit pods is directly related to the number of petals on the bottom of the shell. On average a mangosteen has 5 fruits (round up figure).

Health benefits:

Mangosteen has compounds with antioxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-tumor activity. Laboratory testing thus far indicates that extracts of mangosteen have activity against several cancer cell lines including breast, liver, and leukemia. Visit www.pubmed.com for more information. Mangosteen also appears to have anti-histamine and anti-inflammatory properties.
For hundreds of years, the people of Southeast Asia have used the mangosteen, especially the rind, to ward off and treat infections, reduce pain or control fever, and treat various other ailments.

Most of the studies with mangosteen have focused on the pericarp, or the dark, woody rind as opposed to the fruit inside the woody rind. The pericarp contains the active xanthone compounds. The fruit itself probably has some beneficial compounds but the compounds within the mangosteen fruit have not been studied as well as the mangosteen rind.

Several compounds in mangosteen appear to be active, particularly xanthones. Some of these xanthones include mangostin, mangostenol, mangostenone A, mangostenone B, trapezifolixanthone, tovophyllin B, alpha- and beta-mangostins, garcinone B, mangostinone, mangostanol, and the flavonoid epicatechin.

Studies Performed on Mangosteen as published at www.pubmed.com:

Antimicrobial effects of Thai medicinal plants against acne-inducing bacteria. J Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Oct 3;101(1-3):330-3. Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis have been recognized as pus-forming bacteria triggering an inflammation in acne. The present study was conducted to evaluate antimicrobial activities of Thai medicinal plants against these etiologic agents of acne vulgaris. Crude extracts were tested for antimicrobial activities by disc diffusion and broth dilution methods. The results from the disc diffusion method showed that 13 medicinal plants could inhibit the growth of Propionibacterium acnes. Among those, Senna alata, Eupatorium odoratum, Garcinia mangostana, and Barleria lupulina had strong inhibitory effects. Data indicated that Garcinia mangostana had a strong inhibitory effect on Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Therefore, mangosteen would be an interesting topic for further study and possibly for an alternative treatment for acne.

Antiproliferative activity of Thai medicinal plant extracts on human breast adenocarcinoma cell line. Fitoterapia. 2004 Jun;75(3-4):375-7. Ethanolic extracts of selected nine Thai medicinal plants were tested for antiproliferative activity against SKBR3 human breast adenocarcinoma cell line using MTT assay. Mangosteen showed the most potent activity.

Antiproliferation, antioxidation and induction of apoptosis by Garcinia mangostana ( mangosteen ) on SKBR3 human breast cancer cell line. J Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Jan;90(1):161-6. This study was designed to determine the antiproliferative, apoptotic and antioxidative properties of crude methanolic extract from the pericarp of Garcinia mangostana (family Guttiferae) ( mangosteen ) using human breast cancer (SKBR3) cell line as a model system. SKBR3 cells were cultured in the presence of mangosteen extract at various concentrations. Mangosteen showed a dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation. We found that antiproliferative effect of mangosteen was associated with apoptosis on breast cancer cell line by determinations of morphological changes and oligonucleosomal DNA fragments. In addition, mangosteen at various concentrations and incubation times were also found to inhibit ROS production. These investigations suggested that the mangosteen extract had strong antiproliferation, potent antioxidation and induction of apoptosis. Thus, it indicates that mangosteen extract has potential for cancer chemoprevention which is dose dependent as well as exposure time dependent.

Induction of apoptosis by xanthones from mangosteen in human leukemia cell lines. J Nat Prod. 2003 Aug;66(8):1124-7. The effects of six xanthones from the pericarps of mangosteen, Garcinia mangostana were examined on the cell growth inhibition of human leukemia cell line HL60. All xanthones in mangosteen displayed growth inhibitory effects. Among them, alpha-mangostin showed complete inhibition at 10 microM through the induction of apoptosis.

Antimycobacterial activity of prenylated xanthones from the fruits of mangosteen. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 2003 Jul;51(7):857-9. Prenylated xanthones, isolated from the fruit hulls and the edible arils and seeds of mangosteen, were tested for their antituberculosis potential. Alpha- and beta-mangostins and garcinone B exhibited strong inhibitory effect against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Garcinone E, a xanthone derivative, has potent cytotoxic effect against hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. Planta Med. 2002 Nov;68(11):975-9. Treatment of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) with chemotherapy has generally been disappointing and it is most desirable to have more effective new drugs. Six xanthone compounds from the rinds (peel) of the fruits of Garcinia mangostana L. ( mangosteen ) were extracted, purified and then tested the cytotoxic effects of these compounds on a panel of 14 different human cancer cell lines including six hepatoma cell lines. The results have shown that one of the xanthone derivatives from mangosteen which could be identified as garcinone E has potent cytotoxic effect on all HCC cell lines as well as on the other gastric and lung cancer cell lines included in the screen. It is suggested that garcinone E extract from mangosteen may be potentially useful for the treatment of certain types of cancer.

Inhibitions of histamine release and prostaglandin E2 synthesis by mangosteen, a Thai medicinal plant. Biol Pharm Bull. 2002 Sep;25(9):1137-41. The fruit hull of mangosteen, Garcinia mangostana L. has been used as a Thai indigenous medicine for many years. However, the mechanism of action of mangosteen as a medicine has not been elucidated. The present study was undertaken to examine the effects of mangosteen extracts (100% ethanol, 70% ethanol, 40% ethanol and water) on histamine release and prostaglandin E2 synthesis. It was discovered that the 40% ethanol extract of mangosteen inhibited IgE-mediated histamine release from RBL-2H3 cells with greater potency than the water extract of Rubus suavissimus that has been used as an anti-allergy crude drug in Japan. All extracts of mangosteen potently inhibited A23187-induced prostaglandin E2 synthesis in C6 rat glioma cells, while the water extract of Rubus suavissimus had no effect. The 40% ethanol extract of mangosteen inhibited the prostaglandin E2 synthesis in a concentration-dependent manner with relatively lower concentrations than the histamine release. In addition, passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) reactions in rats were significantly inhibited by this ethanol extract as well as by the water extract of Rubus suavissimus. These results suggest that the 40% ethanol extract of mangosteen has potent inhibitory activities of both histamine release and prostaglandin E2 synthesis.

Inhibition of cyclooxygenase and prostaglandin E2 synthesis by gamma-mangostin, a xanthone derivative in mangosteen, in C6 rat glioma cells. Biochem Pharmacol. 2002 Jan 1;63(1):73-9. In the present study, the effect of gamma-mangostin, a tetraoxygenated diprenylated xanthone contained in mangosteen, was examined on arachidonic acid cascade in C6 rat glioma cells. This study is a first demonstration that gamma-mangostin, a xanthone derivative from mangosteen, directly inhibits COX activity.

Evaluation of the antifungal activity of natural xanthones from Garcinia mangostana (mangosteen) and their synthetic derivatives. J Nat Prod. 1997 May;60(5):519-24. The antifungal activity of several xanthones isolated from the fruit hulls of mangosteen and some derivatives of mangostin against three phytopathogenic fungi, Fusarium oxysporum vasinfectum, Alternaria tenuis, and Dreschlera oryzae, has been evaluated. The natural xanthones from mangosteen showed good inhibitory activity against the three fungi.

Active constituents against HIV-1 protease from Mangosteen. Planta Med. 1996 Aug;62(4):381-2. The ethanol extract of Mangosteen showed potent inhibitory activity against HIV-1 protease. The activity-guided purification of the extract resulted in the isolation of two active, known compounds. The chemical structures of the isolated compounds were established by spectroscopic analyses as mangostin and gamma-mangostin.

Mangostin inhibits the oxidative modification of human low density lipoprotein. Free Radic Res. 1995 Aug;23(2):175-84. The oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) may play an important role in atherosclerosis. The possible antioxidant effects of mangosteen were investigaged, as isolated from Garcinia mangostana, on metal ion dependent (Cu2+) and independent (aqueous peroxyl radicals) oxidation of human LDL. From these results, it was concluded that mangosteen is acting as a free radical scavenger to protect the LDL from oxidative damage in this in vitro system.

This is by no means an exhaustive examination of the studies available at pubmed.com but highlights of a few key studies.

Historical Medicinal Uses:

Dried fruits are shipped from Singapore to Calcutta and to China for medicinal use. The sliced and dried rind is powdered and administered to overcome dysentery. Made into an ointment, it is applied on eczema and other skin disorders. The rind decoction is taken to relieve diarrhea and cystitis, gonorrhea and gleet and is applied externally as an astringent lotion. A portion of the rind is steeped in water overnight and the infusion given as a remedy for chronic diarrhea in adults and children. Filipinos employ a decoction of the leaves and bark as a febrifuge and to treat thrush, diarrhea, dysentery and urinary disorders. In Malaya, an infusion of the leaves, combined with unripe banana and a little benzoin is applied to the wound of circumcision. A root decoction is taken to regulate menstruation. A bark extract called "amibiasine", has been marketed for the treatment of amoebic dysentery. Most notably, the mangosteen provides powerful anti-inflammatory benefits which play an important role in numerous health conditions.

GOJI

Goji berries have the highest content of beta-carotene among all foods on earth. Beta-carotene can be transformed into vitamin A under the influence of human liver enzymes. Therefore, vitamin A ultimately plays a major influence in Lycium's actions. Lycium's function on the eyes is related to this factor.

Lycium's vitamin B1 and B2 contents are significant and the vitamin C content of freeze-dried Lycium has been measured to be 73 mg / 100 grams. The fruit also contains vitamin C, beta-sitosterol (an anti-inflammatory agent), linoleic acid (a fatty acid), sesquiterpenoids (cyperone, solavetivone), tetraterpenoids (zeaxanthin, physalin), and betaine (0.1%).

Lycium contains 18 kinds of amino acids, of which 8 are indispensable amino acids for the human body (such as isoleucine and tryptophan). 50% of Lycium's amino acids are free amino acid. Lycium contains numerous trace elements, of which the main ones are zinc, iron and copper. Mature fruits contain about 11 mg. of iron per 100 grams. Ning Xia Lycium contains 45% glucose, 7% fructose and 5.5% glucose.

HEALTH BENEFITS:

Goji Berries have been used in Tibet for at least 1,700 years. Tibetan medicine includes these berries in the treatment of kidney and liver problems. They are also used in Tibet to lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and cleanse the blood. Goji Berries have a long history of use in the treatment of eye problems, skin rashes, psoriasis, allergies, insomnia, chronic liver disease, diabetes and tuberculosis. Goji Berries are used by the people of Tibet to increase longevity and as a general health strengthening tonic.

Science has shown that this bright red berry not only contains extremely high levels of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, but also contains many unique phytochemicals, polysaccharides, and complex compounds that scientists are only beginning to understand.

Goji Berries contain the following complex compounds:

Betaine, which is used by the liver to produce choline, a compound that calms nervousness, enhances memory, promotes muscle growth, and protects against fatty liver disease.

Physalin, which is active against all major types of leukemia. It has also been used as a treatment for hepatitis B. Solavetivone, a powerful anti-fungal and anti-bacterial compound.

Beta-Sitoserol, an anti-inflammatory agent. It has been used to treat sexual impotence and prostate enlargement. It also lowers cholesterol.

Cyperone, a sesquiterpene that benefits the heart and blood pressure. It has also been used in the treatment of cervical cancer.

These compounds as found in the Goji Berry are used in the following manner: Betaine, which is used by the liver to produce choline, a compound that calms nervousness, enhances memory, promotes muscle growth, and protects against fatty liver disease. Physalin, which is active against all major types of leukemia. It has also been used as a treatment for hepatitis B. Solavetivone, a powerful anti-fungal and anti-bacterial compound. Beta-Sitoserol, an anti-inflammatory agent. It has been used to treat sexual impotence and prostate enlargement. It also lowers cholesterol. Cyperone, a sesquiterpene that benefits the heart and blood pressure. It has also been used in the treatment of cervical cancer.

If you have not heard a word about Amigo Juice, keep in mind it is very new to the market and is expected to do extremely well against the products already available. Simply because Amigo Juice contains substantially higher doses, lower cost, and contains all three of these antioxidant rich fruits, providing a myriad of health benefits with a power that is unsurpassed in any other available health product of its kind. Bringing this product to market was an extraordinary achievement in the forward moving area of health supplements. One can only imagine what discoveries await us in the years and decades to come as we seriously address health conditions with that which the body needs, natural products, combating the ill effects of toxins and poor diet.

For more information on Amigo Juice, feel free to send an email to info@medicinefreeliving.com. While supplies last, I can provide you with a sample if you would like to check it out first. Just send your name and address and note Amigo Juice Sample in the subject line.

Continue here to learn more about the company of Amigo Health, the product of Amigo Juice, and/or to make a purchase. Through this link Amigo Juice product is available for international shipping.

Note that a one time fee of $10.00 will set you up as a preferred customer or rep and allow you to purchase at wholesale prices today and in the future.