Roselle 洛神花

Roselle or  Hibiscus Sabdariffa has cold properties, tasted sweet and sour, rich in pectin, anthocyanins, vitamin A, C, iron, sodium, malic acid and other nutrients, has effect of diuretic, detoxification, relieve body heatiness, restore fatigue, cooling blood, antihypertensive, nourish blood, balance body pH and other effects; also helps in rashes due to body heat, bad breath, anxiety, distraught, body odor, loss of appetite and others. Tasted sour, nourish blood, promotes beauty skin, promotes body fluid, helps in digestion, improves gastric function.

Roselle juice is slightly alkaline food. After food digestion and absorption, it turns slightly acidic body into alkaline, balance body pH level, good for health. Roselle extract contains flavonoids, protocatechuic acid, anthocyanins, phytoestrogen and other ingredients.

Flavonoids

Beneficial effects of flavonoids on human health are partly explained by their antioxidant activity. Because of the antioxidative property, it is suggested that flavonoids may delay or prevent the onset of diseases (such as cancer) induced by free radicals. They also inhibit low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation by free radicals. Flavonoids have been reported to have negative correlation with incidence of coronary heart disease. Furthermore, flavonoids have anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, and vasodilatory effect. They also inhibit platelet aggregation.

Protocatechuic acid

Has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, has expectorant and asthma relief effect, clinically used for the treatment of chronic bronchitis.

Anthocyanins

Anthocyanins is a water-soluble pigment, is a powerful antioxidant that can protect the body from harmful substances called free radicals. Anthocyanins can also increase blood vessel elasticity, improve circulation and improve skin smoothness, suppress inflammation and allergies and improve joint flexibility. In addition, anthocyanins also have anti-radiation effect, changes of the anthocyanins color due to pH difference, most of the anthocyanins with good light, heatiness and pH stability. White-collar workers or those explore to sunlight or electric radiation environment in long term need anthocyanins.

Phytoestrogen
Phytoestrogens are estrogen hormone-like chemicals that naturally found in plants with no side effects. In human beings, phytoestrogens are readily absorbed, circulate in plasma and are excreted in the urine.

Accumulating evidence from molecular and cellular biology experiments, animal studies, and, to a limited extent, human clinical trials suggests that phytoestrogens may potentially confer health benefits related to cardiovascular diseases, cancer, osteoporosis, and menopausal symptoms.

洛神花，又名玫瑰茄，性寒凉、味甘酸，含有果胶、花青素、维生素A、C、铁、钠、苹果酸等营养成份相当丰富，具传有利尿、解毒、清热、消暑、帮助恢复疲劳、凉血净血、抗高血压、有补血、平衡身体内酸碱值等功效。能治暑热疹痒、口臭、心烦热燥、心神不宁、体臭、食欲不振等。其味酸，有活血补血、养颜美容的功能，也能生津止渴，帮助消化，增益胃壁功能。

洛神花的浆汁属于微碱性食品，经食用消化、吸收后，可以将酸性体质转化为微碱性，平衡体内的酸碱值，有益于身体健康。洛神花萃取物中有类黄铜素、原儿茶酸、花青素和植物性雌激素等成份。

类黄铜素

类黄铜素, 或称黃酮類化合物，对人体的保健效益一般以其抗氧化功能为主。其抗氧化功能使类黄铜素说明为可延缓或预防由自由基引起的疾病（如癌症）。它也能抑制低密度蛋白质（LDL）因自由基氧化。报告显示类黄铜素对于冠心病发病率呈负相关。类黄铜素也有抗细菌，抗病毒，抗肿瘤，抗炎，抗过敏和舒张血管的作用；还能抑制血小板聚集。

原儿茶酸

有抗菌抗炎作用，亦有祛痰、平喘作用，临床用于治疗慢性气管炎。

花青素

花青素是一种水溶性色素, 是一种强有力的抗氧化剂，能够保护人体免受一种叫做自由基的有害物质的损伤；花青素还能够增强血管弹性，改善循环系统和增进皮肤的光滑度，抑制炎症和过敏，改善关节的柔韧性。另外，花青素还具有抗辐射的作用，花青素颜色因酸碱值不同会产生变化，大部分花青素具有良好的光、热、酸碱值稳定性，对于白领或是长期处于日晒、电辐射环境中的人群，花青素的功效可是不可或缺的。

植物性雌激素

植物性雌激素是自然生成的化学成分,它的特性与人体内雌性激素相似而没有副作用。植物性雌激素容易被人体吸收，在血液中循环并通过尿液排出。
从分子和细胞生物学实验和动物实验中所累积的证据，人体临床实验也说明了植物雌激素可能潜在健康益处予心血管疾病，癌症，骨质疏松症和更年期症状。

资料源自：
http://www.epochtimes.com/b5/9/10/26/n2701610.htm
http://www.hudong.com/wiki/%E6%B4%9B%E7%A5%9E%E8%8A%B1%E8%8C%B6
http://www.dietaryfiberfood.com/flavonoids2.php
http://www.hudong.com/wiki/%E5%8E%9F%E5%84%BF%E8%8C%B6%E9%85%B8
http://www.baiyjk.com/health/20101/FI0000009424.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytoestrogens

 

Beta Carotene 胡萝卜素

What is Beta-Carotene?

Beta-carotene is one of a group of natural chemicals known as carotenes or carotenoids, which are highly pigmented (red, orange, yellow), fat-soluble compounds naturally present in many fruits, grains, oils, and vegetables (green plants, carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, spinach, apricots, and green peppers).

Beta carotene is converted in the body to vitamin A. Vitamin A serves several biological functions including involvement in the synthesis of certain glycoproteins. Vitamin A deficiency leads to abnormal bone development, disorders of the reproductive system, xerophthalmia (a drying condition of the cornea of the eye), and ultimately death. It is also an antioxidant, like vitamins E and C.

Beta-carotene is converted to retinol, which is essential for vision and is subsequently converted to retinoic acid, which is used for processes involving growth and cell differentiation.

Why Do People Use Beta-Carotene?

• Prevention against cancer and heart disease

• Like a natural eye drops, helps to keep the cornea lubricated and transparency, and promote eye health.

• To slow the progression of cataracts

• To prevent macular degeneration

• One of the most effective anti-oxidant to against free radical

• To boost immunity

• To protect the skin against sunburn

• Asthma

• Depression

• Infertility

• Parkinson’s disease

• Psoriasis

• Arthritis

 

什么是β-胡萝卜素？

β—胡萝卜素是类胡萝卜素之一，属于天然化学物，也是橘黄色脂溶性化合物，天然的存在于多种水果、谷类、油和蔬菜（绿色植物，胡萝卜，红薯，南瓜，菠菜，杏和青椒）。

β-胡萝卜素会被人体转换成维生素A。维生素A提供多种生物能量，包括一些糖蛋白合成。缺乏维生素A会造成骨骼发育异常，生殖系统疾病，干眼症（一种眼角膜干燥的状况），最终可能导致死亡。它也如同维生素E和C，是一种抗氧化剂。

β-胡萝卜素转化为维生素A，对视觉很重要；随后转化成视黄酸，适用于成长与细胞分化过程中。

 

为何需要β-胡萝卜素？

• 预防癌症和心疾病

• 犹如天然眼药水，帮助保持眼角膜的润滑及透明度，促进眼睛的健康

• 减缓白内障的进展

• 防止黄斑变性

• 对抗自由基最有效的抗氧化剂之一 

• 增强免疫能力

• 保护皮肤免受晒伤

• 哮喘

• 抑郁

• 不孕不育

• 帕金森氏症

• 银屑病

• 关节炎

Source 资料源自:

http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/herbsvitaminsa1/a/BetaCarotene.htm

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/beta-carotene/NS_patient-betacarotene

http://www.hudong.com/wiki/%CE%B2%EF%BC%8D%E8%83%A1%E8%90%9D%E5%8D%9C%E7%B4%A0#9