by Melissa Chichester
Food supplements are nutritional products that are made from traditional foods commonly consumed in dietary practices. Some food supplements include herbs such as cranberry and garlic, as well as extracts and oils like flaxseed oil.
Get to know six of our popular food supplements for health.
>>Discover Puritan’s Pride food supplements
Garlic is one of the most popular plants today used to give food a bold flavor. It is also a very popular food supplement. Alliin and allicin are natural active ingredients in garlic. When raw garlic is crushed, an enzyme called allinase acts on an amino acid (alliin) to produce allicin. Garlic has been traditionally used to support heart health and is believed to provide its benefits by helping maintain healthy blood flow.*
Flaxseed oil is a useful food supplement because it is a source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). ALA is an essential omega-3 fatty acid necessary for human health. Your body cannot make omega-3 fatty acids, so you must get them from food. Flaxseed oil also contributes to heart health and plays a role in providing an energy source for the body.* In addition, flaxseed oil contains lignans – phytochemicals that support overall wellness.*
Cherries are much more than a summer food fling. Tart cherries have unique properties that support good health.* Cherries contain an antioxidant called chlorogenic acid that contributes to cellular health.*
Pomegranate is a tart, delicious fruit with antioxidant properties. It is loaded with hundreds of seeds that are edible and shaped like an apple. However, the peel is not edible. Pomegranate contains important polyphenols that help support antioxidant health and help fight free radicals.* Puritan’s Pride Pomegranate Extract is standardized at 40% for polyphenols.
Soy lecithin is a yellow-brown substance that is a mixture of phospholipids and other non-phospholipid compounds that are extracted from soybean oil during processing.
Phospholipids are made up of fatty acids that are components of the cell membrane. Phospholipid levels in the brain may decline with age. Soy lecithin is a source of linoleic acid which cannot be made by the body, so it needs to be consumed through food or supplements.
Soy lecithin also contains choline and inositol. These are two essential components of cell membranes that contribute to cell growth and function.* Choline also promotes nerve cell health and helps maintain nervous system health.*
Most people believe cranberry is only a food supplement for women. However, cranberry is known to nutritionally support urinary tract function in both men and women.* Cranberries help cleanse the urinary tract, helping remove unwanted compounds to clear the way for healthy urine flow.* Cranberries also contain antioxidants that help fight free radicals in the body, something that men and women can both use.*
Food supplements offer a convenient way to increase your intake of specific nutrients. They’re designed to complement a balanced diet, so enjoy these benefits alongside a variety of whole, natural foods to achieve optimal health.
| *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. |
