Miracle drugs as drinks - what is it?
Precious or only expensive elixirs? In juice bars, ingredients such as wheatgrass, algae or acai (a Brazilian berry fruit) have recently been added to the glasses. And also for home there are ready-made spa drinks from the bottle. Fitness by straw? Sounds good, but can the juices and drinks actually deliver on their promise to promote good health? Here are six alleged fitters on the test.
Noni juice - Magic from the South Seas
From polynesian folk remedies to sales hit! Although the juice of the noni fruit tastes very severe, it is said to help fight cancer and high blood pressure, relieve the pain, strengthen the immune system and also cure numerous other illnesses.
Is that correct? So far, the healing effects of Noni could not be proven in any study. Also laboratory tests show no convincing results of a cancer-inhibiting, hypotensive or pain-reducing effect. Although several thousand questioned Noni drinkers have felt a significant improvement in the general condition? a serious documentation is not available. In Austria, a few months ago some cases of liver inflammation occurred. However, neither the authorities there nor the German Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety have been able to establish any connection between the juice and the diseases.
Conclusion: Anyone who wants to try Noni for themselves can, according to the current state of knowledge, do so without fear of side effects.
Soy drinks - miracle bean from the Far East
The legume is the leader in several disciplines of healthy nutrition. It contains many B vitamins, as well as lecithin as a brain power, the hormone-acting isoflavones? and the highest quality vegetable protein for humans. Soya drinks are designed to protect against cardiovascular diseases and menopausal symptoms, against cancer and osteoporosis.
Is that correct? In the US, foods containing soya may, under certain conditions, carry a health alert that suggests a heart-protective effect. Whether soy protein also lowers cholesterol levels has not yet been proven. Maybe that's the isoflavones in the legume. It is known that they have a mild estrogen-like effect. And that seems soothing to affect various cancers. It is striking that Asians, who eat a lot of soy products compared to us, are much less likely to get colon, breast and prostate cancer. Japanese women hardly know menopausal symptoms. Their high soy consumption could be a reason for that. Conclusion: Even if the scientists argue about whether capsules with isolated isoflavones are harmless or not, they agree on soy drinks: drink more often!
Spirulina - Gold of the Aztecs
The blue-green algae Spirulina is the best-selling supplement in the US. Spirulina is also available for drinking, except in tablet form, for example as an admixture with carrot juice powder, to be stirred into water or fruit juice. The manufacturers point to a wealth of nutrients. The algae contains protein, is rich in iron, calcium, magnesium and vitamin B12 and contains valuable omega-3 fatty acids, chlorophyll and beta-carotene. This mixture should make you fit all around. Vegetarians appreciate the vitamin B12 content? Otherwise, this vitamin is almost only found in animal foods.
Is that correct? None of the ingredients is so unique that it would be in short supply in a balanced diet. The omega-3 fatty acids, for example, are also found in salmon and tuna, linseed oil and walnuts. And the daily protein intake from the drinks is so low that it does not matter to our diet. Recent studies have shown that the vitamin B12 contained in spirulina is in a form that is not usable for humans. So no special advantage for vegetarians. On the other hand, the problem can be excessive amounts of iodine, which are in some algae product. If more than 20 milligrams of the trace element are contained per kilogram of algae, this can disturb the thyroid function.
Conclusion: Many good nutrients in the smallest space. Who wants to take spirulina drinks, should not buy anything, but ask for reputable suppliers, for example, in the organic trade or health food store. Be sure to pay attention to the iodine content, it should be on the product.
Cereal grass juice - concentrated plant power
He should be freshly squeezed out of wheatgrass that he could pull himself. Take one to two teaspoons daily. If that's too expensive or not, buy wheat, safflower or barley grass juice as a powder and stir it into water or juice. The reward allegedly: a strengthened immune system and lifelong health.The juice is also supposed to help with mouth or body odor, liver problems and even diabetes or heart disease.
Is that correct? The grass juices are rich in vitamins, enzymes and minerals. And contain a lot of chlorophyll, the green leaf dye, which helps blood formation and improve the oxygen supply to the cells. However, chlorophyll is also found in leafy lettuce and green vegetables.
Conclusion: Grass drinks do not hurt, but we do not need them if we feed otherwise well balanced. A diet with lots of fresh vegetables and fruits usually provides all the important nutrients and tastes better. Since you can save the in-house grass cultivation in germinators and the expensive special juicer.
Aloe juice - panacea from the tropics
The juice from the fleshy leaves of aloe vera contains protein building blocks, sugar compounds, enzymes, minerals and vitamins. He is to help against diabetes, gastrointestinal ulcers, heart disease, HIV infection and cancer.
Is that correct? The evaluation of the studies on aloe sounds sobering: Only for external application, the effectiveness is proven. Aloe vera gel has a cooling, moisturizing and inhibiting inflammation, making it an ideal ingredient for after-sun products. That the juice reduces blood sugar and blood lipids, but is not clearly proven. There are no scientific studies on diseases such as cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis or Alzheimer's disease. Recent laboratory research suggests that the desert queen might be useful in irritable bowel and gastric ulcer.
Conclusion: The juice is not harmful. Possibly further studies confirm the favorable effects on the stomach and intestine.
Kombucha - Asian Fitmaker
Tea, sugar, yeasts and mushrooms ferment to a jelly-like drink called kombucha? in German: Algae tea. Kombucha is said to stimulate the intestinal functions, detoxify the body, strengthen the immune system, help against hypertension and cancer.
Is that correct? Fermentation produces decomposition products that apparently have a positive effect on the immune system. This was shown by a study of the Hannover Medical School on a small group of mountain hunters. A four-week regimen of 400 milliliters of Kombucha daily increased men's physical performance and normalized their blood levels. Lactic acid, which results from heavy exercise and muscle soreness, was broken down faster than the control group that received a drink without kombucha. Also the digestion was promoted. Blood pressure lowering and anti-cancer effects could not be detected by the researchers.
Conclusion: If you do a lot physically, you should try it for something.
