Madison life - health + fitness: secret agents

Green tea, goji berries and grapeseed – a few years ago these were the hot new health ingredients making an impact on the supplement scene. In 2010, however, there’s a whole new wave of super-extracts promising to deliver never-before-seen benefits. We asked Swisse Vitamins naturopath, Alison Potts, to fill us in:

Alpha lipoic acid
“In May 2007, sciencedaily.com reported that the antioxidant alpha lipoic acid seemed to slow down the ageing process in animals by improving blood flow and enhancing immune function,” notes Potts. Look out for it in tablet form – ask
an expert at a health store to point you in the right direction.

African mango and Cacti-Nea
Researchers at the University of Yaounde in Cameroon report that extracts from the seeds of the African mango plant may inhibit body fat production through its effect on genes and enzymes that regulate metabolism. Meanwhile, Cacti-Nea,
a natural extract from the prickly pear cactus fruit, boasts antioxidant properties. “They work together to provide the body with a rich source of soluble fibre, aid the elimination
of excess fluids and help reduce appetite,” says Potts. The Swisse Ultiboost Trimshot, a natural weightloss aid, contains these extracts in a powder to be mixed with water or milk.

Vitex agnus-castus (chaste berry tree)
This native Mediterranean flowering shrub is thought to relieve PMS symptoms such as fluid retention and breast soreness and assists with improving menstrual irregularities. Available in supplement form at chemists and health-food stores.

Chlorophyll
This is the stuff that gives plants their green colour, with model Megan Gale among its fans. “Chlorophyll provides vital nutrition for the body and can enrich the blood and provide energy,” says Potts. While the jury is still out in the medical fraternity as to the health benefits of sources of chlorophyll, such as wheatgrass, naturopaths and herbal experts swear by chlorophyll as a detoxifying agent. It comes in concentrated liquid form in Swisse’s Dr John Tickell’s Ultiboost Spearmint Flavour Chlorophyll, to be taken either as a shot or diluted
in a glass of water or juice.