Xango Cancer
Tonics from the tropics: these exotic elixirs have gained many fans—and some scientific support—for their wellness claimsAmy Allison THE ADS PROMISE PARADISE in a bottle: "a wondrous sea plant" ... "the world's most exotic fruit" ... "from uninhabited islands." No wonder limu moui, mangosteen, and noni have become three of the most popular liquid supplements to wash ashore in a long while. Depending on which tonic you take, you may be able to benefit from nature's bounty--but watch what you're paying for packaging. Here's a taste of the best-known brands of these exotic elixirs, along with a look at their prime ingredients.
tang of the sea
Despite the addition of organic mango and papaya purees, a briny ocean flavor prevails in Original Limu (thelimucompany.com; $42 for 33.4 ounces), whose key ingredient is limu moui (Sphaerotrichia divaricata), a brown algae.
The dose 2 to 4 ounces daily.
The claims Improved immune function, restful sleep, increased energy and joint mobility, healthy levels of blood glucose and cholesterol.
The science Research confirms anti-viral activity in fucoidan, a polysaccharide found in limu maui. A study on mice, which appeared in the journal Anticancer Research, suggested that anti-tumor effects in fucoidan may be related to enhanced immune response. Another study, published in Immunology, showed that fucoidan blocks the activation of proteins associated with atherosclerosis, heart attack, and Alzheimer's.
The option "In Japan, where it's called kombu, brown algae is a very popular food, especially with the people of Okinawa, who are known for being long-lived," says Christopher Kilham, an ethno-botanist at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and author of Tales From the Medicine Trail. "Follow their example and add kombu to soups and stews; look for it in health-food stores."
fruit cocktail
The tangy-sweet tropical fruit mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) is pureed in XanGo (mymangosteen.com, $32.50 for 25 ounces), with apple, pear, grape, cherry, and berry fruit juices added for flavor and additional benefits.
The dose 1 to 3 ounces daily.
The claims Immune-system health, joint flexibility, protection against free-radical damage, positive mental support.
The science Research shows anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects in xanthones, a family of antioxidants in mangosteen. Xanthones from the mangosteen rind vanquished cancer cell lines in laboratory studies, according to a report in Planta Medico.
The option "Mangosteen is widely eaten in tropical countries, mostly dried or as a syrup or jam," says Kilham. "Go to an Asian market for dried mangosteen that includes the rind, where the fruit's protective compounds are concentrated."
polynesian potion
The cheeselike bouquet of the ripe yellowish-white noni fruit (Morinda citrifolia) dominates Tahitian Noni Juice (nonijuice.us, $42 for 34 ounces), even with blueberry and grape juices added.
The dose 1 ounce daily.
The claims Digestive and immune support, increased mental clarity and physical performance, glowing skin.
The science Pacific Islanders have long used the leaves, roots, bark, and green, unripe fruit topically to relieve sores, burns, headache, and fever--and research supports noni's anti-inflammatory and analgesic applications. Also, a study published in Phytotherapy Research showed that noni juice given with low doses of chemotherapy lengthened the survival of rats with tumors, and the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii is examining the effects of the freeze-dried fruit extract on cancer patients. A report in the Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden Bulletin attributed noni's potential benefits to a cell-regenerating compound dubbed xeronine, but no independent lab has confirmed those findings. "It may have been better published in the 'Journal of Irreproducible Results,'" says the University of Hawaii's Will McClatchey, Ph.D.
The option "Noni is a valuable medicinal plant. At present, the processing method most likely to yield a beneficial noni fruit product is freeze-drying," says Kilham. Freeze-dried noni capsules are available at VitaminShoppe.com.
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COPYRIGHT 2005 Weider Publications
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