Spinach is one of the most popular sources of “green” in a green smoothie. It contains vital plant chemicals such as the antioxidant lutein, in addition to a wide range of minerals. Lutein’s anti-inflammatory qualities benefit both eye and heart health.
Impact of Different Smoothie Liquids on Lutein Liberation from Spinach
A recent study examined 14 typical smoothie liquids to see which ones were best at freeing lutein from spinach for absorption by the human colon. It demonstrated that not all green smoothies made with spinach are created equal. The results suggest that spinach smoothies with or without coconut milk, as well as high-fat and medium-fat cow’s milk, are the best for lutein liberation.
Coconut milk without additives boosted lutein liberation by 42%, while coconut milk with additives raised it by 25%. The availability of lutein was raised by 36% in high-fat cow milk and 30% in medium-fat cow milk. Surprisingly, soy milk had the opposite impact, lowering lutein liberation by 61%. The figure for smoothies using soy milk and additions was 40%. Both almond and oat milk did not affect lutein liberation.
The findings were recently reported in MDPI.
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References:
- Neelissen J, Leanderson P, Jonasson L, Chung RWS. The Effects of Dairy and Plant-Based Liquid Components on Lutein Liberation in Spinach Smoothies. Nutrients. 2023; 15(3):779. https:doi.org/10.3390/nu15030779
- Shi T, Denouel A, Tietjen AK, Campbell I, Moran E, Li X, Campbell H, Demont C, Nyawanda BO, Chu HY, Stoszek SK, Krishnan A, Openshaw P, Falsey AR, Nair H; RESCEU Investigators. Global Disease Burden Estimates of Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Associated Acute Respiratory Infection in Older Adults in 2015: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Infect Dis. 2020 Oct 7;222(Suppl 7):S577-S583. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiz059. PMID: 30880339.
Source: Medindia
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