Healthy Benefits of Green Tea on the Skin

By VIBRANT BEAUTY

For ages, tea has been a favorite drink all over the world. It is not just an ordinary well-known beverage but it is famous for its health benefits as well. Different kinds of tea can actually prevent and ease symptoms of many diseases like cancer and heart disease. Some varieties even claim to help in losing weight.  Another popular benefit of tea is how it helps in digesting food and eliminating toxins. A type of tea that is gaining popularity these days because of its health benefits is green tea. The component of green tea called polyphenols and its subtype catechins is the substance that has medicinal properties. Green tea is known to lower bad cholesterol and lowers the risk of certain cancers. It also has anti-bacterial qualities that can prevent tooth decay and protect the body against food poisoning. There are also studies conducted that show great benefits of green tea on the skin.

Your skin is a major organ that can take advantage of the health benefits of green tea. The most powerful positive benefit of green tea to the skin can be attributed to it being a powerful antioxidant. It is known to fight free radicals that may damage the skin and cause premature aging. Although, green tea is not known to protect the skin from UV rays but it does lessen the damaging effects of free radicals caused by sun exposure. It is also known to reduce inflammations that are caused by several damaging factors.
Green tea nowadays is used in many beauty products especially for anti-aging. They are used as ingredients in creams that are said to increase the skin’s quality by increasing its elasticity. This will then counteract the aging process and make the skin suppler.
Green tea has anti-inflammatory qualities that are useful in treating acne. Research shows that it is as effective in treating acne as Benzoyl Peroxide but is actually less irritating and has lesser side effects. It can lighten skin color therefore reducing the appearance of blemishes.
Many skin care and beauty products are available that contains green tea in its ingredients. But there are some ways that green tea remedies can be made at home. One of the easiest way is perhaps freezing freshly brewed green tea then thawing it for only a while to avoid freeze burn then applying it directly on the skin. It will act like a toner. Drinking green tea regularly can also be beneficial since it is always best to keep a healthy skin from within.
Perhaps the best advantage of green tea as compared to other beauty products is that it is a product of nature. It not a chemical that might have some side effects that may not appear instantly but will have long term damaging effects. The benefits of green tea on the skin is all natural therefore trying it out is less risky than trying out new products that can cause allergic effects and may cause more damage in the long run than the benefits it claims. Go ahead and try green tea for the skin and see how you can greatly you can benefit from it.

Are there natural remedies for skin discoloration?

By Alexandra Spunt for NoMoreDirtyLooks.com

For those who don’t know—like me, until I googled—skin discoloration during pregnancy is quite common, and can appear as darker patches on your face, arms, and elsewhere. ‘Cause all those other bodily changes aren’t enough to deal with, right?

Some surfacey research lead me to believe that the best way to deal with the discoloration is through good clean behavior to begin with. Even mainstream sites warned that products may aggravate matters—and so can the sun.

So, some simple advice:

1. Use a good clean sunscreen, and definitely wear a hat.

Sun exposure seems to be a big culprit here. And because you’re pregnant and don’t want any crap in your body anyways—and because you know that many mainstream, chemical sunscreens don’t even protect against UVA rays—you should opt for a super clean zinc or titanium-based one. You can revisit some of our past posts that mention sunscreen here, and don’t forget that your best weapon against the sun is shade.

2. Use super-clean products, and less products in general.

It’s pretty much what we preach to all, but if you’re pregnant you have to be extra diligent. Just like the best way to avoid the sun is to avoid the sun, the best way to minimize irritation from products is to use less of them. Even naturals can contain irritating ingredients, so opt for the simplest oils, and gentlest cleansers you can find. We’re both pretty sensi to begin with, so most of our recommendations already fall in this category.

Keep reading…

My Five Beauty Obsessions: Christine Taylor

By Well+GoodNYC

Christine Taylor is known for her work in comedies like “Dodgeball” and “The Brady Bunch Movie,” as well as for her marriage to actor Ben Stiller.

So maybe it’s not surprising that she takes a light-hearted view of her beauty foibles. “I don’t know what I’m doing with makeup. When I have an event, a professional makeup artist helps me out. But I love discovering and trying great new products,” says Taylor.

One thing she’s increasingly serious about? Natural ingredients. Taylor recently partnered with Nourish, a new USDA-organic-certified line of super pretty (and shockingly affordable) beauty products. “I’m always looking for simpler ways to be healthy. I think a lot of women are,” she says.

Here are a few of her go-to summer staples that help her simplify and health-ify her beauty regimen.

1. Nourish Organic Body Butter in Fresh Fig ($9.99) I have dry skin, elbows, and cuticles—year-round. This is luscious enough to apply before bed but without waking up sticky. It’s also the one product I also keep in my car—at red lights I’ll apply it. You have to take these moments when you have them!

Nourish USDA Body Butter Fresh Fig is a new affordable skin- and body-care line sold at Whole Foods

2. Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser ($50–75) I’m obsessed with this woman and her farm in Vermont. Her Regenerating Cleanser is my new fave. I love the exfoliating bits in it—I would never take the time to exfoliate or to use an extra scrub or mask during the week , so this way I get in a little every day.

Keep reading for 3 more here…

6 natural sunscreens we love

By Well+GoodNYC

We turned up the heat on these all-natural sunscreens—testing them for breakouts and a ghostly hue, as well as a clean ingredient list and performance. And we didn’t get burned.

In fact, natural sunscreens seem to be hitting their stride, with many products flaunting new light-weight textures and great skin-care ingredients. These are the six that won us over and we predict will give their chemically laden cousins a serious run for the money this summer.

Vive Sana Solar to Polar Ultra SPF 40
This fantastically popular synthetics-free sunscreen is laced with plant extracts and skin-nourishing jojoba, apricot kernel, and olive oil. It quickly absorbs leaving no white cast. I’ve put it to use on my sensitive, summer-shiny skin, where it almost does double duty as a moisturizer. Contains zinc and titanium dioxide. $29 for 2.25 oz., SpiritBeautyLounge.com and ViveSana.com

MyChelle Sun Shield SPF 28 Coconut
MyChelle sunscreens should replace Neutrogena’s in every Duane Reade. Its anti-aging Solar Defense SPF 30 is free of titanium dioxide for those concerned about the mineral’s small particle size, and Sun Shield SPF 28 evokes that Coppertone coconutty scent of childhood before there were natural sunscreens. (There’s an unscented version, too). All use ZinClear, refined zinc to avoid that Morticia Adams hue, plus great skin-care ingredients like macadamia nut oil and anti-inflammatory red algae. $29.95 for Solar Defense and $19.19 for Sun Shield, both 2.3 oz. www.mychelle.com

Pratima Neem Rose Face Sunscreen SPF 30
I’ve waxed poetic about the Ayurvedic doctor’s amazing sunscreens before, and for me they remain two of the best overlooked, under-rated products in a New York woman’s medicine cabinet. They have about five ingredients a piece, go on like a light and elegant organic skin-care moisturizer, and never sting, run, or cause a breakout. $18 for 2 oz. (Neem Vetiver Body Sunscreen SPF 30, $26 for 4 oz.) www.pratimaskincare.com

Keep reading for 3 more sunscreens here…

My Five Beauty Obsessions: Kristin McGee

By Well+GoodNYC

Kristin McGee has a confession: she spends almost zero time in front of the mirror.

Between training celebrities, dashing to teach classes in yoga and Pilates, and filming DVDs in France (quel dommage!), she’s one busy lady.

So how does she skimp on the grooming, but look so gorgeous?

Picking the right skin-care products loaded with natural hydrators and antioxidants, and applying sunscreen every day.

Here’s what the natural beauty is loving right now:

1. Shaffali Purifying Cleanser ($28) 
I love the founder’s philosophy and her use of Ayurveda and exotic ingredients. The cleanser contains turmeric, which has so many benefits. And I love the lavender smell. Using it is a ritual for me before I go to bed. The scent helps me relax and unwind.

2. Caudalie Vinosource Anti-Wrinkle Ultra-nourishing Cream ($50)
My skin is so dry and sensitive and this is the perfect cream for me. I’m also such a fan of French products, after spending time in Paris this past year shooting yoga DVDs. I also LOVE red wine…it’s awesome Caudalie uses resveratrol, which is the antioxidant from skin and seeds of the grape. The Caudalie Spa at The Plaza is to die for— a special treat for a facial when I really want to splurge!

3. Pangea Organics Turkish Rose and White Tea Eye Cream ($54.99)
I’ve started to notice a difference using this! I apply it around my eyes and above my top lip, where I’m prone to developing tiny fine lines, maybe from pursing my lips or holding tension there or over-smiling! I love that Pangea uses organic ingredients as well as their support Women for Women International.

Keep reading for 2 more products here…

Future Natural – For The Best Organic & Natural Beauty Products In The World

Emma Pezzack is founder of FutureNatural, an online beauty store devoted to the finest organic and natural products in the world. Voted  “Green Girls Fantasy” by Teen Vogue,  “Best Online Beauty Store” by Treehugger, and “Our Favorite New Store” by Nylon Magazine.

Live well. Do good. Look gorgeous. What divine darling wouldn’t want that motto? Well, natural beauty extraordinaire, Emma Pezzack, turned the sweet saying into an online dream store for the best organic and natural brands in the world – think “Sephora” for a generation that wants the glam without the gross chemicals lurking in most of our conventional beauty products.

Emma grew up on an organic on a farm in Australia and then moved to New Zealand where ‘green’ is a way of life for many. She eventually shifted her sights to Sydney where she began to train at the world-renowned school for makeup artistry, Film Makeup Technology.

As a makeup artist and eventual Fashion Stylist/Creative Director, and with more than twenty years spent working directly in the beauty and fashion industries, she’s been involved in everything from fashion editorial to TV commercials, fashion magazine covers, and print advertising and packaging.

Throughout her diverse career she has been responsible for applying makeup to hundreds of womens’ faces and in doing so became increasingly alarmed and uncomfortable with the chemicals (often carcinogenic ones – eek!) in our everyday personal care products and beloved cosmetics brands.

Armed with her expertise and a desire to empower others to become aware of how their purchases affect their overall health, their environment, and cute and innocent animals, her online mecca for all things naturally gorgeous, Futurenatural, was born.

In conjunction with her sleek and ever-informative Futurenatural blog, Emma is committed to showcasing the most stellar trends,  brands, and product reviews while offering savvy surveillance from the modern side of organic and natural beauty.

Knowing that the body identifies organic and natural ingredients as sources of nutrients and absorbs them accordingly, Emma ensures that every product sold on FutureNatural is as safe as it is effective, luxurious, beautifully designed and of course, sexy.

Some of Emma’s favorite lines include Kahina Giving Beauty, which is handmade in Morocco, Strange Invisible Perfumes, which are unbelievably exquisite and free of the petrochemicals and neurotoxins (that would be stuff that messes with our nerve function and stuff made from petroleum – ewww!) found in most perfumes. She also can’t live without the All Nighter hair powder which is an essential for every maven in need of a morning after fix now and again.

Katharine L’heureux Speaks with Claudia Chan for ClaudiaChan.com

By http://kahina-givingbeauty.com/blog/

Below is my role model Kahina Giving Beauty Founder Katharine L’Heureux’s interview and it is very interesting keep reading.

Though she never thought she would end up where she did, Katharine sees now that everything she had done was for a greater purpose, which they call Maktoub in Morocco. After representing natural and healthy product-based companies like Odwalla Fresh Juice and Bare Escentuals, Katharine created Kahina Giving Beauty, a skincare line based on the power of argan oil. Katharine combines philanthropy with beauty by donating a portion of profits from her company to organizations working in girls’ education and alternative income projects for women in the Moroccan communities that produce her skincare’s argan oil.

• 
  

  ON Journey

  Q: Please share with us the story of how your professional journey began and has brought you to where you are today.

  A: I really never set out to create a line of organic skin care, but now I see that everything I had done before was leading up to this in some way. In Morocco, this is called Maktoub, or Destiny. I now see the development of Kahina Giving Beauty as the culmination of many experiences, professional and personal, I’ve had in my life.

  I grew up in San Francisco and on my family’s sustainable vineyard outside Yountville, California, in the Napa Valley. The emphasis there has always been on the quality of the grapes and on sustaining the land and the community. Later in life, I founded my own marketing and public relations firm representing several natural and organic brands, including Bare Escentuals, one of the first natural cosmetics companies, and Odwalla Fresh Juice, whose tag line was “no mumbo jumbo.” My firm also represented The French Laundry when Thomas Keller first opened it in Yountville. Again, he was so focused on offering the best possible product based on the best sustainable ingredients. These companies are firmly committed to the communities they serve as well. That philosophy of sustainability, simplicity, quality and authenticity has really inspired my vision for Kahina Giving Beauty.

  I discovered argan oil by chance on a trip to Morocco in 2007. I was looking for organic skincare that worked at the time. Creating the Kahina line allowed me to realize my own desire for a simple and effective organic skincare line, while helping women in need.

• 
  

  ON Entrepreneurship

  Q: What’s your best advice for an entrepreneur in an early/bootstrapping phase? Or in a growth/need to ‘now scale’ phase?

  A: I would advise entrepreneurs just starting out to make sure your vision and values are well-defined, and to know your audience. Your vision and values can serve as a road map to help guide you during the many challenges and decisions you will inevitably face. If you have a clear vision and know your audience, your instincts will guide you and your message will be clearly articulated. Also, network. You never know whether the next person you meet might become an amazing resource.

• 
  

  ON Vision

  Q: I love the quote “the bigger the vision, the smaller the first step”. Right now, what is the big vision you have for your career?

  A: Based on the response to Kahina Giving Beauty’s philosophy and products, I feel very positive about the future of the company. I plan to continue to release high quality products based on argan oil under the Kahina label and look forward to extending the concept to product lines and extensions based on material sourced from other countries as well, always giving back to women in need from the countries where these ingredients are sourced.

• 
  

  ON Networking

  Q: Can you share a story of how networking led to a great success?

  A: Kahina Giving Beauty crosses so many worlds, from the world of design, to helping women, and organic beauty. All of these communities are incredibly supportive of each other and I have made invaluable contacts and friends through my networking in each. An example of one great connection established through networking originated at an event at ABC Home for New York Women Entrepreneurs. Rebecca Kousky, CEO and Founder of Nest, was speaking. Nest provides artisans with interest-free loans, education and market access to create sustainable and successful businesses. We now are collaborating on our Kahina Gift  Bags. Nest’s hand-blocked cotton cases made by formerly trafficked women in India house our artisinal argan soap and argan oil. It’s a great example of how two different worlds can come together, enhance each other, and potentially make change in the world.

• 
  

  ON Branding

  Q: What do you feel separates your brand from your competitors?

  A: Of course, the skincare market is very competitive, but many of the traditional skincare companies use harmful ingredients in their products. At Kahina, we use only the highest quality natural and organic ingredients. We are certified by Ecocert, ensuring the greatest respect for our consumers and the environment.

  More and more companies are doing some form of giving back. Our brand is unique in that our mission is fully integrated with our product, connecting the consumer on an emotional level to our cause – and to our brand. Starting with giving back 25% of profits to the women who extract the oil at the heart of our line, incorporating their signatures into our package design, and naming the product line after a Berber queen, we continue to try to build a bridge between women here and the Berber women of Morocco. This has worked well to build loyalty for our brand.

• 
  

  ON Perseverance

  Q: What or who in your life gives you the strength to persevere?

  A: I would have to say my daughter. Now 17 years old, she has suffered through some serious medical problems in the past two years which has caused her to miss a great deal of high school through several surgeries and resulting complications. I think of all she missed, but she never complained. Her strength and fortitude during that time continue to inspire me.

• 
  

  ON Happiness

  Q: What simple things in life today bring you joy?

  A: I love to travel, but I would rather be home with my family than anywhere else.  Easy dinners outside with them in the country are my favorite time together. I also enjoy gardening in my home in Upstate New York and taking long walks, especially in New York. I am continually energized and visually inspired by living in New York City.

• 
  

  ON Letting go

  Q: What do you do to unwind or disconnect?

  A: Yoga, gardening, enjoying a glass of wine with my husband.

• 
  

  ON Taking Risk

  Q: How do you overcome feelings of insecurity, fear or discomfort when deciding to take a risk?

  A: I have always been quite insecure when meeting new people, but have never had a problem taking large risks, such as starting a business. My position now requires lots of meeting people all over the world and speaking. I have gotten much better at it now, but before I go into an important meeting or give a speech, I always give myself a little pep talk and remind myself of my accomplishments and my mission to help women in order to conjure up my reserves of strength.

• 
  

  ON Giving Back

  Q: Can you share with us an experience of giving that was extremely rewarding or transformational?

  A: One year ago, I first visited a cooperative near Agadir of 46 women who had no work, unable to sell their oil because they couldn’t complete their organic certification due to bureaucratic and financial constraints.  They had done all the work to set up their cooperative, including raising the money to build a structure where they could work, but their vision came to a halt when their certification didn’t come through.  When I first saw them, they were sitting idle with no nuts to crack.  I paid for their certification and assisted with the legal documentation.  When I returned last month, the women were busy at work with large piles of nuts to crack for an upcoming order.  They insisted I join them in singing and dancing in the traditional Berber fashion to show me their appreciation.

• 
  

  ON Confidence

  Q: Oprah has that great section in her magazine “What I know for sure.” What do you know for sure?

  A: That I don’t know anything for sure.

• 
  

  ON Health

  Q: What are the top 3 things that you do to stay healthy?

  A: I have always exercised, tried to eat right, and got plenty of sleep, but I have to admit that it’s getting harder to adhere to a healthy regimen with the amount of travel I need to do these days.  Now, the top thing I do to stay healthy is to try to keep my stress levels down.  When I can’t get to a yoga class, I do some sun salutes first thing in the morning at home.

• 
  

  ON Motherhood

  Q: How do you balance career and motherhood?

  A: I have three kids, ages 7, 15 and 17.  Each of them requires my attention and focus in different ways.  My office is currently the dining room table in my Manhattan loft.  This way, I am usually home when they need me and I can pick up my youngest from school most days.  The biggest challenge is when I travel and am gone for weeks at a time.  My husband has learned to take care of everything without me now so things are running pretty smoothly.

• 
  

  ON Style

  Q: Who are your favorite designers?

  A: I like clothes that are easy to wear, but with interesting lines. Bibbhu Mohapatra is one of my favorites, and not just because he is a great friend. He manages to create an edgy, progressive look with classic and beautifully cut pieces. For everyday, I love Donna Karan. She understands the way I want to feel comfortable but still look good. Other designers that I adore are Maria Conejo and Ohne Titel. Both of these produce beautiful clothes pairing architectural details with soft draping and meticulous attention to detail.

• 
  

  ON Cooking & Food

  Q: If you love to cook, can you share a favorite recipe?

  A: I always bring home lots of Moroccan spices when I travel there. I like to cook very simply and rarely use measurements. Cumin, tumeric and coriander make everything taste exotic and delicious. Here’s a recipe that works for any fish and chicken:

  Marinade:

  Olive oil

  Lemon juice

  Coriander

  garlic

  Combine together and marinate the chicken pieces or fish. Combine tomatoes, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt and spices (tumeric, coriander, cumin, saffron) in a sauté pan and heat until soft. Add a drop of water. When it steams, add the fish or chicken to the sauce. Cover and cook until cooked through (5 – 10 minutes for fish/15 – 20 minutes for chicken).

• 
  

  ON Beauty

  Q: What are the beauty items you could not live without?

  A: Argan Oil, Argan Oil, Argan Oil

  I also love the organic and Fair for Life shea butter leave-in conditioner from Beautiful Curls.

  I wear very little makeup, but when I want a little more finish, I use the RMS Living Luminizer.

Best natural makeup for spring

By Well+GoodNYC

Spring is all about lightening up your makeup. Time to trash the heavy foundation, the lip lacquers, and that 4-year-old cream blush.

Now, looks and products play to the “effortlessly dewy,” with springy palates, sheer coverage, illuminating shimmers, and trendy colors that (judiciously) pop.

We’ve culled from the crop of natural and organic cosmetics, and road-tested them for how the new brands and stalwarts wear—and for just how pretty they are on the inside, too.

Check out our 12 favorite brands for spring.

RMS Beauty

Rosemarie Swift has us (and celebs galore) hooked on her chic little pots of super-natural, unprocessed color. The NYC natural makeup artist treats ingredients much like a raw-food chef would, knowing just how good clean and chem-free can be.

The RMS Living Luminizer ($38) is the hottest radiance-booster in town, her lip shines ($25) and eye shadows ($28) sell out faster than Lady Gaga tickets, and her Raw Coconut Cream ($18) is a favorite multitasker.

We can’t wait to dip our fingers into what she’s, er, cooking next. (Hint: A beauty oil!)

Kjaer Weis

If there’s one thing to know about Kirsten Kjaer Weis, it’s that she prioritizes luxe packaging as well as purity for her natural makeup line.

(The Danish-born beauty worked with Prada’s packaging designer, for her signature, refillable compacts.)

Weis just launched to-die-for cream blushes (pictured, $54, refill $26) that give skin an unbelievably dewy, healthy glow. They’re as chic as the eye shadows ($44, refill $22) and lip tints ($48, refill $24).

Watch women whip their heads around in awe when they hear you click one open and shut, like a Zippo of beauty.

Revolution Organics

Summer makeup should look glowy and effortless, and this organic line really nails it.

The pretty, plant-based Freedom Lip Gloss (pictured, $26) hydrates lips. (Thank you, nourishing jojoba and olive oil.)

Genius color-depositing Beauty Balms ($34) for eyes, cheeks, and lips are a one-product beauty makeover found in the bags of the busiest women.

And news flash: the 22+ uses All-Over Body Balm ($28), sold out for ages, is about to make a splashy summer return and resume its place as a must-have item for New York women.

Neal’s Yard

In April, the UK’s fastidiously organic apothecary brand launched a makeup collection.

The affordable line is Soil Association Certified (the British USDA) and loaded with antioxidants that provide skin-care benefits.

Witness the talc-free, pressed eye shadows ($18) in earthy, trendy colors, formulated with rosehip seed, pomegranate, and olive oils.

The collection also includes not-a-bit sticky, organic lip glosses—Goji Berry ($16) looks good on everyone—tap-and-buff blushes and bronzers ($26.50), and stay-put eyeliners ($16) to take you through summer’s longest days.

Alima Pure

If you haven’t dusted on this modern mineral makeup, you might want to rectify that.

Not only are colors outstanding (and vast), the latest launches seem to make boosting your skin’s luminosity its number one objective.

Take the “Eden” and “Glow” Luminous Shimmer Eyeshadows ($12.50), and the Luminous Shimmer Powder ($20) that we could see dusted here and there for light-reflecting, soft-focus perfection over bare skin or foundation.

The Oregon-based conscious cosmetics company also makes eyeliners, blush, foundation, concealer, powder, vegan brushes, and lip balm.

Jane Iredale

Jane Iredale was a pioneer when she founded her company in 1994 with the then revolutionary premise that your makeup could have skin-care benefits.

All of her mineral-based products multi-task. For example, mineral powders (pressed $42; loose $52) are a foundation, powder, concealer, and sunscreen with SPF 20.

Her always on-trend line makes it easy to quit, say, your Bobbi Brown habit and go natural.

In fact, new Rose Dawn Quad Bronzer ($48) is the perfect replacement for Bobbi Brown’s popular Shimmer Brick that contains some undesirable ingredients.

Keep reading for 6 more brands here…

Zorah Biocosmétiques

Zorah Biocosmétiques, a Quebec-made line of eco-friendly beauty products, has found its niche (and fulfilled our high demands), by combining pure Argan oil (found only in Morocco and containing six times more antioxidants than olive oil) with organic and fair-trade ingredients. The luxury line contains every product that a green girl desires.

The products I loved:

Ipsa: is a powerful makeup remover and cleansing and hydrating milk, gentle enough to use on the eyes.

Dzhari: Use it before or after your daily moisturizer and even over make-up. Dzhari is also an excellent after-shave lotion; it leaves a magnificently fresh and gentle sensation that you will look forward to time and time again.

Hani: reduces pain caused by sunburns. Its exquisite gentleness instantly soothes and refreshes sun-exposed skin. It’s also great for sensitive skin.

Lea: embraces life without compromise. Lea, for desire and passion…. contains argan oil and deeply moisturizes and protects lips from daily exposure to harmful elements all while leaving them a lovely hint Impulse Red.

Eva: is the joy and the unbearable lightness of being.  Impatience and ardor of the youth for healthy and adorable lips. Eva contains argan oil, deeply moisturizes and protects lips from daily exposure to harmful elements all while leaving them a lovely hint of pink.

Xfoliambre: Facial Exfoliator made with Argan Oil and Amber, this product will gently exfoliate the most sensitive skins and will leave it softer and radiant.

Health Benefits from Coffee Berry Antioxidants

By VIBRANT BEAUTY

Coffee is probably one of the most famous, if not the most famous beverage in the world. It is loved not just for its taste but recently also for its health benefits. Recent studies show that it is more than just a good morning wake-up call but also carries ample amounts of antioxidantsthat are beneficial to the body.  It is amazing too that even decaf variants of coffee carry the same amount of antioxidants that for those health buffs who are so concerned on the dangers of caffeine to the body, do not have to worry because they can also take advantage of the antioxidants of decaf coffee.  Much is said about the health benefits of coffee but little is said about the health benefits that can be obtained from the other parts of the coffee plant.

Recent studies show that the red fruit where the coffee bean is contained also holds amazing amounts of antioxidants. Before this was known, coffee growers throw this part away because it is too perishable. A company named VDF FutureCeutials Inc. came up with a product made from the ripe coffee fruit.  It registered the trademark CoffeeBerry.

So what exactly are the health benefits of coffeeberry?  As mentioned earlier, like the coffee bean, it is loaded with antioxidants that are essential for a healthy body.  There are two preparations of coffeeberry available, whole powder and concentrated extract form. Roasted coffee beans have lower amounts of nutritional content because of the roasting and processing. Phenolic acid is the antioxidant found abundantly contained in CoffeeBerry.  They are said to be abundant because these coffee plants where the coffee fruit came from was cultivated at high altitude and low latitude regions and gets intense amount of sunlight.  Amazingly, these plants as a way to protect themselves from the harmful rays produce antioxidants as byproducts of photosynthesis. The company claims that one gram of coffeeberry has the same amount antioxidants as 33 grams of fresh blueberries.

The antioxidant Phenolic acid is said to neutralize toxic free radicals that can be damaging to various organs of the body including the skin. It helps reduce the occurrence of wrinkles and other signs of aging by reacting with the free radicals that may damage the collagen that protects the skin’s elasticity. It helps reduce the chance of developing other ailments like coronary heart disease and certain cancers.  It also proves to have beneficial effects to depression and anxiety and even oral health. The various health benefits that coffeeberry offer make it a precious commodity as the bean itself.