For centuries cultures from all over the world have handed down secret remedies using exotic fruit and berries. The secret behind their mysterious healing powers was never challenged or researched; these people just knew they worked.

As the news of these miraculous healing “superfruits” began to surface in modern societies, medical and health professionals began to inquire of their validity. Were these just anecdotal, placebo-based, half-truths — or a healing gift bestowed upon us by our Creator? The quest for “truth” led to the revelation of many naturally occurring healing compounds in these wonderful superfruits.

This research led the formulators of Amigo Juice and Amigo Charge to seek out the most powerful ones researched over the past few years. The “superfruits” that were the source of the compounds used are Acai Berry, Mangosteen, and Goji Berry.

Acai Berry (pronounced ah-sigh-EE)

We are so blessed to live in an era when research and discovery have uncovered the most powerful and significant nutritional food sources of our lifetime. We call these the “SuperFruits”.

First, it was the discovery of the antioxidant protection of grapeseed extract. Then it was the resveratrols in the grape skin that helped grapes gain increased notoriety for antioxidant capability. Then there were the studies done on red raspberry seed extract and its significant effect on the apoptosis (normal cellular death process) of mutated or cancerous cells. Very quickly the extraordinary anti-fungal and anti-viral properties of berries came to the forefront.

However, today it’s the news of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits of Acai berry that has taken the nutrition world by storm! With ten times the antioxidant power of grapes, four times the antioxidant protection of red raspberries, and twice the antioxidants of blueberries.

The Brazilian Acai Berry is considered to have the best nutritional value of any fruit on earth! The health benefits of Acai are astounding. With the symmetry of a grape and the size of a giant blueberry, the Acai fruit tastes a bit like wild raspberry with a hint of grape. Most people have trouble putting their finger on the taste because it’s so different. The wonderful unique flavor is evident when you have a taste of the Amigo Juice product for yourself!

The Acai is a treasure, a one of a kind plant found in the 1.2 billion acre tropical rainforests of the Amazon jungle. This area of the earth houses the largest collection of living plant and animal species in the world, many of which exist nowhere else on earth.

Since the beginning of time, these finite stores of natural resources have contributed a wealth of substances for the survival and well being of mankind. In fact, at least 3000 edible fruits are hidden throughout the Amazon rainforest. While the region’s inhabitants use about 2,000 of these fruits, only 200 have been made available for use in the Western world. However, the natural healing properties of these treasures have not gone unnoticed by the scientific world. In fact, the prestigious U.S. National Cancer Institute has reported that “70% of the plants that are known to be active against cancer cells can be found in the rainforest.”

The Acai palm is a tall slender South American (concentrated in Brazil, Guyana, and Suriname) palm, grown for its fruit as well as for the “cabbage” (the cluster of new leaves more commonly called the “heart of palm”). It prefers swampy areas and grows quickly. The fronds were (and still are) used for thatching and weaving. Each Acai palm produces small deep purple, almost black, fruit (berries) in groups of 3-8 per bunch. The fruit is edible, and its pulp is used in wines, liqueurs, as flavoring, as colorant, and on its own as a juice.

Nutritional science has established that fruit rich in color is also rich in nutrients. Brightly colored fruits naturally contain high levels of antioxidants and phytonutrients, in fact, the brighter and deeper the pigments, the more intense and potent the nutrient levels. So it is with the Acai berry, which is known for its strength, energy, and richness, just like the rainforest from which it comes.

Acai berries grow on an Amazon Palm and have been highly touted for hundreds of years by Brazilian natives for their ability to provide a sense of strength, energy, and a high nutritional content. Acai berries are extremely high in essential fatty acids & omega oils 3, 6, & 9. This unique ratio resembles the same combination of olive oil.

60% Oleic (Omega 9) — a monounsaturated essential (fatty acid which helps to lower LDL (harmful cholesterol), while12% Linoleic (omega 6) — a polyunsaturated essential fatty acid which has also been found to lower LDL while maintaining HDL.

Acai also contains many valuable Phytosterols. Sterols are compounds of plant cell membranes providing numerous benefits to the Human body, namely the reduction of blood plasma cholesterol. The Acai berry is considered to have the best nutritional value of any fruit on earth and is currently thought to be #1 among the elite group of top antioxidant foods.

The Acai berry is a prime source of a particular class of antioxidant flavonoids called anthocyanins. Anthocyanins produce a high ORAC value (the measure of its antioxidant properties), higher, in fact, than any other edible berry on the planet. The protective properties of the Acai berry are said to be provided by the high anthocyanin content.

Top Antioxidant Foods Orac Units Per Gram
• Acai 4,800
• Raisins 2,830
• Blueberries 2,400
• Blackberries 2,036
• Kale 1,770
• Strawberries 1,540
• Spinach 1,260
• Raspberries 1,220
• Brussels Sprouts 980
• Plums 949
• Alfalfa Sprouts 930
• Broccoli 890
• Oranges 750
• Grapes, Red 739
• Red Bell Pepper 710
• Cherries 670
• Onion 450

The Acai berry also contains Theobromine, abronchial dilator. This may help to relieve the symptoms of asthma and/or allergies without using harmful stimulants. The following properties are considered by health experts to possibly be the most significant:

1. Large and Small Blood-Vessels: Anthocyanins ability to neutralize free radicals and prevent oxidation of cells makes them a powerhouse in the fight against arteriosclerosis. Even in trace amounts, anthocyanins effectively protect against LDL oxidation. Anthocyanins protect the integrity of the endothelial cells that line blood vessel walls and help to maintain micro-capillary integrity. The protection of anthocyanins may help prevent capillaries from leaking which is considered a main cause of diabetic retinopathy, which in most cases can cause blindness.

2. Eyesight: Anthocyanins may help improve eyesight by numerous mechanisms. For example, in the Second World War, British fighter pilots who consumed bilberry were found to have improved night vision. Taking advantage of this knowledge, the pilots would consume the bilberry fruits just prior to the mission. However, the effect of the improved night vision was only temporary because of the small quantity of anthocyanins present.

3. Inflammation and Collagen: Anthocyanins neutralize specific harmful enzymes that destroy connective tissue. Their antioxidant capacity also prevents oxidants from damaging connective tissues and facilitates the repair of damaged blood-vessel walls.

4. The Nervous System: The anthocyanin properties in Acai may help protect against neurological diseases. The primary anthocyanins in Acai known as Cyanidin-3-glucoside have been found to help in the reversal of age related neurological deficits.

5. Anti-Aging: The remarkable concentration of anti-oxidants helps combat premature aging.

6. Fiber: The Acai Berryis an excellent source of dietary fiber.

7. Cancer: A recent study from the University of Florida, states that extracts from Acai berries triggered “a self-destruct response in up to 86 percent of leukemia cells tested.” This was published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, according to Stephen Talcott, an assistant professor with UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. He further states, “This study was an important step toward learning what people may gain from using beverages, dietary supplements or other products made with the berries.

While Talcott cautioned that the study, funded by UF sources, was not intended to show whether compounds found in Acai berries could prevent leukemia in people, another UF study, slated to conclude in 2006, will investigate the effects of Acai’s antioxidants on healthy human subjects. The study will determine how well the compounds are absorbed into the blood, and how they may affect blood pressure, cholesterol levels and related health indicators.

So far, only in vitro fundamental research has been done on Acai berries, which contain at least 50 to 75 as-yet unidentified compounds. Research documentation pertaining to this study can be found on www.pubmed.gov

Mangosteen

Mangosteen History
The mangosteen, scientific name Garcinia Mangostana, was named for the French priest, explorer and plant collector, Laurentiers Garcin (1673 – 1751). The place of origin of the mangosteen is unknown but is believed to be in Southeast Asia, probably the Malay Archipelago.

The mangosteen tree is tropical. Now that its healing properties have been rediscovered you will find them being cultivated in commercial plantations in Thailand, India, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines. It can also be found growing in Puerto Rico, Australia and Hawaii.

Mangosteen trees are dioecious, meaning that there are male trees and female trees. The only problem with this is that, to date, no one has been able to find a male tree anywhere in the world. So, if they exist, they are quite rare. It is possible that there have never been any male mangosteen trees. This places the entire burden on the female tree to perpetuate the species. As a result of this, it produces a clone of the mother tree with very little or no genetic variation. This means that, if they are produced by a high quality ethical laboratory, the products produced from the mangosteen are going to be very consistent.

The mangosteen fruit is composed of pericarp (rind), pulp (fruit), and seeds. The pericarp is a dark-purple, smooth rind about ¼ to ½ in. (6-10 mm) thick, which covers the pulp. The pulp is composed of four to eight triangular segments of a core 1.5 to 3 inches in diameter of snowwhite, juicy, soft flesh that’s slightly acidic in flavor.

Ripeness of the mangosteen fruit is gauged by the full development of color with a slight softening of the pulp. The fruit must be hand picked and done so when it is mature for they will not ripen after picking, which is a significant factor when one considers the efficacy and purity of the finished mangosteen product.

XANTHONES
The most active medicinal properties of the mangosteen are the xanthones.

Xanthones are a newly discovered class of chemical compounds with biologically active plant phenols structurally similar to flavonoids, the powerful antioxidants present in grapes. They are a unique, biologically active group of molecules possessing a molecular bonding structure that is very stable and extremely versatile. The chemical construction of xanthones allows them to have beneficial properties, i.e. anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, anti-tuberculotic, antitumor, anti-platelet aggregation (blood clotting), betaadrenergic blocking and anti-convulsant.

Scientific research is making it increasingly evident that xanthones are the substance responsible for the wide range of medicinal benefits experienced by people who use the mangosteen. What’s remarkable about the mangosteen is that there are 43 xanthones identified in the pericarp, making it the single most xanthone-rich source in the world. Each xanthone has its own effect, and, when combined, they take on a synergistic quality that supports the health of the entire body.

There are over 200 xanthones found in nature, and each has a different function. Over 50 studies and research papers have been written on the mangosteen. Most of the studies have focused on the pericarp, as opposed to the fruit. The pericarp contains the most active xanthone compounds. The fruit does have some beneficial elements, but they do not seem to be as potent and have not been studied as thoroughly as the pericarp.

MANGOSTEEN AND INFLAMMATION
Inflammation is the body’s normal protective response to any type of invasion or injury. Inflammatory stimuli, such as bacterial infection, trauma, ischemic events, stressrelated events, toxic exposures, allergens and chronic viral infections activate the inflammatory response.

All organs tissues, arteries, and tubes (colon, urinary tract, etc.) have a membrane lining. Various situations and personal practices (think high body acidosis) create irritation which causes swelling and deterioration of these membranes. To try to help itself, the body sends fluids, enzymes and white cells to the area.

Inflammation is the body’s way of protecting itself while initiating the healing process. This may create redness, heat, swelling, pain and loss of function.

However, when the “healing” inflammation doesn’t shut down, it becomes chronic and eventually itself does damage to the injured tissues. Chronic inflammation, if left unchecked, can do more harm than good. There are tens of millions of people in the U.S. with chronic pain due to inflammation of this sort.

As the scientific understanding of inflammatory processes has grown, we have learned that inflammation overtaxes the immune system and allows chronic disease conditions to develop. For example, atherosclerosis, once thought to be caused primarily by the abnormal accumulation of lipids in arteries, is now understood to be a pathologic response to arterial injury and the subsequent inflammatory cascade.

Inflammation has long been linked to both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Now, there’s emerging research that also links chronic inflammation to allergies, asthma, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, most digestive disorders, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hormonal imbalances, osteoporosis and cancer.

• Cancer: Inflammation increases the spread of abnormal cells and facilitates their transformation into cancer cells.

• Alzheimer’s: Inflammation creates conditions where the white matter surrounding nerve fiber deteriorates.

• Heart disease: Inflammation destabilizes cholesterol deposits in the arteries creating atherosclerosis leading to heart attacks.

• Diabetes: Inflammation and its complex interplay between insulin and fat create insulin exhaustion and pancreatitis.

• Allergies: Chronic inflammation in the lungs encourages the release of histamines that exacerbates asthma and bronchitis.

• Arthritis: Inflammation in the joints and other connective tissues leads to the leaching of calcium from the bones, contributing to osteoporosis and deterioration of joints.

Inflammation equals aging. Inflammation is the reason you get wrinkles, why you forget everything from where you left your car keys to your neighbor’s first name, why you can be irritable and depressed and why you lose your health. Ninety-five percent of all chronic conditions are the direct or indirect result of inflammation.

To reduce degenerative disease, it’s necessary to avoid pro-iflammatory foods and rely exclusively on anti-inflammatory foods which are usually alkaline in content. Mangosteen itself is not alkaline, but it contains organic calcium, potassium, magnesium and sodium which are.

After the digestive process has begun, these alkalizing ionic minerals are released as alkalizing ash, creating a reserve from which the body can draw to help overcome system acidosis. An alkaline system is necessary to alleviate chronic inflammation.

Most people would say, “I don’t have any inflammation!” However, if you asked them if they have any health problems they often recite a litany of conditions. Ninety five percent of all chronic conditions are the direct or indirect result of inflammation. Often the cause of their inflammation is not recognized. Sugar, which Americans consume at the rate of 120 pounds per person per year, is one of the most serious contributors to inflammation. Because of our life-style and dietary choices, we all deal with inflammation.

C-reactive protein is used by the medical community as a marker for inflammation in the arteries. The higher the C-reactive protein, the more inflammation is present. To reduce C-reactive protein levels inflammation, doctors routinely advise taking aspirin, ibuprofen, Naprosyn or Aleve. If the inflammation is acute they may prescribe Vioxx, Celebrex (Cox 2 inhibitors) or Dexamathazone, a powerful anti-inflammatory that also suppresses the immune system.

Mangosteen is a natural Cox 2 inhibitor and a powerful natural anti-inflammatory that has been shown to be more powerful and potent than aspirin or Dexamathazone in reducing inflammation...with no side effects!

MANGOSTEEN AS AN ANTIOXIDANT
The basic underlying cause of disease is at the cellular level and is created by free radical attacks on the structure of the cells. Free radicals are usually generated by one of three methods:

(1) normal metabolic processes within the body,
(2) environmental factors (smog, smoke, pollution, radiation, pesticides) and
(3) chemical invasion (there are over 10,000 chemical additives in our foods).

Of particular importance is that free radical damage accumulates and accelerates with age.

Free radicals are unstable and react quickly with other atoms or molecules, trying to capture needed electrons to gain stability. Generally, free radicals attack the nearest stable molecule, “stealing” its electrons. When the “attacked” molecule loses its electron(s), it becomes a free radical itself, beginning a chain reaction. Once the process is started, it can cascade, finally resulting in the disruption of a living cell.

The DNA of a cell is often the target of this electron stealing, which can lead to mutation within the cell. If antioxidants are unavailable or if the free-radical production becomes excessive, the body can become overwhelmed creating unhealthy and dangerous conditions which can cause damage to occur. Of particular importance is that free radical damage accumulates and accelerates with age.

Antioxidants are elements or molecules that have the ability to neutralize free radicals by donating their own electrons, ending the electron-”stealing” reaction. The antioxidants themselves don’t become free radicals by donating electrons because they are stable either with or without the electron. They act as free radical scavengers, helping to prevent cell and tissue damage that could lead to cellular damage and disease.

ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity.
ORAC is a valuable indicator of how much antioxidant activity there is in any given food source.

The mangosteen xanthones show one of the highest ORAC values of any food, making them one of the best natural sources of antioxidants available to help the body overcome free radical damage.

RESEARCH AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF MANGOSTEEN

At this time almost all studies with mangosteen have been done in a laboratory setting. There is little human research to indicate how mangosteen supplements would influence the prevention or therapy of various disease conditions.

However, research does show that the xanthones and other compounds in mangosteen have antioxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-tumor activity. Laboratory testing indicates that extracts of mangosteen have activity against several cancer cell types including breast, liver, and leukemia.

Mangosteen also appears to have anti-histamine and anti-inflammatory properties. Human testimonials support these laboratory findings.

Research shows that historically the inhabitants of Southeast Asia have been using the pericarp of the mangosteen for medicinal purposes for centuries. The most common and traditional uses have been for: inflammatory diseases, diarrhea, dysentery, skin infections (eczema), wounds, bacterial and fungi infections, and parasites.

Proponents of the mangosteen for supplementation continue to use it for the conditions mentioned but have also found it useful for more modern “life-style diseases” brought on by diet, stress, and lack of exercise.

These newer uses for mangosteen include: musculo-skeletal and joint problems, skin conditions, eczema, psoriasis and seborrhea, pain control – sciatica and radicular pain syndromes, control of blood sugar and diabetics, infections – viral, bacterial, and fungal, mouth ulcers, allergies, prevention of atherosclerosis, anti-aging, dementia, anxiety and depression, cancer — along with standard medical therapy.

Compounds found in plants have long been of great interest to cancer researchers. It should be noted that about one-fifth of all chemotherapeutic medications were derived from plant sources. However, in order for a plant compound to become a drug and become patentable (and thus exclusive to its creator), the chemical structure must be altered in some way. This makes the compound different (and sometimes unsafe) when compared to the natural compounds we are talking about.

The Institute of Chinese Medicine in Taiwan studied the affect of one type of xanthone from mangosteen against regular chemo cancer drug effects on various cancers.

Tests showed the xanthone was more effective against specific cancer tumors than the regular chemo drugs. Five other studies have shown that the additional xanthones in the mangosteen food were very effective against other types of cancer.

OTHER SCIENTIFIC STUDIES ON MANGOSTEEN
Investigators found the mangosteen fruit extract strongly inhibited histamine release and prostaglandin E2 synthesis. This is great news for allergy sufferers.

Researchers studied the effects of twelve xanthone derived compounds on platelet aggregation (blood clotting). They found five of them inhibited thrombin-induced platelet aggregation (they inhibited clot formation).

Research in Australia has shown that the xanthone mangostin can inhibit the oxidation of LDL, low density lipoprotein (bad cholesterol). Note: If the oxidation of LDL cholesterol can be prevented or inhibited, then the LDL cholesterol cannot exert its negative effect and cause heart disease. This is important in preventing plaque formation & subsequent blockage of arteries & heart disease.

Mangiferin, another mangosteen xanthone, has been shown to lower the blood glucose (sugar) level in type II diabetic mice and likely exerts its anti-diabetic activity by decreasing insulin resistance.

Xanthones are powerful antimicrobial agents.
They are antibacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal. In March 2004, xanthones were tested against vancomycin, one of the strongest anti-microbial drugs available. This is the antibiotic that is currently being used on the anti-anti-biotic “Super Bugs”. Tests revealed that the Alpha-mangostin xanthone out performed vancomycin against staphylococcus, salmonella, E-coli and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB).

In a 1998 study, it was found that the xanthone Garcinia mangostana mangostin could inhibit the replication cycle of HIV (AIDS virus).

Studies in Japan in 2002 showed some promise for degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Gama Xanthones help stops the inflammation and degeneration of the white matter of nerves in the brain and inhibits the enzyme that causes pain in Alzheimer’s, MS and fibromyalgia.

DOSAGE
The ingredients in the mangosteen are the most potent and active within four to six hours after taking them. Therefore, the optimum would be to take the recommended dosage three times per day. It is best to take it before or with meals because some elements need to be dissolved in conjunction with the digestive process so that they will absorb better.

According to Dr. David Morton, Ph.D., children can take mangosteen. If the child is four or older they may take ½ the recommended adult dosage. If the child is younger than four they should take ¼ of the recommended adult dose. Because it is a whole food, you cannot overdose.

According to Dr. Frederic Templeman, M.D., “Mangosteen is a food and not a drug with the intrinsic danger inherent in all drugs. Therefore, complex human studies (randomized trials) have not been necessary to establish either safety or efficacy. Why would anyone want to use a drug, when a food or fruit juice can provide the same or better result?”

The Xanthones and other compounds in the mangosteen fruit SLOW DOWN the destruction of our body’s 76 Trillion cells with NO negative side effects. It should be noted that the mangosteen fruit does not cure any disease or condition. Taking the mangosteen helps to alkalize, balance, and nourish the body with whole food building blocks so that the body has a chance to rebuild and repair itself.

GOJI BERRY(Lycium Barbarum)

The Himalayas are the highest mountain range on Earth. Covered in snow and ice at its higher elevations, its lower elevations draped with gorgeous, unspoiled rainforests and lush valleys. It’s here that the Himalayan goji plant (Lycium barbarum L.) grows. The ecosystems of the Himalayas are incredibly rich and diverse, unspoiled and containing abundant life-giving minerals, that the goji plants concentrate in their nutrient-dense berries — causing such a stir in the natural health community.

At the higher elevations all plants naturally concentrate more nutrients to better absorb the energy from the powerful rays of the sun. When you eat the goji berry or drink the juice, that energy is transferred to your body. Goji is considered to be one of the world’s most nutritionally dense foods.

The goji berry has been used as a food staple in Asian cultures for thousands of years. And like other superfoods, under scientific investigation, it reveals itself to be packed full of phytochemicals known to have health-promoting effects.

Goji berries have been shown to beat even beans when it comes to nutrient density. The deeply colored berries are especially loaded with antioxidant nutrients, from which their colors come. You’ve read about the nutritive value of other kinds of berries in many articles and research documents, in particular blueberries, raspberries and cranberries. Goji shares many of their best characteristics, plus some that are unique to this unusual berry.

Goji grows in many parts of the Far East where over 40 subspecies of the plant can be found. Chinese medicine has long included the main ingredient in gogi Lycium in its pharmacopoeia.

Oriental medical texts indicate its use for the treatment of “chi deficiency”, which is revealed in the form of low energy, insomnia, heart palpitations, and anxiety. As it has been with many natural remedies, including ginseng and ginkgo, Asian medicine is at the forefront of goji research.

Chinese researchers have isolated several promising phytochemicals and other nutrients not found anywhere else. They’ve published their research and findings in peer-reviewed medical journals that indicate the goji may help heal or prevent chronic fatigue, cholesterol oxidation, and at the same time supports the immune system. Other studies support the fact that goji can defend the body against free-radical attack, hypertension-induced damage to kidney cells, and periodontal disease.

Long before the development of modern techniques for nutritional analysis, evidence of the remarkable health benefits of goji was being passed down through Asian cultures by oral tradition and by the traditions of their natural health practitioners.

In relatively modern times, science began to look at those cultures to see what they were doing differently. Which, not coincidentally, happen to contain people who tend to live long lives free from the chronic diseases of fibromyalgia, depression, anxiety, sexual dysfunction and chronic fatigue syndrome that are epidemic in Western culture.

These people’s healthy lifestyle certainly promotes good health, but researchers were looking for a unique factor that contributed to the tremendous longevity of the people in these areas. When researchers went into these kinds of communities in the Himalayas and surrounding areas, they found that almost everyone ate regular helpings of goji. This was enough for them to want to take a closer look at the longevity-promoting qualities of this plant.

As these researchers began to examine goji’s nutritional composition, they expected to find that it was similar to the composition of other plants in the same genus. They were astounded to find that goji contained these unique properties and phytonutrient compounds:

1. Polysaccharides that are of great importance to the smooth functioning of virtually every cell in the body. They are the carriers of the instructions that cells use to communicate with one another.

2. Nineteen amino acids, including all eight essential amino acids (such as isoleucine and tryptophan) which are indispensable to the function of the human body. Fifty percent of Kycium’s amino acids are free amino acids, and are extremely bioabsorbable.

3. More protein than whole wheat. A total of 13 percent protein.

4. B-complex vitamins, needed for the transformation of food into energy.

5. A broad spectrum of antioxidant nutrients. This includes flavonoids, zeaxanthin (an eye protectant) and beta-carotene (in higher concentrations than in carrots. Lycium has the highest content of beta-carotene among all foods on earth).

6. A higher concentration of vitamin C than oranges (according to herbalist Ingrid Naiman, 500 times more per ounce).

7. Contains substantial amounts of vitamin E.

8. Beta-sitosterol, a substance that decreases inflammation and has been successfully used to treat sexual impotence. It has also been found to alleviate the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, prostate enlargement). This might explain why goji juice has been reported to help improve urine flow and help BPH patients sleep longer without having to get up to urinate.

9. Essential fatty acids (EFAs) for the production of hormones, regulation of inflammation, and for proper nervous system function.

10. A sesquiterpene called cyperone, which has been found to benefit heart health, lower blood pressure, alleviate menstrual discomfort, and also a promising natural therapy for cervical cancer.

11. A powerful anti-fungal and anti-bacterial compound called solavetivone.

12. A natural compound called physalin that increases natural killer cell activity in both normal and tumor-bearing mice. It has been shown to be active against leukemia and to have broad-spectrum anti-cancer effects. Physalin is also being tested as a therapy for hepatitis B.

13. Betaine, which is used by the liver to produce choline, a substance that, when taken in supplemental form, calms nervousness, enhances memory, promotes muscle growth, and protects the liver against fatty accumulation. Along with other B vitamins, betaine helps to reduce levels of the (harmful to the heart when in excess) amino acid, homocysteine.

14. Twenty-one trace minerals, including germanium (vitamin O), an anti-cancer mineral very rarely found in foods. Germanium can help to eliminate or neutralize toxic substances, including heavy metals and free radicals, both of which are strongly implicated in causing age-related and chronic diseases. It has been studied for its radioprotective (radiation protection) and immunoenhancement (immune system building) properties, and even shows promise as an anti-arthritic supplement.

Several studies have been performed to evaluate the effects of germanium on the development of artery plaque (atherosclerosis) that lead to heart attack and stroke. Germanium has been found to prevent liver injury inflicted by excess oxidation.

Everyday exposure to toxins and poor diet can lead to the overproduction of free radicals in the liver. In one study, cancer patients on chemotherapy were given goji berries as part of their everyday diet. The berries’ selenium and germanium content significantly reduced chemotherapy induced free radical damage to their livers.

In a nutshell, the small, delectable goji berry is a nutritional dynamo. The studies are only backing up what we already know about this wonderful superfruit. For example:

1. In vitro studies show that goji berries kill many kinds of cancer cells, probably by inhibiting their ability to divide and produce more cancer cells.

2. One study found that cancer patients who ate goji berries had 58 percent slowing of tumor growth compared to controls.

3. A study from the Hubei Medical University in China showed that a purified component of goji polysaccharides dramatically enhanced the ability of mice to swim for long periods and to increase the amount of exercise they could do.

4. Molecules from goji berries were found to inhibit the oxidation of “bad” LDL cholesterol in a study by another group of Chinese researchers. LDL oxidation is believed to be one of the primary factors in artery damage that leads to heart disease.

There are a multitude of medical research documents and published studies of the health benefits of goji as well as mangosteen and Acai, the three key ingredients in Amigo Juice. See www.pubmed.gov