Brix
“...when the brix is low, the taste is poor ...When the brix is high, the taste is superb...” (Living Foods).
Brix is primarily used as a measuring device in fruit juice, wine making and the sugar industry. For fruit juices, one degree Brix is about 1-2% sugar by weight. This usually correlates well with perceived sweetness.
More and more often Brix is measured to determine ideal harvesting times of fruit and vegetables so that products arrive at the consumers in a perfect state or are ideal for subsequent processing steps such as vinification.
Fruit examples from Brix scale:
Peaches, papayas, apples, oranges and grapes should have a rating of 18-20 (degrees, on Brix scale) to be “excellent”; in contrast to lemons, limes, tomatoes and avocados that are rated at 10-12 to be “excellent”. (Again, the difference in “top score” for each item is due to their top potential for sweetness).
Free Radicals are atoms or molecules with unpaired electrons which are highly unstable. Many forms of cancer are thought to be the result of reactions between free radicals and DNA. Some of the symptoms of aging and other disease are also attributed to free radicals. The body has a number of mechanisms to minimize free radical induced damage and to repair damage which does occur. In addition, antioxidants, such as polyphenol antioxidants, play a key role in these defense mechanisms.
Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity (ORAC) is a method of measuring antioxidant capacities of different foods. It was developed by the scientists at the National Institute on Aging in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Baltimore, Maryland. A wide variety of foods have been tested using this methodology, with certain spices, berries and legumes rated very highly. Correlation between the high antioxidant capacity of fruits and vegetables, and the positive impact of diets high in fruits and vegetables, is believed to play an important role in the free radical theory of aging.
Phytochemicals are natural antibiotics produced by plants that are under attack. Phytochemicals produced in plants act as toxins to the attacking organism. When a plant cell recognizes particles from damaged cells or particles from the pathogen, the plant launches its defense mechanisms. For example, they may promote the function of the immune system, act directly against bacteria and viruses, reduce inflammation, and are associated with the treatment and/or prevention of cancer, cardiovascular disease and other environmental conditions that affect the health or well-being of an individual.
Polyphenol Antioxidant is a type of antioxidant characterized by the presence of several plant functional groups. In human health, these compounds, numbering over 4000 distinct species, are thought to be instrumental in combating some disease including cardiovascular disease and cancer. Grape juice is an excellent source of polyphenol antioxidants.
Resveratrol is a phytochemical produced by plants. A number of beneficial health effects, such as Cancer prevention, age prevention, anti inflammatory and life-prolonging effects have been reported. Resveratrol is found in grapes and grape juice.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”). This product is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
