Polyphenols

What Are Polyphenols?

Polyphenols are naturally occurring micronutrients and antioxidants found abundantly in certain plants.

Since we have not tested every plant above and below the ocean, we cannot say all plants. (but it may be close)

The question is how much per specific plant?

In nature, Polyphenols have the important role in protecting plants from environmental stresses and diseases.

When we consume Polyphenols, they provide powerful anti-inflammatory and cellular-repair benefits for our human body.

The higher the does, the greater the repair.

While most plants appear to contain Polyphenols, some plants have much higher content than others.

Taste

And then the problem is taste.

For example, Cloves and Peppermint are both high in Polyphenols and yet - try getting your kids or husband to drink Cloves tea every day.

It may be easier to walk up a mountain backwards carrying a Yak?

However, Peppermint tea will be no problem.

Mixing

There are 3 main mixing herbs you can use to enhance the taste of some of the herbs listed below which will make this even more enticing for your kids.

1. Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) [Sri Lanks / Ceylon ONLY]
2. Licorice ROOT (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
3. Peppermint (Mentha × piperita)

My personal choice is Cinnamon.

Licorice ROOT contains between 2% - 6% by weight of polyphenols, which is insignificant - but it does help with the taste.

Polyphenols Help Support: ↟↟

• Cell Health
• Cardiovascular Health
• Blood Sugar Regulation
• Gut Health
• Brain Function
• Helps manage chronic inflammation

Highest Polyphenol Content Plants? ↟↟

Like I said above, we have not tested all plants and I will list a few positive ones below and IF you want further information (which changes all the time), then there is always the internet to do further research.

Common foods with high polyphenol content are:

BTW, these are the ones that you can make a tea from daily.

TIP: Never boil the water and let it steep (soak) for at least 20 minutes before drinking. See "How To" below.

• Cinnamon (Ceylon)
• Star Anise
• Peppermint
• Spruce Needles
• Bay Leaves
• Mango Leaves
• Olive Leaves
• Japanese Knotweed Roots
• Oregano
• Cloves **
• Rosemary **

Ceylon Cinnamon contains approximately 7,500 to 11,900 mg of total polyphenols per 100 grams of Cinnamon powder.

** Both Rosemary and Cloves are extremely potent so if I may suggest that you make very weak tea with these.

Cocoa & Dark Chocolate over 70% (my ND) suggests over 80%).

Munchies?

Dark Berries like Black Chokeberries, Blackcurrants, and Blueberries, Elderberries.

Chestnuts, and Walnuts.

Drinks

"Organic" Green and Black teas and Organic Coffee.

The #1 problem with "commercial" black and green Teas is the amount of chemicals sprayed on the plants. Especially if herbicides, pesticides, fungicides and other biocides or even Glyphosate is used.

My ND (Naturopath) had a funny saying, it was, "herbicides, pesticides, fungicides and biocides equals suicides".

How To Get Polyphenols?

Ingredients ↟↟

This is the method I use when making Bay Leaf tea and it can be used on all of the following:

Alternatively you can "Tinctures" these as well with 40% ABV (80 proof) Vodka.

• Star Anise (Illicium verum)
• Bay Leaves (Laurus nobilis)
• Peppermint (Mentha × piperita)
• Japanese Knotweed ROOTS (Reynoutria japonica)
• Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
• Olive Leaves (Olea europaea)
• Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum) **
• Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) **
• Mango Leaves

** As stated above, I would caution you about the dosage rates of Cloves and Rosemary.

Japanese Knotweed Roots

Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica) roots are one of nature's richest sources of polyphenols, particularly stilbenes like Trans-resveratrol and polydatin.

Total phenolic content (TPC) in root extracts generally ranges from "90 to 445 mg" per gram of dry extract, and they boast massive stilbene concentrations of up to 229 mg per gram of dry weight.

WARNING FIRST

Never harvest from along the roadside as these are often sprayed by local councils and are considered an evasive pest (possibly because of their massive health benefits?).

HARVESTING

Grow your own in pots containing lots of organic "Compost".

Harvest the roots BEFORE the plant grows to 10 inches (20 cms).

** You can also eat the plant below 10 inches (20cm) just like Bamboo (shoots). After 10 inches it becomes very "woody".

Blend the roots in water and add cinnamon.

Use the double boiler method so that you do not overheat the water.

See below for the full method on how to make Knotweed roots into a tea.

Mango Leaves

Mango Leaves are exceptionally rich in polyphenols, particularly a bioactive compound called mangiferin, alongside phenolic acids and flavonoids.

The total polyphenol content (TPC) typically ranges from 60 to 120 mg of catechin equivalents (or GAE) per gram of dry leaf powder, depending on the variety, age of the leaf, and extraction method.

Dwarf mango trees, often called "condo mangoes," are naturally compact varieties that grow to just 2 - 4 meters (6 - 12 feet) tall. They are ideal for small yards, balconies, or large patio containers.

Do NOT use commercial NPK fertilizers - and...

Change the soil in your pots (if you use them) every 12 months and use only compost.

If you do use pots, try using 30 or 60 liter OPEN top HDPE drums -

There are 5 main (common) varieties of Dwarf Mangoes you can grow and harvest both the leaves and the mango fruit.

• "Carrie Dwarf Mangoes"
• "Pickering Dwarf Mangoes"
• "Ice Cream Dwarf Mangoes"
• "Nam Doc Mai Dwarf Mangoes"
• "Cogshall Dwarf Mangoes"

These trees require require 6 - 8) hours of direct, unobstructed sunlight daily, they also need well-draining soil and a tropical climate (so no good in cold or snow zones unless growing in greenhouses but you may have have a problem with sunlight because of excess cloud cover).

This Polyphenol Tea Example ↟↟

For this example, I will use Bay Leaves and this will make almost 6 liters (13 pints) of tea which I pop most in the freezer and defrost as required.

This lasts me (on average) around 3 weeks depending on how hot or cold it is.

Total cost is around $8 but if you grow your own, it would be cheaper.

You can also grow your own "Trees" indoors using the "Dwarf Tree method" method which is not as restrictive as bonsai.

1. 20 grams of Fresh Bay Leaves
2. 2 or 3 heaped tablespoons of CEYLON Cinnamon (Ceylon / Sri Lanka cinnamon) to your taste.

Sri Lanka was called Ceylon by the British.

DO NOT use cassia cinnamon or any of the other varieties please.

Spruce Needles ↟↟

Spruce Needles are extremely high in Polyphenols and Vitamin C.

You must decide which of the 2 you are targeting because any temperature over 30C (86F) will start to destroy the Vitamin C content.

Polyphenols? ↟↟

Click here if you want Polyphenols.

Vitamin C

IF you want the Vitamin C from your Spruce Needles, then if I may suggest that you crush them and extract at least 1 teaspoon of "juice".

1 teaspoon a day is enough for up to 4 adults (especially when you add the pulped needles as well) - because natural Vitamin C is more potent than Ascorbic Acid - which is not real vitamin C despite what the propaganda machine tells us.

Note that when they talk about Ascorbic Acid and vitamin C, they use words like "practically synonymous" which is scientific BS for scientific BS.

Then boil your water (to kill parasites etc), wait for the water to cool down to room temperature and then add the "juice" and the crushed needles.

REMEMBER: Vitamin C is heat sensitive so prolonged exposure to heat causes it to break down.

Also, Vitamin C is water-soluble so when you add it to your water, remember to drink it all because when you pee, any excess Vitamin C will be excreted from your body.

Ideally you should consider taking Vitamin C daily for health reasons.

Method ↟↟

This is the "Tisane" method of herbal extraction.

Gently wash the leaves in "COLD" water (never use hot water) and then place these into a stainless steel saucepan with room temperature water for 2 - 3 hours.

Next, heat over a low flame "using a DOUBLE BOILER**" until the water is hot and then let simmer for UP TO 10 minutes.

** A "Double Boiler" is a smaller pot inside a larger saucepan where the larger pan contains water which you heat up and the heat is transferred to the inner pot.

This is the "El Cheapo" method that I use and it is just as effective as buying dedicated "Double Boiler" pots for this purpose.

Another problem these days is that a lot of Stainless Steel from China contains deadly amounts of MANGANESE as I explain on the "Detox Manganese" page.

• Toxic "Manganese Tester"

This helps protect many things from the extreme heat of a direct flame.

As soon as you see steam start to rise, turn the stove off.

Remove from the stove and add 2 or 3 tablespoons of cinnamon and stir.

Let this "steep" (soak) for at least 20 minutes but longer is better.

Leave it cool down.

This method make me 6 liters.

I filter mine through a paper coffee filter and then store in 2 x 2 liter bottles in the freezer and 1 x 2 liter bottle in the fridge.

After the first filter, add more water to the remaining pulp (marc) and then filter the second batch.

Then repeat 1 more time and then blend all 3 together for consistent potency.

In Summer: Pour about 1/2 a cup into a cup of ice cubes and sip on a hot day.

In Winter: Pour 1 cup (by volume) into a saucepan and heat. Do not boil.

Even your kids will enjoy this one.