Red Food Synergy: Phytonutrient Power for Energy, Endurance, and a Radiant Healthspan

Dr. Sarah Clarke, DC, IFMCP, and Mimi Hernandez, MS, RH (AHG) take us on a tour of red superfood phytonutrients found in beets, algae, and mountain spinach. They discuss the far reaching benefits of betacyanins, nitrates, electrolytes and more. Learn how each of these phytonutrients impacts overall health and vitality, including increased energy and endurance, as well as cardiometabolic, eye, skin, and muscle health. Mimi also explains the fascinating concept of xenohormesis and how wild-crafted and organically-grown plants contain a higher phytonutrient content, and why that matters.

Mimi Prunella Hernandez is a clinical herbalist with a passion for research-based applications and experience in the natural product industry. She has educated students and medical practitioners in herbal medicine through various platforms, integrating traditional knowledge with scientific insights. She is currently an Herbal Therapy Liaison and clinical educator for Standard Process. She is the author of the National Geographic Herbal and coauthor of the National Geographic Backyard Guide to Edible Wild Plants.

Highlights of the episode include:

• Mimi’s experience of visiting the mountain spinach field at the Standard Process Organic Farm
• Red beets – there’s more to beets than just nitrates
• Synergy of mountain spinach and beets: connection to exercise endurance and recovery
• Astaxanthin – a green algae turns red when stressed
• Mimi as speaker at the Whole Systems Nutrition Symposium on October 24^th – addressing soil health and modern nutrition challenges

Podcast Summary

• 2:23 Mimi’s experience of visiting the mountain spinach field at the Standard Process Organic Farm
• 6:54 Betacyanins found in mountain spinach, prickly pear fruit, dragon fruit, and beets
• 9:39 Mimi’s passion for connecting tradition with science
• 10:25 Mountain spinach was one of the first cultivated leafy greens, an ancient staple crop
• 13:18 Differences between spinach and red mountain spinach; electrolyte and mineral content, including chromium
• 15:26 Protein content in mountain spinach
• 16:30 Red beets – there’s more to beets than just nitrates
• 18:25 The significance of betalains and their influence on endurance and rehabilitation
• 19:39 Beets for postmenopausal women
• 20:30 Synergy of mountain spinach and beets: connection to exercise endurance and recovery
• 23:20 Whole beets grown to optimize nutrient density to create a low glycemic food
• 25:25 Optimal cardiometabolic health – an important study, and helpful tools to maintain healthy habits
• 31:20 Study on astaxanthin and it’s affects on endurance and physical activity
• 33:24 Astaxanthin: the red advantage over the blue screen, relief for digital eye strain
• 36:53 Xenohormesis – wild-harvested and organically-grown plants that struggle more produce higher amounts of phytochemicals, therefore offer more benefits to those who consume them
• 39:35 Astaxanthin – a green algae turns red when stressed
• 42:54 When we consume astaxanthin, we may inherit the survival signals from this phytochemical that benefits salmon, algae and more
• 43:14 Astaxanthin trending antioxidant for skin health
• 48:05 The synergy of red foods like beets, astaxanthin, and mountain spinach for cardiometabolic, eye, skin and muscle health
• 49:40 Astaxanthin and it’s affect on blood sugar management
• 52:00 Adding life to our years: Red food phytochemicals help to improve quality of life on all levels, including increased energy, endurance, and overall vitality.

Mimi Hernandez, MS, RH (AHG) as speaker at Whole Systems Symposium Virtual Symposium on October 24^th