Superfruits
Superfruits are a very important topic at the moment. But what are superfruits anyway and why are they actually so “super”?
They are mainly exotic fruits that are above average in vitamins, minerals, polyphenols, and other important active plant substances. These include avocado, aronia, pomegranate, acerola, acai and goji. Sometimes, however, domestic fruit varieties are also called superfruits: the cranberry, for example. Thanks to the high concentration of active plant substances, superfruits show enormous health-promoting effects in many areas. They are also said to have a high antioxidant content. Antioxidants are cell-protecting agents that neutralise dangerous free radicals in our body.
Free radicals are known to damage our cells and are produced by the normal metabolism, but also partly by UV radiation, environmental toxins, ozone exposure, in highly stressful situations, by an unbalanced and one-sided diet, the intake of some medicines as well as by diseases. In the long run, too many free radicals lead to an oxidation of proteins and fats, resulting in an accelerated ageing of cell structures.
The concentrated power of superfruits
Superfruits have a very high Orac value (ORAC = Oxygen Radical Absorbace Capacity). This value indicates how many oxygen radicals the fruit can absorb. According to studies, superfruits have up to 30 percent more antioxidant ingredients than other foods. Scientists therefore suspect that these fruits have a strong rejuvenating effect that can be measured not only on the skin but also in the blood.
Below are some profiles of the best-known superfruits:
Goji berry:
Plant name: Lycium barbarum
INCI: Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Plant species: nightshade family
Origin: from south-eastern Europe to China
Ingredients: Vitamins A, B1, B2 and B3 as well as C, iron, phosphorus, magnesium and calcium, polyphenols, and carotenoids (antioxidants)
Cosmetic effect: promotes and supports cell renewal
Common use: in day or night creams
Acerola:
Plant name: Malpighia glabra
Alternative name: Barbados cherry
INCI: Malpighia Punicifolia Fruit Extract
Origin: Central and South America
Ingredients: Vitamin C, flavonoids, pectins, beta-carotene, vitamin B1 and vitamin B2 and minerals such as iron and calcium
Effect: Antioxidant, free radical scavenger, supports oxygen transport in the body, skin-protective
Common uses: day and eye creams, body balm, wash cream, neck and décolleté cream.
Acai:
Plant name: Euterpe oleracea
INCI: Euterp Oleracea (Acai) Fruit Oil
Origin: South America, rainforest
Harvest time: June to December
Ingredients: Amino acids, unsaturated fatty acids, secondary plant compounds, dietary fibre
Effect: Anti-inflammatory, activates metabolism, antioxidant, stimulates the immune system, prevents skin ageing
Common uses: in day and night creams, hair care products
Aronia:
Plant name: Aronia melanocarpa.
INCI: Aronia Melanocarpa Fruit Extract
Alternative name: Black chokeberry
Origin: Canada, today native from North America to Siberia
Ingredients: vitamin E, beta-carotene and folic acid, potassium, calcium, iron and zinc, polyphenols (secondary plant compounds)
Effect: helps to establish the natural balance between free radicals and antioxidants, has been shown to lower cholesterol levels, supports the body’s self-healing powers, skin revitalising
Common uses: in bath salts, face serums and day creams and hand creams.
Pomegranate:
Plant name: Punica granatum
INCI: Punica Granatum Seed Oil
Origin: from western to central Asia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and China
Ingredients: anthocyanins and quercetin, polyphenols, potassium, vitamin C, calcium and iron, phenolic acids such as ellagic acid and gallic acid
Effect: vitalising, cell protecting, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic
Common uses: in skin oils, creams, and ointments.
Avocado:
Plant name: Persea americana
INCI: Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Fruit
Origin: Originally from southern Mexico, today also found in the tropics as well as in South Africa, Israel, California, Australia, New Zealand and southern Spain.
Effect: maintains moisture in the upper skin layer, prevents damage caused by UV radiation, soothes unpleasant redness and irritation due to the omega-9 fatty acids it contains
Superfruits as food supplement and in cosmetics
Superfruits are available in juice and capsule form, but can also be processed in the home kitchen, for example into jam and jelly. However, caution is advised when processing them yourself, because depending on their origin, superfruits are sometimes contaminated with pesticides. When buying fresh superfruits, consumers should therefore only buy high-quality organic products. As a food supplement in capsule or juice form, superfruits have so far been considered largely harmless. It is important that the superfruits are processed gently and carefully by the individual manufacturers so that the valuable ingredients are not destroyed but are preserved.
Side effects are rare when taking and eating them. Allergy sufferers should be somewhat cautious; they should first limit themselves to very small doses in order to test whether allergic reactions may occur. People who regularly take medication should talk to their doctor before consuming superfruits or taking them in capsule form. Goji berries in particular are known to have a blood-thinning effect. So people who take corresponding medicines intensify their effect by eating the superfruits, which in the worst case leads to health complications. Nevertheless, we emphasise that superfruits from controlled cultivation have significantly more benefits and the disadvantages are manageable.
The best for your well-being
If you want to do something good for yourself, your body, and your health, reach for food supplements containing superfruits and combine them with appropriate cosmetic preparations. In this way, the organism receives a concentrated cocktail of the best ingredients, which has a long-term positive effect on health and external appearance. Superfruits unfold their full effect in high-quality cosmetics and will therefore play an increasingly important role in the cosmetics industry in the future. Cosmacon will be happy to formulate exclusive products with super fruits for your brand.
Literature:
Vannuchi N, Jamar G, Pisani L, Braga ARC, de Rosso VV.Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf. 2021 Jul;20(4):3192-3224
Oenocarpus bacaba and Oenocarpus bataua Leaflets and Roots: A New Source of Antioxidant Compounds.
Leba LJ, Brunschwig C, Saout M, Martial K, Bereau D, Robinson JC.Int J Mol Sci. 2016 Jun 27;17(7):1014
Toxicological evaluation of Euterpe edulis: a potential superfruit to be considered.
Felzenszwalb I, da Costa Marques MR, Mazzei JL, Aiub CA.Food Chem Toxicol. 2013 Aug;58:536-44
Escalante G, Bryan P, Rodriguez J.J Cosmet Dermatol. 2019 Aug;18(4):1037-1043