Botanicals

What are botanicals?

Botanicals are plants that potentially have beneficial nutrition properties.¹ They have been used for thousands of years to maintain and support health.²

Some botanicals need to be extracted from the plant and/or prepared in a certain way for us to get the benefits of them.^3-5

Are botanicals common in Western cultures?

Generally speaking, botanicals aren’t that common in Western cultures. So, unless you’re taking a supplement which contains botanicals, it’s unlikely you’ll come across most of them in your diet.

Take the botanical plant Guarana for example. It’s native to Brazil and has been shown to contribute to feeling more alert and reducing mental fatigue.⁴ But Guarana isn’t something you’re likely to find in your local supermarket.

Ginkgo biloba is another unique botanical with a long history of use in traditional Chinese cultures.³ Studies have shown that Ginkgo biloba extract may enhance mental function as well as memory.³

Travelling west from China into India, you’ll find extensive use of the herb Ashwagandha. Considered one of the most important herbs in Ayurveda (a traditional system of medicine in India), Ashwagandha has been shown to support mental and nervous tension, and anxiousness. It also helps to support relaxation, mental and physical wellbeing.^6,7

That said, there are a few botanicals which are more common in Western diets. For example, peppermint and camomile are both botanicals which lots of people enjoy as herbal teas.

Why are botanicals used in NobleBlu supplements?

At NobleBlu, we know that life can be busy and overwhelming at times. Sometimes, stress can build up and effect how we think and feel, wearing us down. That’s why our NobleBlu Focus supplement contains extracts of Gingko biloba, Ashwagandha and Guarana. A simple way to access all the benefits of these powerful plants in one place.

But it’s not just our mental function that botanicals support. Turmeric is a popular spice that has also been used for centuries in India within Ayurvedic practices, as well as Indian cooking.⁵  This ‘super spice’ has evidence to support its use for maintaining the function of our immune system.^5,8 Our NobleBlu Immune supplement contains a unique blend of turmeric along with vitamins C, D, A and zinc, creating a unique mix to keep your immune system fighting fit.

By including botanicals in our carefully-chosen blend of vitamins and minerals, NobleBlu is committed to proving you with the right balance of nutrients so that you can continue doing all the things you love.

Life is all about balance, and with NobleBlu’s range of five nutritional supplements (Energy, Focus, Balance, Beauty and Immunity), it’s never been easier to find the right support for your lifestyle.

References:

1. National Institutes of Health. Botanical Dietary Supplements - Factsheet for consumers. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/BotanicalBackground-Consumer/

2. Anton R, Serafini M and Delmulle L. Traditional knowledge for the assessment of health effects of botanicals – a framework for data collection. European Food and Feed Law Review. 2012;7(2): 74-80.

3. Belwal T, Giri L, Bahukhandi A et al. Chapter 3.19 – Ginko bilboa. Editors: Nabavi SM, Silva AS. Nonvitamin and Nonmineral Nutritional Supplements. Academic Press. 2019. Pages 241-250. ISBN 9780128124918. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-812491-8.00035-7.

4. Mederios Marques L, Klein T and Palazzo de Mello J. Chapter 3.24 – Guarana. Editors: Nabavi SM, Silva AS. Nonvitamin and Nonmineral Nutritional Supplements. Academic Press. 2019. Pages 283-288. ISBN 9780128124918. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-812491-8.00040-0.

5. El-Kenawy A, Hassan S, Mohamed AM et al. Chapter 3.43 – Turmeric or Curcuma longa Editors: Nabavi SM, Silva AS. Nonvitamin and Nonmineral Nutritional Supplements. Academic Press. 2019. Pages 447-453. ISBN 9780128124918. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-812491-8.00059-X

6. Chandrasekhar K, Kapoor J and Anishetty S. A prospective, randomised double-blind, placebo controlled study of safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of Ashwagandha root in reducing stress and anxiety in adults. Indian J Psychol Med. 2012;34(3): 255-262.

7. Singh N, Bhalla M, Jager P et al. An overview on Ashwagandha: a rasayana (rejuvenator) of Ayurveda. Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. 2011;8(S): 208-213.

8. Niranjana Sri S, Thiagarajan R, Manikandan R et al. Chapter 2.15 – Curcumin-based food supplements: challenges and future prospects. Editors: Nabavi SM, Silva AS. Nonvitamin and Nonmineral Nutritional Supplements. Academic Press. 2019. Pages 119-128. ISBN 9780128124918. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-812491-8.00016-3