A few years in the past scientists searched to determine the compound in barley, wheat, rye, and oat grasses that boosted progress of lab animals that couldn’t get replaced with any identified nutritional vitamins or minerals. They known as it “the grass juice issue.” Scientists have recognized a flavone in barley grass juice powder that appears to be key for enhancing blood sugar management, reducing irritation, and defending lab animals from the issues of diabetes. Clearly these results aren’t from the nutritional vitamins and minerals within the powder. Our outcomes with barley grass juice powder have proven that you just don’t want a big dose of this potent superfood to see well being enhancements. Possibly this flavone performs an bigger-than-life function in making barley grass juice powder a potent superfood for overcoming well being challenges in lab animals. Possibly this flavone is the elusive grass juice issue?
Meet 3′-benzyloxy-5,6,7,4′-tetramethoxyflavone, (we’ll name it Bz-TMF) a tongue-twister of a reputation for a compound present in barley grass powder and barley grass juice powder that made fairly a splash in a latest set of animal research. Let’s dive into the science whereas making this straightforward to grasp, and discover why this little molecule is likely to be price your consideration.
Discovered within the vigorous younger shoots of barley (the supply of barley grass juice powders like BarleyMax), Bz-TMF is a sort of flavone, a plant compound filled with health-boosting potential. Consider it as a supercharged nutrient that fights off dangerous molecules in your physique, like a tiny superhero. In a 2021 research out of Cairo College, researchers discovered it makes up about 49% of the pure phytochemicals from barley grass powder (as analyzed by GC-MS/MS method), suggesting it’s a significant participant of their well being results. Whereas Bz-TMF not a family identify (but!), its early leads to animal research are getting observed.
Within the fascinating research from 2021, which we mentioned in a latest weblog article, scientists fed barley microgreens, wealthy on this flavone, to rats with experimentally-induced diabetes. Some rats have been additionally uncovered to aflatoxin, a poisonous mildew compound that compounds the results of diabetes. Right here’s what they discovered:
- Blood Sugar Management: The extract, pushed by this flavone, lowered blood sugar ranges.
- Antioxidant Energy: It decreased oxidative stress (consider this as mobile rust) by boosting pure antioxidants like glutathione and enzymes that shield cells.
- Coronary heart and Kidney Well being: The flavone helped normalize ldl cholesterol and triglycerides, defending the guts, and decreased injury to kidneys and the liver, as noticed beneath the microscope.
- Reproductive Safety: In diabetic male rats, it improved sperm well being and decreased testicular injury, a lesser-known diabetes complication.
- Toxin Protection: Aflatoxin is a potent liver toxin, and the flavone-rich extract preserved organ operate and decreased irritation in uncovered animals.
Whereas barley grass juice powder does have a broad array of vitamins, these spectacular outcomes usually are not due to the vitamin C, vitamin E, or carotenoids within the powder. It isn’t the chlorophyll. We already know that the “grass juice issue” is accountable for these outcomes. Might this flavone be the elusive grass juice issue?
So, what makes this flavone so particular? Its construction—a flavonoid with methoxy and benzyloxy teams—provides it distinctive talents.
Whereas we don’t have research isolating this precise flavone, comparable compounds to Bz-TMF, different tri-, tetra- and penta- methoxyflavones, additionally helps cut back irritation and shield cartilage, decreased multidrug resistance and enhanced anti-tumor immunity. Listed below are 5 research that you would be able to discover to see extra of what these flavones can do:
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5,7,3′,4′-Tetramethoxyflavone Reveals Chondroprotective Exercise by Focusing on β-Catenin Signaling In Vivo and In Vitro
This research exhibits TMF protects cartilage in rat fashions of osteoarthritis. -
5,7,3′,4′-Tetramethoxyflavone Protects Chondrocytes from ER Stress-Induced Apoptosis By means of Regulation of the IRE1α Pathway
TMF prevents cartilage cell dying in osteoarthritis fashions. -
5,7,3′,4′-Tetramethoxyflavone suppresses TGF-β1-induced activation of murine fibroblasts in vitro and ameliorates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice
TMF inhibits fibroblast activation and reduces lung scarring in mice with pulmonary fibrosis, a critical lung situation. -
Reversal of P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance by 5,6,7,3′,4′-pentamethoxyflavone (Sinensetin)
Multidrug resistance (MDR) cells have been sensitized to anticancer medicine by therapy with this pentamethoxyflavone. -
5,7,4′-Trimethoxyflavone triggers most cancers cell PD-L1 ubiquitin-proteasome degradation and facilitates antitumor immunity by concentrating on HRD1
TMF reduces PD-L1 expression in most cancers cells, enhancing immune responses towards tumors.
Right here’s the catch: these thrilling outcomes come from lab animal research, not folks. Animal research are an awesome place to begin, however people are totally different—our our bodies won’t reply the identical approach. And Bz-TMF was not remoted by itself. It’s only a main element of barley grass juice powder, so it makes you suppose that it is likely to be an vital compound. Research with individuals are wanted to substantiate if it may well decrease blood sugar, shield organs, or battle irritation in folks with diabetes. For now, it’s a promising lead, not a confirmed remedy.
My guess is that it’s useful, based mostly on what we find out about folks utilizing BarleyMax, however that the outcomes received’t be as dramatic as they’re in lab rats. (For instance, scientists have cured most cancers in lab rats with many issues that don’t work in folks.) However Bz-TMF is prone to be useful, and particularly so once you mix it with a health-promoting weight loss program and life-style.
You may’t go and purchase capsules of this flavone. It’s only present in meals, not remoted by itself at this level. You could find Bz-TMF in barley grass juice powder like BarleyMax, out there proper right here at Hallelujah Food regimen. Right here’s just a few methods so as to add them to your routine:
- Smoothie Enhance: Mix a teaspoon of barley grass juice powder right into a smoothie with berries, spinach, and almond milk.
- Combine with Water: Simply stir a teaspoon of BarleyMax right into a glass of water for an vitality enhance earlier than any meal.
- Begin Small: Start with a small quantity to see how your physique reacts, and examine together with your trusted naturally-minded well being care practitioner, particularly in case you’re on diabetes meds.
Pair this with a diabetes-friendly life-style (plant-based, complete meals weight loss program, common train, glorious restorative sleep, and stress administration) —for one of the best shot at higher well being. See our different weblog about easy tricks to fight kind 2 diabetes, like ingesting water earlier than meals and taking walks after meals.
The science on Bz-TMF is simply getting began. Whereas the 2021 research is a powerful first step, there may be a lot to seek out out about this flavone. Right here is an concept of what ought to come subsequent:
- An intervention in folks to see if barley grass juice powder does reduce the burden of diabetes.
- A lab evaluation to isolate the flavone after which take a look at it by itself to see if it really works as properly by itself because it does in barley grass juice powder.
- Discover the flavone’s potential for different situations, like irritation or coronary heart illness.
For now, it’s a hidden gem on the earth of pure well being, with early proof suggesting it might be a robust ally for managing diabetes. Possibly some day they are going to isolate it and present that it certainly is the grass juice issue. However it’s prone to work finest proper within the context of the remainder of the barley grass juice powder components. So, don’t watch for the scientific proof. You don’t have anything to lose, and all the things to realize. There is no such thing as a well being threat in attempting it. So, go forward and get some BarleyMax in the present day.
