TOwater, water. It is the only sensible response to the fire that hovers in the streets of Italian cities these days. Fortunately we are not referring to fires, but to the boiling temperatures that make life not only in the city a nightmare, if you move away from the air conditioner for a moment. For this the consumption of supplements has gone up in recent days, even if Italians now use them all year round for different purposes. It is no coincidence that we are the first European market for these products. This summer there is something new, the botanical supplements to drink. A super expert on plants & Co. explained to us what they are.
What do we use supplements for the most
To sleep well, to increase our immune defences. Or to improve intestinal well-being, but also and, especially in this period, for counteract fatigue both physical and mental. These are the main reasons that push Italians to buy food supplements. These products they are not drugsbut that doesn’t mean it can be abused. They can also be bought at the supermarket. According to recent research by Federsalus, in Italy there are 32 million consumers of supplements and sales reach a value of over 4.3 billion euros. These data already demonstrate that the sector in our country but also in other European countries is confirmed to be expanding, which is why companies are studying new formulas and new ways of proposing them. This is where the botanical supplements hide.
What does botanist mean
Botanical supplements are made only from herbs, they have no color additives, but they exploit the botanical functional principles of certain plants, recognized for centuries as “healing”. Basically they base all their action on the properties of specific herbs. “Until recently, botany and medicine were considered essentially the same subject,” explains the professor Stefano Mancuso, director of the International Laboratory of Plant Neurobiology (LINV) of the University of Florence. The relationship between plants, herbs, flowers and man has always existed, long before modern science was codified. For this reason, botanical supplements exploit the functional principles of some plant varieties that have been used for centuries in the popular medicine of cultures that are even very distant from ours, such as the peoples who still live in the Amazon forest or the ancient Aztecs. Here are the main plants that are used and their characteristics.
Echinacea to strengthen the defenses
“There are various species in nature, but they all have immunostimulating, antiviral, antibacterial and antioxidant properties,” explains Professor Stefano Mancuso, founder, among other things, of a new scientific discipline, plant neurobiology, which studies the intelligence of plants and which is really opening up new scenarios in the relationship between the human and plant world. Basically a botanical supplement based mainly on echinacea it allows to stimulate our immune defenses in a natural way, consequently when we come into contact with viruses, bacteria or other harmful microorganisms, our body will have the sharpest “weapons” to deal with them and therefore will have less difficulty defeating them. “Echinacea also contains many polyphenols and essential oils and is a plant that the North American Indians have always used for its healing properties,” concludes the expert.
Most supplements come in capsules, the botanical ones are ready to drink, so they’re easier to take, even if you’re on the go. (Getti Images)
Guarana to fight fatigue
We could consider it the alternative to coffee of the Guarani people, one of the oldest still living in the Amazon forest and which gave its name to this plant. «In fact of Guarana today we know that its rich quantity di caffeine is released much more slowly and for longer times, compared to drinking a cup of espresso» explains Professor Mancuso. This “slowed down” but protracted effectiveness is ideal for keep attention high. And ensure that you always feel wide awake even when the sun prevents you from concentrating in the office. Why yes there are those who are still at work and maybe they will stay there all summer. For them, guarana-based integration can be a natural way to counteract fatigue, especially mental but not only.
Passionflower to relax
Sometimes it’s that anisette that never leaves us and makes it difficult to fall asleep. Sometimes it’s a real anxiety that doesn’t allow you to sleep even in front of the most beautiful of seas. In these cases it may be useful to drink a botanical supplement based on passion flower.
«Already the Aztecs exploited the relaxing and sedative properties of this plant. In fact, integration with this gives a tranquilizing and anxiolytic effect» explains Professor Stefano Mancuso «Passiflora also and above all has useful properties against insomnia». Not just the one due to the great heat.
Easy to use
To make them immediately available, the botanical supplements have been produced in pocket format, to be kept in a bag or in a desk drawer. They can be drunk even without the need for water, or a glass to pour them into. He just launched them on the market Bonomelli and are gluten and lactose free, therefore also suitable for those who are celiac or intolerant to milk and its derivatives. They can also be taken dissolved in a bottle of mineral water or with the addition of ice. Or enrich yourself with a slice of lemon or other fresh fruit for a drink that is not only refreshing but also healthy.
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