Wasabisol™ (Organically Grown WASABI Herb)
Wasabi (Japanese horseradish) is best known for its spicy presence in sushi. Lesser known are the health benefits
of pure wasabi for liver detox and overall body detox, antioxidant support, and healthy liver and immune function.* PureGels® Wasabisol™ is a premium formulation of organically grown wasabi herbs (also known as Wasabia Japonica), containing a full spectrum of glucosinolates, the most desirable nutrients in the wasabi plant. Wasabisol™ provides support for negative health indicators such as environmental toxins, alcohol, and smoke from tobacco products.*
Why do we need to detox?
Without us even knowing, we are constantly being exposed to toxic substances around us - in food, water, and air. Chemicals and exotoxins from processed foods, automobile emissions, pesticides, industrial pollutants, cigarette smoke, medications, dry cleaning, and body care products are just the few examples of daily toxins we build up in our body. Many of these toxins are fat-soluble and incorporate themselves into fatty body tissue, including the brain and central nervous system cells, which may be slowly released into the blood during times of exercise, stress, or fasting, contributing to many symptoms such as headaches, muscle and joint pain, and fatigue. If left alone, these toxins may cause chronic health problems, such as inflammatory conditions and neurological disease, to develop.
How does our body detoxify the toxins?
The primary organ responsible for eliminating toxins from our body is the liver. It detoxifies toxins by a complex series of chemical reactions carried out by the action of two sequential stages referred to as Phase I and Phase II systems:
Phase I - Uses Cytochrome P450, a group of over 30 enzymes located on the endoplasmic reticulum of hepatocytes, to begin the biotransformation process by oxidizing, reducing, or hydrolyzing toxins to make them more accessible to Phase II.
Phase II - Acts upon the intermediate metabolites from Phase I to make them less toxic, more water-soluble forms, which the body eliminates through urine or stool. Phase II enzymes can also act independently of Phase I activity, and catalyze a toxin that does not require biotransformation.
Both Phase I and Phase II must function in balance with each other to transform the intermediate metabolites to non-toxic end products that can be excreted in the urine or feces, and successfully complete the detoxification process.
Benefits of Wasabi: Liver Detox & Overall Body Detox
Cruciferous vegetables are high on the list of foods that support detoxification. These Brassica family foods contain several chemical constituents that induce both Phase I and Phase II detoxification enzymes. Wasabia Japonica, more commonly known as wasabi or Japanese horseradish, is distinctive in the Brassica family in that the rhizomes contain high concentrations of glucosinolates, which converts into many standard isothiocyanates (allylbenzyl) found in more commonly consumed vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, etc.), as well as a unique group of isothiocyanates (long chain isothiocyanates) which are not commonly found in the foods people consume. While the standard isothiocyanates are known for its exceptional detoxification property within the liver, the long chain methyl isothiocyanates have been also shown to be up to 40 times more effective than common isothiocyanates in inducing Phase II enzymes. Therefore, consuming wasabi - especially the rhizome portion of the wasabi - would be one of the most ideal way to assist liver as it detoxifies our body.
Finding the Right Wasabi for Detox
Despite the many health benefits that wasabi has to offer, taking advantage of these benefits is not as easy as it sounds:
Unfortunately, most wasabi found in restaurants and supermarkets contains artificial color and little or no real wasabi content. Many Americans who frequently dine out at sushi bars or Japanese restaurants are actually tasting an imitation wasabi powder made with a substitute paste of horseradish and mustard; it's rather surprising to read the ingredient listing on wasabi products sold in supermarkets.
Outside of Japan, wasabi is only available in dried powder form or in a tube of green paste, since fresh wasabi does not travel well. It is important to note, however, that the word "wasabi" is used to denote both Wasabia Japonica and European horseradish, although their flavors are quite distinct from each other. The Japanese government allows a product to be called "wasabi" as long as it contains some real wasabi, which is normally a very small percentage-less than 0.1%. The name "pure wasabi" can be used if it contains more than 5% wasabi. Pure wasabi is available, but only a few upscale, high-end restaurants would serve them grated fresh from the wasabi rhizome since a single rhizome can cost more than the fish or entrée that it accompanies, and would lose flavor rapidly-within 10-15 minutes.
PureGels® Wasabisol™ resolves these dilemmas and provides the highest concentration of active compounds available from Wasabia Japonica rhizomes. Our Wasabia Japonica raw material used in the soft gels is sourced from hydroponically-grown rhizomes, and is harvested when glucosinolate content is highest. It is then carefully freeze-dried and stored to prevent any moisture from coming into contact with the powder. Having the Wasabia Japonica powder contained inside a hermetically-sealed soft gelatin capsule keeps the delicate glucosinolates and myrosinase intact and free from moisture. The soft gels are oil-based, which keeps water from coming into contact with the active ingredient. This ensures that once it is present in the digestive tract, the myrosinase can be properly activated and facilitate the liberation of isothiocyanates to aid with liver detoxification. In addition, no preservatives, excipients, or diluents are added. These processing and storage methods help retain the highest amounts of active constituents in the plant. |
The PureGels® Wasabisol™ soft gel delivery system maximizes internal absorption.*
All ingredients of the soft gel, even the pill color, are 100% naturally occurring.
<References>
1. (2001) Wasabi or Japanese horse radish - Wasabi Japonica. Crop & Food Research, 26.
2. Das, S., Tyagi, A.K., & Kaur, H. (2000) Cancer modulation by glucosinolates: a review. Current Science, 79, 1665-1671.
3. Depree, J.A., Howard, T.M., & Savage, G.P. (1999). Flavour and pharmaceutical properties of the volatile sulphur compounds of Wasabi (Wassabia Japonica). Food Research International, 31, 329-337.
4. Guengerich, F.P. (1995) Influence of nutrients and other dietary materials on cytochrome p-450 enzymes. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 61, 651S-658S.
5. Hasegawa, N., Matsumoto, Y. Hoshino, A., and Iwashita, K., (1999). Comparison of effects of Wasabia japonica and allyl isothiocyanate on the growth of four strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in lean and fatty tuna meat suspensions. International Journal of Food Microbiology, 49, 27-34.
6. Kinae, N., Masuda, H., Shik Shin, I., Furugori, M. & Shimoi, K. (2000). Functional properties of wasabi and horseradish. BioFactors, 13, 265-269.
7. Lampe, J.W. (1999). Health effects of vegetables and fruit: assessing mechanisms of action in human experimental studies. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 70, 475S-490S.
8. Morimitsu, Y., Nakagawa, Y., Hayashi, K., Fujii, H., Kumagai, T., Yamamoto, M. & Uchida, K. (2002). A Sulforaphane analogue that potently activates the Nrf2-dependent Detoxification Pathway. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 277, 3456-3463.
9. Ono, H., Tesaki, S., Tanabe, S., & Watanabe, M. (1998). 6-methylsulfinylhexyl isothiocyanate and its homologues as food-originated compounds with antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Bioscience Biotechnology Biochemistry, 62, 363-365.
10. Percival, M. (1997). Phytonutrients & Detoxification. Clinical Nutrition Insights,
5.
11. Shin, I.S. & Lee, J.M. (1998). Study on antimicrobial and antimutagenic activity of horseradish (Wasabia japonica) root extracts. Bulletin of the Korean Fisheries Society, 31, 835-841.
Suggested Use:
Take one to two soft gels daily with meals, or as recommended by your health care professional.
Supplement Facts:
Serving Size : 2 Soft Gels
Amount Per 2 Soft Gels - % Daily Value**:
Total Fat 0 g - 0%, Trans Fat 0g - 0%, Wasabia Japonica (organically grown wasabi herb) 280 mg - *.
* Daily Value not established.
** Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Other Ingredients:
Gelatin, medium chain triglycerides, glycerin, purified water, lecithin (soy), yellow beeswax, chlorophylline, titanium dioxide.
Does NOT Contain:
Yeast, gluten, added sugars, sodium, artificial flavors, or preservatives.
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