https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqvGRgTzMhI
Summary of Lindsey Elmore video
Today we will address some of your toughest questions about NingXia Red.
1. Is the wolfberry the same as the goji berry?
Technically there are two varieties from the same family, Lycium barbarum and Lycium chinense. But everyone uses the names wolfberry and goji berry interchangeably for these plants. Young Living uses the Lycium barbarum variety.
2. What makes NingXia Red so special?
We have balanced ingredients for a whole body nutrient infusion.
- Provides energy support.
- Contains powerful ingredients that are involved in many antioxidant processes.
- Supports whole body health and wellness.
- Helps prevent against oxidative stress.
- Helps to support normal eye health.
- The wolfberry contains ALL the essential amino acids. There are two types of amino acids: our bodies can make one type, but the other type must be taken in through diet. Many people consider it impossible to get all the amino acids from a vegetarian diet. But the wolfberry will provide them all.
- The wolfberry is one of the most protein-dense fruits there is. It’s 13-16% protein by weight, so not only do you get all the protein and amino acids that you need, you also get them in a very rich, dense form.
- Highest whole-food source of potassium of any food!
- Great levels of zinc. Zinc is a co-factor that helps in hundreds of enzyme reactions.
- The wolfberry has tons of fiber.
So the wolfberry has a litany nutrients and minerals to help support total body wellness.
Young Living’s wolfberry is sourced at our partner farm in China. Wolfberries have been used in Chinese medicine and as part of the Chinese diet for over 2000 years. Our dried berries are certified as organic.
We are also very strategic about sourcing the water that goes on the plants. Some of this water DOES come out of the Yellow River. But it comes from parts of the river ABOVE the dense population centers where it is still free of all the pollutants that enter the river farther downstream.
3. Why is there sodium benzoate in NingXia Red?
My favorite follow-up is, “Wow! If you don’t eat sodium benzoate you are missing out on so many good foods. When’s the last time you ate a prune, cranberry, clove, cinnamon, or apples?” All these have naturally occurring sodium benzoate. It’s a naturally occurring preservative in a ton of different fruits, vegetables, spices and herbs. It is there to protect the plant from fermenting.
Another thing…Young Living is a great company! It is not bound by law in any nation to disclose that there is sodium benzoate in NingXia Red. Why? Because there is so little of it! The concentration of sodium benzoate in NingXia Red is .00025%. According to the US FDA, anything below .2% does not have to be disclosed on the label and anything less that .1% is considered safe for human consumption. So we’re talking about something that is 1000 times less than what is generally considered safe for human consumption.
We put it on the label because we want our members to make informed decisions. But there is so little sodium benzoate in there that we are not required to disclose it.
4. Is the sodium benzoate 100% naturally sourced?
By law, we are required to have at least 5% synthetic sodium benzoate. That’s the law! We abide by the law because we want to bring you these products. So we’re honest with people. [Keep in mind that it wasn’t required to be on the label.] If people say they don’t want to drink it, talk to them about another product.
5. Can someone who is pregnant or nursing take NingXia Red or Nitro?
Standard response: Girl, I don’t know! You know your body better than I do and you are an empowered momma who can make her own decisions. If I were a pregnant woman, here are things I would want to think about…
The American College or Obstetrics and Gynecologists as well as the National Health Service of the United Kingdom recommend that pregnant or nursing women stay below 200mg of caffeine per day.
- NingXia Red = 0 mg caffeine
- NingXia Nitro = 40 mg of naturally occurring caffeine per serving from green tea extract
- NingXia Zing = 35 mg of naturally occurring caffeine per serving from white tea extract
So if you choose to have a little caffeine, these products DO fit within the parameters. 35 mg caffeine is less than the content in the average…
- cup of coffee
- mug of tea
- chocolate bar
6. What if I’m breastfeeding?
Caffeine DOES pass through breast milk. Taking excess levels of caffeine WHILE PREGNANT has been shown to increase the risk of lower birth rates which can lead to problems later in life. AFTER BIRTH, caffeine does not not necessarily pose harm to the baby, but it can make the baby a bit unsettled. So if you find that your baby is having trouble sleeping or seems restless, cut back caffeine. Consider pumping and dumping as some women choose to do while on medication or after a glass of wine.
7. When can I start giving my kids NingXia Red?
Again, standard response: You are an empowered momma. You know your children better than I do. Here are things to consider…
- NingXia Red, Nitro, and Zing…none of these are specifically labelled for use in children. If you choose to use them in your children, you may consider using a bit less to start out with and you may consider gradually adding more.
- Talk to your peers. Fellow Young Living members have lots of personal experience.
8. NingXia Red has so much sugar. Can I use it while I have diabetes?
Again, standard response: You have diabetes, not me. According to the American Diabetes Association, a placed to start is about 45-60 grams of carbs or sugar per meal. NingXia Red has about 5 grams of sugar per serving. So can NingXia Red be a part of a norm diet in a person with diabetes? Absolutely! Just like fruit juices can be. Simply keep in mind that NingXia Red DOES have some naturally occurring sugar from fruit. And keep it within the 45-60 grams recommended by the ADA.
Also, if you have diabetes, check your blood sugar. Don’t rely on someone else to tell you whether NingXia Red is safe. Drink it, wait 15 minutes, and check your blood sugar.
If you notice spikes in your blood sugar, you may consider adding health fats or proteins with those meals so that sugar will potentially be absorbed more slowly, decreasing the blood sugar spikes.
9. As nightshades, will wolfberries cause inflammation?
Nightshades are a family of botanicals known as Solanaceas. They get their name from the black nightshade, belladonna, which was added to the drinks of the enemies of Rome in order to kill them. Solanaceas include things like potatoes, tomatoes, paprikas, egg plants, tobacco, and certain peppers. There is evidence to suggest that nightshades contain alkaloids. Alkaloids may cause certain problems in the body such as inflammation which leads to arthritis, insomnia, gallbladder problems, etc.
The solanine that is found within solanacea families are naturally occurring in the leaves, fruits and tubors. In isolation, they help protect the plant from predators including animals, fungi, and pests.
It takes a lot of this solanine to cause this inflammatory reaction. In order to cause acute toxicity to where you would feel really sick to the point of searching out care from a physician, for an average size person (150lbs or 70kg) it would take 4.5 pounds of ripe potatoes or 2 pounds of green potatoes in one sitting. That’s because solanine is found in much higher concentration in unripened plants because the plant is trying to protect itself from being attacked by fungi and pests. But Young Living ensures that its wolfberries are harvested after they are ripe. So much of that solanine will have already gone away.
But the question still is, since wolfberries are in this nightshade family, do they cause inflammation in a nightshade-sensitive person? While Solanacea plants all contain some level of of these alkaloids that have been demonstrate to cause many problems, the wolfberry also contains high levels of polysaccharides. Polysaccharides have been shown to be very different than alkaloids. Google the words “wolfberry” and “inflammation” and look for an article called “Evidenced based Updates…” from Drug Design, Development and Therapy. It’s an amazing article! It is fantastic because it details what the polysaccharides do vs the alkaloids. The authors of the paper cite another paper that demonstrates that people who ingest the juice of the wolfberry have been shown to have greater well-being and great support for normal immune function.
17:13 Details on compliant citation of an article. Does the article present balanced information?
30-day NingXia Challenge emphasises Embodied Knowledge
- Week 1: Learn one new fact about NingXia Red everyday.
- Week 2: NingXia Zing
- Week 3: NingXia Nitro
- Week 4: Wolfberry