Last month we introduced you to Thorne’s new greens product – Daily Greens Plus. And “plus” it is! In addition to the seven ingredients in the greens blend, there are 21 other nutrients, including botanical adaptogens, a mushroom blend, antioxidant/mitochondrial support nutrients, and several basic foundational vitamins and minerals.

Meet the Greens: Part 1 introduced you to the greens blend and the adaptogen blend. Part 2 discusses the 15 remaining nutrients. All 28 ingredients provide a synergistic blend of nutrients that support healthy aging and vitality.* You can read more about how these nutrients impact the aging process here.

The Mushroom Blend

The unique mushroom blend combines the three best-known medicinal mushrooms – maitake, shiitake, and reishi, with chaga and lion’s mane.

Lion’s mane provides cognitive support by supporting memory, attention, and mental endurance; lion’s mane also supports positive mood and can lessen anxious feelings.* One study found lion’s mane provided greater cognitive support than placebo in adults ages 50-80.*1 Animal studies also show lion’s mane modulates brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF).*2 BDNF protects existing brain cells and encourage the growth of new ones.*

Chaga, a nutrient-dense mushroom that is rich in B vitamins, electrolytes, and trace minerals, has antioxidant and immune-supportive properties.* Chaga grows as a fungus, primarily on birch tree bark in northern climates, where it has been traditionally used in northern European countries to support immune function3 and boost overall vitality.* Chaga has also been shown to support a balanced inflammatory response.*4

Maitake is rich in beta-glucans, which are responsible for the mushroom’s significant support for immune function.*5 Maitake is a particularly effective adaptogen and serves well in combination with other mushrooms as a tonic.*

Shiitake is rich in alpha-glucans that impart their immune-supportive properties to this mushroom.* A study that looked at maitake and shiitake both alone and in combination found the two together offered more support for immune function than either of them alone.*5

Reishi mushroom – unlike chaga, which is found in cold climates – grows in the hot and humid climates of east Asia. But, like the other mushrooms in this blend, reishi has also been studied for its beneficial effect on immune function.* One study in healthy football players found it provided immune support when the players were exposed to stressful workouts and low oxygen situations.*6

The Antioxidant Blend for Mitochondrial and Cellular Energy Support

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), unless provided in a unique delivery system, can present absorption challenges. The CoQ10 in Daily Greens Plus is provided as a well-absorbed phytosome (Ubiqsome®) – CoQ10 bound to phospholipids for enhanced incorporation into cell membranes. The result is optimal absorption – three-times greater plasma levels compared to unbound CoQ10 – for greater antioxidant and cellular energy support.* CoQ10 provides neurological, cardiovascular, and muscular support.* Ubiqsome, taken daily for 30 days, was shown to increase muscle CoQ10 levels by 36 percent, supporting energy production in the mitochondria of muscle cells.* But CoQ10 is not just found in muscle cells; it’s in just about every cell in the body, which is why it has such a wide range of benefits. Like many other substances produced in the body, CoQ10 production declines with age, starting at about age 20.

Trans-resveratrol supports healthy aging by enhancing the activity of the sirtuin proteins.*7 Sirtuins have myriad benefits, including increasing the formation of new mitochondria, which promotes cellular energy production and protects DNA from damage.

Sirtuins are NAD+ dependent – they can’t function without it. That’s where nicotinamide riboside (NR) comes in. NR promotes healthy aging by supporting the body’s production of NAD+, a critically important coenzyme in the body that declines with aging.* Not only is NAD+ needed to up-regulate sirtuin activity, it’s essential for making ATP (energy) in every cell in the body.

Betaine (trimethyglycine) supports healthy DNA methylation, which is also essential for healthy aging.* Betaine takes on even more importance as a partner with NR. As the body uses up NAD+, it also uses up methyl groups. So a methyl donor like betaine (also called trimethylglycine because it has three methyl groups to share) pairs with NR like jam does with peanut butter.

Quercetin, like CoQ10, is provided as a phytosome for enhanced absorption. In a single-dose, crossover study in 12 healthy volunteers, plasma levels of quercetin delivered as a phytosome resulted in 20-times higher levels than when a non-phytosome quercetin was ingested.8 Quercetin supports healthy aging because of its antioxidant potential.* It also is the best-researched natural substance for helping the body remove old, non-functional (senescent) cells.*9

Quercetin phytosome can also support your exercise goals. When taken daily for 14 days, a study found it decreased run time in amateur triathetes. In addition, recovery from muscle soreness and recovery times were decreased.*10

Glutathione, a key antioxidant made by the body, tends to decline with age. Conversely, individuals who live to 100 tend to have higher natural glutathione activity. Why do we need antioxidants? Free radicals are atoms with an unpaired electron that travel throughout the body and damage cells. As we age, we become less able to neutralize these free radicals. That’s were antioxidants come in. Their chemical structures enable them to neutralize free radicals.*

Pomegranate is another potent antioxidant.* It also supports a heathy gut microbiome.* The metabolism of ellagic acid from pomegranate in the gut supports its use as a prebiotic to promote a balanced inflammatory response.*11

Supportive Foundational Nutrients

Vitamin D3 is included because the ability to produce vitamin D in the skin decreases with age, while the risk of a vitamin D deficiency rises significantly. A low level of vitamin D has been linked to numerous physical and mental/emotional health problems. The vitamin D3 in Daily Greens Plus is sourced from algae and is certified organic and non-GMO – making it perfect for vegan and vegetarian use.

Zinc bisglycinate is provided as the well-absorbed zinc bisglycinate.12 It is included for its immune, antioxidant, and hormone support.* Studies have found that the antioxidant-promoting properties of zinc can mitigate the cell damaging effect of oxidative stress.* Zinc also supports the body's normal production of testosterone, a hormone essential for building lean muscle mass.*

Biotin is a member of the B-vitamin family. Biotin supports healthy skin, hair, and nails, as well as nerve function.* Biotin also provides metabolic support by promoting glucose metabolism and healthy blood sugar balance.*

Ginger and spearmint both support digestion and inflammatory balance.*

Not sure how to get started with Daily Greens Plus? Try pairing Daily Greens Plus with one of Thorne’s chocolate-flavored protein powders for a protein-packed, mint chocolate start to your day. Or try one of these refreshing recipes for more inspiration.

References

  1. Mori K, Inatomi S, Ouchi K, et al. Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: A double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phytother Res 2009;23(3):367-72. doi:10.1002/ptr.2634
  2. Li IC, Lee LY, Tzeng TT, et al. Neurohealth properties of Hericium erinaceus mycelia enriched with erinacines. Behav Neurol 2018;2018:5802634. doi: 10.1155/2018/5802634.
  3. Kim YR. Immunomodulatory activity of the water extract from medicinal mushroom Inonotus obliquus. Mycobiology 2005;33(3):158-62. doi: 10.4489/MYCO.2005.33.3.158. 
  4. Mishra SK, Kang JH, Kim DK, et al. Orally administered aqueous extract of Inonotus obliquus . . . in mice. J Ethnopharmacol 2012;143(2):524-32. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2012.07.008. 
  5. Vetvicka V, Vetvickova J. Immune-enhancing effects of maitake (Grifola frondosa) and shiitake (Lentinula edodes) extracts. Ann Transl Med 2014;2(2):14. doi: 10.3978/j.issn.2305-5839.2014.01.05. 
  6. Zhang Y, Lin Z, Hu Y, Wang F. Effect of Ganoderma lucidum capsules on T lymphocyte subsets in football players on "living high-training low". Br J Sports Med 2008;42(10):819-22. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.2007.038620.
  7. Huang Y, Lu J, Zhan L, et al. Resveratrol-induced Sirt1 phosphorylation by LKB1 mediates mitochondrial metabolism. J Biol Chem 2021;297(2):100929. doi: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100929. 
  8. Riva A, Ronchi M, Petrangolini G, et al. Improved oral absorption of quercetin from quercetin phytosome®, a new delivery system based on food grade lecithin. Eur J Drug Metab Pharmacokinet 2019;44(2):169-177. doi: 10.1007/s13318-018-0517-3.
  9. Hohmann MS, Habiel DM, Coelho AL, et al. Quercetin enhances ligand-induced apoptosis in senescent . . . fibroblasts and . . . in vivo. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2019;60(1):28-40. doi: 10.1165/rcmb.2017-0289OC.
  10. Riva A, Vitale JA, Belcaro G, et al. Quercetin phytosome® in triathlon athletes: a pilot registry study. Minerva Med 2018;109(4):285-289.
  11. Derakhshan Z, Ferrante M, Tadi M, et al. Antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of ethanolic extract of pomegranate peels, juice, and seeds. Food Chem Toxicol 2018;114:108-111. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2018.02.023. 
  12. DiSilvestro R, Swan M. Comparison of four commercially available zinc supplements for performance in a zinc tolerance test. FASEB J 2008;22:693.3.