Digestion: Aperino May Help to Maintain a Healthy Digestion

Everyone is familiar with the term you are what you eat, but to be entirely accurate nutritionists now say its not just what you eat that keeps you healthy, but what you digest. Because if you dont digest your food properly, no matter how healthy your diet is, you wont be getting the full benefit from your meals.

If you suffer from digestive problems, there are two approaches you can try. One is to take digestive enzymes to help your body to get the most from your food. Another way is the herbal route.

There are two categories of herbs that are used to aid digestion: bitters and carminatives. Bitters act as digestive stimulants and include bitter orange, boldo, centaury, gentian, juniper and wormwood. Carminatives, which include lemon balm, rosemary and sage, help to relieve bloating and gas.

These herbs have been included along with others in a brand-new liquid formula called Aperino Rosso which has just been launched in March.

14 herbs to help aid your digestive system
Based on 14 medicinal herbs including bitters and carminatives, Aperino is a delicious tasting drink that has been designed to maintain a healthy digestive system. The herbal combination works to improve appetite and the digestion of fatty foods. Blackcurrants have been added to give Aperino a fruity taste, whilst providing a good source of vitamin C.

• Bitter Orange The dried outer peel of the fruit, with the white pulp layer removed, is used medicinally in a wide variety of traditions. In Mexico and South America the peel is employed to ease stomach aches and high blood pressure. In traditional Chinese medicine, the peel of the immature fruit is used for indigestion, abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhoea. Bitter orange is also used widely for indigestion in other parts of the world. Its the essential oils in bitter orange that are thought to be responsible for supporting the digestive system.
  
• Juniper The medicinal part of the juniper tree is its berries and these are used as a traditional herbal remedy for several complaints including gout, upset stomach, and urinary tract diseases. Its active constituents are volatile oils and bitter substances. 
  
• Centaury The leaves, stems and flowers are used medicinally to assist digestion. Centaury contains bitter glycosides that help stimulate the secretion of stomach acid and digestive enzymes, as well as activity of the entire digestive tract.
  
• Boldo has been used traditionally as a liver tonic and contains volatile oils, flavonoids and alkaloids. Boldine, the major alkaloid, is responsible for the plants bile stimulating effect, which has been reported to improve appetite.1
  
• Gentian The root of this plant has been used for centuries by herbalists in Europe as a digestive aid. It contains bitter substances such as the glycosides gentiopicrin and amarogentin, which help to stimulate the secretion of saliva in the mouth and hydrochloric acid in the stomach, thereby enhancing appetite and digestion. In one study gentian tincture inhibited the feeling of fullness after eating, suggesting that its a valuable herb for improving poor appetite.2
  
• Wormwood Its the strong bitter agents known as absinthin and anabsinthin in wormwood that help stimulate the production of gastric juice and gall bladder function. The herb is often combined with other herbs to treat heartburn and even irritable bowel syndrome.
  
• Lemon Balm The lemon balm plant originated in southern Europe and is now found throughout the world. It has long been used to treat gas, sleeping difficulties and heart problems. Its the terpenes, part of the pleasant smelling volatile oil from lemon balm, that are thought to produce the herbs relaxing and gas-relieving effects.
  
• Sage & Rosemary These popular culinary herbs are also included in Aperino. Sage has numerous uses it aids sore throats and coughs, rheumatism and menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes. In Germany it has been approved as a remedy for mild gastrointestinal upset and excessive sweating.3 As for rosemary, it is believed to stimulate appetite and support digestion. Both herbs contain volatile oils, tannin agents and bitter substances.

What makes Aperino unique?
Although the main purpose of Aperino is to improve digestion, it contains several other herbs especially chosen for their rich nutrient and antioxidant content. This makes Aperino an all-round strengthening health tonic.

Elderberries have been added for their excellent source of flavonoids powerful antioxidants that help protect cells against free radical damage. Hawthorn berries have also been included for this reason and contain a variety of flavonoids including oligomeric procyanidins (OPCs), vitexin and hyperoside, which appear to be responsible for the heart-healthy benefits of the plant. Hawthorn is thought to exert many beneficial effects on the heart and blood vessels such as improving coronary artery blood flow and circulation to the extremities.

Another herb in Aperino is horsetail which contains the mineral silicon, an essential component of hair, skin and nails. Silicon is also vital for bone and cartilage formation. In addition, horsetail contains potassium and manganese, along with 15 different types of antioxidant flavonoids.
Finally green oat has been added for its strengthening effects on the nervous system. In folk medicine, green oat was used to treat nervous exhaustion and insomnia, and today its a popular remedy for anxiety and related conditions.

All in all, Aperino is a well-balanced and pleasant-tasting tonic and digestive aid that can be drunk daily for optimum health. And you dont have to have digestive problems to reap its huge range of benefits it can be enjoyed by anyone. 

What to take for best results
Aperino can either be taken in doses of 30 mls immediately after meals or sipped as an aperitif. Although its alcohol-free it can even be added to sparkling wine or champagne for an alcoholic beverage. It also mixes well with juices. 

Contraindications: altough Aperino may be taken during pregnancy, as long as the suggested dose of 30 ml twice daily is not exceeded, it is always a good idea to check with your doctor before taking any kind of herbal supplement, natural product, or medication.

1. Newall CA, Anderson LA, Phillipson JD. Herbal Medicines: A Guide for Health-Care Professionals. London: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1996, 467.
2. Drug Standards 1956;24:10110
3. Eur J Herbal Med 1998;4:324