Superfoods – Juice Health Benefits & Recipes

13 Jul

Broccoli and Why You Should Be Eating It

When you are thinking about superfoods that will sustain and nourish your family, you may find that you are a little bewildered about broccoli. For so many years, many of us have thought of broccoli as one of those foods that you have to eat, not one that you would want to eat. However, new research is coming out that tells us that there are plenty of reasons to eat this dark green veggie. Learn a little bit more about broccoli and why it belongs in your refrigerator.

What Is Broccoli?

The first records of people cultivating broccoli as a food crop date back about 600 BC in the Mediterranean region. The vegetable that was being grown at the time was more leafy, and looked more like the cabbage-type plants that broccoli is descended from, rather than the broccoli that we are used to today. Broccoli features heavily in Mediterranean cuisine, and it only came into wide usage in the United States during the 1920s. This vegetable is a member of the brassica family, and the part that is commonly eaten is the flowering part of the plant, which consists of fairly tender stalks and tiny flowering heads. Today, it is grown primarily in China and India, as the crop requires a consistent cool temperature.

Superfood!

Perhaps you remember being told to eat your broccoli, but you may never have received a good explanation for why you should do so. First, it is fairly high in vitamin C and potassium, both of which people often have a hard time getting enough of as they go through their day. On top of that, it is also a fantastic source of vitamin A, a fantastic source of dietary fiber, and some reports indicate that a high level of broccoli consumption can reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

Health Benefits?

Broccoli has many health benefits which are not immediately apparent. In the first place, it has a high dosage of sulfur compounds, which can create a pungent odor when it is being cooked. However, those same sulfur compounds have the effect of reducing the risks of colon cancer, ovarian cancer and bladder cancer. On top of that, it also has a fantastically high level of anti-oxidants, which also work to prevent cancer in the body. Eating it regularly helps you boost your immune system while also supporting your cardiovascular health. It is very nutritionally dense; as a matter of fact, it might be one of the most nutritionally dense foods around. It is an excellent choice for pregnant women, as it has been shown to reduce birth defects, and it can also reduce the possibility of cataracts. With this in mind, it makes perfect sense that you might be interested in adding this powerful brassica to your daily diet!

How Do I Eat Broccoli?

When you are thinking about getting more broccoli into your diet, you’ll find that all you need for a daily serving is about ½ cup of cooked broccoli. However, if you prepare it right, you’ll find that you’ll definitely be interested in eating more! To prepare a very tasty side dish for dinner, start by cutting up about four or five cups of broccoli or by thawing frozen florets and turning your oven up to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Toss your broccoli florets in a mixture that includes 2 tablespoons of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Then place it into a roasting pan and roast it in the oven for about fifteen to twenty minutes or until the edges are slightly browned. This allows you to keep the fresh green taste of the broccoli without risking the sulfur smells of cooking it. To spice up this recipe a bit, add some crushed garlic or some lemon juice to the mix.

02 Jul

Camu Camu Berry: 250 Times the Vitamin C of an Orange

Camu Camu

The Camu Camu berry, also known as myrciaria dubia, is the fruit of an Amazonian riverside tree commonly found in countries like Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, and Peru. The tree is partially submerged in water for close to six months and produces small white flowers with waxy petals. It takes approximately six to eight years for the tree to initially bear fruit. The small deep red and purple colored berries resemble cherries and are significantly high in Vitamin C content. The berries are typically harvested during high flood by boat or canoe and distributed for use all over the globe.

History

When historically used by Natives of the Amazon region, the Camu Camu berry provided a rich source of nutrition and phytochemicals needed to sustain proper health in ancient times. Traditional uses of the berry included alleviating pain, treating infection and inflammation, and healing wounds. People living within the Amazon region today still use these berries for other than nutritional purposes. In some cases, berries have been applied to unhealthy hair in an effort to treat brittle, split ends and to restore texture, strength, and shine.

Why Is It a Superfood?

The Camu Camu’s high concentration of vitamins and minerals has made the berries a highly aspired superfood worldwide. The berries likely have a higher concentration of whole food Vitamin C than most other fresh foods. In fact, one serving of theses berries may have up to 250 times more Vitamin C content than an orange. The berries are also rich in calcium, phosphorus, iron, and potassium, providing natural boosts of energy. Amino acids present in them include serine, leucine, and valine. Their increased levels of the antioxidants ellagic acid and quercetin make them optimal for promoting immune function and cardiovascular health. Antioxidant function also extends to help prevent untimely oxidative cell damage that will advance the aging progress.

The popularity of the Camu Camu has increased incrementally after some of its health benefits were discovered. Aside from its significant vitamin and antioxidant content, this superfood also helps protect the nervous system from degenerative diseases, such as dementia or Alzheimer’s. In the absence of certain nutrients in a diet, the nervous system may be exposed to damaging toxins from unhealthy food choices, making it more susceptible to certain mental disorders or impairments, such as depression. It is also a great protective source for the eyes and greatly reduces the risks of macular degeneration and development of cataracts. Preventative effects extend further to protect against certain types of cancer as well as liver disease.

The Camu Camu berry’s health benefits may also impact exposure to seasonal illnesses. The risk of acquiring the common cold or the flu after exposure to respiratory viruses may be severely reduced if this superfood is a regular part of a person’s diet. Its antiviral components also help fend off numerous other viruses. The berries may also protect against certain bacterial infections and inflammations in the body. It has been found to stave off gingivitis and gum disease in some patients.

How to eat it?

It can be consumed in a variety of ways. Since its taste is essentially rather sour, the berry is typically not consumed in its raw form. One of the most popular ways the berry is distributed is in the form of powder or capsules. After the berries are dried and fashioned into a dark red powder, they are ready to be used as a natural supplement. Camu Camu berry powder may be added to certain types of foods or drinks, such as shakes, smoothies, juices, or simply a glass of fresh water. In its supplement form it should be added very sparsely. Since it takes approximately fifteen pounds of raw berries to produce merely one pound of powder, the supplement’s vitamin C content is still rather high in very small quantities.

07 May

Are Eggs Really A Superfood?

First thing first – not a very long time ago, eggs were not only NOT considered a superfood they were considered to be very bad for your health raising your cholesterol levels. But as it is very often when it comes to food, one days worst enemy is the next days best friend and vice versa. Studies have shown that even though eggs do contain relatively high amounts of fat, eggs and dietary cholesterol do NOT adversely affect cholesterol levels in the blood. In fact, eggs raise HDL (the good) cholesterol. They also change LDL cholesterol from small, dense LDL (which is bad) to large LDL, which is benign.

So eggs have no association with either heart disease or stroke in otherwise healthy people. Even more, they are very rich with antioxidants (primarily Lutein and Zeaxanthine) that are unique to eggs and protect against the eye diseases Macular Degeneration and Cataracts. So – do not be scared of eggs.

Ok, now we can move on.

Eggs

Birds lay eggs in order to reproduce young and before that happens people collect them and use them for food. The edible parts of an egg are the yolk and egg white, the hard shell sourounding it is the eggshell. Eggs have been used for a long time in human diet. In ancient times people collected eggs laid by wild birds (which were interestingly not chickens). People used quail, turkey, ostrich and other wild bird eggs. In some parts of the world wild eggs are still collected.

Today eggs are bough in supermarkets or directly from farms that raise poultry. You can primarily get chicken eggs, only occasionally other types of eggs are available.

Eggs in cooking

Eggs are a nutritious food that is popular all over the world. They are a great source of protein and can easily be used to replace meat products. Occasionally, people consume them raw, however it is best to only eat cooked eggs since cooking usually prevents food poisoning. Eggs can be cooked in a wide variety of ways – they can be used in baking breads, cakes, cookies and other products, they can be boiled, scrambled, fried or poached. They are also used to create mayonnaise and can even be pickled for preservation. Coating an egg with clay, mud, or salt paste can also stop it from spoiling. Long-term storage of these coated eggs can cause fermentation and these fermented eggs are often considered a delicacy.

Health Benefits

Many different nutrients are contained in eggs. The yolk contains vitamin E and A. Vitamin A maintains the health of bones, skin and eyes. Vitamin E assists with keeping body cells functioning properly. They are an important source of vitamin D which helps the human body resist disease. Eggs also contain several of the B vitamins, calcium, iron & folic acid. They are also low in calories, all of the fat of eggs is located in the yolk. Many people only use the egg white to reduce consumption of fat. The yolk also has choline which is important for brain health. Some types of eggs can provide omega 3 fatty acids which helps to maintain heart health.

How to Prepare Eggs

There are lots of different ways to make eggs and making them is one of the basic human skills. It’s up there with being able to take a slice of bread and put jam on it. So we won’t bore you with different egg recipes:). But if can master scrambled eggs Jamie Oliver style I’m sure you’ll score some extra points:

09 Apr

Celery: a Superfood Packed With Vitamins and Minerals

There’s a myth about celery that claims that the mere act of eating it causes you to lose weight. That is, you burn more calories chewing and digesting the stuff than it has. Well, maybe not, but for centuries celery has been known as a superfood, rich in vitamins and minerals and low, if not quite that low, in calories.

Some Facts
Celery is a member of the umbelliferae family, and so is related to dill, parsley, carrots and fennel. It comes in bunches of stalks with a common base and leafy tops. Be mindful not to throw out the leafs because they’re also good. It’s in season during the summer and can be grown in a backyard garden. Celery is a biennial, which means that its life cycle lasts for two years.

The domesticated celery we eat is descended from the wild celery, which is believed to have originated in southern Europe and northern Africa. Wild celery is a little different from domesticated celery in that it was leafier.

The popular celery sticks.

Why It’s a Superfood
Celery is a superfood because it’s absolutely packed with vitamins and minerals. A cup of celery provides 36.9 percent of the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin K, a vitamin necessary for blood clotting. It gives 9 percent of the B vitamin folate, 9 percent of Vitamin A, 7.5 percent of potassium, 6.7 percent of molybdenum, 5.6 percent of fiber and 5.2 percent of Vitamin C. Vitamin C helps boost the immune system and is an antioxidant, which helps prevent the cells of the body being damaged by free radicals. It also cuts down on the body’s inflammatory response, which can worsen conditions like asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. Celery is also rich in phthalides, substances which help lower cholesterol and coumarins, which might have anticarcinogenic properties.

Health Benefits
Celery was used as a medicine before it was used as a food. Though it’s been used since the time of Homer, it wasn’t really valued as a food in Europe till around the 18th century, and didn’t show up in the United States till the early 1800s.

The phthalides found in celery have been shown to help arteries to dilate, which can lead to decreased blood pressure. Celery is also high in potassium, calcium and magnesium, which are also minerals known to lower blood pressure.

Celery seeds can be used as a diuretic, which means they help you to get rid of excess fluid, mostly by increased urination. The coumarins found in celery not only appear to fight cancer, but they support the production of white blood cells that fight pathogens.

Celery

Best Way to Eat Celery and a Recipe
Celery should be bought when it’s crisp and the head is tight. There should be no brown or yellow spots on the stalks and the leaves should be bright, light green and also free of spots or wilted patches. To store it, put it in a plastic bag or wrap a damp cloth around it and put it in the fridge. It’s best not to wash it until you’re going to eat it. Don’t put celery in the freezer, as it doesn’t freeze well. Celery can be chopped and added to salads, or can be eaten dipped in peanut butter or ricotta cheese. The leaves can be used in salads. Here’s a recipe.

Celery and Scallion Casserole
3/4 cup scallions
1 cup chopped celery
2 tbs. sweet butter
2 cups raw rice
2 cups chicken broth
1 tsp. sage
Dash of black pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Cook the scallions and celery in the butter until they’re tender. Place them in a baking dish. Cook the rice in the chicken broth until its half done, then pour over the celery and scallions. Add the sage and pepper and bake for 40 minutes or until the rice is done.

13 Aug

Chili Peppers – Hot&Healthy Cancer Cell Killers

The history of the chili pepper goes back thousands of years. Archaeologists have found evidence of homegrown chili peppers from over 6000 years ago. They were first cultivated in Central and South America but Christopher Columbus discovered them and introduced them to Europe. He called them peppers because they had a spicy, hot taste just like the black and white pepper that was a the time known in Europe. The chili pepper later spread throughout Asia where it became very popular as a spice for their ethnic cuisine. Chili peppers quickly became popular because they were thought to have the same pungency as black peppercorns which were expensive.

Peppers are broken down into three groupings, the bell peppers, hot peppers, and sweet peppers. Chili peppers fall under hot peppers and some of their more popular varieties are:

Habanaro – small yellow or red pepper that has a high heat rating
Jalapeno – very popular when it comes to Mexican food, has various heat levels
Thai Pepper – small red peppers that are quite spicy
Serrano – smaller green ones with medium heat
and many many more…

Jalapeno peppers

Chili Peppers = Super Food?

You usually think hot, spicy, Mexican,etc when talking about chili but super food? What makes chili peppers a super food? Well, mostly capsaicin. The intensity of the chili pepper is controlled by natural chemicals called capsaicinoids and they are responsible for the heat and burn of the peppers. Apart from the burning capsaicin peppers also include other nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin C, beta-carotene and other potent antioxidants and they low in fat, calories, and in cholesterol.

So what are the benefits of eating hot chili peppers?

Health Benefits

Enjoying Chili Peppers

Peppers are an important part of many ethnic cuisines either fresh from picking or dried to preserve them for longer periods of time. They can be used whole, sliced, diced, sautéed, or fried and even ground into a paste. The chili pepper is also a favorite ingredient in curry dishes, chipotle is made from the jalapeno pepper…They are also often used to make hot sauce which is then added to many different dishes including chili soup, pizza and many other dishes that taste better with more spice. So getting enough chilies is not a problem. What about the benefits?

Health Benefits of Chili Peppers

We have blamed capsaicin for the hotness of the peppers but there are other effects that this substance can give us apart from burned mouth. Capsaicin is an effective ingredient in the management of pain. It disables the part of the nervous system that allows us to feel pain. Obviously not all pains but capsaicin containing cream it can help with pain from:

arthritis (joint and muscle pains),
neuropathy (damage to nerves),
headaches,
pain from a mastectomy (breast removal) and amputations,
pain resulting from shingles (painful skin rash),
etc..

But the benefits don’t stop here. Capsaicin is also a natural anti-inflammatory and helps improve circulation. They are investigating if it can stop a heart attack and be used instead of Novocain for dental work.

Chili peppers can also clean and purify your blood and get rid of mucus and toxins. This way your blood can transport more oxygen.

Being hot and all you would think that spicy chili peppers are bad for your stomach. But quite the contrary is true – they can help fight off ulcers!

Then there is cancer – capsaicin destroys mitochondria in cancer cells and causes cell death but as said only in cancer cells, healthy cells are unharmed. Spicy foods kills cancer cells! A Nottingham University study confirmed that.

Capsaicin also reduces high blood pressure and improves your your metabolism.

And finally – it can also serve as an alternative to Botox.

Dried chili peppers

A Simple Recipe Using Chili Peppers

There are loads of hot recipes out there, even whole cuisines are considered spicy. Here is a simple holiday recipe for a tasty, spicy appetizer.

Spicy Version

Split hot peppers in half. Stuff with mixture of tuna, cream cheese and spices to taste.

Mild Version

Section whole green peppers and use the same stuffing you use with hot peppers.

Cream Cheese Filling

1 Package cream cheese (whipped)

1 Small can of Tuna

Season to taste.

Any left over filling is great on crackers!

25 Jul

Chlorella: A Superfood With Endless Potential

What is Chlorella?

chlorella algae

Chlorella is a type of single-celled algae that contains the largest amount of chlorophyll of any plant on Earth. It grows in fresh water and is capable of quickly multiplying itself using a process that requires only sunlight, carbon dioxide, water and minerals. Scientists believe that Chlorella has been around for over 2 billion years, thanks to its simple and easy to sustain life pattern. The name “chlorella” is derived from the Greek words “ella” and “chloros,” which together mean “small green.”

Why is Chlorella Considered a Superfood?

Chlorella contains all of the amino acids required by the body, as well as a good amount of essential fatty acids and other nutrients. The vitamins and minerals that can be found in chlorella are folic acid, calcium, potassium, magnesium, B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, phosphorous, and many more. On top of all this, chlorella also contains a special phytonutrient called Chlorella Growth Factor (CGF). CGF is what allows chlorella to reproduce itself at such a rapid rate, and it is also demonstrating the potential to revitalize cells within the human body. Researchers are discovering that CGF may be able to help the body remove impurities and enhance the strength of the cells.

What Else Can Chlorella Do For The Human Body?

Aside from the obvious good things that come from ingesting any nutrient-dense food, Chlorella can help the body in a number of other ways. In Asian countries, Chlorella has been used as an energy-booster for many centuries, but it is only now being discovered that it can help to lower cholesterol. In a Japanese study, 16 high-cholesterol patients were given 20 chlorella tablets a day for twelve weeks. At the end of the study, all of the patients experienced a drop in their cholesterol levels. Chlorella may also be capable of promoting healthy blood pressure and more relaxed arteries.

Another way that chlorella can help the human body is by encouraging the growth of healthy bacteria within the digestive system. Unhealthy gut flora can contribute to a number of diseases, including ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, food sensitivities, depression and a poor immune system. Chlorella can help by stimulating the growth of lacto-bacilli, a type of bacteria necessary for properly functioning intestines.

Perhaps most importantly, chlorella has the potential to help cancer patients, especially those who are undergoing radiation or chemotherapy. The nutrients in chlorella can possibly protect white blood cells from chemotherapy-induced problems and sooth the lining of the stomach, which can sometimes become damaged during cancer treatment. It can also aid digestion, guard against DNA damage due to radiation treatment, reduce the unpleasant side-effects of chemotherapy and even help the tissues in the body to repair faster, something that cancer patients desperately need.

What is The Best Way to Take Chlorella Daily?

There are a number of exciting and fun ways that you can introduce chlorella into your diet. The common form of chlorella is powder. You can try adding this powder to salad dressings, sprinkling it on top of a freshly cooked stir fry, mixing it into mashed potatoes or scrambling it with your morning eggs. For an even simpler approach, consider starting your day with a green chlorella smoothie. A banana, a few slices of pineapple, a handful of your favorite berries and a heaping spoonful of chlorella powder will blend into a delicious and nutritious dark green health shake that will be sure to give you energy throughout your work day.

Chlorella powder on a spoon

Even though you use the powder in small amounts it can give a bit of taste to the foods so if you don’t like that consider taking chlorella in tablet form. 2-4 tablets a day in a morning with some water and you are ready to go..no taste, no fuss.

27 Jun

Coconut And The Healthiest Oil on Earth

Coconut is one of the more famous fruits. A palm tree a few coconuts and you are already transported to an exotic sandy beach with clear blue water. But coconut is also a nutritious source of meat, juice and milk for many cultures around the world and on top of that it provides many health benefits. But first a few interesting facts…

Things You Did Not Know About Coconuts

The word coconut comes from the term “cocos nucifera.” Coco means “monkey face,” and refers to the three eyes or depressions on the hairy nut which resemble the head of a monkey. Nucifera means “nut-bearing.”

Monkey face

The coconut grows on coconut palm trees in coastal beach areas near the equator including Brazil, New Guinea, Thailand, Hawaii, the Philippines, and many other countries. They are grown in more than 80 countries around the world.

Even though it is called a “coconut,” the coconut is not a nut, it is a drupe, which is a fleshy fruit enclosing a hard-shelled stone or seed and is composed of an outer, middle, and inner layer, while a nut is a dry fruit consisting of a kernel or seed enclosed in a woody shell.

After a coconut palm tree has been planted, it takes seven years before it will produce coconuts.

Approximately one-third of the world’s population is dependent on the coconut in some degree for their food and economy.

The coconut has been used as part of traditional and folk medicine by people around the globe for thousands of years. It has been used in traditional medicine to treat: asthma, bronchitis, colds, constipation, coughs, flu, gonorrhea, pneumonia, sore throat, tuberculosis, typhoid, ulcers, upset stomach, wounds, and several other maladies.

In the Pacific Islands, the coconut palm tree is called the “Tree of Life” because it holds so much value as a source of both food and medicine.

In Thailand and Malaysia, schools exist to train pig-tailed macaques (monkeys) to harvest coconuts. There are even annual competitions held to find the fastest harvester.

In Maldives, the coconut is the national tree and considered to be the most important plant in the country. The country’s national emblem and coat of arms features the coconut tree.

Coconut, a super food?

Hard shell & soft white meat.

Coconut oil is called “the healthiest oil on earth” because it contains lauric acid. The lauric acid is converted by the body into monolaurin, which has anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-protozoal properties. Thus, the coconut is very effective in supporting the immune system.

Coconut also contains medium chain triglycerides (MCT), which are a healthy form of fat. It is believed that coconut is “nature’s richest source of MCTs.” Even though these MCTs are a form of saturated fat, they are easily digestible, which makes them ideal for people with problems such as irritable bowel syndrome or ulcerative colitis.

It is also believed that these MCTs may boost the levels of thyroid hormones, which are essential to metabolism, converting calories quickly into energy, burning fat more effectively, and increasing energy levels.

Coconut oil is also thought to have the ability to slow down the effects of Alzehimer’s disease. This is due to the fact that it contains saturated fat, which provides the brain with ketones, an alternate energy source. Ketones are high energy fuels that nourish the brain. After consumption of coconut oil, the medium chain fatty acids (MCTs) are converted by the liver into these ketones.

Health benefits of the coconut

It improves heart health.
It supports the immune system.
It protects against cancers, HIV and other infections.
It aids with upper and lower GI tract problems.
It strengthens the liver.
It reduces the incidence of epileptic seizures.
It eases neuropathies and itching from diabetes.
It deals with symptoms connected with prostate enlargement.
It promotes bone health.
It prevents osteoporosis and reduces joint and muscle inflammation.
It increases metabolism.
It helps treat diabetes.
It improves cholesterol level.
It may slow down the effects of Alzheimer’s.

Other benefits

Nutritional source of quick energy
Excellent hair conditioner and offers dandruff relief
Superb skin conditioner
Protects the skin from the sun
Anti-aging moisturizer
Coconut water has more potassium than most fruit juices, with enough potassium to aid in the correction of blood pressure-boosting effects of sodium
Coconut water is healthier than fruit juice with half the calories
Helps to prevent tooth decay and periodontal disease
Prevents wrinkles, age spots, and sagging skin

How Much Coconut Oil A Day?

An adult should consume around 3 1/2 tbsp. of coconut oil daily. If you’re not used to having coconut in your diet, you should start out with a lesser amount to see how your body reacts. There are no known side effects, but if you’re used to a diet that’s low in fat, you might have diarrhea as an adverse reaction. Therefore, it’s best to spread the recommended amount over the course of a day gradually to see how it affects you. If you’re pregnant and used to a low-fat diet, it’s recommended that you not add coconut oil to your diet.

Coconut Fruit Smoothie

Servings: 1
Preparation Time: 10 minutes

1 cup coconut milk or regular whole milk
1/2-1 whole banana
1/4 cup frozen fruit: berries, peaches, etc.
2 tablespoons fresh ground flax seeds
2 tablespoons fresh ground nuts: almonds, pecans, etc
1 tablespoon dry coconut (flakes, etc.)
1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted

Place all ingredients except coconut oil in blender and blend. Slowly pour coconut oil into blender while blending. Blend until smooth and serve.

23 Jan

Garlic – Anti-bacterial Superfood That Keeps Vampires Away

I think most of us have heard that garlic is good for you. And that it keeps the vampires away. How it does that, why is it healthy and why vampires hate it? Read on and you’ll find out.

First a few things about the plant itself. Garlic is botanically called allium sativum and is a type of bulb, that is a part of the onion genus. It is closely related to rakkyo, chive, onion and shallot. Most sources suggest that people have been using garlic for over 7,000 years! It originally came from Central Asia but today, it is available in all parts of the world and used for a wide range of purposes.

Why Is Garlic Considered a Superfood?

Why vampires don’t like garlic? The rational explanation is that this belief evolved from the fact that garlic was an ancient method of fending off many different evil spirits and vampires were considered to be one of these evils. A more detailed and vampire connected explanation says that since garlic is a natural antibiotic it kills bacteria which includes a certain type of bacteria that vampires have in their blood and can not live without. And this is why they need to stay away from it. Then again “newly” popular vampires from Twilight say that they don’t mind garlic at all. Anyway – next time you are attacked by a vampire try garlic and let us know.

Super foods are not by a set of rules defined number of foods. They are simply foods that are very rich with nutrients, minerals, and antioxidants and are able to help you fight diseases, lose weight, slow down the aging process, and more. They have properties that other “normal” foods don’t have. Garlic is considered a superfood because it has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and is also packed with antioxidants.

Used By Egyptians And Ancient Greeks

In the past, the Egyptians would eat garlic before they built the pyramids. The ancient Egyptians believed that the garlic gave them strength. They also believed that garlic could help prevent bladder infections. The ancient Greeks would eat garlic before they went into battle. Additionally, during the Middle Ages, people would eat garlic because they thought that it would help combat the plague.

What Are Some of the Health Benefits of Garlic?

Garlic has been shown to have a protective effect against heart disease. High cholesterol and high blood pressure are two of the major risk factors that can make a person more susceptible to developing heart disease. Garlic helps lower low density lipoprotein, or LDL. LDL is also known as the bad cholesterol because it is the type that accumulates in the arteries.

While garlic is lowering bad cholesterol, it is simultaneously raising HDL, or the good cholesterol. HDL helps remove plaque from the arteries. Garlic can also help lower blood pressure and protects our blood cells and blood vessels against inflammation. It also contains a long list of sulfur compounds (allicin, allyl polysulfides, diallyl sulfide, diallyl disulfude and many more) that help protect us from oxidative stress (what is oxidative stress?).

There was a study done on pre-hypertensive patients. They were divided into two groups. One group was given a garlic clove every day while the other half was given a placebo. The results of the study showed that the subjects who were given the garlic clove had lower blood pressures than the subjects who were in the control group.

You might smell later, but it’s healthy.

There has also been evidence to suggest that garlic can potentially help prevent cancer. Garlic helps reduce the amount of free radicals in the body. Free radicals are compounds that can encourage the growth of cancerous cells. Studies show that high consumption of garlic helps prevent nearly all types of cancer except prostate cancer and breast cancer. The anti cancer benefits of garlic may be again attributed to its allyl sulfide compounds, which are found to activate Nrf2 molecule. This specific molecule modifies certain cell responses, helps cells prepare for a strong survival response, and inhibits the formation of potentially cancerous cells.

One of the studies that showed that garlic can have a protective effect against cancer was performed in China. The study compared two counties, Gangshan and Quixia. The residents in Gangshan County ate about 20 grams of garlic per day. This county had a gastric cancer death rate of about 3.45 per 1,000 residents. The residents in Quixia County very rarely ate garlic. This county had a gastric cancer death rate of 40 per 1,000 residents. This is of course a very simplified explanation of the study.

Additionally, garlic can help boost the immune system. Garlic contains aliin, which gets converted into allicin when the garlic is crushed. Allicin is a natural antibiotic. It can help fight bacterial infections, such as streptococcus, which is what causes strep throat. Furthermore, garlic has been shown to help fight colds and influenza. In fact garlic’s ability to fight against infectious agents is probably its most renowned feature. Several studies have been conducted to investigate and validate garlic’s antibacterial and antiviral properties. Interestingly, recent studies showed that garlic also helps in the treatment of chronic infections involving bacteria which have developed resistance to prescription antibiotics. Certain compounds in garlic were also found to be effective in preventing infections caused by the fungus, Candida albicans as well as the bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Other benefits of garlic include lowering our levels of homocysteine with the help of its high amounts of B complex vitamins. This is another key factor that helps prevent cardiovascular problems. Garlic may also enhance our immune system function with its high vitamin C content.

Do you know it can be turned into a tea? Read on to find out how.

A Few Suggestions For Eating It

Even though garlic can be consumed in its raw form, it is very acidic, and it can cause nausea. It also makes your breath smell…well…not the most pleasantly. That is you may want to consider cooking garlic before you consume it. There are many ways to use it in your everyday cooking.

Garlic can be:

added to bread,
mashed potatoes,
pasta salad or regular salad,
to almost any meal with vegetables,
etc…

You should try to eat between two and five grams of garlic per day. If you do not like the taste of garlic, then you can get it in a form of a supplement.

Garlic Tea

To finish this garlic article – here is an unpleasant recipe for garlic tea :). It tastes quite horrible. But it’s really good if you have a cold, feel sick etc… You will need:

a piece of ginger root,
5 or 6 garlic cloves,
2 lemons
at least 1/4 gallon (1 liter) boiling hot water.

This is how to prepare ginger garlic tea:

Boil the water.
Peel the ginger and cut it into pieces.
Peel the garlic cloves and crush them, its best to use garlic press.
Pour boiling hot water on ginger and garlic and let the “tea” rest. You should wait at least an hour or two but its best to prepare it in the evening and leave it overnight.
When its ready you can reheat it if you want (it might be a bit easier to drink hot than cold), squeeze the lemons, and add lemon juice to the tea. It says two lemons but the more lemons you add, the less garlicky the taste will be.
Drink it cup by cup throughout the day. I won’t type enjoy here :)

Two More Garlic Recipes

I’ve dug out two cool recipes that include garlic. One is for garlic pasta and the second one is for roasted garlic. Roasted garlic becomes very soft and sweet. A nice addition to a whole range of meals.

and

22 Jan

Goji Berries – Luxury Model Fruits

Imagine going to a car dealership today and buying a luxury car with every optional upgrade and only paying about 15% more than a today’s typical $20,000 car. The luxury model has temperature controlled seats, on-board cameras, a premium sound system, premium tires, a fully stocked entertainment system and a fuel efficiency of 50 miles per gallon. The interior is made from the finest materials. The warranty is impeccable. The level of detail is downright artistic. It’s unfortunate that we don’t live in this imaginary world of inexpensive luxury. What if I told you, though, that evidence suggests goji berries are to regular fruits as our imaginary luxury car is to a standard model vehicle?

Goji berries are like luxury model fruits. While they’ve been labeled as a superfood, the word “superfood” doesn’t do the berry justice. It’s one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet. If you’re not sure what that means, imagine two jewelry boxes. One is filled with cheap jewelry and a few expensive pieces while the other is completely full of jewelry that has real gold, real precious gems and excellent craftsmanship. While the difference between goji berries and typical fruit isn’t quite as drastic, goji berries are much more like the latter jewelry box. The density of the nutrients that the body uses from a handful of goji berries is simply greater than that of inexpensive staple fruits like apples and oranges.

Goji berries are about five times as potent as prunes and over 25 times as broccoli. Also – fresh goji berries are 5 times more potent than dried ones.

The Benefits of the Goji Berry

Also known as the wolfberry, the goji berry’s key claim to fame is in its antioxidant content. The ORAC value of a food, or the oxygen radical absorbance capacity, is the value that foods with antioxidants are given to compare how well they can absorb free radicals in various tests. In these studies, goji berries has ranked astonishingly well. They’ve been shown to be about five times as potent as prunes and over 25 times as broccoli. That’s pretty significant, considering that broccoli is one of the most widely acclaimed superfoods.

Goji berries are also estimated to have a blend of over 30 essential nutrients in varying densities. They also contains 18 different types of amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein. Many of the berry’s other effects are still being researched, such as increases in mental performance, improved quality of sleep, anti-aging effects and positive effects on the mood. These do not come from any single part of the berry; they are believed to come from the unique blend of nutrients in their natural form.

Superoxide Dimutase

Superoxide Dimutase (SOD) are a group of enzymes that protect virtually every cell in the body that is exposed to oxygen. As an antioxidant, SOD levels in the body are crucial for continued function. However, the levels of SOD in the body decline with age, and studies have been inconclusive when it comes to raising them. The superoxide free radical is one of the most damaging known to date, and the inability to raise SOD will result in the inevitable, accelerated breakdown of the human body. The goji berry, however, has shown promise in actually raising these levels after consumption. It’s important to realize that everything from aging skin to Alzheimer’s has been at least partially linked to the reduction in SOD levels in the body. It isn’t the whole story, but the link is strong enough to suggest that anything that can raise these levels, like the goji berry, is fantastic. Even if the berry didn’t have a high nutrient density, the ability to lower SOD levels would still make it an excellent food.

Goji berries are best in their natural form.

Eating Goji Berries

Goji berries are best in their natural form. A handful of berries is usually close to a serving of fruit, so it already fits perfectly into the diet. Supplements are acceptable to an extent, but only when it’s difficult or impractical to get raw fruit. Goji berries can be used as a healthy desert topper or in fruit smoothies. They complement the flavors of other berries and citrus fruits very nicely. While it’s important to get a diverse range of foods, eating goji berries a few times per week is recommended.

Here is a cool video in which David Wolfe picks fresh goji berries in Arizona and explains a few more things about them:

Next, if you want to put your goji berries into a smoothie then check out this hoji berry smoothie recipe that includes bananas, goji berries, oranges and lucuma powder:

Enjoy!

21 Jan

Green Tea – Top 5 Health Benefits And Tea Quality Guide For Dummies

Green tea has become quite popular these days. In some countries there is a long tradition of drinking it but in others the tea drinking trend has only surfaced in the recent years. With gaining popularity green tea has made its way into supermarkets and health food stores around the world not only simply as tea but also as an ingredient in other foods and products. Everyone is looking for a way to look younger and to counteract some of their less healthy habits and green tea promises just that. How can it do that? Here you will find top 5 benefits of using it, how to tell the top notch green tea from a low quality one and a few preparation ideas. But first – a little history.

Where Does Green Tea Come From?

Green tea was originally grown and cultivated in ancient China. Neighboring Asian countries picked up this habit and today also use different varieties of green tea on a regular basis. The tea plant itself is known as Camellia Sinensis. The trick to making green tea is the amount of oxidization. Leaves can be dried differently to produce many different types of tea but when the least oxidization is used we get green tea. You could say that green tea is the most natural tea of them all (check this article if you want to learn more about this).

The effects of it have been noticed and studies a long time ago. For instance – Zen priest Eisai wrote The Kissa Yojoki which can be translated as as Book of tea in 1191. This book discusses the positive impact that green tea has the bodies’ organs. Asians used it for easing the after effects of liquor, better brain function, and to prevent urinary problems.

Ancient Asians relied on green tea for easing the after effects of liquor, better brain function, and to prevent urinary problems.

Why Is It A Super Food?

Green tea is considered a super food because it is packed with antioxidants and polyphenols. These give it life extending capabilities. A study done in May 2006 by the Yale University studied people that drink a liter and half of green tea each day. Now we all know that smoking is bad for your health. A funny thing that this study discovered is that people in Asian countries who smoke and consume several cups of green tea a day at the same time have minimal rates of cancer and heart disease. People that smoke back here in the west have much higher rates of these diseases.

So, what are the top 5 benefits of green tea:

Green tea drinkers can benefit from a decreased risk of heart disease,
better artery function,
blockage of bad cholesterol,
and improved good cholesterol levels.
Switching from sodas or highly sweetened drinks to green tea is good way to lose weight. The tea has the ability to increase metabolism and block the absorption of sugar which makes the process even easier.

Green tea drinkers can benefit from a decreased risk from problems caused by heart disease, better artery function, blockage of bad cholesterol, and improved good cholesterol levels.

Other Uses

It’s not only good when you drink it, there are other uses for green tea – you can also use it externally. For instance you can use tea bags to remove puffiness around the eyes and to exfoliate dead skin off the face. Several salons and spas have entire product lines that are made with green tea as the primary ingredient.

A Few Tips For Green Tea Drinkers

Many companies have concentrated formulas of green tea sold in capsule or liquid form for those that are looking to burn fat as part of a weight loss regimen. But I cant really see the point in that. You can just drink tea everyday and you will be fine. Here are a few tips for all the enthusiastic new green tea drinkers:

If you are trying to lose weight and can not drop the sweet taste completely (I drink unsweetened tea all the time and its all good) try using stevia instead of regular sugar. Stevia is an example of a sweetener that is natural and does not have negative side effects that are associated with chemical based sweeteners. Or use honey. And try to use less and less of it, you will get used to the less sweet taste.
Make a gallon of green tea and drink it all the time. If you want to improve the taste of the tea, place cut lemons or other fruit into the tea while it cools down. This way you can add flavor to it.
Since green tea bags are tiny you can have them with you all the time and use them to make a quick hot beverage. There are many places to get a cup of hot water for free. Drop the tea bag in it and you are set.
On the other hand, almost every place you go now serves green tea. Just remember to order it.

Making green is not exactly rocket science, but still here is a nice video that explains how to prepare it. Things to remember:

don’t use boiling hot water, water should be around 180F/80C
use the best tea possible (video mentions 1st, 2nd and 3rd cut, a bit more on that and tea quality later)
wait 3-5minutes.

The Tea Quality – What Makes The Best Green Tea Out There?

First cut tea, second cut tea, third cut tea

Tea grows in places that allow the tea leaves to be picked many times during the season. But the ones that are picked during the first harvest are always the best. And are therefore called 1st cut. One picked next are called 2nd cut and so on. The first cut tea leaves are the tenderest and have the highest levels of theanine, caffeine, antioxidants and aromatics oils.

Number of leaves harvested

How many leaves are plucked from the top? Less leaves make tea more expensive but the leaves at the end are the tenderest. You can pluck just the bud, bud and one leaf, bud + 2 leaves, bud + 3 leaves etc…with each additional leaf the concentration levels of theanine and antioxidants decreases.

Tea leaves state

The less destroyed and crumbled the leaves are the better.

How fresh are the leaves

Fresh, this years tea is of course better than one that is a few years old.

As you see the can be quite a difference between green teas. On one hand you can have freshly picked first cut top leaves and on the other hand you can have 3rd cut leaves, crumbled and mixed with black tea that are 2 years old, sitting on the shelves of supermarkets worldwide. They will all do you good but there is quite a difference between the first and the second option. This explains different prices when it comes to green tea.

Sooo…now what? Start drinking green tea! Try replacing coffee with green tea for starters. By drinking it daily we are constantly providing our bodies with antioxidants so try to make it a habit!