Herbal Supplements for Good Health and Fitness-VIII

Here I come with my next Superfood item

SEAWEED

STAR POWER:

The sea has a far richer diversity in plants than land. The many plants of the sea sustain the health of the sea and consequently, the health of land and all the life on it. Seaweed is a kind of algae and is a rich storehouse of nutrients and disease fighting elements. It has been used in South-East Asia for centuries. Spirulina was extensively researched as one of the foods for astronauts and that is how the benefits of the simple algae became known to in the west. In South-East Asia, many algae are eaten in the form of soups, curries etc. In Japan, they are popular as Nori. People who live in coastal areas have a very low incidence of thyroid disorders. This is because their food is rich in sea minerals.

PRACTICAL CONSUMPTION:

Spirulina is a popular form of algae, easily available as tablets and capsules. Many South-East Asian foods consist of seaweed wraps with rice.

PRECAUTIONS:

Some people may find the odour of seaweed too strong, so start with tablets and capsules and then go on to the fresh form. Most stores in Singapore and Hong Kong have seaweed-base foods and snacks. With tablets, stick to the prescribed dose.

Herbal Supplements for good health and fitness-VII

Hello friends,
We can certainly get benefits by using Figs and Raisins

STAR POWER:

Figs are one of the most alkaline foods on earth. Our bodies have a certain a acid-alkali balance that is skewed towards the alkali and contributes to our state of health. When we eat indiscriminately, the breakdown of so much food makes the body environment so much acidic which makes it a fertile medium for becteria, viruses and Candida (a yeast like fungus) that multiply and cause disorders. Even cancers grow in acidic environment. Figs are both alkaline and rich in several minerals and micro-nutrients. They also contain non-fattening natural sugar helping in weight control. The special fibre in figs (pectin) improves bowel movements and works against cholesterol build up. Raisins are dried grapes used as natural sugar. They rise the hemoglobin level and should be eaten by growing children.

PRACTICAL CONSUMPTION:

Pre-soaked figs can eaten be first thing in the morning. Figs and raisins can be added to juices and salads along with hazel nuts, pine nuts and walnuts.

PRECAUTIONS:

To get the best nutritional benefit, do not combine figs with dairy products and heavy cereals.

Herbal Supplements for good health and fitness-VI

The next food item helpful in maintaining good health and nutrition is HERBAL TEA

STAR POWER:

Herbal teas are actually called infusions and are most popular way of consuming aromatic herbs and flowers. Herb teas or infusions can have a mix of healing ingredients like Jasmine flower (eliminates water retention), chamomile flower (sleep inducer) or digestive infusions with various spices and herbs. The entire benefit of the herb or spice is passed on to the infusion. Benefit range from eliminating water retention, inducing sleep, removing gas, calming the stomach, controlling loose motions, providing antioxidants, to fight cancer and more.

Practical consumption:

For cough and cold, boil tulsi, ginger and two whole black peppercorns, sweeten with honey and drink. As a pick-me up, boil a few leaves of green tea with a pinch of ground cinnamon, ginger and cardamom till the color is golden.

Precautions:

Too much tea leads to intestinal dryness

Herbal Supplements for good health and fitness-V

I am back with the next herbal supplement towards good health and fitness:
ALFA-ALFA HERBS AND SEEDS

STAR POWER:

This plant has roots that go underground upto 30 feet in search of nutrients, which means that alfa-alfa is very rich in special nutrients and minerals. In fact, the Arabs refer to it, as 'the father of herbs'. It is rich in vitamin A, C and K and minerals like selenium, copper and enzymes. It is best for anaemia, increasing lactation, bleeding and clotting disorders, menopausal and menstrual problems and liver related problems.

PRACTICAL CONSUMPTION:

Sprout one teaspoon of alfa-alfa seeds overnight in a moist cloth. Make tea out of the sprouts the next day or simply add to a salad.

PRECAUTIONS:

If anybody has autoimmune disorders, it should be taken under medical supervision.

Herbal supplements for good health and fitness-IV

The next item in the superfoods family of healthy diet plan is 'Honey'

STARPOWER:

Honey is made by worker bees from the nectar of flowers. It contain small quantities of antigens that are contained in flowers and pollens, and pushes the body to create antibodies or protective cells to build immunity. Being a pre-digested sugar, it is easily absorbed by the weak and frail.
Honey is not fattening despite its being sweet because of its invert sugar (a mixture of equal parts of glucose and fructose resulting from the hydrolysis of sucrose), which is why weight loss practitioners advice you to have it with lemon and hot water. Though, if you have honey with milk and almonds it will be fattening.

Honey is also a very good anti-bacterial agent helping in maintaining good health and fitness. It kills even the most potent bacteria by sucking out their water. It is also an excellent moisture retainer and often used for skin treatment. It is rich in enzymes that comes from the worker bees. Plus,it is a source of pre-digested sugar.

PRACTICAL CONSUMPTION:

Add honey to herbal tea to sweeten it since it doesn't lead to weight gain. Or add it to a glass of warm water and lemon to help in weight loss. Otherwise, you can eat it on toast or add it to oat porridge with a dash of cinnamon to make a nutritious breakfast dish for thin or normal weight
children.If you mix a teaspoon of honey with two teaspoon of powdered black pepper, a fewdrops og ginger juice and tulsi, you will get one of the most effective cough medication ever.

PRECAUTIONS:

Do not give natural honey to toddlers under two years old as their immune system may not respond to it well.

Superfoods for good health and fitness-III

Fruit and Vegetable juices are essential consituent of a healthy diet plan. They are blessed with three factors leading to good health and fitness.

(a) They are rich in antioxidants.

(b) They are full of live enzymes.

(c) They contain heat-labile vitamins (that is, the vitamins that are usually
lost while cooking).

Antioxidants are exceptionally important because they destroy the free radicals that are continuously created in our body due to toxins from fertilizers, pollution and so on. Free radicals lead to inflammation in the heart, arthritis, mutations resulting in cancers and other terrible diseases. The role of antioxidants was first discovered by the naturopaths, but laboratory confirmations using advanced scientific tools are relatively recent.

Fruit and Vegetable juices are also rich in live enzymes. Enzymes are a component of food with the power to transform. They transform plant energy to an energy form that we can utilize. This power also resides in our livers, but we tend to overload the liver to such an extent that the body is unable to handle food. All problems of fatigue, dark circles under the eyes and lack of facial glow result from under-metabolic food.

When we cook vegetables, all enzymes are lost due to the heat. So, when we drink vegetable juices, we also get enzymes. Enzymes are present in raw salads, raw vegetables and fruit.
The third important aspect of fruit and vegetable juices is that they are a storehouse of vitamins like B complex and C that are otherwise destroyed in cooking. Many disorders due to indiscriminate eating are miraculously cured by naturopathy techniques and fruit & vegetable juice therapy.

PRACTICAL CONSUMPTION

Make different juices every day. Try a juice of carrot and fennel, add some ginger or garlic according to taste to add to the nutritional benefits.

PRECAUTIONS

If you are used to a very unhealthy diet or refined or processed foods, begin with small quantities because sudden detoxification may overwhelm the system. Pregnant women and people with compromised immunity should also avoid vegetable juices. In this way you will be able to transform nature's life forces to human vitality.

Superfoods for good Health and Fitness -II

I am here with my next post in which I will discuss about the medicinal value of flowers:

STARPOWER:
Rather like homeopathy, flower therapy does not attack a disease head on. Instead, it activates cellular intelligence to fight imbalances within its immediate environment. Flower therapy is used in food, aroma oils and skin applications. Jasmine flower have a relaxing effect on the nervous system. Jasmine tea is the flower in a tea form(called an influsion). Rose petals are a great luxative and used in many medicines. Rose is also drunk in a sherbat form as it cools and relaxes the body.

Practical consumption:

Substitute late night beverages with flower infusions. They are great for relaxation. And have rose sherbet in summer.

Precautions:

Some people may be allergic to some flower components, so be careful if you have a family history of asthma