Amalaki – A Fruit That Really Can Keep the Doctor Away!
For years, health enthusiasts have lived by the age-old motto, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” While it’s true that an apple provides ample vitamin C as well as anti-allergenic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-viral benefits, there’s an even more powerful fruit that contributes to your overall health.
The Amalaki tree, which is primarily found in the tropical areas of Asia, has been cultivated for centuries in gardens and has sprung up as a popular commercial crop that’s grown for medicinal purposes.
The fruit is used whole and as a dried substance in medicinal treatments that provide relief from stress. Its antioxidants have been touted as something far more powerful than what a simple vitamin C found in an apple can provide.
The Amalaki fruit is also used as an anti-inflammatory when the extract is removed from the leaves of the same tree. It provides an anti-fungal and anti-microbial attribute when used topically.
Cancer studies in mice have shown that the Amalaki fruit reduces the effects that cancer cells have on ravishing the body and when used prior to radiation, offers a protective shield to damaging the chromosomes.
During medical studies conducted on rabbits, Amalaki had a cholesterol-reducing effect on rabbits whose numbers were elevated over a 60-day timeframe. This provides overall health benefits to the body’s cardiovascular system as a whole.
Even the digestive system appears to receive positive benefits from the consumption of the Amalaki fruit or its extracts. One study found that the extract reduced inflammation and irritation normally found with digestive diseases.
Like many other potent antioxidants, the Amalaki fruit contributes to a boost in your immune system. Life-spans in mice subject to tumors increased by up to 25% with the consumption of this extract.
No warnings have been given about the Amalaki fruit to date. It’s been used freely in India for centuries as a medicinal food known for its immense health benefits. Other conditions for which it’s used include constipation, colic, asthma, anemia, gout, and even mental disorders.
Today, you can get the benefits of Amalaki in power or tablet form. From the powder, you can make a tea to drink on a regular basis to get the most health benefits from your daily consumption.
Benefits That Green Tea Has on Your Health
If you’re a tea drinker, you may have come across many different flavors of tea lining the aisles of the grocery store. You may even have seen and tried green tea in your taste-testing endeavors.
You may have noticed that it held a nice, gentle flavor, but did you know that it provides more than just flavor? Green tea has been around for a long time and is better known in other countries as a healthy and healing type of tea.
It probably has the most health benefits of any kind of beverage or food item we know about. Green tea was developed centuries ago for the sole purpose of healing. The Chinese are the ones who first realized the benefits it holds and found a way to harness them for consumption.
Green tea became an integral part of their society and culture because it could be used for things like headache pain and depression. It was considered a highly sought after medicinal treatment because they felt it was the wonder drug of their time.
This wonder drug has been in their culture for over 4,000 years now. Green tea can be helpful for many disorders and diseases. Some of those include cardiovascular disease and high cholesterol levels, different types of infections, rheumatoid arthritis and even some types of cancer.
Green tea is most known for its ability to help your body stay strong and fight off disease – including some forms of cancer, such as esophageal cancer. Studies have shown that green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by at least 60%.
Dieters can also benefit from this flavorful tea. It’s known for its ability to help your body burn off some of the daily calories you take in. It provides you with some of the needed nutrients as well as being a healthy beverage that tastes good.
Another benefit you may not realize that it provides is the fact that it can help prevent tooth decay. Since it has bacteria-destroying abilities, it prevents harmful bacteria from settling into your mouth and causing the rotting and decaying of your teeth. That bacterium is also prevented from traveling any further into your body (such as your blood stream) and causing more health problems.
If you suffer from insomnia, you should consider drinking some green tea before retiring for bed each night. You can get a good night’s sleep just by sipping a steaming cup of green tea before bed. Introduce it into your daily beverage options and see how its powerful ingredient affects your health and wellness.
Does St. John’s Wort Help With Depression?
St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is an herb that’s sometimes used effectively for treatment of depression. It is believed to contain ingredients that may help the brain produce more serotonin, which produces feelings of well-being in the body.
The plant is named after St. John, the Baptist and produces yellow petals in groups of five that resemble a halo. Red sap runs from the plant and is said to be a symbol of the blood of St. John. Part of its scientific name, Hypericum, means “greatest health” in Greek.
For many centuries, St. John’s Wort has been used as a sedative and to treat wounds, burns and sleep disorders. Now, St. John’s Wort is believed to be valuable in treating anxiety, sleep disorders such as insomnia and depression.
St. John’s Wort can be purchased in capsules, extracts and teas. In the United States, it’s not sold as a prescription, but can be purchased over-the-counter. In Europe the herb is prescribed by physicians for depression and other illnesses.
Even though St. John’s Wort has been tested and scientifically researched it’s never safe for you to diagnose your own illness. Here are some things you need to consider before taking an herbal remedy – or any type of medication:
- If you’re severely depressed and have suicidal tendencies, consult a health professional before taking St. John’s Wort.
- Don’t take St. John’s Wort if you’ve been diagnosed as bipolar.
- Don’t stop prescription medications – consult a health professional first.
- If you’re pregnant or lactating, don’t take anything without first consulting a health professional.
Some side effects associated with taking St. John’s Wort are mild to severe allergic reactions, sensitivity to light, tiredness and nausea. You could also experience a lessened libido, headaches, dizziness and dry mouth.
If you’re thinking of taking St. John’s Wort, seek the advice of a health professional before you begin as it may react dangerously with some medications and ingredients in food.
Foods That Actually Cause Stress
Stress can be caused by a lot of things – from work issues to financial situations. It’s a normal reaction every human experiences in situations they weren’t prepared for. Sometimes, though, stress can be caused by simple situations – such as consuming certain food items that wreak havoc on your body and emotions.
Here are some foods that can cause stress when you eat too much of them:
Caffeine is well-known as a stimulant. When you’re trying to relax, having a caffeine-boost isn’t the answer to your problem. You don’t have to eradicate it forever, but try to limit your intake of caffeine if you’re feeling the effects of stress in your life.
Candy is another food item that has potential for causing a good amount of stress. Candy, in most cases, contains quite a bit of sugar. Sugar will give you a temporary boost of energy, but it gives you too much at one time, resulting in a quick crash shortly after.
Once the sugar high wears off, your mood can be irritable from the overwhelming fatigue it brings. If the sweet treats can’t be avoided, go for sugarless options or treats with a much smaller amount of sugar.
Potato chips are another stress-inducing snack item. Most potato chips contain a lot of salt, which can make you dehydrated and retain water. The more uncomfortable you start to feel, the more stress starts to come on. Choose less-salty snacks, like low salt pretzels or even a low salt version of your favorite potato chip.
Another item most people don’t think about is fast food French fries that are high in salt and fried in a lot of fat. The fast food restaurants thrive on their ability to get you the food fast, so the fries aren’t usually given enough time to drain off the excess grease.
The grease can cause stomach or digestion distress, which will most certainly cause stress in those who end up suffering from it. Avoid them as much as possible or limit your intake of them.
Junk food, in general, is considered stress inducing and poor in its nutritional components. When your body doesn’t get enough of the necessary minerals and nutrients it needs, its chances of being able to handle stress are lowered.
Eat yourself into a healthy state instead of toward a stressful one. Watch what you eat and stress will become more of a minor annoyance in your life rather than a pending catastrophe!
Foods That Are Good for Your Mind
There are “feel good” foods that are exceptionally good for your mind and your body. Whether you’re a college student facing finals week or a senior citizen concerned about memory loss and lack of concentration, you’ll benefit from knowing which foods to eat that will give you a memory boost.
Foods that are good for your mind usually contain “tryptophan,” a chemical that controls the all-important serotonin levels in the brain. Some foods that contain tryptophan are soy products, fowl, pineapples, eggs, cheese milk and avocados. Some bread, potatoes and cereals also have tryptophan.
Chocolate bars and drinks with caffeine may give you a temporary boost, but will cause your body and your brain to become imbalanced. Another chemical, Thiamine (Vitamin B1), promotes healthy brain cells and will also promote balance.
Folic acid, found in foods such as oranges, lemons and bananas help your brain to function healthfully and the mineral, Zinc, promotes concentration as well as keeping your immune system healthy. Zinc can be found in red meat, peanuts and oysters. Omega-3 fatty acids contained in fish (especially salmon) is a great “brain food.”
It’s best not to eat saturated fats contained in many fried foods and fatty meats such as bacon. They alter the neurotransmitters in your brain and can clog your arteries. Too many saturated fats, combined with an unhealthy diet and lifestyle can also cause obesity and an early death because of stroke or diabetes.
A diet rich in the following foods can be healthy for your brain as well as your body:
- Soybeans – Soy provides fiber, fats and proteins.
- Nuts – Contain monounsaturated fats that keep your arteries clear and your mind infused with serotonin.
- Tomatoes – Lycopene and folate, good for the arteries, are found in tomatoes.
- Dark Chocolate – Real chocolate increases artery cleansing flavonoid and also releases dopamine which provides a sense of well-being.
- Oils – Olive, flaxseed, fish, avocado and nut oils all contain monounsaturated fats.
Eating a mind-boosting diet can also benefit your body. If your diet doesn’t contain enough of the vitamins and minerals you need, supplements are readily available.
Whole Foods That Help Relieve Stress
When you plan your daily menu, you might not stop to think that what you put into your body can deliver stress-reducing benefits, but it can! Stress is a common problem in almost everyone’s life.
Some people endure more stress than others, while other people can’t seem to handle even small bits of stress that enter their lives. Your consumption of whole foods could help alleviate the anxiety and depression you feel so that you don’t crumble under chaotic conditions.
Broccoli – Broccoli holds a good amount of B vitamins. These vitamins are known for their ability to help increase the levels of serotonin within your body. Serotonin is what raises our mood levels and helps us cope with everyday life.
Fish – Fish is excellent for vitamin B6 and vitamin B12. These will enable you to relieve some of the effects that stress has on your body. Fish is well known as a brain food, which helps you to think clearly and focus on the task at hand.
Almonds – These are good resources for vitamin B2, vitamin E, Zinc and magnesium. These vitamin-rich nuts are excellent mood regulators. They help to raise the levels of serotonin your body produces to help lower your levels of stress. Add the almonds to a broccoli dish and increase your chances of becoming almost stress-free just through your food choices!
Whole Grain Rice and Pasta – Even though pasta and some rice dishes are known for their high levels of carbohydrates, they’re still two of the best stress relievers out there. Eat the whole grain versions because they’re much healthier than the white ones, where nutrients are stripped out. The carbohydrates in pasta will break down into sugars within your body and your energy levels will increase, thereby decreasing your stress levels.
Blueberries – These are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, which are lethal combinations for high levels of stress. Blueberries are also high in fiber, so they can help keep your colon healthy in the process.
Beef – Beef is another excellent resource for B vitamins and zinc. It also provides you with a nice amount of iron – all of which tackle the high levels of stress within your body. Be sure to pick lean cuts of beef since the fat can contribute to heart disease, which will put stress on your body.
Cottage Cheese – Cottage cheese is a rich, dairy product that provides us with a lot of B vitamins. The B vitamins increase your serotonin levels, which are what counteracts the effects of the stress. Double your benefits by adding some fruit like cantaloupe or maybe some blueberries to the cottage cheese.
It’s natural for us to pick foods we crave as comfort after a long day at work, but you have to realize that if you make the wrong kind of food choices, you might add to your stress levels in the long run. Choose whole foods instead and reap the long-term rewards they have to offer!