• Garlic

• Echinacea

• Goldenseal

• Oregon Grape

• Manuka Honey

• Propolis

• Thyme

• Chamomile

• Improved blood circulation.
• Aids in production of nitric oxide.
• Treats and prevents leg and ankle swelling.
• Acts as an anti-inflammatory.
• Improves retinal edema.
• Improves vision in the beginning stages of diabetic retinopathy.
• Increases immune system.
• Helps normalize blood glucose levels and delays absorption of sugar.
• Combats menopausal symptoms.
• Alleviates cramps and menstrual symptoms.

• Gas, bloating, and swelling of the abdomen.
• Constipation or incomplete bowel movements.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Severe abdominal pain(less common).
• Kidney stones.
• Increased calcium in the blood.

• Oral calcium.
• Chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine.
• Oral iron supplements.
• Calcium channel blockers.
• Blood-pressure lowering medications.

The truth about garlic is everywhere. What’s interesting is that it’s been around from a long time as well. Of course, there are myths also associated with garlic, about how it can ward off vampires. In today’s world, if it can help ward off the many diseases that we seem to be developing, it’s nothing short of a wonder herb.

Garlic has been used since the ages for good health. But scientists are discovering new and exciting uses of this herb and the goodness it can offer. Here’s a look at some of the ways in which garlic can benefit you.

• Treating cancer – Yes, garlic can actually help in treating cancer. Studies have shown that certain components in garlic such as diallyl disulfide can kill the cancer cells and help you in developing a strong immune system. Garlic is also known to reduce papillary lung tumors. Eating a clove of raw garlic is also known to reduce the occurrence of cancers in the first place.




• High blood pressure – Amazing, but true. Garlic can help in monitoring your blood pressure so that the high levels can come down to normal levels. Traditional Asian medicine recognizes garlic as an effective hypertension controller and this fact is being corroborated by scientists the world over today. For garlic to help you in controlling your hypertension, you can consume its fresh juice, crush a clove in hot milk or simply take one clove each day.




• Garlic is known to even cure ear infections, especially in children who are very susceptible to them. Garlic acts as nature’s own antibiotic without the harmful effects as it has strong anti bacterial and anti microbial properties. Juice from the cloves of raw garlic diluted with water can be placed in the ear directly. Do note that this can cause plenty of pain as the garlic starts acting on the microbes that have caused the infection. The pain however lasts for just a little while and along with it the infection also subsides.




• Garlic as antibiotic – Garlic is nature’s very own antibiotic and the best part about it is that it doesn’t get rid of healthy bacteria as well. More and more people are turning to garlic as an effective antibiotic.




• Increasing antioxidant levels – Garlic helps in pushing up the overall antioxidant levels of the body and this in turn has its own chain of actions resulting in decreased serum glucose levels as well as lowered blood pressure.




• Garlic flushes out the toxins from the body so it is a great way to get your body cleaned up.




• Garlic contains allicin, a powerful compound that works as an antibiotic and helps heal skin infections as well. It’s interesting to note that allicin doesn’t occur on its own but is formed when garlic is chopped or crushed.




• In the olden days garlic was recognized not just as a vampire repellant but also because it helped in healing wounds and bruises. It was also a popular treatment for flatulence and indigestion.




• Garlic is not just healthy for your body, but it’s also great for your skin. Regular consumption of garlic tones the skin, making it smooth while also making your nails stronger. Another wonderful benefit is that it controls dandruff related problems as well.

There are of course some side effects that you need to consider before you liberally start consuming garlic to get all those benefits. Anything in moderation works well but if you overdo it, that is, eat more garlic than you should, the following are the most likely side effects that you might possibly undergo –

• Body odor – If you eat too much garlic, you’ll notice that you have started smelling like garlic. This is because the garlic is secreted through your pores and this continues until all garlic is removed from your body. The body odor can be embarrassing and can cause a lot of distress.




• Garlic breath – Eating too much raw garlic can cause plenty of bad breath and this could hamper your social life. The only way to counter it would be to eat raw garlic along with your food and to preferably eat it before you go to sleep.




• Digestion problems – Too much of a good thing can only be bad. So also with garlic and studies have shown that if you eat too much garlic, it can burn the lining of your stomach and cause you plenty of pain.




• Allergies – For some people who suffer from garlic allergy, there could be rashes, fever or vomiting. It could also react adversely with some anti-coagulants as well.




• The sulfur in garlic can result in botulism, which can cause severe stomach upset or even death.

If you’ve decided to make garlic a part of your healthy lifestyle, make sure that you get organic garlic which has all the goodness inherent in garlic. In your regular shops, you might come across chemically treated garlic which is of no use. If the garlic bulb has sprouted, it means that the garlic has aged and has lost all its valuable compounds.

The best way to ensure that garlic retains all its beneficial compounds is to crush it finely and add it to food. Some people also prefer to have garlic juice while others hate its smell and taste. For such people, there are plenty of garlic based supplements which work just fine and can be had like your daily dose of vitamins.

Physically speaking, a bulb of garlic might resemble an onion bulb but metaphorically also, there’s a huge similarity. Just as you peel the different layers of an onion, with garlic everyday new and more potent uses are being uncovered.

There are many health benefits of eating tomatoes. Tomatoes contain compounds that have been proven to help prevent cancer, heart disease cataracts and many others.

Tomatoes, which are actually a fruit and not a vegetable, are loaded with all kinds of health benefits for the body. They are in fact, a highly versatile health product and due to their equally versatile preparation options, there’s really no reason to neglect the tomato as a part of a healthy diet.

One of the most well known tomato eating benefit is its' Lycopene content. Lycopene is a vital anti-oxidant that helps in the fight against cancerous cell formation as well as other kinds of health complications and diseases.

Free radicals in the body can be flushed out with high levels of Lycopene, and the tomato is so amply loaded with this vital anti-oxidant that it actually derives its rich redness from the nutrient.

New research suggests that the human body absorbs lycopene better from orange-colored tomatoes than from the more popular red varieties.

Lycopene is an antioxidant commonly found in tomatoes and other red- or pink-colored foods, including watermelon, papaya, rosehips, and pink grapefruit or guava. Evidence suggests that lycopene reduces the risk of cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease, and possibly even male infertility.

Tomato extracts can boost heart health by deleting the accumulation of platelets that eventually lead to blood clots, heart attacks and strokes, according to two complimentary studies from British researchers. They say the aggregation of platelets is one of the three major components of heart disease.

Nutrition of Tomatoes

Tomatoes will give you the following nutritional benefits:

* Vitamin C (40% of recommended daily value in one tomato)
* Vitamin A (20% RDA)
* Vitamin K (over 15% RDA)
* Decent source (7% RDA) of fiber
* Potassium, niacin, vitamin B6, folate
* Lycopene (antioxidant)

All those nutrients can improve your health:

* Lots of cancer protection
* Protects against heart disease, stroke
* Colon and prostate health
* Improves LDL cholesterol
* Natural anti-inflammatory (helps with above diseases plus Alzheimer’s and osteoporosis)
* Bone health
* Reduces stress
* Can reduce frequency of migraines
* Helps regulate blood sugar in diabetics

Lycopene is the Tomato’s Secret Weapon

Lycopene is an antioxidant, which means it helps cells protect themselves from oxygen damage. You’ve heard the phrase “free radicals” thrown around, I’m guessing. They’re bad for you, inside and out, and lycopene is a great weapon against them. It has been shown in studies to protect against colorectal, prostate, breast, endometrial, lung, and pancreatic cancers, quite significantly in many cases. It also protects against heart disease.

In one study, 10 healthy women ate a diet containing two ounces of tomato puree each day for three weeks, either preceded by or followed by a tomato-free diet for three weeks. The researchers measured blood levels of lycopene and evaluated oxidative damage to cells before and after each phase. They found that cell damage dropped by 33% to 42% after consuming the tomato diet.

Fresh or Canned?

In the summer, when you can get local produce, of course eat fresh tomatoes if you enjoy them. However, tomatoes are one of those few foods that actually increase in nutrition after being cooked. Cooking breaks down cell walls, releasing and concentrating carotenoids (lycopene).

The tomatoes available in grocery stores are generally cultivated for toughness and even color, not flavor or nutrition. Most are picked green and treated with ethylene gas, which causes them to turn red without really ripening. You can put a store tomato in a sunny window upside down to ripen it up (but it might not be worth the $ for the lack of flavor!). Hydroponic tomatoes, because of the lack of soil, lack nutrients. They’re not worth your time. Canned tomatoes get one more leg up because they’re picked at peak ripeness and processed immediately, thus retaining more nutrients than produce-section toms.

Eating the whole tomato increases absorption of lycopene, so if you can find canned tomatoes with peels (most aren’t) or make your own tomato sauce/paste/etc, you can increase the nutritive value even further. To make sure your body absorbs the lycopene best in whatever kind of tomato you’re eating, add a bit of fat. Carotenoids are fat-soluble, so they will get into your system better if they had some oil to ride upon.

Sources:
http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2009/04/26/food-for-thought-health-benefits-of-tomatoes/

The skin is the largest organ of the body, and our overall health is reflected on it. No matter what our age, we can make changes in our lives that will show up on our skin.

Here are 7 steps to beautiful, glowing skin:

1. Avoid Food Intolerances

If you are intolerant to certain foods, it may show up as bags or dark circles under the eyes. Sugar is one of the most aging toxins, since fluctuating blood sugars are highly aging. Cow's milk is linked with acne and poor skin quality. Excess alcohol and other toxins that make the liver overworked can make the skin look overworked. A healthy diet that is filled with foods that nurture is the key to radiant skin.

2. Avoid Free Radicals and Eat Loads of Antioxidants

Free radicals such as house hold chemicals and cigarettes cause aging. The irony is that all of these expensive creams and potions that promise to turn back the years, along with botox and other processes cause free radical damage that will eventually appear on the skin, no matter how much they seem to work in the short term.

But despite our efforts to avoid toxins, we are still going to come into contact with free radicals. Even exercise causes free radicals. Consuming as many antioxidants as possible is the natural antidote. Kale, cabbage, chilli peppers, parsley artichokes and Brussels sprouts are some of the most powerful vegetables. Berries, pineapple, pomegranate, prunes and kiwis are some of the fruits with the highest antioxidant activity. Raw chocolate, bee pollen, goji berries, and spirulina are just a few of the new super foods shown to dramatically reduce aging, as well as most other health issues.

3. Find Your Optimum Weight and Stay There

The endless cycle of losing weight, gaining it back only to go on yet another diet is terrible for the skin, not to mention dangerous for the body and exhausting for the mind. This constant rise and fall of weight can potentially cause wrinkles and saggy skin. Maintaining your optimum weight keeps skin firm and youthful. Cutting out or at least dramatically reducing the amount of "dead" food such as bread, pasta and rice while significantly increasing the amount of living food like fruits and vegetables is a simple change you can make to find your ideal weight and enjoy optimum health.

4. Limit Intense Sun Exposure

Excess sun exposure can cause skin damage. Yet this fact has been taken to the extreme, making people scared of getting any sun at all. The key is to get short bursts of sun so that you don't get sun burned. Eating plenty of antioxidants will actually make you less likely to get sun burned.
On the other hand, sunscreen has been shown to cause aging and disease, so covering up when the skin has had too much sun is far more effective. Research indicates that broccoli sprouts are an especially good natural sunscreen food, and scientists are attempting to create a sunscreen out of them.

5. Moisturize with Nature's Most Perfect Oil

Coconut oil keeps the skin strong and supple, preventing sagging, wrinkled skin. It protects from free radicals and is a natural sunscreen. It prevents dry skin, blemishes and liver spots. It even has the ability to restore and rejuvenate damaged skin. It heals and repairs, leaving the skin radiant and youthful.

Coconut oil has been used for centuries by people all over the world. It is nature's oldest and most popular moisturizer and youth restorer. Who needs botox and toxic skin creams when there is nature??

6. Ensure you Get Plenty of Essential Fats

Omega-3 fatty acids are a key ingredient for beautiful skin. Most people are seriously lacking in these fats that are vital for vibrant, healthy looking skin. Eczema, dry skin, cracked heels and premature aging are all signs of omega 3 deficiency. Omega-3 fats prevent dehydration in the cells so that the skin cells are strong and full of moisture. Fish oil and Alaskan wild salmon are good sources of omega 3. If you are a vegan, you can use hemp, linseed and chia seeds.

7. Relax Your Facial Muscles

Be aware of your facial expressions. If you frown a lot, try to relax the muscles. This is actually a good form of meditation. Go around your face and discover where there is tension or holding. Breathe into the area and feel it let go. Focus on all of the key muscles groups and feel them melting into relaxation.

You can also improve your skin with superfoods. Superfoods are natural foods that are high in antioxidants, packed with age-busting properties and fight cell damage from free radicals. Another great thing is that you can find most of these natural weapons against aging in your local grocery store:

1. Flax Seed - The high concentration of healthy Omega 3 & 6 oils, as well as vitamin E found in flax seed helps the skin look youthful. Even though some fats are high in calories, the oil in flax seed is actually good for you. 2 tablespoons of flax seed contain only 70 calories and can be incorporated into any recipe. It can work wonders for dry skin and help reduce inflammation. For those with psoriasis and eczema, adding flax seed - preferably ground flax seed to the diet - would be ideal.

2. Avocado - can boost moisture levels in dehydrated skin and is great for the fight against wrinkles. The antioxidant properties of vitamin E found in avocado helps in keeping the skin soft and smooth. Avocado also contains sterolins which plays a role in reducing age spots and heals sun damage. The emollient properties of avocado make it the perfect ammunition for skin regeneration.

Tip: Be on the look out for unblemished avocados with smooth shiny green skin, when shopping for fruit and vegetables.

3. Carrots - The carotenoids found in this vegetable when consumed, build up in the skin and provide protection from the damaging effects of ultraviolet rays absorbed by the skin. Nibbling on just one carrot a day will give you your vitamin A needs for the day.

Tip: Buy organic carrots for extra health benefits.

4. Apples - A study conducted by Monash University, in Melbourne, showed a link between eating a Mediterranean-style diet and showing less skin wrinkling than those who maintained a less healthy diet. One of the beneficial foods found to be responsible for fewer skin wrinkles were apples.

Green apples especially, contain lutein that is good for the elasticity of the skin and the strengthening of cell membranes. Apples eaten with the skin on, have more flavinoids which are beneficial to our health.

5. Watercress - This green leafy plant with a peppery taste, is known to improve the complexion of the skin. The iron content in watercress is enough to encourage sufficient blood flow to the skin for a glowing healthy complexion.

Eaten regularly, these super-foods will help you look and feel radiant and youthful. Remember, good nutrition and radiant skin go hand in hand.

Sources:
http://www.naturalnews.com/025493.html
http://kaplinskyreport.com/?p=4160

Spices and herbs add flavor and life to your meals. Now they have become the center of attention in research circles with new studies being published trumpeting their health benefits.

Health-conscious chefs and nutritionists have long recommended including spices and herbs in dishes to add flavor without the fat, salt or sugar. Many of the familiar culinary spices and herbs are very concentrated in antioxidants. For example, one teaspoon of ground cinnamon has the equivalent level of antioxidants as a half cup of blueberries and one cup of pomegranate juice.

Spices and herbs are also packed with vitamins and minerals. Basil and parsley, for instance, have high levels of vitamin C and folate while paprika and chilli are rich in beta-carotene which is converted to vitamin A in the body.

Which spices are the healthiest, tastiest and simplest to add to your foods? Here are a few that are particularly noteworthy. These were chosen because of their extremely high antioxidant score with sound research behind them. In addition, these seven are the easiest to consume in higher than normal quantities which is important if you want to get a clinical benefit.

- Cinnamon
One of the world's most popular spices, cinnamon comes from a cinnamon tree's dried brown bark, which is then rolled into a tube or ground. There are more than 100 varieties of this fragrant, somewhat sweet spice. Cinnamon contains manganese, dietary fiber and iron -- all typically lacking in our diets. Two teaspoons have about 12 calories.

Benefits:
- Anti-clotting Action: Helps prevent unwanted clumping of blood platelets.
- Anti-microbial Activity: Stops growth of bacteria as well as fungi, including the yeast Candida and pathogenic Bacillus cereus.
- Blood Sugar Control: In December 2003, a study appearing in the journal "Diabetes Care" suggested that 1-6 grams of cinnamon a day significantly reduce blood-sugar levels in patients with type-2 diabetes. In addition, the study showed that cinnamon reduced triglyceride, LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol levels. A number of studies suggest that as little as half a teaspoon a day can help individuals with non-insulin dependent (type-2) diabetes improve their response to insulin. And another recent study suggests that taking cinnamon may stabilize blood sugar even when eating foods high in sugar.
- Antioxidant Activity: Cinnamon is one of the spices highest in anti-aging antioxidants. One Norwegian study in the "Journal of Nutrition" indicates that it may be among the highest in antioxidants in the spice category.
- Brain-Boosting Function: May improve cognitive processing.

- Oregano
This anti-bacterial herb which has one of the highest antioxidant counts of all herbs. One teaspoon has as much antioxidant power as three cups of chopped broccoli (but don’t ditch the broccoli – have both!
Sliced tomatoes become exceptionally pretty and tasty with a sprinkle of oregano, a grind of pepper and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

- Turmeric
This bright yellow spice is commonly found in curry powder. Turmeric tops the list of all spices when it comes to health benefits. It contains high concentrations of the potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory curcumin, which has been said to inhibit tumor growth and help treat rheumatoid arthritis and cystic fibrosis. In addition, curcumin has been associated with reduced risk of childhood leukemia, improved liver function and even protection against Alzheimer's disease.
Turmeric contains calcium, magnesium, dietary fiber, vitamin B6, iron, potassium and manganese. Two teaspoons have 16 calories.

Benefits:
- Antioxidant: High levels of curcumin, the yellow pigment in turmeric, inhibit cancer cell growth. It has been studied more than many other spices and has been shown to slow the growth of prostate cancer cells as well as prevent the activation of genes that cause cancer. "We found that curcumin shuts off the master switch which controls tumorigenesis [tumor growth]. Our studies indicate that curcumin works against skin cancer and against breast cancer metastasis," says Bharat B. Aggarwal, Ph.D., a professor of cancer medicine at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.
- Anti-inflammatory: Apparently the antioxidants contained in turmeric fight the free radicals responsible for joint inflammation and damage.
- Alzheimer's Disease: Recent research conducted at UCLA indicates that eating foods with low doses of curcumin slashed the accumulation of Alzheimer's-like plaque in the brains of mice by 50 percent.

- Ginger
Ginger is a good source of potassium. One ounce of ginger root has about 20 calories. It may surprise you but one teaspoon of ginger has similar antioxidant levels as one cup of spinach! And ground ginger can be used in both sweet and savory dishes.

Benefits:
- Gastrointestinal Relief: Certain properties in ginger seem to ease motion sickness as effectively as over-the-counter remedies. It has been shown to inhibit vomiting and gastric ulceration, and its nausea-fighting properties can also be helpful for people who are suffering the side effects of chemotherapy.
- Anti-inflammatory: Inflammation is believed to be a contributing factor in cardiovascular disease, cancer, Alzheimer's and arthritis. Gingerols, compounds found in ginger, are said to thin the blood and help reduce pain like aspirin does. Research at the University of Miami has demonstrated that patients with osteoarthritis of the knee who took ginger had less pain than those who didn't.
- Antioxidant: According to a report in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," ginger has been identified in several studies as one of the plants with the highest antioxidant content.

- Thyme
It is a traditional cough remedy, an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory.

- Paprika
This milder version of chili is rich in beta-carotene. It is showing promise for enhancing metabolism, increasing satiety and potentially stimulating fat burning

- Rosemary
One of the Big Three Mediterranean herbs that may help slow aging. It helps to reduce inflammation in the body that might be a trigger and indirect risk factor for many chronic diseases.

You don't have to consume herbs fresh. Dried herbs have one big advantage they rank higher than fresh for antioxidants as drying removes water and so concentrates the "goodies".