Super Vegetables

Benefiting from a New Type of Green: Wheatgrass as a Superfood

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The health benefits from wheat grass are no longer news. Several products from the superfood sprung like mushrooms after researches unveiled the potential of wheat grass as the next big thing in the health industry. And next big thing, it truly was.

A mere 30 mL of freshly squeezed juice from wheat grass (a shot glass full) carries a nutritional value equivalent to that of a kilogram of leafy vegetable. If you think this is already impressive, you’d be more than surprised to find out that a teaspoon of powdered wheat grass (about 3.5 grams) contains the same level of nutrients found in an entire spinach salad. Wheatgrass also has twice the amount of Vitamin C from a kilogram of oranges, and doubled level of Vitamin A from a kilogram of carrots.

With this given, wheatgrass truly deserves to be a headline hugger. After all, it has more than ninety minerals – the highest number ever recorded for a superfood. More so, it contains 19 amino acids that serve as the building blocks of essential proteins. These work together with powerful enzymes, including:

  • Protease
  • Cytochrome Oxidase
  • Transhydrogenase
  • Amylase
  • Lipase
  • Superoxide Dismutase

These components brings forth a wide breath of health advantages that can uplift one’s well being and keep life threatening diseases at bay.

Greening Up the Blood…

 Health experts observed that the chlorophyll molecule of the grass mimics the nature of haemoglobin in the human blood, save for the differences in their internal element (magnesium for chlorophyll and iron for haemoglobin).

The similarities contribute to the ease of transforming chlorophyll into haemoglobin to increase the amount of RBCs in the blood. This allows more efficient delivery of nutrients and oxygen to different organs.

In the same vein, wheatgrass chlorophyll quickens the pace of building RBCs to normalize blood pressure and dilate blood vessels. The same benefit eliminates poisonous carbon dioxide inside the body and promote faster metabolism for weight loss.

Regularly drinking wheatgrass juice restores alkalinity of the blood to reduce over-acidity. As such, it can relieve internal pains and cure peptic ulcers, constipation, ulcerative colitis, and other digestion issues.

At the same time, wheatgrass serves as a natural antioxidant that can hamper the effect of carcinogens by detoxifying the liver and bloodstream.

Throwing Garbage Out from the Body

 Speaking of detoxification, wheat grass has also been the new favourite of health conscious individuals with its ability to purge toxins inside the body. Taking both the juice and powdered grass is effective in battling out free radicals to cleanse various areas of the body.

With the ideal levels of saponin, wheat grass can support the lymphatic system that’s responsible for flushing out almost all kinds of toxins that entered the body. Nutritionists explain that regular intake of wheat grass eliminates hardened mucous, crystallized acids and solid wastes.

More From the Green 

  • Stronger immune system and resistance to diseases
  • Protection against sickle cell anemia, anemia, and thalassemia
  • Enhanced reproductive potency of both men and women / increased fertility
  • Prevention of digestion-related problem, leukemia, diabetes, cancer, obesity, arthritis, etc.
  • Healthier skin and treatment of acne, black heads, sun burns, etc.
  • Regulated blood and cholesterol levels

Superfood Spirulina: the Miracle Algae

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Spirulina is probably the most notable in the list of superfoods. It is not only super; it is also associated with magic and miracle.

This type of blue green algae is interesting as it is not considered a plant or an animal. Biologists may have classified is as an algae, but incessant studies are conducted to determine to which kingdom it belongs to. Spirulina’s cell structure and metabolic functions are not quite like plants, but it lacks several features for it to be categorized as an animal.

In essence, the blue green alga is a one-celled organism. It was discovered as a food source in 9th century when the algae were harvested and sold in a cake form. The dried flat cakes were then called “dihe” and eaten by the locals in Europe as a staple part of their meals.

At present, the spirulina was found to be an effective cure for many illnesses. Some even claim that the alga is the most viable solution to world hunger. After all, it can be easily cultured and produced as it can withstand extreme weather conditions and rapid changes in temperature.

Cure for the “Incurable”

From the studies done by Taiwan’d Department of Aquaculture, spirulina was found to have notable immune-boosting properties. The experiment was conducted by exposing white shrimps to mizture of seawater and spirulina extract. They were later transferred to 6.8 levelled pH of seawater.

The shrimps displayed a faster recovery process compared to the other shrimps who were not exposed to the extracts from the algae.

This led to the application of the algae in curing Crohn’s disease along with Lupus or fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and chronic candida yeast. And with the world clamouring for cure to HIV and AIDS, spirulina may just provide answers. Extracts from the algae show promising properties in making immunodeficiency virus benign.

Keeping High Blood Pressure at Bay

Millions of Americans are diagnosed with hypertension each year. It was also named to be the leading cause of death among men and women. High blood pressure can translate to higher susceptibility to heart diseases and stroke.

Taking 4.5 grams of spirulina each day was proven to be effective in lowering blood pressure as shown by the study conducted by the Department of Biochemistry in Mexico. While it may be difficult for some countries to acquire the algae, health stores can have supplements mostly in tablet form.

Safely Normalizing Cholesterol Levels

Cholesterol may have long been demonized, but lessening its level inside the body abruptly can lead to serious health conditions. Taking cholesterol medications may seem to be the most viable way out but it there are several side effects springing from the drugs. These would include anemia, sexual dysfunction, immune depression, damages in the pancreas or liver, acidosis, cataract and susceptibility to cancer.

Taking eight grams of spirulina (even in tablet dosages) for 16 consecutive weeks are highly recommended for patients between 60 and 87. Younger individuals with cholesterol problems can eat spirulina with their meals with lesser amount, or depending on what the physician recommends.

Stinky Yet Super: Onion as Superfood

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Onions are far from being superstars. They are stinky and weird tasting. Their fumes irritate the eyes and their juice can sometimes be prickly on the skin.

For these very same reasons, onions are among the superfoods that are not only unappreciated, but also undervalued. Yet onions are no less than powerful.

Over the last centuries, onions have been used to cure a breath of illnesses. Historical accounts even show that vapors of onion pastes were used by soldiers to relief pain and accelerate healing of wounds. This is because onions are high in sulphur, vitamin B6 and chromium which are known antibacterial and antiseptics. These nutrients also help in reducing heart attack and cardiac arrests by keeping high cholesterol level at bay.

Blood pressure can be regulated with onions, while insulin and blood sugar levels are kept at ideal levels.

In a study published by Journal Agricultural and food Chemistry, yellow onions were found to contain GPCS that can prevent the bones from weak and fragile. At the same time, antioxidant quercetin can be acquired from onions to prevent colon cancer as revealed by the Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

And not because onions’ popular health benefits center on curing diseases doesn’t mean you should skip including some slice of it in your daily diet. There’s more to onions that being mere stinky bulb.

Benefits of Onions

–Clears wounds of bacteria that can cause infection. Onions can serve both as antibiotic and antiseptic.

– Alleviate pains from wounds, spasms, and inflammations

– Serves as a natural diuretic, tonic, stimulant, and fungicidal

– Lowers cholesterol levels and triglycerides that can cause heart diseases, high blood pressure and stroke

– Prevents the growth of tumors and cancer cells

– Regulates the peristaltic movement of the intestines thereby preventing ulcers and indigestion

– Temporarily relieves respiratory diseases such as bronchitis, flu, colds and cough

–  Combats allergens

– Lowers blood sugar levels while making blood thin for better circulation and prevention of clots

– Strengthens the bones and teeth. And though onions make the breath stink big time, they are effective in preventing oral conditions.

Some Useful Applications of Onions

For Insomnia

Extracts of red onions either from raw, steamed or boiled bulbs can give you peaceful forty winks. Take four teaspoons of juice every night before hitting the sack.

Treating Dog Bites

Use a medium sized red onion bulb and crush it finely. Mix the crushed onion with honey and apply to the wound. This is an effective way of cleaning dog bites and clearing out the poison. Drinking the onion juice also prevents the body from being attacked by rabies virus.

Increasing Production of Breastmilk

Some women are not endowed with enough Mother’s milk to nourish their young. Eating few slices of raw onion with every meal can solve the problem.

Preventing Heat Stroke

Before heading out the house on a scorching day, apply tiny amount of onion juice to the temples and chest. It also helps to drink extracts of raw onions daily.

Rooting for Carrots

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Carrots may as well save the world with superman. After all, this all-time favourite Looney Toons character has been munching one of the all-time favourite superfoods: carrots.

Truth is, there could be a range of superpowers that you can get from regularly eating carrots. Super vision can be acquired from carrots’ high level of beta carotene. In fact, a single old carrot has enough of this nutrient to supply ample vitamin A for an entire day.

You can also have an indestructible shield against lung cancer as various studies reveal.

In some culture, the succulent root crop is also used as an alternative medicine for its antibiotic property. Orthodox French doctors use puree carrots to cure diarrhea among infants, liver problems and jaundice.

Recent experiments also found carrots’ positive impact on blood circulation, increasing the RBCs and preventing atherosclerosis.

Is Purple the New Super?

Purple carrots may sound like a perfect example of a make-believe food taken straight out from the pages of Alice in Wonderland, but they exist – and they exist for a reason.

Contrary to first impressions, purple carrots are not genetically modified. They originated from ancient Persia and is now currently cultivated in some parts of Australia. Over the years, this variety of carrots almost vanished from the market, as producers have dedicated larger plantation for mainstream orange carrots.

The purple ones are pretty much the same as the orange carrots, being cooked and eaten in the same manner. But the health benefits you can acquire from eating purple carrots are far more superior to those you can get from the orange succulents.

What Purple Carrots Has to Offer

Researchers from the University of Queensland conducted an experiment with the purple carrot juice in 2010. Findings point to evidences that the beta-carotene contained in the carrots can almost instantly reverse adverse effects from a high carbohydrate and high fat diet. This was a promising breakthrough in the ongoing discoveries for the cures for metabolic syndromes.

But the therapeutic effects of the carrots are yet to be proven.

Nonetheless, nutritionists have approved of the carrot’s ability to hamper increase of cholesterol level and build up of fats around the heart. It can also regulate bile production and other liver enzymes.

Scientists who fed the carrots to lab rats observed a significant decline in the inflammation, blood sugar levels, blood pressure, fat disposition, and uric acid concentration of the animals. At the same time, their tolerance to glucose has greatly improved.

Experts suggest that this is the result of the anti-inflammatory and anthocyanins of the carrots known to control the metabolic syndrome symptoms in the body. Follow up discoveries then revealed that purple carrots have twenty eight times more anthocyanins than its orange counterpart.

Ready for Purple?

Orange carrots have been known a superfood long before purple ones made a buzz. Having the same species, both varieties are expected to have full breath of amazing health benefits. Then again, experts are still yet to affirm that purple carrots are indeed superfoods.

Blazing Broccoli Benefits

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How could a veggie become super? Having a tree-like appearance and loads of nutrients, that’s how.

Broccoli is one of the vegetables loathed by many kids, sometimes next to asparagus. Some say it smells like rotten eggs when cooked — thus the repulsion. Others may not have a problem having broccoli for a meal as long as it is smothered with dressing and cheese.

Needless to say, it remains to be one of the veggies that are under-appreciated.

But broccoli is a superfood. And eating it may help you have a super health.

A Little of Broccoli

Broccoli resembles the shape of a tree, except that its trunk is green and not brown. The head is comprised of small projections looking like florets. It is categorized as a cruciferous vegetable, accompanying cauliflower at the list.

Its smell may be pungent, but it can be more than pleasing for the taste buds. In fact, it could be one of the most scrumptious side meals when it is stir fried with low-fat butter spread and a little of salt.

It can also be eaten raw on a salad bowl or cooked with beef. Either way, you are sure to get all the benefits from the concentration of nutrients on every part of the broccoli.

Armor Against Cancer

Broccoli stinks for a reason — it contains sulfur compounds that can shield the body against growth of tumors. This particular benefits has been been proven in various studies on colon cancer.

On the same token, broccoli is also found to be effective in reducing the risk of bladder cancer and ovarian cancer among women.

Nutritionists suggest that this veggie is best partnered up with carrots and tomatoes, which are also famous for their antioxidant contents and anti-cancer capabilities. The trick is to steam the broccoli instead of boiling to preserve its nutrients.

Cleaning the Gut

Colon cleansing can scare many individuals as it sounds invasive and a bit gross. The leeriness against the process is driven by impression of having to pop several pills and drink weird-tasting concoctions.

Little do most people realize that munching on some broccoli can cleanse the colon more than any other chemical agents can.

Lab tests reveal that the vegetable contains loads of phytonutrients, which are responsible in flushing out toxic compounds in the intestines. Lesser toxins translates to sounder health. Ultimately, more broccoli brings more vigor and vitality.

Fight Against Ulcer

Broccoli as superfood probably leaves the most impact on the digestive system. Nutritionists explain that when broccoli is digested, the sulfur compounds are released. And yes, you have all the reasons to worry about passing off stinky gas.

Then again, this very subject of irk is an indication that broccoli has eliminated bacteria and other ulcer-causing toxins inside the intestines.

On top of these benefits, savvy health conscious individuals also claim to eat broccoli to prevent premature aging. Based from the accounts, the vegetable can battle free radicals that can damage cells and organs.