Mundance superfoods – part 5
My final swap is nettles for spiralina.
Spirulina’s deep blue-green color reveals its active ingredient — chlorophyll — clearly. Health.com explains it as one of the oldest life forms on Earth and possibly consumed in Aztec and African diets centuries ago.
Today it’s touted for its ability to strengthen the immune system, reduce fatigue and combat allergies. Nettles are another plant with chlorophyll that even rivals the amount found in spirulina, but they’re often found in ditch banks, forests and riverbanks. It’s sometimes called “stinging nettle” because it does just that; if you touch it without wearing gloves, the tiny hairs on every surface sting like a bee due to the presence of formic acid, leaving small red welts. But internally, Bon Appetit asserts, it acts like a tonic:
“Taken over time, nettle will strengthen your circulatory, immune, and endocrine systems to promote peak function. The stronger these systems, the better position our bodies are in to deal with whatever might come our way.”
Cooked or dried, though, this pesky stinging problem goes away completely; good thing, too, because this free foraging food is highly nutritious, containing fiber, lecithin, chlorophyll, sodium, iron, phosphorus, sulfur, potassium and vitamins A and C, according to Mother Earth News. It’s been used in birth rooms and battlefields to stop bleeding, both internally and externally, and is considered to purify blood, as well. As a tea:
“It has been found to help cure mucus congestion, skin irritations, water retention and diarrhea … stimulate the digestive glands of the stomach, intestines, liver, pancreas and gall bladder. Applied externally, nettle tea … relieves rheumatism in both people and animals, makes a first-class gargle for mouth and throat infections, helps to clear up acne and eczema and promotes the healing of burns.”
To complete the series I want to point out that brocalli is arguably one of the most nutirtious vegatables readily available in supermakets. Not only does it support normal cell function and division, it helps your body detoxify and reduces inflammation and damage from reactive oxygen species (ROS). Another vegatable that I would highly recommend is rocket. It has many of the same nutrients and healing compounds, including fiber, vitamins A, C (to boost the immune system) and K (for bone strength), folate, calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus and manganese that are found in cabbage and brocalli. One study showed that rocket can be a powerful aid against gastrointestinal ulcers, psoriasis and skin, lung and mouth cancers. Many more vitamins and minerals help lower blood pressure and improve blood vessel function.
References
Mother Earth News March/April 1981
Related Posts
Is there something in the quackery?
Many people think that homeopathy is unscientific nonsense - however a new study reports that homeopathy can reverse the skin condition vitiligo, which are the white patches on people's skin.
Classical homeopathy which is where individualized remedies are perscribed - has been sucessfully used on 14 vitiligo sufferers say researchers are the Centre for Classical Homeopathy in Bangalore , India. The remedies reduces the white patches on skin in all 14 patients within an average of 5 years of starting treatment.
With classical homeopathy, the remedy will vary and is determined by the characteristics of each individual patient, and so researchers are unable to point to one remedy that could treat the problem.
Vitiligo is an autoimmune condition that causes the loss of melanin, the skin pigment. Conventional medicine treats the condition with light therapy and drugs, which can restore some pigmentation but doesn't treat the underlying condition.
Reference
https://www.amjcaserep.com/abstract/index/idArt/905340The low down on natural sugars, part 3 – my thumbs up list
In my introduction on natural sugars, I listed a variety of foods that can be added when cooking as a natural sweetner, this would always be my preference. I know there are times when we need a natural alternative to white sugar, previously I listed my thumbs down list of alternatives, so here is my thumbs up list. Maple Syrup Made from the sap of maple trees. It contains 34 beneficial compounds including antioxidants, anti-inflamatories, zinc and magnesium. It doesn't cause problems in the digestive tract so its ok for IBS sufferers. Its a good natural sweetner when baking or as a substitute for honey. Palm Sugar A traditional Ayurvedic ingredient containing B vitamins that has a low gycaemic index (40) so is suitable for diabetics. A good alternative to sugar in cooking, baking and in drinks. Barley Malt Extract/Syrup Its an unrefined natural sweetner derived from sprouted, dried, booked and reduced barley malt, which contains some minerals and vitamins. A good choice as a natural sweetner with almost no fructose or sucrose but can give a malty taste. Brown rice Malt/Syrup This contains maltotriose, maltose and glucose cheaper versions use enzymes to turn the starches into sugar while others use sprouted grains that realse enzymes which is better. It doesn't contain fructose. It can add a little crunch to baked and cooked products so is good in crumbles, flapjacks or granolas. Stevia Derived from the leaves of a plant from South America with the same name. 300 times sweeter than sugar (sucrose) but with a slightly bitter after taste. Avoid products which aren't 100% stevia. Use in moderation as it primes the body for a certain amount of calories for sweetness, so may increase appetite. Whole Cane Sugar A naturally unrefined form of whole sugar that is absorbed more slowly into the blood stream. It can be difficult to find. Coconut (Palm) Sugar also known as Coconut Nectar or Blossom Syrup Rich in B vitamins, magnesium, calcium, potassium, zinc , 17 amino acids, short-chain fatty acis and antioxidants. It contains inulin which is a prebotic which feeds the benefical bacteria in our gut. However, there are mixed opinions on its sustainability. It is said to taste like brown sugar. Yacon Syrup From the yacon or peruvian ground apple. It tastes like a cross between an apple and pear. It contains good amounts of vitamins and minerals plus a prebiotic. It may not be suitable for people with IBS due to its high FOS (fructooligosaccharide) content. It is suitable for diabetics. Use instead of liquid sweeteners like honey and also in baking. References Alternatives to Sugar by Dr M Glenville (Lifestyles Press, 2016).
How to stay healthy at your desk
This week the daily mail reported that three in four office workers blame desk for sickness: badly set up desks and chairs cost companies 7bn each year. Rather than sitting in silence or popping pain killers to ease headaches or back pain, here are my top 7 tips for staying healthy while working at your desk.
- Sit up straight. As you read this post, if you’re not running to an appointment or standing, how are you sitting? Really take notice of how you are sitting and poised. Are you legs crossed? Is your back hunched over as you read this? Or are you sitting up straight? If you are sitting ensure that you are sitting up straight, not slouched, with your head directly over your torso and your feet on the ground, using a foot rest if necessary.
- User a wrist support. Repeatedly bending your wrists up and down (extension and flexion) compresses structures inside the carpal tunnel in the wrist. This can cause pain and lead to injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome. Place the heel of your palm on a wrists pad to minimise wrist pain.
- Use a headset. If you spend a lot of time on the phone user a head set rather to avoid holding the phone to your ear by raising your shoulder which may cause neck & shoulder pain.
- Don't bang the keyboard instead use a light touch. Try to use the minimum amount of force necessary to depress the keys. The tendons from your fingers connect near your elbow, so striking the keys too hard can lead to problems you might not associate with your keyboard-for example, pain and inflammation in your elbows (Epicondylitis).
- Look straight ahead. Maintaining proper eye level with your computer monitor is essential. This helps you avoid straining your back, neck, shoulders, and arms. In addition, proper eye level reduces unnecessary eye strain. To accomplish this sit in your office chair and stare straight ahead. You should be looking directly at the center of your monitor. If you are not looking at the center of the screen adjust the monitor until you have the correct measurement and use a monitor riser where necessary.
- Save your work, save your shoulders. Working as a massage therapist who specialise in Acupressure Neck & Shoulder massage withing an office environment, I know muscular tension in shoulders causing neck and shoulder pain is a common problem. To minimise the build up of muscular tension in your shoulders, every time your save your work or send an email simply circle your shoulder three times clockwise and then three times anti-clockwise.
- Book a massage. If you are feeling the stain and pain for working long hours at your desk then book a massage which are highly effective at relieving neck pain, shoulder pain, back pain and tension headaches.
