Beets for Cardiovascular Health

Cardiovascular related illness is the #1 killer in the industrialized world due to unbalanced lifestyle factors, nutrient-deficient diets, lack of exercise, and stress. We’ll call these the Fatal Four. Addressing all sides of the Fatal Four statistically brings vast benefits and reversal of symptoms to many heart disease sufferers.

According to new research, there’s one thing you can add to the diet department that can change your state of health almost immediately. Researchers at The London School of Medicine have discovered that drinking just 500 ml of beet juice a day can significantly reduce blood pressure.

In fact, they were able to isolate the specific compound in the beets responsible for this improvement.

Beets contain interesting phytochemicals known nitrates. These nitrates found in the beetroot juice interact with your saliva and bacteria on your tongue which convert them into nitrites. When swallowed, these nitrites are converted into nitric oxide in your gastrointestinal tract or re-enter your circulation as nitrite.

This amazing process, via the human body interacting with the beet nutrients, creates a sort of time-release blood pressure reducing effect. Healthy test subjects were found to have blood pressure reduction within just one hour, but the greatest decrease was seen 3 to 4 hours later.

Another study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology showed that drinking beetroot juice boosts stamina and can help you exercise up to 16% longer.

The foundational aspects of exercise are all about the cardiovascular and muscular systems. The dietary nitrates in beets have 2 distinct physiological effects.

It widens blood vessels, which reduces blood pressure and allows blood to flow more freely.
It directly impacts muscle tissue, reducing the amount of oxygen your muscles need to perform activities.

This is powerful information to have in your hands. Whether you’re looking for an athletic advantage, wanting to reduce your heart disease risk, or you simply want to provide your body with optimal nutrition, beet juice has some remarkable benefits.

WARNING: If you’re drinking beetroot juice by itself, you may actually lower your blood pressure too much if you’re not adjusted to it. It’s a wonderful idea to add some celery, beet greens (they come with it!), or other alkaline produce with it to give it some balance. Or, you can simply take time and build up on your straight beet juice intake, pay attention to how you feel, and enjoy the health benefits that come along with this wonderful root veggie.

One more thing to take note of is the Doctrine of Signatures which states that every food in nature can teach you what it’s beneficial for based on the way it looks, smells, tastes, and/ or how it functions in nature. There is no other food that has such a startling resemblance to our blood than beet juice. And it begs you to ask yourself the question: “Is this just an accident?”

Well, based to our modern scientific research, it’s proving over-and-over again what our great health teachers of the past have known all along.

Now go make some beet juice!

Author: Shawn Stevenson

Chakra Balancing Foods

Chakra, the effervescent Sanskrit term that implies the ‘spinning wheel of energy’ tells you all about the powerful centers of spiritual energy in your body. Seven in all, each of these chakras are located at one of the major endocrine glands and are associated with a different body part.

For our body to function properly, each of these 7 chakras needs to work in perfect alignment, in their natural balance. However, it is our dietary intake that determines how well-aligned our chakras remain. When we deprive ourselves of a food group that feeds a particular chakra, it goes into a misalignment and leads to a spate of illnesses and health complications. Similarly, having a particular food group in excess will also push the specific chakra out of its original balance.

In the sections that follow, we’ll give you a detailed outline of the major chakra balancing foods and how to eat well to enhance the overall quality of your life.

FEED YOUR CHAKRAS

Starting from your lower body, these 7 chakras go right up to your brain, with each carrying its own significance.

Read on for a detailed description of each of these, the role they play in ensuring the level of physical and mental health you have and most importantly, the right food to feed your chakras.

1. Root chakra (color – red): Located at the base of your spine, it controls your physical vitality and survival instincts. The root chakra is said to facilitate movement within your body and dysfunction of this point can cause sciatica, lower back pain, depression, immune disorders and even rectal tumors.

Have more of proteins, root vegetables, minerals and above all, red-colored foods to feed your root chakra. Some examples are:

Potatoes
Beets
Carrots
Eggs
Red meat
Hot paprika
Horseradish

2. Sacral chakra (color – orange): Located below the navel and representing your creativity, sexuality and self esteem, the sacral chakra dysfunction will present itself in the form of issues like sciatica, gynecological and libido problems or urinary complications. Include the following sweet fruits, nuts and spices in your diet to feed your sacral chakra:

Strawberries
Mangos
Melons
Seeds
Nuts
Oranges
Coconut
Honey
Cinnamon
Sesame seeds

3. Solar Plexus Chakra (color – yellow): Located above your navel, it is the prime controlling point of your emotional life. Consume foods such as grains, spices, dairy products as well as any yellow fruits and vegetable to feed this chakra. A few examples are:

Yellow bell pepper
Cheese
Yogurt
Mints
Ginger
Rice
Flax seed
Sunflower seeds
Lemon
Spearmint
Turmeric
Cumin
Fennel

4. Heart chakra (color – green): Located in the heart, it is where your soul resides, controlling your emotions of tolerance, empathy and forgiveness. A dysfunction can lead to problems such as asthma, lung or breast cancer, heart problems, pneumonia and shoulder problems.

Some of the most helpful heart chakra foods include:

Spinach
Kale
Broccoli
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Squash
Cilantro
Parsley

5. Throat chakra (color – turquoise): Located near the thyroid gland in the throat, it controls your powers of expression, communication and judgment and can cause problems like a sore throat, swollen glands, mouth ulcers, voice problems and laryngitis if it dysfunctions. Consume the following food groups to keep the essential functions of the throat chakra intact:

Soups
Sauces
Juices
Seaweed and nori
Fruits

6. Third eye chakra (color – indigo): Located in the centre of the brain, the ‘third eye’ manages your spiritual direction and wisdom. It has ailments like blindness, strokes, seizures and brain tumors as its most critical dysfunctions. You can have more of dark bluish colored fruits, liquids and fluids to feed your brow chakra, including the likes of:

Red grapes
Blueberries
Black berries
Raspberries
Grape juice
Red wine
Poppy seed
Lavender
Mugwort

7. Crown chakra (color – purple): The message of the crown chakra is purification and releasing the physical body from debris so that there is a better connection between body and soul. It is located at the crown of the head and balancing the inner and outer personality, it is considered as our direct link to God and can have depression, muscular problems and complications of the skeletal system as the major signs of its dysfunctions. Owing to its correlation with the universe and God, no particular food for crown chakra is advised. However, steps and techniques like fasting, detoxing and herbal incense are suggested for the purpose of feeding your crown chakra.

Conclusion

The 7 chakras of the human body govern the circulation of energy and the related physical as well mental wellness within the entire system. You need to consume different kinds of food groups to feed your specific chakras. This can help in restoration of the original functions of these chakras and in turn cure any associated ailments. Now that you are aware of the importance of chakra balancing foods, make sure to add them to your diet.

REFERENCES

http://www.wejees.net/aura.html

http://holisticenergy.ca/foods-that-heal-chakra-balancing-foods/

http://www.bliss.com/articles/mind_body_spirit/feeding_the_chakras/

Self-Care, Self-Education and Self-Government With Don Tolman

Today we dive deep in to 3 major revolutions that are underway: Self-Care, Self-Education and Self-Government. In order for us to evolve and thrive we need to join these revolut
ions that are taking place. Our goal here at BeWellBuzz is to provide as much information to help you embody these 3 revolutions.

There are more drugs and diseases than ever, schools are dumbing our kids down, and the government is taking more and more control over us. It’s never been more important to really “get” the information presented in this podcast.

This week Shawn Stevenson interviews Don Tolman, known as the Whole Food Medicine Cowboy. For last 17 years he searched the world and let nothing get in his way of hunting down the lost wisdom of the ancients, and discovering the truths about the real potential of human beings which has been kept hidden from the masses. He read and interpreted the most profound ancient scrolls, was given special dispensation rights to pour through hidden ancient libraries, and searched through dusty old catacombs.

Don has helped thousands of people world wide from Hollywood stars, peak performance body builders and athletes, people who have been diagnosed with terminal illness, children and much more. And today he shares his knowledge with BeWellBuzz audience.

This information is extremely important, please do your part to share this podcast with your friends, family and the world.

When you listen to the podcast below you’ll discover:

Don’s principles of Self Care.
The ancient and true definition of:
Diagnosis
Doctor
Symptom
Disease
Root cause of all diseases.
The cause of atomic chaos in the body.
How to remove toxicity out of your body.
How toxicity and deficiency are connected.
How to hydrate the brain properly.
What are the most people are deficient of.
Importance of fresh moving air.
1 thing to do to electrify and increase absorption of the water.
How to eliminate brain fog and headaches.
Don’s concepts of self-education and what our current system destroys.
The leading cause of autism and leukemia?
Signature of foods
Plus so much more!

Click HERE to listen

Self-Sufficiency & Getting All You Need By Going Back To Basics

We live in an age of fast food, microwave dinners and take out. People are overweight and sick. Today, according to the American Medical Association, one in four of us are overweight, unhealthy, and unhappy and the culprit appears to be diet more than anything else. So what does a society who grew up on Twinkies and soda to do to turn the tide?

The answer is simplicity and it’s closer than you think!

This week Shawn Stevenson interviews Markus Rothkranz who is flown all over the world to speak in front of thousands about true health, even meeting with heads of government, the military and corporations who know the value of keeping their employees healthy and happy.

Having healed himself of multiple life-threatening illnesses, author of the hugely popular book “HEAL YOURSELF 101“, Markus Rothkranz is living proof how amazing life can be when we take matters into our own hands. It really works.

Markus looks younger at 49 than he did when he was 29. His motion pictures, DVDs and lectures strike a chord in all cultures around the globe. Emails pour in daily as a testimony to how many lives he has touched. It’s all about awakening the planet to a new way of living in body, mind and spirit. The only way to heal the planet is to heal ourselves first, and Markus shows us how to do it naturally, the way nature intended.

When you listen to the podcast below you’ll discover:

Why it’s important to get in touch with nature
Problem with raw foodism
Effect of sweet foods on your body
The bitter foods to eat to feel better
Importance of wind plants
Best plants for blood circulation
Why most of us get sick
Keys of self sufficiency
Highly nutritious grasses and roots
Abundance that is available in all areas of life
How to be self dependent and truly enjoy life.

http://www.bewellbuzz.com/podcast/self-sufficiency-basics/

Dried Plums Help Build Strong Bones

Next time you pass a package of prunes, think strong skeleton, not just constipation fixer. Then grab them with your finger bones and toss them in your cart. Snacking on a few of these little nuggets dai
ly could help keep your bones sturdy and shatter-proof.

Why? Prunes (also known as dried plums) are filled with compounds called polyphenols that rebalance your bone-building cycle.

Think of your bones as a never-ending highway construction project. Microscopic segments are constantly being demolished and rebuilt by special crews. Over time, the rebuilding teams slack off, but the demolition crews keep working hard. Result: weaker bones as you age and more danger of breaks. Dried plums slow down the demolition, which lets the rebuilders catch up. That helps your bones.

Investigators at Florida State University suggest a dietary preventive strategy for osteoporosis. They conducted a year-long study in which 100 postmenopausal women were randomly assigned to eat 100 grams of dried fruit daily – either dried plums or dried apples. Those who consumed prunes had denser bones in the forearm and the spine at the end of the study. Compounds in dried plums alter the way bones are remodeled. They are less likely to break down in the presence of these nutrients and in animal studies they have been shown to reverse bone loss.

The group’s research, has been published in the British Journal of Nutrition.

In the United States about 8 million women have osteoporosis because of the sudden cessation of ovarian hormone production at the onset of menopause. About 2 million men also have osteoporosis.

‘In the first five to seven post-menopausal years, women are at risk of losing bone at a rate of three to five percent per year,’ said Mr Arjmandi, Florida State professor and chairman of the U.S. Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences.

‘However, osteoporosis is not exclusive to women and, indeed, around the age of 65, men start losing bone with the same rapidity as women.’

Arjmandi encourages people who are interested in maintaining or improving their bone health to take note of the extraordinarily positive effect that dried plums have on bone density.

‘Don’t wait until you get a fracture or you are diagnosed with osteoporosis and have to have prescribed medicine,’ he said.

‘Do something meaningful and practical beforehand. People could start eating two to three dried plums per day and increase gradually to perhaps six to 10 per day. Prunes can be eaten in all forms and can be included in a variety of recipes.’

Caution: don’t overdo prunes. They may be full of polyphenols and fiber, but, like all dried fruit, they’re high in sugar . . . not to mention they can quickly turn constipation into diarrhea! So add three to five prunes a day to your regular strong-bones roster.

Sources:

http://www.realage.com/

http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/

Digestive Enzymes

Digestive enzymes aid digestion and break down polymeric macromolecules into their smaller building blocks, which can be easily absorbed by our body. These enzymes are present throughout our digestive system-in the mouth, stomach, and the pancreas. Our body produces around 22 essential enzymes that initiate chemical reactions in the body, which helps in correctly breaking down and processing the food we eat.

It is estimated that the human body needs 45 essential nutrients to carry out normal functions. The body doesn’t produce them and depends on external sources for these vital nutrients. Most of these are present in the foods we eat, but in complex forms. The digestive enzymes present in the body help break down the food and supply our body with these essential nutrients.

Many important enzymes are present in raw foods and boost the process of digestion, which reduces the body’s need to secrete digestive enzymes. However, these enzymes are destroyed when we cook food at high temperatures. It is thus advisable to have a mix of cooked and raw foods to aid digestion. You also need to ensure that you drink a lot of water and fluids to strengthen digestion.

How Are Digestive Enzymes Secreted?

There are a lot of factors that trigger the release of digestive enzymes in our body. The sight, sound, smell, and even the thought of food can stimulate the secretion of enzymes in the stomach, mouth, and other parts of the body. As soon as food enters our mouth, the enzymes get into action, breaking them down into simpler building blocks. Some of the food molecules are broken down in the mouth itself due to the presence of enzymes in the saliva, while others are broken down in the stomach and intestines.

Types of Digestive Enzymes

Protease – Protease is one of the most important enzymes in our body secreted by the glands in the stomach and pancreas. It breaks down proteins into amino acids called peptides. Protease is important, as undigested protein can wind up in our circulatory system and lead to a lot of health complications.

Amylase – This enzyme is secreted by the salivary and pancreatic glands. It stimulates a specific chemical reaction which helps break down carbohydrates and provides instant energy to the human body. It also acts as a catalyst in the hydrolysis of complex carbohydrates into maltose and glucose. Amylase also aids the growth of oral bacteria that convert starch into sugar. Additionally, it helps the body overcome different allergies and skin interactions occurring due to insect bites.

Lipase – Lipase is responsible for digesting fats in the food you ear. This enzyme is found in the mouth and the stomach and breaks the fat molecules into glycerol and fatty acids which is absorbed by the body. It plays a vital role in removing the excess fatty deposits from the inside of your veins and arteries and allows smooth flow of blood throughout your body.

Cellulase – Cellulase breaks down fiber and is also an excellent antioxidant which eliminates toxins and heavy metals from the body. It breaks down the soluble fiber we consume, while the insoluble fiber is retained in order to boost bowl movement and keep the intestinal tract inflated.

Nuclease - This group of digestive enzymes is secreted by the pancreas and helps in separating the bonds between the nucleotides in nucleic acids. It was earlier referred to as polynucleotidase and nucleodepolymerase. Nuclease breaks down the nucleic acid to release nitrogen bases and simple sugars.

Maltase - Maltase is an important enzyme which breaks down disaccharide maltose. It catalyzes the hydrolysis of disaccharide maltose to simple sugar glucose, which is used up by the body or stored in the liver as glycogen. Maltase is synthesized by the cells of the mucous membrane which lines the intestinal wall.

Lactase – As the name suggests, this enzyme helps in the breakdown of lactose (milk sugar) into the simple sugars glucose and galactose. Lactase is found in the small intestine, liver, and kidney of all mammals and is produced by the mucous membrane cells that line the intestinal wall. It also carries out glucosidase and glycosylceramidase activities.

Mycozyme - This is a single-celled plant enzyme which aids the digestion of starch. Mycozyme is important since the breaking down of starch molecules is difficult as compared to the other food molecules we eat. It breaks down starch molecules into simple sugars that are easily absorbed by the body in order to release energy.

The Need for Enzyme Supplements

All the essential digestive enzymes are secreted by our body, but as we age, enzyme secretion slows down naturally and declines. Once a person crosses the age of 40, this decline adversely effects the digestion and assimilation of food. This explains why digestive problems are common in the elderly, who often find it difficult obtain essential nutrients from the foods they eat.

The common signs of a slowdown in enzyme secretion are heartburn, gas, constipation, bloating, allergies, ulcers, lack of energy, and reduced immunity. The decline in the secretion of enzymes may vary from person to person depending on his or her general state of health and other physical ailments that may be present.

The intake of enzyme supplements that aid digestion becomes necessary as we grow older. Even as a young adult, you may face difficulties when it comes to digesting some foods due to the inadequate secretion of a particular enzyme in your body. Such deficiencies are common in people of all age groups. In such a situation, you need to consult a doctor or dietician immediately. Keep in mind that if your body can digest food well and absorb all the essential nutrients, you will stand a better chance of living a long and healthy life.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digestive_enzyme

http://healthrecipes.com/enzymes_health.htm

http://www.livestrong.com/article/276335-types-of-digestive-enzymes/

http://www.britannica.com

http://www.yourbodycanheal.com/enzymes.html

Health Is #1

"When health is absent, wisdom cannot reveal itself, art cannot manifest, strength cannot fight, wealth becomes useless, and intelligence cannot be applied." ~Herophilus

Quote Of The Day

"Within each of us lies the power of our consent to health and sickness, to riches and poverty, to freedom and to slavery. It is we who control these, and not another." ~ Richard Bach (Illusions)

Quote Of The Day

You see things; and you say 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say 'Why not?' ~ George Bernard Shaw

Seasons ~ Virginia Cook

Winter,
Its harsh winds, And cold nights, Teardrops freeze Into icy crystals As they fall helplessly And shatter As they hit the cold, hard ground.

Spring,
The warm breeze, And softened earth, Out of the darkness And into the light I see the sun Once more And can feel its heat again.

Summer,
The long, hot days, And endless nights, The humidity in the air Makes it impossible To breathe And I struggle To stay in focus.

Fall,
The changing colors, And cool winds that blow, It seems as though This endless cycle Is beginning again And there can be no stopping The changing of the seasons.

Making A Difference ~ Author Unknown

The world offers everyone a golden opportunity, In making life more meaningful and with tranquility,

Roses planted in each garden enhances its beauty, Tendered with care, it continues to grow in prosperity.

Love makes the world go around in peace and harmony, In places where man had fought with bitterness and hate,

A path of ugly destruction uproots its serenity, That leads us to find answers to its morbid state.

A fallen world leaves us with many deep uncertainties, As we investigate its torn threads and gather lost strength,

To build a bright future, in exploration of the humanities, Thus, conquers our fears, as we celebrate in great length.

Man's knowledge and discovery of his inner and outer world, Creates a playground for changes in the environment,

Be it a simple task that can alleviate human suffering, In extending life its daily dose of peace and contentment.

Making a difference is a potential desire to be instilled, As a personal trait to be fulfilled in each and every aspect,

Of the human race, in its vast culture and religion, A solidarity given to all minds, open with love and respect.

The Power of Qigong

Chi or Qi is a vital energy force that keeps our body alive. It is the main element in an ancient art of healing, Gigong. It is a combination of breathing techniques, gentle movement, postures, and meditation that helps cleanse, strengthen, and circulate the Qi energy throughout the body.

Qigong is very effective when practiced regularly. It will help reduce stress, build stamina, increase vitality, strengthen the immune system, and improve cardiovascular, respiratory, circulatory, lymphatic and digestive functions.

This practice will keep you younger and give you more energy as it is a perfect mind-body-soul connection.

This week Shawn Stevenson interviews this leading authority in the field of natural health and longevity, modern-day shaman, Taoist wizard and Qigong expert, Peter Ragnar. He is an author of 25 books, many of which are best-sellers.

This picture of Peter Ragnar is proof of the incredible power of qigong:

You’ll want to pay close attention to Peter who’s a living example of someone who’s maintained his youthfulness and strength for countless years!!

Please share this valuable information with family and friends.

When you listen to the podcast below you’ll discover:

What is Qi and its purpose?
Connection between Qi and kidneys.
Electo-magnetic blockages in the body.
Difference between Qi and Jing.
What is meditative state and its effect on the body.
Effects of qigong on cortisol, melatonin and DHEA.
Correlation between telomeres and longevity.
What is Qi ball?
How to keep your mental acuity.
And much more.

Click on this LINK and scroll down to listen

Kale – Best Vegan Source of Iron

Packed with antioxidants, vitamins, fiber and anti-inflammatory nutrients; kale is known to be the king of cruciferous vegetables. This vibrant, verdant green member of the cabbage family can be steamed, fried, sautéed, blended to make smoothies and soups or simply sprinkled like confetti over food. Moreover, kale contains more iron per calorie than red meat. This means vegetarians or those having plant-based diets, need not worry about iron deficiencies. These are just some of the reasons why kale is called the ‘beef’ of a plant-based diet.

Why kale and not meat?

In recent times, not only have meat processing procedures been questioned but so has the sustainability of the entire meat producing industry. Thus, as a society, we must look at other options. Kale takes mere 2 months to grow in addition to being nutritious, whereas, cattle farming takes up a lot of vital environmental resources – that are both scarce and could be put to better use – such as water and land.

Nutritiously, Kale is the better option when compared to beef. As stated above, it not only contains as much iron as beef, it has other tremendous winning qualities too. Kale is brimming with anti-cancer nutrients such as glucosinolates, in addition to having anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, while consuming beef can cause heart diseases, increased cholesterol and autoimmune diseases, kale actually does the opposite – it provides the body with nutrients that actually defend against and even reverse such diseases.

Most Americans consume more meat than greens and thus end up with insufficient fiber in their diets, which causes diseases such as digestive disorders and heart disease. One cup of kale provides 5 grams of fiber which is 5% of the recommended daily intake.

Antioxidants are known to prevent diseases such as cancer. Kale is an especially vital source of antioxidants. It is, in fact, the number one vegetable that contains the most carotenoids, beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin, all nutrients which have become such a critical natural health marvel that the USDA has invested huge sums of money trying to fund a project that is researching on exactly how much Kale contributes to human health.

In addition to fiber, antioxidants and iron; kale provides equal (if not more) amount of calcium and omega3 fatty acids than meat products. A cup of kale provides 15% of the daily requirement of calcium which is even more calcium per calorie than – you guessed it – milk! Thus, during an era when calcium deficiency related ailments such as arthritis and osteoporosis are becoming commonplace, we must endeavor to include more calcium-rich foods such as kale in our diets, whether we are vegetarian or not. Moreover, with significant percentages of omega3 fatty acids, which one traditionally associates only with meat and fish products, kale is definitely the healthier option when compared to meat.

So how can you add kale to your diet?

This nutritious yet inconspicuous member of the cabbage family can be stored and cooked in several different ways. Always wash kale well and shake to dry. It freezes well and can be thawed and used as if one were using raw kale. However, it is a good idea to chop it finely before freezing. It can be refrigerated for 3-4 days in a plastic bag or an airtight container in the crisper of your fridge though if stored for longer, it can get bitter.

There are numerous recipes one can follow in order to prepare kale, but in a nutshell, kale can be fried to make chips, steamed – in which case, it provides the maximum amount of nutrients, sautéed with other veggies for stir fries, blended with yogurt to make smoothies, mixed into soups, blanched for eating on its own or simply raw in a salad. Due to its curly leaves and vibrant color, kale can also be chopped up finely to make confetti for garnishes. The dinosaur Kale variety is a particular favorite in case you have never tried kale before.

So, the next time, you are tempted to opt for its meat counterpart beef, give kale a chance. Full of vitamins – get this, it has 200% per cup of the RDI for vitamin A and 130% of vitamin C – not to mention anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and antioxidant nutrients, kale is inarguably the better option. You will not only be eating healthier, but you will also be helping the environment by eating this member of vegetable royalty. Kale is indeed the new beef.

Source: BeWellBuzz

Garlic – Natural Antibiotic and Food Poisoning Remedy

Garlic is one of those flavors that people either love or hate. Those who do tend toward the latter – mostly for reasons to do with the after-taste of the bulb that gives you bad breath! But, after you read about all its benefits, you might start using garlic for good health and not for taste.

Garlic – A Natural Antibiotic!

Antibiotics have
always been a big No-No in my household – my mother believes that the body will heal itself without any external aid. Though we tease her about her blatant refusal to pop pills [till one of us is so sick that it's either "pop pills" or just "pop"], I find that her belief has been passed on to me!

Uncontrollable drowsiness, invariably upset stomach, nausea and high probability of fungal infections are all immediate side effects that people using antibiotics must face. Personally, I don’t think it’s worth the trouble of going on a course of these if the illness isn’t major, and if there is a simpler alternative to consider.

Garlic has been used for its medicinal properties for thousands of years. The likes of Hippocrates, Galen, Pliny the Elder and Dioscorides are said to have spoken of garlic’s beneficial properties in getting rid of parasites, respiratory problems, poor digestion, and low energy.

More recently, in-vitro research shows that garlic can be used as an anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal! Curious about what makes this bulb so brilliant? ‘Allicin’ is the answer. Allicin is what is produced when a clove of garlic is crushed – it’s a natural antibiotic and an anti-fungal.

It is important to remember that its effectiveness begins to deteriorate as soon as crushed, and that if cooked, garlic has nearly no medicinal value. This means that it’s best consumed raw. Some of you might cringe right now, but at the end of the day, it is much healthier and simpler than medication. Not to mention, cheaper and more useful – it has a number of other positive effects.

Taking one clove of garlic is very good for keeping cold and cough at bay.

Garlic has been proven to be very good for our cardiovascular system. It makes the arteries elastic, making them less prone to hardening.

Garlic has anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties so it helps in fighting off infections.

Garlic has antioxidant properties and can slow down the aging process and ward off certain types of cancers.

Garlic has anti-inflammatory properties that can help ease symptoms of arthritis, rheumatism and gout.

Garlic – A “Tried & Tested” Solution For Many Problems

Garlic has been used as an antiseptic since before World War I and as a remedy for scurvy since 1924. It helps reduce cholesterol levels, as found through a clinical trial by the National Institute of Health [NHI] in the USA, [published in the Archives of International Medicine, 2007]. Czech studies show that garlic has cardiovascular benefits. It is said that it can help control blood sugar levels and help in preventing certain complications of diabetes mellitus. Research shows that garlic even helps in the prevention of certain types of cancer.

Perhaps, in the end, bad-breath is a small price to pay for the never-ending list of great effects garlic can have on your health. After all, it can easily be fixed – brush your teeth [always a good thing!].

Fight Food Poisoning Bugs Quickly With Garlic

According to research published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, it has been found that one of the garlic ingredients “diallyl sulphide is more effective than 100 times bigger doses of the antibiotics erythromycin and ciprofloxacin. And, it is also able to work in a fraction of the time taken by the drugs.

Raw garlic is known to be an effective solution for common food poisoning bacteria. In fact, garlic is known to be used for treating many different health conditions including stomach upsets, skin problems and infertility.

Try Garlic – It’s Good!

Unlike experimenting with other types of medicine, trying garlic won’t have any complications. And, when it seems like there’s nothing to lose, and maybe an easier way to stay healthy, try not to shy away from sampling the many benefits that this wonder bulb has to offer!

Source: BeWellBuzz