Prepare ginger in this old way – it can help prevent cancer, arthritis, lower cholesterol and blood sugar

These days, fermented foods are all the rage all across the world.  They are made through a process called lacto fermentation, which uses beneficial bacteria and yeast to turn raw food into easily-digestible components.

“Fermentation consists of transformation of simple raw materials into a range of value-added products by utilizing the phenomenon of growth of microorganisms and/or their activities on various substrates.” “The History of Fermented Foods”

This is the process in which raw cabbage is turned into sauerkraut or raw milk is turned into kefir. From kimchi in Korea to sauerkraut in Germany, fermented foods are extremely prevalent all across the world as people are gradually becoming aware of their health benefits.

Although it takes a while to make fermented snacks and it requires a little patience, it is definitely worth it.  Lacto-fermentation is a process which preserves foods while creating beneficial enzymes, probiotics, and B vitamins.

Ginger

Due to its positive properties, ginger is very popular in fermented foods.  Long-hailed for its health benefits, from lowering inflammation to combating cancer, ginger works as great addition to almost anything. Gingerol, the key bioactive compound in ginger, is responsible for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.  Additionally, ginger is effective in treating nausea, fighting hypertension, lowering the risk of heart disease, and lowering bad cholesterol levels.

Ginger Bug

Ingredients:

• a quart or ½ gallon-size jar (or other)
• ½ cup filtered water
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 2 tbsp ginger root, grated

Instructions:

It is recommended to use room temperature water in order to allow the sugar to dissolve faster. Mix all the ingredients, cover with a paper towel, and secure with a rubber band.  Add all the ingredients above every 24 hours, without removing anything but continuing to add.  By the end of the day, you are supposed to have a ginger bug which can be used to soothe your stomach by being added to a glass of water.

Fermented ginger

Ingredients:

• Ginger root, peeled and sliced
• Lemon juice
• 1 tbsp Sea salt
• 1 tbsp Turmeric

Instructions:

Peel the ginger root first, preferably by soaking it in cold water for about fifteen minutes and then scraping the peel off with a spoon.  Squeeze a few lemons to cover the ginger and mix the lemon juice with the salt and turmeric in a bowl until it is fully dissolved.  Then, pour the mixture over the ginger and close the jar.  Let it ferment at room temperature for 14 days.

Fermented foods and your stomach

Given that fermented foods are an excellent source of probiotics, consuming them helps bring beneficial bacteria in your digestive system and thus balance bowel health.  By balancing bacteria balance, probiotics help the digestive enzymes to work better when it comes to absorbing the food.  These probiotics also affect immunity, which in turn protects against illness and disease.


source: http://besthealthyguide.com

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Shocking Health Benefits Of Corn Silk: Prevents Kidney Stones, Controls Blood Sugar, Assists In Blood Clotting And More!

Corn silk is the strands found under the green color outer covering of the corn. Most of the time these strands are thrown away as many people do not realize that they actually have a use.
Corn silk has actually been used by Native Americans as an herbal remedy since 5000 B.C. Studies today has shown us that corn silk is incredibly rich in many disease-fighting antioxidants and polyphenols including Sitosterol and Stigmasterol. Corn silk is also rich in vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin K, C, and potassium as well.

Here are some of the amazing benefits of corn silk:

Prevents kidney stones
Kidney stones are composed of small crystallized deposits that can cause pain and annoyance. Corn silk has been used since the ancient days to prevent the occurrence of kidney stones. Corn silk usage can improve urine flow and reduce the chances of sediment formation in kidneys, which otherwise can eventually lead to kidney stone formation. However, remember that its use will not treat kidney stones that are already present.

Assist in blood clotting
Corn silk contains vitamin K which helps in blood clotting. Vitamin K makes sure that you don’t loose excessive blood from your body when you get hurt hence helping it clot and preventing blood loss.

Controls blood sugar
A 2012 study that was published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules showed that corn silk polysaccharides helped reduce blood sugar levels. Another 2009 study, published in Nutrition and Metabolism journal showed that corn silk extract aids insulin generation in the human body.

Control cholesterol
Cholesterol in the bloodstream leads to the onset of several critical ailments in the long run. Keeping cholesterol levels low is the key to staying healthy and avoid cardiovascular problems. A study carried out by Jilin University scientists in China showed that corn silk consumption reduces blood cholesterol levels in experimental animals.

Natural diuretic
For ages, corn silk has been used as a potent natural diuretic. It helps flush out excess fluids and waste from the body, thereby reducing complications related to water retention. According to studies, diuretics can help get rid of several health problems including congestive heart failure and kidney diseases in the long run.

Reduce gout pain
Corn silk is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, so it can be used to reduce the pain caused by inflammatory ailments like gout and arthritis. The diuretic action of cork silk may prevent excess uric acid formation in the body joints, which leads to gout pain.

Source of vitamin C
Corn silk contains vitamin C, which is ideal for boosting immunity. Also, it plays a crucial role in regulating myriad functions in the human body.

How to make corn silk tea

• Choose quality, fresh corn silk from homegrown or organic corn.
• Boil 2 glasses of water on a pan, then pour 3 handfuls of fresh corn silk.
• Cover and let this steep for around 15 minutes or until it’s cool enough to drink. Then strain.
• For best results, drink 2-3 cups a day.

source: http://www.naturalnewsblogs.com

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Oregano and rosemary lower blood sugar and prevent diabetes

The prevalence of diabetes is constantly on the rise, currently affecting over 8% of the American population. As reported by the Centers for Disease Control, the occurrence of this disease has rapidly increased over the last 30 years, rising staggering 176 % in the period between 1980 and 2011.  In 2012 alone, 9.3 % of the population had diabetes, totaling 29.1 million people.

Even worse, diabetes was the 7th leading cause of death in 2010, based on the 69,071 death cases in which diabetes was outlined as the root cause of death.  In the same year, diabetes was listed as the underlying cause of death in a total of 234,051 cases.

With this being said, it`s no wonder that patients, doctors, and researchers are desperately looking for a safe and effective treatment.  Interestingly, some researchers claim that two simple, fragrant, Mediterranean herbs may be the solution.

New research: Rosemary and oregano work just like prescription drugs – yet safer

According to a study done by researchers from the American Chemical Society and published in Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, rosemary and oregano had the ability to hinder dipeptidyl peptidase IV, an enzyme that promotes the release of insulin.  The protein tyrosine phosphatase, which plays a critical role when it comes to insulin signaling, has led the researchers to believe that these herbs could be beneficial in terms of both preventing and treating diabetes.

Elvira Gonzalez de Mejia, the lead author and researcher, noted that while many cases of diabetes can be kept in check through exercise and diet, many patients simply fail to stick to a successful regimen. Additionally, anti-diabetic drugs can be quite expensive, plus they often come with a wide range of side effects. Herbs, on the other hand, are an all-natural, safe, and cheap method to lower blood glucose levels.

What are the beneficial properties of rosemary and oregano?

In case fresh rosemary and oregano aren’t available at the moment, don’t worry. While using fresh herbs is preferable, the dried varieties are just as effective in terms of lowering blood sugar.

The team of researchers investigated the effects of both greenhouse-grown and commercially dried extracts. It has been found that the first version had higher levels of flavonoids and polyphenols, but the latter functioned as effectively in lowering blood sugar levels.

Among the different varieties tested, commercial Greek oregano (origanum vulgare), commercial Mexican oregano ( lippia graveolens), and both both greenhouse and commercial rosemary (rosmarinic officinalis) performed the best.

Polyphenols and flavonoids in rosemary and oregano shown to target inflammation

Both rosemary and oregano act as potent anti-inflammatory agents due to their high phytochemicals content. They are also packed with gallic acid, with some samples containing 430 micrograms per milligram. Gallic acid is a powerful antioxidant, anti-fungal agent, anti-viral agent, and known for its chemopreventive properties.

In a 2014 study published in International Journal of Inflammation, gallic acid beneficially affected mice with lab-induced sepsis, completely reversing lipid peroxidation (damaging degradation of fats).

Both rosemary and oregano also contain rosmarinic acid, volatile oils like borneol, camphene, and cineol, and antioxidant vitamins A and C.

Rosemary can also alleviate age-related cognitive decline

Apart from treating diabetes and promoting healthy blood sugar levels, rosemary also alleviates age-related cognitive decline due to its ability to reduce stress in the part of the brain responsible for controlling memory and learning.

Recent animal studies done at Saint Louis University School of Medicine have found that a few enhanced proprietary rosemary and spearmint extracts notably improved the cognitive performance of mice with cognitive decline. Hopefully, these herbs could be used to treat cognitive problems typical for the early stages of Alzheimer`s.


source: http://besthealthyguide.com

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