Parsley “chemoprotective” plant

The History of Parsley

                                   PARSLEY

The name “parsley” comes from two Greek words Petroselinum (petrose) meaning “rock.”, and the other is selenium, which is an ancient name for celery. Literally, parsley means “rock celery.”  Rock celery because it thrives on rocks and walls.  The ancient Greeks and Rome believed parsley was sacred and also evil, where death and victory run hand in hand. Warriors fed parsley leaves to their horses to give them strength. The Greeks placed it on winning athletes and also on the tombs of the dead.  Parsley was closely associated with death, perhaps due to its look-alike “fool’s parsley”, which is poisonous. It was scattered over graves during funerals and planted on those sites as well. The saying “De’eis thai selinon”, or “needs only parsley” was the equivalent of today’s “one foot in the grave”.

A lot of us think that parsley only acts as a garnish for food, making the plate look more presentable and attractive. Some people just toss the leaf away or push them to the side of the plate. Not a lot of people actually eat them along with their meals.

There are two main types of parsley plants used as herbs in recipes:

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Curly-leaf parsley also called French parsley
               2. Italian, or flat-leaf parsley

Flat-leaf Italian parsley is more closely related to the wild parsley species that was first grown in the Mediterranean. Compared to curly parsley, it also has a stronger flavor and is easier to grow.

Some people prefer the curly-leaf variety because of its decorative appearance when it’s used on top of recipes. Both types taste very similar to someone who is not extremely familiar with them, and both offer similar health benefits.

Parsley can provide much more than a decoration on your plate. Parsley was used medicinally prior to being consumed as a food in the Mediterranean for 2,000 years before it was used for food.

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It contains a range of protective vitamins and flavonoid antioxidants that are responsible for many of the disease-fighting parsley benefits being researched today. These antioxidants include luteolin, apigenin, lycopene, beta-carotene, and alpha-carotene.

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PARSLEY SUPERSTARS

PHYSIOLOGICAL BENEFITS

 

          Immune Booster

Vitamin C has many different functions.

• Its powerful anti-inflammatory agent and its antioxidants help slow the aging process.
  • It perfectly helps to fight with edema, no matter where they occur: on the legs, face or in other places.
• usefulness in conditions such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, and needed for the healthy function of the immune system.
• It may also be helpful in reducing the severity of asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
• Vitamin C improves iron absorption.
• Vitamin C helps maintain a healthy gut environment, where much of the immune system is actually located

1. 1. 1. 1. Pass the leaves and roots of the plant through a meat grinder and add the seeds in a glass bowl.
         2. Pour boiling water and wait about 7 minutes. After that, tea can be filtered and drunk.
         3. It is advisable to drink a cup of tea every two hours.
         4. To improve the taste, you can add lemon and honey.

          Important antioxidant

Vitamin A ~ helps reduce the risk for the development and progression of conditions like atherosclerosis, diabetes, and colon cancer.

It is a nutrient so important to a strong immune system that its nickname is the “anti-infective vitamin.”

          Cancer prevention

• ^C Protecting your cells from damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals
• This herb is sometimes called a “chemoprotective” plant because it helps protect DNA from damage, stops cell mutation and helps induce apoptosis, or the death of harmful cells.
• Folate is vitally important for cancer-prevention or inhibiting tumors due to high levels of anti-inflammatory compounds. It is therefore important for cancer-prevention areas of the body that contain rapidly dividing cells such as the colon and the cervix.
• Apigenin has been found to

1. 1. …“inhibit the progestin-dependent synthesis of human breast cancer cells
   2. …significantly delaying the development of, and decreasing the incidence and multiplicity of mammary tumors,” according to research done in 2013 by the American Association of Cancer.

• Myristicin, limonene, eugenol, and alpha-thujene are powerful oil components that benefit the body’s immune system and help fight cancer neutralizing oxidative stress and fighting off carcinogens.

          Heart Health ^{(B, K, C)}

• ^K Promotes strong capillaries and is used for the prevention of spider veins.
• ^B Reduces blood vessel damage lowering the risk of stroke, heart attack, and atherosclerosis (thickening of artery walls).
• ^K Just 10 sprigs improves bone health and improves calcium absorption.
• ^K Proper blood clotting, which can help prevent excessive bleeding.
• ^C Improves Heart Health
• ^A Carotenoids (A vitamins) contribute to lower rates of heart disease
• ^B Folate is needed for heart health – it’s a vital B vitamin that plays a critical role in protecting your heart. Folate in order to convert homocysteine, a type of amino acid found in the blood. Homocysteine is a potentially troublesome molecule that can cause damage to blood vessels when uncontrolled, potentially leading to a heart attack or stroke.

Just two tablespoons (8 grams) of parsley deliver more vitamin K than you need in a day.

NOTE:  If you are taking blood-thinners such as Coumadin (warfarin),
it is important that you do not suddenly begin to eat more foods containing vitamin K, which plays a large role in blood clotting.

 

Improves Oral Hygiene

Parsley is chock full of chlorophyll, which has antibacterial properties. You have all probably seen a sprig of parsley as a garnish to decorate your plate or on a display of dishes in a restaurant. What you may not know is that eating it after a meal fights oral bacteria that causes bad breath.

          Digestive Health

• Parsley works as a natural diuretic.
• Improves digestion of proteins and fats
• Parsley’s high enzyme content contributes to improving overall digestion, and the effective elimination of waste.
• Parsley stimulates digestion and the kidneys and helps eliminate toxins and kidney stones. It relieves water retention, bloating, indigestion, and flatulence (preventing the formation of gas).
• It increases urine flow to remove infection-causing bacteria from the urinary tract.

“Parsley is used for inflammation of the kidneys and bladder, gravel, stones, and urine retention.”

“Parsley is remarkable for its ability to expel watery poisons, excess mucoid matter, [even] flatulence, reducing swollen and enlarged glands.”

According to Dr. John Christopher of the Herbal Legacy Group

• Acts as antiurolithiatic drug through decreasing urinary calcium excretion, increasing urinary pH, dieresis, decreasing urinary protein excretion, and via its nephroprotective activity.”
• It helps your body flush out more toxins such as heavy metals

According to a 2002 review done at the American University of Beirut.

• It prevents the formation of kidney stones, benefiting digestive health because it helps stimulate kidney production of urine and draws excess water out of the abdomen, where it can cause discomfort and indigestion.
• Regular consumption of parsley also speeds up the process of uric acid removal. This is a symptom of arthritis.
• Help relieve water retention
• And eases bloating
• Treats a number of gastrointestinal symptoms and disorders:

1. 1. including gas
   2. constipation
   3. bloating
   4. indigestion
   5. nausea

• It helps increase bile production and beneficial gastric juices that are needed for proper enzyme functions involved in food and nutrient absorption.

1. 1. 1. 1. Use 30g (or 3 tablespoons full) of parsley leaves per 4 cups of boiling water.
         2. Let it steep for 10 minutes and sip before meals to prevent bloating, or after to relieve it.

NOTE:  Parsley can cause serious issues for those who already have kidney or gallbladder problems.

Wound Healing

An essential amino acid found in parsley is needed to repair damaged tissues. Parsley juice works wonders to speed up wound healing after surgery.

Soothes Irritated Skin:

Rub dried or fresh parsley leaves on irritated skin or insect bites to soothe skin irritation. When dealing with boils, boil parsley leaves in water and apply it on the affected areas for a few hours. It also helps to fade freckles and spots.

Protects Eye and Skin Health^(A)

• Carotenoid and beta-carotene boost eye health. These antioxidants protect the retina and cornea from damage as someone ages.
• Helping prevent eye disorders like macular degeneration and cataracts.
• Fights signs of aging on the skin.
• Parsley benefits skin and dental health by fighting off infections and bacteria.
• Protects eyes and skin from UV light damage, and may be able to help prevent skin cancer.

Bone Protecting ^{(Ca, K, D, Mg)}

• maintaining bone density
• fights bone breaks and fractures

Balance Hormones^(B6)

• for normalizing menstruation
• treating amenorrhea (loss of menstrual cycle)
• decreasing menstrual pain
• important for fertility
• prevents symptoms of PMS
• prevents neural tube defects
• important for a healthy pregnancy

Caution: Parsley is not recommended for pregnant women in large amounts, as it may cause uterine contractions, but used after delivery, it is said to tone the uterus.

Parsley Tea (uses 2 to 4 tablespoons of fresh parsley with 2 cups of water). This tea has been used in natural folk medicine as a remedy for treating gallstones, indigestion, kidney stones, constipation, and edema (bloating). Drinking ginger and parsley tea is also a great way to soothe nausea associated with pregnancy, stomach viruses, etc.

1. Chop fresh parsley and tie up in cheesecloth. Place bundle in a teapot with lid
2. Bring water to boil in a kettle or heavy saucepan
3. Pour boiling water over cheesecloth bundle, cover and let steep for 10 minutes
4. Warm 1 tablespoon honey for each cup of tea and serve while hot.
5. It is advisable to drink a cup of tea every two hours.

Use 30g (or 3 tablespoons full) of parsley leaves per 4 cups of boiling water. Let it steep for 10 minutes and sip before meals to prevent bloating, or after to relieve it.

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Many Christian groups also celebrate Passover. Christians tend to view the brilliant green parsley as symbolizing new life, the life they believe is promised by Jesus’ resurrection. Because of Parsley’s bitterness, it is done in remembrance of the enslaved Jews and the tears they shed.

Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by.  It shows your interest in health or at least your curiosity.  I am truly enjoying learning more about the powerful benefits of the Herbs and Spices we use in our kitchens.  If you enjoyed this post and learning about Parsley, please press the follow button, like it, and share how it helped you.  If you know someone who could be helped by this information please pass it on.  People are destroyed from a lack of knowledge. (Hosea 4:6)  I’d be very grateful if you’d help it spread the word so that more people can live their best life now free and to the fullest.

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Dr. Axe

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Thinkers News

Rosemary – “dew of the sea”

Rosemary is a woody evergreen native to the Mediterranean and a universal symbol of remembrance used to honor those who have passed on.  Rosemary is a fragrant, perennial herb that belongs to the mint family (Lamiaceae).

Rosemary is usually found growing by the ocean, Rosemary derives from the Latin rosmarinus officinalis and is divided into two parts, with the words “ros” meaning “dew” and “marinus” meaning “sea” – “dew of the sea”.

Rosemary, a very versatile herb, cultures have been incorporated in cultures throughout the world both in the kitchen and medicine cabinet for centuries.  Many cultural traditions surround rosemary.

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Here are some of its historical uses:

• Touted as the herb of fidelity in Elizabethan times and adorning the braids and necks of students looking to boost their memory during exams in ancient Greece, rosemary has always been more than just a culinary herb.
• Rosemary marked the beginning of a woman’s life as a married woman, it has also marked the end of life.  Shakespeare once proclaimed, “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance: pray, love, remember.” Shakespeare’s Juliet was honored at her burial with rosemary for remembrance.  Rosemary is still today regarded as the funeral flower signifying respect and remembrance for the departed.
• Early Europeans commonly threw sprigs of rosemary into graves as a symbol that the dead would not be forgotten.
• In ancient Egypt, rosemary was placed in the tomb to remember the dead, used in the bouquets of funeral flowers and even utilized in the embalming practices of that time.
• Rosemary has long held a prominent role in the wedding ceremony.  Used in weddings to grace the bride’s bouquet, headpiece, and dress. Rosemary was used to helping one remember the wedding vows and to ensure faithfulness. Wedding guests are also given sprigs of rosemary to wear to help them remember the occasion.
• Working its way into the kitchen, Rosemary became a preferred flavoring for meats.  Before the advent of the refrigerator, rosemary was used as a preservative for meats and other foods.  Because of rosemary’s high anti-oxidant activity, ancients would wrap their meats in crushed rosemary leaves.  The freshness would be preserved and thus the smell and taste would remain pleasant.  Rosemary was also used to control pests such as mosquitos, fleas (the carrier of the plague) and moths.

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Medicinal Uses:

Rosemary was another herb that was used throughout Europe during the Black Plague to ward off sickness. It was burned in the house to keep the black plague from entering. Rosemary is still a common ingredient in incense used to cleanse sacred spaces. Ingesting rosemary and/or using its essential oil can offer profound health benefits.

Rosemary is no less important in our culture today, where it is useful in helping us to forget the discomfort of arthritis, muscle aches, and many skin conditions. One day, rosemary may even provide the key to restoring memory loss from Alzheimer’s disease.

Rosemary has potent antioxidant, antiseptic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and disinfectant properties.  

ANTIOXIDANT:  Rosemary is one of the spices that contain the highest antioxidant properties, all of which can prove effective against fungi, bacteria, and cancer. The flower tops include phenolic antioxidant rosmarinic acid.  They bind to free radicals in the body and prevent cell damage, illness, and disease. Health benefiting volatile essential oils such as cineol, camphene, borneol, bornyl acetate, α-pinene, etc. These compounds are known to have rubefacient (counterirritant), anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-fungal, and antiseptic properties.

Simple teas can be made by boiling two teaspoons of rosemary leaves and leaving them to steep for fifteen minutes.  Enjoyed daily, this tea offers significant antioxidant benefits.

ANTISEPTIC: Rosemary can help disinfect wounds and soothe skin irritations while promoting healing and preventing infection as well.^(C)ANTIFUNGAL: The tea can be ingested or it can be used as a wash or douche to treat yeast infections.

ANTIINFLAMMATORY: Fights inflammation in the body and this benefit can be helpful for many conditions including arthritis and certain autoimmune disorders where excessive inflammation is present. Regular use of this herb can minimize the colds and other illnesses and may help lessen the severity when they do occur.

Rosemary contains phytochemicals including rosmarinic acid, betulinic acid, carnosol, and caffeic acid with antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. These compounds play an important role in neutralizing free radicals, which can cause oxidative stress and cellular damage.

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Rosemary Nutritional Profile:

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TEAS – Rosemary tea is rich in diterpenes, flavonoids, phenolic derivatives, glycosides, and other phytochemicals that give it medicinal properties. The tea aids weight loss, boosts memory, prevents cancer, and aids digestion.

• • You can avoid having to filter the tea by leaving the rosemary needles on the stem.
  • If you choose to use dried rosemary, the rule of thumb is 1 teaspoon per cup of boiling water.
  • Let it steep for 3 to 5 minutes, if you prefer your tea mild and aromatic.
  • It’s best you steep the leaves for up to 10 minutes as it will help draw out more of the healthy oils and nutrients that will maximize the tea’s benefits.

Rosemary tea is a simple preparation that smells of the fresh forest and the sea.

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Physiological Health Benefits:

Memory/Brain^{(B’s, Ca, C, K,)}

As a medicinal herb, it has long been recommended for strengthening the brain and memory and and secondary memory factors.  An antioxidant compound, like carnosic acid, has been known to stimulate and protect neural pathways from beta-amyloid plaque. This acid helps safeguard the nervous system by fighting off the brain damage caused by free radicals in the form of oxidative stress and overstimulation of nerve cells.

Rosemary Is For Remembrance – Its long thought ability to increase circulation and strengthen blood vessels has also associated it with memory, remembrance and the heart (love).

Ancient history and mythology, providing clues and hints to its particular value in cognition, memory and enhanced sensorial awareness, and ultimately its sacredness, which literally means “holy,” a word that also shares etymological roots with “whole,” “healthy” and “heal.”

Ancient Greeks revered it for stimulating the brain and assisting memory; Pedanius Dioscorides, a Greek physician, pharmacologist and botanist in the time of Nero, wrote about rosemary’s “warming faculty”.  He also  wrote of rosemary:  “the eating of its flower in a preserve comforts the brain, the heart and the stomach; sharpens understanding, restores lost memory, awakens the mind, and in sum is a healthy remedy for various cold ailments of the head and the stomach.”

Rosemary’s power to enhance memory we have a multitude of testimonials. Sir Thomas More, English lawyer, author and statesman wrote, “As for rosmarine, I lette it runne all over my garden walls, not onlie because my bees love it, but because it is the herb sacred to remembrance, and, therefore to friendship ….”

Improve Memory: Mix 3 drops of rosemary oil with 1/2 teaspoon of coconut oil and rub on the upper neck or diffuse for 1 hour a day.

Study better: Are you or your child trying to memorize information for an upcoming test? Diffuse rosemary oil while studying to boost cognitive function and memory.

Dr. Culpepper states, “the (rosemary) water is an admirable cure-all remedy of all kinds of cold, loss of memory, headache, coma.”   It receives and preserves natural heat, restores body function and capabilities, even at late age.  There are not that many remedidies producing that many good effects.” (“Pharmacopeia Londoniensis”, Nicholas Culpepper, 1653).

Students in ancient Greece wore garlands of rosemary around their necks, or braided it into their hair to improve their memory during exams.  Others would place it in their pillow the night before to enhance memory during sleep.

To fight stress and anxiety, add a few drops of rosemary essential oil in an aromatherapy diffuser or vaporizer.

Place it in your bedroom at a safe distance, so that the calming vapors can help induce a deep and peaceful slumber.

Researchers have discovered that certain phytochemicals in the herb prevent the degradation of acetylcholine, an important brain chemical needed for normal neurotransmission. rosemary has demonstrated a potential for protecting certain parts of the brain from tissue damage such as ischemic injury, healing nervous tissues, and averting blood clots.

Tea stimulates the circulatory system because it has anti-coagulant properties, similar to aspirin which improves the flow of blood.  This produces energy and improves the body’s ability to repair and oxygenate the extremities.

Enhance Your Memory

• • • • • • Breathe in the aroma of rosemary oil by adding 2 or 3 drops of this oil to your handkerchief or room diffuser.
          • You can also start drinking rosemary tea made from fresh or dried leaves. To make the tea, add 1 or 1½ teaspoons of the herb to 1 cup of hot water, cover it, and let it steep for 5 minutes.

Facilitates Blood Flow

• • • • • • Drink rosemary tea on a regular basis to promote circulation.
          • If you frequently suffer from cold limbs due to poor circulation, massage the affected limbs with rosemary-infused oil.

Headache

• • • • • • Simply massage your forehead and temples with a few drops of rosemary oil mixed in 1 tablespoon of carrier oil.
          • A cup of rosemary tea has been equated to taking an aspirin for minor aches and pains. Simply place a few fresh-picked sprigs in the bottom of a cup, add hot water, cover and steep for 10-15 minutes, strain and enjoy.

Anemia^(Fe,B12,B9)

An increase in hemoglobin is one of the rosemary herb benefits because this plant is an excellent source of iron. This nutrient is essential for hemoglobin.

Arthritis^(Mg,Cu)

Insulation – Carnosic acid fights inflammation in the body and this benefit can be helpful for many conditions including arthritis and certain autoimmune disorders where excessive inflammation is shown to reduce nitric acid that is a big trigger for inflammation.  With other antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, ease suffering from arthritis, headaches, muscle pain, joint disorders, hemorrhoids, and hypersensitivity to allergens.

Rosemary tea is also touted in Blanckes’ Herbal “for much worth against all evils of the body”. Among medicinal benefits claimed to include a topical application for gout; “if thy legs be blown with the gout, boil the leaves (rosemary) in water and then take the leaves and bind them in a linen cloth about thy legs, and it shall do much good.”

Treat muscle soreness

• • • • • • Make 1 to 2 cups of rosemary tea, soak a washcloth in it, and place the washcloth on the affected area for 10 to 15 minutes. Do this a few times daily to treat muscle soreness.
          • For arthritic pain, warm 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a microwave for a few seconds. Mix 2 to 3 drops of rosemary oil in it. Massage the affected area with this oil for 5 minutes. Repeat 2 to 3 times daily until you get relief.

Chronic Pain^{(Mg, Cu, B1, B12, C,)}

Pain-relieving properties are largely the result of salicylate and compound similar to aspirin.  Whether you are recovering from an illness, surgery or injury or chronic pain, Rosemary tea can help relieve these symptoms.

Massaging the oil of rosemary into joints effectively eases arthritic or rheumatic pain.  Queen Elizabeth of Hungary was reputedly cured of semi-paralysis when she sipped a concoction of rosemary to ease her painful joints.

Stimulates Hair Growth^{(A, B9, B12, B5, C, Mg, Fe)}

Stimulate hair growth by potentially improving blood circulation to the scalp, which allows more nutrients to reach the hair follicles. Carnosic acid, which helps reverse tissue and nerve damage. On account of this healing activity, rosemary may prove effective in rejuvenating nerves in the scalp too, in turn restoring hair growth and is well-known for its abilities to thicken as well.

Use Rosemary tea to scrub the scalp and hair to improve the nutrient content of the hair and also getting rid of dandruff.  Its antibacterial properties can keep skin problems away and protect against hair loss.

Restoring hair growth

• • • • • • Alternatively, add a few drops of rosemary essential oil to warm olive or coconut oil and massage your scalp with it 2 or 3 times a week. You can even add a few drops of rosemary essential oil to your shampoo before washing your hair.
          • Add a handful of fresh rosemary to 2 to 3 cups of hot water and let it steep for 15 minutes. Remove the herb and let the liquid cool down. Use it as a hair rinse few times a week.

Promotes Skin Health^{(A, C)}

Rosemary contains antibacterial and antimicrobial agents to treat a variety of skin disorders, including dandruff.  Where the blood flows and anti-inflammatory properties are combined, affect the skin’s ability to eliminate eczema and improve the skin’s appearance. Studies of Rosemary’s potential anti-cancer effects indicate that its compounds inhibit carcinogenic chemicals from binding to cellular DNA.  Rosemary helps promote skin cell regeneration and wards off the harmful free radicals that are at the base of premature skin aging.

Blanckes’ Herbal states, “washe thy face therwith . . . thou shalt have a fayre face.”  “Smell it and it shall preserve thy youthe.  “And, remember Markham; “Rosemary “cleanseth away the spots of the face, . . . it maketh a man look young.”

Gervase Markham (1568-1637) an English writer and poet wrote about Rosemary.  Rosemary water (the face washed therein both morning and night) causeth a fair and clear contenance.” And, “when one maketh a bath of this decoction, it is called the bath of life, the same drink comforteth the heart, the brain, and the whole body, and cleanseth away the spots of the face; it maketh a man look young . . .”

Include Rosemary in your life and stimulate and awaken the Sleeping Beauty in you.

Combat wrinkles

• • • • Take equal parts of geranium, sandalwood, lavender, frankincense, rosemary, and lemon essential oils, and mix them well.
      • Dilute the concoction as needed and use it topically to banish wrinkles.

Eye serum

• • • • Combine almond oil with 12 drops each of rosemary and lavender essential oils, and mix them well.
      • Empty the healing tonic into a roller bottle to apply it on puffy or red skin under the eyes.

Simultaneously, rosemary essential oil will put its strong anti-inflammatory agents, namely caffeic and rosmarinic acid, to good use and reduce the swollen puffiness.

Caution: Do not apply this blend on top of your eyelids as it can trickle or seep into your eyes and can cause irritation or more serious retinal damage.

Good Oral Hygiene^{(A, B2, C, Fe, Ca, Mg, P, K)}

The tea can be used to disinfect mouth wounds for good oral hygiene and fresh breath.

Prevents High Blood Sugar

Drink a cup of rosemary tea daily.

 

Caution: Always consult your physician before drinking this tea, and make sure you keep monitoring your blood sugar levels thereafter. Also, starting this adjunctive remedy doesn’t mean you can take your doctor-prescribed meds less seriously. Strictly adhere to the drug routine stipulated by your doctor.

Anxiety/Stress/Depression^{(A, B2, B6, C, Mg}

Rosemary’s nervine properties and analgesic properties of salicylate soothe anxiety and stress and help people to relax and promote calm.

Rosemary tea has diterpenes that inhibit neuronal cell death and exhibit anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antidepressant, and anxiolytic (anxiety) properties. Hence, having rosemary tea can help decelerate the loss of memory and disability.

 

Liver Function^{(A, B2, B6, C, Ca, Fe)}

The liver is perhaps one of the most vital organs in the body, which is accorded the bulk of the responsibility when it comes to detoxifying our system. Improve the health and function of your liver and detoxify the body by stimulating urination and relieve strain on a number of organ systems.

The liver takes a very long time to recuperate as it is one of the slowest organs to heal.  Rosemary, however, can help in this regard as it has been linked to lowering the risk of cirrhosis and expediting liver recovery. Another liver-protective property associated with this herb is that it reduces plasma liver enzymes, which may cause type 2 diabetes.

Carnosol content has been proven effective in staving off liver tissue distortion, and it’s also thought to prevent depletion of liver glycogen, the energy storage molecules.

Drink a cup of rosemary tea daily. However, always consult your physician before starting with this complementary intake.

Cancer^{(A, C)}

Packed with antioxidants it seeks out to neutralize free radicals, natural by-products that can cause cellular mutations, cancer, and apoptosis (cell death).  Rosmarinic acid, caffaic acid, carnosol, I’ll have been linked to reducing cancer growth rates, particularly breast cancer.  In the journal Nutrients in 2016 notes that rosemary extract has been shown to exhibit anti-cancer properties in vitro for the following cancers:

• • • • Colon cancer
      • Pancreatic cancer
      • Breast cancer
      • Prostate cancer
      • Ovarian cancer
      • Cervical cancer
      • Bladder cancer
      • Liver cancer
      • Lung cancer

In other words, carnosol acts like a military sniper who only takes out his enemy target and doesn’t damage neighboring cells, unlike the chemotherapy nuclear-bomb approach that kills everything along its path.

Digestive Aid^(Fiber)

Rosemary is composed of more than one-third fiber, so this herb can be beneficial to intestinal health. Rosemary is a supreme digestive aide. As a tonic and bitter, it supports our ability to digest large proteins, such as those found in meat, dairy, and grain.

A cup of rosemary tea just before you eat, or just after, will do a world of good for those who suffer from bloating, blood sugar issues, gas, and pain in their digestive tract.

The anti-spasmodic and carminative substances that are useful for improving indigestion, constipation, bloating, and cramping.  A tea made with Rosemary has been used to clear up digestive issues for generations and can improve nutrient uptake by relieving inflammation in the gut.

Prevention of Birth Defects^(B’s)

The nutrients in this herb are one of the top rosemary herb benefits and they can help prevent birth defects. Rosemary has high levels of folate, which is essential for developing babies. A deficiency of this nutrient can cause birth defects.

Caution: Medicinal intake of rosemary can prove dangerous for pregnant women because it might stimulate menstruation or adversely affect the uterus, inducing a miscarriage.

Improved Vision^(A,C)

Good vision requires an adequate amount of this vitamin that rosemary supplies.

Published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, the study highlighted the ability of carnosic acid, a major component of rosemary, to significantly promote eye health.

Protects Against Macular Degeneration^(A,C)

Add rosemary to your food as a spice or administer 30-40 drops of high-quality organic rosemary extract to your eyes 2-5 times a day.

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Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by.  It shows your interest in health or at least your curiosity.  I am truly enjoying learning more about the powerful benefits of the Herbs and Spices we use in our kitchens.  If you enjoyed this post and learning about Rosemary, please press the follow button, like it, and share how it helped you.  If you know someone who could be helped by this information please pass it on. People are destroyed from a lack of knowledge. (Hosea 4:6)  I’d be very grateful if you’d help it spread the word so that more people can live their best life now free and to the fullest.

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Food of Kings

Asparagus

As the season of spring approaches, one can find asparagus lovers walking along the side of a dirt road in Iowa, looking for wild asparagus growing in the ditches.

Originating 4,000 years ago the eastern Mediterranean regions of the Greeks, Romans, Syrians, Spanish, Persians, and Babylonians this elegant spring vegetable was prized so much so that Queen Nefertiti of Egypt considered asparagus the “food of gods.” Meanwhile, King Louis XIV of France named it the “food of kings.”  Early Greeks and Romans actually believed that asparagus had healing qualities and could be used to treat bee stings and toothaches.  In 1100 AD, Byzantine physicians had declared it a medicinal plant.  Romans considered it an aphrodisiac.

Urine Production

A natural diuretic, asparagus can help increase urine production in the body.  By expelling water from the body, it reduces the concentration of unnecessary salts and fluids.

This is helpful for people suffering from edema, which is retention of water in the body tissues or high blood pressure.

Good for Digestive Tract 

Asparagus has a lot of soluble and insoluble fiber, which is crucial for digestive health.  Dietary fiber
removes mucoid plaque and other toxins from the gut while being expelled.

With regular bowel movements, you find relief from constipation, and gain some protection from colon cancer.  The fiber inulin (a prebiotic ‘a good bacteria food source’ complex of sugar used medically to test    kidney function) in asparagus promotes healthy bacteria growth in the gut.

Healthy Bone
Being rich in vitamin K, asparagus helps lower the risk of coronary calcification and coronary heart disease.

Vitamin K helps you absorb more calcium, and you can thereby prevent osteoporosis and bone fractures.

Pregnancy

Significantly lowers miscarriages or neural tube defects because of folic acid, while chances of low weight, premature delivery, and retardation decrease.

 

 

Destroys Carcinogens

Carcinogens are a substance capable of causing cancer in living tissue.

Rheumatism is a disease marked by inflammation and pain in the joints or muscles.

Asparagus is particularly efficient in immunizing against varieties of bone, breast, lung, pancreatic, cervical, and colon cancers.

Vitamin B3 Niacin (9%) can reduce swelling and lower joint pain.Asparagus has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.

Since inflammation and chronic oxidative stress often cause cancer, the  anti-inflammatory benefits of asparagus can be a great way to ward it off.

Fights Depression

Depression is becoming more common every day partly because of increased stress and partly because of high homocysteine (amino acid) levels, which impede the pathway to the brain for nutrients and blood cells.  This affects production and secretion of some important hormones, such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine.   These hormones make you feel good and keep your spirits high.  Besides regulating your mood, these hormones also regulate sleep and appetite, so including asparagus in your diet can help ensure emotional stability.

High homocysteine levels also increases chances of heart diseases.

Blood-Sugar Regulation

The soluble fibers and antioxidants in asparagus can help prevent type 2 diabetes.  They slow down the absorption of glucose in the digestive tract, while the antioxidants remove inflammation associated with    diabetes.

The B vitamins also help metabolize starches and sugars and help manage blood sugar.

Calcium has direct effect on the pancreatic cells that regulate insulin secretion.

Skin Health 

Asparagus is excellent for getting rid of acne (even the severe type).

Its antioxidant glutathione fights free radicals and reverses the aging effect of sun damage on skin.

It also helps heal skin wounds faster.

Copper also helps build collagen and produces elastin (a protein forming the main constituent of elastic connective tissue), which improves the skin’s firmness and elasticity.

Kidney Stone Prevention

Asparagus also contains vitamin B6, which decreases urinary oxalate production, a factor behind calcium oxalate kidney stone production.

It can flush out superfluous salt and fluids from your body as well as toxins in the kidneys, which can help prevent kidney stones from forming.

Anti-urolithiatic (Urolithiasis describedcalculi or stones that form the urinary tract) effect, which can help prevent or cure urinary tract infection by eliminating formation of stony concretions in the tract.

If you aren’t suffering from uric acid kidney stones, however, and want to prevent kidney stones in general, asparagus is a great choice.

Menstrual Health

PMS, mood fluctuation, cramps, and uncomfortably heavy  flows often accompany periods.

Asparagus contains vitamin K and calcium, which can help  combat these symptoms if you happen to have them.

Vitamin K regulates our hormones so that you don’t experience cramps and other pains of menstruation.

Boosts Fertility

It reduces lipid per-oxidation in sperm cells, keeping them
healthy and motile, and also thickens the lining of the uterus.

Vitamin C plus Folate promote and nourish sperm cells and increase sperm count, keeping it voluminous and healthy.

Mainly, Folate helps create sperm cells with the correct chromosomal structure that is required for fertilization.

Hangovers

Hangovers are often accompanied by:  anxiety, nausea, fatigue, dehydration, and stomach disorders.

 

Brain Health

The impact neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Huntington’s, can be very harmful.

By adding more asparagus to your diet, however, you can lessen your chances of developing such diseases.

 

 

Interesting Facts:

• White asparagus is grown underground or under plastic domes, and the lack of chlorophyll gives it its shade.
• Purple asparagus is naturally grown and has a fruity flavor that is often enjoyed raw.
• When it’s really hot outside, asparagus can grow up to seven inches in a single day.
• Asparagus, coming from the salty Mediterranean basins, can tolerate high levels of soil salinity, which is why farmers once used sea salt as a herbicide.

Recipe tip: In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons sesame oil, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 crushed garlic and 2 tablespoons sesame seeds. Brush the mix over the asparagus and grill for about 4 minutes on each side.

Sources:

http://www.well-beingsecrets.com/health-benefits-of-asparagus/

http://drjockers.com/top-5-health-benefits-of-asparagus/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19895471

 

Blueberries, Little Blue Dynamos

In 1974, the USDA declared July as National Blueberry month.  In the 1990’s health researchers began to explore the antioxidant activity in Blueberries.  In 2010 Blueberries became “little blue dynamos” and are considered a “superfood” since they’re full of antioxidants and phyto-flavinoids, both protect body from stress and cell damage.

1. Blueberries are Low in Calories, but high in nutrients ~ Blueberries are among the most nutrient dense berries. A 1 cup serving (148 grams) of Blueberries contains: Fiber: 4 gram, Vitamin C: 24% of the RDA, Vitamin K: 36% of the RDA, Manganese: 25% of the RDA, Water about 85%

2. Blueberries are the King of Antioxidant Foods ~ Antioxidants help our cells fight stress by neutralizing other environmental damaging effects that cause damage to our cells by 20%.   Blueberries are believed to contain the highest antioxidant capacity of ALL commonly consumed fruits and vegetables.

3. Blueberries Reduce DNA Damage ~ which may help protect against aging and cancer.  Oxidative DNA damage (like rusting metal) is part of everyday life and is the reason for the aging process.  It is said to occur tens of thousands of times per day, in every single cell in the body.

4. Blueberries Protect Cholesterol in The Blood From Becoming Damaged ~ Oxidative damage is not limited to our cells and DNA.  It is also problematic when our circulating LDL lipoproteins (the “bad” cholesterol) are oxidized.

5. Blueberries May Lower Blood Pressure ~ Blueberries appear to have significant benefits to 8% reduction in the risk for developing high blood pressure (hypertension). The anthocyanins (blue, violet, red pigments) in Blueberries help open blood vessels, which allows for smoother blood flow and a lower risk for high blood pressure.

6. Blueberries May Help Prevent Heart Disease ~ In a 2013 study on 93,600 nurses, eating plenty of blue, violet, red pigments linked to a 32% lower risk of heart attacks.

7. Blueberries Can Help Maintain Brain Function and Improve Memory ~ Oxidative stress can accelerate the brain’s aging process, having negative effects on brain function.  According to animal studies, the antioxidants in Blueberries tend to accumulate in areas of the brain that are essential for intelligence.  They appear to directly interact with aging neurons, leading to improvements in cell signaling.  Human studies have also shown promising results. (Brain, Memory)

8. Blueberries Can Have Anti-Diabetic Effects ~ Research suggests that these blue, violet, red pigments in blueberries can have beneficial effects on insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism.  In a study of 32 obese subjects with insulin resistance, a blueberry smoothie caused major improvements in insulin sensitivity (Diabetic).  Improved insulin sensitivity should lower the risk of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes, which are currently some of the world’s biggest health problems.

9. Blueberries May Help Fight Urinary Tract Infections ~ Urinary tract infections are a common problem in women.  It is well known that cranberry juice can help prevent these types of infections.  Blueberries are highly related to cranberries, and contain many of the same active substances as cranberry juice (UTI).  These substances are called anti-adhesives, and help prevent bacteria like E. colifrom binding to the wall of the bladder.

10. Blueberries May Help Reduce Muscle Damage After Strenuous Exercise ~ Strenuous exercise can lead to muscle soreness and fatigue, in part, by local inflammation and oxidative stress in the muscle tissue (Muscle). Blueberry supplementation may reduce the damage that occurs at the molecular level, minimizing soreness and reduction in muscle performance.  In a small study of 10 female athletes, blueberries accelerated muscle recovery after strenuous leg exercises (Recovery).

Here is a link to a yummy smoothie recipe.

Sources:
https://authoritynutrition.com/10-proven-benefits-of-blueberries/
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199105303242214

“Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food.” Hippocrates

Promoting a lifestyle of preventative care!

WELLNESS PRINCIPAL:  Health comes from within.  You cannot buy it in a bottle.

          Please visit Catherine’s Pinterest boards by clicking this link:  Catherine’s Place.   There, you will find a variety of healthy sources, natural solutions, recipes, God’s Creation, and SO MUCH MORE.  Grab yourself a healthy snack, make yourself comfortable, and take time to browse through the wealth of information and be not only inspired but uplifted.