Health Benefits of Lemon Grass

Lemon grass or the local tanglad (scientific name: Cymbopogon ciatrus) is one of those wondrous herbs that one can always associate with Asian cooking Thai, Malaysian and Vietnamese homegrown meal enthusiasts always have this tropical grass at hand for its aromatic citrus flavor with a trace of ginger. Few people know that its other popular name is citronella - the common scent you usually find in candles, perfumes and soaps.

Citronella is known for its calming effect that relieves insomnia or stress. It is also considered as a mild insect repellant. But more than scent, tanglad or lemon grass provides a lot of health benefits. Studies have shown that the lemon grass has antibacterial and antifungal properties. Mixed with pepper, it's a home therapy for menstrual troubles and nausea. Drank as tea, it is an effective diuretic. When it comes to pets, citronella is used to neutralize excessive barking of dogs. Since dogs hate citronella, it is sprayed to dogs to prevent them from barking or just to lessen the behavior.

The Lemon grass is a good cleanser that helps to detoxify the Liver, pancreas, kidney, bladder and the digestive tract. It cuts down uric acid, cholesterol, excess fats and other toxins in the body while stimulating digestion, blood circulation, and lactation; it also alleviates indigestion and gastroenteritis. It is said that lemongrass also helps improve the skin by reducing acne and pimples and acts as a muscle and tissue toner. Also, it can reduce blood pressure. Just make a concoction by boiling some lemon grass leaves, let it cool for a while and drink the liquid.

The leaves and base of this tender perennial are used as a food flavoring, particularly in fish and poultry dishes, and its essential oils are used medicinally. Its distinctive flavor balances hot chillies and contributes to the elaborate, multi-layered flavors of many dishes in South East Asian cuisine.

As the long, thin, grey-green leaves are tough and fibrous, the outside leaves and the tips are usually chopped very finely or discarded from the dish before it is served. The base is often ground. Citral, an essential oil also found in lemon peel, is the constituent responsible for its taste and aroma.

Lemon grass, also known as Sweet Rush and sometimes called Fever Grass in the Caribbean, can be used as a remedy for ague, fevers, and colds.

Filipino ingenuity has produced a commercial beverage made from lemon grass. A concentrate composed of lemon grass juice and muscovado sugar bottled in attractive design.

A recent study by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the department of Science and technology ( DOST ) claims that every 100g of edible tanglad when boiled can contain up to 24.205 micrograms of beta-carotene the anti-oxidant that scientists believe can help prevent cancer. Another DOST study shows that lemon grass oil has the potential as a tropical eye medication against keratomycosis, an inflammation of cornea often associated with burning or blurring of vision.By: Manolito Montala

Warning - Do Not Buy Mangosteen Juice Until You Read This Article

Looking to buy mangosteen juice? There are some important things you should know before you buy or purchase mangosteen juice.

1. Easy Ordering Online. You can buy mangosteen juice online through secure ordering sites. Using your credit card from the comfort of your easy chair, you can place an order to buy a case of mangosteen juice with your credit card. The ordering sites are secure, so you do not have to worry about identity theft.

2. Delivery Straight To Your Doorstep. Once your order is placed, the mangosteen juice is delivered straight to your door by UPS. No going to the grocery store to have your car dented in the parking lot. No fighting the lines at the checkout stand. Each case has four bottles that come packed in a Styrofoam case. The juice is also available in small one ounce packages that are great for travel or for use as samples.

3. Don't Pay Retail When You Can Pay Wholesale. Most of us belong to either Sam's Club, Costco, or some similar wholesale buying club. By paying a small membership fee, you are able to buy at wholesale rather than paying retail in other stores. By paying the $35.00 membership fee, you can buy at wholesale and not lose almost $14.00 per bottle. In fact, you save enough on a one case order to more than get back your membership fee.

4. Do Not Buy Any Mangosteen Product That Does Not Contain Whole Fruit. There are a number of mangosteen products on the market today, including a number of knock off products. Examine the labels closely. Only one brand is actually made with whole mangosteen fruit. Many products contain water that waters down the juice and waters down the mangosteen. Look at the first three ingredients on the label.

5. Consider Starting Your Own Mangosteen Juice Business. Very few businesses can be started for $35.00, the same $35.00 you already paid for your membership so that you can buy wholesale. One company pays a Power Start bonus on the first orders placed by new wholesale members and pays monthly commission ranging from 5% to 10% on the volume for which you are responsible. The program also pays additional bonuses based upon the number of people and the amount sold in your business. One company pays out 50% of all product sales to its distributors who spread the word of the juice.

6. Mangosteen Juice Tastes Good. Mangosteen juice is a purée from the whole mangosteen fruit, apple juice pear juice grape juice pear purée, blueberry juice raspberry juice strawberry juice cranberry juice and cherry juice The taste is a sweet, crisp, delicious flavor.By James Montgomery

Top 10 Health Benefits From Spicy Foods - What We Need to Know About Spicy Foods

Eating spicy food or adding spices such as hot peppers to your meal has its own health benefits.

Here we have listed down ten of them:

1 - Aid Weight Loss - Spicy food helps to increase metabolic rate, therefore it aids to increase weight loss.

2 - Lower "Bad" Cholesterol - Research has shown that by adding chili to the diet, the LDL, or bad cholesterol, actually resisted oxidation for a longer period of time, thus delaying the development of a major risk for cardiovascular disease.

3 - Improve Digestion - Study has shown that the spiciness stimulates stomach secretions. This will increase blood flow to the stomach.

4 - Improve Circulation - When you eat spicy food, your body's temperature is raised, therefore, it increases your blood flow and gets your heart pumping. As a result, you sweat which makes in return, cool down your body.

5 - Prevent Cancer - Capsaicin, a chemical found in chili peppers, was shown in laboratory settings that it kills cancer cell in rats.

6 - Improve Heart Health - Hot peppers may help to improve heart health by boosting the body's ability to dissolve blood clots. The capsaicin in peppers also fights inflammation, which has been identified as a risk factor for heart disease.

7 - Improve Sleep Pattern - Researchers have found that people who frequently consumed spicy meals fell asleep more easily, had healthier sleep patterns, and even woke up easier and had more energy throughout the day.

8 - Improve Healing Rate - Turmeric, another chemical found in curry powder speeds up wound healing and assists in remodeling of damaged skin.

9 - Improve Mood - Capsaicin also increases the production of endorphins in the brain and therefore, promote a sense of wellbeing.

10 - Promote Better Breathing - Whether you have flu, cold or respiratory conditions such as asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, sinusitis, eating hot peppers can help you to breathe better by opening up clogged nasal passages.By CN Pong

Spirulina, The Natural Nutrition That Benefits Your Health

Spirulina is a single-celled, spiral-shaped blue green microalgae grown in tropical salt lakes. This microalgae is discovered by Dr. Clement of France in 1962. Dr. Clement found that the Ganimou people living around Lake Chades in Africa had stronger bodies than other civilized people at that time, despite poor living conditions and few resources. Upon further studies, he observed that the Ganimou eats a particular blue green algae found floating on the lake's surface. This algae is spirulina. Such simple one-celled organism already exist when life first appeared on earth. They are the earliest forms of life and is the source of all life in the oceans.

Nutritional Values of Spirulina

So how nutritious is spirulina to the human body?
This algae is a highly digestible food, containing 60 to 70% of protein, and provides all the essential amino acids, which is a rarity among plant foods. It is so nutritionally balanced that it is 5 times easier to digest than meat. Besides protein, spirulina is a rich natural source of Vitamin E and B12, iron, calcium, anti-oxidants,  minerals, carbohydrates and enzymes. Its rich phytochemical composition are carotenoids, chlorophyll (known as a blood purifier),  and phycocyanin. Phycocyanin is a blue pigment found only in blue green algae.  Experiments have shown that this particular protein can increase the survival rate of mice with liver cancer.  That means it can inhbits cancerous cells growth. It can also inhibit viral replication, and strengthen the humoral and cellular
arms of the immune system.

Anemia, a deficiency in red blood cells and/or hemoglobin, responds well to vitamin B12, folic acid and chlorophyll found  in spirulina. In fact, spirulina is the richest natural source of vitamin B12, once thought to be available only in animal products.  Not only that, a test have shown that stomach ulcers can be cured with 2 grams of spirulina intake per day, by coating chlorophyll onto the stomach lining.  Other diseases known to improve with the help of spirulina include liver disorders, such as chronic hepatitis, and diabetes. Another important compound in this superfood is the Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA).  This essential fatty acid cannot be produced by our body, yet is important for
healthy bones, normal brain function, growth and development, stimulation of skin and hair growth and regulation of metabolism such as lipid. Furthermore, GLA in vivo changes easily to arachidonic acid, and then to prostaglandin E2. The end product can be  developed as a blood pressure regulating agent in our body.

An article written by Christopher Hills, Ph.D, D.Sc., titled "Spirulina as nutrition for the brain" says that
"the interesting part... is the remarkable effects of this vegetable plankton on our state of consciousness particularly
while fasting on nothing else... most people feel increased energy and clarity of mind after taking the Spirulina as a
vitamin supplement."

Other effects and uses of spirulina includes rejuvenation, increase of energy level, reduction of cholesterol, reducing body acidity,
cardiovascular support and detoxification. The soft cell walls of spirulina allows it to be digested easily and assimilated, making
it ideal for detoxifying.

Safe for Consumption

Spirulina is very safe for human consumption. In fact, it is not a new health supplement. The Africans have consumed it decades ago and Mexicans now uses it to replenish the inadequate nutrients in a mother's milk.
More than 70 countries have approved the super food as safe for consumption by their respective health agencies. In an evaluation of spirulina by WHO in 1992, the organization states that: Spirulina is a high quality food product. It is rich in iron and protein. It is safe to consume and is an excellent nutrient supplement for children.By Alvin Ng