Posts Tagged ‘immune system’

When Life Gives You Lemons…

….Give your immune system the boost it needs and naturally cleanse your body!

An Introduction:

Lemons are bright yellow like sunshine and can often remind you of a warm summer day. They are oval in shape, with their flesh encased by their textured yellow peel. Most lemons are tart, acidic and stringent;  they are sure to make you “pucker up,” but they can also be quite refreshing.

The two most popular types of sour lemons are Eureka and the Lisbon. Eureka lemons are known to have a more textured skin, a short neck at one end and a few seeds inside. Lisbon lemons have smoother skin, no neck and are generally seedless. Did you know that there are also lemons that are sweet in flavor? Perhaps you have heard of the Meyer lemon, which is becoming more popular over time. Check your local market to see if you can pick one up to try.

Nutritional Value:

• 1/4 cup of lemon juice has approximately 45% of your daily value of vitamin C. Vitamin C is one of the most important antioxidants in nature. It travels through your body, neutralizing any free radicals that it comes into contact with. Vitamin C is considered vital to the function of a strong immune system.
• NOTE: You should not drink pure lemon juice! Dilute it with water before consuming. Pure lemon juice contains acid which is injurious to the enamel of teeth.
• Studies show that citrus fruits (such as lemons, limes and oranges) contain compounds known as limonoids, which have been shown to help fight cancers of the mouth, skin, lungs, breasts, colon and stomach.
• Lemon juice is also a diuretic, so it gives relief in kidney and bladder disorders because it is very effective in flushing toxins and bad bacteria from the body. It is also instrumental in curing many digestive problems when mixed with warm water.
• Lemon juice, when taken regularly in the morning, acts as a tonic to the liver and stimulates it to produce bile so its ready to digest your food for the day.
• Lemons also contain smaller amounts of folate, thiamin, and vitamin B6.

Purchasing These Little Pockets of Sunshine:

For the most antioxidants, we recommend choosing fully ripened lemons. We also recommend choosing organic when possible, as some conventionally grown lemons may have been sprayed with pesticides during growth or given a waxed coating to protect them from bruising during shipping.

Lemons that are thick-skinned tend to have less juice in them. For the most bang for your buck, try to choose lemons with a thin skin, that are heavy for their size and feature peels with finely grained texture. They should be that bright sunshine yellow color (lemons with hints of green have not fully ripened yet). Overmature lemons will be wrinkled, have soft or hard patches and be dull in color. Stay away from those. The bright yellow is the key.

Storing, Preparing, Juicing and Everything in Between:

Lemons will stay fresh at room temperature for about a week. If you are planning to hold on to them for longer, store them in your refrigerator.

Before cutting a lemon in half, wash the skin gently with water.  Although lemons are excellent compliments to several teas and other drinks, they are most commonly enjoyed in juice form. Note that they tend to produce more juice when they are room temperature than cold. You could juice the old fashion way, but if you would rather save your strength, small hand held lemon juicers are easier to use and relatively inexpensive to buy (your local market should carry them).

Lemon juice can be frozen for later use. Simply pour your freshly squeezed juice into an ice tray and store in the freezer. Then plop them into water or your favorite recipe as needed.

Tips for Getting Lemons in Your Diet:

• Squeeze fresh lemon juice into your first 16 oz cup of water in the morning.
• Add lemon juice to your green smoothie or your vegetable juice for a bit of zest.
• Combine lemon juice with olive or flax oil, freshly crushed garlic and pepper to make salad dressing.

Resources:

“Lemons/Limes”  Worlds Healthiest Foods, http://www.whfoods.com
“Lemons for Health” Earth in Common: Nutrition & Resources for Healthy Living http://www.earthincommon.com/nutrition_01-article.html
“The Health Benefits of Lemons” Learning Info http://health.learninginfo.org/health-benefits-lemons.htm

Broccoli: Go Ahead, Sneak It In!

Introduction

A member of the cabbage family and the more colorful relative of the cauliflower, broccoli is the amazing vegetable that you can add to just about anything. Because of it’s various components, broccoli provides an eclectic array of tastes and textures, from soft and flowery to fibrous and crunchy. One reason for the recent jump in broccoli consumption is its growing reputation as a nutritional power house. It is not only rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber, but it’s also loaded with antioxidants and protective phytochemicals as well. Not to mention, broccoili  contains some of the highest levels of vitamin A and C than in any food.

Nutritional Breakdown

Some of the figures expressed below are based upon 1 cup of broccoli or 1 medium sized stalk

• 1 cup only contains 45 calories.
• Broccoli contains natural substances that may help the body fight certain cancers.
• It also helps heal kids’ cuts and wounds and is a particularly good source of vitamin C.
• Broccoli helps to build strong bones and teeth. It is one of the best non-dairy sources of calcium. In fact, 1 cup of broccoli contains 74 mg of calcium (take that, dairy products!)
• 1 cup of broccoli contains 205% of your daily value of vitamin C, 194% of vitamin K, 45% of vitamin A, and 25% of folate.
• Broccoli has been singled out as a vegetable that contributes to the significant reduction in the risk for heart disease.
• Just 1 cup of broccoli fortifies your immune system with a hefty 1359 mcg of beta-carotene, and a small but useful amount of zinc and selenium (two minerals that act as cofactors in numerous immune defensive actions).

Selecting and Storing

The next time you are in the fresh produce section of your grocery store, look for stalks that are four to six inches wide with tight heads and a rounded dome. The tops should be deep green with tightly closed buds and stalks that are crisp and fresh looking. Be sure to avoid any heads that are limp and rubbery as this could mean the broccoli is old or has not been maintained at proper temperature.

When storing your broccoli, if it is prepackaged in sealed plastic it is good to go. If not, wrap unwashed broccoli in plastic wrap or a plastic bag and store ina fridge until you are ready to use. Although it is best eaten fresh, if you store it as mentioned above, it will keep five to seven days in your fridge.

Sneak it in

Broccoli does not have to be the main ingredient in your meal in order for you to reap the benefits. A cup of broccoli can easily be added to your already green juice, or as a flavorful edition to any salad. Happy chomping!

Acai Berries: Know The Facts

How do you pronounce it?

Okay repeat after us, it is pronounced acai (ah-sigh-ee) berry. So the next time you hear someone talking about it you can chime in and show off your skills.

What’s up with this little berry?

The acai berry originates in the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil. It is a small berry about the size of the grape, but it is amazingly powerful in terms of all it can do. It has also recently gained a lot of popularity in the US. According to the Acai Berry Studies (website info below), “this little berry is packed with an amazing amount of free-radical fighting antioxidants and is considered to have the best overall nutritional value of any fruit on earth.”

What are the benefits?

Increased energy and stamina
Fights Cancer and Disease
Fights Obesity
Boost Immune System
Maintain Good Cholesterol
Fights Heart Disease
Improves Vision
Helps with Digestion
Promotes Peaceful Sleep

Where can I get some?

Unfortunately, you cannot mosey down to your local grocer and pick a fresh bunch of these berries (unless you live in the Amazon, then by all means pick away!). This berry spoils within a day of being harvested, making it darn near impossible to ship long distances. There are several acai berry supplements and juice blends currently on the market. How do you know what’s best for you? At the present time, we do not indorse such products, so if you are interested, we strongly encourage you to do your research and consult your nutritionist.

Are there any false claims out there?

ABSOLUTELY! Which is exactly why we encourage you to consult your nutritionist. There are oodles of worthless products out there, and a lot of scams in terms of what different supplements can do for you because somewhere in the ingredients there is a smidgen of this berry. The benefits of the acai berry are scientifically proven, but still be wary of some of the processed products you see on the market.

How do I learn more?

A Google search will bring up a ton of information, but a lot of those websites are trying to sell you on their product. The site that we recommend, which a lot of the above information came from, is http://www.acaiberrystudies.com/. They have a ton of additional information about this magnificent berry, including medical studies, videos, detailed benefits, and frequently asked questions. Start there, and also consult your nutritionist.

Alfalfa Sprouts: The Immune System Booster

That’s one powerful little sprout!

Someone mentioned to me that alfalfa sprouts are known for boosting your immune system. Really? This lead to some general research and “Googling” to find out more on the topic.

First a little background on sprouting, courtesy of the Harmony Health Center: Sprouts represent the point of greatest vitality in the life cycle of a plant. During sprouting, vitamin and enzyme content increases dramatically. The sprouting process predigests the nutrients of the seed, making it easier to assimilate and metabolize: starches are converted into simple sugars, proteins into free amino acids, and fats into free fatty acids. This explains why grains and legumes, many of which are common allergens, often do not cause allergies when sprouted.

And now for the good stuff: 

The alfalfa sprout is considered more nutritionally concentrated than other sprouts. It contains all known vitamins: vitamin A, the B complex, C, D, E, K, and U. It also includes biotin, calcium, carotene (equal to carrots), choline, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, protein, sodium, sulfur, and tryptophan, and it is a rich source of chlorophyll. It acts as a diuretic, which benefits the urinary and intestinal systems, and helps to detoxify the body. Alfalfa sprouts contain 8 enzymes which help to assimilate protein, fats and carbohydrates.

How To Eat Sprouts:

Sprouts of any kind are eaten best in raw form. Include them in your salads, sandwiches, wraps, veggie burgers, or add them into your homemade juices. Cut them down if you feel they are too “stringy” for you, whichever method best helps you to consume the power of this amazing little sprout.

One Additional Note:

There is a note of caution with respect to this vegetable: alfalfa sprouts have higher than usual amounts of an amino acid called canavanine, which has been associated with worsening of inflammatory conditions. So if you have a pre-existing inflammatory condition, you should consider alternative green foods to help improve your health and boost your immune system.