Lineage Kitchen

Honey

This wonderfully rich golden liquid is the miraculous product of honey bees and a naturally delicious alternative to white sugar. Although it is available throughout the year, it is an exceptional treat in the summer and fall when it has just been harvested and is at its freshest. 

The fascinating process of making honey begins when the bees feast on flowers, collecting the flower nectar in their mouths. This nectar then mixes with special enzymes in the bees’ saliva, an alchemical process that turns it into honey. The bees carry the honey back to the hive where they deposit it into the cells of the hive’s walls. The fluttering of their wings provides the necessary ventilation to reduce the moisture’s content making it ready for consumption.

Health Benefits

In addition to its reputation as Nature’s nutritive sweetener, research also indicates that honey’s unique composition makes it useful as anantimicrobial agent and antioxidant.

Raw Honey - An Anti-Bacterial, Anti-Viral, Anti-Fungal Substance

In a study involving 105 children aged 2-18 years with upper respiratory tract infections of 7 days or less and night-time coughing, a single night-time dose of buckwheat honey was an effective alternative treatment for symptomatic relief of nocturnal cough and sleep difficulty, compared to a single dose of dextromethorphan (DM).

In the time of theancient Olympics, athletes were reported to eat special foods, such as honey and dried figs, to enhance their sports performance. Recently, however, one group of researchers has investigated the use of honey as an ergogenic aid in athletes. The study involved a group of 39 weight-trained athletes, both male and female. Subjects underwent an intensive weight-lifting workout and then immediately consumed a protein supplement blended with either sugar, maltodextrin or honey as the carbohydrate source. The honey group maintained optimal blood sugar levels throughout the two hours following the workout. In addition, muscle recuperation and glycogen restoration (carbohydrates stored in muscle) was favorable in those individuals consuming the honey-protein combination.

In addition to the specific enzymes found in honey, which may help in the healing process, honey also contains antioxidants and flavonoids that may function as antibacterial agents. One antioxidant in particular, pinocembrin, which is unique to honey, is currently being studied for its antibacterial properties. One laboratory study of unpasteurized honey samples indicated the majority had antibacterial action against Staphylococcus aureus, a common bacteria found readily in our environment that can cause infections, especially in open wounds. Other reports indicate honey is effective at inhibiting Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. Darker honeys, specifically honey from buckwheat flowers, sage and tupelo, contain a greater amount of antioxidants than other honeys, and raw, unprocessed honey contains the widest variety of health-supportive substances.

The Positive Impact of the Rastafarian Diet an Individual’s Health
The Rastafarians generally follow an Ital diet- this means that it is salt-less and vegetarian- it also means natural food. Though there are many discrepancies as to whether a vegetarian and salt-less diet is healthy, this type of diet reaps a lot of benefits health wise for an individual.
• Cutting back on salt dramatically reduces blood pressure, and reduces the risk of heart disease. Harvard researchers say people on a low salt diet have a 25-30% lower chance of developing cardiovascular disease and also a reduces risk of dying by 20%

• There is increased heart health because vegetarians on average consume more nuts. These nuts contain “good” fats, such as omega-3 and omega-6. This promotes good heart health by reducing “bad” cholesterol and unclogging arteries.

• Rastafarians also enjoy increased skin health. In addition to consuming larger quantities of nuts, vegetarians tend to consume more fruits and vegetables, which are rich in essential vitamins, this leads to good skin health. Fruits and vegetables also contain high amounts of fiber, which helps flush toxins out of the body, further contributing to skin health.

• Rastafarians also enjoy increased natural consumption of antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotenes and phytochemicals. Antioxidants are foods that help to prevent cancer, and increase your heart health.

• The Rastafarian diets are beneficial in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis, renal disease and dementia, as well as gallstones and rheumatoid arthritis.

• Rastafarians seem to have a lower risk of obesity, diabetes mellitus and some forms of cancer.

• Cholesterol, which is recognized as primary risk factor in heart disease is lower in vegetarian diet

Olives are harvested in September but available year round to make a zesty addition to salads, meat and poultry dishes and, of course, pizza.

Olives cannot be eaten right off of the tree; they require special processing to reduce their intrinsic bitterness. These processing methods vary with the olive variety, region where they are cultivated and the desired taste, texture and color. Some olives are picked green and unripe, while others are allowed to fully ripen on the tree to a black color. Yet, not all of the black olives available begin with a black color. Some processing methods expose unripe greens olives to the air, and the subsequent oxidation turns them a dark color. In addition to the original color of the olive, the color is affected by fermentation and/or curing in oil, water, brine or salt.

Health Benefits

Olives are concentrated in monounsaturated fats and a good source of vitamin E. Because monounsaturated fats are less easily damaged than polyunsaturated fats, it’s good to have some in our cells’ outer membranes and other cell structures that contain fats, such as the membranes that surround the cell’s DNA and each of its energy-producing mitochondria. The stability of monounsaturated fats translates into a protective effect on the cell that, especially when combined with the antioxidant protection offered by vitamin E, can lower the risk of damage and inflammation. In addition to vitamin E, olives contain a variety of beneficial active phytonutrient compounds including polyphenols and flavonoids, which also appear to have significant anti-inflammatory properties.

Cellular Protection Against Free Radicals

Vitamin E is the body’s primary fat-soluble antioxidant. It goes after and directly neutralizes free radicals in all the fat-rich areas of the body. In combination, stable monounsaturated fats and vitamin E add a significant safety factor to cellular processes like energy production, a process that generates free radicals even when things are running smoothly.

When cellular processes such as mitochondrial energy production are not well protected, the free radicals produced can interact with and damage any nearby molecules-a process called oxidation. When a cell’s mitochondria become damaged, the cell cannot produce enough energy to supply its needs and dies. If a cell’s DNA becomes damaged, the cell may mutate and become cancerous.

Protection From Heart Disease

Free radical damage can lead to numerous ailments. For example, when free radicals cause the oxidation of cholesterol, the oxidized cholesterol damages blood vessels and builds up in arteries, and can eventually lead to heart attack or stroke. So, by preventing the oxidation of cholesterol, the nutrients in olives help to prevent heart disease.

Support Gastrointestinal Health

If free radicals damage the cellular DNA in colon cells, the cells can mutate into cancer cells. By neutralizing free radicals, the nutrients in olives help prevent colon cancer. A higher intake of both vitamin E and the monounsaturated fats in olives is actually associated with lower rates of colon cancer.

Beneficial Anti-Inflammatory Effects

The anti-inflammatory actions of the monounsaturated fats, vitamin E and polyphenols in olives may also help reduce the severity of asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis, three conditions where most of the damage is caused by high levels of free radicals. The vitamin E in olives may even help to reduce the frequency and/or intensity of hot flashes in women going through menopause.

All About Porridge (aka congee, polenta, shugo, okayu, uji, nasi lemak, dalia, chao bo, lugaw, mush, farina, etc)

I’ve been trying to perfect a oatmeal congee over the past few weeks. In the process learned a lot about the different types of porridge.

How to define porridge? I think this site says it best …
http://www.thenewhomemaker.com/beautifulporridge

“Just about any grain makes a good porridge. The key is to cook them longer than you would were you to serve the same grain for dinner, and in more water”

Wiki has a pretty good list of porridge across different cultures, using different grains. I might disupte some of them. I think atole is more of a corn gruel rather than porridge.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porridge

Even better is this article from the SF Chronicle which has a few recipes at the end.

Morning comfort / From Irish oatmeal to Chinese congee to Mexican champurrado every cuisine offers steaming bowls of cereal to stave off winter’s chill
http://articles.sfgate.com/2005-01-05/food/17355457_1_rice-grains-coconut-milk

The writer says ” just about every culture around the world has its own version of porridge and many are far from bland. They’re perked up with fiery chiles pungent fish sauce sweet fruit preserves; enriched with coconut milk chocolate or cream; or bathed in broths of saffron or ginger.”

There was a good topic on Chowhound about three years ago that focused on Asian porridge

jook (congee), okayu, porridge, gruel
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/361590

I finally perfected my oatmeal congee.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/678922

I suppose I could call it porridge, but these days that usually means a sweet breakfast dish, especially when using oats. Also, I was going more for the texture and flavor of rice congee. I think, and I might be wrong, that oats have a little more nutritional value that rice.

Lychee Yuan Xiao

4 1/2 cups sticky rice flour
7 oz. butter
7 oz. black sesame powder
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup lychee jam
1 tsp. wine

Mix the butter with sesame powder, sugar and wine together. You need to heat a little bit. Make small balls about 0.3-0.4 oz. each.

Take 1/2 cup of sticky rice flour. Add water into the flour and make flattened dough. Cook it in boiled water and take out when done. Let it cool down. Then put it in the rest of the sticky rice flour. Add water and knead until the dough is smooth.

Make the dough into small pieces about 0.3-0.4 oz. each. Make them into a ball using hands first and then make a hole in the ball like a snail. Put the sesame ball into it and close it up.

Cook them in boiled water. Make sure to keep stirring in one direction while cooking. When they float on the water, continue to boil for about one minute using less heat.

The health benefits of Dragon Fruit (health benefits of pitaya fruit or health benefits of pitahaya fruit) are many, and all you need to do to reap the benefit of dragon fruit nutrients is to eat the fruit! By eating the highly nutritional pitaya fruit, you gain all of the general health benefits of the pitaya nutrients simply because pitaya fruit is a great all around healthy fruit to eat with lots of beneficial nutrients which are readily metabolized from the natural pitahaya fruit (For example, dragon fruit vitamin C is more easily absorbed than vitamin C from a pill supplement). Lots of vitamin C is in dragon fruit. Remember the amount of vitamin C in dragon fruit dried will be about 10x the amount of vitamin C in dragon fruit which is fresh (on gram for gram basis).

One special health benefit of dragon fruit which has been verified by the authors of this web site is the special dragon fruit health benefit that dragon fruit helps control levels of glucose blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes (and type 1 diabetes by some reports). This is one of the health benefits of pitaya fruit in addition to the pitaya fruit nutrient profile being full of dietary fiber and Vitamin C. The pitaya nutritional benefits even include a high level of pitaya fruit antioxidant levels. All these great dragon fruit nutrients make fresh dragon fruit or dried dragon fruit both great additions to a healthy diet - and you get the nutrition benefits of dragon fruit from the dried or fresh fruit just as well. Ask where to buy pitahaya fruit at your local gourmet food store or order pitaya fruit from your organic produce markets and ask at your Trader Joe’s market for the Trader Joe’s dried dragon fruit which Trader Joe’s often imports from Thailand. If they don’t have it, ask them to order dragon fruit for you.

Dragon Fruit Diabetes Health Benefits

• Dragon Fruit Diabetes Diet | Dragonfruit Salad Mix
• Type 2 Diabetes Dragon Fruit Diet: Results of Eating Pitaya Fruit
• Dragon Fruit Diabetes Glucose Control

Dragon Fruit Health Benefits | Other Dragon Fruit Health Benefits

We’ll discuss here other dragon fruit health benefits which are not dragon fruit diabetes health benefits. Please use the contact form at the home page to submit your own stories, data, experiments and experiences which we can share with others to help them use dragon fruit to their benefit!

The health benefits of coconut oil include hair care, skin care, stress relief, maintaining cholesterol levels, weight loss, increased immunity, proper digestion and metabolism, relief from kidney problems, heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV and cancer, dental care, and bone strength. These benefits of coconut oil can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, and its properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, soothing, etc.

The human body converts lauric acid into monolaurin which is claimed to help in dealing with viruses and bacteria causing diseases such as herpes, influenza, cytomegalovirus, and even HIV. It helps in fighting harmful bacteria such as listeria monocytogenes and heliobacter pylori, and harmful protozoa such as giardia lamblia. As a result of these various health benefits of coconut oil, though its exact mechanism of action was unknown, it has been extensively used in Ayurveda, the traditional Indian medicinal system.

Coconut oil is often preferred by athletes and body builders and by those who are dieting. The reason behind this being that coconut oil contains lesser calories than other oils, its fat content is easily converted into energy and it does not lead to accumulation of fat in the heart and arteries. Coconut oil helps in boosting energy and endurance, and enhances the performance of athletes.

Composition: Coconut oil consists of more than ninety percent of saturated fats (Don’t panic! First read to the last word. Your opinion may change), with traces of few unsaturated fatty acids, such as monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Virgin Coconut Oil is no different from this. Let us have a bit detailed study of this.

• The Saturated Fatty Acids: Most of them are Medium Chain Triglycerides, which are supposed to assimilate well. Lauric Acid is the chief contributor, with more than forty percent of the share, followed by Capric Acid, Caprylic Acid, Myristic Acid and Palmitic.
• The Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: Linoleic Acid.
• The Monounsaturated Fatty Acids: Oleic Acid.
• The Poly-phenols: Gallic Acid, which is phenolic acid. These poly-phenols are supposed to be responsible for the fragrance and the taste of Coconut Oil and Virgin Coconut Oil is rich in these poly-phenols.
• Certain derivatives of fatty acid like Betaines, Ethanolamide, Ethoxylates, Fatty Esters, Fatty Polysorbates, Monoglycerides and Polyol Esters.
• Fatty Chlorides, Fatty Alcohol Sulphate and Fatty Alcohol Ether Sulphate, all of which are derivatives of Fatty Alcohols.
• Vitamins (predominantly Vitamin-E) and minerals.
• A bit of moisture.
  
  Health benefits of coconut oil include the following:

• Hair Care: Coconut oil is one of the best natural nutrition for hair. It helps in healthy growth of hair providing them a shinny complexion. Regular massage of the head with coconut oil ensures that your scalp is free of dandruff, lice, and lice eggs, even if your scalp is dry. Coconut oil is extensively used in the Indian sub-continent for hair care. It is an excellent conditioner and helps in the re-growth of damaged hair. It also provides the essential proteins required for nourishing damaged hair. It is therefore used as hair care oil and used in manufacturing various conditioners, and dandruff relief creams. Coconut oil is normally applied topically for hair care.
• Stress Relief: Coconut oil is very soothing and hence it helps in removing stress. Applying coconut oil to the head followed with a gentle massage helps in removing mental fatigue.
• Skin Care: Coconut oil is excellent massage oil for the skin as well. It acts as an effective moisturizer on all types of skins including dry skin. The benefit of coconut oil on the skin is comparable to that of mineral oil. Further, unlike mineral oil, there is no chance of having any adverse side effects on the skin with the application of coconut oil. Coconut oil therefore is a safe solution for preventing dryness and flaking of skin. It also delays wrinkles, and sagging of skin which normally become prominent with age. Coconut oil also helps in treating various skin problems including psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and other skin infections. Therefore coconut oil forms the basic ingredient of various body care products such as soaps, lotions, creams, etc., used for skin care.
• Premature Aging: Coconut oil helps in preventing premature aging and degenerative diseases due to its antioxidant properties.
• Heart Diseases: There is a misconception spread among many people that coconut oil is not good for the heart. This is because it contains a large quantity of saturated fats. However, coconut oil is beneficial for the heart. It contains about 50% lauric acid, which helps in preventing various heart problems including high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. The saturated fats present in coconut oil are not harmful as it happens in case of other vegetables oils. It does not lead to increase in LDL levels. It also reduces the incidence of injury in arteries and therefore helps in preventing atherosclerosis.
• Weight Loss: Coconut oil is very useful in reducing weight. It contains short and medium-chain fatty acids that help in taking off excessive weight. It is also easy to digest and it helps in healthy functioning of the thyroid and enzymes systems. Further, it increases the body metabolism by removing stress on pancreases, thereby burning out more energy and helping obese and overweight people reduce their weight. Hence, people living in tropical coastal areas, who eat coconut oil daily as their primary cooking oil, are normally not fat, obese or overweight.
• Pancreatitis: Coconut oil is also believed to be useful in treating pancreatitis.
• Digestion: Internal use of coconut oil occurs primarily as cooking oil. Coconut oil helps in improving the digestive system and thus prevents various stomach and digestion related problems including irritable bowel syndrome. The saturated fats present in coconut oil have anti microbial properties and help in dealing with various bacteria, fungi, parasites, etc., that cause indigestion. Coconut oil also helps in absorption of other nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and amino acids.
• Immunity: Coconut oil is also good for the immune system. It strengthens the immune system as it contains antimicrobial lipids, lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid which have antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties. The human body converts lauric acid into monolaurin which is claimed to help in dealing with viruses and bacteria causing diseases such as herpes, influenza, cytomegalovirus, and even HIV. It helps in fighting harmful bacteria such as listeria monocytogenes and heliobacter pylori, and harmful protozoa such as giardia lamblia.
• Healing: When applied on infections, it forms a chemical layer which protects the infected body part from external dust, air, fungi, bacteria and virus. Coconut oil is most effective on bruises as it speeds up the healing process by repairing damaged tissues.
• Infections: Coconut oil is very effective against a variety of infections due to its antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties. According to the Coconut Research Center, coconut oil kills viruses that cause influenza, measles, hepatitis, herpes, SARS, etc. It also kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and gonorrhea, etc. Coconut oil is also effective on fungi and yeast that cause candidiasis, ringworm, athlete’s foot, thrush, diaper rash, etc.
• Liver: The presence of medium chain triglycerides and fatty acids helps in preventing liver diseases as they substances are easily converted into energy when they reach the liver, thus reducing work load on the liver and also preventing accumulation of fat.
• Kidney: Coconut oil helps in preventing kidney and gall bladder diseases. It also helps in dissolving kidney stones.
• Diabetes: Coconut oil helps in controlling blood sugar, and improves the secretion of insulin. It also helps in effective utilization of blood glucose, thereby preventing and treating diabetes.
• Bones: As mentioned earlier, coconut oil improves the ability of our body to absorb important minerals. These include calcium and magnesium which are necessary for development of bones. Thus coconut oil is very useful to women who are prone to osteoporosis after middle age.
• Dental Care: Calcium is an important element present in teeth. Since coconut oil facilitates absorption of calcium by the body, it helps in getting strong teeth. Coconut oil also stops tooth decay.
• HIV and Cancer: It is believed that coconut oil plays an instrumental role in reducing viral susceptibility of HIV and cancer patients.

THE magic mushroom season is fast approaching, and it will bring with it the annual phenomenon of people behaving very strangely indeed to the bafflement of others who may not realise that the “mushies” annual ritualistic celebrations are upon us.

Strangely, while they have become a Class A drug in the UK as of July 2005, magic mushrooms are still legal in Ireland. The prison sentence for possession and distribution in the UK is now similar to that for LSD, heroin, cocaine and crack.

This ban covers all mushrooms containing the hallucinogen psilocybin. In Ireland, only possession of processed magic mushrooms with intent to supply is illegal. Raw “mushies” can be picked legally, up the Wicklow Mountains and, interestingly, at the Pope’s Cross in Phoenix Park.

Magic mushrooms have been a subculture in the Irish way of life for centuries. The great magic mushrooms grow in wet, well-manured areas especially in fields with sheep. There are around 74 known varieties. Liberty Caps are the most common type found naturally in Irish fields.

They produce a similar effect to LSD but the “trip” tends to be milder and shorter. The danger is that one might make the mistake of picking the wrong kind, which in some cases can be fatal.

However, Liberty Caps, prevalent in Ireland are safe, in that there are no poisonous species that look similar to them. They grow to heights of between 5cm and 15cm tall and are dark brown with a nipple shape on the top of the cap.

Recreational doses range from 10-50 grams when wet and 1-5 grams when dry. They can be eaten raw, cooked or brewed as tea. The onset of a “trip” can start from as soon as 30 minutes or take as long as a couple of hours.

It is never a good idea to take mushrooms for negative reasons: to escape from unpleasantness, or when one is unhappy, angry or depressed, as this brings on bad trips. Magic mushrooms work to amplify the feeling that a person is experiencing at the time.

They are often associated with curiosity and adventure, bringing on a new sense of reality. As the effects intensify, a wide variety of perceptual changes may occur. Mental stimulation induces open and closed eye visions of colours and patterns, pupil dilation and rapid heart rate.

A feeling of attaining insight gradually builds up, often leading to hallucinations. Sounds, light, visuals and sensations are greatly enhanced. Many have found the experience rather like Alice in Wonderland, with ever-changing scenes and a surprise around every corner.

once a “trip” starts it cannot be stopped until a natural “come down” takes place. It can take between three and eight hours for the full effects to disappear. Nausea and stomach cramps can also occur as a side-effect.

Vomiting will expel the toxins and help a person to regain normality. There are no known serious long-term side-effects associated with magic mushrooms. Besides the possibility of poisoning if wrong mushrooms are ingested, studies have found that a person with an average weight of 130 pounds must ingest 13 grams of pure psilocybin in order to die from it. That translates to about a kilo or more of mushrooms, which is virtually impossible to eat.

Magic mushrooms don’t encourage addiction either, as tolerance builds up very quickly and the intensity of the effects diminishes

In any case, at a high dosage, a psychosis effect might occur. The one thing to remember is that all effects, both good and bad, fade away once the “trip” is over and the toxins are eliminated.

Magic mushrooms contain the active substances psilocin and psilocybin that possess the famous psychedelic qualities.

Psilocybin stays in the body for about a week. After that, neither urine nor blood tests will be able to detect the chemical.

Nutritionists and medical researchers say that if there’s only one fruit you can have it’s best to make it a banana. That’s because a banana is naturally fat-free, contains vitamins and minerals, has a lot of fiber, tastes good, and is a great source of energy. Plus, it is one of the cleanest fruits due to its naturally protective feel.

Bananas contain the highest level of starch and dietary fiber among other fruits. That’s why even a single banana can give a feeling of fullness, a great help if you are weight conscious. What more can you ask from a fruit that’s fat-free, sodium-free, cholesterol free yet so satisfying?

The fiber content of bananas also make it “Nature’s Digestive Calmant.” Bananas are calmants because they help relieve the effects of stress such as peptic ulcer by protecting the stomach walls.

Bananas contain more digestible carbohydrates than any other fruit. The advantage is, your body burns off more calories from carbohydrates quickly and easily than calories from protein or fat- giving you a high metabolic rate. What’s more, bananas also make a great post-exercise snack because it replaces lost vitamins and minerals during a strenuous activity. That’s why most athletes prefer bananas than any fruit as their snack during a game break.

Bananas also contain the highest level of potassium among other fruits. This mineral helps minimize the risk of stroke by reducing blood pressure. This mineral is also considered as a primary “brain food” because it is needed in the proper function of the nervous system. Aside from potassium, bananas also contain the highest level of vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine).

In the traditional medicine of India and the ancient Persia this golden fruit is regarded as nature’s secret of perpetual youth. To this day, banana is known for promoting healthy digestion and creating a feeling of youthfulness. They help promote the retention of calcium, phosphorus and nitrogen - all of which then work to build sound and regenerated tissues Banana also contains invert sugar, which is an aid to youthful growth and metabolism.

Intestinal Disorder
The banana is used as a dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and blandness. It is said to contain an unidentified compound called, perhaps jokingly, ‘vitamin U (against ulcer). It is the only raw fruit, which can be eaten without distress in chronic ulcer cases. It neutralizes the over-acidity of the gastric juices and reduces the irritation of the ulcer by coating the lining of the stomach
Ripe bananas are highly beneficial in the treatment of ulcerative colitis, being bland, smooth, easily-digestible and slightly laxative and they relieve acute symptoms and promote the healing process.
Constipation and Diarrhea
Bananas are of great value both in constipation and diarrhea as they normalize colonic functions in the large intestine to absorb large amounts of water for proper bowel moments. Their usefulness in constipation is due to their richness in pectin, which is water-absorbent and this gives them a bulk producing ability. They also possess the ability to change the bacteria in the intestines-from the harmful type of bacilli to the beneficial acidophilus bacilli.

Dysentery
Mashed banana together with little salt is a very valuable remedy for dysentery. According to Dr. Kirticar, a combination of ripe plantain, tamarind and common salt is most effective in this disease. He claims to have cured several cases of both acute and chronic dysentery by this treatment.’ Ripe bananas are also very useful in dysentery of children, but they should be thoroughly mashed and beaten to cream before use in these cases.

Arthritis and Gout
Bananas are useful in the treatment of arthritis and gout. A diet of bananas only for three or four days is advised in these conditions. The patient can be given to eat eight or nine bananas daily during this period and nothing else.

Anemia
Being high in iron content, bananas are beneficial in the treatment of anemia. They stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood.

Allergies
The fruit is very useful for those who are allergic to certain foods and who suffer in consequence from skin rashes or digestive disorders or asthma. Unlike other protein foods, many of which contain an amino-acid which these persons cannot tolerate and which causes allergy. Bananas contain only benign amino-acids which in most cases are not allergic. The fruit, however, does cause allergic reactions in certain sensitive persons and they should avoid it.Kidney Disorders
Bananas are valuable in kidney disorder because of their low protein and salt content and high carbohydrate content. They are useful in uremia, a toxic condition of the blood due to kidney congestion and dysfunction. In such cases, a diet of bananas should only be taken for three to four days, consuming eight to nine bananas a day. This diet is suitable for all kidney troubles, including nephritis. ( Those who are suffering from kidney failure because of its high potassium content should not take the fruit.)

Tuberculosis
Bananas are considered useful in the treatment of tuberculosis; the juice of the plantain or the ordinary cooked bananas works miracles in the cure of tuberculosis.

Urinary Disorders
Juice from Banana stem is a well-known remedy for urinary disorders. It improves the functional efficiency of kidney and liver thereby alleviating the discomforts and diseased condition in them. It clears the excretion organs in the abdominal region of toxins and helps to eliminate them in the form of urine. It has been found to be of great help in the treatment for the removal of stones in the kidney, gall bladder, and prostate. It is advisable to mix this juice whenever possible with the juice of ash pumpkin.

Menstrual Disorders
Cooked banana flower eaten with curd is considered an effective medicine for menstrual disorders like painful menstruation and excessive bleeding. Banana flower helps increase progesterone hormone which reduces the bleeding.

Burns and Wounds
A plaster is prepared by beating a ripe banana into a fine paste. It can be spread over burns and wounds and supported by a cloth bandage. It gives immediate relief. The young tender leaves of banana tree form a cool dressing for inflammations and blisters.

Precautions
Banana, taken as a table fruit, must be thoroughly ripe as otherwise it cannot be digested in the small intestine- which then ferments in the large intestine, often causing wind. The raw bananas contain 20 to 25 per cent starch. But during the process of ripening, this starch is almost wholly converted with assimilable sugar.

Bananas should never be kept in a refrigerator as low temperature prevents their ripening. Those who are suffering from kidney failure because of its high potassium content should not take the fruit.

From yesterday…
Until the 18th century, the eggplant was looked upon in Europe as something nefarious, capable of inducing fever or epileptic fits. It was even called Solanum insanum by the great botanist and taxonomist Linnaeus before he changed it to Solanum melongena (see history.)

To today…
Eggplant is not eaten plain nor used in infusions. It can be cooked in various ways to provide medicinal properties without resorting to the rich and heavy method of cooking it in oil.

• Anti-rheumatism
• Cardiac
  recommended for those with cardio-vascular illnesses and obese persons whose excess weight is harmful to their heart. See also: cholesterol
• Combats constipation
• Digestive
• Lowers cholesterol
  Eggplant contains elements that trap cholesterol in the intestine and cause it to be eliminated from the body. It thus helps prevent the formation of fatty deposits around the heart.
• Diuretic
• Relieves colic
• Reduces stomach ulcers
• Sedative
• Calmative
• Stimulant for the liver and intestines
• The eggplant, aubergine or brinjal were brought to Europe from Eastern India. This vegetable have become known to the Western world in the 8th-9th century. The aubergine is a perennial plant of the nightshades family. There exist several varieties of the eggplant. Buying eggplants, you should give preference to young eggplants with a thin peel, because they have few seeds. Eggplants are effective in the treatment of atherosclerosis, it reduces the blood cholesterol level, sometimes even by 50 percent. This vegetable stimulates the excretion of excess fluid and, thus, improves the cardiac performance, which proves the high dietary value of the eggplant.
• Eggplants are very beneficial to old people. They are recommended to get rid of edemas caused by the low cardiac performance, and podagra.
• Nutritionists recommend to include eggplant dishes to the diet of those suffering from kidney and liver diseases.
• Due to copper and iron, eggplants stimulate blood formation, this is why eggplant dishes are recommended to pregnant women and those suffering from anemia.

Though eggplants are not very rich in vitamins, they contain a balanced complex of microelements, pro-vitamin A, vitamins В1, В2, B6, B9, С, Р, PP, there are also biologically active substances, which have a positive effect on cardiovascular system and kidneys.

Eggplants also contain cellulose, organic acids stimulating the secretion of gastrointestinal tract and pectins which decongest the gall bladder and prevent atherosclerosis.

Due to the low content of carbohydrates, eggplants are not rich in calories and are also good for those fighting against excess weight and suffering from insular diabetes.

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The Positive Impact of the Rastafarian Diet an Individual’s Health
The Rastafarians generally follow an Ital diet- this means that it is salt-less and vegetarian- it also means natural food. Though there are many discrepancies as to whether a vegetarian and salt-less diet is healthy, this type of diet reaps a lot of benefits health wise for an individual.
• Cutting back on salt dramatically reduces blood pressure, and reduces the risk of heart disease. Harvard researchers say people on a low salt diet have a 25-30% lower chance of developing cardiovascular disease and also a reduces risk of dying by 20%

• There is increased heart health because vegetarians on average consume more nuts. These nuts contain “good” fats, such as omega-3 and omega-6. This promotes good heart health by reducing “bad” cholesterol and unclogging arteries.

• Rastafarians also enjoy increased skin health. In addition to consuming larger quantities of nuts, vegetarians tend to consume more fruits and vegetables, which are rich in essential vitamins, this leads to good skin health. Fruits and vegetables also contain high amounts of fiber, which helps flush toxins out of the body, further contributing to skin health. • Rastafarians also enjoy increased natural consumption of antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotenes and phytochemicals. Antioxidants are foods that help to prevent cancer, and increase your heart health.

• The Rastafarian diets are beneficial in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis, renal disease and dementia, as well as gallstones and rheumatoid arthritis.

• Rastafarians seem to have a lower risk of obesity, diabetes mellitus and some forms of cancer.

• Cholesterol, which is recognized as primary risk factor in heart disease is lower in vegetarian diet

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Hey, was asked to go in a bit more into the fasting after the last blog (Depresion or Sabotage) this is just my experience from it.

for some reason fasting was used as one of the various cures to a cold or pain and detoxing by my mother, sometimes eaven wen we were punished she would leave us without food for an period of time, this stuk with me in my life and i used it many many times wen i was sick with anithing..

Today i know the benefits and have read various things about it, there is various mentions of it in religious texts and scientificaly also proven :)

latley i use it not only to detox but to clear the mind from (depression) one of the benefits is feeling light another is after the tired fase you actualy become more active than after a meal!! this helps also in training and breathing, when i train wile i fast i usualy focus on the abdominal area and reaching a far higher number of ups and downs achived! in the breading section with stretching of course i feel more elastic and agile giving more time for the streatch and less pain wile i do it..

so that is my experience so far, it might be diferent with each person and each time we do it, if you feel like to give a try.. trow your feed back out to the world :)

much love!

every day battle! wen u wake up, u have to motivate yourself and there is many ways.

1 is to start a stretching routine and breathing with soft tai chi, all this before breakfast! do a few press ups and a few sit-ups! then have a nice few fruits and veg with seeds :)

another way is to play music wile u do it and also dance! dancing wild can help relax the body and eliminate some stress.

2 be centered that all u want is happening and its all just around the corner! greet all with smiles! as soon as an idea pops in your head move towards it and achieve it! don’t stress out if u don’t! but don’t let it go either if its good!

and just remember! :) today is your only day of life! because its today and there is no other day! tomorrow will worry about itself, so you just have today :)

hope this helps out! much love!

Lineage. Miguel Ahumada.