Apr 12

When Food Becomes Herbs

Herbs, Traditional Chinese Medicine No Comments »

Chinese have been using food as herbs and nutritional supplements, this article provides an insightful look in this topic.

Chinese people tend to prefer drinking tea to coffee. I assumed this was merely a cultural thing until scientists found out that tea contains more antioxidants than coffee. So, by drinking tea, the Chinese still get caffeine to boost their energy levels, but they also increase their antioxidant intake at the same time.

If the Chinese suspect that they’re coming down with a cold – if they have symptoms like nasal congestion, clear nasal discharge, headaches, muscular aching – they immediately brew some fresh ginger tea to warm up their bodies and induce perspiration; they believe that this action wards off the organisms that are making them ill. But if they are having flu symptoms (fever and a sore throat), they start drinking chrysanthemum tea or mint tea, which have cooling properties, to relieve the sore throat and make the fever subside more quickly.

The Chinese also believe that different foods have different properties, with each falling into one of five categories: cold, cool, neutral, warm or hot. These categories refer to the effect that a particular foodstuff or beverage has on your body; its temperature at the moment that you consume it is irrelevant. For example, coffee is regarded as hot, so even if you drink an iced coffee, afterwards you will feel more alert and energetic; so the “hot” coffee has elevated your yang energy levels. The Chinese eat more cool and cold foods (like watermelon and bean sprouts) in summer and more warm and hot foods (pumpkin, spices) during the winter months.

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May 21

Eat well, feel well

Food No Comments »

As summer approaches, with good food, parties, and BBQs, why not incorporate some healing herbs and spices into your food, both for a great taste and their healing properties.

“Cooked beef tends to develop more HCAs [heterocyclic amines - a chemical that may increase your cancer risk] than other kinds of cooked meats, such as pork and chicken,” said Professor Smith. “Cooked beef patties appear to be the cooked meat with the highest mutagenic activity and may be the most important source of HCAs in the human diet.”

Professor Smith’s team studied six spices, cumin, coriander seeds, galangal, fingerroot (also known as Chinese ginger or Chinese key), rosemary and turmeric. Fingerroot, rosemary and turmeric were the most effective, with rosemary in the lead.

Using rosemary to prepare your meat before barbecuing should help to reduce the risk. The British Dietetic Association (BDA) also suggest marinading meats before you cook them as this can reduce HCA levels by 95 per cent. The ingredients often used in marinades, such as citrus juices, herbs, spices and olive oil are rich in cancer-fighting anti-oxidants. Other healthy barbecuing tips from the BDA include serving meat from the barbie with yogurt, as the bacteria help to protect your digestive tract, and cutting off the most burnt bits before you tuck in.

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Feb 23

Eating your way to health

Food No Comments »

A concise list of the best foods for your health, along with the benefits they provide. Here’s a taste:

Pineapple Speeds post-surgery Promotes joint health Reduces asthma inflammation
Blueberries Restore antioxidant levels Reverse age-related brain decline Prevent urinary tract infection
Spinach Helps maintain mental sharpness Reduces the risk of cancers of the liver, ovaries, colon and prostate Top nutrient density
Red Bell Pepper Reduces risk of lung, prostate, ovarian and cervical cancer Protects against sunburn Promotes heart health
Broccoli Reduces diabetic damage Lowers risk of prostate, bladder, colon, pancreatic, gastric and breast cancer Protects the brain in event of injury
Tomato Reduces inflammation Lowers risk of developing esophageal, stomach, colorectal, lung and pancreatic cancer Reduces cardiovascular disease risk

Read the whole thing, and incorporate these foods into your diet.

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Feb 13

Super foods for health

Food No Comments »

Spices and herbs have been growing in popularity as ways to promote health. They don’t just taste good, they’re “super foods.”

February is Heart Health month and what better day than Valentine’s Day to keep you and your sweetheart healthy? Remember, Food is medicine and the best way to get this medicine is to eat whole foods to get your daily nutrients.

For the appetizer, you can create a dish with tomatoes,feta cheese, balsamic vinegar, garlic, olive oil and rosemary. Tomatoes have lycopene, an antioxidant similar to Vitamin A, which provides that bright red color to tomotoes. Lycopene is believed to have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. It helps prevent prostate cancer. Lycopene is absorbed better when tomatoes are cooked, or combined with olive oil, as in this dish. Lycopene is also found in strawberries, watermelon, guava, apricots and pink grapefruit.

Rosemary has been traditionally felt to improve memory. In fact, in ancient Greece, students would place rosemary sprigs in their hair when studying for exams. Rosemary should not be used by pregnant women or women who wish to become pregnant.

Garlic is believed to help reduce blood pressure and the risk of heart disease. Slicing, chopping, mincing or pressing garlic before cooking will enhance the beneficial effects of garlic. Garlic is also being investigated for it’s potential anti-cancer properties. Garlic should be eaten raw, or stand for ten minutes before heating, in order to preserve it’s beneficial properties.

The sliced avocado is a nice accompaniment because has heart healthy monounsaturated fat.

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Cinnamon, which was used in traditional Chinese medicine, is sprinkled over the dessert. Again, it is felt that cinnamon may help control blood sugar levels.

Here are some heart healthy beverages that go well with a healthy Valentine’s Day dinner. First there is hot green tea, with a bit of sliced ginger. Green tea and black tea come from the same plant. The key difference between the two is in preparation. For black tea, the leaves are allowed to ferment, a process believed to lessen the potency of the active ingredients in green tea. Green tea is made by steaming the freshly cut tea leaves. Eating lycopene rich foods as well as green tea daily is felt to reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

Red wine is part of the Mediterranean diet and can help reduce the risk of heart attacks and stroke. Remember though, you lose that benefit to the heart if you have more than one glass of red wine a day. The same benefit to the heart can be gained by drinking purple grape juice instead of red wine. And pomegranate juice has three times as much antioxidant activity as red wine, so it may be a healthier option.

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Jan 29

Take time this winter to boost your energy

Food, Immune system, Traditional Chinese Medicine No Comments »

The cold, dark winter months may make us feel like hibernating. Take this time to build up and replenish your energy using some principles of Chinese medicine:

Feeling tired and drained? You’re not alone.

“Lack of energy” is one of the top five complaints doctors hear.

According to Oriental medicine, the cold months are the perfect time to recharge and generate vital energy – Qi – in order to live, look and feel better.

The ancient Chinese believed human should live in harmony with the natural cycles of their environment. The cold and darkness of winter urge us to slow down. This is the time of year to reflect on health, replenish energy and conserve strength.

Winter is ruled by the water element, which is associated with the kidneys, bladder and adrenal glands. The kidneys are considered the source of all energy or “Qi” within the body. They store all of the reserve Qi in the body so that it can be used in ties of stress and change, or to heal, prevent illness, and age gracefully. During the winter months it is important to nurture and nourish the kidney Qi. It is the time where this energy can be most easily depleted.

The Nei Ching, an ancient Chinese classic, advises people to go to sleep early and rise late, after the sun’s rays have warmed the atmosphere a bit.

Eating warm hearty soups, whole grains, and roasted nuts help to warm the body’s core and to keep it nourished. Sleep early, rest well, stay warm and expend a minimum quantity of energy.

Seasonal acupuncture treatments in winter serve to nurture and nourish kidney Qi which can greatly enhance the body’s ability to thrive in times of stress, aid in healing, prevent illness and increase vitality.

Here are some dietary suggestions that can lead to an increase in vitality and radiant health.

Drink ample water. Eat kidney-shaped foods such as black beans and kidney beans. Eat blue and black foods, blueberries, blackberries, mulberry and black beans. Eat seeds. flax, pumpkin, sunflower and black sesame along with nuts, especially walnuts and chestnuts which have been found especially effective for increasing kidney Qi. Eat dark, leafy green vegetables along with asparagus, cucumbers and celery.

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