food as medicen

i love the idea that food can be our medicen. here is a little information on a bit of food as medicen.

GARLIC:
botanically known as Allium Sativum, is used for reducing high blood pressure, preventing age-related vascular changes, reducing reinfarction and mortality post-MI, decreasing LDL (bad) and VLDL cholesterol, and increasing HDL (good) cholesterol for coronary heart disease.

Garlic is also used in Chinese medicine for diarrhea, amoebic and bacterial dysentery, tuberculosis, bloody urine, diphtheria, whooping cough, scalp ringworm, hypersensitive teeth and vaginal trichomoniasis.

garlic has had many other uses as well, including the treatment of colds and flu, fever, cough, headache,ear infections, stomach ache, sinus congestion, athlete’s foot, gout, rheumatism, hemorrhoids, asthma, bronchitis, shortness of breath,low blood pressure, hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, cancer.

ONIONS:
Onions have a variety of medicinal effects. Early American settlers used wild onions to treat colds, coughs, and asthma, and to repel insects. In Chinese medicine, onions have been used to treat angina, coughs, bacterial infections, and breathing problems.

The World Health Organization (WHO) supports the use of onions for the treatment of poor appetite and to prevent atherosclerosis. In addition, onion extracts are recognized by WHO for providing relief in the treatment of coughs and colds, asthma and bronchitis. Onions are known to decrease bronchial spasms. An onion extract was found to decrease allergy-induced bronchial constriction in asthma patients.

Onions are a very rich source of fructo-oligosaccharides. These oligomers stimulate the growth of healthy bifidobacteria and suppress the growth of potentially harmful bacteria in the colon. In addition, they can reduce the risk of tumors developing in the colon.

ALOE VERA:

Diabetes Prevention: After undergoing research, aloe extract has been proven to decrease blood glucose levels. Research claims that aloe can prevent or at least slow down the development of diabetes. Medications given to diabetics also contain significant amounts of aloe. The plant is clearly the herbalist's method to control the deadly disease.

Aids in Healthy Digestion: A healthy digestive tract ensures that nutrients from the foods we eat are absorbed into the blood stream. Aloe Vera Juice has natural, detoxifying abilities. Drinking Aloe Vera Juice made from the pure aloe gel regularly may improve bowel regularity and increase protein absorption, while at the same time decrease unfriendly bacteria and yeast.

Immune Support and Function: Aloe Vera juice provides natural support for the immune system. Since the immune system works around the clock protecting the body, aloe vera, with its natural immune enhancers, gives the body a continual arsenal from which to draw.

Regulates Weight and Energy Levels: Aloe Vera Gel naturally, and with regular use, allows the body to cleanse the digestive system. Our diets include many unwanted substances which can cause lethargy and exhaustion. Taken regularly, Aloe Vera Juice from the pure aloe gel ensures a greater feeling of well-being, allowing energy levels to increase and helping to maintain a healthy body weight.

Dental Health and Hygiene: Aloe Vera juice is extremely healthful for your mouth and gums. Because aloe vera is safe to be taken internally, it can be used to treat injuries that occurred on soft tissue, such as mouth ulcers, canker sores, fever blisters and other lesions. It has also been used effectively to treat bleeding gums and to soothe pain and discomfort after oral surgery or extensive dental treatment.

CINNAMON:

Effective against Diabetes: A study revealed that cinnamon may help people with type 2 diabetes by increasing their insulin sensitivity, thus moderately lowering their blood sugar levels. A study published in the journal Diabetes Care in 2003 found that people with type 2 diabetes taking 1, 3, or 6 grams of cinnamon in pill form daily (equivalent to one quarter of a teaspoon to 1 teaspoon of cinnamon) reported a reduction in fasting blood glucose by 18 to 29%, triglycerides by 23 to 30%, LDL cholesterol by 7 to 27%, and total cholesterol by 12 to 26%. However, studies so far have involved only a small amount of people and have not yet explored the long term benefits of cinnamon. So, a large scale study is needed to support cinnamon as a major player against type 2 diabetes. To include cinnamon in your diet, just sprinkle it over your coffee, cereal, and tea. As a precautionary measure, people taking any medication that affects blood glucose or insulin levels shouldn't take therapeutic doses of cinnamon unless they're under a doctor's supervision.

Fights Cancer: A study released by researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Maryland showed that cinnamon reduced the propagation of leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells. According to researchers, cinnamon appears to inhibit the actions of certain phosphatases, which are enzymes that play a key role in facilitating mitosis (cell division). Also, cinnamon is a very good source of calcium and fiber, which can bind to bile salts and help remove them from the body. By eradicating bile, fiber helps to prevent the damage that certain bile salts can cause to colon cells, thus reducing the risk of colon cancer.

Reduces cholesterol: The fiber and calcium in cinnamon can help remove bile salts from the body. When bile is removed, the body must break down cholesterol in order to make new bile. This process can help to lower high cholesterol levels. According to a 2003 study on 60 people, a daily intake of one-half teaspoon (1 gram) of cassia cinnamon not only lowered blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetics, it also significantly lowered LDL ("bad" cholesterol) and triglyceride levels. However, more large scale studies are needed to determine how effective cinnamon would be in lowering cholesterol, which type of cinnamon to use, and the amount needed to lower cholesterol levels.

Boost brain function: Studies have shown that smelling cinnamon may boost cognitive function, memory function, performance of certain tasks and increases one's alertness and concentration. According to a research led by Dr. P. Zoladz, chewing cinnamon flavored gum or just smelling cinnamon enhanced study participants' cognitive processing. Specifically, cinnamon improved participants' scores on tasks related to attentional processes, working memory, virtual recognition memory, and visual-motor speed while working on a computer-based program.

Beneficial for stomach: Cinnamon is a great source of fiber and can help relieve constipation as well as irritable bowel syndrome. By having a healthy digestive tract, colon diseases can possibly be prevented. Problems of diarrhea and flatulence can easily be solved by including cinnamon in the regular diet.

Fights Arthritis: The difficulty of arthritis can also be solved by adding cinnamon to your diet everyday, thanks to cinnamon's powerful anti-inflammatory properties. A study at Copenhagen University found that patients who were given half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder combined with one tablespoon of honey every morning before breakfast reported a significant relief in arthritis pain after one week.

Improves blood circulation: Cinnamon contains a significant amount of a compound called coumarin, a well known "blood thinner" (anticoagulant). This aids in the circulation of blood and help to prevent blood clots. However, people who have been prescribed blood-thinning medications or people with bleeding disorders shouldn't take cinnamon.

Re-energiser: Feeling of worn out and tiredness can be removed by having cinnamon. It improves energy, gives people more vitality and improves blood circulation. Also, because of its warming qualities, cinnamon has been particularly useful for people who tend to feel hot in their upper body but have cold feet. It has also been used to provide relief when faced with the onset of a cold or flu, especially when mixed in a tea with some fresh ginger.

Anti-microbial: Preliminary lab and animal studies have found that cinnamon may have antibacterial and antifungal properties. In laboratory tests, growth of yeasts that were resistant to the commonly used anti-fungal medication fluconazole was often (though not always) stopped by cinnamon extracts. It's active against Candida albicans, the fungus that causes yeast infections and thrush, and Helicobacter pylori, the bacteria responsible for stomach ulcers.

Dental care: Using a mixture of honey and powdered cinnamon is an excellent mouth wash and helps to keep one's breath fresh throughout the day. A recent study of the cinnamon-flavored chewing gum found that cinnamon might have breath-odor fighting abilities. Researchers say that the gum contains cinnamic aldehyde, a cinnamon oil, which appears to actually decrease the bacteria in your mouth. In addition, cinnamon is recommended as an effective treatment for toothache in many home remedies.

Especially beneficial for women: Cinnamon has also been found useful for woman's health as it helps in providing relief from menstrual cramping and other feminine discomforts. It is also believed that cinnamon aids in the secretion of breast milk.

Improves immune system: Consuming the blend of cinnamon powder and honey every day not only helps to reinforce the body's natural resistance system, but also protects us from bacterial and viral contagions. Make a glass of lukewarm honey water mixed with cinnamon powder to help boost your immune system during the cold season