Corey Jansen – Page 3 – Green Lifestyle Market

The Health Benefits of Fennel

Fennel is considered both a vegetable and a herb due to its wide ranging nutritional and healing benefits. Fennel is rich in folic acid, vitamin C, magnesium, cobalt, iron, and essentials oils that contain powerful anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.

Fennel is excellent for indigestion and is commonly used as a natural antacid in order to help reduce acidity and inflammation in the digestive tract and to facilitate proper absorption and assimilation of nutrients from food. Fennel has potent anti-flatulent and carminative properties which means it is able to prevent and stop the formation of gas in the stomach and intestines. Fennel is also known to be highly beneficial for sinus congestion, bronchitis, renal colic, anemia, hypertension, macular degeneration, constipation, bloating, diarrhea, and irritable bowel syndrome.

Fennel is used to help protect against both cardiovascular disease and cancer. Fennel contains an important anti-inflammatory phytonutrient called anethole that blocks both inflammation and carcinogenesis, which is the mutation of regular cells into cancerous cells.

Fennel also has the ability to ease and regulate menstruation by regulating hormonal action properly in the body. Fennel is used amongst nursing women to help stimulate consistent milk flow for their babies. Fennel is also known to help strengthen hair, prevent hair loss, relax the body, and sharpen the memory. Fennel seeds can be chewed after a meal to aid in digestion and to remove bad breath.

Fennel seeds can also be made into an effective medicinal tea by steeping the seeds in hot water for 10 minutes or more. Fresh fennel juice can be combined with fresh celery, cucumber, and/or apple juice for a healing and medicinal drink. Fresh fennel juice can also be used topically to swollen or inflamed eyes to reduce irritation, swelling, and fatigue. Fresh fennel has a crunchy, slightly sweet licorice flavor and is a wonderful addition to fresh salads, smoothies, soups, stir-fry, potatoes, and other vegetable dishes.

Fresh fennel and fennel seeds can be generally found at your local supermarket or farmer’s market. Fennel tea, capsules, tincture, and extract can all be found online or at your local health food store.

The Health Benefits of Eyebright

Eyebright is a tiny herb that grows readily in backyards, fields, and pastures. It contains anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergenic properties. As the name suggests, eyebright is known for being particularly beneficial for eye related problems such as conjunctivitis, cataracts, blurry vision, weakened vision, and swollen, puffy eyes.

Eyebright is also excellent for alleviating symptoms related to sinusitis, colds, seasonal allergies, and respiratory ailments. Eyebright can also enhance memory and improve overall cognitive performance. As a topical cream or poultice, eyebright can significantly improve acne and skin irritations.

Eyebright is commonly found online or at your local health food store as a tea, capsule, tincture, cream, or salve. Eyebright is often combined with bilberry for enhanced benefits.If you find it in tea form, steep for at least five minutes in order to fully extract its healing properties.

The Health Benefits of Elderflower Tea

Elderflower tea is a soothing and healing beverage that contains strong anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Elderflowers are rich in vitamins A, C, and B-complex as well as numerous phytochemicals and antioxidant compounds. Elderflower tea is a powerful immune booster and is particularly helpful with respiratory ailments such as bronchitis, sinusitis, laryngitis, tonsillitis, asthma, chronic cough, sore throat, cold, flu, and fever.

Elderflower is a natural decongestant and helps to clear up mucus and congestion in the lungs, sinus, and nasal passages. It’s also very helpful in treating other viral illnesses such as measles, chicken pox, shingles, and Epstein Barr. Elderflower has the power to purify the blood and cleanse the lymphatic system of toxins and debris.

Elderflower works as a natural diuretic and can help eliminate water retention, bloating, and edema. Elderflower is also known to be particularly useful in benefiting liver disorders, fungal infections, urinary tract infections, toothaches, gout, headaches, arthritis, and hay fever.

Elderflower tea can also be applied topically and used to help help heal cuts, wounds, burns as well as fade blemishes and freckles. To make elderflower tea, add 1-2 teaspoons of dried flowers to 1 cup of of boiling water and let steep for at least 10 minutes. Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and/or a touch of raw honey to increase therapeutic benefits. Consider making several cups at a time and sipping throughout the day.

Elderflowers can be found online or at your local health food store in tea, extract, and tincture form.

The Health Benefits of Dates

Dates are an ideal food for improved energy and brain function. Dates are a good source of vitamin A & B-complex and they are rich in minerals such as iron, calcium, manganese, copper, and potassium. Dates are known to help build bone and muscle strength and have been used for thousands of years by athletes to improve physical endurance, agility, and stamina.

Dates contain anti-inflammatory and anti-infective properties which make it an excellent food for those who suffer with chronic infections and auto-immune disorders. Dates also help to control heart rate and blood pressure which offers protection against strokes and coronary heart diseases. Dates contain an easily digestible fiber that has been found to help prevent colon, prostate, lung, endometrial, breast, and pancreatic cancers. Dates are also known to help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol, relieve constipation, improve anemia, and prevent macular degeneration.

There are several varieties of dates including Medjool, Deglet Noor, Zahidi, Honey, Khadrawi, Halawi, and Barhi. Each variety is unique and varies in sweetness, flavor, and texture. For instance, Khadrawi dates are small, very soft, melt-in-your-mouth, and super sweet, while the Deglet Noor dates are firm and chewier with a more rich deep flavor. Medjool dates are one of the most popular dates for there king size and delicious meaty flavor.

Dates can be eaten out of hand as a quick snack and they also combine particularly well with celery sticks and cucumber slices as a balanced, high energy snack. Dates can be blended with a little water and turned into a caramel dipping sauce for apple slices that kids love! Dates are also delicious when added to smoothies and/or salads. They can also be chopped with walnuts, coconut, ginger or other spices and pressed into homemade energy bars and deserts.

Fresh dates can be found online or in the produce section of your local health food store. They can provide a wonderful energy boost and help revitalize the body any time of the day.

The Health Benefits of Honeydew

Honeydew melon is a hydrating fruit that has wonderful nutritional and healing benefits. Honeydew is high in vitamins C and B-complex and minerals such as copper and silicon. It also contains a highly mineralized distilled water that has the ability to deeply hydrate, rejuvenate, purify, and alkalinize the entire body.

Honeydew is an excellent food to help boost the immune system and help to protect against colds and flu during the winter months. It is also known to help lower blood pressure, strengthen memory and cognitive abilities, aid in weight loss, provide quick repair for muscles and tissues, increase flexibility, reduce risk of heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease, and prevent age-related macular eye degeneration.

Honeydew is a perfect food for humans in that it requires no digestion in the stomach and passes quickly through the stomach and into the small intestines for digestion and assimilation. This however can only happen if the melon is eaten on an empty stomach which it is why it is highly recommended that melons are eaten alone for breakfast for the ultimate benefits.

Ripe honeydew can be scooped into a blender and blended on high for a minute for a delicious and hydrating drink. This drink can also be placed in popsicle holders and frozen for a kid friendly treat. Ripe honeydews often emit a sweet floral perfume and yield gently to pressure.

The rind of a perfectly ripe honeydew will also start to change in color to a light yellow. This ensures maximum sweetness, flavor, and nutritional benefits.