Health Benefits of Cucumber

To stay hydrated and fresh during hot summer days you should eat more cucumber.  Its 95% is water and its vitamin C content has its refreshing effect. It provides water and fibre; two basic elements for your digestive system. Cucumbers contain numerous antioxidants, including the well-known vitamin C, beta-carotene. flavonoids, such as quercetin, apigenin, luteolin, and kaempferol.

For instance, quercetin is an antioxidant that many believe prevents histamine release and Kaempferol  may help fight cancer and lower your risk of chronic diseases including heart disease. Cucumber contains potassium, which is associated with lower blood pressure levels. A proper balance of potassium both inside and outside your cells is crucial for your body to function properly. It also holds phytonutrients called cucurbitacins, which also have anti-cancer properties. Cucumber also has its anti-inflammatory effect. Cucumber encloses multiple B vitamins, including vitamin B1, vitamin B5, and vitamin B7 (biotin). B vitamins are known to help ease feelings of anxiety and buffer some of the damaging effects of stress. This vegetable contains an anti-inflammatory flavonol called fisetin that appears to play an important role in brain health. In addition fisetin benefits in improving memory and protecting nerve cells from age-related decline.¹ This healthy vegetable can play an important role in your daily raw food diet as juice, smoothy, soup or salad.

Health Benefits of Asparagus

Ms H

In this sunny warm May one of the seasonal vegetables is asparagus. You can get fresh asparagus from the local market or it can be picked from the local farm. In either ways you can provide fresh healthy organic vegetables on your plate. Asparagus officially a flowering perennial plant is a spring vegetable.

Nutritional values of asparagus:

It is a very good source of dietary fibre, protein, minerals: potassium, zinc, iron, vitamins: vitamin K, vitamin B3, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E and pantothenic acid.

Health benefits:

It is a rich source of glutathione, a detoxifying compound that helps to break down carcinogens and free radicals, so it may help protect against and fight certain forms of cancer, such as breast, larynx, bone and lung cancers.

Its antioxidants help to slow the ageing process and to neutralise cell damaging free- radicals. Asparagus may help our brains to fight cognitive decline. It holds amino-acid asparagine, which serves as a natural diuretic.

Arthritis and Joint Pain

 Although my previous trainings in GYM after my 8 days of intensive skiing I have knee joint pain, tenderness and stiffness due to an inflammatory arthritis. Arthritis symptoms vary from person to person. There are many different types of arthritis; osteoarthritis and inflammatory arthritis like rheumatoid arthritis, gout and lupus. Many inflammatory forms of arthritis are autoimmune diseases. In autoimmune diseases, the immune system turns against the body it's designed to protect for unknown reasons. In some forms genetics plays a small role in that. There seems to be a few symptoms that many people with various forms of the condition commonly experience.

·      joint pain

·      tenderness

·      stiffness

·      inflammation around the joints and

·      restricted movement of the joints

In this article I recommend herbs to ease inflammation and pain. One of the greatest things you can do for pain is that increase your intake of essential fatty acids.

Stinging nettle is an excellent herb for those with all types of arthritis and gout. It contains protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, boron, silicon, beta-carotene, along with vitamins A,C, D, and B complex. It has anti-inflammatory, pain relieving effects and it helps to build strong bones.

Turmeric is an extremely effective anti-inflammatory herb and thus an effective pain reliever. It contains curcumin and curcuminoids, which decreases inflammation.

Try to include two tablespoons of flaxseeds or flaxseed oil in your daily diet. It is a good source of omega3 fatty acids, which is important to a strong immune system and for fighting inflammation.

Burdock is an anti-inflammatory substitute, which contains fatty oils, sterols and tannins.  You can drink burdock tea.

Licorice acts much like your body's own natural corticosteroids, which reduce inflammation. Licorice decreases free radicals at the site of inflammation and inhibits the enzyme production that's involved in the inflammatory process. Consume licorice tea as your remedy. If you have blood pressure issues forget this remedy please.

Recommendation for the Last Day of Winter

Tomorrow spring will start officially.  In this part of Middle- Europe the weather  has  turned wintery; it is cold and snowing all day.  Superfoods are loaded with nutrients, antioxidants, and immune-boosting powers that your body needs to power itself through cold weather.

Adding a little dark chocolate to your diet is a great health booster. The sweet contains flavonoids, a type of antioxidant that helps to fight against cancer and cardiovascular disease. The thermogenic property of ginger in your ginger tea keeps you warm. Hot soups containing pumpkin or sweet potatoes or squash seasoned with hot chilli heat you up when things get cold. These vegetables contain beta-carotene, an antioxidant, vitamin A, vitamin C and potassium. Chilli pepper in your soup holds a compound called capsaicin, which gives to it a spicy kick. It also boosts metabolism and fights the build up of fat.

Eating Brussels sprouts may just help you fight a cold. In addition to being packed with fibre, cancer-fighting phytonutrients and they are also high in vitamin C. Roasted apples with walnuts and cinnamon is good healthy snack any time of year, that provides fibre, antioxidant, vitamin C, water and omega 3 fatty acids.