As I sat at a stop light this morning waiting to make a left-hand turn I see what I first think is a fallen leaf come flying toward the hood of my truck. I thought that was strange there were no trees nearby and it was not windy and then CLUNK! A tiny little bee hits my hood and walks around in a daze. Poor little thing looked like it half way knocked himself out at impact and he seemed discombobulated with the landing, not quite knowing where he was. I had a few moments before the light changed so I looked closer to see if maybe he had stung someone or something and possibly he was missing his stinger and was dying. We all know bees can only sting once, so it better be a doozy because they don't recover. But his stinger was still intact but he looked to me as if he were dying. By the time the light changed he hung on for dear life as the wind kicked up and I was accelerating. When I arrived to my destination I noticed he was still there and still wandering aimlessly on the hood and it got me thinking. Over the past few years when I randomly see a bee he's either dead or dying and it is concerning.
Bee's are amazing creatures. We need them for all kinds of processes. They first and foremost pollinate our plants. Without them there would be no blooming flowers and the beauty of Earth would become lackluster. In fact, they are so important that without bees we would not survive. They are the one's who pollinate the crops from which our food comes. Albert Einstein once postulated that if bees were to go extinct mankind would have only four years to live. Four years is that all? Now that's a scary thought. Unfortunately, we are seeing such an event of epic proportions happen right before our eyes. The honeybee has been dying at alarming rates where complete collapse of hives has been see for almost five years now. I hate to be an alarmist and I know how important it is to know when Lindsay Lohan's next court date is and who's going to win Dancing with the Stars but I think a more newsworthy story should be this...BEES ARE DYING AND WE DON'T KNOW WHY!
But what could be the cause? Some say maybe pesticides, I mean when you spray crops to kill bugs then one could think maybe the bees would die too. It could be from new types of pesticides that attack the nervous system of target bugs but instead are harming the bees. Others point to possibly a virus or fungus that has been invading the hives, then others look to the genetic modification of our food supply. For sake of simplicity here, we take DNA from other plants or animals and inject it into a certain seed crop and a new hybrid plant is born. One where plants become more hardy and insect resistant internally so less pesticides are needed. On the surface this might seem like a great idea, more food with less chemical pesticides, only problem is the pesticide is often put directly into the fiber or DNA of the plant and if the pollen has genetically modified material on it and the bees cannot evolve fast enough to handle it, it could wreck havoc on the population. Developing Frankenfruit might be quite destructive to humans and the bees might be the canary in the coal mine telling us so. I shutter to think. The European Union has now banned the use of Genetically Modified (GMO) crops. Let's hope we're next, though something tells me we will not be that lucky.
Some have even gone so far as to think maybe Electromagnetic Fields from cell phone towers are causing problems with bees. The idea is that when they leave the hive to go in a five mile radius in search of plants to pollinate and gather nectar for the honey they might be getting mixed up on how to get home because of these frequencies thus dying outside of the hive and diminishing populations because of this. Probably the most confusing and disheartening problem with all of this is that scientists just don't know exactly what the cause is. Let's hope they don't find the cause when it is too late.
So if you think about the past couple of years have you seen many bees? As many as you saw as a child? Have you seen many dead bees in your garden or when you're walking about? I have noticed too many dead bees to count. I can recall for the past couple of summers sitting outside of my parents' house while the kids play, dead bees would be a common site. So sad. Now I didn't want this blog to be all about the sadness of losing the bees. Though I do want to make the very important point that something terrible is happening to our beloved bees, whether you are allergic to their sting or don't find the beauty of bees know that without them there will eventually be no you!
I think a good idea would be to let you know the goodness honey bees bring to us. They are an amazing little flying bug, one so important that aside from helping bring fruits and vegetables to your table, they create a perfect food for you to eat as well. Honey is highly nutrient dense. Honey has been used for a millennia as a healing food. It has astringic and antiseptic properties. Bet you didn't know honey could be used to clear up conjunctivitis (pink-eye)? Add a few drops to warm water and it can be used directly in the eye to help clear up the redness and infection. Honey is high in antioxidants and might be able help to reverse free-radical damage in the body. Honey can help aid in calcium absorption and may help prevent osteoporosis. Who knew all this could come from yummy delicious honey?
There are many types of honey. Eucalyptus honey, sage honey, wildflower honey, red clover honey, orange blossom honey just to name a few. There are powerful medicinal varieties like Manuka honey which comes from New Zealand. Bees of the same hive will go to the same types of flowers to get the nectar. The melaleuca (or tea) tree is a special tree that is common in New Zealand. The bees in the region go to this tree and make a pungent honey that has amazingly powerful therapeutic properties and it is called Manuka honey. This type of honey is rated for it's strength. 15+ will give you some amazing antibacterial properties. I've seen varieties of up to 25+ strength and these can be quite powerful and extremely expensive. It has been shown in some recent clinical studies to actually be effective against the antibiotic resistant bacteria MRSA. It can be put on wounds to heal them and when taken internally can calm a sore throat and end heartburn and even slow the common cold and cough.
Honey is not the only delicious wonder food given to us as a gift from the hive of bees. Royal jelly is another remarkable bee product that yields a wealth of goodness. Royal Jelly is a specialized honey that the bees make expressly for the queen bee, hence the name "royal." Unlike the amber clear color of honey, royal jelly is opaque and milky. Royal jelly is considered an adaptogen. This means that it helps the body adapt to environmental invaders and will help to balance the system when assaults occur. It has been shown that royal jelly can have anti-inflammatory effects on the body, may be helpful in lowering blood pressure and could possibly aid in glucose metabolism for people with type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome. Studies have also shown it to have a protective effect on the liver. All from the tiny bee, imagine that!
Bee pollen is a granular substance that the bees actually collect from the flowers they go out to pollinate each day. Allergy sufferers report great success using bee pollen to help rid themselves of allergy symptoms.
The theory of pollen is this: If pollen in the air makes one sneeze and creates a histamine response of runny nose and sneezing to help rid the body of an environmental invader then regular intake of local bee pollen could make your body become used to the pollen in the air so when they are inhaled you can effectively avoid an allergy attack. Cool right? Something so simple can impact a problem that thousands perhaps millions of people suffer with daily
Then there is bee propolis. A thick blackish tar or resin like substance the bees create to protect the hive. It's a door mat, if you will. Bees line the opening of the hive with this resin and when the bees come in from their daily work out in the field they walk on it as they enter the hive and it kills any bacteria that they may have come into contact with outside in the world, thus keeping the hive pristine and perfect. The propolis will also afford such benefits to us. It is a thick wax-like substance with a very powerful odor and super strong flavor. One which is distinct and not super palatable. Be propolis however, has been show to have miraculous healing influence especially due to it's anti-microbial power. It is often used in throat sprays to help calm a sore throat. The resin is used in some chewing gums to protect the mouth from unwanted bacteria. Propolis has an ability to prevent bad bacteria while encouraging healthy bacteria to create a homeostatic environment in the body. In the rain forest of Brazil there are other types of propolis coming from the bees who forage the lush jungle. These are green and red propolis. Green propolis has been show to have anti-inflammatory properties and can perhaps be protective of our neurological system and immune modulating. It is very high in a substance called Artepillin C which has been shown, in some recent Japanese studies, to cause apoptosis of cancer cells and suppression of tumor growth. Red propolis has been shown to possibly help relieve menopausal symptoms and is starting to come out in certain health supplements for menopause and hormone health.
So here's the skinny: Bees are our friends. Bees are dying at alarming rates especially in the US and no one knows why. We need to get the word out. We need people to know that beehive products are so essential to our good health and how important the bees are to all of us. Now whether you like honey or are willing to try some of the beehive products like royal jelly or bee pollen or not, the most important idea we should take away from today's lesson is the notion that bees are an integral part of society and we should do whatever we can to make certain they stay so we can ensure that we stay!
*The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. The information in this blog is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
A bottle of expired wheatgrass can be a wealth of inspiration.
This morning as I walked into a basket of product that had been expired I thought about how all of these supplements could have gone to good use had the right person needed them or known when to take them. This is a common occurrence, with all the products on the shelf and so many choices some are more popular than others and eventually some will end up in the expired product pile. The good news of this is although they cannot be sold to the public the integrity is not lost. I picked up each bottle and looked as I marked them as rubbish and as I came to a large bottle of wheat grass pills I think to myself these are so good for you why not just have some? So along with my morning shake I grabbed five out of the bottle knowing that they would be good for a few months after the expiration date and drank them down with a slurp of my shake.
Wheat grass is an interesting little plant, if you get the fresh juice the taste is sweet but strong. So strong in fact, that some people get nauseated just trying to swallow a small 2oz shot. Pills, if processed correctly, can be closely effective to the actual juice and can sometimes make it easier to get your daily dose of this miraculous green food without the taste. I've drank fresh juice and taken wheat grass pills for a long time and personally I have never had an issue with either. Wheat grass falls under the "greens" category in the health food realm and is a complex green because of all the astounding benefits that can come with drinking it.
Those of you who might be gluten intolerant or have Celiac Disease might think that wheat grass, no matter how wonderful, cannot be had by you because it is actually wheat. You're in luck, wheat grass although in all reality "baby wheat" it is still too young to have flowered and since the gluten comes from the flowering part there is no problem with taking wheat grass if you are gluten intolerant. No gluten means no issue so feel free to enjoy!
Wheat grass itself is made up of 70% chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is what gives the grass, and all plants for that matter, their green color, but it is so much more than that. Chlorophyll helps mammals build red blood cells. Red blood cells are what help us carry oxygen throughout the body. Higher oxygen means better breathing and better efficiency of your entire respiratory and cardiac systems. Anemic persons often feel run down because their red blood cell counts are low and as a result it makes them utilize less oxygen and their cells become deprived. It has been said that with just a few days using chlorophyll one can help to reverse anemia.
Wheat grass being full of chlorophyll will certainly help to not only give you energy but can free one from anemia and give your body rich oxygenation which helps a whole host of processes in the body. Many a scholar have said that cancer cannot thrive in an oxygen rich environment, if wheat grass contains high levels of chlorophyll and chlorophyll helps oxygenate the blood, one could postulate that taking wheat grass could in effect be a good ally in the fight against cancer.
I felt a tad bit run down this morning. Last night was a tough one. The temperature dropped to the frigid low 40s during the night. I know, I know, those of you east of the Mason-Dixon and all those in the north are laughing at me right now because I dare to say the 40s are cold, but hey I was born and raised in Southern California, if it dips below 60 we might as well be in a blizzard. So all night I had to fight with Marcelo, who is Mr. Warm-blooded like his father, to keep covered up in the cold night air. Needless to say I did not sleep all that well. When I felt such low energy this morning the wheat grass gave me the boost I needed to get my day going. I could have reached for some coffee, but caffeine to me is fleeting. Although I spent a long time in my youth hanging out at coffee houses around Orange County, ultimately I'm a tea drinker and the "morning cup of joe" rarely peaks my interest. This morning though I knew I needed some up, so the five wheat grass pills would serve just that purpose. It wasn't 15 minutes after I took them that I felt great and ready to tackle the world. Wheat grass is digested within the body in just minutes. I suppose taking the pills makes it a little tougher to digest because the juice has to be extracted from the pill via the stomach and into the intestines but it did serve a purpose today for sure.
Wheat grass is great at detoxifying the liver and helps to cleanse the body from environmental toxins. What a better way to start the day than from a boost like that? Monday mornings are a tough one for everyone, I am not immune. I don't generally make the best breakfast choices but I do my best to try. It's usually some type of protein bar or a shake when I'm busy working but both can have a good bit of sugar in them, even if from natural sources. Wheat grass again to the rescue because it helps to regulate blood sugar and since I had asked for extra blueberries in my morning shake I needed all the help I could get.
I'll be honest here for a moment, I am not a fan of conventional deodorants. From Alzheimer's being linked to aluminum and parabens being linked to breast cancer I personally am in no hurry to get either one of those terrible maladies or a host of other chronic ailments linked to conventional body care products so I try to stay clear of off the shelf anti-stink sticks. Although I have finally found a good healthy alternative that actually works most of the time nothing is a guarantee when it comes to alternative and natural methods to control armpit odor. We are mammals of course and as much as we don't want to stink it is part of nature and so nature cannot always cover itself up. With that being said, wheat grass can again come to the rescue in this situation. It is said to be a body detoxifier and deodorizer. If you have stinky breath that is coming up from the pits of your stomach, the kind that no amount of teeth brushing can help there is a solution. If you can't always "raise your hand if you're Sure..." then wheat grass can be your best friend or at least help you keep a best friend. Take it for a few months and see if those embarrassing smells don't start to clear themselves up.
If you hold it in your mouth for five minutes wheat grass juice can help to detoxify your mouth and prevent tooth decay. Gargling with it can help end a sore throat and don't forget to swallow because wheat grass can help with digestive upset as well. It has proven antibacterial properties as well as a great amount of vitamins and in combination they can help promote a friendly environment in the gut for healthy bacteria to thrive and multiply. This can have a major impact on digestive health. It's said to be pretty high in magnesium and can help relax the bowels and ease constipation as well.
Not only is it an amazing tonic that is perfect for young and old it can be used inside as well as outside the body. Using it directly on the skin has been said to help alleviate the problems of eczema and psoriasis. Oh the list goes on and on. It is amazing how such a simple little green grass can provide so much goodness. So now it's evening and as I sit here and write this blog I think about all the energy I had today. I can't help but assume that the wheat grass I took in the morning was the culprit.
As I mentioned before, sometimes and especially if you're not used to it, wheat grass in juice form can be a bit harsh. It might cause a bit of a headache, though some would argue that is the detoxification of your cells and if wheat grass is really digested in minutes one could understand how this could happen quite quickly. It might even make you a bit uneasy in the tummy but this will likely pass quickly. And there is always supplements in pill form like I took this morning for those who have trouble with the idea of stomaching a thick green shot. In the long run however, if you decide to make wheat grass part of your daily wellness regimen know that you'll be doing wonders for your body, from cleansing your blood to even helping you age more gracefully, for wheat grass is very nutrient dense and the antioxidants are abundant and phenomenal.
So go ahead, instead of reaching for that coffee mug in the morning head to your local health food store and pick yourself up some wheat grass supplements, they come in both pill and powder form. Or if you care to walk on the wild side go find yourself a crisp 2oz shot of wheat grass and see if you don't have just a little more pep in your step all day!!
Wheat grass is an interesting little plant, if you get the fresh juice the taste is sweet but strong. So strong in fact, that some people get nauseated just trying to swallow a small 2oz shot. Pills, if processed correctly, can be closely effective to the actual juice and can sometimes make it easier to get your daily dose of this miraculous green food without the taste. I've drank fresh juice and taken wheat grass pills for a long time and personally I have never had an issue with either. Wheat grass falls under the "greens" category in the health food realm and is a complex green because of all the astounding benefits that can come with drinking it.
Those of you who might be gluten intolerant or have Celiac Disease might think that wheat grass, no matter how wonderful, cannot be had by you because it is actually wheat. You're in luck, wheat grass although in all reality "baby wheat" it is still too young to have flowered and since the gluten comes from the flowering part there is no problem with taking wheat grass if you are gluten intolerant. No gluten means no issue so feel free to enjoy!
Wheat grass itself is made up of 70% chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is what gives the grass, and all plants for that matter, their green color, but it is so much more than that. Chlorophyll helps mammals build red blood cells. Red blood cells are what help us carry oxygen throughout the body. Higher oxygen means better breathing and better efficiency of your entire respiratory and cardiac systems. Anemic persons often feel run down because their red blood cell counts are low and as a result it makes them utilize less oxygen and their cells become deprived. It has been said that with just a few days using chlorophyll one can help to reverse anemia.
Wheat grass being full of chlorophyll will certainly help to not only give you energy but can free one from anemia and give your body rich oxygenation which helps a whole host of processes in the body. Many a scholar have said that cancer cannot thrive in an oxygen rich environment, if wheat grass contains high levels of chlorophyll and chlorophyll helps oxygenate the blood, one could postulate that taking wheat grass could in effect be a good ally in the fight against cancer.
I felt a tad bit run down this morning. Last night was a tough one. The temperature dropped to the frigid low 40s during the night. I know, I know, those of you east of the Mason-Dixon and all those in the north are laughing at me right now because I dare to say the 40s are cold, but hey I was born and raised in Southern California, if it dips below 60 we might as well be in a blizzard. So all night I had to fight with Marcelo, who is Mr. Warm-blooded like his father, to keep covered up in the cold night air. Needless to say I did not sleep all that well. When I felt such low energy this morning the wheat grass gave me the boost I needed to get my day going. I could have reached for some coffee, but caffeine to me is fleeting. Although I spent a long time in my youth hanging out at coffee houses around Orange County, ultimately I'm a tea drinker and the "morning cup of joe" rarely peaks my interest. This morning though I knew I needed some up, so the five wheat grass pills would serve just that purpose. It wasn't 15 minutes after I took them that I felt great and ready to tackle the world. Wheat grass is digested within the body in just minutes. I suppose taking the pills makes it a little tougher to digest because the juice has to be extracted from the pill via the stomach and into the intestines but it did serve a purpose today for sure.
Wheat grass is great at detoxifying the liver and helps to cleanse the body from environmental toxins. What a better way to start the day than from a boost like that? Monday mornings are a tough one for everyone, I am not immune. I don't generally make the best breakfast choices but I do my best to try. It's usually some type of protein bar or a shake when I'm busy working but both can have a good bit of sugar in them, even if from natural sources. Wheat grass again to the rescue because it helps to regulate blood sugar and since I had asked for extra blueberries in my morning shake I needed all the help I could get.
I'll be honest here for a moment, I am not a fan of conventional deodorants. From Alzheimer's being linked to aluminum and parabens being linked to breast cancer I personally am in no hurry to get either one of those terrible maladies or a host of other chronic ailments linked to conventional body care products so I try to stay clear of off the shelf anti-stink sticks. Although I have finally found a good healthy alternative that actually works most of the time nothing is a guarantee when it comes to alternative and natural methods to control armpit odor. We are mammals of course and as much as we don't want to stink it is part of nature and so nature cannot always cover itself up. With that being said, wheat grass can again come to the rescue in this situation. It is said to be a body detoxifier and deodorizer. If you have stinky breath that is coming up from the pits of your stomach, the kind that no amount of teeth brushing can help there is a solution. If you can't always "raise your hand if you're Sure..." then wheat grass can be your best friend or at least help you keep a best friend. Take it for a few months and see if those embarrassing smells don't start to clear themselves up.
If you hold it in your mouth for five minutes wheat grass juice can help to detoxify your mouth and prevent tooth decay. Gargling with it can help end a sore throat and don't forget to swallow because wheat grass can help with digestive upset as well. It has proven antibacterial properties as well as a great amount of vitamins and in combination they can help promote a friendly environment in the gut for healthy bacteria to thrive and multiply. This can have a major impact on digestive health. It's said to be pretty high in magnesium and can help relax the bowels and ease constipation as well.
Not only is it an amazing tonic that is perfect for young and old it can be used inside as well as outside the body. Using it directly on the skin has been said to help alleviate the problems of eczema and psoriasis. Oh the list goes on and on. It is amazing how such a simple little green grass can provide so much goodness. So now it's evening and as I sit here and write this blog I think about all the energy I had today. I can't help but assume that the wheat grass I took in the morning was the culprit.
As I mentioned before, sometimes and especially if you're not used to it, wheat grass in juice form can be a bit harsh. It might cause a bit of a headache, though some would argue that is the detoxification of your cells and if wheat grass is really digested in minutes one could understand how this could happen quite quickly. It might even make you a bit uneasy in the tummy but this will likely pass quickly. And there is always supplements in pill form like I took this morning for those who have trouble with the idea of stomaching a thick green shot. In the long run however, if you decide to make wheat grass part of your daily wellness regimen know that you'll be doing wonders for your body, from cleansing your blood to even helping you age more gracefully, for wheat grass is very nutrient dense and the antioxidants are abundant and phenomenal.
So go ahead, instead of reaching for that coffee mug in the morning head to your local health food store and pick yourself up some wheat grass supplements, they come in both pill and powder form. Or if you care to walk on the wild side go find yourself a crisp 2oz shot of wheat grass and see if you don't have just a little more pep in your step all day!!
Thursday, November 11, 2010
So a persimmon led me to blog again...
Wow, as I look back at my last post it's been pretty close to a year since I significantly wrote on this blog. Thanksgiving is rearing it's head, we just finished the midterm elections, I am still working at Mother's and about to hopefully embark on a new journey and business venture in regards to health and wellness. Whew what a year!
So last night at work one of the produce guys gave me a persimmon to try. I have never eaten a persimmon in my life. I've thought about it a time or two but never have I actually bought one or picked it from a neighbor's over hanging tree. I thought I'd give it a try.
I wasn't quite sure how to eat this strange little fruit. I didn't know if you peel it or eat the peel, if it would be sour or sweet, mushy or firm. I soon found out that peeling it was a good idea, it has a tough exterior and not really worth the chew. The flesh is firm(ish) and tasty but not too sweet. Overall an enjoyable fruit but that's not really what sparked my mind to post on my blog.
I've been meaning to post for a long time now, I'll think up a good topic and tell myself I need to take a moment to sit down and write it out. I've debated several times where I want to take this blog, should I make it completely familiar or talk about random items or make it a health blog and link it to my site? I figure given the name I can swing this thing anyway I choose and someone might get use out of it, hopefully it can be cathartic for me as well.
As I ate the persimmon I thought to myself I have no idea the nutrient content of this fruit maybe I can look it up online and see if this thing is really good for me? So ok I get that fruit in general is a good thing but I wanted to know the actual vitamin and goodness that this baby gave me so I googled it.
What came up next was actually what sparked me into writing this blog...I came across an article entitled "Persimmons for heat, hiccoughs, hemorrhoids, hangover." I didn't look at the site it came from as I clicked. I just thought the name was intriguing so I took a gander and to my surprise it was the type of article I ALWAYS look for but RARELY find when looking for facts about an item online.
At first glance I thought hmmm interesting; no hiccups right now or at least that's what I assumed they meant by "hiccoughs," no hangover (it's only Thursday afternoon) and maybe this is TMI but I gave birth two times, hemorrhoid info is always a plus. So I delve in, and it was magnificent.
What lead me to write today was actually when I finished the article I looked to the top and saw it was an editorial from a site called china.org.cn, directly from China. The reason it was written so interestingly was because it was based in Traditional Chinese Medicine and as you all know alternative medicine is right up my alley. So I went to go take a shower and since that is where I solve all of the world's problems I got to thinking about just how awesome and holistic Chinese medicine is. The range is so deep and it really gives you practicality in the mundane that is medicine. The first sentence reads: "One of the most beautiful and beneficial fruits of autumn is the glossy orange-red persimmon. TCM says it's a 'cold' food that can clear heat, help lower blood pressure and brighten the complexion." Marvelous! A sentence so encompassing that it leads you right into the next...a "beautiful and beneficial fruit of autumn that can clear heat (very Chinese med.) lower blood pressure AND brighten your complexion. That is great. A little orange-red fruit can do all that? So I read on. It went on to talk about TCM (or Traditional Chinese Medicine) and how the persimmon has lots of cold "yin energy" that can expel "pathogenic heat." Meaning that if you are fighting off a bug of some sort and have a fever or inflammation this little fruit can quell the heat. AMAZING! And we in the US only think of Tylenol when we get a fever. Now I'm not advocating the next time you come down with the flu you should keep persimmons on-hand instead of other remedies but it does give one lots to think about.
The article goes on to tell when the persimmons are in season and the different varietals one can purchase, then it gets deeper into the importance of said fruit, how it can "promote fluids, nourish the lungs, dispel pathogenic heat, reduce internal bleeding and blood clots and aid the digestive system. It's good for hangovers and hemorrhoids too. The iodine content can help goiter patients." Wow again a little fruit with all that power? Remarkable! And here we thought only pharmaceutical drugs can help such problems. Then after all that importance they throw in that, by the way, persimmons unlike apples are not available all year but can be dried and eaten like a cake. I am going to assume it's more like a hard jam rater than a cake we think of here but options are always a plus. The article states that if the leaves and stems are made into a tea it's helpful for coughs and "frequently drinking persimmon leaf tea can help lower blood pressure and treat hardening of the arteries," and I think that is so cool to read about a simple fruit.
An article that gives info. about nutritional value of a fruit, medicinal value of a fruit and when it's in season, completely all encompassing. I love it! It even throws in the "don'ts" of persimmon eating. It says to not eat them if you are a "cold" person. If you have diabetes to beware of the high sugar content and if one has anemia they should stay away from the skin because the high tannin content can inhibit iron absorption. Toward the end they recommend that no one should eat more than three because too much cold energy is not good and can throw off balance. It even lists foods you should avoid when eating persimmons like: goose, crab, sweet potatoes, sauerkraut and vinegar.
Then finally the pièce de résistance of the whole commentary, the end tells you to make sure and clean your teeth well after consuming so the high tannin content and sugar do not damage your teeth. Now that, my friends, is an article. The type I constantly look for when trying to research and can never find.
Why would I bother getting so excited by this article? Why even think about it in the shower when other more pressing world conflicts are out there and in need of being on my thought docket? Well because it was beautiful quite frankly to think that a simple little fruit, the persimmon, one which I have never eaten could be so versatile and complex all in one is astounding. The actual crux of this article is Traditional Chinese Medicine and how amazing it is to be able to look at the simple and develop the complex. Most importantly, to see where food is our true medicine and how it was given to us on this Earth as a gift, not to ravage and rape like we do with our food sources but to balance. Not to make into other compounds and pretend it is nourishment, not to refine and repackage but to eat and enjoy the natural. The goodness which is given to us in our whole foods. That is what I find so powerful about this piece and this fruit. The idea that we can find the answers to what ails us in random items we might enjoy and eat everyday or like me try new for the first time is stunning. We all need to learn to let food be our medicine and let our minds think in the abstract to help us to be whole. To help our inner chi and make good decisions to keep the balance our bodies so long for.
So hello again to all my friends in Bloggerland, Mama's back and she's ready to post!!!
Love and Hugs,
Raná
For full text of the article I reference please go to:
http://www.china.org.cn/health/2008-09/09/content_16416466.htm
So last night at work one of the produce guys gave me a persimmon to try. I have never eaten a persimmon in my life. I've thought about it a time or two but never have I actually bought one or picked it from a neighbor's over hanging tree. I thought I'd give it a try.
I wasn't quite sure how to eat this strange little fruit. I didn't know if you peel it or eat the peel, if it would be sour or sweet, mushy or firm. I soon found out that peeling it was a good idea, it has a tough exterior and not really worth the chew. The flesh is firm(ish) and tasty but not too sweet. Overall an enjoyable fruit but that's not really what sparked my mind to post on my blog.
I've been meaning to post for a long time now, I'll think up a good topic and tell myself I need to take a moment to sit down and write it out. I've debated several times where I want to take this blog, should I make it completely familiar or talk about random items or make it a health blog and link it to my site? I figure given the name I can swing this thing anyway I choose and someone might get use out of it, hopefully it can be cathartic for me as well.
As I ate the persimmon I thought to myself I have no idea the nutrient content of this fruit maybe I can look it up online and see if this thing is really good for me? So ok I get that fruit in general is a good thing but I wanted to know the actual vitamin and goodness that this baby gave me so I googled it.
What came up next was actually what sparked me into writing this blog...I came across an article entitled "Persimmons for heat, hiccoughs, hemorrhoids, hangover." I didn't look at the site it came from as I clicked. I just thought the name was intriguing so I took a gander and to my surprise it was the type of article I ALWAYS look for but RARELY find when looking for facts about an item online.
At first glance I thought hmmm interesting; no hiccups right now or at least that's what I assumed they meant by "hiccoughs," no hangover (it's only Thursday afternoon) and maybe this is TMI but I gave birth two times, hemorrhoid info is always a plus. So I delve in, and it was magnificent.
What lead me to write today was actually when I finished the article I looked to the top and saw it was an editorial from a site called china.org.cn, directly from China. The reason it was written so interestingly was because it was based in Traditional Chinese Medicine and as you all know alternative medicine is right up my alley. So I went to go take a shower and since that is where I solve all of the world's problems I got to thinking about just how awesome and holistic Chinese medicine is. The range is so deep and it really gives you practicality in the mundane that is medicine. The first sentence reads: "One of the most beautiful and beneficial fruits of autumn is the glossy orange-red persimmon. TCM says it's a 'cold' food that can clear heat, help lower blood pressure and brighten the complexion." Marvelous! A sentence so encompassing that it leads you right into the next...a "beautiful and beneficial fruit of autumn that can clear heat (very Chinese med.) lower blood pressure AND brighten your complexion. That is great. A little orange-red fruit can do all that? So I read on. It went on to talk about TCM (or Traditional Chinese Medicine) and how the persimmon has lots of cold "yin energy" that can expel "pathogenic heat." Meaning that if you are fighting off a bug of some sort and have a fever or inflammation this little fruit can quell the heat. AMAZING! And we in the US only think of Tylenol when we get a fever. Now I'm not advocating the next time you come down with the flu you should keep persimmons on-hand instead of other remedies but it does give one lots to think about.
The article goes on to tell when the persimmons are in season and the different varietals one can purchase, then it gets deeper into the importance of said fruit, how it can "promote fluids, nourish the lungs, dispel pathogenic heat, reduce internal bleeding and blood clots and aid the digestive system. It's good for hangovers and hemorrhoids too. The iodine content can help goiter patients." Wow again a little fruit with all that power? Remarkable! And here we thought only pharmaceutical drugs can help such problems. Then after all that importance they throw in that, by the way, persimmons unlike apples are not available all year but can be dried and eaten like a cake. I am going to assume it's more like a hard jam rater than a cake we think of here but options are always a plus. The article states that if the leaves and stems are made into a tea it's helpful for coughs and "frequently drinking persimmon leaf tea can help lower blood pressure and treat hardening of the arteries," and I think that is so cool to read about a simple fruit.
An article that gives info. about nutritional value of a fruit, medicinal value of a fruit and when it's in season, completely all encompassing. I love it! It even throws in the "don'ts" of persimmon eating. It says to not eat them if you are a "cold" person. If you have diabetes to beware of the high sugar content and if one has anemia they should stay away from the skin because the high tannin content can inhibit iron absorption. Toward the end they recommend that no one should eat more than three because too much cold energy is not good and can throw off balance. It even lists foods you should avoid when eating persimmons like: goose, crab, sweet potatoes, sauerkraut and vinegar.
Then finally the pièce de résistance of the whole commentary, the end tells you to make sure and clean your teeth well after consuming so the high tannin content and sugar do not damage your teeth. Now that, my friends, is an article. The type I constantly look for when trying to research and can never find.
Why would I bother getting so excited by this article? Why even think about it in the shower when other more pressing world conflicts are out there and in need of being on my thought docket? Well because it was beautiful quite frankly to think that a simple little fruit, the persimmon, one which I have never eaten could be so versatile and complex all in one is astounding. The actual crux of this article is Traditional Chinese Medicine and how amazing it is to be able to look at the simple and develop the complex. Most importantly, to see where food is our true medicine and how it was given to us on this Earth as a gift, not to ravage and rape like we do with our food sources but to balance. Not to make into other compounds and pretend it is nourishment, not to refine and repackage but to eat and enjoy the natural. The goodness which is given to us in our whole foods. That is what I find so powerful about this piece and this fruit. The idea that we can find the answers to what ails us in random items we might enjoy and eat everyday or like me try new for the first time is stunning. We all need to learn to let food be our medicine and let our minds think in the abstract to help us to be whole. To help our inner chi and make good decisions to keep the balance our bodies so long for.
So hello again to all my friends in Bloggerland, Mama's back and she's ready to post!!!
Love and Hugs,
Raná
For full text of the article I reference please go to:
http://www.china.org.cn/health/2008-09/09/content_16416466.htm
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