Food Additive Carrageenan

Ms H 

The carrageenan is linear sulphated polysaccharide that extracted from red edible seaweeds. There are three main types of carrageenan; κ-carrageenan has one, ι-carrageenan has two and λ-carrageenan has three sulphate groups per disaccharide. They have stabilising, thickening and gelling properties so they are widely used in the food industry. They are particularly benefited in dairy and meat products due to their strong binding to food proteins. Carrageenan is especially common in non-dairy milks such as almond milk and coconut milk.

People with lactose intolerance or on vegan diet might actually be increasing their exposure if they use these products. The animal studies show that carrageenan can cause intestinal damage or ulcer. Some human studies associate carrageenan in ulceration and inflammation although it is not a known  carcinogen.There is still some doubt about its safety if it consumed regularly.

Delicious Walnut Health Benefits: Advantages for Brain, Heart, Fertility

By Jobee Knight 

Walnuts are perhaps the most famous tree nut of all and have been named the "Healthiest of all Nuts". They are rich in plant-based fats and are a good source of the B-vitamins and many minerals. Even though walnuts are one of the easiest foods to eat, they are also a powerful weapon against chronic diseases. Walnuts can be eaten by the handful as a snack, or in salads, soups, vegetable dishes, baked goods or smoothies.

Due to their uniquely high amounts of healthy fats and potent plant chemicals, recent studies are publishing evidence that walnuts can reduce brain stress, lower cholesterol, increase fertility in men, reduce inflammation, lower the risk of diabetes, strengthen the immune system, and help with insomnia because of the natural melatonin they contain.

Supporting the claim that walnuts are the healthiest nut is a recent study from the journal "Food and Function". The researchers evaluated nine types of raw and roasted nuts and they found walnuts to contain the highest levels and quality of antioxidants. An "antioxidant" is a substance in food or vitamins that neutralizes the harmful effects of oxygen in the body. These "oxidative" effects contribute to aging and disease.

English walnuts offer powerful benefits to brain health. A study called "Role of Walnuts in Maintaining Brain Health with Age" was published in the Journal of Nutrition. The researchers wrote that walnuts not only reduce the inflammatory load on brain cells, but they also improve communication and connection between the brain cells themselves - helping to maintain good brain health with increasing age.

For a healthy heart and long life, walnuts have been shown to decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease and also extend life spans in general. Walnuts contain the amino acid l-arginine, which offers protective benefits for the heart. A quarter cup of walnuts contains about 1,130 milligrams of l-arginine. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reviewed 13 heart studies and found that the people eating walnuts benefited from a significant decrease in overall cholesterol and had major benefits in the quantity of antioxidants available to them.

Walnuts have been proven to improve fertility and reproductive health. The medical journal "Biology of Reproduction" conducted a study of 117 healthy men and found that eating around a half-cup of walnuts each day produced an increase in healthy fats in the bloodstream and greatly improved the health and vitality of sperm.

Walnuts can be a good sleep inducing food. Russel Reiter, Ph.D., a professor of cellular biology at the University of Texas says, "Relatively few foods have been examined for their melatonin content. Our studies demonstrate that walnuts contain melatonin, that it is absorbed when it is eaten, and that it improves our ability to resist oxidative stress caused by toxic molecules."

Eating walnuts regularly can be a delicious and simple way to prevent disease and take advantage of their many health benefits.

Jobee Knight is President of Nutrition Breakthroughs. She has written nutrition articles and provided effective natural remedies since 2001. These remedies include the natural sleep aids and joint and pain relief products made by Nutrition Breakthroughs

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Jobee_Knight/90117

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What Makes Nettle Tea So Good for You?

By Sarah Birmingham  

For anyone who has ever explored in the forest, you learn immediately to avoid stinging nettles. The heart shaped nettle leaves contain a serious punch by using virtually undetectable hairs that can cause folks who come in contact with them to have painful, red and irritated skin. However Mother Nature did not create these plants just to hurt; remarkably, simply drying out the nettle leaves (use gloves when handling them!) and turning them in to a tea brings wonderful natural health benefits that have been acknowledged for hundreds of years.

Inside, it seems like there isn't any end as to what stinging nettle tea will do for one's body. To start with, nettle tea is loaded with vitamins: A, C, E, B1, B2, B3, B5, calcium, iron, folate, potassium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, selenium, and zinc - who needs everyday supplements after having a hot drink of nettle tea? Also if you do not experience any health problems, having the tea on a regular basis can really help you stay in great shape.

As stinging nettle tea is a diuretic (meaning it flushes out your system), it aids in the relief of bladder infections and kidney stones. It can also ease diarrhea symptoms; but just be careful, as having a large amount also acts as a laxative!

It also contains anti-inflammatory qualities that will help in a respite from joint pain and arthritis (both from drinking the tea or applying it locally to the joints - the tea, definitely not the leaves!). These properties help open sinus cavities, too, allowing an end to hay fever along with other allergies.

If you're ill, drinking the tea can aid your coughing and asthma. A number of people have even replaced their coffee with nettle tea, declaring the energy and stamina they get right after a cup kicks anything they ever got from drinking caffeine.

Woman get additional benefits from consuming it; as I've already explained, nettle tea is known as a natural diuretic, which eliminates water retention and bloating throughout menstruating. Moreover, during menstruation and after giving birth, drinking it can decrease excessive bleeding. Using the tea in the form of a wash for the hair promotes growth helping to strengthen the root; it is important to let that boiling herbal tea cool down before you tip it on your head.

Externally, nettle tea is a really winner, too. The anti-inflammatory qualities that help joint inflammation also combat eczema and zits. Kind of ironic, considering the itchy swelling the leaves cause if they get in direct contact with the skin! Additionally, the diuretic effect of the tea assists in keeping the body flushed out, which always equals healthier, radiant skin.

And fear not - drinking it is not going to cause your insides to flare up in irritation like contact with the skin will. However, as with all natural herbs, make certain you introduce it to your diet gradually to avoid an allergic reaction. If you're too nervous to embark on a nettle retrieving journey by yourself (those stings are painful!), don't worry about missing out; a nearby health food store will surely stock nettle tea in both pill or dried leaf format - after all, they have been aware of the benefits forever!

In addition, you can find easy to use, helpful information about Nettle Tea at http://www.nettleteahq.com

Nettle Tea HQ is a site dedicated to helping everyone benefit from all that nettle tea has to offer. Drop by and say hi!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Sarah_Birmingham/1100676

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Versatile Lavender

By Jackson Charles Brown

Lavender has put its mark in the culinary industry. Crème brulee, custards, and ice cream contain its perfume, and biscuits and fruit salads contain its simplicity. On the shelf it is right next to saffron, but lavender is so much more than an ingredient. It is also a medicine that has a value incalculable.

Amongst the essential oils, lavender is the most versatile oil. Consumers of essential oils probably have it in their cabinets because of its versatility. Since lavender is the most versatile amid the other essential oils, the consumers of it are just as varied. The elderly with aches and pains, athletes, pregnant women, and anyone that is stressed can use lavender. Lavender can be used for skin, calming nerves, soothing muscles, aiding digestion, and decreasing inflammation.

Mild skin problems can be solved with it. Lavender helps skin heal through tissue growth, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial. It is great for troubles like acne, blotches, stretch marks, scars, burns, eczema, insect bites, and itching. Eradication of lice can also be done with lavender. For these purposes use two to three drops of lavender on irritated, injured, or infected area and rub into skin.

Everyone experiences stress for one reason or another. It helps relieve stress by providing better sleep; therefore, lavender is great for insomnia patients. Stress can also be caused through anxieties and nervousness; it can also reduce these causes along with depressive moods and irritability. It reduces blood pressure, which is great for relieving migraines. To reduce stress massage, diffuse, or bath with lavender.

Lavender is also great for digestion difficulties. Because it is an antispasmodic, it increases gastric juices and intestinal flow. It also reduces flatulence, nausea, and digestive spasms. For relief mix two drops of lavender with one spoonful of vegetable oil or honey or one half spoonful of sugar. Drink this mixture three times a day.

Athletes enjoy it because it relieves muscle, tendon, and joint pain. It does this through soothing pain, relaxing muscles, and reducing inflammation. Cramps and rheumatism can also be relieved with lavender. Massaging two to four drops of lavender with one spoonful of vegetable oil is the best way to relieve pain. The second best thing would be to take a lavender aromatic bath.

Lavender oil is anti-bacterial and antiviral oil. Because of this, lavender is great of curing infections. Lavender works on respiratory infections like bronchitis, coughing, laryngitis, and some tonsillitis. Urinary infections can also be relieved with lavender oil by drinking two drops three times a day.

Because too much of a good thing can be bad, prolonged or over use can be harmful. It is not recommended that women in their first quarter of pregnancy use lavender. Use of lavender for children under the age of three months is restricted.

Rainshadow Labs Specializes in Intuitive Essential Oils aromatherapy essential oils, essential oils and wholesale soap making supplies. We are passionate about Oraganic Essential Oils and soap and candle making, and we love to help people feel and look young again. Come visit anytime.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Jackson_Charles_Brown/606833

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