Carrot Benefits for Health

A medium-size carrot has 6 grams of carbs, and 2 grams of fiber. This fruit are rich in beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A in the liver. A diet deficient in vitamin A can lead to night blindness and other eye problems. Carrot is an important source of potassium. Potassium is important in helping to maintain a healthy electrolyte balance and fluid level in the cells of body.

What is Carrot Good For?

Carrots are  one of the best source of beta carotene. Beta carotene is one of the strong antioxidant that helps protect body from harmful oxygen-free radical injury.  Beta-carotene has been shown to protect against macular degeneration and senile cataracts. A study found that participants who eat the most beta-carotene had 40% lower risk of macular degeneration than those who consumed little.

A variety of dietary carotenoids have been shown to have anti-cancer properties due to their antioxidant effect in reducing free radicals in the body. Carrot extract was shown to kill leukemia cells and inhibit their progression in a 2011 study. British scientists discovered that increasing beta-carotene consumption from 1.7 to 2.7 mg per day reduced lung cancer risk by more than 40%. Among younger men, diets rich in betacarotene may play a protective role against prostate cancer, according to a research performed by the “Harvard School of Public Health’s Department of Nutrition”. Men who included carrots as part of their regular diet, eating them at least three times a week, were 18 per cent less likely to develop a prostate tumour, according to results reported in the latest “European Journal of Nutrition”. Recently, scientists have isolated a compound called falcarinol in carrots that may be largely responsible for anti-cancer effects.Study conducted by researchers at “University of Newcastle” on lab animals has found that falcarinol in carrots may help fight against cancers by destroying pre-cancerous cells in the tumors.

Studies shown that a diet high in carotenoids are linked  with a lower risk of heart disease. A study performed at the Mario Negri Institute of Pharmacological Research in Italy found that those who ate more carrots had one third the risk of heart attack as compared with those who ate fewer carrots. Several studies have strengthened the “carrot effect” on brain.  According to a research carried at “Harvard University”, individuals who consumed more than 6 carrots a week are less likely to suffer from strokes in comparison to those who ate only one carrot a month or less.

Kelp Benefits for Humans

Kelp is a type of seaweed, or algae, usually eaten in Asian countries, such as Japan and China. Sea kelp is a natural source of vitamins A, B1, B2, C, D and E, as well as minerals including iodine, zinc, calcium, magnesium, iron and potassium. In fact it contains the highest concentration of calcium of any food.

Kelp Benefits

Kelp has been shown to contain 46 minerals, 16 amino acids and 11 different vitamins. Kelp is a rich source of iodine, which is a crucial nutrient for the thyroid. Consuming healthy levels of iodine is important to maintaining a healthy thyroid, a gland in your neck which helps produce and regulate hormones.  Iodine is necessary for the formation of thyroid hormones, which regulate the body’s energy production,promote growth and development, and help burn excess fat. A malfunctioning thyroid can result in a wide range of symptoms such as fatigue, muscle weakness. In severe or untreated cases, it can lead to serious conditions like goiters heart palpitations and impaired memory. Iodine deficiency is the leading cause of mental retardation according to World Health Organization (WHO) and symptoms may include dry, scaly skin and scalp, fatigue constipation, dysfunctional thyroid operation, infertility, increased rate of stillbirths and growth abnormalities. Deficiencies can be treated with 150micrograms of iodine daily.  Prolonged use of large amount of iodine (6mg or more daily) may suppress activity of the thyroid gland

What is Black Cohosh Good For?

Black cohosh, a member of the buttercup family, is a perennial plant that is native to North America. Its rhizomes and roots are used for medicinal purposes. Most studies on Black Cohosh have been done in Europe using the German product Remifemin®.

What is Black Cohosh Good For?

This herb is used primarily for hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms. Various German studies found black cohosh Actaea racemosa, formerly known as Cimicifuga racemosa ) improved physical and psychological menopausal symptoms, including anxiety, hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness. Black cohosh has antiosteoporotic properties and has been shown to enhance bone formation.

In a clinical trial of 120 female participants with the menopausal symptoms, black cohosh was more efficacious in relieving hot flashes and night sweats than the antidepressant Prozac. A 2005 study of 304 women found that, compared to a placebo, black cohosh helped symptoms of menopause. A  clinical study reported in 2007 compared black cohosh against the synthetic hormone tibolone, and found them equally effective for treating menopausal symptoms. A clinical study in 80 menopausal women compared 8 mg/day of a black cohosh extract with placebo or conjugated estrogens. At 12 weeks, scores on the Kupperman index and the Hamilton anxiety scale were appreciably lower in the treated groups than in the placebo group. A 2010 review by researchers found that black cohosh provided a 26 percent decreased in hot flashes and night sweats. Given the findings of most clinical trials, many researchers conclude that black cohosh may be a safe and effective alternative for women who cannot or will not take hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) for menopause.

May reduce risk of osteoporosis. Scientists from the University of Hong Kong, City University of New York, and Columbia University added an extract of black cohosh to a culture of bone-forming mouse cells. The Scientists observed that a high dose (1,000 ng/mL) of the extract suppressed the production of these bone-forming cells, yet a lower dose (500 ng/mL) significantly increased the formation of bone nodules. The experts concluded that their results provide a scientific explanation at the molecular level for claims that black cohosh may protect against postmenopausal osteoporosis. A study using black cohosh and other herbs reduce pain. In a review of scientific studies, experts concluded that a combination of black cohosh, sarsaparilla, willow bark, guaiacum  resin, and poplar bark may help alleviate symptoms of osteoarthritis.

What is Grapefruit Seed Extract Good For?

Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE) is a liquid substance extracted from the fruit and seeds of grapefruit.  Chemical analysis of GSE shows additional antioxidant constituents including Vitamin C, tocopherols, sterols, citric acid, liminoids, and other trace minerals.

GSE Benefits

Grapefruit Seed Extract has very high levels of disease-fighting, free-radical eliminating antioxidants and phytonutrients called bioflavonoids. One of these strong bioflavanoids include the chemical component hesperidin, a well-known natural immune-system stimulator and booster. Grapefruit Seed Extract is a broad spectrum bactericide, fungicide, antiviral, and antiparasitic compound. An in vitro study using human skin fibroblast cells indicates that GSE promotes healthy gram-positive and gram-negative balance.A study from “The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine” found that GSE was efficacious in killing over 800 bacterial and viral strains, 100 strains of fungus, and a large number of single and multi-celled parasites.

In a study reported in the “Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology” in 2004, GSE was found to protect against pancreatitis. In experiments on rats, researchers observed that GSE helped protect pancreatic tissue by offering antioxidant properties and improving pancreatic blood flow. Grapefruit-seed extract  may benefit gastric lesions caused by stress or ethanol. In animal-based study, rats were treated with grapefruit-seed extract  thirty minutes prior to being subjected to ethanol or another stressor.  The number and area of gastric lesions that formed were measured and compared to those in rats that did not receive grapefruit-seed extract. Lesion number and size were reduced by as much as 50 percent in the group receiving grapefruit-seed extract. depending upon the dosage. A preliminary study examined the effectiveness of GSE in participants with eczema and symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome ( IBS).  Patients received either 2 drops of a 0.5% oral solution of GSE twice daily or 150 mg of encapsulated GSE three times daily. After a month, IBS symptoms had improved in 20% of those taking the liquid, while all of the participants taking capsules noted definite improvement of constipation, flatulence, abdominal discomfort, and night rest. These findings need confirmation in double-blind studies.

What is Evening Primrose Used For?

Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) is a herb that’s native to Europe and North America. Evening primrose oil is the oil from the seed of the evening primrose plant. Evening Primrose Oil (EPO) contains a high concentration of a fatty acid called gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and it is this fatty acid that is largely responsible for the  healing effects of the plant. (EPO contains 2–15%  GLA and 70% linolenic acid, which are types of polyunsaturated omega-6 essential fatty acids). In addition to evening primrose oil, gamma-linolenic acid  is found in black currant oil and borage oil.

Evening Primrose Oil Medicinal Uses

Evening primrose oil (EPO) is used usually to relieve the itchiness causes by certain skin problems, such as eczema and dermatitis. A study of 1,207 participants found that evening primrose oil helped alleviate symptoms from skin conditions, including itching, crusting, edema and redness.

PMS and Mastalgia

Women use EPO for premenstrual syndrome, breast pain, endometriosis, and symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes. Women with premenstrual syndrome may have impaired conversion of linoleic acid to GLA. Some studies have showed that supplementing with GLA in the form of evening primrose oil has a important effect on the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). GLA relieves premenstrual breast pain and tenderness and other premenstrual syndrome symptoms including painful periods, headaches, irritability and bloating,

In Helsinki, in a clinical study, participants were treated with Efamol (primrose oil as a source of gammalinolenic acid)  for four cycles. These participants had not been treated with drugs before the experiment. Efamol demonstrated a 40% average improvement in parameters tested, particularly in irritability and depression. A study at St. Thomas Hospital in London found that when PMS suffers were given EPO three times daily, 67% of the participants were symptom-free and 22% achieved partial relief. In open studies performed at the Cardiff Mastalgia Clinic, Evening Primrose Oil has been found to produce favorable effects in 44% of women with cyclical mastalgia. Evening primrose oil is licensed for the treatment of breast pain (mastalgia) in the United Kingdom.

Diabetic Neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy is a type of nerve damage that can occur if you have diabetes. Studies have discovered that evening primrose oil could help safeguard individuals from diabetic neuropathy. A review of 3 randomized, controlled studies showed EPO might improve symptoms of diabetic neuropathy. Supplementing with 4 grams of EPO per day for 6 months has been found in double-blind research to improve nerve function and to relieve pain symptoms of diabetic neuropathy

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Some studies suggest that supplements that contain GLA, including evening primrose oil, may be of benefit to individuals with rheumatoid arthritis. A study was carried out for 24 weeks with 37 arthritis patients treated with 1.4 g/day GLA or placebo. Joint tenderness and swelling, morning stiffness, grip strength, and ability to perform daily activities were examined. Treatment with GLA reduced the signs and symptoms of the disease significantly in all four parameters, while patients receiving placebo had no significant improvement. Arthritis Research UK4 reported that a clinical study involving 49 patients found that 94% of patients who got primrose oil alone and 93% who received primrose oil combined with fish oil reported a significant improvement of disease-related symptoms, including pain and morning stiffness, compared to just 30% in the placebo group. Evening primrose oil was also significantly effective in reducing the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) during the trial period.

Dosage

Studies have used 2 – 8 grams of EPO daily. The typical content of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) in the oil is 8% to 10%. Being a fatty acid, it is best taken with meals to enhance digestion and absorption. Evening primrose oil products should be stored out of direct sunlight in light-resistant containers in a refrigerator to prevent rancidity.

Side Effects

EPO may lower the seizure threshold and precipitate seizures in individuals taking phenothiazines. The use of evening primrose oil during pregnancy is not supported in the literature.