Health Benefits from Plants
Turmeric: "Muscle Recovery"
Inflammation, Muscle Pain, Antioxidant
A reddish, orange Asian spice mainly used in the spice curry has most recently been popularized. The root of turmeric, though, is what is most commonly used in medicines. It contains a yellowish colored chemical called curcumin which can help decrease swelling and inflammation, and manage breathing problems. It's also recognized for its ability to enhance recovery in active people, managing exercise-induced inflammation and muscle soreness. It can help manage headaches, anxiety, joint pain, colds, bronchitis, stomach pain and many more illnesses.
But because of curcumin's poor ability to be absorbed into the body before it is eliminated, in order to get all of the antioxidant and anti inflammatory benefits, it must be ingested with enhancing agents. Research done by the Department of Nutrition in Central Michigan University, found that when piperine, a large component of black pepper, is combined with turmeric root, the complex's bioavailitibity is increased by 2000%. In order to enjoy the plethora of health benefits try to combine a small dose of curcumin with piperine. Because it is a soluble it would be almost pointless to take it with water, I recommend incorporating it into your meals throughout the day, especially because it does not stay in the body for very long.
Ginkgo: "The Brain Food"
Ginkgo biloba is a tree native to China and its seeds and leaves have been used in traditional Chinese medicines. Ginkgo extract, taken from the leaves, has been commonly associated with brain health and function, antioxidant properties, and increased circulation. It's been widely used in various degenerative diseases such as cerebrovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, macroangiopathy and more. Along with turmeric, ginkgo also has many anti-inflammatory effects, helping with arthritis, stomach issues, cancer, heart disease and strokes.
Flavanoids
The ginkgo extract contains high levels of flavanoids, which if you don't know are a group of plant metabolites thought to provide health benefits through cell signalling pathways and antioxidant effects.
Fighting Free Radicals
Free radicals are toxic byproducts of oxygen metabolism that, when overproduced, can cause significant damage to living cells and tissues causing oxidative stress. But, antioxidants, the vitamins and minerals in the body can help battle free radicals, and oxidative stress.
According to the Department of Health Sciences at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, ginkgo can have a multitude of benefits concerning brain functions and cognitive in older adults, especially those over 60.
Ginkgo can be taken by tablets, capsules, liquid extracts, and dried leaves or teas. But most recently, research has shown there to be more benefit in consuming purified ginkgo extract. Research suggests taking between 120-240 mg per day.
Cayenne Pepper:
Great for not only cooking and spices but cayenne pepper has multiple health benefits as well. Many people stray away from spices because they believe it can cause stomach pains but actually cayenne has been known to be one of the best medicinal herbs, stimulating the body's circulation and reducing acidity.
Digestion
Cayenne pepper increases the production of saliva in the mouth, which is the first step in the digestive process. But it also stimulates the production of enzymes which speed up the chemical reactions in the body and break down food into nutrients.
Migraines
It has been researched that because of its spice, cayenne can cause pain in a different part of the body, redirecting the brain's attention away from a headache or a migraine and towards the another site. After this pain, nerve fibers have a depleted amount of substance P, also known as a pain chemical, which will in turn trick your body into feeling pain somewhere else.
Weight Loss & Inflammation
Because cayenne is a metabolic booster, it can actually burn excess fat by promoting fat oxidation, also causes less of an appetite. It raises your body temperature which makes you sweat and increases the activity of your immune system, and kick starting the digestive process. Try eating some with your breakfast, this will help curb your cravings and reduce bloating. Additionally, cayenne can help soothe inflammation and food irritants caused by food sensitivities and allergies.
According to Mid America Heart Institute at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, cayenne pepper can decrease acid secretion, increase alkali and gastric blood flow. It can help to regulate your metabolism and suppress hunger throughout the day.
Lavender:
Lavender has always been sought after for its calming, sweet scent but is commonly used to soothe migraines, anxiety, stress, and lower blood pressure.
Anxiety & Mood
In a study done by the Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry in Vienna, "two hundred patients between the ages of 18 and 77 years (half women, half men) were assigned to one of four independent groups. While waiting for dental procedures patients were either stimulated with ambient odor of orange or ambient odor of lavender." It was then concluded that lavender has sedative effects, reducing anxiety in the patients and improving moods.
According to "A Journal of Biosciences", by Zeitschrift für Naturforschung C, when rats were injected with caffeine and then exposed to the fragrance of lavender, a normal motility was reached quickly.
Headaches & Healing
It has been found that lavender can help to reduce headaches caused by stress and emotional distress.
When a study was published in the journal of Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, it was found that lavender can help speed up the healing process when inhaled.
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