Free radicals, natural remedies

Beer, more than a drink, almost a food but to be taken with care

Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetes action, protects the heart and the brain, fights obesity but has to be taken in moderation.

Beer is a low alcoholic drink obtained from the fermentation of cereals and flavored with hops. Beer is a drink of ancient origin, so much that it was known and appreciated already at the time of the ancient Egyptians, who used it to wean babies and even as a coin. In fact, the workers who had built the pyramid of Cheops were paid in part with… beer! Even nowadays, beer is probably one of the most popular beverages in the world and there are different variants of it, lighter, darker, more alcoho...

Oregano, properties and uses in the kitchen

Anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antimicrobial, protects the stomach and intestines, counteracts the oxidation of cholesterol, fights free radical damage and aging processes, hypoglycemic action, supports the immune system and fights fungi, such as candida of the oral cavity, and infections.

Oregano, scientific name Origanum vulgare, is an aromatic plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family, highly appreciated for cooking as a scented spice. A pinch of oregano perfumes and enriches different types of culinary preparations, such as sauces, bruschetta, pizzas or salads. But oregano not only gives to the dishes its aroma but also important properties for health. Today, therefore, we see the properties and uses of oregano in the kitchen. Oregano, properties - Oregano provides mineral sal...

Basil, the seedling of health

Antispasmodic and carminative, counteracts digestive problems and swollen abdomen, strengthens memory, anticancer, insect repellent, antiviral, helps to keep blood sugar and fat under control.

Basil, Ocinum Basilicum, is an aromatic plant that belongs to the Lamiaceae family that includes also lavender, oregano and mint. Basil is easily grown in pots and makes a fine show in gardens, vegetable gardens and balconies. The scent of basil calms and drives away insects but also its leaves, if added to dishes, are really interesting thanks to their properties for health. So let's try to understand the properties of basil and how to use it in the kitchen. Basil, properties - Basil provides...

Kukicha green tea

Supports the immune system, fights anxiety and stress and high blood pressure, improves cognitive function, anticancer, low in caffeine and therefore lends itself to being drunk even in the afternoon.

Lot of small sticks and twigs, this is kukicha green tea, a very particular Japanese tea that differs from other teas that are in the form of leaves. The aroma of kukicha green tea is sweet and stands out from other Japanese green teas that, on the other hand, have a scent that reminds of freshly picked grass. So let's see the types of kukicha, the properties and the preparation of this particular tea. Kukicha tea, types - Whether it's gyokuro, sencha or kukicha, the plant from which green tea...

Nectarines

Vitamins, mineral salts, powerful antioxidant action capable of counteracting the aging process.

The Prunus Persica, or peach tree, is a plant of the Rosaceae family. Its fruits are the peaches, juicy drupes that are characterized by a yellow, red or brown skin, with or hairless. Among the different varieties of peaches that can be found on the market we find nectarines, which are peaches with smooth skin without hair and whose harvesting period goes from June to the end of September. Today we are talking about this type of peach, trying to understand its properties on the basis of scientif...

Soy yogurt, properties and production with and without yogurt maker

Antioxidants, able to counteract the damage of free radicals, protects heart health by increasing good cholesterol and decreasing the oxidation of bad cholesterol, without cholesterol and lactose.

Soy yogurt is, as the name suggests, a yogurt made from soy milk and the same bacteria used for fermenting cow yogurt, Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus. Flavors, sweeteners, fruits or chocolate chips can sometimes be added. Soy yogurt, properties - Soy yogurt is a tasty, plant based alternative to cow's yoghurt that, often, due to lifestyle choices or intolerances, cannot be eaten. This soy product does not contain cholesterol, 100 grams of yogurt brings approximately 3....

Zucchini

Vitamins, mineral salts, fiber and many antioxidants, courgettes fight aging processes, protect the heart and skin, help in case of constipation.

Zucchini or courgette, scientific name Cucurbita Pepo, is a plant of the Cucurbitaceae family. Its fruits, the zucchini, are collected and eaten immature and are characterized by an elongated shape. The color of the peel of zucchini is bright green but, depending on the variety, it may also be light green or yellow. Zucchini are a widely used ingredient in cooking, so let's understand their health properties and have also some ideas for tasty and healthy zucchini recipes. Zucchini, properties ...

Cherry honey

Cherry blossom honey has purifying, diuretic but also antioxidant properties, protective action on the liver and heart.

Honey is a food produced by bees that go from flower to flower to collect nectar. In general, honey contains sugars, minerals, such as potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, manganese and selenium, vitamins, such as vitamin C and group B, proteins and antioxidant substances such as polyphenols and carotenoids that confer an anti-aging, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial action and also properties able to support the immune system (Miguel et al, Integr Med Insights, 2017). However, both the compos...

Flowers to eat, colors, scents and health are served Part 4, chamomile and dandelion

Chamomile is antioxidant but also anti diabetes while the dandelion protects the immune system, is anti aging and fights diabetes and tumors.

We are used to give flowers as a gift, or to grow them to beautify our garden or balcony. But the flowers are not only beautiful to look at, some can be added to recipes making them even healthier thanks to their anti-aging properties. Let's understand the action of two very common flowers, chamomile and dandelion. However, remember that it is important not to collect flowers on the sides of the roads or in the fields to avoid ingesting pollutants or pesticides. Edible flowers can be either boug...

Flowers to eat, colors, scents and health are served Part 3, lavender and zucchini flowers

Lavender is antioxidant, helps to keep blood sugar under control and protects the brain, zucchini flowers fight aging processes, lower blood sugar and cholesterol.

Some flowers are edible, such as rose, calendula, but also nasturtium or pansy. Adding flowers to recipes not only contributes to making the dish more cheerful, but also healthier. In fact, as we have seen, flowers can bring valuable antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and neuroprotective properties. Be careful though, not all flowers are edible, so avoid collecting flowers in the fields because you could confuse them with other toxic species. In addition, if you grow the flowers personall...

Flowers to eat, colors, scents and health are served Part 2, calendula and pansy

There are flowers that can be eaten and that provide valuable antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties, such as calendula and pansy.

Flowers to eat? Yes, some types of flowers are edible and can be added raw to recipes. Perfect in this case are the salads to which the flowers give color but also antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. In the previous post we talked about the rose and nasturtium, today we talk about the properties of calendula and pansy when they are added to our dishes. However, a warning is required first. Avoid picking flowers along the streets or in the meadows as you cannot know if ...

Flowers to eat, colors, scents and health are served Part 1, nasturtium and rose

Flowers are not only ornamental but, in some cases, they can also be eaten and are characterized by important antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-obesity properties.

A well laid table and a colorful bouquet in the center, we are used to see in this way flowers for lunch or dinner. However, there is also another fascinating way in which flowers can make their appearance at the table, namely ... on the plate. In fact, some flowers are edible, they can be added raw to salads, appetizers or drinks, to give color, taste but also healthy properties, useful to counteract the damage of free radicals, tumors, obesity but also to protect the brain (Lu et al, Crit Rev ...

Golden berry

Vitamins, antioxidants for the well-being of eyesight and skin, mineral salts and fibers, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory and useful action to keep blood pressure at bay, relaxing and antispasmodic properties.

Physalis peruviana is a plant belonging to the Solanaceae family, the same as potatoes, aubergines and tomatoes. The fruits, called golden berries, are round yellow berries with a bitter sweet taste, with notes of pineapple and vanilla. Golden berries can be purchased in specialized shops or online in the form of dried berries. Golden berry, properties - Golden berries are a source of carbohydrates, therefore energy, of fiber, vitamin C, vitamins of group B and K, tocopherol, carotenoids, such...

Beta-carotene

Antioxidant properties, supports the immune system and counteracts cognitive decline, counteracts the development of chronic diseases, protects the skin.

Beta-carotene is a substance belonging to the group of carotenoids, which are antioxidant substances synthesized by plants and which gives the bright color to different types of fruit and vegetables. Beta carotene is then converted into vitamin A in the body. Let's see why it is important to take beta-carotene with the diet, what are the properties of this substance and what are the main food sources. Beta carotene, properties – Beta carotene is a powerful antioxidant, able to counteract the d...

Strawberries, the fruits of health

Vitamins, mineral salts and powerful antioxidants that counteract aging processes, protect the heart and brain, help to control body weight, blood sugar and cholesterol.

Strawberries are the fruits of the plants of the genus Fragaria, family of the Rosceae. Actually, it is a false fruit as the real fruit is given by the seeds that can be seen on the surface of the strawberry. Fragrant and juicy, the strawberry starts appearing on the shelves of the grocery stores since March and can be found until June, for the joy of adults and children. So let's see the properties of strawberries! Strawberries, properties - Strawberries provide vitamins C, E and group B, but...

Vegetable garden, health and relax Part 6, gooseberry, red currant and coriander

Properties, uses and cultivation of gooseberry, red currant and coriander.

This is the time to take care of the garden! Taking care of plants, seeing them grow, bloom and then reap the fruits is healing, puts you in a good mood, removes bad thoughts and empowers the mind leaving it free to draw on its talents and resources. Because it is these resources that help us overcome any trauma, concern or obstacle. By taking care of a vegetable garden we also take care of ourselves! Today we talk about gooseberries, red currants and coriander. Gooseberry - Gooseberry, scient...

Vegetable garden, health and relax Part 5, tomatoes and zucchini

How to grow tomatoes and zucchini, two seedlings that cannot miss in your garden.

Watering the plants, seeing them grow full of life and then harvesting the fruits! Taking care of a vegetable garden is fascinating and beneficial, it relieves stress, anxiety and also allows you to have fruit, vegetables and aromatic herbs available every day. Today we talk about how to grow tomatoes and zucchini. Tomatoes - The tomatoes are plants that really cannot miss in a vegetable garden. Elongated tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, ribbed tomatoes, there are many varieties of tomatoes and all ...

Wild garlic

Antioxidant, antimicrobial and immune support properties, deep detoxifying action, helps to keep pressure and cholesterol under control, antithrombotic.

Wild garlic, scientific name Allium ursinum, is a plant belonging to the Liliaceae family. The name, wild garlic, derives from the Latin word ursus, which means bear, based on the popular belief that bears, once they come out of hibernation, consume this plant to purify themselves of accumulated toxins and to regain their strength. Wild garlic is characterized by broad leaves that smell of garlic due to the presence of sulfur compounds. And it is precisely this aroma that makes wild garlic a rea...

Vegetable garden, health and relax Part 4, chives, parsley and raspberry

Taking care of a garden counteracts stress and allows you to have a continuous production of plants and fruits with a high anti-inflammatory and antioxidant power, today we are talking about the chives, parsley and raspberry.

Taking care of a vegetable garden, whether in the garden or on the balcony, brings joy. Seeing the seedlings grow and enjoying their beauty and their fruits is therapeutic, it frees the mind from anxieties and worries and brings out talents and resources that we never imagined we would have. Not only that, garden plants are also valuable sources of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory substances that we can have available even without leaving home! So let's see growing tips, properties and uses of ...

Vegetable garden, health and relax Part 3, common marigold, lavender and strawberry

Today we talk about how to grow and use three very special garden plants, common marigold, lavender and strawberry!.

Taking care of the garden counteracts stress and induces relaxation, science says it, too (Hassan et al, Geriatr Gerontol Int, 2018)! For this reason, especially in particularly difficult periods such as the one we are experiencing, surrounding yourself with plants to grow can be truly therapeutic as well as a healthy choice, because as we will see, garden seedlings can be real powerful remedies at hand in addition to guaranteeing herbs and fruits to bring to the table. Common marigold - With ...

Vegetable garden, health and relax Part 2, thyme, lettuce, rocket and violets

Properties, uses and care of thyme, lettuce, rocket and violets.

Taking care of the garden is good, for health and mood, it helps remove anxiety, keeps the mind occupied making it free and creative, able to follow its potential and talents. That's why we decided to start this section dedicated to properties, uses and ways of growing herbs, flowers and plants that are available in supermarkets or nurseries in this period. Last time we talked about rosemary, primroses and basil, today it's the turn of thyme, lettuce, rocket and violets! Thyme - Thyme is antio...

Vegetable garden, health and relaxation Part 1, basil, daisies and rosemary

Let's start this section dedicated to the vegetable garden by seeing properties, uses and advice on cultivation of basil, rosemary and daisies.

Taking care of the garden or vegetable garden, even on the balcony, is good for your health. Not only because in this way you have your own production of fruit, vegetables, aromatic plants or even flowers as a beautiful ornament for the house, absolutely under control, possibly organic and zero kilometer, but also because, it has been shown by scientific studies, it improves mood and fights anxiety (Soga et al, Prev Med rep, 2017). A Japanese study reported that observing plants even acts on the...

Passion fruit or maracuja, a real superfood for the body and the immune system

Vitamins, mineral salts, carbohydrates and antioxidants, counteracts chronic inflammations, supports the immune system, helps to lower blood pressure and improves digestive processes thanks to the presence of fiber.

Passiflora edulis is a plant of the genus Passiflora, family of Passifloraceae, but is also known by the Portuguese name maracuja. The fruit of the plant, the maracuja or passion fruit, is a berry characterized by a hard zest, a very soft pulp rich in seeds and by a very intense scent that makes the passion fruit an ideal ingredient for the preparation of juices and ice creams. There are many types of passion fruit but the two main varieties are the purple passion fruit, or passiflora edulis, wi...

Matcha green tea

Vitamins and mineral salts, antioxidant, lowers blood sugar and cholesterol, strengthens attention and memory without causing agitation, relaxing and anti-stress, anti-tumor effect.

Matcha is a type of Japanese green tea that is made, like the other varieties of green tea, from the leaves of Camellia sinensis. This tea is considered very valuable and is generally used in tea ceremonies. However, nowadays, the use of matcha is expanding becoming not only a ceremonial drink but also a real super drink. And science has also started to take an interest in matcha, by dedicating numerous studies to this green tea. Let's try to understand the properties of matcha, why it is consid...

Green Cabbage

Vitamins, mineral salts and antioxidants, anticancer properties proven by scientific studies, protects the pancreas and the gastro intestinal tract thanks to its anti-inflammatory action.

The cabbage, scientific name Brassica oleracea var capitata, is a plant of the Brassicaceae or Cruciferae family characterized by smooth and well-closed leaves. Green cabbage is a delicious ingredient for your recipes, but also really healthy. So let's see its properties for the health. Cabbage, properties - Like all other cabbages, green cabbage contains glucosinolates. Glucosinolates, as long as they remain closed inside the plant tissue, are inactive, but when, through chewing, the tissues ...

Bancha green tea

Antioxidant, useful for the health of heart and blood vessels, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial, protects the teeth by reducing the formation of pits and fissures, a possible cause of tooth decay.

Bancha green tea is a Japanese green tea, probably one of the best known and most drunk in the world. This tea derives from the second or third harvest of the biggest leaves of the Camellia sinensis, which is the tea plant. Therefore, bancha cannot be considered as valuable as other types of green tea such as gyokuro or sencha but, despite this, it is highly appreciated for its stronger aroma and powerful properties, which are in any case remarkable. Bancha green tea, properties – First of all...

Red onion

Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, protects the liver and the heart, stimulates the immune system.

Red onion is a type of onion, Allium cepa of the Liliaceae family, with a red-purple skin and a white flesh tinged with red. Red onion, properties - The red onion is rich in antioxidant substances such as thiosulfinates, which give it the classic pungent odor, quercetin, kaempferol but also anthocyanins that are powerful substances that give to the bulb a purple color. These beneficial substances make red onion a food able to fight free radicals and infections, to stimulate the immune system, ...

Black garlic

More antioxidant and active than fresh garlic, beneficial in case of obesity, high cholesterol, inflammation and dermatitis, protects the heart, brain and liver.

Black garlic is obtained from the normal garlic that we all know, Allium sativum, which is subjected to a special processing. In particular, the garlic cloves are fermented at a temperature between 60 and 70° C and at a very high humidity level, up to 90%, for several weeks and, as a result of a reaction called Maillard, the color of the garlic cloves turns dark. The odor is less pungent than that of fresh garlic due to the lower content in allicin that, during the process, has been converted in...

Food combinations and cooking methods, corn polenta

Source of antioxidants, vitamins, mineral salts and polyunsaturated fatty acids, useful to fight aging processes, it may be a part of the diet of those who have skin problems such as psoriasis or dermatitis.

Polenta is a dish prepared by stirring a mixture of water and cornmeal over a low heat. Considered for long a food of the poor kitchen, nowadays even science has been interested in its properties by studying its benefits thanks to the interesting characteristics of the cereal from which it is obtained, the corn. In fact, corn contains carbohydrates, polyunsaturated fatty acids, essential amino acids, vitamin E, which is a powerful antioxidant, but also carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, whose qu...

Persimmon leaves

Digestive properties, antioxidants, antihypertensive and useful in case of type 2 diabetes, for heart and skin health.

The persimmons are the edible fruits of a tree, scientific name Diospyros kaki, which means divine fruit, and have always been considered the sun of autumn since they are able to bring the power of the sun even in the coldest periods. Diospyros kaki is native to China, belongs to the Ebenaceae family and the persimmons can be found on supermarket shelves all over the world from November to December. But it is not only the fruit that is a restorative, re-mineralizing and revitalizing remedy, even...