Inflammation, natural remedies

Coffee essential oil

Tonic for mood and memory, healing, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory and emollient, useful to combat wrinkles, sunburn and damage caused by UV rays.

The coffee essential oil is extracted from the cold pressing of roasted coffee beans, Coffea Arabica quality. This variety of coffee is the one that contains the highest amount of oil, around 15% (Raba et al, PLoS One, 2018). So today we are talking about the properties of this very special essential oil and its uses for the well-being of the mind and for the beauty of the skin. Coffee oil for mood and memory - Inhaling the aroma of coffee helps improve cognitive function, attention and mem...

Honey, the yellow gold of kings and gods

Vitamins, mineral salts, amino acids and antioxidants, protects the respiratory tract, calms coughs, soothes and improves mood, strengthens the immune system, fights inflammation, metabolic syndrome and overweight, anti-aging, gastroprotective action.

The jewel inside the glass case shines and glows with gold. We are in Crete, in the archaeological museum of Heraklion, and in front of us there is the famous Mallia pendant. A gold jewel that depicts two bees depositing a drop of honey in a honeycomb. But this is not just any jewel, it was the jewel worn by the king of Crete and represented his power and his majesty. Honey has, in fact, always been associated with divinities, the newborn Zeus was fed with honey and honey is also considered not ...

Apricots, the fruit loved by Alexander the Great

Vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, protect the skin, eyesight and liver, are neuroprotective, help control cholesterol, provide energy, water and fiber, reduce inflammation levels, are anticancer and support the immune system.

Apricots are the fruit of the apricot, scientific name Prunus armeniaca, a plant native to Armenia. Legend has it that, originally, the apricot tree was just an ornamental plant capable of giving wonderful white flowers but not fruit. One day, the enemies invaded the land where apricots also rose and gave the order to cut down all the trees that gave no fruit in order to obtain wood. This would also have been the fate of the apricot tree if it were not for a girl who cried all night near it. The...

Cherries, the fruits of health sacred to Venus

Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and anti-obesity properties, reduce blood pressure, help prevent gout attacks, improve sleep and mood.

The cherry tree is the sacred plant of Venus, the goddess of love. And we can also say without fear of making a mistake that bringing its red and juicy fruits, cherries, to the table is a gesture of love towards us and our loved ones. In fact, cherries are a precious source of properties for health, also helping to keep body weight under control, if included in a healthy and balanced diet. But let's understand better. Cherries, nutrients - Cherries are a valuable source of antioxidants, such ...

Walking, the simplest and most beneficial exercise there is

It helps maintain body weight, counteracts abdominal fat, lowers inflammation, stimulates the defenses, especially those of the airways, protects the heart and reduces the risk of cellular degeneration, brings a good mood.

Gymnastics, running, swimming, we have at our disposal a multitude of different types of physical activity, all equally beneficial. However, sometimes, we forget that there is also a very simple physical activity, beneficial for all and within everyone's reach, walking. Walking is a natural anti-aging and fat burner and protects heart, lung and brain health. Walking and visceral fat - Walking for more than 30 minutes at a brisk pace improves insulin resistance and counteracts both subcutaneou...

Food combinations and cooking methods, the healthy pesto

Pesto is quick to prepare, fresh and rich in substances beneficial for health, let's see tasty ideas for preparing a healthy and always different pesto, according to traditional or even unexpected recipes, with a little imagination. We will see, for each preparation, the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunostimulating properties.

Summer, hot days and sun are coming, now life is spent more outdoors and there is also a desire to eat something fresh and quick. Like pesto, the ideal seasoning for bruschetta, pasta but also rice. The name pesto derives from the method with which this sauce was originally prepared, that is, by crushing, in Italian pestare, fresh basil leaves, garlic and other ingredients in a marble mortar. Today the mortar is no longer used and the pesto is prepared with the mixer, which has considerably redu...

Hibiscus, the anti-aging drink

Antioxidants, anti-inflammatory substances, hypotensive action, useful to keep cholesterol under control and to counteract overweight, obesity and abdominal fat, for external applications it soothes irritated and burned and sunburned skin.

When they arrive in Hawaii, tourists are greeted with garlands of hibiscus flowers, the symbol of Hawaii but also as a sign of good luck. In fact, the hibiscus is considered the flower of opportunities. But hibiscus does not only bring good luck, as emerges from numerous scientific researches, in fact, hibiscus flowers, used to prepare tasty and thirst-quenching herbal teas, are a precious source of beneficial substances for health. Hibiscus, properties - Hibiscus, scientific name hibiscus ...

Omega 3 fatty acids, the healthy fats

Omega 3 are anti-inflammatory, protect brain, eye and nervous system health, counteract fatty liver, are antiviral and help maintain muscle mass.

Essential fatty acids, a category to which omega 3 also belong, are not synthesized by the body but must be introduced with diet or supplements. But what are the properties of omega 3 fatty acids and why are they said to be good for health? Are there any side effects related to their intake? We try to answer these questions by analyzing, as always, the results published in scientific journals. Omega 3 and heart - Omega 3 fatty acids help protect the health of the cardiovascular system. In fac...

Sage, properties and uses in the kitchen

Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antiseptic, improves digestion, is carminative and antispasmodic, drives away anxieties and insomnia, improves mood, fights tumors and hyperglycemia, helps in menopause in case of hot flashes and excessive sweating, protects the brain, improves memory and combats cognitive impairment.

In the vegetable gardens, sage begins to appear, with its tender and fragrant leaves, it is a real joy for the palate! But it is not just a matter of taste, sage is also a precious source of health properties, already known for centuries. In fact, in one of its writings the Salerno medical school, the most famous medical school of the Middle Ages, said, what should a person who grows sage in his garden die of? Not to mention the vinegar of the four thieves ... in fact, a French legend wants that...

White or green asparagus, what are the differences?

Green asparagus are characterized by a higher antioxidant action, they also contain greater amounts of vitamin C, white asparagus, on the other hand, are a valuable source of some types of anticancer substances. Let's try to understand in detail the main differences between white and green asparagus. In addition, we will also talk about how cooking affects the properties of asparagus.

According to legend, once the only known asparagus was green. But, around the sixteenth century, following a large hailstorm that destroyed all the tips of the asparagus that came out of the ground, people had to eat only the part that was saved, namely that under the soil, the white one, because it had not been reached by the sunrays. In fact, both green and white asparagus all belong to the same species, asparagus officinalis. But green asparagus are grown out of the ground and take on a green...

Ginkgo biloba, the ancient plant that protects the brain

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action, counteracts the formation of blood clots, improves blood flow to the brain, counteracts neurodegeneration, improves memory and attention.

What a fascinating plant ginkgo biloba is! Tree of ancient origin, it is estimated indeed that it appeared about 250 million years ago, it is nowadays a highly appreciated ornamental plant, used in parks and gardens also because it is very resistant to pollutants. To show its degree of resistance, think that in Hiroshima there are still six specimens of ginkgo biloba that survived the explosion of the nuclear bomb. But ginkgo biloba is also appreciated for its beneficial properties on brain heal...

Mistletoe

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, acts as an immunostimulant and antitumor, regulates blood pressure, raising it if low and lowering it if too high, reduces blood sugar and LDL cholesterol, cardioprotective action.

At the solstices, the druids, dressed in white, cut with a golden sickle mistletoe branches that were then used to prepare precious infusions, capable of curing any ailment. This ancient wisdom, in which magic and knowledge were mixed until they get confused, has passed the centuries and has arrived to us. Even today, in fact, mistletoe is considered a precious natural remedy, against both hypertension and cellular degeneration. Of course, nowadays the mistletoe is harvested without golden sickl...

Moringa, the miracle tree

Antioxidant and anticancer, protects the heart, helps to keep blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol under control, supports the liver and kidneys, tones the mind, strengthens the immune system from the attack of viruses and bacteria, useful analgesic action against migraines, anti-inflammatory, counteracts asthma and overweight, also useful for the beauty of the skin.

Few things are certain in life, but one thing was sure. Anyone who went to see Fidel Castro, whether he or she was a head of state or a celebrity from the world of sport or show business, had to go through his garden. And above all that person had to listen to him describe in detail the beneficial properties of a particular plant, his favorite, of which he had a personal cultivation, the moringa, or miracle tree. Not only that, it is also said that Fidel Castro used to chew moringa leaves like c...

Noni, the juice with a thousand properties

Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antitumor, protects and strengthens the immune system from the attack of viruses and bacteria, increases energy and resistance, helps reduce cholesterol and triglycerides, analgesic, helps to soothe and in many cases to resolve joint pain and stiff neck.

Legend has it that the peoples of Polynesia overcame periods of famine thanks to a plant with extraordinary fruits, noni, or morinda citrifolia. We do not know if this is true also because, it must be said, the taste of mature noni is not very pleasant and can suggest a certain degree of rancidity, but certainly the peoples of Polynesia well knew that their health would take advantage. And the fame of noni, over the centuries, has endured reaching the present day. In fact, today it is easy to fi...

Chia seeds, small sources of health

Vitamins, minerals, proteins, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory substances, protect heart health, improve insulin sensitivity, satiate and help reduce waist circumference. They can also be used in place of eggs in sweet and savory recipes.

Small and dark, this is how chia seeds appear. Chia seeds have risen to the fore in recent years, becoming one of the healthiest foods on the market. But why so much interest in chia seeds? Let’s try to understand this on the basis of scientific research. We will also see some ideas for using chia seeds in the kitchen and making them become our precious allies in different preparations. Chia seeds, properties - Chia, scientific name salvia hispanica, is a plant of the Lamiaceae family typical ...

Black pepper, the king of spices

Digestive, improves the absorption of turmeric, vitamins and minerals, fights diabetes and high cholesterol, neuroprotective, antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, beneficial in cases of arthritis and asthma.

Today we talk about pepper, the king of spices! The black pepper that we find on supermarket shelves is the dried fruit of the pepper plant, scientific name Piper nigrum. This spice is widely used and appreciated to give taste and aroma to dishes but, as we will see, also to reinforce the beneficial action of other ingredients, such as turmeric. Let's try to understand better based on scientific research. Black pepper, properties - Black pepper has an antimicrobial action against a wide range ...

Apples, the colors of health

Red, yellow or green apples, for each color there is a different antioxidant with different properties and different benefits for the health of the skin, eyes, heart, brain and more.

Green, red and yellow apples brighten up the shelves of the greengrocer. But does the different color of the skin of apples also determine different properties? Yes, as we will see. In particular, some antioxidant and anti-inflammatory substances that determine the color of the peel and also some properties vary while the nutritional profile, therefore the quantity of water, fibers, the presence of vitamins A and C and mineral salts such as potassium remains constant (Nicklas et al, Food Nutr Re...

Prebiotics, a source of health for the microbiota and the whole body

Prebiotics nourish the gut microbiota and benefit not only the digestive processes, but also the heart, brain and immune system.

Not only digestion depends on intestinal health but also, through connections and biological processes, the proper functioning of the brain, the immune system, mood and body weight. This is why it is important to take care of the microbiota, which is the set of bacteria that make up our intestine. In this regard, it is important to take probiotics and prebiotics through the diet. Probiotics are live microorganisms that, once ingested, populate the microbiota. Prebiotics, on the other hand, are p...

Walnuts, little elixirs of long life

Vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, help reduce cholesterol and blood pressure, counteract inflammation and cognitive impairment, improve mood.

Walnuts are the fruit of the Juglans regia tree. Practical to always have with you, tasty and full of energy, walnuts are the perfect snack, they enrich the breakfast muesli and make preparations such as bread and cakes even more delicious. But walnuts are also a precious source of health properties for the well-being of the heart, brain and gut, let's see better. Walnuts, properties - Walnuts are an important source of omega 3 fatty acids. These fatty acids are often lacking in Western diet b...

Extra virgin olive oil, properties

Antioxidant, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, capable of protecting the heart and brain, extra virgin olive oil is a real medicine food.

Extra virgin olive oil is considered much more than a condiment and a real medicine food. Extra virgin olive oil is obtained by mechanical pressing of the olives without resorting to chemical treatments. For several years now, science has been interested in the properties of extra virgin olive oil and its health benefits. So let's see what extra virgin olive oil can do to improve our health, what are the differences compared to olive oil and what happens during cooking. Extra virgin olive oil,...

Silver fir, the essential oil that purifies the air and protects the lungs

Antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and calming, useful to purify the air of bacteria and fungi, fights inflammation in the lungs and relaxes after a day of work.

A warm and fascinating balsamic aroma spreads throughout the room, it is the scent of the essential oil of silver fir, scientific name Abies alba. This essential oil is obtained by steam distillation of the needles and branches of this type of fir, which grows spontaneously in the forests of the northern hemisphere. But spreading the essential oil of silver fir not only brings a pleasant scent in the rooms, this essential oil is also beneficial for health, since, thanks to the active ingredients...

Turmeric, ginger and pepper, here is the best combination

How to make curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, easily assimilated? And how to take turmeric to enhance its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties? Let's try to answer these questions.

It has been said a lot about turmeric. Although there is a solid basis in the literature that testifies to the health properties of this spice, obtained from the rhizome of the Curcuma Longa plant, there are those who doubt them, while others use turmeric almost everywhere, in every type of recipe, in sauces, soups and even in herbal teas. Who's right? As always, the truth is somewhere in the middle, but let's try to understand better. Curcumin, properties and availability - Curcumin is the ma...

Woods, more than an anti-stress, a real stimulant for the immune system

Anti-inflammatory, antitumor and antioxidant action, supports the immune system thanks to the absorption by our body of the essential oils released by the trees, reduction of blood pressure, helpful in case of anxiety, stress, bad mood and depression.

A silent forest, where everything seems motionless but in reality beats with life. The shoes creak on the path as you make your way through ferns and mosses, the air is fresh and clean, slightly scented with aromas of resin. The forest is a unique experience to be immersed in nature, to detach from stress and to bring benefit to body and mind, so much that even science has been interested in its properties for health and a term has been coined to indicate the immersion in a woods as a regenerati...

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...

Okra, the vegetable with healthy properties you don't expect

Antioxidant, anti-diabetes, counteracts the accumulation of fat in the blood, is anticancer and fights depression, soothes irritations of stomach and intestines, modulates the action of the immune system, anti-inflammatory.

Okra or okro, scientific name Abelmoschus esculentus, is a typical plant of warm countries such as Tunisia, Egypt or Ethiopia but it is also grown in Italy, America and Asia. The fruits of okra, similar to green peppers, are used in the kitchen as vegetables. And what a vegetable! In fact, okra is a very healthy food to which science has dedicated several studies published in international journals. So let's try to understand the properties of okra and its uses in the kitchen. Okra, properties...

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...

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...