Longevity diet Part 3, the Mediterranean Diet

Living long and living well, what is the secret of this winning combination? According to the most recent scientific researches, it seems that diet, intended as the set of food choices, plays a pivotal role in determining also our health. In previous posts we discussed about the longevity diet in Okinawa, the Japanese island where the people live long and healthy. Today we’ll see another cornerstone of healthy diet studied a lot by science, the Mediterranean diet. Mediterranean diet, what is a...

Mung beans and their sprouts

Mung bean, also called green gram or moong, scientific name Vigna radiata, is a plant of the Fabaceae or Leguminosae family. The fruits of this plant are pods that contain edible seeds characterized by a peel of an intense green color. These seeds can be found on the market both in the dried form, in this case they should be soaked in water and then cooked, or in the form of sprouts, the famous mung bean sprouts, that can also be self-produced at home. Mung beans are the most used seeds in the w...

Lemon, peel

The lemon, scientific name Citrus limoni, is a plant of the Rutaceae family, the same as tangerine, orange and bergamot. The term lemon also refers to the fruit of this plant, of a beautiful intense yellow color and characterized by a rounded shape. Lemon is known and appreciated for its juice, drunk as a purifying and refreshing drink, used to dress salads or to marinate fish, meat or even fruit. But science is also interested in another part of the lemon, less used except for giving flavor to ...

Food combinations and cooking methods, ginger Part 1

Ginger is a plant, scientific name Zingiber officinale family of Zinziberaceae, whose rhizome, also called root, is used to cook, thanks to its fresh aroma, and to prepare herbal remedies. Ginger is rich indeed in active substances, such as zingiberene, gingerol and shogaol, resins and mucilage. Thanks to these characteristics, ginger shows anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-cancer and antioxidant properties. In addition, ginger is also able to keep at bay blood sugar, triglycerides and chol...

Cocoa

The plant of cocoa, Theobroma cacao, belongs to the family of Sterculiaceae and is native to south America. When the seeds are extracted from the fruits of the tree they are subjected to a multi step process involving fermentation, drying, roasting and grinding in order to obtain, as a final product, the cocoa powder that we can purchase in the shops. A fine, brown and scented powder that is commonly used for cooking, sweets, drinks but also as an ingredient of beauty cosmetics. Let’s see the pr...

Pranayama

Yoga is an ancient discipline, born thousands of years ago in India with the aim to restore and maintain balance and health of mind, body and emotions. We are witnessing a great spread of yoga all over the world and this thanks to the numerous scientific researches that are demonstrating its effectiveness as an aid to control stress and chronic inflammation in the body, which, as we have seen in several posts, can cause in the long run cardiovascular or autoimmune diseases, depression and even t...

Fat burning diet Part 2, the spices cinnamon and saffron

Counteracting obesity, especially if the fat is localized on the waistline, is a question of health rather than aesthetics. In fact, several scientific studies have observed that the fat, and in particular abdominal fat, is not inert but an organ able to produce hormones and pro-inflammatory substances that in the long run may create the conditions for diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and even tumors (Coelho et al, Arch Med Sci, 2013 - Deng et al, Annu Rev Pathol, 2016). Also in t...

Anti-inflammatory lifestyle Part 5, friendship and love for a healthy brain

Aristotle was the first to say it in his work Politics, man is, by nature, a social animal and tends to aggregate with other human beings. But this behavior isn’t just natural, it is also the basis for a healthy mind and an anti-inflammatory lifestyle (Eliana Liotta, Age isn’t the same for everyone, but also articles such as Keicolt-Glaser et al, Neurosci Biobehav rev, 2010). As we have seen in the previous post, an enemy of our physical and mental health is chronic inflammation, that doesn’t gi...

Indian Serpentine

Rauwolfia serpentina, or Indian serpentine, is a medicinal plant of the Apiaceae family known and appreciated for centuries thanks to its health benefits. From the roots of the plants of at least 18 months a remedy with hypotensive, antiarrhythmic and vasodilatory properties is obtained. Indian Serpentine is therefore used to treat anxiety, hypertension and insomnia. Its mechanism of action is well known and is based on an alkaloid present in the remedy, the reserpine, which acts on the nervous ...

Lesser Periwinkle, mother tincture

Lesser periwinkle, scientific name Vinca minor, also known as dwarf periwinkle or myrtle, is a plant of the Apocynaceae family characterized by beautiful small, blue-violet flowers. As a remedy, the periwinkle has a proven hypotensive effect (Quevauviller 1955) thanks to a substance, the vincamine, which is able to lower the blood pressure and induces peripheral vasodilation. Moreover, this substance contained in the plant also has the ability to promote the supply of oxygen to the brain and thu...

Sun

In ancient Egypt the sun, represented by the god Ra, struggled every night against the snake god Apofi, the incarnation of chaos and darkness that wanted to prevent him from rising. Every night the priests prayed that Ra would win the fight and the sun would return to shine the next day and guarantee life, wellbeing and prosperity. Beyond the myth the central point is that the sun is essential to life, the sun in fact activates the chlorophyll photosynthesis of plants, which in this way take nou...

Beetroot

Beetroot, also known as garden beet or red beet, scientific name Beta vulgaris, is a plant that belongs to the Chenopodiaceae family and is characterized by an edible root with interesting healthy and nutritional properties. Beetroot indeed, especially if you eat it raw, is very rich in folate, has mineral salts such as iron, potassium, phosphorus, calcium and magnesium, vitamins of groups B and C and water, very useful to counteract water retention. Thanks to these characteristics the beetroot ...

Pumpkin seeds

The pumpkin is the fruit of various plants belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family. Besides its sweet and very healthy pulp, seeds can also be eaten. These oilseeds bring vitamins, E, group B and K, mineral salts, such as magnesium, beneficial for the proper functioning of the heart and blood pressure, selenium and zinc, a useful substance able to support the immune system, to fight infections and to facilitate healing. Pumpkin seeds are also the source of the important omega 3 fatty acids, useful...

Olive, glycerin macerate

Olive, scientific name Olea europaea, is a tree belonging to the Oleacee family, symbol of peace and wisdom it is the subject of a lot of legends. According to an ancient Greek myth, the first sprig of olive grew from the spear of goddess Athena, after she struck with it the earth and it is always a sprig of olive that, in the Bible, was carried by a dove to Noah to say that the waters had receded from earth. Nowadays olive is considered also an important natural remedy and its glycerin macerate...

Cherimoya

Annona Cherimola is a plant of the Annonaceae family, which also includes the graviola, is native to Peru, Ecuador and Colombia although nowadays it has spread in several countries of America, Africa and the Mediterranean basin. The fruit of this plant is the cherimoya, also called chirimuya, and is gaining notoriety so much that now it’s not uncommon to find it in supermarkets or specialized shops all over the world. Cherimoya has a green skin and a sweet, white pulp rich in seeds. You can eat ...

Satsuma

The satsuma tangerine is a citrus fruit native to Japan. The scientific name of the plant is Citrus unshiu and it is also known as myagawa. The peel is thin, green or yellow, even after ripening, and the pulp is orange, seedless, characterized by a sweet taste with a hint of bitterness. The ripe fruit can be harvested between October and December, is very resistant to cold and is a very appreciated delicacy rich in healthy properties, let's see them. The satsuma is particularly rich in antioxida...

Prunella

Prunella, scientific name prunella vulgaris, also known as common self-heal or woundwort, is a plant of the Lamiaceae family, which is characterized by anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, astringent, healing and purifying properties. For internal use, the remedy can bring relief in case of migraine, high blood pressure, seasonal illnesses, since it acts by supporting the immune system, and diarrhea, while for external use the prunella is useful to accelerate the healing of wounds, inflam...

Kale

Kale belongs to the Brassicacee family like cauliflower and cabbage. It has green leaves, a fibrous stem and is characterized by so important healthy properties that it is considered a true superfood. This vegetable has vitamins, such as vitamins A, B1, B2, B2, C, K and mineral salts such as magnesium, potassium, manganese, calcium, iron and phosphorus. Kale has also a high antioxidant power thanks to the substances contained in it, quercetin and kaempferol, according to the study reported in 20...

Buckwheat

The buckwheat, scientific name Fagopyrum esculentum, belongs to the Poligonaceae family, but is considered, from a commercial point of view, a cereal, although it doesn’t belong to the family of the Graminaceae. Buckwheat contains B-group vitamins, mineral salts such as magnesium, potassium, more than all other cereals, manganese, iron and copper, and valuable antioxidants. It is easily digestible, brings proteins and a sense of satiety and, for this reason, it can be inserted into the diets of ...

Greek yogurt

In all the posts we’ve always spoken about plant-based yogurts. Today we speak instead about a particular yogurt produced from animal milk, gout, sheep but also cow, the Greek yogurt. This yogurt, thanks to its properties, is a very interesting choice as a snack or for breakfast, in fact it is rich in nutrients and has healthful properties. Greek yogurt differs from the classical one in its properties, in the production process and in the consistency, that results more thick and creamy. Greek y...

Prunus amygdalus (almond)

Almond, prunus amygdalus, belongs to the Rosaceae family and it is a deciduous tree originating from Mesopotamia. The glycerine macerate of this plant, obtained by maceration of fresh gems or roots, has an interesting anti-thrombophilic, anti-sclerotic, hypocholesterolemic and antihypertensive action. You can therefore use this remedy in case of high cholesterol since it promotes the maintenance of normal cholesterol levels, high triglycerides, high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis. In addition ...

Polygonium cuspidatum

Polygonum cuspidatum or Japanese knotweed, scientific name Fallopia Japonica, is a plant belonging to the Polygonaceae family native to China. It is used for the preparation of tonic and anti-fatigue supplements, useful in case of loss of energy typical of seasonal changes. In fact, this remedy is particularly rich in antioxidant resveratrol, since its dry extract contains a quantity of resveratrol about 400 times higher than that contained in red grape juice. Resveratrol helps fight aging proce...

Olives

Olives are the edible fruit of the olive tree, or Olea Europaea. Olives can be eaten after a treatment in order to attenuate the bitter taste of freshly harvested olives or used raw to extract olive oil. Olives are rich in monounsaturated fats, the percentage in black olives is higher, about 25%, than that in green olives, 15%, these fats are important because they help lower LDL cholesterol levels, increase good cholesterol HDL and reduce blood pressure. Olives also bring antioxidants important...

Green apple

There are many varieties of apples, here we talk about green apple or Granny Smith, characterized by a green peel and a slightly acidulous pulp. The green color indicates the presence of chlorophyll, the indispensable pigment for photosynthesis with anti-aging properties useful to counteract free radicals and oxidation processes, that are the aging processes, of the cells and the body. Chlorophyll is also a remedy against intestinal swelling and gas production. Green apple is also rich in folate...

Jujubes

Jujubes are the fruits of the jujube, or Ziziphus jujuba, a plant of the Rhamnaceae family also known as the Chinese date. Jujubes help to regulate blood pressure, have laxative properties but have also a digestive, disinfectant and antioxidant effect against free radicals. These fruits are rich in vitamins A, B and C, useful in protecting and strengthening the immune system, bring mineral salts such as potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium and phosphorus, improve brain performance and help to fig...

Asparagus

Asparagus officinalis, or asparagus, is a medicinal plant of the Liliaceae family. Its properties have been known since ancient times, in fact the Greek physician Galen recommended it for its diuretic activity, now we know that you can use both the roots than the sprouts, called asparagus with the same name of the plant. The asparagus are diuretics, for this reason they result helpful in cases of water retention, rheumatism or arthritis, gout, edema, kidney stones and to prevent cystitis. But as...

Chlorella seaweed

The Chlorella seaweed is a single-cell green micro algae that lives in rivers and lakes of equatorial Africa. Rich in proteins, minerals, including iron and zinc, and vitamins, such as A, group B, C and E, this type of seaweed has detoxifying and cleansing properties for the body, in particular it is helpful to remove heavy metals and toxins that enter in our body with air, food and water. This property has been demonstrated by scientific studies, such as a research published in 2009 on the jour...

Cauliflower

Cauliflower is a winter vegetable of the Brassicaceae or Cruciferae family. It is rich in fibers and, due to its high satiating power combined with low calories intake, it is well suited to be introduced into the diet of those people who are overweight. In addition to this, the cauliflower contains minerals such as potassium, that results helpful to regulate blood pressure, calcium, magnesium, zinc, manganese, selenium, phosphorus, but also vitamins A, group B, C, E, K, J, antioxidants such as l...

Scotch broom

The Scotch broom or common broom, scientific name Cytisus scoparius, is a small shrub with golden yellow flowers. This plant has diuretic properties, useful in case of kidney stones, edema, gout, water retention and rheumatism, but scotch broom has also a vasoconstrictor effect, making it a remedy for hypotension because the broom works by narrowing blood vessels and thereby increasing the pressure. There is a cardiotonic action, too, because the plant is able to regularize the heart rate. The b...

Pastinaca

Pastinaca, called also as parsnip, is a plant of the Apiaceae family. Its root, white and with a shape similar to that of the carrots, is eaten as a vegetable. The parsnip brings vitamins, group B and C, K and E, folic acid and mineral salts, especially potassium, which helps to control blood pressure, but also calcium, iron, copper, magnesium, zinc, selenium and manganese. In addition to this, this vegetable is rich in fiber, important to prevent constipation and to ensure the proper functionin...