10 Foods That Fight Inflammation

10 Foods That Fight Inflammation

There are many drugs and some foods  that help fight inflammation. Health Central has compiled a  list of 10 foods that have been found to decrease inflammation in the body. 


One of the food items that is missing from the list is the spice Turmeric (Curcumin). I now put Turmeric in almost everything thing that I eat because of its cancer and inflammation reducing properties. 


Another food item that also has inflammation reduction and other properties is aloe vera! I add edible aloe vera gel to smoothies, and use aloe vera topically on my skin.


A lot of discomfort and pain that we feel is due to inflammation or internal organ and external parts of our bodies. If you can reduce inflammation, you can reduce all of pain and discomfort and improve the proper functioning of your body and organs.

By HealthCentral Editorial Staff

http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/cf/slideshows/10/1/?ap=825


Disclaimer: The statements regarding the nutritional and medicinal properties of the various foods have not  been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These items are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please consult your own physician for guidance regarding your health and nutrition.

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• 5 Herbs for Arthritis & Joint Pain (mindbodygreen.com)
• Cancer Fighting Foods - 4 Anti-Cancer Foods (naturalsociety.com)
• 3 Things You Need to Know Before Using Aloe on That Sunburn (bellasugar.com)

More on Turmeric (Curcumin) from Dr. Mercola!

Turmeric powder 薑黃粉 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Now I put Turmeric (Curcumin) in my smoothie, and also in soups, stews, tuna, salmon, crab and egg salads, and salad dressings! I can't get enough of it! 

I purchase Turmeric from an Indian food store. I recommend that you purchase spices from a source with high traffic and turnover to ensure that you get a fresh and potent spice. Also, ensure that the brand is reputable, and if possible purchase the organic version.

Here is an article by Dr. Mercola on the Health Benefits of Turmeric (Curcumin).

========

By Dr. Mercola

English: Cover of the book Take Control of Your Health by dr. Mercola. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Story at-a-glance

• The antioxidant resveratrol and curcumin (the active substance of the spice turmeric) both show promise as natural chemosensitizers—substances that can help overcome resistance to chemotherapy drugs
• Both nutrients have a wide spectrum of anti-cancer actions and functions
• By modulating inflammatory pathways and inflammatory molecules, resveratrol may also help alleviate many of the debilitating side effects of conventional cancer treatment, such as wasting, fatigue, depression, neuropathic pain, cognitive impairment and sleep disorders
• Among all nutrients, curcumin has the most evidence-based literature supporting its use against cancer. Researchers have found that curcumin can affect more than 100 different pathways, once it gets into a cell
• Epigenetic regulation
constitutes an important mechanism by which dietary components can selectively activate or inactivate gene expression. Both curcumin and resveratrol induce epigenetic changes

Source -- Click to read more:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/05/16/antioxidant-resveratrol-on-cancer.aspx


Disclaimer: The statements regarding the nutritional and medicinal properties of the various foods have not  been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These items are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please consult your own physician for guidance regarding your health and nutrition.

Related articles

• Make Mincemeat of Cancer Cells With This Breakthrough Spice (articles.mercola.com)
• Like curry? New biological role identified for compound used in ancient medicine (earthsky.org)

Chocolate Chai Smoothie!

There is nothing like Chocolate to make you feel really good! Okay, okay -- there may be other things that can make one feel good but for me I am in heaven when I have chocolate!


David Wolfe's Chocolate Smoothie: I decided to try David Adocado Wolfe's "Chocolate Smoothie". My first attempt at making David's version was a major disaster! The chocolate did not blend at all and the cashew nuts were all chunky. It was a total mess and not a very good experience. However, I am not one for following any recipe wholesale so I decided to retry David's recipe using my own approach and my unique twist on things -- so here goes!


My Approach: First, I broke up and melted the block of chocolate in warmed up Coconut Milk and Almond Milk with Vanilla Extract. This worked out great! I stirred in the spices and chocolate powder, and poured the melted chocolate and spice mixture into the blender with the bananas, yogurt, ginger, honey and aloe vera gel. I then blended all the ingredients into a smoothie. The result was wonderful! One of the best smoothies I have ever had! The "Chai" effect comes from the spices.


One can actually make ice cream or sherbert out of any smoothie. If you freeze the fruits before making the smoothie, you will get a soft-serve or sherbert type smoothie. Just experiment to find out what works best for you.


Here is the recipe for my Chocolate Chai Smoothie:


Ingredients
1/2 cup Coconut Milk
1/2 cup Almond Milk
1/2 cup Nonfat Yogurt
2 peeled Bananas (cut into large slices)
1/4 cup Aloe Vera Gel or 4in piece of freshly peeled Aloe Vera fillet
3/4 oz solid Dark Chocolate (70% or more cocoa or cacao)
2 tablespoons Cocoa or Cacao Powder
1 or 2 tablespoons Honey (optional to taste)
1 tablespoon freshly peeled and chopped Ginger
1 teaspoon freshly cracked Black Pepper
1/2 teaspoon powdered Cayenne Pepper
1 teaspoon Turmeric (optional)
4 pods green Cardamom (optional -- crack open the pods and remove the seeds)
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1/4 teaspoon Sea Salt (optional)


Alternative ingredients when not using Coconut or Almond Milk
(Coconut and Almond Milk are good for people that are lactose intolerant):
1 cup Non-fat or Low Fat Milk or Soy Milk
1 tablespoon melted Organic Coconut Oil
1/4 cup Roasted Cashew Nuts (add when using a blender, such as Vita Mix, with powerful blades)
1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt (to taste)


Tools
Blender
Measuring Cup
Small glass or metal mixing bowl
Small glass container (for melting Coconut Oil)
Cutting board
Chef's Knife
Measuring spoons


Steps
1. Break up and place the block of dark chocolate into the mixing bowl.
2. Warm up the Almond Milk, Coconut Milk and Vanilla Extract and pour the warm milk into the mixing bowl with the chocolate chunks. (If you are using a Microwave to warm up Coconut and Almond Milk just add the milk in a glass bowl with the chocolate. Be sure to use a low heat setting such as "Defrost" or microwave for just one minute until the milk is warm. Do not boil the milk! The purpose of the Smoothie is to get the beneficial properties of the ingredients. Microwaving or heating the milk at a high temperature will destroy the beneficial properties so just take your time!)
3. Gently stir the warm milk and the chocolate chunks until all the chocolate is melted.
4. Add the powdered chocolate and all the spices and stir until thoroughly mixed.
4. Add the sliced bananas, ginger, cardamon, yogurt, honey and aloe vera gel to the blender
5. Pour the melted chocolate and spice mixture into the blender and blend all the ingredients into a smoothie. (Start the blender on "Stir" or "Mix" and then increase the speed!)
6. Serve the "Chocolate Chai Smoothie" in a tall glass! Enjoy!


(You can pour any remaining "Chocolate Chai Smoothie" into a Thermos-style "BPA-Free" flask and store in the fridge for a snack later or the next day. Do not keep smoothies in the fridge for more than one day!)


Notes:


1. Aloe Vera: If using fresh Aloe Vera fillet, be sure that it is "Aloe Vera Barbadensis Miller" and remove all the skin since the skin has laxative properties. You can freeze the remaining aloe vera fillet and use it in another smoothie as soon as possible. I am growing my own Aloe Vera plant so I can use the fresh fillet but I have a full-grown plant, I am using the Lily of the Valley Certified Organic Aloe Vera Gel which I obtain from a Super Supplement store or Pharmaca. I particularly like Pharmaca because there are trained Naturopathic specialists that were trained at Bastyr University that can discuss supplements in an intelligent way.




Disclaimer: The statements regarding the nutritional and medicinal properties of the various foods have not not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These items are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please consult your own physician for guidance regarding your health and nutrition.

Kimchi or Kimchee -- one of the best ways to eat raw vegetables!

Kimchee: I love Korean food and particularly "Kimchi" or "Kimchee" -- a Korean delicacy which is just raw vegetables pickled in brine, spices, chiles, ginger and garlic. Although I had been to Korean restaurants in California, I developed my love of Kimchee from eating the Kimchee served at the "Bento Box" which was my favorite Japanese/Korean Restaurant located in the Overlake Shopping Center in Redmond, WA.


Bento Box: When I first moved from California to Washington and I was studying for the CFA exam, I had to study in the Seattle University Library after work until the Library closed at 9:00 pm. I would get to Eatside and Bellevue, where I then lived, very late at night and often too tired to cook!


Eventually, I discovered the "Bento Box Restaurant" -- a small local restaurant which was then owned by a young Korean couple who had moved from California to Washington the year before I arrived in Washington. The husband had worked for a Japanese restaurant in California. When they moved to Washington they purchased the restaurant and decided to serve Japanese/Korean food. The food was fresh and most items were made from scratch. Their Kimchee was the best Kimchee I had ever had! It did not come from a bottle -- it was made from scratch so you could really taste the ingredients! Their Gyoza (steamed and fried pork dumplings or pot stickers) were also made from scratch and very flavorful!


For almost three years until I completed the CFA exams, the Korean couple literally fed me! They became like family to me. I would show up late just before they closed at 10:00 pm. The husband would fire up the grill and cook my favorite "Spicy Chicken" and I would get a generous helping of Kimchee and Miso Soup! The meal was often enough to last for two days!


Cabbage: I know it is good to eat vegetables raw but sometimes it is a bit too much for one's stomach to digest and can result in gas. I know that raw Cabbage both green and red is really good and has medicinal properties; however, it is hard to eat raw cabbage. The options for preparing cabbage are boiling, steaming, stir fry, coleslaw (salad), or pickled such as Kimchee or Sauerkraut (a German delicacy).


Coleslaw: I love Coleslaw (raw cabbage, carrots, apple, fennel, onions or scallion with a creamy and vinegary mayonnaise dressing) but I don't like the calories. One can always make a lower calorie version with less mayonnaise and more Dijon Mustard.


Sauerkraut: I also love Sauerkraut which is another form of preserving cabbage. One can also make Sauerkraut from scratch using a lacto-fermentation process that involves the cultivation of beneficial bacteria. If you don't do it properly and it does not go well it can be bad for you.


Making Kimchee: I particularly love Kimchee because it involves the use of vinegar and one can get the Kimchee flavor without the fermentation process! Now when I crave Kimchee, I no longer go to my favorite Korean restaurant for my fill of the spicy Kimchee because I have learned how to make Kimchee from scratch.


I use fresh Red Thai Chiles in my Kimchee. I purchase the Thai Chiles from an Asian Food store and I freeze the fresh Thai Chiles for use as needed. Thai Chiles also have medicinal properties.


I don't ferment the Kimchee that I make at home because I don't want to risk breeding bacteria. I make a fresh batch and put it in glass bottles (such as "Mason Jars"*) with tight lids and place the Kimchee in the fridge immediately. The next day -- my homemade Kimchee is ready to enjoy with grilled chicken, turkey or fish.


All of the ingredients used for making Kimchee have beneficial medicinal properties that is why it is so good for you. (Please note that I use Turmeric and Cardamom in my food because of their medicinal properties. You can omit these spices, if you don't have them but you should consider adding beneficial spices and herbs to your food.)


Here is the recipe for homemade Kimchee:


Ingredients
1 medium Cabbage or "Napa or Chinese Cabbage" (cut lengthwise in four and julienned)
(Other Option: 2 medium Cucumbers cut into two and sliced)
(Optional: 2 medium or large Carrots peeled and juliiened)
1/2 medium Onion or 3 medium Green Onions or Scallions (sliced or julienned)
1/4 cup chopped or grated fresh Ginger
2 or 3 cloves Garlic (sliced or chopped)
1/2 cup Seasoned Rice Vinegar (or Apple Cider Vinegar)
2 teaspoons Sea Salt
5 to 10 Red Thai Chiles (chopped or blended -- quantity depends on your taste)
Few drops of Sesame Oil (optional and to taste)
4 to 6 pods green Cardamom (optional)
1 tablespoon Turmeric (optional)


Tools
Medium Glass or Ceramic Mixing Bowl
Small mixing bowl (optional)
Blender (optional)
Cutting board
Chef's knife
Sanitized Mason Jars (sanitize in boiling water and drain)
Spoon


Steps
1. Place the Rice Vinegar, Sea Salt, Thai Chiles, Sesame Oil, and other spices in the small mixing bowl or blender and blend or mix.
2. Place the cabbage, ginger, garlic, onion or scallion and other vegetables in the large mixing bowl.
3. Pour the vinegar mixture over the vegetables and use a spoon to thoroughly coat the vegetables.
4. Add more salt to taste, if necessary.
5. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the vegetables rest for about one or two hours until slightly wilted.
6. Spoon the vegetable mix into the Mason Jars, cover with a tight lid, and place in the fridge.
7. The next day, you can enjoy your homemade Kimchee by itself as a snack or with grilled chicken, turkey or fish.


Please try my homemade Kimchee recipe and let me know how much you enjoyed it!

Note:
*Mason Jars: do not spend money purchasing "Mason Jars". Save glass bottles such as spaghetti and jam bottles and reuse. If you shop at "Trader Joe's", most of the glass bottles they use for products such their "Marinara" or spaghetti sauces are Mason Jars. Do not throw them out. You can reuse them for pickling and storing vegetables in the fridge or freezing vegetables, meat and fish.




Disclaimer: The statements regarding the nutritional and medicinal properties of the various foods have not not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These items are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please consult your own physician for guidance regarding your health and nutrition.

Turmeric | Organic Turmeric Supplement - Mercola.com

Turmeric | Organic Turmeric Supplement - Mercola.com


Just need to add this -- I purchase turmeric and other spices from an Indian food store. You can purchase spices from your local grocery store ethnic food stores. Just be sure that the spices have not been on the shelf for a long time as they do lost their potency after a while. Also, be sure that you are purchasing a reputable brand or that the source is reputable to minimize the risk of purchasing a product that may have been contaminated or diluted with other substances.




Disclaimer: The statements regarding the nutritional and medicinal properties of the various foods have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These items are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please consult your own physician for guidance regarding your health and nutrition.