ecoPharmacist



browse by topic

green tea

Fatigue Fighters

Do you ever hit 2 or 3pm in the afternoon and you feel exhausted? What do you reach for as your fatigue fighter? Hopefully it is not a sugary energy drink! The occasional afternoon drag can hit me, so I have looked into some natural fatigue fighters, and I have to say I quite enjoy them!

 

Lemons give your body a natural boost just by smelling them! Add them to your water and get the scent and alkaline boost your body needs!

 

Goji Berries are a great source of energy if you’re anemic.  Goji berries are rich in both fiber and red blood cell boosting iron.

 

Yogurt contains an amino acid called Tyrosine which helps fight fatigue and boosts blood levels of dopamine and norepinephrine, resulting in a mood and mental boost.

 

Nuts are a good snack as they are rich in protein and Omega-3 fatty acids that help you think more clearly and keep you focused. Omega-3 fats are especially fluid and flexible help maximize the brain cell’s ability to absorb nutrients and eliminate wastes. Walnuts contain Omega-3.

 

Peppermint has an invigorating aroma that helps you stay focused and alert thus boosting mental performance. Peppermint oil, peppermint tea,  and peppermint gum are all good options.

 

Pineapple is full of vitamin C and will help you fight fatigue by stimulating the norepinephrine in your brain. Norepinephrine is a key hormone in the flight or fight response that helps keep you alert and energized.

 

Sunflower Seeds have a huge energy boosting capacity and are loaded with protein, iron, B vitamins, copper and magnesium.

 

Green Tea gives a perky energetic boost plus it is full of antioxidants.

 

Just plain old water can do the trick too! If you are dehydrated your cells will receive nutrients less efficiently leading to fatigue. You can increase your water intake in the form of water rich fruits, fruit juices, soups, herbal tea…

 

And that is my list of natural ways to boost that afternoon drag…my favorite fatigue fighters!

 

 

 

Posted in Food, Health & Wellness | September 5 th , 2015 | 0 Comments

9 Foods To Fight Inflammation & Boost Your Mood

A recent article in MindBodyGreen, was very eye catching to me. The article discusses 9 Foods To Fight Inflammation And Boost Your MoodUsing food as medicine is a passion of mine. Using food to relieve your ailments is powerful. The following is directly from the MindBodyGreen article and is worth the read. Empower yourself, heal yourself, through the food you eat!

 

Foods have a marked impact on our moods, but too many times when we’re struggling to get through the day, we reach for the very snacks that only bring us down: sweets, refined carbohydrates and other processed foods.

When you eat unhealthy junk foods, you set in motion a silent, chronic inflammation that wreaks havoc on your body. Not only does that affect your physical health, but it also impacts your overall mood.

While unhealthy foods can promote a negative outlook, the good news is that healthier options can also produce a positive one.

By adding these nine mood-boosting foods into your diet, you’ll reduce low-level inflammation throughout your body, and help transform a down day into a happy one:

 

1. Yogurt

Studies show that yogurt can increase levels of serotonin, the “feel-good” neurotransmitter, making it a tasty way to help fight depression.

Plus, cultured and fermented foods promote good gut health. That’s critical since the gut is where most of the body’s serotonin is found.

Other fermented foods to add to your shopping list: kefir, sauerkraut, pickles and kimchee. Besides boosting your mood, they’ll also add beneficial bacteria that protect the lining of the gut and prevent inflammation throughout the body.

 

2. Turkey

Thanks to its higher levels of a chemical called tryptophan and the mineral selenium, turkey has an edge over other types of poultry. The tryptophan triggers serotonin, while the anti-inflammatory selenium helps to fight depression.

 

3. Asparagus

This summer staple is a particularly rich source of folic acid, a natural mood booster. The high levels of folate in asparagus also help to alleviate symptoms of mild depression, like lack of energy and foggy thinking. For a happy snack, try dipping spears in Greek yogurt or sour cream, which are dense in calming calcium.

 

4. Dark, leafy greens

Dark, leafy greens — think spinach, kale or collard greens — are high in mood-boosting magnesium, which creates a feeling of calm and plays a large role in the development of serotonin. Add a kale or spinach salad to your daily diet to help beat stress and depression.

 

5. Roasted cherry tomatoes

Hiding in the colorful skin of tomatoes is the phytonutrient lycopene, whichhelps prevent inflammatory compounds linked to depression. Why cherry tomatoes? Since they’re smaller in size, you’ll eat more of that skin that packs a powerful anti-inflammatory punch. You’ll also want to roast them: studies have shown that cooking tomatoes first can actually up the total amount of lycopene your body receives.

 

6. Wild salmon

Omega-3 fat offers a powerful protection against depression, and salmon is stuffed with it. These fats also help to reverse low-level inflammation throughout the body, including the brain. Though the brain is rich in omega-3 fats, the body can’t make its own, so getting this fat from the food you eat is essential.

 

7. Dark chocolate

Research has shown that dark cocoa powder can help keep bad moods in check — not to mention improve cognition and boost brain power. Enjoy 1.5 ounces of 70% dark chocolate daily to cut down on the stress hormone cortisol, as well as pro-inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein.

 

8. Green tea

Green tea contains the compound theanine, an amino acid that helps reduce stress and relaxes tense muscles. Plus, green tea also offers anti-inflammatory properties and revs up metabolism.

 

9. Chickpeas

Chickpeas are brimming with the nutrients tryptophan, folate and vitamin B6 — all of which help boost mood and reduce inflammation. For a delicious, happy hummus tip, use chickpeas and tahini, which is high in stress-reducing magnesium.

 

All links in this article are avenues to explore even more great MindBodyGreen articles packed full of  healthy advice. Make food a powerful tool and enjoy it while doing so!

 

 

Posted in Food | July 16 th , 2015 | 0 Comments

Foods That Cleanse The Body: Green Tea

Foods That Cleanse The Body: Green Tea

 

Enjoying several daily cups of green tea, have great health benefits. Green tea is an antioxidant and has antiviral properties. Those important antioxidant properties are what green tea uses to protect your body against certain types of cancer, like colon, prostate and breast cancer. Drinking green tea daily with each meal, allows for daily detoxification as well as health and beauty improvements. The low levels of caffeine in green tea can give your brain that little boost it needs to perform well, without getting jittery. Not only can green tea help with brain function short term, it is thought to help protect against neurodegenerative diseases, like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. Compounds found in green tea protect the brain neurons, reducing the risk of developing one of those diseases.

 

The antiviral properties of green tea are thought to protect your teeth against plaque, and bacteria, which can reduce cavities. Adding this protection along with the antioxidant powers of green tea, your heart gets an extra health boost as well. Cholesterol levels are reduced by liver detoxification, with daily intakes of green tea, thus lowering your risks for cardiovascular disease.

 

With all of these great health benefits, improving your health and beauty could be as easy as drinking a cup of green tea with each meal. Sounds delicious to me!

 

 

Posted in Food | February 5 th , 2015 | 0 Comments



Prevention is better than a cure. - Dutch Proverb

Copyright 2022 ecoPharmacist®. All rights Reserved.

Information on this site is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing or using any medication or other treatment.

Privacy Policy