February 14, 2024

Most chocolate is grown on the west coast of Africa. But small batches of chocolate also come from the jungles of Peru. And the difference is astounding. Peruvian cacao is not only sweet like regular milk chocolate…It’s also one of the healthiest and highest antioxidant foods on the planet.

• Being 12x healthier than blueberries…
• 15x better than kale…
• And 37x healthier than even broccoli. (based on ORAC antioxidant levels)

This delicious chocolatey gift has been the food of emperors for nearly 2,000 years. And the growing process was finally perfected during the late Incan empire.
Which is what gives us this unique Peruvian chocolate that not only tastes delicious, but can also…

• Promote healthy and stable blood sugar
• Reduce free radicals & fight inflammation, thereby slowing down aging in the body
• Make you fall asleep faster and STAY asleep through the night
• Even help prevent brain aging
• And even contains compounds known to improve your mood

One of the most nutritionally complex foods on the planet, Cacao, is also a great source of magnesium, dietary fiber, calcium, zinc, iron and potassium. It is great with smoothies/drinks, cereals, yogurt, oatmeal, baked goods, cookies, ice-cream, trail mix, granola bars, coffee, snack foods, or as a fantastic chocolate chip substitute in any recipe for a tasty and fun meal! It tastes great with Coconut or Almond milk!

February 7, 2024

Chicory coffee is an aromatic and healthy drink that can be made at home. Chicory has many valuable properties and is used as a natural substitute for coffee. It is rich in vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that have a beneficial effect on our health.

To make chicory coffee, you will need:

• Ground chicory – 2 teaspoons.
• Water – 1 cup.
• Milk to taste.
• Sugar to taste.

First of all, heat the water in a saucepan or kettle to a boil. Then add the chicory to the hot water and mix thoroughly. Place the saucepan over low heat and bring to a boil. After that, remove from heat, cover and let steep for 5-10 minutes.

While the drink is steeping, you can prepare a cup. Add milk and sugar to the cup according to your taste. Using a beater or spoon, whisk the milk with the sugar until foamy. Set aside.

Once the chicory has been infused, strain the drink through a sieve or coffee filter. This way, you will get rid of the sediment and get a smooth and rich taste of coffee.

Pour the finished chicory into a cup, add the whipped milk with the sugar and stir gently.

Chicory coffee is ready! You can enjoy the aroma and taste of this healthy drink at any time of the day.

Instructions for making chicory coffee at home

To make chicory coffee, you will need the following ingredients:

• Chicory (ground)                            2 teaspoons
• Boiling water                                   200 ml
• Sugar or sweetener (to taste)    optional
• Milk or cream (optional)               according to your taste

Instruction:

1. Boil water in a kettle or saucepan.
2. Put the chicory in a coffee cup or mug.
3. Pour boiling water over the chicory and stir to combine.
4. Let the coffee steep for 5-7 minutes.
5. If you want to add sugar or sweetener, do it now and stir again.
6. If desired, add milk or cream for a richer flavor.
7. Your chicory coffee is ready to drink!

You can enjoy your chicory coffee at any time of the day. Try adding a little cinnamon or vanilla to give the drink new flavors. Now you know how easy and quick it is to make delicious and aromatic chicory coffee at home!

Choosing the right chicory plays an important role in making delicious and aromatic coffee. Chicory can be bought in the store in powder or granule form. There are several factors to consider when choosing chicory.

February 1, 2024

A characteristic feature of rose tea is the presence of a very bright rich aroma and a unique taste. At the same time, its beneficial effect on human body should not be underestimated. In ancient times, doctors prescribed this healing drink to restore the performance of the heart and brain function.

Rose petal tea has many healing properties:

• It is used as an antiviral agent and kills bacteria;
• It is used as a disinfectant, and recommended for respiratory problems, flu and colds;
• It can be used as an adjuvant for inflammation and stomatitis;
• It can relieve pain and spasms in the stomach and intestine;
• It can be taken for blues and depression relief;
• It removes toxins from the human body;
• In case of eye inflammation, in particular conjunctivitis, lotions can be applied.
• It helps insomnia and has a beneficial effect on the intestinal microflora.
• It reduces pain during menstruation and helps regulate the menstrual cycle in women.

From rose petals, our body can obtain such important substances as:

▪ Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant;

▪ Zinc – for healthy hair, nails and skin;

▪ Iron – for hemoglobin;

▪ Magnesium – for the functioning of the heart and nervous system;

▪ Chromium is a carbohydrate breakdown.

There has been no decisive treatment for Multiple Sclerosi yet. The use of herbal medicines in Multiple Sclerosis  patients has increased dramatically over the past decade. Treatment with medicinal herbs has been shown useful for treating various disorders since ancient times. Previous studies have suggested that herbal remedies have many therapeutic effects on various disorders, including cancer, diabetes, and neurogenic diseases.

Ginger or Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Zingiberaceae) is a routinely used spice. Also, it has been recommended for the treatment of various illnesses in traditional Asian medicine, such as stomach ache, nausea and diarrhea, and joint and muscle pain. The ginger extract also has antioxidant neuroprotective and anxiolytic effects. It contains over 400 different types of compounds; however, the greatest healing effect of ginger is due to its gingerols, shogaols, zingerone, and paradols. Ginger and some of its derivatives can be used to treat some autoimmune disorders, such as Multiple Sclerosis.

January 18, 2024

Microorganisms cause various infections and diseases in the human body and are largely pervasive in the nature of contamination, directly or indirectly leading to the transmission of infectious agents. A considerable number of bacterial species have been identified as inhabitants of the oral cavity. Infection control is a major topic of interest in both medical and dental healthcare settings. Although there are many procedures for sterilizing or disinfecting endodontic instruments, they still have some shortcomings. Herbal products have been used in folk medicine since ancient times, spanning both Eastern and Western healing traditions. According to the World Health Organization, herbal medicine is considered a plant material or preparation that consists of raw or processed components from one or more plants with therapeutic values. The presence of phenolic compounds attributed to the antimicrobial activity of several essential oils. Two of my favorite essential oils to support oral health and cleanliness are tea tree and myrrh. A recent laboratory study showed that tea tree essential oil significantly reduces endodontic bacterial colonies, suggesting it helps promote oral cleanliness.

January 14, 2024

Essential oils have been used in different cultures around the world since ancient times. Since they demonstrate a range of biological activities, such as antiparasitic, antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antiaging, and neuroprotective properties, they are used in traditional and complimentary medicines, aromatherapy, massage therapies, cosmetics, perfumes and food industries. Approximately seventy recent studies were selected to report the outcomes such as antistress, antianxiety, analgesic, cognitive, and autonomic effects. Thus according to these studies essential oils showed promising effects on the nervous system, which can be further applied to their use in functional foods, drinks, and alternative therapy.

January 13, 2023

Hypertension is one of the most dangerous diseases. However, medicine for hypertension may cause adverse effects. Thus, alternative treatments may be beneficial to patients.

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils for therapy.The odorant molecule of an essential oil binds the receptor and sends a signal to the brain, which is the center controlling body function. Aromatherapy has advantages for both physical and mental health, such as pain relief, insomnia and anxiety reduction, immune function enhancement, and hypertension improvement.  Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and ylang ylang (Cananga odorata) are fragrant plants. The major components of lavender oil are linalool and linalyl acetate, while linalool is the major component of ylang ylang oil. These substances affect the central nervous system, resulting in relaxation and stress reduction  and have a positive association with hypertension therapy.

January 5, 2023

Cinnamon from the bark of Cinnamomum species is one of the most important spices used worldwide in food and as a traditional medicine for centuries. It has substantial benefits for human health including its protective role on cardiovascular diseases. The genus Cinnamomum is widely distributed in the world, with around 250 known species and the main species of commercially cultivated cinnamon are Cinnamomum verum (Ceylon Cinnamon), Cinnamomum burmannii (Korintje Cinnamon), Cinnamomum cassia (Saigon Cinnamon) and Cinnamomum loureiroi (Royal Cinnamon). Ethnobotanical reports state that the most consumed part of the plant is the bark. The main constituents of cinnamon are cinnamaldehyde and trans-cinnamaldehyde that are present in the essential oil. These compounds besides contributing to the cinnamon fragrance have biological properties.

December 25, 2023

Oral candidiasis is an opportunistic infection that affects the oral mucosa; the majority of cases are caused by Candida albicans yeast. It causes creamy white lesions to form on the tongue and inner cheeks and may spread to other areas of the oral cavity. Although, C. albicans is normally found in the mouth, people with compromised immune systems (babies, the elderly, and people who take certain medications or have certain conditions) may experience overgrowth of the fungus causing candidiasis.

November 25, 2023

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that is considered to be a major cause of dementia due to the increasing ageing of the population worldwide. It is a disease that severely affects patients’ daily activities, which has a significant impact on society (i.e., families, communities, and healthcare systems). According to estimates from WHO, more than 55 million people are living with dementia, and this number is expected to triple worldwide by 2050. The etiology of cognitive and memory impairment is still not fully understood. What is known so far about the pathogenesis of this disease includes several different causes leading to neurodegeneration, which follow each other and are closely linked.

Essential oils are complex mixtures of volatile compounds obtained from a single plant species via steam distillation, dry distillation, or mechanical processes. They are best known for their use in flavours, fragrances, and cosmetics, but have traditionally been used for many other purposes, including religious ceremonies and as therapeutic agents. Their traditional use has led to increasing attention being paid to their biological activity, including their activity at the level of the central nervous system.