Carrot - A true medicinal food

Foods for the Eyes

Carrot

A true medicinal food
French: Carotte; Spanish: Zanahoria
Description: Root of the carrot plant ('Daucus carota' L), a herb of the family Umbelliferae that reaches up to one meter in height. It is usually orange in color, although there are varieties purple or yellow.

Carrots, together with alfalfa greens, are the food richest in provitamin A, which makes them a true dietary medicine. In the Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants its medicinal properties are explained in greater detail.

Properties and Indications: carrots contain a small but significant amount of protiens (1.03%), approximately half of that of the potato. Fats are almost completely absent (0.19%), and carbohydrates make up 7.14% of their weight. They are a rather good source of B group vitamins, as well as vitamins C and E. All minerals and trace elements are present, including iron (0.5mg/100g)

Three substances stand out in the composition of carrots:
Carotenoids, among the most notable of which is beta-carotene, which the body transforms into vitamin A. Carotenoids are essential for the proper functioning of the retina, particularly for night vision or in low light situations. They also help maintain the skin and mucosa in good condition.
Vegetable fiber: Carrots contain about 3%, most of which is in the form of pectin. This helps regulate the transit of stool and soothes the intestinal mucosa.
Essential oil: This is active against intestinal parasites.
Carrots are very useful in diseases of the retina and of the eyes in general, skin disorders, gastritis, excess of gastric acid, colitis, and in the prevention of cancer

Preparation and use
(1)Raw: In salads, whole or grated and dressed with lemon juice. Carrots strengthen children's teeth.
(2)Cooked: Carrots combine well with potatoes and other vegetables. They are sweeter when cooked. They maintain their betacarotene content after cooking.
(3)Juice: Carrot juice makes a freshing, delicious, and nutritious beverage. It combines very well with apple juice or lemon juice.

One hundred grams of carrots (about one medium sized carrot) provide enough betacarotene for the body to produce almost three times the vitamin A needed daily by an adult.  

FOODS FOR THE NERVOUS SYSTEM (Nervousness)

Nervousness
Definition
The nervous systems reacts disproportionately to what would be considered normal stimuli when in an excited or irritated state.
Causes
All drugs act on the nervous system and produce nervousness or aggravate it. However, in some cases they may give the impression that they provide momentary relief, although their negative effect soon reappears even more strongly. Tobacco, alcoholic beverages, coffee, or other stimulant beverages are the most common causes of nervousness and imbalance in the nervous system.
Treatment
In addition to the foods recommended here for nervousness, there are healthy habits that help combat it:
-Eat a good breakfast to avoid hypoglycemia (lack of sugar in the blood) that usually manifests itself midmorning, which can produce nervousness and irritability.
-Eat at regular hours to avoid abrupt drops in blood glucose levels.
-Get sufficient sleep on a regular basis.
-Exercise regularly, particularly walking or hiking.

Increase                                 Reduce or eliminate
OATS                                                     STIMULANT BEVERAGES
WHEAT GERM                                         ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
SUNFLOWER SEEDS                                WHITE SUGAR
BRAZIL NUT
WALNUT
LETTUCE
AVOCADO
CASHEW
GREEN PEA
PASSION FRUIT
APRICOT
POLLEN   

Even though the sedating action of the passion fruit is much milder than the flowers and leaves of its botanical cousin, the passion flower, it can be quite effective.

Spinach In addition to providing strength to muscles, it protects the retina

Foods for the eyes
Spinach

In addition to providing strength to muscles, it protects the retina
French: Epinard; Spanish: Espinaca
Description: Spinach ('Spinacia oleracea' L.) is a herbaceous plant of the botanical family Chenopodiaceae.

Popeye, the famous cartoon soilor, owed his great strength to eating spinach. Today, both clinical and laboratory investigations confirm that Popeye was correct in eating so much spinach for strength. Besides, new diet therapy applications have been discovered for this excellent vegetable, such as its protective properties concerning the retina and vision.

PROPERTIES AND INDICATIONS: Spinach is possibly the highest nutritious green leafy vegetable known, although it only contains 22 calories per 100 grams. Its protein content is quite high for a green (2.86%), but it contains little carbohydrates (0.8%) and fats (0.35%).
The nutritive power of spinach derives from its richness in vitamins and minerals, as 100g of spinach provides:
-two thirds (672 µg RE) of the daily need for vitamin A (1,000 µg RE), 
-practically all (194  µg) of folic acid or folates needed daily (200  µg ),
-half of the vitamin C (28.1 mg) needed daily (60 mg),
-almost one-fourth (79 mg)of the daily requirement for magnesium (350 mg),
-more than one-fourth (2.71 mg) of the daily need for iron (10 mg).

These are some of its important applications:
-Retinal disorders: A very precise investigation carried out at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and at Harvard University (USA)4 shows that persons between 55 and 80 years of age who regularly eat spinach present a much lower risk of losing visual acuity due to macular degeneration.

Regular consumption of spinach is recommended to all who wish to preserve sight, particularly
those over the age of 50.

-Anemia: Spinach contains 2.71 mg of iron /100 g, a proportion greater than that found in meat. Although iron from plant sources is more difficult to absorb than that from animal sources, the presence of vitamin C from the spinach itself and from other foods, significantly improves the assimilation of this mineral.
Fresh spinach juice is an effective way to consume it in cases of anemia.
-Elevated choresterol level: Experiments with animals have shown that spinach proteins inhibit the absorption of choresterol and bile acids. Its regular use aids in reducing blood cholesterol level.
-Pregnancy: Because of its rich folic acid or folate content, (194 µg/100 g), which prevents certain fetal malformations, in addition to its antianemic action, spinach is an ideal green for pregnant women. 
-Physical activity and growth: Because of its rich vitamin and mineral content, spinach is highly recommended for those engaged in physical activities such as athletes and adolescents during periods of rapid growth.

PREPARATION AND USE
(1)Raw: When spinach is tender, it may be eaten in salads.
(2)Frozen: Frozen spinach loses a small portion of its vitamin C, but it has the advantage of being available year-round.
(3)Cooked: The ideal method is steaming, which preserves most  of its vitamins and minerals. 
(4)Fresh juice: One-half glass a day sipped before lunch or supper is the recommened dose. 

Spinach is very rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, two carotenoids that prevent vision loss because of degeneration of the macula, the most sensitive point of the retina. This disorder is the most common cause of blindness among the elderly. Spinach is even more effective than carrots in the prevention of senile macular degeneration. 

Apricot gives sparkle and beauty to the eyes

Apricot
Gives sparkle and beauty to the eyes
Synonym: Apricock.
French: Abricot; Spanish: Albaricoque, damasco.

Description: Fruit of the apricot tree ('Prunus armeniaca'L.) from the botanical family Rosaceae. The tree may reach a height of ten meters.

The Apricot Tree is famous for being one of the most traveled trees known. Its origin is in the north of China, where it is still found wild.
It was taken to Greece by Alexander the Great on the return from his conquests in India. From Greece it passed to Rome, from where its cultivation spread throughout the Mediterranean region. In the 18th century it was taken to North America, where it acclimated to California and states along the Misissippi River. And its long journey does not end here. American astronauts took it to the moon on one of their space journeys.
PROPERTIES AND INDICATIONS: The fact that the apricot has a low calorie content (about 48 kcal/100g) makes it an excellent part of weight-loss diets. It has an alkalizing effect because of its richness in alkaline mineral salts. It is particularly noted for its low sodium content and its high levels of potassium. It contains various trace elements of great physiological importance, such as manganese, flourine, cobalt, and boron. It is rich in sugars (fructose and glucose).
Dried apricots are an important source of protein (up to 5%). They also are an important source of iron, one of their principal minerals.
However, the most important component of apricots, whether fresh or dried, is betacarotene or provitamin A. This component provides most of its therapeutic value, which are the following:
-Diseases of the eye: Consumption of apricots maintains vision in good condition and gives the sparkle and beauty to the eyes that are characteristic of good health. This is not due exclusively to the action of provitamin A, but also to the combined action of other vitamins and minerals that accompany it.
Apricots are recommended in cases of conjunctival dryness, chronic irritation or itching of the conjunctiva, loss of visual acuity due to retinal atrophy, and night blindness.
The best results are obtained by following an apricot treatment regime.
-Anemia (due to lack iron): The iron content of fresh apricots is not significant, where as it is in the dried fruit.
The amount of provitamin A and iron found in apricots are actually quite small compared to the large doses that pharmaceutical preparations may contain. In spite of this, the results obtained from regular consumption of this fruit are superior to those to be expected from their content of iron and provitamin A.
-Disorders of the skin and mucosa, due to their content of provitamin A. Apricots increase resistance to infections. They are recommended for chronic pharyngitis, sinusitis, and eczema.
-Nervous disorders: Dr.Valnet points out the apricot's properties of maintaining equilibrium within the nervous system and recommends it in cases of asthenia, depression, nervousness, and lack of appetite. These effects are attributed to the apricot's richness in trace elements.

Preparation and use
(1)Fresh and ripe.
(2)Dried.
(3)Preserves: compotes and marmalade.
(4)Apricot treatment: This is carried out over the course of 15 days by eating 1/2 kilo (one pound) of ripe apricots a day, preferably as the only dish at supper. They may be eaten with toasted bread.




Besides being delicious, dried apricots are a good source of provitamin A because of their richness in beta-carotene.

Cashew very rich in magnesium

Foods For The Nervous System

Cashew


Synonyms: Cashew apple, Cashew fruit Cashew nut.
French: Anacarde, pomme de cajou
Spanish: Anacardo.
Desription: This is the seed of the fruit of the cashew tree ('Anacardium occidentale'L) a tree
of the botanical family Anacardiaceae that reaches 9 to 12 meters in height.

Very rich in magnesium
The cashew is one of the most highly prized of nuts. The fact that it is produced in tropical climates only increases its value and attractiveness.
PROPERTIES AND INDICATIONS: Cashews are an oil-bearing nut with a sweet, pleasant taste. They are rich in unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic and linoleic; in vitamins such as B1, B2, in pantothenic acid; and in minerals such as magnesium (260mg/100g), potassium, iron and phosphorous.
It is noted for its magnesium content, one of the highest in the vegetable kingdom, surpassed only by sunflower seeds (354mg/100g). Meat, milk and eggs are poor in magnesium, none exceeding 24mg/100g.
MAGNESIUM is involved in a variety of metabolic functions, but particularly the transmission of nerve impulses. Its lack produces nervousness and irritability, and even cramps and spasms. Since the cashew is very rich in magnesium as well as vitamins B1 and B2 (superior to almond and walnut)  which are also essential for nervous stability, its use is recommended in cases of:
-Nervousness, irritability, depression, weakness and abnormal tiredness.
-Spasms in hollow organs: the colon (irritable bowel), the uterus (dysmenorrhea), or the coronary arteries (angina pectoris)
Cashews are rich in group-B vitamins, as well as in magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc. All these nutrients are essential for the proper operation of the nervous system.

PREPARATION AND USE
(1)Roasted nut: these are eaten with or without salt, much like peanuts or any other nut.
(2)Fleshy fruit: (the stalk on which the nut grows): This fleshly, somewhat sour stalk is eaten fresh, in compote, marmalade, or juice. The juice must be drunk immediately since it is difficult to preserve.

ALMOND MILK..Food for the nervous system

ALMOND MILK

Almond milk is very nutritious and delicately flavored beverage whose richness in proteins and minerals is comparable to cow's milk.

Almond Milk is particularly suggested in the following cases:

- Intolerance of cow's milk generally caused by lactose intolerance (milk sugar).
- Infantile eczema and diarrhea: Cow's milk is responsible for a large number of cases of infantile allergies manifested by eczema and skin rashes. Dr. Bircher-Benner, a classic of the German school of natural medicine, popularized a treatment based on almond milk for infants and children with cutaneous and atopic allergies, with very good results.

In the same manner, serious infantile diarrhea, intestinal disorders,flatulence, and other  digestive ailments,respond well to almond milk in place of cow's milk.

-Excess blood cholestrol: Almond milk contains no cholestrol, and is rich in unsaturated fatty acids.

- Infancy and growth periods. Almond milk is are refreshing beverage, rich in calories and nutrients, much more appropriate for children than most of the soft drinks that they usually drink. It is particularly good for nervous children or those with concentration problem since its richness in linoleic acid and phosphorous fosters mental performance.

The elderly: The elderly who have difficulty chewing almonds may drink all the almond milk they wish.

Lactating mothers: Almond milk is recommended to lactating mothers because of its effect in increasing milk production.