CABBAGE: CONTROLS FREE RADICALS

Cabbage is a member of cruciferae family. It has round shape, superimposed leaf  layers. The 3 types of cabbage are green, savoy and red. Green and red has smooth textured leaves. The leaves of savoy are yellowish-green and ruffled. The inner leaves has lighter in color because it is not directly expose to the heat of the sun. It was used both food and medicine. Brought to Europe 600 B.C. by Celtic people. It become very popular in local food production.

It is a a hardy vegetable grows in fertile soil. Head shape is standard round, flattened, pointed. Most varieties has smooth leaves. A biennial of perennial plants, thick stem, gray-green leaves, four-petal flowers, growing 8 feet, produces enlarged terminal buds into cabbage head.

Properties: bitter, stomachic, cardiotonic, anti-gout, anti-rheumatic, diuretic, laxative, anthelmintic, sulforaphane, glutathione, anthocyanin, lactic acid, glutamine, histidine, isothiocyanates, indo-3-carbinol

It has the capability to fight cancer (lung, stomach, colon, prostate). Good source of vitamin C, fiber, potassium and other nutrients. It provides beta-carotene, an anti-oxidant that battles cancer and heart diseases. It has rich source of calcium. It helps to prevent osteoporosis. Good in controlling blood pressure.

Indoles, the phytochemicals in cabbage, still in the process in confirming their ability to convert into estradiol, an estrogen-like hormone, a key player in the birth of breast cancer. The phytonutrients of cabbage has the capacity to increase the production of enzymes. It is a muscle builder. Good as blood cleansing agent. Can strengthen the eye and its vision.

Proven to heal stomach ulcer. Rich in iron and sulfur. The juice of cabbage can treat fungus because of its sulfur content. It has the ability to lower serum cholesterol. Sulforaphane, is a substance that increases the production of anti-oxidant and detoxification enzymes. It stimulates the production of glutathione, oxidant in liver detoxification. The vitamin C contents of red cabbage is higher. It contains anthocyanin (red pigment) helps protects the brain cells, preventing Alzheimer’s disease. It can relieve sore eyes and control infection.

It is anti-inflammatory. Contains lactic acid to disinfect colon and digestion problem. It can reduce headache, asthma, bronchitis. Has anti-cancer properties especially skin problems. Cabbage juice is good for gastritis. The juice is proven to be good in mouth ulcers. Has cleansing power for stomach waste.

It improves digestion and reduce constipation. It kills harmful bacteria. The outer leaves has source of vitamin E. The chlorophyll of cabbage is good source for blood building. It can soothe pain in enlargement of the breast by putting the peeled-off outer layer of cabbage to the affected area. Place under the brassiere until the leaves wither.

The amino acid in cabbage is called glutamine, a cleanser to digestive system repairing and healing, regenerating of ulcers. A compound called histidine can treat allergies. It can regulate the T-cells of the immune system.

The leaves of cabbage is good in wrapping the area of sores, wound, psoriasis, skin ulcers or skin burns. To bandage until the leaves will wither. It help cleanse the mucus membrane in the digestive tract due to sulfur content, iodine and chlorine properties. It inhibits the conversion of sugar into fat. Presence of anti-oxidant protects skin cells and has benefits in anti-aging. Anti-oxidant properties called glucosinolates, improves the ability of the body to detoxify and remove harmful hormones and chemicals. Glutamine, increases the ability of the body to secrete growth hormones. Isothiocyanites, offer protection to the bladder. The sulforaphene protects colon-cancer susceptible genes and inhibits cancer. The polyphenols, protects brain cells against damage and death from oxidative stress. The indo-3-carbinol, a compound used as therapy for respiratory illness, regulates the formation and function of estrogen. It prevents scurvy. Ancient remedy for tuberculosis.

Precaution:  Do not eat raw cabbage. Do not eat if you have goiter.Do not eat if taking a MAOI antidepressants. Do not cook red cabbage as it cause constipation. It can irritate the colon of the intestine. Some person suffered gas. It interferes the uptake of iodine especially those with goiter. It can trigger migraine headache because of properties called thyramine.

Method of use: salad, vegetable, juice, syrup

-Cabbage juice used as gargle for sore throat, eye wash

-Decoction good for digestive problem (colitis)

-Syrup in decoction (cough, asthma, bronchitis)

-Fresh leaves for wounds

-Lotion from juice relieves burn bites, cold sores, acne

GUAVAS: GOOD DISINFECTANT

Guava was very popular in Asian countries like Philippines. It has a pear-shaped or round shaped form. It has colors of green, yellow or maroon when ripe. It has white or maroon flesh. Has lots of hard seeds enveloping in the sweet and sugary pulp. It can be eaten raw or ripe. It is made into jellies and jam. It has many nutrients. Its name is Psidium Guajava. It has 50 calories packed with fibers. Sweetness are very satisfying and tasty.

Its chemical properties are anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, guaijaverin, lycopene, carotene, lipo-protein.

Rich in compound that make the mouth fresh after chewing leaves. Good in building up loose bowels (diarrhea). It is a astringent making the gum tighter. It has an anti-bacterial properties to cure dysentery due to bacterial infection by inhibiting any growth of microbes by removing the presence of mucus from the intestines. This astringent are alkaline.

Good source of Vitamin C. Because of carotene and potassium, it strengthen the digestive system. Due to its anti-oxidant properties, it can cure gastroenteritis. It has good source of fiber that can remedy constipation. It can retain water and has a capacity to clean the intestines especially the excretory system. Guava can lead to proper excretion of waste and digestion of foods.

The juice of guava give relief to cold and cough by loosening the mucus. You can use decoction of leaves or eating immature fruit. It can disinfect the respiratory tract. It helps maintain skin texture and improve it. Has vitamin A and B. Good anti-oxidant and detoxifier.

It helps control elevated blood cholesterol. It prevents thickening of the cholesterol by maintaining its fluidity to avoid hypertension. A refined flour can elevate blood pressure as if is converted into sugar. Due to its fibers it can control any elevation of blood pressure.

Guava is ideal in losing weight due to high content of roughage. Rich in vitamins, proteins and minerals,. less carbohydrates and has no cholesterol. Good in filling a hungry stomach. Due to its vitamin C  properties, it can treat scurvy. Can help to control diabetes. Protect against prostate disease due to its lycopene.

An aching tooth can be remedied using the juice of guava leaves. It is also good in swollen gum and oral ulcers, healing wounds because of its anti-bacterial properties against infection.

Inhibit bacteria that causes diarrhea by using guava leaf extract served as antibiotics. The leaf extract is good for acne. A flavanoid compound controls the growth of pathogen of dental caries. A guavas with more pink or orange in color has high concentration of carotenoids.

It improves night vision and prevent macular degeneration of the eye. It helps shrink and dissolve oils in the skin. It tighten loose skin making the skin to glow. Has rich in vitamin A,B, C and potassium. Helps eliminate toxin from the body taken from water, food and air. Its lipoprotein can increase the good cholesterol in the blood. It boots collagen production of the skin to look younger. Lessening the risk of developing colon cancer.

Application:

-pulp and peel (anti-oxidant)

-Essential oil and leaf extract (anti-bacterial)

-good as snacks (vitamin C)

-leaves and fruits (astringent)

-ingested seeds, chewed or whole (laxative)

Other uses: skin cream and geal, jam and jellies, fruit salads