MUSTARD GREEN: THE STOREHOUSE OF NUTRIENTS

A leafy vegetable from mustard plant. A recipe is not complete without adding flavor to become tasty and satisfying to eat. With a piece of meat and other ingredients (seasoning), the day on the table is a happy one.

Mustard green has pungent and peppery smell with an acrid tasting brown seeds. The physical characteristic of the leaves  were lacy edges, scalloped, flat texture or crumpled leaves depending on the kind of variety was cultivated.

Mustard green are full of nutrients, vitamins, protein, dietary fibers and minerals. It has glucosinolates. Its chemical properties has a health promoting phytonutrients the body require for fast growth and development. Its contribution to health is very impressive.

Antioxidant are chemical compound that has the capacity to control and eradicate foreign materials in the body. With regular intake of this vegetable, cancer-causing cells can be controlled and eradicated in its early stage. Rich concentration of beta carotene (vitamin E, C, A) helps each other to scavenge free radicals and remove it.  The role of the 3 super nutrients has protective action against damaging molecules killing other molecules. This interactive molecules is the source of many of our diseases.

A healthy body give no chance for the molecules to exist, proliferate and control our body. Mustard green has this capability to prevent cancer cells to reside in the tissue.

Vitamin C, the most common nutrient worked out to neutralize the effect of the free radicals found to be the cause of the smooth constriction and contraction of the airways and to the muscles in asthma patients, respectively. Vitamin C with other nutrients (vitamin E) do the housekeeping of the body and assist for the breakdown of histamine. This anti-inflammatory chemicals (histamine) in asthma and other immune related disorders were abnormally produced. Most of the free radicals are found in fat-soluble environment ready to strike if given a chance. But with vitamin C, it created a wall or barrier hard for them to penetrate.

A healthy lungs performed well in its distribution of oxygen to the different system and body’s dependence of their execution. With regular intake of vitamin A, it can defend the lungs against the risk of having asthma.

No doubt, mustard green was full of magnesium. It is a mineral that makes cell to become smooth in the lining of the bronchial tubes to stay relax rather than to constrict. Their airways is clear easy for passage of oxygen and easy for asthma patient to breath.

Emphysema is one of lung disease. Too much smoking may aggravate the condition of the lungs. Benzo(a)pyrene, a carcinogenic compound makes the body deficient of vitamin A. Mustard green can supply  enough vitamin A in the diet to arrest the effect of emphysema and control it, its protective effect destabilize benzo(a)pyrene potency.

Include mustard green in your meals and you will reap the benefits to your lungs to become healthy and worry-free from any possible health condition that will arise due to vitamin A deficiency.

Our heart gives us life. Efficient performance make the heart to become active and healthy. With mustard green, it helps the cardiovascular system to function well. With vitamin C, beta carotene and vitamin E, the body is assured of the needed nutrients the heart relied to do its job.

Elevated cholesterol (bad) is the risk we have to take due to our modern lifestyle. Too much bad cholesterol develop atherosclerosis. This is the result of the particles that oxidize thereby decreasing clumping of platelet. A compound in the mustard green called paraoxonase, an enzyme help to inhibit LDL and HDL oxidation. With vitamin C, it increases dilation of the vessel while decreases vessel spasm.

The presence of vitamin B6 in mustard green decreases platelets clumping and and control the risk of clot formation. Further, it can prevent the building up of homocysteine, the cause of atherosclerosis. It has the ability to damage the blood vessels.

High blood pressure is a common disease that already kills many people. With  magnesium in mustard green, it aid to have a healthy, normal blood vessel tone, thus reducing the risk of high blood pressure and heart attack.

Calcium prevent bone loss formation. Osteoporosis is the result of calcium and magnesium deficiency. But with mustard green, it prevents the build-up of homocysteine that has an effect to the promotion of good bone health.

If chewed, chopped mustard green activate a compound called sulforaphane that will trigger the liver to produce enzymes to detoxify cancer-causing chemicals.

Make a habit to include it in your favorite dishes. Tell your children how important vegetable in a healthy body and active mind.

CABBAGE: THE DIETARY STAPLE VEGETABLES

Cabbage can be found anywhere in the country. They are culturally raised abundantly by farmers, vegetable raisers and gardeners in the countryside. It can easily be reach by consumers because it is not expensive for the kitchen.

Cabbage personal characteristics: round in shape, layers of superimposed leaves, lighter color of the inner leaves. The outer leaves are more darker in color because they are directly exposed to sunlight and heat of the sun.

Cabbage is a crucifernutrients, radicals,  that contains anti-oxidant that has the ability to remove free radicals to damage the DNA. This free radicals has a threatening position against cell membranes including the fat molecules. The phyto-nutrients of cabbage make the genes of  the body to produce more enzymes to be able to defend from harmful compound. The detoxification process is the cleansing method to eliminate those threats.

Research findings indicated that those persons that regularly eat cabbage as part of their diet has lower incidence of lung, colorectal and prostate and bladder cancer. Cruciferous protective ability put cabbage the most sought vegetables to treat some of major health conditions human population has today.

The presence of chemical properties of glucosinolates in cabbage produced high level of active compound called glucosinolates. The human body later on produced a potent anti-carcinogen called isothiocyanates.

Most vegetables  has vitamin C and cabbage was one of them. This antioxidant in cabbage has the capacity to prevent harmful free radicals to damage the cells. If this vegetables are chewed, cut or digested, the cabbage releases a sulfur compound called senigrin.

The pytonutrients of cabbage (indole-3-carbinole, indoles and sulforaphane) has the ability to activate antioxidant properties and has a detoxification mechanism to remove all cancer-causing chemicals. With this compound it stabilizes the potency of this chemicals against free radicals and other damaging cells. It improves detoxification ability of estrogen of female population to reduce the risk of breast cancer.

The body produces enzymes in the liver. With cabbage anti-oxidant property, it inhibits and eliminate any cancer-causing chemicals. With bending action, it able to expel all the damaging chemicals out of the body. It has its self-destruct mechanism to eliminate all cancerous cells hiding in the tissue thus preventing any excessive proliferation of damaging cells.

The fresh juice of cabbage is effective in treating peptic disease. It has the ability to heal the bleeding walls of the intestines. The potency of the juice has high content of glutamine (amino acid) to activate the cells function to heal the lining of the intestines.

There are persons who has Alzheimer disease. This disease is the cause of brain cell damage due to oxidation that put stress to the brain. The culprit is the protein called beta-amyloid. But with  polyphenols from cabbage can counter the effect of beta-amyloid. Its anthocyanins protects the brain cells from the damaging protein.

Chemical properties: omega-e fatty acids, glucosinolates, isothiocyanates, sinigrin, myrosinase, isothiocyanates, sulforaphane, indole-3-carbinol, indoles, polyphenols, anthocyanins.

This is how cabbage work spectacularly in giving the body a chance to recover from any debilitating disease that sometimes put a stop to enjoy the benefits of a healthful life.

GREEN TEA: ANTI-OXIDANT

Tea is a single plant under Camellia sinensis. It is small evergreen shrub that can grow to 30 feet high with many branches. It has a grey and rough bark. The leaves is lanceolate or elliptical with dark green leaves. The young leaves are hairy while older leaves are glabrous.

Catechins, a powerful flavonoids has healing properties. It is called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. It can burn fat and able to lower elevated cholesterol especially bad cholesterol. Green tea is anti-virus controller.

The anti-oxidant of green tea are polyphenols, bioflavoids by neutralizing harmful fats. It can lower blood pressure. It blocks cancer-causing chemicals. It inhibit bacteria and other viruses. It improves digestion. It protects against ulcers and strokes.

Green tea has a green chlorophyll molecules. It has pro-anthocyanadins. It controls cancer. It protects the liver and brain against oxidation. It can cure gum disease.

Tea contains significant amount of caffeine. It safeguards against breast cancer and other forms of cancers. Has anti-bacterial properties against harmful digestive bacteria. It lowers oxidized LDL cholesterol. It raises good cholesterol.

Properties:  polyphenols, flavonoids, catechins (epicatechin (EC), epigallocatechins (EGC), epigallo-catechin-3 gallate), bioflavonoids (flayonoids, polyphenols, catechins).

Urinary tract can function well  in drinking a tea. Good for food poisoning. It soothes indigestion. It prevents cavities for healthy teeth. It reduces lesion in the aorta especially if injured or wounded).

It has a significant  cholesterol lowering effect. The chemical properties of pycnogenol can control the dangerous free radicals called nitric oxide. It is called a dilators by improving the flexibility of the blood vessels to avoid clogging. Helps to boost the immune system. It helps to prevent obesity by reducing fats. It has a bitter taste and stimulating effect.

It triggers contraction of the muscles. Good as mouthwash due to anti-bacterial properties. It has the capability to contract the  gum to keep them firm. It allows tightness of the set of teeth to prevent falling and loosening. As hair grower, putting hair stronger.

Uses: Hot water infusion of leaves. Tea can handle rigorous exercise by expediting energy. Best for hang-over and fatigue for too much consumption of alcohol.