Radiant Health with Ioana

23/04/2025

06/04/2025

Cumin seed (jeera) is a spice that adds flavour to your dish while also providing several health advantages. It contains a phytochemical molecule known as cumin aldehyde, which has therapeutic benefits that help combat diabetes, epilepsy, and tumours while also improving immunity.
Cumin seeds are an abundant source of iron, offering around 20% of daily iron needs in one teaspoon. Thus, drinking cumin water may be valuable for young children to promote growth and also help women suffering from anaemia pump their iron stores.
Cumin is one of the most gut-friendly herbs, and promotes pancreatic enzymes, assisting in the digestion process. Cumin seeds contain thymol and essential oils that stimulate the salivary gland, thereby easing digestion. People with a weak digestive system are recommended to drink cumin water early in the morning on an empty stomach for better digestion and to decrease flatulence.
Cumin is also Carminative relieves you from flatulence and thereby improves digestion and appetite. The presence of essential oils, magnesium, and sodium content provides relief from stomach aches when taken with hot water.
A study published in the journal Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice reveals the benefits for those on diet. Cumin not only helps in losing weight quickly but also influences the body’s fat profile in a positive way by reducing the levels of harmful lipids in the blood.

27/11/2024

CoQ10 is used for energy production by every cell in your body, and vital for good health, high-energy levels, longevity, and general quality of life, it also helps protect against cellular damage from free radicals.

Ubiquinol is the reduced form of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). This is the form your body naturally uses, and research shows ubiquinol is superior for your health in a number of ways, primarily due to its superior bioavailability. It's particularly beneficial for your heart health by reducing markers associated with inflammation and by acting as an antioxidant in your blood to prevent atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries).
Ubiquinol production ramps up from early childhood until your mid to late 20s. By the time you hit the age of 30, it begins to decline. Young people are able to use CoQ10 supplements quite well, but those over 25 years old do better with ubiquinol as it's more readily absorbed.
Natural sources of ubiquinol can be found in a wide variety of foods - the highest levels are present in organ meats such as heart, liver and kidney, but it's also present in beef, soy oil, mackerel and peanuts.
CoQ10 and ubiquinol are fat soluble so are best taken with food to improve absorption. Please also note that it usually takes at least three weeks and occasionally up to three months to notice the full benefits.

27/11/2024

Fermented foods contain high amounts of probiotics, which are friendly bacteria that aid in keeping the gut balanced, and have been shown to significantly reduce stress and anxiety.

A growing body of research in the field of nutritional psychiatry supports the idea that what you eat can have a big impact on how you feel.

While nutritional psychiatry is not a substitute for other treatments, the relationship between food, mood, and anxiety is garnering more and more attention.
It is important to know that what you eat can affect how you feel in a number of ways. One way is through your body’s connection between your gut and your brain.
A healthy diet promotes a healthy gut, which communicates with the brain through what is known as the gut-brain axis. Microbes in the gut produce neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which regulate our mood and emotions, and the gut microbiome has been implicated in mental health outcomes.
Your gut, in other words, may play a role in your mental health – for better or for worse. Choosing to eat certain foods may provide a needed boost for your mood or emotions.

27/11/2024

During the 1990s, the air freshener market experienced a massive resurgence thanks to the introduction of convenient “plug-in” air fresheners. These air fresheners rely on heat induction technology and special heat-activated scented gels to continually release a scent.
One of the primary concerns health experts have about plug-in air fresheners is their wide-spread use of phthalates. According to a study conducted by the Natural Resources Defence Council (NRDC), 86% of air fresheners tested contained phthalates. Phthalates, which are also found in many plastics, aerosol sprays, paints, pesticides, cosmetics, and fragrances, are notoriously disruptive to the body.

Even if phthalates are found not to be highly carcinogenic in humans, however, the UK’s Public Health Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards has revealed that air fresheners typically contain another toxic compound that absolutely is Formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a well-known human carcinogen that has been definitively linked to cancers of the nose and throat. It is also known to cause ongoing irritation of the throat and airways, potentially leading to dangerous infections, frequent nosebleeds, asthma.
Compounding the risks posed by formaldehyde, most major brands of plug-in air fresheners contain a chemical known as naphthalene. Naphthalene has been shown to cause tissue damage and cancer in the lungs of rodents in laboratory studies. It’s plausible to assume that it causes similar effects in humans.

29/10/2024

Magnesium plays significant roles within many of the body’s tissues and organs, including the brain. One reason for its key role in brain health is the important part magnesium plays in energy production. The brain uses a disproportionate amount of energy. A study by M.E. Raichle published in Trends in Cognitive Sciences demonstrated that in the average human adult, the brain represents only about 2 percent of the body weight. However, the brain consumes a whopping 20 percent of the overall energy consumed by the body.

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the energy currency of the body. But, for it to be biologically active, ATP must be bound to a magnesium ion, generally to one of the phosphate groups. Recent studies also show that if magnesium cannot get into the mitochondria – the powerhouses of cells, energy production is impaired and does not function optimally. In the brain, this might mean that energy production is not optimal and, subsequently, may have an impact on cognition.

Other researchers in a review article documented that magnesium enhances the activity of three important enzymes involved
energy.

17/10/2024

17/10/2024

Raw bee pollen is collected directly from the hive without processing, while dried bee pollen is harvested and then dried. Here are some ways they compare:
Nutrients: Fresh raw bee pollen retains more nutrients, vitamins, and bioactive compounds than dried bee pollen.
Absorbability: Fresh raw bee pollen is more easily absorbed than dried bee pollen.
Water content: Fresh bee pollen has a water content of 20–30%, while dried bee pollen has a maximum water content that varies by country.
Storage: Freezing is considered the best way to store bee pollen because it preserves bioactive compounds better than drying.
Taste: Raw bee pollen can have a sweet and nutty flavor, or it can be bitter. Dried bee pollen has a chalky, sweet taste.
Texture: Bee pollen has a chewy texture and is slightly crunchy.
Consumption: Raw bee pollen can be eaten on its own or mixed with cold foods or drinks. Dried bee pollen can be soaked in water for a couple of hours before eating, or ground into a powder and mixed with food.
Bee pollen is a complete food that contains vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, antioxidants, probiotics, omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and bioflavonoids. It's best to avoid heating bee pollen, as this can neutralize some of its nutrients

28/08/2024

Diabetes is a serious illness that should always be monitored by a doctor. Its symptoms include increased thirst, urination, or appetite, dry mouth, vomiting, diarrhea, blurred vision, rapid or irregular heartbeat, dizziness. If you had any of these for longer than a week, see your physician for a diagnosis.
Once you've checked with your doctor, you may be able to control type 2 with a dietary program and supplements.
For example, many scientific studies have shown that the mineral CHROMIUM has the power to help normalise blood sugar levels. Most of these studies have used 200 micrograms a day of a form called CHROMIUM PICOLINATE.

In his clinic, however, as part of an owerall program, Jonathan Wright, a nutritionally oriented physician and director of the Tahoma Clinic in Kent, Washington, has found that higher doses of chromium in the form of CHROMIUM POLYNICOTINATE work much more rapidly to lessen the symptoms of Type 2 diabetes.
"By prescribing a high dosage, I've found that my patients 's sugar cravings go away a lot more rapidly, so they're able to make the switch to a healthy diet much more easily and quickly" Dr. Wright says "I've also found that their more severe symptoms dissappear faster."

Chromium polynicotinate: This is composed of chromium and niacin (B3), which helps with the bioavailability and absorption of chromium in the body. It is most popular for those who want to lose weight, balance blood sugar levels, and improve muscle mass.

Chromium picolinate: This is made of chromium and picolinic acid. It is the most popular supplement that is known for improving mood, weight loss, and blood sugar regulation. Some research suggests that chromium picolinate may have negative effects on the body, so it is important to use it with caution.

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22/08/2024

Inflammation is your body beginning the healing process in response to stress, either from things like emotional stress or a tough workout. The inflammation response is what builds muscles (which is good!), but chronic inflammation from too many hours in the gym or not enough rest days between hard workouts can build up inflammation and cause damage to your cells and DNA.
If you find yourself constantly exhausted, injured, or incredibly sore despite time spent on a foam roller, you might need to incorporate more anti-inflammatory foods into your diet.
Tart cherries are loaded with anthocyanins, which have been shown to improve brain cell function, reduce inflammation, and even slow aging. Anthocyanins have also been shown to benefit athletes, providing things like pain relief and reducing muscle damage.
Tart cherries have also been shown to inhibit COX-2 enzymes, meaning you can skip that ibuprofen after a hard workout and eat or drink your way to less pain. Studies have been honing in on what conditions would benefit from tart cherry consumption. Osteoarthritis, known as the “wear and tear” arthritis, is the most common type of arthritis. Athletes are especially susceptible to developing osteoarthritis, especially for high-impact workouts, like running, that stress the joints and cause cartilage breakdown. One study found osteoarthritis pain was reduced by more than 20% when participants had a daily dose of tart cherries.

27/05/2024

– One teaspoon of dried elderflowers
– Boiling water
Put the dried flowers in a tea strainer and pour the hot water on top of them in a mug. Cover to steep for 10 minutes and enjoy!

1. Vitamin C

Elderflower tea contains vitamin C, which is important for the health of your skin, blood vessels, tendons, and ligaments. They also protect the skin from harmful free radicals.

2. Powerful Antioxidants

Elderflower tea contains quercetin, which is a flavonoid and it has powerful antioxidant properties. The detoxifying effects of the antioxidants found in elderflower tea can help to regenerate and repair cells by protecting your body from oxidative stress, which can lead to common chronic diseases.

3. Fights Flu

The high content of vitamin C and the antiviral properties make elderflower tea a great option for fighting cold and keeping your body hydrated.

4. Helps Reducing Cholesterol

The flavonoid quercetin was found to reduce cholesterol levels in test tube studies. More research is needed to determine whether drinking elderflower tea improves cholesterol levels.

17/05/2024

"Maria Treben suffered typhoid fever until a woman brought her a small bottle containing a dark brown color.
Maria Treben tells her story in the following excerpt:
“It sounds almost like a fairy tale, but it is true. As a refugee from the German speaking area of Czechoslovakia, I became ill with typhoid fever in a camp in Bavaria, caused by contaminated meat and, through it, came jaundice and an obstruction in the intestines. I spent more than 6 months in hospital and when my husband got my mother, my mother-in-law, our child and myself to Austria, I was a young but sick woman. At night I was hit by terrible pain that shot through my body like a sword. In these moments I could neither sit nor stand, walk nor lie down; at the same time I vomited and had diarrhea. I was a helpless bundle of misery. These were after pains of the typhoid fever which sometimes can go on for years, as the doctor said.
One day a woman brought me a small bottle containing a dark brown, strong smelling liquid. She had heard of my illness and wanted to help.
The Swedish Bitter had relieved her of a serious complaint. Accompanying it was a transcript of an “old manuscript” in which was explained, in 46 points, how these drops heal every illness. The recipe came from the writings of a well know Swedish physician. As stated, all members of his family had reached an unusually old age.
These drops according to point 43 heal “plague boils and swellings even if already in the throat”. I put the bottle in the medicine chest. I just did not believe that these modest drops could give me back my health, since the doctor could not even help me. Soon I changed my mind. As I sat in front of a large basket of ripe pears which needed to be used up straight away, I had another attack. As I had been told that these Swedish drops could be used externally as well, I did not hesitate for long and applied them as a compress on the abdomen, put a small plastic bag over the compress and then my girdle and continued my work.
A wonderful warm feeling spread through my body. Suddenly, it felt as if with one movement of the hand, everything morbid in my body was pulled out.