Plants4Health (2025)

14/07/2022

Stinging nettle🌿 has been a staple in herbal medicine since ancient times.

Ancient Egyptians used stinging nettle to treat arthritis and lower back pain, while Roman troops rubbed it on themselves to help stay warm.

Its scientific name, Urtica dioica, comes from the Latin word uro, which means “to burn,” because its leaves can cause a temporary burning sensation upon contact.

The leaves have hair-like structures that sting and also produce itching, redness and swelling.

However, once it is processed into a supplement, dried, freeze-dried or cooked, stinging nettle can be safely consumed. Studies link it to a number of potential health benefits.

07/07/2022

Fun facts about apples 🍏🍎

Did you know all of them?

06/07/2022

Few dishes you can prepare with apples for that daily intake of all the goodness apple brings. 🍏🍎

An apple a day keeps the doctor away 😉

06/07/2022

BENEFITS OF APPLES PART 9 🍏🍎

Support a Healthy Immune System

According to research in animals, a diet filled with soluble fiber helped convert immune cells that were pro-inflammatory into anti-inflammatory and immune-supporting ones. Another animal study, published in May 2018 in the journal Immunity, found that a diet high in dietary fiber protected mice against the flu. Whether those effects would be seen in humans is unclear until there are more studies.

Still, there’s reason to believe that apples may bolster immunity, in part because they contain immune-boosting vitamin C. A review published in November 2017 in the journal Nutrients found that vitamin C plays many roles in helping the immune system function, such as by strengthening the epithelial (a type of tissue) barrier against pathogens and guarding against environmental oxidative stress, such as pollution to radiation, according to research.

05/07/2022

BENEFITS OF APPLES PART 8 🍏🍎

May Lower High Cholesterol and Blood Pressure

Savor a juicy apple and you may help keep your ticker healthy in the process. “Studies have linked apple consumption with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, which may be related to the cholesterol-lowering benefits of the soluble fiber found in apples,” says Anzlovar.

Soluble fiber dissolves in water to form a gellike material, according to the Mayo Clinic. According to the University of Illinois, soluble fiber helps prevent cholesterol buildup in the lining of blood vessel walls, therefore lowering the incidence of atherosclerosis (restricted blood flow in the arteries due to plaque buildup) and heart disease. It can also help lower blood pressure levels. A study found that a higher intake of soluble fiber was associated with a decreased cardiovascular disease risk.

Research shows that eating apples (or pears) regularly was associated with a 52 percent lower stroke risk.

05/07/2022

BENEFITS OF APPLES PART 7 🍏🍎

Protects your brain

Quercetin in apples may protect your brain from damage caused by oxidative stress.

Research in rats shows that quercetin’s antioxidant effects may protect the brain and nerves from oxidative damage and prevent injuries that can result in degenerative brain diseases, like Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

In addition, quercetin may prevent stress-associated nerve damage by regulating oxidative and inflammatory stress markers.

Nevertheless, keep in mind that most research focuses on a specific compound instead of whole apples. Therefore, further research is still needed before any conclusions can be drawn.

04/07/2022

BENEFITS OF APPLES PART 6 🍏🍎

Fights asthma

Antioxidant-rich apples may help protect your lungs from oxidative damage.

An excess of harmful molecules called free radicals can cause oxidative damage. This may lead to inflammatory and allergenic responses in your body.

Apple skin is rich in the antioxidant quercetin, which can help regulate your immune system and reduce inflammation. Theoretically, this could make apples effective against late phases of bronchial asthma responses.

Similarly, other compounds found in apples, including ones called proanthocyanidins, may reduce or prevent allergic asthma airway inflammation.

04/07/2022

BENEFITS OF APPLES PART 5 🍏🍎

Promotes gut health

Apples contain pectin, a type of fiber that acts as a prebiotic. This means it feeds your gut microbiota, which is the good bacteria in your gut.

Being involved in many functions related to both health and disease, your gut microbiota plays an essential role in your overall well-being. A healthy gut is often key for better health.

Since dietary fiber cannot be digested, pectin reaches your colon intact, promoting the growth of good bacteria. It especially improves the ratio of Bacteriodetes to Firmicutes, the two main types of bacteria in your gut.

New research suggests that, by beneficially altering your gut microbiota, apples may help protect against chronic diseases like obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

03/07/2022

BENEFITS OF APPLES PART 4 🍏🍎

Lowers risk of diabetes

Eating apples may also reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes.

A compilation of studies found that eating apples and pears was associated with an 18% reduction in type 2 diabetes risk. In fact, just one serving per week may reduce the risk by 3%.

Their high content of the antioxidant polyphenols quercetin and phloridzin could explain this beneficial effect.

Quercetin’s anti-inflammatory effects may reduce insulin resistance, a big risk factor for the onset of diabetes. Meanwhile, phloridzin is believed to reduce sugar uptake in the intestines, contributing to a reduced blood sugar load and thereby reduced diabetes risk.

02/07/2022

BENEFITS OF APPLES PART 3 🍏🍎

Good for your heart

One reason may be that they contain soluble fiber. This kind of fiber can help lower your blood cholesterol levels.

Another reason may be that they offer polyphenols. Some of these, namely the flavonoid epicatechin, may lower blood pressure.

Studies have also linked high intakes of flavonoids with a lower risk of stroke.

Plus, flavonoids can help prevent heart disease by lowering blood pressure, reducing LDL cholesterol oxidation, and reducing atherosclerosis, which is the buildup of plaque in your arteries.

Another study has also linked eating white-fleshed fruits and vegetables, like apples and pears, to a reduced risk of stroke. For every 1/5 cup (25 grams) of apple slices consumed per day, the risk of stroke decreased by 9%.

01/07/2022

BENEFITS OF APPLES PART 2 🍏🍎

May support weight loss

Apples are high in fiber and water, two qualities that make them filling.

An increasing feeling of fullness works as a weight-loss strategy, as it helps manage your appetite. This, in turn, might lead you to reduce your energy intake.

In one study, eating whole apples increased feelings of fullness for up to 4 hours longer than consuming equal amounts of apple purée or juice. This happened, because whole apples reduce gastric emptying — the rate at which your stomach empties its contents.

Research also suggests apple intake may significantly reduce Body Mass Index (BMI), a weight-related risk factor for heart disease.

Interestingly, apple polyphenols may also have anti-obesity effects.

01/07/2022

BENEFITS OF APPLES PART 1 🍏🍎

Nutritious

Apples are considered nutrient-dense fruits, meaning they provide a lot of nutrients per serving.

Apple offers following nutrients:

🍎 Vitamin C.
This is a powerful natural antioxidant that can help boost your body’s resistance to both infectious agents and damage caused by free radicals. Each time you eat an apple, you’ll get a healthy dose of this important vitamin.

🍎 Vitamin K
This vitamin helps to make proteins, which strengthens your bones and encourages normal blood clotting.

🍎 B- complex vitamins
This includes riboflavin, thiamin and vitamin B-6, all of which are essential in maintaining red blood cells and keeping your nervous system strong and healthy.

🍎 Dietary fiber
Dietary fiber is a key component of apples and is actually a type of carbohydrate. Best known for helping to prevent and relieve constipation, dietary fiber is great for keeping you “regular.”

🍎 Phytonutrients
These polyphenolic compounds function as antioxidants that can protect against damage from free radicals. In addition, they can provide anti-inflammatory effects and enhance your immune system.

🍎 Minerals
When you eat apples, you’ll get a boost of important minerals like calcium, potassium and phosphorus. These minerals are required by the body in order to perform various functions, like strengthening your bones (calcium), building muscle (potassium) and filtering out waste (phosphorus).

30/06/2022

Apples are a popular fruit, containing antioxidants, vitamins, dietary fiber, and a range of other nutrients.

Not only do apples taste delicious on their own or when added to dishes but they come loaded with health benefits. “Apples have been linked to numerous health benefits, including improved gut health and reduced risk of stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and some cancers.

Learn more on apple benefits in next posts.

09/06/2022

FUN FACTS ABOUT CHAMOMILE. Swipe to learn them

08/06/2022

PREPARATION AND SELECTION OF CHAMOMILE

The flowering tops of the chamomile plant are used to make teas, liquid extracts, capsules, or tablets. The herb can also be applied to the skin as a cream or an ointment, or used as a mouth rinse.

To make tea, steep one heaping teaspoon of chamomile flowers in two-thirds of a cup of boiling water for five to 10 minutes before straining. You can also buy commercial teas. Chamomile is also available in capsules.

As a gargle or mouth rinse, prepare as a tea, then let it cool. Gargle as often as desired. You may also make an oral rinse with 10 to 15 drops of German chamomile liquid extract (aka tincture) in 100 milliliters of warm water.

There is no standard dosage of chamomile. Dosages used in studies vary. For instance, capsules containing 220 to 1100 milligrams of German chamomile extract have been taken daily for eight weeks to help alleviate anxiety.

08/06/2022

Is it OK to drink chamomile tea everyday?

Drinking 1-2 cups of chamomile tea every day is completely safe. In fact, studies have shown that it is OK to drink up to 5 cups of chamomile tea a day.

07/06/2022

BENEFITS OF CHAMOMILE PART 8 ⭐️

Treats Cuts and Wounds

Did you know that Chamomile tea has been used by the Romans, Greeks and Egyptians to treat wounds and promote healing? This is because the plant Chamomile tea is derived from Matricaria chamomilla L, which has anti inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.

07/06/2022

BENEFITS OF CHAMOMILE PART 8 ⭐️

Reducing menstrual pain

Because chamomile tea is antispasmodic, it could also help ease period cramps. A study published in the Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility found that after drinking chamomile tea twice a day during the luteal and menstrual phases of their cycles (two weeks before you get your period, along with when you actually bleed), 40 women reported experiencing fewer cramps and lower anxiety than a control group.

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