My Fleep:
Health
Health
Antioxidant: Bioflavinoids and Raw Foods
I wonder how many people start craving cherries in February
or March, strawberries in April, or any other berries
about 2 months before they are ripe, like I do! The reason
I believe I crave such foods, is that they have something
that my body not only wants, but needs: antioxidants, and
more specifically: bioflavinoids. This antioxidant is so
vital, and is easy to miss after orange/grapefruit season,
and before berry season. Today I would like to discuss the
benefits of bioflavinoids, where you might get this
important and delicious antioxidant, and the therapeutic
applications for bioflavinoids.
Bioflavinoids are not just an antioxidant, they also affect
your blood, connective tissue (which is your skin, gums,
ligaments and bones), red blood cells, teeth, and the
strength of your capillary walls. Now, when we think of
capillaries, most of us conclude that it helps with
varicose veins, hemorrhoids, and maybe high blood pressure;
while bioflavinoids helps with all of these ailments, the
strengthening of the capillaries also helps to prevent loss
of sight. The health of the capillaries behind the eyes
contribute to either good vision, or poor vision.
Bioflavinoids feed these capillaries directly.
The effect of bioflavinoids on the blood is not to be
underestimated either. High blood pressure is wide spread
in this country, and many are the medicines to fight it.
Bioflavinoids help clean the blood, and therefore help to
reduce high blood pressure. It has been said that if your
blood is clean, you cannot get sick. If you can stay on a
pure diet (raw foods) for 90 days, all your blood cells
will be replaced, according to Dr. Paul Bragg. The cells
are replaced anyway, but the health of the cells is the
factor. Our bodies are made to heal quickly, given the
right diet. I think it's interesting that the blood cells
are the first to be replaced.
It has also been said, "you are as old as your arteries".
With the effect that bioflavinoids have on our arteries, an
increase in bioflavinoids will not only go far in
preserving our inner well-being, but our skin is also
benefited by these bioflavinoids, as the antioxidant aspect
of bioflavinoids helps to prevent wrinkling and sagging.
Bioflavinoids are found abundantly in nature: in the skin
and pulp of most fruits, apricots, berries, broccoli,
buckwheat, cherries, grapefruit, grapes, lemons, oranges,
papaya, pepper, plums, prunes, and rose hips, stinging
nettle tea, tomatoes. What a delicious way to gain
antioxidants and bioflavinoids! I am reminded of what
Hippocrates said: "let food be your medicine, and your
medicine be food". I couldn't agree more. I never ceased
to be amazed at the drug companies' ads on certain drugs,
that have a list of side effects so long that I'll be sure
to never ask my doctor about that remedy! While everyone
must make their own health decisions, I would rather
increase my intake of bioflavinoids from raw foods, just
because they are a delicious way to good health. One more
note here: there are no animal sources of this vital
nutrient.
Now, while there are no side effects of bioflavinoids like
the pharmaceutical companies have to warn you about, I will
tell you this, uh, humorous story. During my fourth
pregnancy I consumed a lot of lemon water. I like about
half a lemon with a little honey. I drank 2 or 3 glasses
of this every day, maybe more. I just loved it. Well,
when I went to give birth (I actually stayed home), I
gained a centimeter every hour until it was time to push.
One small problem: the bag of waters hadn't broken. My
midwife said it was very thick. So, we decided to break it
open, although we could've waited, we just weren't feeling
especially patient at the time....and out came Jordan 10
minutes later. Also, on my third child, she was
practically born in her bag! So, beware all you pregnant
women who eat healthy, that your bag could be nice 'n
thick. But, it could be worse to have a thin bag that
breaks too early!! Anyway, you get a few stories to tell
when you have nine kids, right?
As far as the therapeutic applications, bioflavinoids have
been used to help with allergies, asthma, bleeding gums,
broken capillaries, bursitis, colds, depression, dizziness
(caused by inner ear), eczema, flu, hemorrhoids, high blood
pressure, miscarriages, rheumatic fever, and varicose veins.
To conclude, I believe bioflavinoids are an essential part
of human nutrition. I have read otherwise, but I disagree
with those statements, as there is plenty of research done
that shows the benefits we can gain from this powerful
antioxidant. So, don't just eat your veggies, eat your
fruit, and enjoy good health.
----------------------------------------------------
Roxanne Vick is a SAHM of nine, and enjoys her good health,
her children, and gardening. For a great book of raw food
recipes, and more health info, visit her website for a
fantastic book on the Raw Food Diet: Live Unfired Foods.
http://www.myrawfooddietrecipes.com
I wonder how many people start craving cherries in February
or March, strawberries in April, or any other berries
about 2 months before they are ripe, like I do! The reason
I believe I crave such foods, is that they have something
that my body not only wants, but needs: antioxidants, and
more specifically: bioflavinoids. This antioxidant is so
vital, and is easy to miss after orange/grapefruit season,
and before berry season. Today I would like to discuss the
benefits of bioflavinoids, where you might get this
important and delicious antioxidant, and the therapeutic
applications for bioflavinoids.
Bioflavinoids are not just an antioxidant, they also affect
your blood, connective tissue (which is your skin, gums,
ligaments and bones), red blood cells, teeth, and the
strength of your capillary walls. Now, when we think of
capillaries, most of us conclude that it helps with
varicose veins, hemorrhoids, and maybe high blood pressure;
while bioflavinoids helps with all of these ailments, the
strengthening of the capillaries also helps to prevent loss
of sight. The health of the capillaries behind the eyes
contribute to either good vision, or poor vision.
Bioflavinoids feed these capillaries directly.
The effect of bioflavinoids on the blood is not to be
underestimated either. High blood pressure is wide spread
in this country, and many are the medicines to fight it.
Bioflavinoids help clean the blood, and therefore help to
reduce high blood pressure. It has been said that if your
blood is clean, you cannot get sick. If you can stay on a
pure diet (raw foods) for 90 days, all your blood cells
will be replaced, according to Dr. Paul Bragg. The cells
are replaced anyway, but the health of the cells is the
factor. Our bodies are made to heal quickly, given the
right diet. I think it's interesting that the blood cells
are the first to be replaced.
It has also been said, "you are as old as your arteries".
With the effect that bioflavinoids have on our arteries, an
increase in bioflavinoids will not only go far in
preserving our inner well-being, but our skin is also
benefited by these bioflavinoids, as the antioxidant aspect
of bioflavinoids helps to prevent wrinkling and sagging.
Bioflavinoids are found abundantly in nature: in the skin
and pulp of most fruits, apricots, berries, broccoli,
buckwheat, cherries, grapefruit, grapes, lemons, oranges,
papaya, pepper, plums, prunes, and rose hips, stinging
nettle tea, tomatoes. What a delicious way to gain
antioxidants and bioflavinoids! I am reminded of what
Hippocrates said: "let food be your medicine, and your
medicine be food". I couldn't agree more. I never ceased
to be amazed at the drug companies' ads on certain drugs,
that have a list of side effects so long that I'll be sure
to never ask my doctor about that remedy! While everyone
must make their own health decisions, I would rather
increase my intake of bioflavinoids from raw foods, just
because they are a delicious way to good health. One more
note here: there are no animal sources of this vital
nutrient.
Now, while there are no side effects of bioflavinoids like
the pharmaceutical companies have to warn you about, I will
tell you this, uh, humorous story. During my fourth
pregnancy I consumed a lot of lemon water. I like about
half a lemon with a little honey. I drank 2 or 3 glasses
of this every day, maybe more. I just loved it. Well,
when I went to give birth (I actually stayed home), I
gained a centimeter every hour until it was time to push.
One small problem: the bag of waters hadn't broken. My
midwife said it was very thick. So, we decided to break it
open, although we could've waited, we just weren't feeling
especially patient at the time....and out came Jordan 10
minutes later. Also, on my third child, she was
practically born in her bag! So, beware all you pregnant
women who eat healthy, that your bag could be nice 'n
thick. But, it could be worse to have a thin bag that
breaks too early!! Anyway, you get a few stories to tell
when you have nine kids, right?
As far as the therapeutic applications, bioflavinoids have
been used to help with allergies, asthma, bleeding gums,
broken capillaries, bursitis, colds, depression, dizziness
(caused by inner ear), eczema, flu, hemorrhoids, high blood
pressure, miscarriages, rheumatic fever, and varicose veins.
To conclude, I believe bioflavinoids are an essential part
of human nutrition. I have read otherwise, but I disagree
with those statements, as there is plenty of research done
that shows the benefits we can gain from this powerful
antioxidant. So, don't just eat your veggies, eat your
fruit, and enjoy good health.
----------------------------------------------------
Roxanne Vick is a SAHM of nine, and enjoys her good health,
her children, and gardening. For a great book of raw food
recipes, and more health info, visit her website for a
fantastic book on the Raw Food Diet: Live Unfired Foods.
http://www.myrawfooddietrecipes.com