Celery Lowers Blood Pressure Naturally and Effectively

While most doctors prescribe powerful hypertension drugs that cause numerous side effects, there is a simple way to reduce blood pressure and balance cholesterol levels, and it doesn’t come in a bottle. Celery has been used for centuries to treat everything from urinary tract infections to skin conditions, but it is most profoundly useful as a treatment for hypertension. This is due to its high concentrations of a substance called 3-butylphthalide, described by researchers at the University of Chicago Medical Center as a chemical that both reduces blood pressure by relaxing the smooth muscle lining of blood vessels, and purifying the blood of toxins.

The study abstract concluded with:

“Conclusions: The results from this pilot study suggest that celery seed extract may have clinically relevant blood pressure–lowering effects, indicating that additional clinical research is warranted.”

Eating or juicing just four stalks of celery a day prompts a decrease in both blood pressure and cholesterol levels. In addition to this health-giving benefit, celery is also full of vitamin C, fiber, and potassium, so it is a great post-workout replenishment. Celery is also 90% water so it is a very alkalizing food. During the Roman Empire, celery was fed to livestock to help de-acidify their diets. It also helped to cure the effects of feasting heavily, and was eaten the morning after a glutenous night of binging.

One of your favorite pale green vegetables, celery (Apium graveolens), is even mentioned by Homer in the Odyssey in 850 B.C. and by Chinese healers alike as a powerful healing food. Celery has also been used by Dutch healers since the eighteenth century and Chinese herbalists since the fifth century.

It is estimated that Americans spent more than 5 billion dollars on hypertension drugs in just the past five years alone. Celery is an inexpensive way to treat this disease without side effects that accompany drugs like Adderall or Celexa, Cipro, and Hydrocodone. Why would anyone want to suffer from nausea, dizziness, loss of sexual appetite, light headedness, insomnia, and other unpleasant side effects when celery provides only life sustaining nutrients and a natural hypertension solution?

Just be sure to purchase your celery organically, since it is listed as one of the dirty dozen, which is a list of fruit and veggies that contain high levels of pesticide residues when purchased conventionally.

[via Natural Society]

The Incredible Health Benefits of Ginger Root

Ginger root was first cultivated in South Asia, eventually spreading to East Africa and the Caribbean. Today, you can find it everywhere.


The root may look measly and weak, but just like its taste, ginger bears some robust health kicks. Filled with cancer-fighting antioxidants and mighty anti-inflammatory benefits, ginger is your key to vibrant health and a slim figure. The incredible healing power of the herbal root is in your reach, and there are many ways to enjoy the health benefits of ginger in your day-to-day life.

Ginger root has only 80 calories per 100 grams and contains essential nutrients and vitamins, such as vitamins B6 and B5, potassium, manganese, copper, and magnesium. Individual vitamin and mineral appreciation aside, the health benefits of ginger root are extensive and benefit the body on a holistic level, in ways that can’t be adequately numbered and listed. However, a few of ginger’s most salient health features are enough to convince you to incorporate it in your daily diet:

Ginger root contains essential oils such as gingerol, zingerone, shogaol, and farnesene. Gingerol and shagol have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Zingerone gives ginger its pungent flavor and is effective in treating diarrhea. Because ginger packs such significant anti-inflammatory benefits, it has been known to be particularly beneficial in reducing joint pain. It packs antibiotic and anti-fungal properties and prevents diabetes. Ginger has also been shown to overcome several types of cancer cells, such as lung, ovarian, colon, breast, skin, carcinoma, prostate, and pancreatic.
Ginger can also help you to lose weight. According to a study conducted by the Institute of Human Nutrition at Columbia University, ginger consumption led to an increase of the thermal affect of food, triggering reduced feelings of hunger. Don’t only look better in bed with ginger, but also experience an increased sex drive with it too!

Add a thin slice of fresh ginger root to hot tea or use it in a summer-apropos lemonade. Get creative with recipes involving ginger, from biscotti and ice cream, to fish cakes and clay pot chicken.

[via ecosalon]

Health Powers of Asparagus

Asparagus found to have anti-cancer properties.

A new study published in the Indian Journal of Pharmacology found asparagus contains certain compounds that have substantial anticancer properties. Researchers tested the compounds, known as shatavarins, on test tubes of human breast, colon and kidney cancer, as well as on mice with breast cancer.
All the results showed that shatavarins had potent toxicity against cancer cells. Extract of asparagus administered orally in doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight for 10 days caused a significant reduction in tumor volume and tumor cell count.

Asparagus may help prevent diabetes.

In addition to the anticancer properties of asparagus, it may have some anti-diabetic properties as well. Researchers at the University of Karachi in Pakistan found that high doses of asparagus extract had a positive effect on insulin output by the pancreas. The findings add to a 2006 study by the British Medical Journal that found the vegetable triggered an 81 percent increase in glucose uptake by body tissues. Therefore, asparagus can help diabetes by stimulating an increased production of insulin, in addition to enabling the body to absorb more glucose.

Asparagus may prevent a hangover.

Those who celebrate the New Year by drinking too much alcohol may prevent a hangover by taking asparagus extract. Chronic drinking can cause detrimental changes in the liver, as well as the unpleasant symptoms of a hangover. Scientists at the Institute of Medical Science and Jeju National University in Korea found the asparagus extracts “significantly alleviated” the cellular toxicity of alcohol, a benefit that translates to lessening of a hangover and protection of liver cells.

Asparagus offers up tremendous cardiovascular benefits.

This vegetable contains a compound called rutin that can help prevent deadly blood clots, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Moreover, asparagus is a good food source of folic acid, a nutrient that helps counter the bad effects of homocysteine, an amino acid in the blood linked to increased cardiovascular risk.

Asparagus can help balance out your electrolytes

Adding to the list of impressive health properties are three more benefits. Asparagus is a rich source of potassium, a mineral that regulates fluid balance; so the diuretic effects of asparagus can reduce bloating in the tummy area that sometimes occurs after eating a big meal. The vegetable also has anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties.

[via Real Farmacy]