Month: January 2021

Healthline.com talks about how the Egyptians, Babylonians, Greeks, and other major civilizations liked to use garlic for its medicinal properties. Healthline says:

Scientists now know that most of its health benefits are caused by sulfur compounds formed when a garlic clove is chopped, crushed or chewed.

Garlic is native to Siberia but thousands of years ago when it became more popular it began to spread to other parts of the world and pretty soon became an essential part of numerous meals. In fact, Webmd.com says:

Garlic is most commonly used for conditions related to the heart and blood system. These conditions include high blood pressure, high levels of cholesterol or other fats in the blood, and hardening of the arteries. 

Personally, I love to add garlic to almost anything. The nice thing about it as a compound that provides healing properties is that it is so tasteful and so easily added to your food and lifestyle. Health.clevelandclinic.com claims:

 Boosts immunity: Who knew boosting your immunity can be as simple as eating more garlic? According to one study involving 41,000 middle-aged women, those who routinely ate garlic, fruits and vegetables had a 35% lower colon cancer risk. Keep in mind that benefits came from raw and cooked garlic – not supplements.

2. Works as an anti-inflammatory: Research has shown that garlic oil works as an anti-inflammatory. If you have sore and inflamed joints or muscles, rub them with the oil. The Arthritis Foundation even recommends it to help prevent cartilage damage from arthritis. 

3. Improves cardiovascular health: Research indicates that it can have a positive impact on your arteries and blood pressure. Researchers believe red blood cells turn the sulfur in garlic into hydrogen sulfide gas that expands our blood vessels, making it easier to regulate blood pressure. The good news is that you may be able to put your blood pressure medication away, so consult with your doctor if adding more garlic to your diet could be helpful for you.

4. Gives you better hair and skin: Garlic’s antioxidants and antibacterial properties can clear up your skin by killing acne-causing bacteria. One study shows rubbing raw garlic over pimples can clear them away. Be aware, though, that it could cause a burning sensation on your skin. Consult with your dermatologist first before putting acne on your skin if you are using any other products, too.

5. Protects your food: Those same antibacterial properties in fresh garlic can kill the bacteria that lead to food poisoning, including salmonella and E.coli. Don’t use garlic as a substitute for proper food sanitation and food handling, though. 

6. Treat athlete’s foot: Garlic also fights fungus. If you have athlete’s foot, soak your feet in garlic water or rub raw garlic on your feet to attack the itch-causing fungus. 

Fun fact, since I played many sports in high school, one of the things I did was up my intake of garlic. This I believe really helped prevent athletes’ foot and other possible fungal bacterias from building up. Overall it is not a bad thing to add a dash to your diet and see if it provides you with more benefits than you possibly thought! A Happy You is a Healthy You

If you work a regular job or maybe you’re just a caffeine addict like the rest of us, then you understand the need for energy drinks. Myself personally I always worry about what is actually inside of the drink. I hear so much about how it is bad for me or going to make my heart speed up too fast to the point where I become paranoid and just end up drinking coffee or tea, but sometimes those aren’t quite enough to keep my eyes open. This is when I began to look into different organic options with no sugars or at least a lower sugar count.

Best Energy Drinks?

According to Healthline.com ‘s 2020 list, they labeled a few drinks as their top 10 best natural energy drinks.

• Sound Sparkling Organic Yerba Maté with Citrus and Hibiscus 
• MatchaBar Hustle Matcha Energy (Sparkling Mint)
• Vital Proteins Collagen Energy Shots 
• Mati Unsweetened Sparkling Organic Energy Drink (Unsweetened)
• Toro Matcha Sparkling Ginger 
• Proper Wild Clean All Day Energy Shots
• Ora Renewable Energy  
• Your Super Energy Bomb Mix
• Laird Superfood Instafuel (Unsweetened)
• Guayaki Unsweetened Yerba Maté

In-Depth With The Top 5

Sound Sparkling Organic Yerba Mate with Citrus and Hibiscus is a naturally sweet drink with the use of botanical extracts that although not technically classified as a energy drink, contains at least 70mg from green tea, yerba mate (“mate or maté also known as chimarrão or cimarrón, is a traditional South American caffeine-rich infused drink. It is made by soaking dried leaves of the yerba mate plant in hot water and is served with a metal straw in a container typically made from calabash gourd”), and white tea.

The MatchaBar Hustle is slightly different in its approach as it is a powered green tea packet that is filled with antioxidants. Matcha itself is proven to aid in the protection against chronic diseases and various cancers.

Now the Vital Proteins Collagen Energy Shots, are a concentrated dose of caffeine which is extracted from the coffee fruit. As the name suggests, they are high in collagen, B vitamins, and also hyaluronic acid, which is a dietary supplement known for treatment of wounds or ulcers let alone a pain killer for arthritis when injected.

With the Mati Unsweetened Sparkling Organic Energy Drink (Unsweetened), has been known by the name of runa tea as it has leaves that come from an evergreen tree found to of been growing in various rainforests such as the Amazon. It has for centuries been consumed by the indigenous Amazonian people and became well known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties to not only produce caffeine but also healing aid.

To complete our top 5, we have the Toro Matcha Sparkling Ginger which if you’re a lemon lover, like me, this will be right up your alley as this drink is packed with those natural flavors. It actually reminds me more like caffeinated tea, especially since compared to its friends listed above, it contains a much lesser amount of caffeine – even less than one cup of coffee!

Another great alternative, that is very natural and in my opinion, more safe for your body, is SunWarrior, who’s site says:

Sunwarrior is a small, growing health food company dedicated to making quality vegan, plant-based products for a better you, and a better planet.

They believe that in this age of processed foods that are stripped of their nutrition, what the body needs most is to get back to nature with the purest, most, nutrition the earth has to offer through plants.

At Sunwarrior, they marvel at the way plants harvest solar energy to pass on to us. With the nutrition of this natural, energizing source, Sunwarrior believes everyone can become a warrior – a warrior for their health and the health of the planet.

All of their products are raw, vegan, and eco-friendly and are free of GMOs, allergens, soy and dairy for ultimate purity.

If you’ve been looking for plant-based products from a company that cares about the planet just as much as your health, you’ve found it. Find your warrior roots and reconnect with nature with Sunwarrior.

One of their products called Warrior Blend Organic Protein

combines 3 potent protein sources – pea, hempseed and goji berries into a smooth, delicious, and nutrient-dense superfood rich in BCAAs. Medium chain triglycerides from coconut enhance this dynamic fusion to create a unique, plant-based protein unlike any other!

Contains all essential amino acids

Promotes muscle function

Supports increasing metabolism to burn fat while building muscle

Supports energy

USDA Certified Organic

Soy-free. Gluten-free. Dairy-free. Vegan. Non-GMO Verified. 

No synthetic or artificial ingredients

Made in the USA

Warrior Blend fuses and multiplies the power of several rich protein sources into one great-tasting formula that’s overwhelmingly superior to the individual components alone. Medium chain triglycerides then joins this dynamic fusion to create plant-based protein with a complete amino acid profile exceptionally rich in Arginine, Lysine, Leucine, and branched chain amino acids.

The next generation in raw, plant-based protein is here, breaking through the constraints of other protein powders. Warrior Blend is an easily digestible, nutrient filled superfood perfect for anyone who wants to amplify their health and fitness.

https://www.nhc.com/warrior-blend-protein-by-sunwarrior

If you think any of these drinks will provide you with the energy you need to get through the day I would suggest trying them out! If you’re new to the world of energy drinks I would definitely start with the ones mentioned directly above, or the options that contain lesser amounts of caffeine.

A Happy You is a Healthy You

When I first heard of golden milk I thought of how cool it is they make a milk with a gold color and wondered why I had never seen it! Turns out upon research I was oh so wrong. golden milk is a nickname given as it is made from turmeric, and not actually created with a gold artificial color of some sort.

Background

Golden milk is traditionally an Indian drink used with the warming up of cows milk or also plant-based milks. Seasonings were then placed into the milk to give it a new use that was claimed to aid in various health benefits such as boosting and fighting against illnesses. Because of curcumin, a component in turmeric known for its use in ancient medicines, this milk ends up being packed with antioxidants. Not only is curcumin an active ingredient but golden milk also calls for both cinnamon and ginger which are also popular for their high antioxidant properties as well!

Health Benefits

I wanted to know more on what specifically this milk has been proven to do, and Healthline.com says

“Chronic inflammation is thought to play a major role in chronic diseases, including cancer, metabolic syndrome, Alzheimer’s and heart disease. For this reason, diets rich in anti-inflammatory compounds may reduce your risk of these conditions. Research shows that ginger, cinnamon and curcumin — the active ingredient in turmeric — have potent anti-inflammatory properties. Studies even suggest that the anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin are comparable to those of some pharmaceutical drugs with none of the side effects.

These anti-inflammatory effects may reduce joint pain from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. For instance, one study in 45 people with rheumatoid arthritis found that 500 milligrams of curcumin daily reduced joint pain more than 50 grams of a common arthritis drug or a combination of curcumin and the drug. Similarly, in a 6-week study in 247 people with osteoarthritis, those given ginger extract experienced less pain and required less pain medication than those given a placebo”

Curcumin is also linked with improving memory and brain functions, mood swings, heart disease, lower blood sugar, reducing the risk of cancer, and even digestion. The list is expansive of things golden milk has been shown to improve and aid in, which is why it has become more and more popular in Western culture. Luckily, its also easy to create or supplement.

Supplementation or in the Kitchen

Medicalnewstoday.com gives the step by step guide so you can prepare it in your own kitchen. They say:

“Golden milk is available online, in health stores, and in some grocery stores. However, a person can easily make golden milk at home.

To make golden milk, a person will need:

½ cup nondairy milk, such as coconut or almond milk

1 tsp turmeric

1 tbsp grated fresh ginger or 1/2 tsp ginger powder

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 pinch ground black pepper (optional)

1 tsp honey

Combine all the ingredients in a pot. Next, bring the mixture to the boil, then reduce to a simmer. Let the mixture simmer for about 10 minutes or until it is fragrant.

To serve, strain the mixture through a fine strainer to remove the spices. Golden milk will keep in the refrigerator for around 5 days.”

The nice thing about this milk is that it can also be used as a powder in the form of a protein, or you can also use it like a normal vitamin. Garden of Life is a great brand that has numerous organic or probiotic supplements that pertain to golden milk. Their mission is to help chronic obesity or diabetes giving nutritional value to their products and promote overall wellness for our bodies. They even offer a supplement especially catered towards golden milk called Garden of Life’s Mykind Organics Golden Milk Recovery & Nourishment. This supplement states it is:

“ideal for bedtime recovery and nourishment. Delicious Golden Milk has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic tradition. Garden of Life added organic coconut water to enhance hydration, a powerful blend of organic ginger, black pepper and Ashwagandha together with organic fermented whole turmeric root and 44 mg of curcumin – the key bioactive compound found in turmeric.”

Recovery and nourishment

Fermented organic turmeric with ginger

Organic black pepper & probiotics for digestion

Certified USDA Organic & Non-GMO Project Verified

Certified Gluten Free by NSF, Certified Vegan & Kosher

mykind Organics entire line of Herbals is Certified USDA Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified ensuring these herbals are clean and grown without toxic pesticides, herbicides or fungicides. They also use an Organic, Non-GMO Verified extraction method so no harsh chemicals or conventional corn alcohol are used.”

Overall

Clearly this milk holds a ton of power when it comes to benefitting the body and promoting health and awareness towards healthy working joints, a healthy mind, and a healthy immune system. A Happy You is a Healthy You!