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Beneficial properties of chamomile are abundant due to its rich and healthy composition. This composition includes one of the most important essential oils -  azulene (otherwise known as Matricaria chamomilla, Matricaria recutita,) which has anti-inflammatory and soothing properties when used as a skin healing agent. Chamomile tea, which is brewed from dried chamomile flower heads, is a natural remedy for stress; it calms and normalizes the nervous system.  Tea is beneficial not only for adults, but also children, for whom it is recommended to drink chamomile tea before bed because of its relaxing and soothing properties.  Chamomile tea has other useful properties which have been repeatedly proven in the course of epidemiological studies.

Chamomile tea also contains apigenin which is a flavonoid and like most flavonoids it has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties. The presence of these flavonoids varies greatly depending on tea brands. All of this has led to the frequent use of chamomile in folk medicine for the prevention and treatment of many diseases. Chamomile tea protects the body from such dangerous and serious diseases as cancer of the stomach and digestive disorders. Moreover, chamomile helps increase blood circulation and also protects from various heart and circulatory diseases including stroke. Additionally, camomile tea normalizes the nervous system and helps to improve eyesight. It also contains fluorine, which strengthens teeth and bones.



Chamomile Tea Heath Benefits Also Include


Improvement of sleep
Chamomile tea is best known as a tool for improving sleep. It is known for its relaxing and soothing properties. You need to take it  before going to sleep.

Digestive Aid
Chamomile helps with various stomach problems. It soothes pain in the stomach, relieves irritable bowel syndrome and helps to remove harmful substances from the body.  Along with peppermint, chamomile is often included in the composition of tea to improve digestion.

Menstrual pain
Ancient Egyptians used chamomile for the relief of menstrual pain.  Modern medicine has also started to do it. In one study it was found that the consumption of chamomile tea has increased the level of glycine in the urine, the substance that soothes muscle spasms. Researchers believe that chamomile tea therefore can help to relieve menstrual pain.

Hemorrhoid Relief
In one of the studies, it was found that rubbing daisies onto your body help with hemorrhoids.

Cold Relief
Chamomile has the ability to strengthen the immune system and helps to fight colds due to its antibacterial properties.

Healing of wounds
Egyptians, Romans and Greeks used chamomile flowers with hot compresses on wounds for their quick healing. In one study, rats were given an extract of chamomile water, after which their wounds healed faster.

Helps with diabetes
In one study it showed that daily consumption of chamomile tea prevents the development of complications in diabetes and hyperglycemia.

Cancer
Laboratory studies show possible properties that protect against certain types of cancer which are due to certain flavonoids contained in Chamomile.

The daily use of chamomile tea has a beneficial strengthening effect on your overall health.
 
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Fermented Food: Beneficial Bacteria for your body
Fermented food products contain the ideal amount of vitamin A and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Living lactobacteria helps to protect the body from viruses, harmful micro-organisms, pathogenic bacteria, yeast and parasites.   Fermented food is an excellent source of useful bacteria, such as probiotics and enzymes. Fermented foods are also rich in vitamins, in some cases, the content of them is even higher than in the fresh vegetables. For example, the content of vitamin C in acidic cabbage exceeds the content in fresh cabbage.  Lacto-fermentation neutralizes the effect of compounds that inhibit the absorption of minerals. Studies show that people who eat fermented food, absorb iron better even in comparison with those who eat a lot of raw vegetables. The by-products of fermentation help our body break down fat, lower blood pressure, regulate the composition of blood, serve as neuro-transmitters, regulates the functioning of the nervous system and also reduces pressure on the heart.  Some of the bacteria that appears as a result of fermentation acts as a natural antibiotic, improving the synthesis of useful vitamins and substances and slowing down the synthesis of pathogenic bacteria. Probiotics help to develop beneficial bacteria that strengthen your immune system while maintaining the overall health of the digestive system and of the whole body.

In 1908 Ilya Mechnikov became a laureate of the Nobel prize in physiology and medicine for his research on the benefits of a diet rich in enzymes. He studied the phenomenon of Bulgarian longevity. Based on statistical data from Bulgaria,  many of the inhabitants of this country have reached a hundred years old. The scientist came to the conclusion that the main reason for the health and longevity of Bulgarians are the microbes contained in Bulgarian yogurt.

Why are fermented foods beneficial for our health?


* They restore a proper balance of bacteria in the intestine and can be useful in facilitating and reducing disease, such as, lactose intolerance, asthma, allergies, fungal infection, constipation and irritable bowel syndrome.

* Healthy food, rich in digestive enzymes, increases the number of antibodies which fight infection and help to reinforce the immune system.

* The abundance of digestive enzymes contributes to the processing of food in the body and the proper absorption of nutrients derived from food.

* Such products enriched with vitamins, contributes to the development of additional nutrients like omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.

* High concentration of antioxidants allows you to withdraw free radicals from the body.


There is a big choice of products containing digestive enzymes such as

  Yoghurt

  Kefir

  Kimchi -  fermented Chinese cabbage; Sour kraut. Can be bought in the store or prepared at home.

  Apple cider vinegar. Can be added to homemade sauces, marinades.

  Kombucha

  Kvas. It is a living fermentation. It contains high levels of enzymes and is enriched with vitamins.

Overall, you can ferment any vegetables you want. The process is not hard at all once you get a good grip on it. Making your own homemade fermented products is easy and a much healthier alternative to store bought foods. By adding fermented products to your daily diet, you will improve digestion, increase immunity and get rid of toxins.

 
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Easter Eggs Naturally
Painting eggs can be a lot of fun for the whole family. You don't need to buy commercial food coloring when you can use all natural methods.

How to paint eggs in the onion peel

 Onion peel - famous and accessible at all times. The eggs can be painted in colors from yellow to red-brown. The color depends on the concentration of the decoction. First of all, prepare a decoction of onion peel (the more peel, the better), give it time to brew. Do not forget to thoroughly wash the eggs and after that put them in the onion peel water. Bring the whole thing to a boil and cook after boiling for 10 minutes, remove and dry them. If you rub the eggs with any oil, it will give them a nice shine.

Using herbs as a template

The leaves of parsley or any other fresh herbs can serve as a template. To do this, place the small leaves on top of the egg shells so that you can get the desired picture and carefully stick the egg into an old synthetic sock or nylon tights. Tie carefully so that leaves are tightly concentrated on the egg, and then place the eggs in a decoction of onion peel. When you take the eggs out, they will have picturesque white patterns - prints of leaves. Instead of leaves of parsley, you can take any other leaf.

Using rice and vegetable juices for color and design

Another smart trick is to roll wet eggs in rice, cover tightly with nylon or cheese cloth (as in the previous version around the edges) and boil them in the onion peel water. The eggs become brown with bright spots.
You can also rub the juice of beets, carrots, or spinach onto the boiled eggs.
Put the eggs in a saucepan, cover with water. Add a teaspoon of vinegar. Boil for 15 minutes with natural coloring additives:

light-red - beet or blueberries
orange - onions
light-yellow - oranges or lemons, carrots
yellow -  turmeric,  walnut shells
light green-spinach leaves
green - green apples
blue -  red cabbage leaves
beige or brown - coffee

If you want the eggs to be more bright,  put them in the same broth overnight in the refrigerator.

You can also wrap eggs with  multicolored thread, then they have fun designs.

You can also paint Easter eggs inside. You need to boil them for 3 minutes.  Then take them out and pierce the shell with a needle. Then add cinnamon or coriander and boil them for some time until ready.

Have fun!

 
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Olives make a great healthy snack as they contribute to the prevention of many diseases . Olives contain a lot of vitamins and macro/micro elements which do wonders to our body. Additionally, olives contain a large amount of fatty acids and antioxidants, including lutein, a potent antioxidant that neutralizes the action of free radicals and protects our body from aging.


 
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 Coconut oil offers  enormous health benefits and thus,  it has become an important part of our quest to a healthy lifestyle. Now the question is which coconut oil should we buy, what to look for in coconut oil, and does it really matter?   There are four things you should look for in a coconut oil in order to get the best health benefits it offers.

1. Look for Virgin or Extra Virgin, unrefined coconut oil.
It is made with fresh coconut and is not processed with heat and extra chemicals thus has higher nutrient content. Virgin Coconut oil still contains its natural phytonutrients, thus retaining its original taste and aroma. On the contrary, refined coconut oil is usually made from dried coconut and undergoes high heat to purify it.


 
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counting calories
Counting calories does not work and thus, can be pointless.   Constant calorie counting can lead any woman into a depression. However, the question is whether such calorie counting can be linked to weight loss .  The common understanding is that it is a common unit of energy, which is contained in all products. Caloric value - the amount of energy the body can get by digesting food. Caloric value is needed for metabolism in both a state of rest and in the moment of action.The majority of people spend up to 70 % of their total daily consumption of physiological energy during rest. For women, that is equal to 800 - 1200 calories a day. Any decrease of calories will lead to a slowing down of your metabolism. We eat less, and as a result, the body begins to save the calories, which makes it difficult to shed excess weight. Therefore, those who want to lose weight should try to maintain a high metabolic state.


 
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The experts came to the conclusion that vitamin D is important not only for the formation of bones, but also for the development of muscle fibers.

The new studies were published in the journal of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise that showed how Vitamin D helps to increase muscle mass. The scientists performed a study of 419 volunteer fromt the age from 20 to 76 years. They analyzed the physical status of the subjects, taking into account such factors as age, sex,body mass index, blood pressure, and levels of vitamin D in the blood.

The findings concluded that that the participants with the highest indicators of vitamin D were the ones with greater muscle mass and physical strength.

Conversely, Vitamin D deficiency leads to increased body fat, decreased muscle strength and other health problems. Dr. Richard Kremer, co-director of the Musculoskeletal Axis of the Research Institute of the MUHC, stated that "Vitamin D insufficiency is a risk factor for other diseases because it is linked to increased body fat, it may affect many different parts of the body. Abnormal levels of Vitamin D are associated with a whole spectrum of diseases, including cancer, osteoporosis and diabetes, as well as cardiovascular and autoimmune disorders."

Good sources of Vitamin D are Sardines, Eggs, Shiitake Mushrooms. 

 
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Did you know that Queen Elizabeth drinks raw milk? According to some reports, she loves raw milk so much that when her grandchildren, Princes William and Harry studied at Eton, she asked one of the herdsmen to deliver raw milk from her Windsor herd to her grandchildren.

Pasteurization is a process in which the temperature of the milk kills useful bacteria, valuable enzymes and proteins. After pasteurization, you drink a dead liquid, which brings no benefit and may actually do more harm than good.

Is raw milk healthier than pasteurized?
Yes, If you drink fresh raw milk from healthy cows which are fed grass, it is quite beneficial for health. The health benefits of raw milk are abundant. It is rich in enzymes and actually contains all 22 essential amino acids. Raw milk is a good source of calcium, also contains phosphorus (which is important for digestion). It is an excellent source of vitamins, particularly vitamin B12, which is hard to find in the non meat products. It contains 60 functional enzymes (some come from beneficial bacteria growing in raw milk). Raw Milk also contains vitamins A, B and C. Studies show that raw cow's milk contains special enzymes and antibodies, which in fact make it less susceptible to bacteria.  Conjugated linoleic acid helps prevent  lipase from storing new fat cells in the body and thus  prevents weight gain.  CLA, or conjugated linoleic acid,  is also supposed to have many beneficial cancer fighting properties.

The underground culture of raw milk is becoming more and more popular but you have to decide for yourself whether raw milk is the right choice for you and your family.

 
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What is Kefir?
Kefir is a refreshing and extremely healthy beverage which is known for its easy digestibility.  Kefir means "feel good" in Turkish.  It is a unique fermented milk product made by fermenting milk with kefir grains which quenches both thirst and hunger, helps to reduce weight and is equally beneficial for adults and children. It has been proven theoretically and practically that Kefir is not only able to normalize the microflora of the stomach and intestines, but also has an effect on our nervous system and metabolism (which helps significantly reduce the risk of developing a oncological disease).

The Origins of Kefir
The homeland of kefir is considered the Northern Caucasus Mountains. In the Caucasus there are a lot of legends about the origin of kefir, more precisely, kefir leaven. One of the local names of kefir grains is "millet of the prophet." However, in the Caucasus the making kefir for centuries was kept a secret.


 
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Low fat diet has become an obsession in our society. It is promoted from every possible angle. It has become a mission to find dairy products that actually contain their original fat. What happened? How did it all start and how did we all get so sucked into it?
The New York Times has published a great article about the low fat obsession in America,  "In 1988, the surgeon general, C. Everett Koop, proclaimed ice cream to a be public-health menace right up there with cigarettes. Alluding to his office’s famous 1964 report on the perils of smoking, Dr. Koop announced that the American diet was a problem of “comparable” magnitude, chiefly because of the high-fat foods that were causing coronary heart disease and other deadly ailments. He introduced his report with these words: “The depth of the science base underlying its findings is even more impressive than that for tobacco and health in 1964.”
    In the case of fatty foods, that confident voice belonged to Ancel Keys, a prominent diet researcher a half-century ago (the K-rations in World War II were said to be named after him). He became convinced in the 1950s that Americans were suffering from a new epidemic of heart disease because they were eating more fat than their ancestors.