Anise

Anise (pimpinella anisum) is a herb that grows annually, most commonly used in food or medicine. Although originated from Asia, Anise is now widespread throughout the globe. It has a similar taste to black licorice and it is commonly used for taste regardless of its benefits and uses. Anise is also used for many different types of fragrance-related products for the great smell it produces. The herb, when applied to the skin directly, is also used to treat maladies like lice, scabies, and psoriasis. Anise has been used ever since 1550BC and continues to be used in daily as more and more benefits are being discovered. It should be incorporated in daily diets in moderate quantities, also being safe for children in small doses.

Fun Fact: The smell of Anise keeps insects away and is used in many bug repellents

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Caprylic acid

Found naturally in coconut and palm oil, caprylic acid is an eight-carbon fatty acid. This acid is also found in the milk of cows and humans. It is often used as alternative nutrition for patients who need this specific nutrition supplementation, and also in some food, cosmetic, and drug products. It is advised that people take caprylic acid with either dietary fat such as salad oil and/or butter, or with flax seed oil and/or omega-3 fatty acids. People should also take the supplement when eating food (not cold liquid) to prevent any stomach discomfort. Caprylic acid has many benefits, including treating yeast infections and athlete’s foot due to its anti-fungal properties, and maintaining a level of good microbes in your body.

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CoQ10 acid

CoQ10 or Coenzyme Q10, an essential molecule that takes on a big role in the conversion of food to energy, is available for consumption through various foods and produce, and promoted the healthy functioning of bodily tissues and liver. Also an antioxidant, CoQ10 also aids in the protection of the body from free radical associated damage. Around three-fourths of the CoQ10 we use are produced internally, leaving only around twenty-five percent that we acquire through diet. Foods like poultry, fish and meat contain CoQ10, but only in very small amounts, so a lot of these foods must be consumed for there to be a significant elevation of blood CoQ10. The best way to consistently take in CoQ10 may therefore be through CoQ10 supplements.

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High fiber diet

In order for the digestive tract to function properly and efficiently, one must consume both an adequate amount of fluid and fiber. Risks of heart disease, obesity and diabetes can be lowered by consuming a high fiber diet. Insoluble and soluble make up the two varieties of fibers, but most plant based foods will have a mixture of the two types. Insoluble fiber functions by staying unchanged throughout digestion, which will allow for it to increase the mass of waste as well as softening it so that bowel movements will be easier. Soluble fibers, instead, will turn to gel, which will aid in slowing digestion. Split peas, black beans, lima beans, lentils, green peas, artichoke, raspberries, apple, pear, barley and spaghetti are all food products that are high in fiber. Women and men should each try to aim for 21-25 grams of fiber and 30-38 grams of fiber daily, respectively. 

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Cranberry

Being of the same genus of blueberries and growing throughout Canada, small evergreen shrubs are numerous atop great sandy bogs and low trail vines. Over the years, it has come to be a remedy for the treatment of urinary infections. Cranberries contain chemicals that prevent bacteria adhesion to cells that line the urinary tract, where they could have multiplied. Jams, candies, sauce, dried fruit, and juice are the various ways in which cranberries are available in the market today.

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Quercetin

Antioxidants, which scavenge the body for free radicals that tamper with DNA, damage cell membranes and possibly cause death, can neutralize these free radicals and are believed to be capable of prevention of some of the damage they cause. The plant pigment Quercetin is a flavonoid, which also happens to be an antioxidant. Many plants and foods, like American elder, onions, apples, green tea, red wine, berries, St. John’s wort, Ginkgo biloba, and others contain Quercetin. Buckwheat tea, in particular, is known to have large stores of Quercetin.

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Theanine

In short, Theanine is health food for the brain. 
Also known as L-Theanine, it is found in the world’s most popular beverage second to water – green and black tea!  Discovered in Japan in 1949, tea laboratories there found a way to extract it from the leaves of the kyokuro plant that contain­­­ high amounts of Theanine.  The United States too have discovered trace amounts of Theanine in edible mushrooms.  It is manufactured in tablet form and taken as a dietary supplement. 
The properties of Theanine primarily affect the functioning of the brain where alpha wave activities influence the mental state of relaxation. It promotes calmness, relaxes the mind without inducing drowsiness, and helps to relieve anxiety and stress.  It increases the production of the hormone dopamine which is responsible for the feelings of well-being.  It can also be used as a natural remedy to anti-anxiety medications since it has the ability to cross the body’s blood-brain barrier, a protective filter that prevents certain compounds from entering the brain. As a substitute it eliminates side effects, specifically drowsiness, that is commonly associated with these medications. It protects the brain cells from damage and begins the repair process by producing proteins that are necessary for new cell growth.
A Chinese study has shown that drinking tea and maintaining a high level of Theanine reduces the risk of a stroke by 40%, and counter-acts its negative symptoms such as memory loss and brain tissue damage.  Theanine, in combination with caffeine, has been found to boost mental capabilities by improving creativity, concentration and alertness, speed and accuracy in certain mental tasks, and reducing distraction during a memory exercise - all without the jitters of high caffeine intake.  Though studies have primarily focussed on its stress-relieving and calming agents, they do not preclude other possible health benefits ranging from cancer and stroke prevention to weight loss. Green tea also contains antioxidant that fights cancer and heart disease. Research with mice have found that Theanine successfully shrink tumours and lower blood pressure. 
Many people innocently speak of having “a relaxing cup of tea” without the knowledge that their state of mind really is affected by the Theanine in their tea!

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