Baobab Leaves For Food And Medicine.

The baobab tree is a very important tree in the areas where it grows because of its numerous benefits

and uses. All the parts of the tree are useful for food, medicine, shelter, water and other uses. It is also called the Tree of Life and the African baobab is called Adansonia digitata.

Although baobab fruit pulp is more popular, baobab leaves are nutrient-rich and have the following nutrients which are beneficial for good health:

• Carbohydrates; sugars and soluble fiber (mucilage).
• Proteins
• Vitamins; carotenes, riboflavin and vitamin C.
• Minerals; potassium, iron, magnesium,manganese, phosphorus,zinc and calcium.

Medicinal uses of baobab leaves.

1. Baobab leaves have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which makes them ideal for preventing oxidative stress and chronic inflammation in the body. This results in a decrease in the risk of some chronic health conditions. They also boost the immune system.
2. Baobab leaves have anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties, making them useful in treating infections of the skin.
3. Baobab leaves contain mucilage, a form of soluble fiber with numerous health properties including lowering blood cholesterol levels, regulating blood sugar levels and boosting digestive health. Read more about fiber and mucilaginous foods here and here.
4. The leaf juice or extract can be used to treat skin disorders.
5. Mashed leaves can be used as a face mask to brighten the skin and treat acne, pimples, etc.
6. The leaves are astringent and so, can be used to relieve excessive perspiration and used to treat sores and wounds.

Baobab leaves are commonly used to prepare vegetable soups or to thicken soups in Nigeria because of their mucilaginous properties. Miyan kuka is a popular soup made with dried and powdered baobab leaves, spices, ground pepper, ginger, garlic, palm oil, fish and other protein sources. These are all raw ingredients with so many health promoting nutrients.

It doesn’t really matter what part of the world you live in or come from, the raw food products around you provide the best nutrition. Baobab leaves definitely boost nutrition and promote wellness at a cheap price or no cost to the people who live where they grow.

Please add to this article below if you know about other good uses of baobab leaves. Follow on Twitter @heal2bwell.

Can Our Body Systems Process Synthetic Products?

Over the years, some of the food products that we have been consuming have been modified in the process of extending shelf-life, improving flavour, taste, texture, safety, freshness, appearance, etc. Thousands of synthetic ingredients are added to food products daily and we are finding nothing wrong with this.

Synthetic chemicals come into our bodies through trans fats, additives, colourings, dyes, sweeteners, fertilizers etc. During food processing preservatives, additives and colourings are added to food sometimes to replace some important ingredients like fiber, natural flavours and vital nutrients which are lost. Other synthetic ingredients enter the food we consume through packaging or storage materials. By-products of manufacturing find their ways into the atmosphere, soil and water, causing pollution and eventually find a way back to us.

Our body biology and chemistry were designed to break down organic substances, so what happens to the inorganic substances that we consume and inhale? Can our metabolic pathways handle synthetic or man-made ingredients? Can the human body break down or eliminate synthetic food products which were not formed by nature? Are they passed out of the body without being absorbed or are they absorbed or broken down into other products which cause harm to the body on the long run?

Because these are some questions that no one has definite answers for, it is safer to use products in their natural forms and as much as possible, in their raw forms. Natural products nourish the body while artificial ones undermine it on the long run. It is time to look beyond aesthetics and find real food more appealing in their natural and sometimes unattractive state.

Below are some food ingredients that I have question marks for that most of us consider to be normal;

• Trans fats which are actually damaged molecules of fats.
• High fructose corn syrup (HFCS).
• Monosodium glutamate (MSG).
• Preservatives like sodium benzoate, sodium nitrite, butylated hydrozyttoluene, etc.
• Artificial sweeteners like aspartame.
• Artificial colouring agents.

In order to avoid added synthetic ingredients, it is better to do more of your food preparation yourself. We appreciate comments and questions below.  Follow on Twitter @heal2well for updates.

The Wonderful Health Benefits Of Flax Seeds.

Flax seeds are also called linseeds. They are the seeds from flax, which is called Linum usitatissium.

Flax seeds are important in diets because they are rich sources of dietary fiber, proteins, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals.

Nutritional profile of flax seeds.

• Flax seeds are high in fatty acids like linolenic and linoleic acids. They also contain omega-3 (alpha-linolenic acid ALA), some omega-6 fatty acid, polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids.
• Flax seeds are high in proteins and contain a lot of essential amino acids.
• They have high contents of vitamins like riboflavin, thiamine, niacin, pantothenic acid, folate, pyridoxine vitamin C and E. Vitamins C and E are powerful antioxidants.
• They contain calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, iron and zinc which help with proper metabolism and functioning of the body.
• They contain both soluble and insoluble fiber.
• Flax seeds also contain lignans which have antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic properties. Lignans are fiber-like polyphenols which are phytoestrogens. Flax seeds are one of the best sources of lignans.

Some health benefits of flax seeds.

1. Flax seeds can help in lowering blood cholesterol levels because of the dietary fiber, omega-3 fatty acids and lignans.
2. Flax seeds can fight chronic inflammation because of the antioxidants. Chronic inflammation is one of the leading causes of chronic diseases including cancer. The lignans in flax seeds may reduce the occurrence of many chronic disorders.
3. Flax seeds can prevent stroke heart and cardiovascular diseases because of the healthy fats present.
4. Flax seeds can help in diabetes because fiber can help to regulate blood sugar levels.
5. Lignans help in cancer treatment because they have the ability to stop tumours from forming new blood vessels.
6. Flax seeds boost digestive health because of the fiber.
7. Flax seeds are used to treat female hormonal imbalances and menopausal issues.
8. They help to treat respiratory tract disorders because of their anti-inflammatory properties.

There are so many ways that you can incorporate flax seeds to your diet for health, if you can obtain it easily in your locality. You can add to your cereal, oatmeal, soups, smoothies, salads, pap, yogurt etc. It can also be sprinkled on meals or baked with breads, cakes, muffins doughnuts etc. Flax seeds must be ground before being used or else they will pass through the digestive system without being digested. Flax seeds easily become rancid when ground, upon exposure to light and air, so it is best to grind enough to use at once.

Flax seeds are considered to be wonder foods. Let’s know what you have to say about flax seeds below. Follow on Twitter @heal2bwell.

How To Lower Blood Pressure Naturally.

High blood pressure is referred to as hypertension and it is a condition that is diagnosed when systolic pressure is consistently over 120 and diastolic pressure is over 80. Individuals that have been diagnosed with high blood pressure are usually placed on medication to control their blood pressure and prevent some of symptoms that are associated with this condition.

High blood pressure is usually a sign that there are imbalances in the body that are caused by other

factors. Treating high blood pressure successfully will involve removing these underlying causes in addition to using medications which only treat the symptoms.

Healthy lifestyle choices are important in having a good status of health and when there are imbalances in the body, lifestyle changes have to be made. High blood pressure is lined to significantly raising the risk of heart failure, heart attack, stroke and kidney disease.

The best approach to dealing with high blood pressure is through lifestyle changes in order to heal and avoid a lifelong dependence on drugs with bad side effects. Some natural ways to lower blood pressure are below:

1. Dietary approach. There is more awareness now that a lifelong approach to healthy eating is one of the keys to staying healthy, reduce the risks of diseases, including preventing and lowering blood pressure. Most diets that are focused on lowering blood pressure follow the following basic guidelines;  

• Eating more fruits, vegetables and low-fat foods.
• Eating more whole-grain foods, fish, poultry and nuts.
• Cutting down or reducing the consumption of red meats, refined grains, salt (sodium), sugary beverages, caffeine and alcohol.
• Eating more of foods that are rich in fiber, potassium and magnesium.

While dietary approach is an important component of lowering blood pressure, other components are:

1. Regular exercise and activity help to reduce blood pressure gives you more energy and helps to reduce stress. Strength training, aerobics and stretching are the three basic types of exercise that help.
2. Weight loss or maintaining good weight is important in lowering and controlling blood pressure. Weight increase is usually related to an increase in blood pressure.
3. Reduce stress because chronic stress increases blood pressure. Identify and remove stressors, find ways to relax, meditate and massage are some ways to de-stress.
4. There are herbs that significantly lower blood pressure without side effects. Common ones are hawthorn, hibiscus, cat’s claw, garlic, cardamom, celery seeds,

Drugs and medications have never reversed hypertension but have only been known to lower it temporarily while natural approaches have been proven to bring the body back to balance without nasty side effects. Our health choices are personal, so it’s your choice to steps to heal properly or just deal with symptoms and side effects for life.

So many people are dealing with hypertension and some of its complications daily! Share your tips below if you’ve got any that can help please. Follow on Twitter @heal2bwell.

Lose Weight And Improve Your Health With Tiger Nuts Powder.

Tiger nuts are actually the roots of Cyperus esculentus plant which are also called aya in Hausa, ofio in Yoruba, imumu or aki Hausa in Igbo, nut grass, yellow nuts edge, chufa sedge, earth almond

and other names in different parts of the world.

Tiger nuts are quite common in Nigeria especially in the North, where they are used. Despite their moderate consumption, they are still under-utilized because most people are not aware of the fantastic health benefits of adding tiger nuts to meals.

When tiger nuts are chewed, most people do not swallow the fiber, which is one of the vital nutrients of tiger nuts. When they are also processed into a sweet milky beverage, the part that contains the fiber is discarded or used as animal feed.

Tiger nuts are nutrient-dense and fiber-rich foods which promote good health and healing. They contain more fiber than most other popular fiber sources like oat bran, rice bran and flax seeds. I have previously written about the nutritional content and health benefits of tiger nuts here. You can also read about the benefits of eating fiber-rich foods here.

A good way to obtain the full benefits of tiger nuts is to grind them into a powder which is added to other flours, pastes, pap, oatmeal and other foods during preparation. Tiger nuts also contain anti-nutrients such as tannins, alkaloids and polyphenols which can be reduced by boiling them or soaking them in water for at least 6 hours.

Most health-conscious people know how important fiber is to good health. Tiger nuts powder makes an easy, affordable and delicious fiber source. Making the powder is simply by grinding the nuts. Tiger nuts are cheap, easy to get and available all year round. An ounce or 28g of tiger nuts provides about 40% of your daily fiber need.

Eating foods in their natural forms or with natural processing methods is the best way to eat safely. We need to go back to eating the way our fore fathers ate to reverse the current plague of metabolic diseases and disorders. Most natural foods contain nutrients in the form your body needs them.

Please share healthy meals, snacks or ingredients that you know below. Please share other names that you know tiger nuts as below. Follow on Twitter @heal2bwell for updates.

What You Need To Heal Is Right Next To You.

Most of us want miracles but, unfortunately, miracles are uncommon and so, we are left with reality which is most often tough. Healing, recovery and wellness take time and need hard work, commitment, common sense plus dedication.

In our quest for quick fixes, there are those who will take advantage of us. What most of us don't realize is that what we have around us is all that we need for wellness.

Many want that super food or wonder supplement that is from the other end of the world because it has been claimed to provide nutrients that can not be gotten from any other. Before you stress yourself, check the nutritional content and you will find that those same nutrients can be obtained from food and plant sources around you.

If you follow a healthy balanced diet that contains the three macro nutrients, fiber, nuts, spices, fruits and vegetables, you will go a long way to achieving wellness and keeping disease at bay.  Good food is good medicine!

Like my people will say, "What you are are searching for in Sokoto town is right inside your sokoto (trousers). This translates into what you are searching for so far away is already on you or right next to you.

So remember always that God has designed nature to provide all we need according to our locality. You have got your own exotic super duper active phytochemicals in your backyard, kitchen or garden.

Have you got something to say or add to this? Please do so below. You can follow this blog on Twitter @heal2bwell.

SOS! Healthcare System Sinking! …---…

I love my country so I must cry out for help. My country is seriously ill. We are dying in so many

ways. We need help because we are in a big mess.

Our healthcare system is non-existent like so many systems in Nigeria and it has been ranked as one of the worst in the world, despite our oil wealth. Education is finished, Employment has packed its bags and left our shores, quality is at its lowest, poverty is king and it seems lie no one really cares about the ordinary man. It’s all a big shame! There is so much that is wrong with our healthcare system that there seems to be no point in making a list. Our healthcare is not really sinking, it is sunk.

This is an SOS to people all over the world. My people are dying like insects. We seriously need help, not money. We do not need monetary donations because the people that really need intervention are never going to receive it. Please give us the items no one can use personally or else some greedy, sticky hands will not allow them to reach others. We need hospitals, health centers, equipment, personnel, people with love and compassion for others, quality and affordable healthcare for the poor, the rich, the underprivileged, the haves and have-nots; in fact for every soul.

The book of Ecclesiastes chapter three says that for everything, there is a season. Well, this is our season and time to beg for charity in the area of health. The average person in my country is dying, if not quickly, but slowly. We are dying anyway and it is sad and disheartening. I am seriously praying and begging for good healthcare in Nigeria. There is no place like home.

To learn more about the healthcare system in Nigeria, here are some articles;

http://africansuntimes.com/2016/01/change-in-nigerias-healthcare-system/

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/the-paradox-of-nigerian-healthcare/182784/

http://www.nigeriadevelopmentandfinanceforum.org/PolicyDialogue/Dialogue.aspx?Edition=49

https://www.thecable.ng/change-in-nigerias-healthcare-system

We urgently need medicine that makes sense in place. Convectional, alternative, complimentary,
traditional, Eastern, Western, Ayurveda or any medicine that works, saves lives, will not deceive or exploit and is affordable. We need healthcare personnel who value human life and the quality of life over money, power and financial gain.

I know that a lot of us Nigerians have something to say or add to this. Please do so below. We do need a mighty change. Without a reasonable health system in place, our country is ill. Follow on Twitter @heal2bwell for updates.