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Yerba Mate Benefits

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Yerba mate benefits the mind and body. Yerba mate or mate as it is often called is traditionally consumed in the central and southern regions of South America, where it is often a social event to drink mate.

Yerba Mate Benefits – The Social Aspect

It’s not unusual to see people walking down the street sipping mate while carrying a thermos of hot water to refresh their drink. When you are asked to share mate with someone, it is a sign of friendship and bonding.

Yerba Mate Benefits – A Physical Impact

Yerba mate is made from the dried leaves of the evergreen holly, a plant native to South America. Due to the high quantity of polyphenols found in mate, many health promoting claims have been made about it.  Studies have concluded that Yerba mate benefits include improved allergy symptoms, reduced risk of diabetes mellitus and high blood sugar in mice.

Yerba Mate Benefits – A Weight Loss Tool

Mate also acts as an appetite suppressant and could be effective as a weight loss tool.  It increases energy expenditure, improves insulin sensitivity, and burns stored fat.  Athletes have been known to use it to enhance physical performance.  This tea has been shown to increases mental energy and focus, improves mood, and promotes deeper sleep.  Yerba mate benefits include being used as a digestive aid, its use as a general nerve tonic for pain, fatigue, and depression.

With a powerful nutrient profile Yerba mate benefits the body.  It is said to have the strength of coffee, the health benefits of tea, and the euphoria of chocolate all in one beverage.  That is a big claim; lets look more deeply at the benefits and side effects of consuming Yerba mate.

Yerba Mate Benefits – A Powerful Mood Enhancer

Providing gentle, clean and calm energy replacing your morning coffee with Yerba mate will bring about alert wakefulness with out the jitters or crash often associated with coffee.  Mate stimulates the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain which is the cause for increased motivation and productivity.

Yerba Mate Benefits – Nutritional Impact

Each serving of mate contains the following vitamins and minerals:

•vitamin A

•vitamin C

•vitamins B1, B2, B3, and B5

•vitamin E

•calcium

•iron

•magnesium

•manganese

•phosphorus

•potassium

•selenium

•sodium

•sulfur

•zinc

This doesn’t include the beneficial phytonutrient tannins, trace minerals, chlorophyll, flavonols, polyphenols, and 15 amino acids.  The polyphenols in Yerba mate exhibit more antioxidant power than any other tea-based drink.  These potent antioxidant compounds protect the cardiovascular system as the theobromine in mate relaxes the blood vessels allowing for better flow.

Yerba Mate Benefits – Boost Your Immune System

Yerba mate is high in compounds called saponins which boost the immune system. These natural anti-inflammatory properties have been shown to be useful for treating bladder infections.  This compound is also helpful in modulating an overactive immune system.  Helpful in treating constipation, diarrhea, indigestion and parasites it’s natural antibacterial properties fight against E. coli, one of the most common causes of food poisoning.  It’s also useful for both preventing and treating bladder and kidney stones.

Yerba Mate Benefits

Yerba Mate Benefits – Enjoy A Cup Today

Traditionally, you would drink Yerba mate out of hallowed out gourds packed with the loose leaves. Leisurly you would sip the mate through a “bombilla”, a special metallic drinking straw.  The easiest way to get started is using Yerba mate tea bags and drinking it out of a regular mug.  Some find the taste earthy, like grass.  The tea can be diluted so that you can build your way up to a stronger cup. Add some honey to your mate to make the taste more palatable.

Yerba Mate Benefits – Resources

Be Brain Fit

Guayaki

Wikipedia – Yerba Mate

Health Benefits Of Spirulina 

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The health benefits of spirulina are undeniable. Spirulina is hailed as a superfood that promotes body and brain health.  This blue-green “miracle” algae grows naturally in oceans and salty lakes in subtropical climates.

Health Benefits Of Spirulina – Abundant Nutrients For The Body

Spirulina is rich in nutrients, some of which aren’t found in the average daily vitamin. According to the FDA, the health benefits of Spirulina include significant amounts of calcium, niacin, potassium, magnesium, B vitamins and iron.  Spirulina is a great source of B complex vitamins, beta-carotene, vitamin E, manganese, zinc, copper, iron, selenium and antioxidants.  It also has essential amino acids (compounds that are the building blocks of proteins).  In fact, protein makes up about 60 to 70 percent of Spirulina’s dry weight.

Health Benefits Of Spirulina – An Antioxidant Powerhouse

One of the health benefits of Spirulina comes from its antioxidant properties. Spirulina protects our cells by warding off inflammation and other dis-eases in the body.  Spirulina has been shown to positively reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering “the bad” LDL cholesterol and triglycerides in the body while promoting HDL “the good” cholesterol.  In higher doses, spirulina could reduce blood pressure.

Health Benefits Of Spirulina – It’s Full Of Protein

Anemia is a fairly common aliment which can lead to fatigue due to a reduction in hemoglobin or red blood cells in the blood.  When one’s diet is supplemented with spirulina, it has been documented that hemoglobin content of red blood cells increase.

Spirulina has 4 grams of protein in a single tablespoon making it a more concentrated source of protein than red meat and only 20 calories.  With a high concentration of bio-available iron it is excellent during pregnancy and for those with anemia as it will not cause constipation.  The health benefits of Spirulina are compounding in the body as the proteins and nutrients are bioavailable and easily absorbed.

Health Benefits Of Spirulina – Detox The Body

The health benefits of Spirulina include its ability to detoxify the body. It is great at cleansing the body of heavy metals by binding to them and removing them from the body.  Evidence suggests that it can bind to radioactive isotopes and may be useful for radioactivity exposure or radiation therapy.  A combination of zinc and Spirulina may help the body clear arsenic in people whose drinking water has unusually high levels, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH).

Health Benefits Of Spirulina – Prevent What Ails You

Many people promote Spirulina as a treatment for a range of metabolism and heart health issues, including weight loss, diabetes and high cholesterol, according to the NIH.  The health benefits of Spirulina help a range of eclectic health problems, including premenstrual symptoms and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease), according to the NIH.  People also recommend Spirulina as an aid for various mental and emotional disorders, including anxiety, stress, depression and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Health Benefits Of Spirulina – It’s Nontoxic

Toxicological studies of the effects of spirulina consumption on humans and animals, including feeding as much as 800 mg/kg, and replacing up to 60% of protein intake with spirulina, have shown no toxic effects.  Fertility, teratogenicity, peri- and postnatal, and multigenerational studies on animals also have found no adverse effects from spirulina consumption.

Doctors consider Spirulina to be safe in general, especially in light of its long history as a food.  Spirulina may become contaminated with toxic metals, harmful bacteria and microcystins — toxins produced from some algae —if it is grown in unsafe conditions.  Be sure to buy Spirulina from a trusted source and always buy organic when possible.

Health Benefits Of Spirulina – Get Some Today

Spirulina is available in tablet, flake and powder form.  Adding a tablespoon a day to your fresh green juice or to 8 ounces of water will kill the sugar/carb cravings you have and keep you full for hours.  For those that want to reap the benefits of this powerhouse but can’t hack the flavor, capsules are a great way to go as spirulina has a very strong taste.  A little experimentation will help you find the way you will most enjoy adding Spirulina to your diet.  Here is a recipe to try:

Health Benefits Of Spirulina

Recipe from: Skinny Girls Don’t Diet

Spirulina Chips

What You’ll Need:

6 potatoes, thinly sliced

2 teaspoons paprika

2 teaspoons garlic powder

2 tablespoons spirulina

1 teaspoon cumin

3 tablespoons Bragg’s Liquid Aminos

What You’ll Do:

Preheat the oven to 350°F.  Cover baking sheets with parchment paper.  Place potatoes on the parchment paper and toast in the oven for 10 minutes.  Remove and let cool for 5 minutes.  Mix all spices thoroughly in a bowl.  Sprinkle spices over potatoes.  Place back in the oven and bake until crisp, about 30 minutes. Store in an air-tight container.

Health Benefits Of Spirulina – Breaking It Down

Health Benefits Of Spirulina

National Institute of Health

Self Nutritional Data

Wikipedia – Spirulina

Craving A Diet?

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Your body is craving a diet. How do we know what is right for us? Diets are a dime a dozen.  It seems like every other day there is a new “miracle diet” promising to make us the leanest, healthiest person on the planet.  Well I say give me a break!  Though we know there are many items out there we should avoid to maintain our health we need to be realistic in what will work for each of us.  One person may find it easy to cut out all carbs and sugar, never touching them again, this diet is definitely not for me; some people may love the Paleo diet or others feel more inclined to be vegetarian.  The only diet we would suggest you not follow is the the fast food diet for obvious reasons. When your body is craving a diet these are things to consider.

Our Body Is Craving A Diet

The bottom line is we have to be in-tune with our bodies needs.  The body runs on the nutrients we take in.  There are some foods that do not agree with our bodies or items we just plain don’t like which we can avoid.  When we take clues from our body it will tell us what we need.  Often when our body is craving a diet there is a specific nutrient our body is telling us we are deficient in. Our body needs many vitamins, minerals and other nutrients which to function properly.  The issue is when we feel in dire need to subside our craving. The cookie monster comes out and we pick items we otherwise would not consider eating like, the whole bag of chips or carton of cookies.  Next time cravings attack check out the craving chart and see what healthy alternative will make that craving subside.  Even better print the chart and tape it up on the inside of your kitchen cabinet.  By listening to clues from our body we can save ourselves from over eating, choosing the wrong items or being coming ill through a lack of proper nutrition.

Personally I enjoy a vegetarian diet 99% of the time.  When my body craves meat, I’m down to honor what my body is telling me and have a few bites of steak or sushi.  I do not deprive myself of anything.  I feel that once we start telling ourselves we can’t have something we end up wanting it more. This perpetuates the body craving a diet. My motto is everything in moderation.  When I came across some info on eating for your blood type I was intrigued.  The information was pretty spot on for me and my husband.  My blood type aligns with being a vegetarian and my husband is a serious carnivore.  When he is craving a diet and when I am craving a diet our needs look very different. No matter what your preference is it is interesting to take a look at the eating for your blood type outline to see just how close your natural inclinations are to what the eating for your blood type chart suggests. When it come to tips and personal coaching Our Wellness Revolution is here to be of service.  When you’re ready contact us for a consultation and together we will set achievable goals for your individualized needs.

 

Craving A Diet: Type O
People with type O blood flourish on a high-protein diet because they digest meat easily. The most beneficial meats for type O blood types are lamb, beef, venison, mutton and veal. However, type O blood types should not consume pork or goose. The most beneficial fish for type O blood types are herring, mackerel and cod, and the least beneficial are catfish, conch, octopus, salmon, barracuda, caviar, octopus and pickled herring.

Type O blood types should severely restrict eggs and dairy products and should not eat many whole-wheat products because they are not well tolerated by this blood type. People with type O blood should eat collard greens, garlic, spinach, artichokes, red peppers, sweet potatoes, romaine lettuce and figs, plums and prunes to support optimal health.

 

Craving A Diet: Type A
Type A blood types should not eat meat because they naturally have a low stomach-acid content that cannot digest land animal meats. However, type A blood types can eat seafood such as yellow perch, red snapper, monkfish, salmon, carp, group, mackerel, silver perch, snails and rainbow trout.

Type A blood types cannot easily digest dairy products but can consume goat milk and cheese, yogurt, mozzarella, kefir, ricotta and feta cheeses. Type A blood types can digest cereals, grains and pastas well and should eat an abundance of fresh, organic vegetables including alfalfa sprouts, romaine lettuce, Swiss chard, dandelion greens, artichokes, turnips and okra. Type A blood types should eat a wide variety of fruits including plums, blackberries, cranberries, figs and prunes.

 

Craving A Diet: Type B
People with type B blood can flourish on a wider variety of foods than any of the other blood types. Type B blood types should eat meats such as rabbit, venison, turkey, veal, beef, lamb, pheasant and mutton and abstain from chicken, goose, duck, pork, quail and Cornish hens. Type B blood types should eat seafood such as flounder, halibut, trout, sole, salmon and flounder but should abstain from all shellfish, yellow tail tuna, snails, striped bass, eel, frogs and barracudas.

People with type B blood can eat a variety of dairy foods including cow and goat milk, cottage cheese and ricotta, but not American or blue cheese, string cheese or ice cream. Type B blood types should also abstain from grains and eat green, leafy vegetables, and bananas, grapes and plums.

 

Craving A Diet: Type AB
People with type AB blood generally have a weak immune system and should eat a vegetable-rich diet that includes green, leafy vegetables, sweet potatoes, alfalfa sprouts, broccoli, cucumber, mushrooms and parsnips. Type AB blood types can eat a variety of fruits including plums, grapes, cherries, grapefruit and cranberries but cannot tolerate tropical fruits such as coconut, bananas, mangoes and guava.

People with type AB blood can eat a wide array of carbohydrates including rice, sprouted wheat and flour products, but should abstain from corn and buckwheat products. Type AB blood types do not digest meat well and should not eat chicken, veal, beef, pork or shellfish. However, AB blood types can eat turkey, lamb, rabbit, tuna, ocean perch, monkfish, grouper and sardines.

 Stop Craving A Diet with this chart

 When you crave this…what you really need is that.  Try the healthy alternative.

When you crave this...what you really need is this. Try the healthy alternative.

Eating for your blood type out line adapted from: LiveStrong.com