“Let Food Be Thy Medicine” Hippocrates
A new day is dawning in the world of nutrition as medicinal foods, that have been used for healing over the centuries in traditional cultures, are scientifically validated.
Food has the ability to drastically harm or profoundly heal. Compounds within food can contribute to disease states or prevent disease. Food can make us feel lethargic or full of energy and vitality. With optimal health as the goal, we want to focus on foods that are densely nutritious and offer more than just calories.
Nature is clever – she put medicine in food.
Here are 5 examples medicinal foods that would be a wise addition to the diet of anyone striving for optimal health.
1. Black Cumin Seed Oil
Black Cumin Seed Oil is an amber hued oil extracted from the tiny black seeds of the flowering nigella sativa plant (family Ranunculeae.) The oil contains many beneficial compounds including phytonutrients including various phytosterols, amino acids, minerals, and unsaturated fatty acids. The main active constituent with medicinal qualities is thymoquinone. Thymoquinone has been shown to have anti-cancer properties, medicated through a number of different mechanisms.
The presence of significant levels of sterols makes black cumin an effective natural agent in lowering blood cholesterol and preventing cardiovascular diseases. Hannan, M. A., et al. (2021).
Black cumin seed oil promotes healthy skin and hair, supports digestion, fight seasonal allergies, is antibacterial, expels worms, improves glucose tolerance, has antihypertensive and antidiabetic effects.
Various randomized controlled trials, pilot studies, case reports and in vitro and in vivo studies confirmed that N.sativa has antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, bronchodilatory, antihistaminic, antitussive activities related to causative oraganism and signs and symptoms of COVID-19.
N. sativa could be used as an adjuvant therapy along with repurposed conventional drugs to manage the patients with COVID-19. (Maideen N.M.P. (2020).)
Enjoy a teaspoon a day of this medicinal oil straight from the spoon or use in a salad dressing.
Explore Halka B. Organics Black Cumin Seed Oil
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Explore Immortal Health Black Cumin Seed Oil -
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2. Turmeric
Turmeric is a perennial herb. Thousands of articles have been published discussing it’s therapeutic and medicinal properties. In Chinese medicine turmeric is used in the treatment of inflammatory and digestive disorders. In Ayurvedic medicine, it is used to treat a wide variety of disorders, including rheumatism, skin conditions, inflammation, intestinal worms, hepatic disorders, biliousness, dyspepsia, diarrhoea, constipation and colic. In addition to it’s use in cardiovascular disease and gastrointestinal disorders, research has focused on turmeric’s antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic and antimicrobial properties. Curcumin was first discovered from the rhizomes of turmeric by Harvard College laboratory scientists Vogel and Pellettier and published in 1815.
Turmeric and its powerful constituent curcumin, have a wide range of beneficial actions within the body. The 4 most recognised amongst research includes anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic and neuroprotective activities, which will be explored in more detail
HERE
When looking for a turmeric supplement be sure to look for those using the whole plant which will contain the full raft of curcuminoids – such as Karuah Activated Turmeric.
Explore Karuah Activated Turmeric
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3. Kakadu Plum
There is currently a shifting focus towards finding natural compounds that may prevent or treat cancer.
Ellagic acid is a naturally existing polyphenol widely found in fruits and vegetables. Kakadu Plum is an abundant source of ellagic acid. Ellagic acid induces apoptosis (cell death.) It is anti-proliferation. So, kakadu plums have anti-carcinogenic properties.
Kakadu plus contains the highest recorded levels of vitamin C of any plant on the plant. Vitamin C is needed for the growth and repair of your body. It assists the body to synthesise and absorb collagen and iron. It is also used to make skin, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels, to heal wounds, to repair and maintain cartilage, teeth and bones. Vitamin C is water soluble and is not stored in the body, so regular consumption is needed.Need another reason to love this Australian wild fruit?
L.I.F.E. wild foods powder by Vic Cherikoff is a wholefood powder containing Kakadu Plum, thirteen other Australian wild and a dozen other superfoods. This is the Rolls Royce of medicinal formulas.
Explore L.I.F.E. wild foods formula
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4. Medicinal Mushrooms
Medicinal mushrooms and fungi are thought to possess approximately 130 medicinal functions, including antitumor, immunomodulating, antioxidant, radical scavenging, cardiovascular, anti-hypercholesterolemic, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-parasitic, antifungal, detoxification, hepatoprotective, and antidiabetic effects. (Wasser SP. (2014).)
Mushrooms contain significant amounts of 1-3, 1-6 beta-glucans - great for supporting immune function and reducing inflammation.
Cymbiotika Plant Protein contains a powerful medicinal mushroom mix.
Explore Cymbiotika Plant Protein
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5. Organ Meats
Organ meats are the most concentrated source of just about every nutrient we need to thrive.
Organ meats like liver and kidney offer some of the best sources of choline which is the front runner for nutrients associated with brain health. Choline is so imperative for a healthy, functioning brain that deficiencies are associated with the most common forms of neurodegenerative disease. It is used in many chemical reactions in the body including the nervous system to support the development of normal brain functioning.
Organ meats are often referred to as mothers nature’s multivitamin. They contain a high concentration of vitamin A as well as B vitamins including particularly B
12, vitamins C, D, E and K, essential minerals - iron, calcium, copper, magnesium, selenium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc.
If you don’t like eating beef organs then you can easily obtain the benefit of their nutrients by consuming encapsulated, dessicated forms of them. Ancestral Nutrition is an Australian company dedicated to producing the highest quality organ meat supplements – they use only organic, grass-fed Tasmanian beef organs.
To shop Ancestral Nutrition use my special link to the Ancestral Nutrition site and special discount code (
sage10) at the checkout to receive 10% off your order -
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References:
Braun, L., Cohen, M. (2014).
Herbs & Natural Supplements - An Evidence Based Guide (4th ed.). Australia: Churchill Livingstone Australia. Braun, L., Cohen, M. (2014).
Herbs & Natural Supplements - An Evidence Based Guide (4th ed.). Australia: Churchill Livingstone Australia.
Hannan, M. A., Rahman, M. A., Sohag, A., Uddin, M. J., Dash, R., Sikder, M. H., Rahman, M. S., Timalsina, B., Munni, Y. A., Sarker, P. P., Alam, M., Mohibbullah, M., Haque, M. N., Jahan, I., Hossain, M. T., Afrin, T., Rahman, M. M., Tahjib-Ul-Arif, M., Mitra, S., Oktaviani, D. F., … Kim, B. (2021).
Black Cumin (Nigella sativa L.): A Comprehensive Review on Phytochemistry, Health Benefits, Molecular Pharmacology, and Safety. Nutrients,
13(6), 1784.
Maideen N.M.P. (2020).
Prophetic Medicine-Nigella Sativa (Black cumin seeds) - Potential herb for COVID-19? J Pharmacopuncture. 2020 Jun 30;23(2):62-70.
Wasser SP. (2014).
Medicinal mushroom science: Current perspectives, advances, evidences, and challenges. Biomed J. 2014 Nov-Dec;37(6):345-56.
