Carob

There has been a push for a chocolate alternative, produced from the carob tree. Carob is a treat that can be indulged any time, without the health problems caused by too much chocolate.

The carob tree, also known as St John’s Bread, originated in the Mediterranean region, Carob powder is made from the seed pods and has an appearance and taste similar to chocolate. It beats out the cocoa bean in the health stakes in two major areas – it contains no caffeine and is high in fiber. It also contains a number of nutrients, including vitamins A, B, B2, B3, and D.

 But when it comes to weight control, the real villain in chocolate is the butter fat used to make it rich and creamy. Cocoa is naturally bitter and requires processing with sugar and fats to make it the delicious treat most people are familiar with.

When carob is similarly treated to make a substitute chocolate bar, the result can be just as `sinful’ to the weight conscious as the real thing! But it still retains its Health Benefits, while to get any of the Health Benefits attributed to chocolate (heart helping antioxidants and flavonoids) you need to choose the dark, bitter kind.

 If you want to use carob as a chocolate substitute at home, the best way is to use carob powder, and trim the fat and sugar in your existing recipes. That way you will get the nutritious benefits of carob, without the hazards that come from using it `just like chocolate’.

 It is also best to develop a taste for carob as a product in itself. If you are expecting the pure taste of chocolate the first time you taste a commercial carob bar, you will be disappointed. It has a pleasant taste somewhere between caramel and chocolate and will certainly satisfy a sweet tooth. Used at home in cooking, the results can vary. Adding carob to a cake and cookie mix instead of cocoa powder will give a drier result, and may need the addition of vanilla extract to give a flavour closer to real chocolate. But you will need less sugar because carob is naturally sweet.

 Carob makes a delicious treat for health conscious families. A young mother of my acquaintance has been giving her three children carob instead of chocolate since infancy. They are all strong healthy kids, and still prefer carob to `real’ chocolate!

 Carob powder can make a very satisfying nightcap, without the stimulating effects of the caffeine in chocolate. Mix a heaped teaspoon of carob powder with a little cornstarch to thicken it and add vanilla extract for sweetness before pouring on a cup of hot water. Carob powder can also be mixed with full or skim warm milk.

 Carob is often used in preparations for the treatment of diarrhoea, and as a thickening agent in feeds for infants with gastro-oesophageal reflux.   In 2002, a study at the Potsdam University in Germany indicated that carob fiber could reduce LDL cholesterol in men and women within six weeks.

EM

EM™ stands for “Effective Microorganisms™” and was coined by Professor Dr. Teruo Higa, who developed EM™. EM™ consists of a wide variety of effective, beneficial and non-pathogenic microorganisms produced through a natural process and not chemically synthesized or genetically engineered. It comes in a liquid form.

EM™ has a broad application. EM™ has no adverse effects on and is beneficial to plants, animals, and humans. Very simply put, EM™ lives off our waste while we live off “their waste”. Their waste simply translates to a healthy environment for us in which EM™ becomes inactivated, therefore, a mutual existence can be had. EM™ only creates the condition for best results, that is, the users should nurture the condition and provide the resources for EM™ to perform optimally. Microorganisms exist naturally throughout the environment from rock crevices to our internal organs. In our present day environment, putrefactive microorganisms, those types responsible for the rotting of organic matter to maladies in organisms, dominate much of the sphere of the microorganisms.

EM™ has the potential, given the conditions, to suppress the putrefactive microorganisms and dominate this sphere and creates re-animated surroundings, that is, organics are transformed through the process of fermentation as opposed to putrefaction, and living organisms, as well as, inorganic materials are enabled with the means to impede deterioration. Deterioration is here meant the activity of active oxygen or free-radicals through which organisms degenerate and inorganic materials corrode, as in iron rusting. EM™ can thus, also, be considered as an antioxidant.

Sutherlandia

Sutherlandia is the common English name for the single stemmed plant with the botanical name Sutherlandia Frutescens (subs. microphylla), a flowering bush type plant that grows wild in Southern Africa.

It is known by many other names, a reflection of the many cultures that have discovered its remarkable properties. Among them are:

Locations

The plant grows most common in the arid regions of Southern Africa, especially in the Cape and Natal. It grows best in dry, stony grasslands.

Characteristics

Sutherlandia is a shrub that rarely exceeds 1 m in height, though in ideal instances it can grow up to 1.5 m in height. It produces bright red flowers and is in bloom from June to December, with the seeds being contained in a green/red semi translucent pod. It has grey green leaves.

History

Sutherlandia plant has been used for many hundreds of years by the tribes in Southern Africa and later by European settlers, who soon began to appreciate the wealth of knowledge in terms of medicinal botany that was possessed by the African tribes.

For many hundreds of years, the Zulu warriors returning from battle used the plant to relax themselves. Grieving widows used it as an anti-depressant to help them through their loss. The old Zulu word of “insiswa” means “that which takes away the dark”, referring to the ability of the plant to help with depression and sadness.

Now, the History of Sutherlandia is taking a dramatic new turn, with it being brought into the wider world.

Sutherlandia has documented effects in treating many very serious illnesses such as HIV/AIDS and CANCER as well as their associated side effects including:

• Anxiety
• Cancer
• Depression
• Eczema
• HIV / AIDS
• Tuberculosis

Sutherlandia can also benefit individuals who, whilst not suffering from any serious ailments, wish to lead a healthier and more active lifestyle. Athletes and bodybuilders can gain tremendous benefit from Sutherlandia as part of their dietary and training regimes.

AFRICAN POTATO  IS HELPFUL AS A SUPPLEMENT IN THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS: Acne, allergies, ageing, aids, alcoholism, arthritis, asthma, auto immune disorders, brown marks on face, boils, burns, cancer, cataracts, chicken pox, cholesterol (high), circulation (pins and needles), digestive disorders, poor complexion, dandruff, eczema, gum disease, headaches, herpes 1 & 2, HIV, infertility, male health problems, measles, pimples, piles, pollution, psoriasis, smoking & drinking, ulcers, loss of vitality.

Uses and Benefits of Echinacea Tea

In times of stress, in harsh environments or seasons, whenever the body is in need of reinforcement, Echinacea Tea may be used to supply the boost required to maintain the body’s resistance to infection, to mend injured tissue, and to stimulate healthy body functioning.

The following are Echinacea Tea’s more well-known health benefits:

• Echinacea Tea can be used to treat the common cold, influenza outbreaks and mild to moderate infections of all kinds. This is due to echinacea’s actions in boosting the immune system.
• Echinacea Tea has antiseptic properties and hence can be used to treat septicaemia and other impurities of the blood.
• Echinacea Tea can be used to treat sore throat due to colds.
• Echinacea Tea can be used as a supplement to the treatment of cancer and syphilis.
• Echinacea Tea can be used to supplement treatment for haemorrhoids, as well as diphtheria and putrid fevers.