Tag: Herbal

CHLORELLA

Shock to learn in this column last week that orange peel has medicinal powers to burn blood sugar,  check asthma, lower high blood cholesterol and cure inflammation, among several benefits, some readers of this column asked: what other local  food wastes have potent healing powers? I am all apologies that I cannot answer that question this week. For this series is meant to highlight herbal remedies in vogue in this country or elsewhere which have  made some inroads into Nigeria and may gather sufficient steam in a new year to become a mega trend in the herbal medicine chart. I can take a safe bet that, already, orange peel in one form or another adorns the medicine chart of such people as Mrs. Veronica Momoh and Dr. Isaac Idehen, both of Benin, engineer Osiki of Auchi, biochemist A.A.Iriferi of Warri, Mr. Tope Adebayo of Lagos, Mrs. Ronke Fashokun, Mrs. Folake Sanusi, Mrs. Caroneo, Mrs. Bukola Azeez, of all Lagos, and many more converts. In part answer to the question earlier mentioned, I would for now reply: let’s look forward to the medicinal benefits of banana peel. I hesitate today to mention plantain peel for many people confuse the herb plantain with the fruit plantain, an elder in the family to which banana also belongs. Even Mrs. Florence AkibomFusi, in whose native Babanki village, in Bermanga Region of the Cameroon where banana peel is a delicacy would make this mistake. Today, I’d rather talk about CHLORELLA, a blue-green algae which couldn’t have popped up in Nigeria at a better time than now, if we relate the upsurge of terrible diseases such as brain tumour to poisons in food, air, water and medicines, and we are looking for ways other than poisonous chemical drugs to get these poisons out of our bodies.

 

Chlorus and Ella

Thanks to the Greeks who gave almost everything known a name we can now trace it to, Chlorella comes from the two Greek words Chlorus and Ella. Chlorus means green, and Ella, small. Actually Chlorella is a single-celled blue-green algae which is believed to be the first plant form on earth with a well-defined nucleause. So small is chlorella that it wasn’t until the late 19th Century that scientists discovered it. Now, Chlorella is the most researched blue-green algae with immense benefits for animal and human health. And, some animal studies suggest, it may help to prevent or reverse about 40 major human health discomfitures. Originally, it was found native to Taiwan and Japan where it is consumed as food by about 100 million people apart from its several uses as medicine.

Detoxification

One of the advantages of Chlorella over many herbs is its powers to remove toxins from the body. Toxins are like plagues in the modern world. In the water we drink, Chlorine are poisonous to the germs in water we intend to kill, and are also poisons to our bodies eventually. As the well known halogens, for example, they block iodine absorbtion by the thyroid gland, infiltrate this glands and cause all sorts of thyroid gland problems which, in turn, are related to many degenerative diseases. Like the food we eat, drinking water also supplies our bodies with heavy metals which may include lead, mercury.

According to www.nord.com: “Heavy metal poisoning is the accumulation of the heavy metals in toxic amounts in soft tissues of the body. Symptoms and physical finding associated with heavy metal poisoning vary according to the metal accumulated.

Many of the heavy metals such as Zinc, Copper, Chromium, Iron and Manganese, are essential to body function in very small amounts. But, if these metals accumulate in the body in concentrations sufficient to cause poisoning, then serious damage may occur. The heavy metals often associated with poisoning of humans are lead, mercury, arsenic and cadmium. Heavy metal poisoning may occur as a result of industrial exposure, foods, medicines, improperly coated food containers or the ingestion of lead based paints… the symptoms of heavy metal poisoning vary according to which type of metal over-exposure is involved. Some specific examples are:

(1) “Arsenic Poisoning: Arsenic is used in the manufacture of pesticides. The over-exposure may cause headaches, drowsiness, confusion, seizures,and life threatening complications.  Neurological symptoms include brain damages, (encephalopathy), nerve disease of the extremities (peripheral neuropathy) pericapillary hemorrhages within the white matter and loss or deficiency of the fatty coverage (myelin) around these nerve fibres (demyelination). Skin problems include transverse white bands on the singer nails (mees lines) and excessive accumulation of fluid in the soft layers of tissue below the skin (edema). Gastrointestinal symptoms include a flu-like illness (gastroenteritis) that is characterised by vomiting, abdominal pain, fever and diarrhea, which, in some cases, may be bloody. Other symptoms include breakdown of the hemoglobin of red blood cells (hemolysis), a low level of iron in the red blood cells (anaemia) and low blood pressure (hypotension). Some individual may experience a garlic like odour that may be detectable on the breath. “In cases of chronic poisoning, weakness, muscle aches, chills, and fever may develop.”

If I may quickly say something, I would add that many Nigerians consume arsenic with food every day without realising they do. Now, we have all recognise the need to eat fruits and vegetables. But how many people realise these crops are sprayed with insecticides on the farms? I stopped eating cucumbers when I realised from a young woman named Lofty that she lost her cucumber farm in Imeko, Ogun State, because she stubbornly refused to have them sprayed with insecticide. She was trying her hands on organic farming which abhors insecticides and chemical fertilisers. Her farmer neighbours protected their farms with insecticides. The pest found a haven in Lofty’s farm. Poor girl!

What of mosquito sprays. The mosquitoes seemed to sprout heavily in the searing of Nigerian heat of two weeks ago. Many people went for the mosquito spay. They believed that if they stepped out of the sprayed room for about two hours and the mosquitoes died, that was the end of the matter and they could return and enjoy a mosquitoes free night. That is true. But, do they realise that the molecules of the chemical sprays are non-degradable, that is, they are not destroyable. They settle on bed linen where they may be inhaled or absorbed through the skin during contact!

The website www.nord.com warns us that: “Inorganic arsenic accumulates in the liver, spleen, kidneys, lungs and gastrointestinal tract. It then passes through these sites but leaves a residue in tissues such as skin, hair and nails. Symptoms of acute inorganic arsenic poisoning include severe burning of the mouth and throat, abnormal pain nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, low blood pressure (hypotension), and muscle spasms. Individual with severe inorganic arsenic poisoning may experience heart problems (cardiomyopathy), accumulation of acid in the tubes of the kidneys (renal tubular acidosis), breakdown of the hemoglobin of red blood cells (hemolysis), irregular heart rhythms (ventricular arrhythmias), coma, seizures, bleeding within the intestines (intestinal hemorrhage) and yellowing of the skin mucus membranes and whites of  the eyes (jaundice).”

HENEVER I read of mercury build-up I pay serious attention because a dentist trick me about 20 years ago to fill three of my otherwise healthy teeth with mercuryamangal fillings. He said six of them would develop holes within three months. But here we are today, 20 years after, and those “worst” three I didn’t let him refill have not won off or developed holes. I have since then relied on chelated zinc to remove from my system any mercury from mercury vapours in my month. We are informed by the www.nordwebsite: “Symptoms of mercury poisoning includes fatigues depression, sluggishness (lethargy), irritability and headaches… coughing, breathlessness (dyspnea), tightness or burning pain in the chest and/or respiratory distress some affected individuals may experience abnormal build up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), pneumonia, and/or abnormal formation of fibrous tissue (fibrosis). There may be behavioral and neurological changes associated with over exposure to mercury poisoning, such as excitability and quick-tempered behavior, lack of concentration and loss of memory. Shock and permanent brain damage may also result from mercury poisoning.” There is no end to mercury exposure. People who have given up meat (beef) in the diet and turned to fish may end up consuming mercury every day. For the deep sea is poisoned by mercury waste dumping from industrial plants. Cadmium, another heavy metals, is present in underground water sources such as boreholes which many people drink without testing, believing the water is clear and clean. The symptoms of accumulation are similar to the ones already explained. Additions may be excess salivation and yellowing of the teeth, excessive excretion of protein in the urine and some minor changes in liver function and, perhaps, softening of some bones (osteomalacia).

 

Chlorella

There are far too many benefits that chlorella offers human health than this column can document. While sight will not be lost on some of them, this column will pay more attention to its prospects of ridding the body of toxins and heavy metals in particular.

In www.naturalnews.com we learn: “A study on mice induced with the heavy metal Cadmium (found in chemtrial residues) should Chlorella vulgaris CV protected the mice from Cadmiums toxicity significantly and helped restore liver structure and function. Another study on mice using the CV. Powder-parachilorellabeyerinck, demonstrated that mice treated with CV had significantly less lead absorbtion in the kidneys and liver while showing more lead excreted in their faces than mice not fed the CV powder. This study produced stunning evidence of Chlorella’s unpulelicised anti-cancer property. This study involved hepatocarcinogenesis (liver becoming cancerous). With induced rats, Chlorella Vulgaris (CV) promoted apoptosis in the cancerous tumour cells. Apoptosis is programmed cell death which normal cells do naturally as they are being replaced by new cells. Cancer cells are not prone to this sacrificial programming. Cancer cells suicides have to be encouraged by metabolic interventions or they continue forming tumours.”

n a three year Russian metal-detoxifying double blind placebo study, more than 350 people were given 20 natural compounds to remove four main metals from over-exposed people. These metals were Antimony, Arsenic, Lead and Cadmium. The study with Chlorella combined Cillatro. All heavy metals were eliminated without side effects. Detoxifying powers of Chlorella were first discovered in a milling industry where Chlorella was pumped in to collect residual metals after the completion of bulk milling.  Earlier studies on Chlorella were more interested in its nutrition potentials. It was a super food with all essential amino acids, about 20 minerals and vitamins, carotenoids, and the densest amount of ChlorophyII in the plant kingdom.  But its cell wall had to be broken or cracked to release the nutrients, in particular the proteins. While meat protein has to be broken down by pancreatic enzymes, Chlorella proteins do not require pancreatic enzymes to be digested. So pancreatic enzymes thus saved can be used to fight cancer cell, and this is one reason why in addition to giving cancer sufferers pancreatic enzymes supplements, they should be given Chlorella as a food supplement.

In www.mercola.com, some other uses of Chlorella outside detoxification are explained. Says the website: “chlorella seems to fit the description of a wonder nutrient that serves far more than just one function. Here is a sampling of some of the health benefits associated  with this green algae… repairing nerve tissues, increasing your energy levels, enhancing  your immune system, normalizing your blood sugar , improving digestion, normalising your blood pressure, promoting healthy pH levels in your  gut which in turn helps good bacteria to thrive, removing potentially toxic metals from your body, enhancing your ability to focus and concentrate, eliminating lead breadth “ Chlorella can also be  of benefit to vegetarians and vegans looking for proteins and B vitamins from a non-animal source”, about 60 percent of it is protein, and because it contains all the essential amino acids your body needs, it is considered to be a complete protein. Chlorella is also rich in GABA, Follate, Vitamin B12 and iron. As mentioned earlier, chlorella has and still is being researched for a number of health condition. Here is a list of six common health problems and diseases where Chlorella may be of particular benefit:

“Insulin resistance, detoxification, diabetes, hypertension, anaemia, protein uria and edema in pregnant women, fibromyalgia, liver cancer. We are also advised by www.mercola.com:

“Heavy metal toxicity, just like chemical toxicity, has become one of the most pressing health hazards of our day, and this is where Chlorella may be profoundly useful. Its ability to bind to heavy metal toxins, allowing them to be safely excreted from your body, has been well established. It is particularly crucial for systemic mercury elimination, because the majority of mercury is rid through your stool. Once the mercury burden is lowered from your intestines, mercury from other body tissue will more readily migrate into your intestines where Chlorella will work to remove it. You can also add Cillantro which works as a synergetic detoxification aid along with the Chlorella. This combination is particularly useful to take when you are consuming sea food, as most are invariably contaminated with heavy metals and chemicals. Ideally, you will take it with the meal so that Chlorella can bind directly to the toxins while they are in your gut before they are absorbed into your body in other to optimize heavy metal detox, you’ll want to take at least four grammmes of Chlorella everyday, year round. Be aware that side effects may occur. As your body starts to detox, you may initially experience some slight nausea/or mild diarrhoe. If these symptoms are too bothersome, you may want to lower your dose initially and slowly increase the doses. As your body is cleansed of toxins, these side effects should disappear.”

One hundred million Japanese users of Chlorella cannot be wrong. Where are Nigeria’s microbiologists to give us organic Nigerian cultivated Chlorella form exclusively Chlorella farms?

From her sick bed at Duro Soleye Hospital in Lagos more than one decade ago, Mrs. Semowo telephoned me to ask: Have you heard about Kale?

“Yes, madam, I have,” I replied. “But it isn’t readily available here.”

She wanted kale urgently. For she’d heard it was a wonderful herb which could help the condition for which she was in hospital. I didn’t know she was in hospital, having not heard from her in a long, long while. I met her through her husband in Iju Hills, near Lagos, in the 1970s and then at her shop at the Tafawa Balewa Square shopping Center, also in Lagos, when, in 1983, my wife and I went shopping for her wedding gown.Mrs. Semowo was motherly and warm, knew about herbs and, if my memory serves me right, helped Mrs. Elizabeth Kafaru for a while to bring herbs into Nigeria from Austria and the United Kingdom. In hospital, she had a sensing that she may soon be called away. But, like all of us, she didn’t stop fighting for her life, just in case she may still have a little time, or more time left, and didn’t wish to carelessly bow out. I do not think Kale was well known in Nigeria at that time. For even Mrs. Semowo thought it was a rapidly growing weed which, in South-west Nigeria, the Yoruba have nicknamed Ewe Akintola(Akintola’s leaf) or Ewe Awolowo(Awolowo leaf). Now we know kale is a member of the cruciferous vegetable family which includes cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower e.t.c. The interesting thing or good news today is that KALE has made an appearance in Nigeria and is one of the promising herbs for the 2016 neutriceutical market in Nigeria.

 

King or queen?

Many writers describe Kale as either the “King” or the “queen” of greens. Listen to Kris Gunnars, B.Sc in www.authoritynutrition.com: “of all the super healthy greens, Kale is the king. It is definitely one of the healthiest and most nutritious plant foods in existence.

“Kale is loaded with all sorts of beneficial compounds… some of which have powerful medicinal properties.”

I went in search of kale last year for it lutein and Zeazanthin, two great antioxidant which powerfully protect the lens of the eyes against Cataracts and the retina against oxidative stress and damage. About 20 years ago, I sold an eye defense food supplement called LUTEIN EYES. It improved day and night vision, and was good for my eyes for the stress my work as editor of a national newspaper subjected them to. One day, out of curiosity to confirm that I could read fine prints on the product label, I checked the nutritional facts and discovered that the product was extracted from Marigold flowers. Marigold flowers, I wondered. I was to discover that Marigold flowers was the commercial source of Lutein and Zeazanthin extracts for the health care industry. Since then, I have advocated that Nigeria agriculturalists encourage plantation cultivation of Marigold, which can be produced in capsules, fluid extracts, tinctures, bulk herbs or tea sachets like Lipton tea. There is no doubt that, added to food, this will help to improve the vision of many Nigerians who would then be able to consume Marigold as a part of the daily diet. I do not wish to digress into the many benefits of Marigold, either as a remedy against ulcer, promotion of menstrual health or even as an anti-cancer agents lest I digress from Kale. But I believe I can quickly say that, from my base in Lagos, I purchased fresh Marigold flowers from the farm of A. Air Vice Marshall Shekari (rtd) in Jos, dry it and take as tea or a spread on my rice or beans dish.

If you cannot get Marigold, because it is expensive as it is used more in Nigeria for ornamental purposes, you can still obtain Lutein and Zeazanthin from deep green vegetables such as spinach. But do not overdo Spinach because, like pumpkin leaves (Ugu vegetable), it has a high content of oxalic acid. If you do not have enough Magnesium in your system, and this leads to a high amount of free calcium, the free calcium and the oxalic acid may crystalise into calcium oxalate salts which may course those familiar calcium oxalate kidney stones. Kale would, therefore, appear to be a better way of sourcing Lutein and Zeazanthin on a prolonged basis because it has less oxalic acid than Spinach.

 

Kale nutrients

Kris Gunnars advise that Kale is one of the herbs mostpacked with nutrients. He says: “A single cup of raw Kale (about 67 grammes or 2.4 ounces) contains Vitamin A: 206% of the RDA (Recommendation Daily Allowance)   (from beta carotene 2 / “Vitamin K: 684% of the RDA 3/ “Vitamin C: 134% of the RDA 4/ “Vitamin B6: .Nine percent of the RDA” 5/Manganese: 26% of the RDA 6/” Calcium: nine percent of the RDA 7/ “Copper: 10% of the RDA 8/ “Potassium: nine percent of the RDA 10/ “Magnesium: six percent of the RDA.

“Then it contains three percent or more of the RDA for Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavine) Vitamin B3 (Niacin) Iron and Phosphorus.

“This is coming with a total of 33 calories, six grammes of Carbs, (two of which are fiber) and three grammes of protein. Kale contains very little fat, but a large portion of the fat in it is the Omega 3 Fatty Acid Called Alpha Alph Linoleic Acid.Given the incredible low calori content, Kale is among the most nutrient dense food in existence.

In the Antioxidant category, Kale is loaded with Quecetin, an anti-inflammatory, and Kaempferol, flavonoids and polyphenols. We know antioxidants protect the body against the oxidative damage of free radicals which promote aging and degenerative diseases. Quecetin and kaempferol appear in large quantum in Kales. They are believed to protect the heart and the circulatory system, fight viruses, reduce inflammation and pain, lower high blood pressure depression and fight even cancer.

When it comes to Vitamin C, Kale is reported to be loaded four and a half times more than Spinach. Vitamin C is beneficial for a healthy immune system, well-being of the cells, and the formation of collagen. Many people look up to orange for their daily Vitamin C uptake. I, too, rely on the juice of two oranges into which I dissolve a quarter or half teaspoonful of Kale. I eat the fluid sack of the orange for bioflavonoids and eat the peel of the orange as well for all the benefits it offers (read last weeks column…14th January, 2016… on the health benefits of eating orange peel).

Gunnar says that “as simple cup of raw kale actually contains more Vitamin C than in orange” what about cholesterol? Kale has a solution for high cholesterol levels, says Gunnars. Cholesterol isn’t a terrible bad thing as many people erroneously think. If we avoid it in the diet because we fear and hate it, the body will produce it because it needs it. All the cells of the body need it as a component of their cell walls. When they have taken what they need of it from the blood stream, they return the remainder to the liver which safely converts it to bile salts using minerals and Vitamins to achieve this. Where minerals and Vitamins are in short supply, cholesterol levels may, therefore, rise. Gannars says:

“Kale may help lower cholesterol which may reduce the risk of heart disease. Cholesterol has many important functions in the body. One of them is being used to make bile acids, which are substances that help us digest fat. The liver turns cholesterol into bile acids, which are then released into the digestive system when we eat a fatty meal. When all the fat has been absorbed, and the bile acids have served their purpose, they are re-absorbed into the bloodstream and used again. Substances called bile acid sequestrates can bind bile acids in the digestive system and prevent them from being re-absorbed. This reduces the total amount of cholesterol in the body. Guess what… Kale actually contains Bile acid sequestrates which can lower cholesterol level. This should lead to reduced risk of heart diseases over time.”

“One study found that daily consumption of juice for 12 weeks increased LDL (the good) cholesterol by 27% and lowered LDL levels by 10%, which also increases antioxidant status.” Steaming Kale is reported to dramatically increase its capacity to bind to bile acids. It is reported by Gunnars to be 43 percent as “potent as CHOLESTYRA MINE, a cholesterol-lowering drug that functions in this way.”

 

Kale and Vision

In the websitewww.sightmatters.com, we learn: “there are 20 carotenoids found in the human body, but only Lutein and Zeazanthin are found in the visual system. They are known to reduce disability from glare, enhance contrast and reduce photostress recovery times.”

In www.co.langlight.com,we hear a similar story: Spinach and other dark, leafy greens are rich in two antioxidant stored in the macular… Lutein and Zeazanthin. The macular is a part of the retina that acts as a natural sun block, shielding the eye from damaging light. Lutein and Zeazanthin absorb blue light which is especially harmfull to the retina. This nutrient can also help the eye detect contract better, so eating foods rich in these antioxidants not only improves vision, but they help maintain your vision long-term. Since lutein and Zeazanthin are fat soluble, eating your greens with olive oil will help ensure that you absorb more of them.”

 

General health

There are no fewer than 17 reasons we should add Kale to the diet, according to www.bembu.com it says:

“Brain food. The manganese in Kale helps your brain function at its best and that can help you focus on your daily tasks at work, as well as help you feel better in general. A healthy brain is responsible for how happy we fed, how active we are, and how well we are able to cope with the challenges life brings us. There are also amino acids in Kale that specifically help the brain give us a pick-up. That’s why you often feel lighter and brighter after a meal containing Kale, instead of being worn down and groggy like you can after eating other foods or drinking every drinks.

“Protects against heart disease. After your brain, your heart is the most important organ.Anti-Cancer Benefits.  The phytonutrients in Kale help to battle free radical damage if you have cancer, you can use Kale as part of your plan to fight back and become cancer free again.”

“Every-one thinks that beef is a rich source of iron, so let’s use that as a comparison. 100 grams of beef has 1.6mg of iron, while 100 grams of Kale has 1.5 mg. That’s why you will hear people say kale is the new beef since it does good job of contributing to your daily iron needs without the added calories and fat that come with beef.

dd“High in Potassium Kale has a very respectable amount of Potassium, putting it on par with some of the biggest potassium wielding fruits and vegetables out there. Let’s start with the banana, which we all know is high in potassium at 358mg in a 100grm serving. The same serving of kale will net you 228mg. one better source than both is  Avocado, which gets you 485mg. the key takeaway here is that Kale boats a rather high level of potassium for being a vegetable, and is only outdone by Spinach and Swiss chard in the   leafy greens department.

Helps you loose weight eating more Kale means you are getting full without adding much in the way of calories or fat. No matter which diet you are on, Kale should definitely be allowed, and is recommended as an aid for weight lose. It contains fiber to help kick your digestive system into gear and keep you regular. It also contains a bit of vegetable protein to help you with any strength training goals.

Anti-inflammatory benefits kale is listed as an anti-inflammatory food, which means that it should help cure rampart inflammation in the body which can lead to certain diseases and conditions. Proponents of anti-inflammatory diet say that it can help you present things like heart disease as well as cancer.

“There are many other benefit of Kale. It promotes heart and blood vessel health, has large amounts of Vitamin A and Vitamin C, has more calcium than milk, cleans upthe liver, is present in many detoxification formulas designed to rid the liver of toxins and supply it with nutrients for optimal performance.

Now, I have a faint, if not clear sensing, of why someone on a sick bed who has heard of the amazing health-supporting work of Kale would wish to have it as an ally on the journey of recovery.

Naturopathic physician Deirdre orceyre of the center for integrative Medicine of the Gerge WashingtonUniversity Medical Center says:

“Any vegetable that has a very deep colour the way kale does that means there is a high concentration of nutrients, and that translates into a range of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in the body.”

He is quoted by Carolyn Butler in www.health.com. Says Carolyn Butler. “This wide array of vitamins, nutrients and minerals result is several documented, distinct health advantages. Brassica vegetables are known to help with general health as well as heart disease and cancer, but even among this group kale stands out.”… A new laboratory study also found that kale extracts inhibitsthe production of existing colon cancer cells. Orceyre highlights the fact that the green contains indole-3- carbinol, a nutrient that seems to play a role in how estrogen is metabolized in the body and may play a protective role against breast cancer. We sometimes use it as a supplement in patients with breast cancer. Any-one who has a reason to be concerned about developing breast cancer and for those with estrogen-dominant illness like fibroids, fibrocytic breast disease or endometriosis, to try to help modulate negative estrogenic effects in the body, taking kale is a natural way to do that.”

Caution

Like all herbs, Kale is not to be overdone. It has large amounts of vitamin K which promotes blood clotting. For this reason, it may be taken with blood thinners such as garlic, onion and cayenne. That’s why I’d rather add it to soups and stews. Besides vitamin K, there is some oxalate in Kale, though not as much as in Spinach, which, enlargedoses, has been linked to kidney stones and gall bladder stones. It has gostrogens which can suppress thyroid function in some people, although people with over-active thyroid glands (hyperthyroidism) will like this. Finally it may cause gas formation and bloating. But this may be overcome easily when kale is eaten with gas-absorbing foods.

•Asthma • Diabetes • Prostate enlargement • Cancer • Weight Loss • High Cholesterol • Digestion • Many More

What’s on the shelf? This question pops up now and then, especially at the beginning of a new year. Many of the readers of this column have wondered since the middle of last month if there won’t be any thing up the sleeves of 2016. There will be, I have found myself re-assuring them, especially since new products and processes are rituals on this page at this time of the year. So, what’s new on the shelf? Today, and perhaps next week, I will speak about orange peel and Kale.  Beet root, too, will be no push over. There hasn’t been enough beet root in the Lagos market since I began to mention it from about June last year. So, I have had to be suggesting the capsulated or tablet form to many enquirers who cannot find the fruit to buy. Mrs. Florence AkibonFusi, who lives in Iju, tells me it had become the rave in this Ogun State boundary area with Lagos, and predicts that it may become more popular than Moringa. Today, I wish to present Orange peel as medicine. It has worked wonders for me and many people. It should for you, too. If it doesn’t fit the health bills ascribed to it, there wouldn’t have been such worldwide demand for it which had led to the growing abroad of orange tree plantations which provide orange peel powder for a billion naira orange peel medicine business.

 

Some health benefits of orange peel

Dr.Edward Group, Dc, Np, DAC BN, DCBCN, DABFM, is reported by www.globalhealingcenter.com to have published an article updated on  July 17, 2013 in which he pleads that you do not throw away the peel of any orange or other citrus fruit from which you obtain the juice. Says Dr. Edward:

“Although orange peels are common addition to the compost pile, next time you are about to toss them, don’t. They are packed with beneficial compounds and nutrients that can do your body some extra good, especially if you are suffering from respiratory distress. When toxins or allergen in the air we breathe irritate delicate lung tissues, they can become irritated. Orange peels assist the lungs in cleansing themselves with it redness and histamine –reducing properties and actions. Why is orange peel beneficial? Like most fruits, oranges are full of nutrients and enzymes that help our bodies perform better. Orange peels are rich in flavonoids, powerful antioxidants that help reduce oxidative damage and fight free radicals. Orange peels is also loaded with natural histamine -suppressing compounds. If you have allergens or are close to someone who does, you understand how the sleepiness associated with some anti-histamines can be fast as disruptive as the histamines reaction itself. Orange peel may provide an alternative. Perhaps of the amazing and beneficial qualities of orange peel is its histamine and irritation-reducing action, which adds to its already long list of reasons for being highly effective as a lung-cleansing herb.”

Dr. Edward says the rind and peel are loaded with Vitamin C (more than in the juice), Vitamin A, enzymes, fiber and Pectin. He suggests that dehydrated orange powder may be added to bath water for aromatherapy effects to relieve lung congestion or other respiratory irritations.

y friend, Mr. Danson Sunday Danson, should be a witness of truth in this matter. His tickling muscle spasms in the throat disappeared on the first day he ate orange peel. Persuaded by this to continue, he has been delivered of a “pregnancy” he has bourne for years. One of my sons is a beneficiary of orange peel healing power. He came home last month with a bad gastric problem which made him belch foul gas almost every five minutes. He ate the peel of a whole orange on a Saturday evening. I eaved dropped on his breathing at night. Nothing amiss happened. The following day, Sunday, all was well… till this day! From www.lifestrong.com, we learn of a Purdue University contribution to this subject. The website says, “raw orange peel orange peel has 1.5 gramme of protein and is a source of potassium, riboflavin (Vitamin B1), Vitamin A, it adds that while oranges provide Calcium, for bone and tooth health, for example, Purdue University shows the peel is a richer source of them. Says the University:

“One hundred gramms of edible orange fruit contains 40 calcium milligram of Calcium while the same amount of orange peel has 161 miligram of calcium.”

Beta carotene, that great antioxidant, is one of the valuable nutrients thrown away when you give your orange peel to a goat, as we do in Nigeria.

Lifestrong says: Orange peel contains Beta carotene, a pigment in orange and yellow fruit and vegetable. Beta carotene is converted to Vitamin A in your body which is beneficial for your immune system as well as vision health.The University of Maryland Medical Centre says, “Beta carotene is also an antioxidant which helps protect your body from free radicals that can cause cell damage.” The University Michigan Health System, too, bears scientific testimony, according to Lifestrong. The University says that, “simmering one to two grammes of dried peel in three cups of water to make a tea might relieve indigestion and heart burns. It adds: ‘orange peel has been used to treat insomnia and as a laxative.”

In September 2014, Bhavyajyati Chilukoti wrote in www.the healthsite.com: Most of us who eat oranges normally throw out the peels, but what many of us are unaware of is that these peels are loaded with highly nutritious compounds that are beneficial for our health. Orange peels contains more than 60 types of flavonoids and over 170 different types of phytonutrients, in addition to being rich in various pectin, vitamins, minerals and fibre.” Here are top 7 benefits of orange peel which might make you think before discarding the peels.

ONE: ”Helps in weight loss. One of the key reasons why people dislike orange peel is because of its bitter taste, but these peels act as an excellent weight loss aid, as it contains good amount of fibre and is low in calories. It also exerts anti-obesity effects by suppressing weight gain by the body and formation of adipose tissues.”

TWO: “Reduces respiratory problems. Orange peel provides excellent support against respiratory stress is also found effective for treating asthma. It exerts a lung cleansing by playing a vital role in breathing down and expelling congestion (phylegm). It also contains high level of histamine- reducing compound and anti-oxidants which help in reliving various respiratory complication like bronchitis, and colds, flu and lung cancer.”

THREE: “Prevents digestive complications.Orange peel is a rich source of non-soluble polysaccharides types of dietary fiber, like Pectin, tannis, and hemicellulose. These compounds prevent constipation by increasing the bulk and reducing contact time of food with intestine. It also plays an active role in reducing acidity (gas trouble) and prevents vomiting and heart burn.”

FOUR: “Improves canal health. Do you suffer from bad breath? Chew orange peels instead of a gum or mouth fresher to get rid of the foul odour naturally. Orange peels are also an effective and cheap measure to whiten stained teeth in addition to preventing sensitive teeth, you can either run inside of an orange peel or apply its paste on the teeth to whiten it naturally.”

FIVE: “Protects from cancer. Several studies have shown that increased consumption of orange peel in the diet lowers the risk of human cancers. Orange peel offers protection against colon cancer by binding to the toxic chemicals in the food, thereby hindering their exposure to the intestinal mucus membrane.”

SIX: “Acts as a natural skin bleach. Vitamin C, present in orange peels, act as an effective and safe natural scrubber and bleach for skin.The peel extract when applied with curd or milk can lighten dark blemishes and spots on the skin. You can also rub the peel directly in the skin or use diluted paste to prevent skin burns and remove sun tan. It also helps tone the skin, protect from harmful sun rays and cleanse pores naturally.”

SEVEN: “Improves heart health. Orange peels contain nobiletun, a type of polymethoxyiated flavones compounds to exert positive effects on the heart. These compounds lower your risk of heart disease and inflammation in addition to lowering the blood cholesterol levels in the body.”

 

Orange peel extracts/supplements

In inflammatory conditions, orange peel extracts and supplements and concentrated orange peel extracts are used with satisfactory result. This is why people challenged with Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) or friendly enlargement of the prostate gland, may find it helpful.

University of Paris experimented with D-Limonene, a compound found in orange peel. It wanted to know if D-Limonene had anti-inflammatory action: In a series of animal and human trials, D-Limonene reduced intestinal inflammation in rats, “with efficacy comparable to Ibuprofen, the pharmaceutical anti-inflammation agent. The rat also exhibited lower levels of Tumour Necrosis factors alpha (TNFa), one of the chemicals found in the system where tumours and/or cancers are developing or D-Limonene are likely to be found to inhibit TNFa actively in fibroblast human cultures. Human subjects given D-Limonene for 56 days had decreased plasma levels of inflammatory indicators or markers when compared with those who did not take D-Limonene supplement. The researchers concluded:

D-Limonene indeed demonstrates significant ant-inflammatory effects both in VIVO and in VITRO, suggesting a beneficial role of D-Limonene as diet supplement in reducing inflammation.”

The website www.globalhealing.com backs the finding with these suggestions.  “The Limonene and flavonoids found in orange peel seem to have anti cacenogenic properties, by acting as a blocking agent. Studies have shown that Limonin and Lemonene, both found in high concentrations in the peel, can induce the enzyme activity of Glutathione S-Transferase, which is an important detoxifying enzyme. The citric acid found in orange peel also helps starve cancer cells by cutting off their energy supply. A number of studies have shown decreased risk of several cancers, linked with the increased consumption of orange peels. In addition, orange peels and orange extract can provide and extra benefit to diabetics and those looking to reduce overeating. This is due to the fact that orange peels are a natural source of pectin, a natural fibre that helps decrease the rise in blood sugar after a meal. It may also be helpful in lowering cholesterol. In a May 2004 Journal of Agricultural and food chemistry article, Canadian researchers and the United States Department of Agriculture reported that isolated compounds from orange and tangerine peels showed promise of a natural alternative for reducing LDL cholesterol without the side effects of Mainstream anti-cholesterol drugs. D-Limonene, another biochemical found in orange peels, is helpful in dissolving kidney stones. In fact, the use of D-Limonene mixed together with concentrated, unsweetened cranberry juice or capsules has a proven track record in dissolving kidney stones. In addition, orange peel has antiseptic, bactericidal, fungicidal properties which are extremely beneficial in eliminating kidney or urinary tract infection. This is why you would find orange peels as an ingredient in Jon Baron Kidney, Gall Bladder and pancreas optimisation formula, KGP flush. Orange peels may also help with heart burn. According to a 2007 Alternative Medicine review article by Jidong sun, Ph.D.

D-Limonene possesses the ability to neutralise gastric acid and support normally peristalsis. Allergy sufferers may benefit from consuming more orange peels as well as. The peel contains natural histamine- suppressing compounds. Orange peels also may play a role in lungs cleansing by helping in breakdown and help in congestion.

62. Stephen Daniells offers hope to diabetics in a sugar-balancing hope, in orange peel when he says in www.nutraingridients.com: ”A daily supplement of an extract from citrus peel could reduce insulin resistance in hamsters, suggesting the extract might also help prevent diabetes in humans, says a North American study. The citrus peel extract, polymethoxylated flowers (PMFs) have been reported to have beneficial effects on cholesterol levels, but this is said to be the first study that looks in details, of the benefits and reports that the extracts have positive effect on inflammatory cytokine levels. This study provides novel evidence that PMF reverses hyper triglyceridimia and restores insulin sensitivity, said researchers from the University of Hawa…, in collaboration with KGK synergise, a Canadian neutracellbrical company. PMFs are similar to other plant pigments found in citrus fruits that have been increasingly linked to health benefits, including protection against cancer, heart disease, and inflammation. The main PMFs in the extract are tangerine, anobiletin, as well as small amounts of synephrine. The new study, published in the Journal Life Sciences, investigated the effect of a daily supplement of PMF on insuling-resistance hamsters. Twenty-eight hamsters where fed a fructose-rich diet for two weeks to induce hypertriglyceridemia and insulin resistance. The animals were then divided into four equal groups and fed one of the four diets: Chow, control fructose diet, fructose plus low close PMF (62.5mg per kilogramme body weight per day), fructose plus high close PMF (125miligramme per kilogramme per day).

After four weeks of the text diet, the researchers found that both PMF groups showed a significantly decrease in serum triglycerides (td) and cholesterol levels compared to the fructose-fed hamsters. The decreases in TG were Limited to the heart (33 percent for the 125grm PMF group) and liver C 42 percent for the 128 PMF group) with no challenges observed in the epididamal fat and muscle. After PMP supplement action for four weeks, significant reductions in TG and cholesterol were observed on a close dependent manner related to lipids, cholesterol and inflammation, indicating that the response was specific to PMF, because insulin resistance diabetes and obesity are recognised as inflammatory disorder, say the researchers. They measured concentrations of the mediators for inflammation, Tumour Necrosis factor alpha (TNFa) and interleukin -6 (IL-6) and markers of immune response, the cytokeine FN gramma.

The researchers found decreased levels of these biomarkers in the PMF supplemented groups and the effect appeared to be close dependent. The mechanism of PMF in increasing insulin sensitivity in this study can be explained at least in part by its regulatory effect on cytokines, said L!”