Eat your greens
When you think green foods, you are probably thinking, cabbage, broccoli, spinach and kale which are all super beneficial foods, but what about spirulina, chlorella, and the super nutritious barley grass and wheatgrass.
Spirulina and chlorella are super green foods that contain a powerhouse of essential nutrients, essential fatty acids, protein and trace minerals all of which supply the body with the power it needs to help prevent disease and promote health. They delay ageing, yes you read that correct, they help to delay the ageing process and that alone makes them worth eating. They will also significantly lower your risk of disease, help lower inflammation, and gently detox toxins from the body.
Both spirulina and chlorella can help with:
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Hypoglycemia
- Arthritis and inflammation of the joints
- Infections
- High blood pressure
- Bleeding gums and bad breath
- Mineral deficiencies, magnesium is a very common deficiency
Paul Pitchford, in his book Healing with Wholefoods says some of the positive effects that people experience when using spirulina and chlorella, include decreased appetite, weight loss, and improved energy levels, especially mental energy. Hey that’s all good right?
Barley Grass and Wheatgrass
Now what about barley grass and wheatgrass, these are grasses grown from barley and wheat seeds. Their protein content is about 20% and they contain trace amounts of B12, so good foods for vegetarians or vegans. They are high in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and digestive enzymes.
They have similar health benefits to spirulina and chlorella and will help to:
- Lower blood pressure
- Lower cholesterol
- Boost the immune system
- Provide more energy
- Improve sleep
- Help alkalinize the body
- Improve eyesight
- Reduce inflammation
- Reduce body odour
For me barley or wheatgrass are some of the best foods you can eat if you have arthritis. Arthitis is worsend by an overly acidic body. When we have too much acid in our blood we make little crystals that contribute to pain and inflammation. Both barley and wheatgrass can help make the body more alkaline which is the opposite to acidic, they help to reduce inflammation which in turn will help to relieve pain. When the body is in a more alkaline state disease can’t thrive. Disease thrives in a more acidic environment.
Another good reason to include barley and wheatgrass in your diet is they contain a super powerful antioxidant enzyme called superoxide dismutase, SOD for short. This enzyme is like the James Bond of antioxidants. When we eat processed food, breathe in polluted air, or even when we exercise, our body is producing “free radicals”. These little rascals are running around causing all sorts of damage in our body and the antioxidant enzyme SOD can round up these free radicals and lessen the effects of the damage they are doing. It is an essential enzyme to deal with the damage caused by free radicals. And not only does this super enzyme round up the bad guys, superoxide dismutase has also been used to treat arthritis, prostate problems, inflammatory diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, and long-term damage from exposure to smoke and radiation, and to prevent side effects of cancer drugs. SOD is also found in, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale and most green plants.
Go get your greens
Okay so where do you get your hands on these super green foods? You can get both Spirulina and Chlorella in either powder or capsules. True Natural Goodness have both in powder form and Spirulina in a tablet. Barley and Wheatgrass you can sprout the grains yourself at home and once the grass in long enough this can be juiced or eaten in salads, but they are also available in powder or capsule form. If you are like me and like the easy way out, then I suggest you try One Nutrition Power Greens. It is a truly great supplement and not only does it contain spirulina, chlorella, barley and wheatgrass but it also contains kale, broccoli, and cabbage. Happy Days!
