Depression, Health, Healthy Living, Uplifting

Participate Relentlessly In The Pursuit Of Happiness

July 25, 2013 happyholistichealth 1 Comment

People tend to think that happiness is a stroke of luck, something that will descend like fine weather if you're fortunate. But happiness is the result of personal effort. — People tend to think that happiness is a stroke of luck, something that will descend like fine weather if you’re fortunate. But happiness is the result of personal effort.

“Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others; to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others. I am going to benefit others as much as I can.” ~ Dalai Lama XIV ~

For many people the pursuit of happiness is the main focus of their life. This week what happiness is all about has popped up in my radar in a number of ways.

Apparently, according to the Sydney Morning Herald on May 28^th this year, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development says ‘Australia is still the world’s happiest nation’. Their happiness guage is based on the majority having paid work, the national economy side-stepping the worldwide recession, people working fewer hours, the existence of a stronger sense of community, and that most people said they have more positive experiences than negative in an average day.

But is this how to define happiness? Is it all about the economy and what we possess?

According to the Greek philosopher Epicurus external goods such as status and luxury are not good for us, and putting value on them, and pursuing them is not good for us at all.

Epicurus believes we need to abstain from external desire in order to achieve tranquility. He says the path to tranquility is through choosing the simple things in life.

A quick scroll through my Pinterest feed affirms that this is one belief firmly ascribed to by many others today.

“Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.” ~ Dalai Lama ~

Apparently our level of happiness is age-related as a study by Hannes Schwandt, a research associate at Princeton University shows. People are happiest at the age of 23 and then again at 69 and life slumps for most people in the mid-50’s, when many battle with regret. Young people in their early twenties feel very optimistic about their future which while it equates to happiness can easily turn to misery if the expectations and dreams are not met.

So what is it that makes sixty-nine year olds happy? Have they come to terms with their failures? The research showed that the elderly have lower expectations and so are less disappointed. Is this all? It reminds me a little of Eeyore from Winnie The Pooh who never expected anything good.

Is it that they have stopped seeking happiness in the material world, so they are ab;e find happiness in other ways?

Of course this piece of research presents a perfect example of what happens when you focus on the past or the future.

The famous quote “carpe diem” may have come from the Roman Horace, but many others, including Epicurus also had something to say about living in the moment. Epicurus advocated living in the present moment as it is the only point at which we have any control. He said that by focusing on the past and future we dis-empower ourselves, but when we focus on the present moment we re-empower ourselves. This has become a very popular approach. It forms the basis of many Buddhist practices and many of the techniques of modern psychology are also based on this concept.

“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.” ~ Dalai Lama XIV ~

It is widely accepted that happiness is not to be found in the trappings of the world but as the result of our internal state of mind and approach to life. Happiness lies within. As Elizabeth Gilbert said in her book Eat, Pray, Love , “We search for happiness everywhere, but we are like Tolstoy’s fabled beggar who spent his life sitting on a pot of gold, under him the whole time. Your treasure–your perfection–is within you already. But to claim it, you must leave the busy commotion of the mind and abandon the desires of the ego and enter into the silence of the heart.”

Leave the busy commotion of the mind...and enter into the stillness of the heart — Leave the busy commotion of the mind…and enter into the stillness of the heart

However, there is no one thing in life that many agree can apparently be said to be the key to happiness. It seems that many psychologists have given their advice as to what the answer is and there are any number of blogs with lists advising how to achieve a happy life.

Finding happiness seems to boil down to our need to make changes both to the way in which we assess the positive and negative about our life, as well as the attitude we adopt as the purpose of our life.

Psychologist Martin Seligman believes the key is to recognize our strengths and virtues and then to use them for a purpose greater than our own. This concept is one that is ascribed to widely.

“One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy. One of the best ways to make other people happy is to be happy yourself.” Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project

Srikumar Rao, the author of Happiness at Work thinks our biggest obstacle is the belief that we are powerless and the victim of circumstance. He believes that we are the creators of own existence, and that control lies within the attitude with which we approach our work, and by association our life. As he says “The knowledge we have that we are responsible for living the life we have is our most powerful tool”.

Rao advocates inhabiting the “other-centred universe”. This is a world where our focus lies on others. And is a wisdom that forms an important part of Eastern spirituality. If we are motivated by an attitude of focus that is outside ourself, of looking for ways to achieve in our life that will be of benefit to others rather than focusing on satisfying our own wants and desires, then we will find happiness in our life.

“Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck.” ~ Dalai Lama ~

For many people what may seem a huge negative in their life, a disaster, can in fact turn out to be a positive in hindsight. Often when serious illness forces someone to stop their life, to let go in order to undergo treatment and healing, they are offered the opportunity to turn their life in a different direction, one that can ultimately lead them to a happier life. Often it is a much simpler life.

Changes are made on many levels. Frequently the person finds they need to address their nutrition and they adopt a natural, wholefood diet, including the discovery of superfoods. The often seek out and adopt practices like meditation that allow them to sit in stillness. They recognize the generosity of others around them and begin to regularly and frequently express gratitude for those others as well as for the small, simple joys of everyday life. Importantly, their approach to their life can undergo a radical change which leaves them focused on the world outside themselves. Leaves them asking what they can do to improve and benefit the world and the individuals around them. It leads to a generous approach to life.

So what were the things that have reminded me this week about the purpose of life, the pursuit of happiness?

Well, firstly my free ‘Kindness Cards’ from the Wake-Up Project http://www.wakeupproject.com.au arrived in the mail. These are beautiful little cards to leave behind when you anonymously perform a random act of kindness. They tell the person that an act has been performed and invites them to repeat the game with someone else, to pay it forward. Why not some yourself?

Secondly, I have entered a competition on Pinterest to create “My Happiness Board”. I am not sure if entering a competition to win a great prize constitutes the true pursuit of happiness, and it has created some stress for me, however, once the event is over I will slowly build the board to hopefully be an inspiration to others. You can take a look here (don’t worry, you won’t need to trawl through a huge board – the rules called for only five pins!)

Thirdly, I re-read a favourite book (I love to re-read!) in which one oft-quoted line is “it is what it is”.

Forget about a positive spin on life. Life is what it is. We have to make the best of what it is – it could be better, it could be worse. But it isn’t – it is.

Look for your strengths, the things you may not even recognize, and use those strengths to address ways in which you can make the world a better place. Practice kindness, be generous with what you can offer. Accept what life gifts back to you. When you reach the age of sixty-nine you may very well realize that the lemons of your life were indeed gold. As Aristotle reminds us “Happiness depends on ourselves”.

And lastly, take note of Gretchen Rubins’ advice and try to notice and give credit to others that are living a life focused on giving what they have to offer to others. “The belief that unhappiness is selfless and happiness is selfish is misguided. It’s more selfless to act happy. It takes energy, generosity, and discipline to be unfailingly lighthearted, yet everyone takes the happy person for granted. No one is careful of his feelings or tries to keep his spirits high. He seems self-sufficient; he becomes a cushion for others. And because happiness seems unforced, that person usually gets no credit.”

Acknowledge your strengths, the things you may not even recognize as they come so easily to you, and use those strengths to address ways in which you can make the world a better place.

Disclaimer.

All information and opinions presented here are for information purposes only and are not intended as a substitute for professional advice offered during a consultation. Please consult with your health care provider before following any of the treatment suggested on this site, particularly if you have an ongoing health issue.

Source articles

History of Happiness

http://philosophyforlife.org/philosophies-for-life/epicureans/#sthash.ZnrVDZZt.dpuf

http://www.smh.com.au/business/australia-the-worlds-happiest-nation-oecd-20130528-2n87z.html

http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/people-happiest-20s-60s-article-1.1407789

http://www.thehappinessinstitute.com

http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/2009/09/the-happiness-project-book/

http://www.randomactsofkindness.org/kindness-resources

Review: 10 Questions for the Dalai Lama (exhilaratedliving.wordpress.com)
12 Timeless Life Lessons Learned from the Dalai Lama (lifehack.org)
18 Rules Of Living by the Dalai Lama (ruijaime.com)

Nutrition & Nutrients, Vitamins & Minerals

Himalayan Salt, Is It The ‘Salt Of The Earth’?

July 11, 2013 happyholistichealth 2 Comments

Every home has salt in the kitchen. But there’s a huge difference between the various salts available and being selective about which you use can make a significant difference to your health. Pink Himalayan salt is a healthy alternative to common table salt and contains 84 trace nutrients for your good health.

healthy alternatives to common salt

Salt has been in the spotlight for years and there are many, particularly those with hypertension, warned against salt and now on a low-sodium diet.

However, concern about salt is for everyone not just those with health issues. Most people still use common table salt, or add cooking salt when they prepare foods. But ‘salts ain’t salts’ and the different types present significant health differences.

Salt In The Diet

Most doctors regard high salt consumption as the cause of high blood pressure. However this thinking is the result of just one study and most other studies failed to show a convincing link between high-salt diets and hypertension.

In this article Gary Taubes even suggests it’s a case of public policy clashing with scientific data, resulting in misinformation for the public.

But from more recent studies it appears that fructose (a sugar) consumption may be a far greater cause of hypertension than salt. Far more fructose is consumed than salt and so may have a much greater impact on the incidence of this disease.

High salt intake is seen as contributing to strokes, osteoporosis, fluid retention, weight gain, gastric reflux and stomach cancer. But those in the natural health arena are more inclined to regard salt, or sodium, as an essential in our diet, with certain provisos.

SODIUM IS ESSENTIAL FOR GOOD BODY FUNCTION

Sodium is essential to efficient function in your body and it plays many important roles.

It’s widely recognized as one of the minerals having a crucial role in maintaining the delicate balance that supports effective fluid control in your body, both within and outside the cells. The balance between salt and water in the body is critical and affects all the cells, the blood and the lymphatics.

According to the Mayo Clinic “A low-sodium, high water diet can sometimes disturb the proper balance between sodium and fluids in your blood”

But salt plays a much greater role in you health than simply with fluid control.

Sodium, like fat, is a nutrient that’s needed by the body for health, but not all forms are healthy or safe.

Sodium is an electrolyte found in many foods – fruits, vegetables, legumes and meats. When it occurs in its natural form it helps regulate body fluids, muscle contraction, blood regulation, glucose absorption and nerve function.

Healthy alternatives to table salt and cooking salt When your sodium levels are too low you open the door wide to illness.

Just a few results of inadequate salt are:

increased bone fractures in the elderly
increased risk of heart attack
changes in both your mood and your appetite as salt is a natural antidepressant

Everybody needs to be concerned about salt not just those with health issues. Most people still add common table salt to their food, or add cooking salt when they prepare foods, or even some sea salts which can also be a problem.

But there’s a huge difference between table and cooking salt and other healthy salts.

HEALTHY SALTS

There are a number of great natural ‘full-spectrum’ salts around which are a wonderful alternative to processed salts that offer so little in the way of micronutrients.

Refined salt fails to meet any of your body’s requirements because your body doesn’t recognise it as a nutrient rich mineral. It upsets your digestion and creates a toxic environment in your body.

Perhaps you’ve noticed coloured salt around. When I first saw Celtic Sea Salt many years ago I was put off by the grey colour.

But the colour is the key to the benefits. Salt should contain a vast range of trace minerals and when it does it takes on the colour of the minerals. The colour is a great indicator that the salt is NOT PROCESSED.

You can tell if any salt is refined or not by the colour.

Table salt is unlike unrefined salts because it doesn’t contain the array of minerals. It’s almost entirely just one mineral, sodium chloride, in fact about 98%, with the rest being made up of toxic additives which act to absorb moisture and stop the salt clumping.

Natural salts, on the other hand, are only about 85% sodium chloride, with the rest being made up of beneficial naturally occurring trace elements and minerals that the body requires, and NO toxic additives

Within the body there are feedback loops which regulate absorption of unrefined salt. Feedback loops don’t function properly with processed salts.

Unrefined salts don’t contribute to disease like hypertension, in the same way that processed salt does because of the feedback loops. This makes your choice of which type you use quite significant.

In olden times salt was used as currency with salt worth its weight in gold – African and European explorers would trade an ounce of salt for an ounce of gold.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF SALT

Table Salt

Table Salt, Sodium chloride, is highly refined and processed. This process ‘cleans the salt up’ by eliminating the minerals and also prolongs the shelf life. It’s dried at very high temperatures, bleached and cleaned.

Like all refined foods the beneficial minerals and macro-nutrients are all lost. As a result of the refining and bleaching process the salt becomes toxic. It can contain chemicals, preservatives and other additives like anti-caking agents.

Once in your body the additives act upon the cells in the same way they do to the salt. Instead of dissolving and mixing with water to be used through every cell as required, sodium builds up in deposits around your tissues and organs where it leads to disease.

Iodine deficiency is very obvious and easily recognized. Early in the 19^th century it was seen as a direct result of people changing from using natural salt to table salt. So iodine was added to table salt after processing. Like table salt iodized salt has had all the minerals taken out and only one, iodine, added back in.

Iodine deficiency is quite prevalent amongst the Australian population but the amount of iodine that’s available from salt doesn’t go anywhere near redressing that iodine deficiency.

Note that Kosher Salt is pure sodium chloride.

Sea salt

Sea salt has become more popular over the last decade. Virtually all salt originally came from the sea, even salt found in caves comes from caves that were once under water. So most salt can truthfully be called ‘sea-salt’, and the name is not a reflection of the purity or processed status of the product. It’s sea salt even if it has had the nutrients extracted through processing.

The problem with most sea salts is that much that’s sold has been refined.

The key is to use unprocessed sea salt. If the salt is PURE WHITE then approach it warily. It means the salt has undergone some processing, or washing which strips away the minerals. It’s still ‘sea-salt’, but if it has no colour then it doesn’t contain any of the minerals that provide the health benefits of salt.

If sea salt is pure white it’s probably been bleached. Full-spectrum sea salt is coloured, or at least non-white.

Celtic Sea Salt

Celtic sea salt is healthy if it's coloured Celtic Salt is an example of unrefined sea salt. It’s light grey colour supplies 84 trace minerals needed by the human body in a bio-available form.

It’s naturally harvested in Brittany, in northwestern France and helps to balance the whole body.

The salt is harvested in a way that preserves its natural state. All unrefined sea salt is extracted from the ocean or saltwater lakes. Salty water’s channelleding into ponds where the sun and wind evaporate off the water. Some waters contain trace minerals and elements and these remain in the salt.

Himalayan Salt

Himalayan salt is mined from the Himalayan foothills. Sometimes it’s called Himalayan Sea Salt as it’s the fossilized end result of salt from an ancient ocean. It’s entirely hand-mined and hand-washed.

It’s the most beautiful translucent pink colour, which reflects the full-spectrum of the 84 different minerals and trace elements it contains, including iron which gives it the lovely colour.

Himalayan salt is very pure and does not contain any heavy metals or toxins. It stores vibrational energy, like other crystals, and does not weigh your body down.

Nutrients occurring naturally together in the one plant or mineral work synergistically, enhancing the action of all the others. A salt containing 84 different trace elements offers loads more benefits to your health. Some minerals found in unrefined salts include magnesium, potassium, zinc, calcium and iron.

My favourite salt is Himalayan salt and I use this organic wholefood in my cooking as well as the salt grinder. One thing I’ve noticed is that it seems more potent than table salt, and I need far less to get the same result.

Stronger impact, loads of trace elements and so many benefits to your body’s functions…seems a better option to me! Pink Himalayan Salt contains 84 minerals

Murray River Salt

Murray River Salt is another pink salt containing a range of minerals, from ancient underground saline waters in the Murray Darling Basin region in Australia.

Alaea Salt

Alaea salt is an unrefined Hawaiian sea salt with a pinkish-brown colour that comes from Hawaiian clay, called ‘alaea’, which is also composed of over 80 separate minerals and rich in iron oxide.

Epsom Salts

These are another form of healthy salts and a rich source of magnesium, and you can read about them here.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF UNREFINED SALTS

Far from being harmful, natural, unrefined salts can help you in many ways, including these:

Stabilize and regulate blood pressure and heart beat in conjunction with adequate water
Reduce the effects of stress
Maintain blood sugar levels
Is an alkaline-forming food so helps balance out acidity in your cells
Calming effect on the whole nervous system
Improves brain function, where it’s needed for the processing and transmission of information between brain and muscles
Regulates nerve impulses
Prevents muscle cramps
Needed for proper muscle function
It can prevent and eliminate mucous build-up, and improve respiratory function
Help maintain optimum water levels in the body
Help with cell hydration, and carries nutrients in and out of cells
Supports and builds immune system
Slows down ageing process
Better absorption of nutrients
Needed to produce hydrochloric acid in the stomach
Strengthens bones – Himalayan salt contains calcium
Reduces the incidence of gout, arthritis and rheumatism
Aids adrenal function
Plus more…..

It’s vital to remember that any salt requires adequate quantities of water in order to function beneficially in your body, so keep hydrated.

Just like everything, consuming too much natural, unrefined salt, is harmful. Too much of the good thing can lead to many of the health problems that small amounts of the same salt can assist or prevent. The key is to get the balance right between enough and too much.

So go ahead. Get some natural, unrefined, wholefood salt and relax, salt your food to taste.

Remember to consume sufficient water, especially during hot weather or when you add exercise to the mix.

And don’t forget that eating more processed food means a higher consumption of harmful salt, which your body does NOT want.

If you already enjoy the benefits of Himalayan or Celtic salt (or another unrefined salt) why not ‘like’ and share this article so others come to know of the benefits also.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on salt in your diet in the reply space below.

Disclaimer.

All information and opinions presented here are for information purposes only and are not intended as a substitute for professional advice offered during a consultation. Please consult with your health care provider before trying any of the treatment suggested on this site.

Source articles:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/08/25/why-has-this-lifesustaining-essential-nutrient-been-vilified-by-doctors.aspx

http://www.naturalnews.com/028724_Himalayan_salt_sea.html

http://www.lifewithgreens.com/differences-between-refined-and-unrefined-salt?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=differences-between-refined-and-unrefined-salt

http://www.waterbenefitshealth.com/celtic-sea-salt.html

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/09/20/salt-myth.aspx

http://curezone.com/foods/salt/understanding_salt_and_sodium.htm

http://www.naturalnews.com/033716_sea_salt_health_benefits.html

http://www.hcgdiethelp.info/himalayan-salt/

CDC admits long-standing error, there is no benefit in reducing salt (kfor.com)
Salt (remedycook.wordpress.com)

Antioxidants, Health, Healthy Living, Immune System, Superfoods

Sample Some Superfoods From This Southern Treasure Chest

July 4, 2013 happyholistichealth 1 Comment

I remember quite clearly when the catchphrase of all the campaigns to save the Amazon Rainforest from widespread clearing, was that we were destroying the World’s Pharmacy.

But now it appears this was only a part of the picture. As more and more fantastic Superfoods appear in the West it seems that the entire South American continent is a veritable treasure chest of foods as medicine. Perhaps we now need to say instead that the entire South American continent is the biggest room in the World’s Pharmacy.

So many of the wonderful new healthy foods we can add to our diet come out of the countries of South America.

So many of the wonderful new healthy foods we can add to our diet to either replace problem foods, or simply to send our health zinging, come out of the countries of South America. Foods such as quinoa, maca, raw cacao and chia all have their origins in that part of the world.

The superfood heartland, where chia, quinoa and other superfoods are cultivated in terraces around Cusco, Peru Photo credit: Liana John — The superfood heartland, where chia, quinoa and other superfoods are cultivated in terraces around Cusco, Peru
Photo credit: Liana John

Following on from last weeks postabout free radicals, here are twelve wonderful Superfoods from the South and Central American treasure chest that would be fantastic additions to your menu.

Quinoa Credit: Alisha Vargas — Quinoa
Credit: Alisha Vargas

Quinoa (keen-wa) has swept into our diets as a fantastic replacement for gluten grains. Only a few years ago it was quite difficult to find but it is available on every supermarket shelf now. It has been grown for at least 6,000 years in the Andes of Peru. It was sacred to the Incas and famous for giving the Inca warriors super-human strength. It is gluten free and a great source of magnesium, iron and phosphorous as well as rich in fibre and folate. Technically it is not a grain but a seed, but it can be used just as you would a grain in your cooking. It’s really easy to prepare and quick to cook so makes a great addition to the menus of busy working families.

Chia Seeds were originally grown by the ancient Aztecs, Incans and Mayans for health and strength. They are chock-full of omega 3 (the one you need more of), actually one of the highest sources around, as well they have lots of fibre (4 teaspoons provide 30% of the daily requirement) and calcium. They are the highest source of protein compared to other seeds and grains. They are easily absorbed and this enables you to take in lots of the nutrients. They help with tissue growth and regeneration and are great during pregnancy and lactation, as well as for athletes.

Amaranth (Kiwicha) has been around for a long time, and was a staple food for the Incas. I remember a fellow Community Garden member experimenting with it about ten years ago. The next season every single plot in the garden had amaranth growing in it, so there shouldn’t be any difficulty of you would like to try growing some yourself here in Melbourne. Like quinoa, amaranth is a pseudograin, not really a grain. It has been used in its puffed form in health snack bars for some time and the flour, which has a rich flavour, is also available. Nutritionally it is similar to quinoa – high in protein and all amino acids, but also amaranth is rich in iron with 29 percent of the RDI of iron in just one cup, making it a great addition to a vegetarian diet. It also contains the minerals manganese, magnesium, phosphorous and copper.

Lúcuma is another fairly new food to appear in our markets. It is a large, sweet fruit with a creamy citrus flavour, from the highlands of Peru, Bolivia and Equador, where it has been harvested from ancient times. It is considered one of the lost crops of the Incas but is still very widely eaten today. Its fruit tastes a little like maple syrup and sweet potato and it makes a wonderful low-sugar sweetener. It is very nutritious, rich in beta-carotene and niacin (vitamin B3), iron and calcium. The fruit is dried and ground to a powder. I have to say it is YUM combined with raw chocolate!

Lepidium meyenii (Maca) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Maca Powder is another of the superfoods of the Incas and grows at 4,000m above sea level in the Andian highlands of Peru. It has been a medicinal food in that area for over 2,000 years. The harvested root is loaded up with protein, calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron and other minerals, vitamins and all the amino acids. Maca has some amazing health benefits as it is an adaptogen which supports and heals the adrenal glands. It is great for offsetting the effects of stress, gives an amazing energy boost, and can improve insomnia. But one of the most common uses is for balancing hormones when there is an overabundance of environmental oestrogens involved. It is also a powerful aphrodisiac.

Just note that there are certain contraindications for Maca. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or being treated for a hormonal issue consult your practitioner before using it.

Acai berries Credit: Cametaora — Acai berries
Credit: Cametaora

Acai (ah-sigh-ee) grows only in the Brazilian rainforest and coastal Colombia. This small purple berry is related to the blueberry and cranberry, and like them, is very rich in antioxidants which reduce oxidative stress. They stimulate the immune system and boost your energy. They can be helpful in preventing heart disease and cancer, and may help reduce cholesterol levels. They are associated with reduction of blood sugars, and assist with cognitive and mental function. It is frequently used in many healthy foods as well as smoothies and juices. Lots of beauty products now contain acai oil due to the high antioxidant content.

Raw Cacao can be considered a superfood, a healthy food, which was originally found in the Amazon Rainforest! It has been cultivated for over 3,000 years by the Incan, Mayan and Aztec peoples. Unlike the highly processed, fat-full, dairy-full, high sugar versions made by Cadbury etc, raw cacao is good for you. It comes as a powder or cacao nibs and can be used through your cooking as well as eaten raw. Keep milk away from it as many studies show that milk neutralizes the healthful properties.

Raw cacao really can be considered a true superfood. (woo hoo! Love my chocolate) It is very high in antioxidants as well as minerals which help with mental alertness, heart health and physical stamina. In addition it increases serotonin uptake in the brain which creates a sense of euphoria and counteracting stress.

I like to think of it as my favourite vegetable.

Camu Camu is another amazing food from Peru and like the acai, it is a berry. It provides great support to the immune system and helps to ward off viral infections, especially when you are more stressed or anxious than normal. It contains bioflavonoids, amino acids, vitamin Bs (thiamin, niacin and riboflavin), plus it has sixty times more vitamin C than an orange. It will promote healthy gums, eyes, skin and supports the nervous system (brain) and the circulatory system (heart).

Maqui (mock-ee), Chilean Wineberry, is yet another powerhouse berry and comes from the Patagonia region of Southern Chile. It is known for its detoxifying properties and the benefits bestowed by its antioxidants. It was used by a tribe of warriors, the Mapuche Indians, who were attributed with great strength and endurance. The deep purple berries are loaded with antioxidants, with more than three times those found in acai. Maqui berries are very powerful so you only need half as much maqui as you would other berries. They have the highest ORAC score of any berry in the world. The ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) unit, ORAC value, or “ORAC score” is a method of measuring the antioxidant capacity of different foods and supplements.

The Maqui berry protects your immune system, skin, cardiovascular system, bones and joints. It also detoxifies the digestive system and restores metabolism to maximum capacity. They renew cells and help improve many diseases as well as fighting the effects of ageing.

Purple corn Photo credit: Randen Pederson — Purple corn
Photo credit: Randen Pederson

Purple Corn has been grown in Latin America for thousands of years. It is another food very rich in antioxidants, containing more than blueberries. Its gorgeous colour has been used as a naturalfood colouring, and it is often used in Peru to make chichi morada – purple corn drink.

Mesquite is actually from Central America, Mexico. The long pods are ground up into a low-glycemic, gluten free flour with a sweet nutty taste, which bakes up just like wheat flour – use it instead of half the wheat flour in the recipe. It can be used in raw desserts as it doesn’t need to be cooked. You can even add a spoonful to smoothies for a sweeter flavour. It is rich in soluble fibres and a great source of calcium, iron, zinc, potassium, manganese and lysine. Because it is in fact a legume and not a grain it is higher in protein than grain flours. It sits low on the glycemic index and won’t cause blood sugar spikes.

Inca Berries, or goldenberries, are golden berries about cherry size, which resemble a raisin when they are dried. They are high in phosphorous, vitamins A, C, B1, B6 and B12, and are very high in protein for a fruit (16%)

In order to get the most from your South American Superfoods buy only ones that are organically certified. If the foods have been commercially produced they will carry chemical residue and much of the benefits will be lost.

You now have lots of information about some magic foods you can try out. If you need some ideas about how to use them there are lots of recipes and ideas out on the web so do a search.

But, you also need to actually get your hands on some of these magic goodies. I don’t normally recommend specific products but this week I am making an exception. The Loving Earth company stocks most of these brilliant superfoods from the South American Treasure Chest, as well as creating a range of wonderful products that make use of them. Plus, on their website they have some amazing, delicious recipes which use all these foods. They also sell many of them in their raw state, including Maca powder, Raw Cacao, Camu Camu Powder, Purple Corn Extract and Chia seeds.

They also operate from an ethical basis. From their website…”The company is based on the philosophy that the earth is a living organism, (and) eating foods in their pure, minimally processed states, foods that are grown organically in a sustainable way, is one of the most significant ways in which we can live this philosophy.”

They support Fair Trade 100% and most of their foods are Australian Certified Organic.

Just in case you are wondering, I don’t take any payment from Loving Earth, in fact they don’t even know that I have written this about their products. They are just some products that I’ve tried and loved and I believe they are a company well worth your support. You can find their products in Health Food shops or can buy online.

Superfoods are the way of the Health Future. However, taking superfood supplements on their own are never going to be enough to turn around ill health. But by including a range of them as some of the dietary changes that are part of wider changes you make to build your own great health, they are certainly a powerful and effective addition.

Do you have a favourite South American Superfood? How do you use it? Post it in the comments below…we’d love to hear.

South America is a treasure chest of wonderful superfoods

Disclaimer.

All information and opinions presented here are for information purposes only and are not intended as a substitute for professional advice offered during a consultation. Please consult with your health care provider before trying any of the treatment suggested on this site.

Source articles

http://www.besthealthmag.ca/eat-well/nutrition/7-south-american-superfoods

http://www.maquiberrybenefits.com.au/maqui_berry_anti_aging.php

http://www.age-well.org/maqui-berry.html

http://www.amazonhub.com/Superfoods-of-the-Incas/superfoods-of-the-incas-medicine-natural-buy.html

http://foodsforlonglife.blogspot.com.au/2011/01/omega-3-power-seeds-chia-hemp-and-flax.html

http://www.amazonhub.com/Superfoods-of-the-Incas/superfoods-of-the-incas-medicine-natural-buy.html

http://www.desthealth.com/products/vitamins-supplements/maqui-berry-active-60-capsules

http://www.thewellnesswarrior.com.au/2012/09/superfood-profile-camu-camu

http://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-food/mesquite-powder-health-benefits-tips-and-recipes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesquite

http://www.naturalnews.com/029562_mesquite_flour_superfood.html