Black Pepper, Piper nigrum

Black pepper is one of the most popular of all spices. It has been used for centuries in India where it originated. Wars have been fought over pepper. Pepper grows on a vine that produces small white flowers which develop berries that are called peppercorns. These are ground up into the spice we call pepper. Peppercorns come in white, and black. They both come from the same plant; they are just harvested at different times and processed differently. Black pepper is hot and smells strong and white pepper is hot but has less smell. Pepper oil is distilled from pepper.

Most people think of pepper in terms of culinary uses, but black pepper has a number of health benefits as well. Black pepper stimulates the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach which improves digestion. It also helps prevent the formation of gas in the intestines. It has diaphoretic properties that encourage sweating and diuretic properties that promote urination. Peppercorns stimulate the breakdown of fat cells. Some people even use black pepper to help them quit smoking.

Black peppercorns have potassium, calcium zinc, manganese, iron and magnesium. They also contain B vitamins, vitamin C, and vitamin A. They have antioxidants such as carotenes, zeaxanathin and lycopene. Anti-oxidants work against free radicals that can cause cancer and other diseases.

Black pepper has some unique household uses that I found interesting. It can be used as a laundry booster to keep the colors of your clothes bright. Sprinkle a half teaspoon of pepper into your laundry. It will wash away and your clothes will not fade.

Pepper can be used in your garden to keep pests and insects away as well as deer and rabbits. It makes an excellent scrub for your face. You can make a formula from sugar, massage oil, and 1/2 teaspoon of ground pepper. Add a few drops of orange essential oil. Massage the mixture into your face, then rinse. Black pepper is readily available in any supermarket. Organic pepper is the best.


Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-800-black%20pepper%20and%20white%20pepper.aspx?activeingredientid=800&activeingredientname=black%20pepper%20and%20white%20pepper
www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname-foodspice&dbid=74
http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/black_pepper.html
http://www.sustainablebabysteps.com/black-pepper-essential-oil.html
http://www.thealternativedaily/spice-up-your-health-with-black-pepper/

Be sure to check out my website at www.valerielull.com  Your comments are welcome as well as suggestions for topics for this blog. To leave a comment click on the words "no comment" below and the comment box will come up.

Valerie Lull
Author
Ten Spices for Health and Longevity
valerielull923@gmail.com

Five Spices for anti-aging

While we all know that someday we will die, there are things that can be done to slow down the aging process and have a better quality of life right up to the end. Nature has provided a great many things that can help us achieve these goals. Who wants to be sitting in a wheelchair in a nursing home, and who wants to be a burden to their families? By adding these simple things to your diet you can help maintain your independence and have a quality life.

Oregano - has the highest antioxidant level of all herbs. Antioxidants are important for fighting free radicals which speed up the aging process. Oregano is also anti-inflammatory. Inflammation is a definite part of the ageing process and slowing it down is a good preventative measure. Oregano is also antibiotic and antiviral, which means it helps keep these nasty microbes under control.

 Ginger - A little sliced ginger with honey in hot water makes a delicious tea. This anti aging secret comes form India and helps reduce inflammation and reduces collagen breakdown. Sipping a cup of ginger tea on a cold fall or winter morning also has a calming effect. This is one of my personal favorites.

Turmeric - Another anti aging secret from India is Turmeric. The people in India have a much lower rate of Alzheimer's disease than other countries. This is thought to be because of the extensive use of turmeric in their diet. Turmeric contains high levels of antioxidants and inflammatory substances. Turmeric contains curcumin which many people have found can relieve arthritis pain.

Chili - can help with circulation problems and coughs and colds. It is great for clearing your sinuses. Chili contains capsaicin, which is an antiinflammatory that relieves pain. It can be obtained in ointments and patch form and is popular for relieving minor aches and pains in the body.

Cinnamon - This is a spice that was popular among the ancients for its health benefits. In recent times it has been studied for it's use in controlling blood sugar levels. A half teaspoon per day can improve insulin sensitivity which can help control weight and prevent heart disease.

It is so easy to just add a little spice to your diet. It makes your food taste good and it is good nutrition when used in moderation. If you desire to use it as a medicinal be sure to consult your health care provider because some spices may not mix well with your medications. Expert advice is always important.

Sources
http://www.worldhealth.net/forum/thread/733/highly-recommended-anti-aging-spices-to/?page=1
http://www.worldhealth.net/forum/thread/99334/oregano-one-of-the-most-beneficial-spi/?page=1
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/09/anti-aging-secrets_n_4234137.html
http://www.agein.com/use-this-anti-aging-spice-to-fight-disease-3338

To access my web site and learn about teas go to www.valerielull.com

Valerie Lull
Author
Ten Healthy Teas
Lullval@clearwire.net

Chai Tea

Chai tea is a beverage that started in India thousands of years ago. It is a blend of herbs and spices with tea. Sometimes milk is added.Chi can be made from many different formulas using differing herbs and spices. Sometimes one has to try several types of chai before choosing which is their favorite. There are some usual spices that are most often used in chai. For example, cardamon, cinnamon, cloves, black pepper, ginger, fennel, star anise and nutmeg..Chai can be made with black, green, oolong and rooibos tea. There are endless combinations of the teas and spices that can be made into chai.

 The health benefits of chai come from the different spices and from the tea itself. They work synergisticly, which means they work together to produce the healthful benefits. Chai according to Indian folklore was used as a tonic to preserve health. It was also credited with giving a person peace of mind. In modern times more benefits of chai have been found, like fighting inflammation and improving digestion. Chai has antioxidants in it and there is some talk about antibacterial and anti-cancer effects. The health properties of chai vary considerably with the varying properties of the herbs and spices used.

The herbs and spices are boiled in the tea and the various components come together in a tasty and healthful whole. Chai can be bought in tea bags, in loose tea blends, in bottles or boxes in the supermarket. There is an endless number of blends available. My favorite is a tea made with red tea from Africa called rooibos. It is put out by the Stash tea company and is called red dragon spiced chai. It is made with rooibos, ginger, cinnamon and cloves. I drink it without milk, but milk or coconut cream can be added if you wish. (I am not receiving anything from Stash tea, it just happens to be one of my favorites.) Choosing a chai that is right for you is a sort of personal thing. Some chai teas I strongly dislike and others I could drink all day.

Chai is good to drink in place of coffee since a cup of chai has only about 1/3 the caffeine of a cup of coffee. Be careful of how much sugar and cream you add as it could add calories to your drink that may not be wanted.. The various commercial outlets that offer chai tea often have a nutritional breakdown of the type of chai they serve. This can be very helpful for some folks. You can find hundreds of recipes for various types of chai tea if you search the internet.  Do you have a favorite chai? Tell us about it in the comments section below.

Be sure to check out my website, at www.valerielull.com

Sources:
htttp://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-5825/Why-Everyone-Should-Drink-Chai-Tea-html
http://www.livestrong.com/article/23035-health-benefits-chai-tea/
http://www.chai-tea.org/benefits html
Http://www.med-health.net/Chai-Tea-Benefits.html

Valerie Lull
Author
Ten Healthy Teas
Lullval@clearwire.net