Aloe Vera is packed full of the nutrients your body needs – inside and out – to feel GREAT and look AMAZING.

Lots of people are already familiar with the many benefits of using Aloe Vera on the skin – for rashes, cuts, bruises, sunburn and so on. But not so many people know about the health benefits of drinking aloe vera juice.
Firstly, aloe vera juice is completely safe and it’s very versatile. It’s actually called an “adaptogen” because it literally adapts to the body’s needs. Many of the benefits of drinking aloe vera juice stem from the fact that it naturally contains so many different nutrients: vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other trace elements.
These are all perfectly balanced in a proportion that is ideally suited for the body to utilise effectively for its own healing and repair. So it’s not quite true that aloe vera juice is a miracle cure. It’s more that it contains so much nutrition that’s vital for the body to heal itself…

Here, in no particular order, is a guide to the top ten health benefits of drinking aloe vera juice:
1. Detox Aloe vera juice is a great natural aid to detox. With our stressful lives, the pollution around us and the junk foods we eat, we all need to cleanse our systems from time to time. Some people more often than others! Drinking aloe vera juice provides a fantastically rich cocktail of vitamins, minerals and trace elements to help our bodies deal with these stresses and strains everyday.
2. Healthy Digestion A healthy digestive system makes sure that we absorb as many of the nutrients as possible from the foods we eat. Aloe vera juice has natural detoxifying abilities; and drinking aloe vera juice seems to improve bowel regularity and increases protein absorption. It also helps to decrease the amount of unfriendly bacteria and yeast in our gut. Aloe vera has been shown to help reduce and soothe heartburn and other digestive problems.
3. Natural Immune Support Aloe vera is full of anti-oxidants – natural immune enhancers which fight free radicals within our body. Free radicals are the unstable compounds produced as a side-effect of our metabolism. They are thought to cause various ailments, as well as contributing to the ageing process. Drinking aloe vera juice regularly gives the body a regular supply of anti-oxidants, which can boost and enhance the immune system.
4. Reduce Inflammation Aloe vera juice contains 12 substances which can slow down or inhibit inflammation, without any side-effects. Some people say that drinking aloe vera juice helps with their stiff, swollen or painful joints.
5. Collagen and Elastin Repair for Healthy Skin Drinking aloe vera juice adds a rich supply of raw materials to your diet, which can produce and maintain really healthy skin. The skin replaces itself every 28 days. Using the nutritional building blocks of aloe vera, the skin can use these nutrients daily to help combat the effects of ageing. Aloe vera also helps in soothing minor burns, cuts, scrapes and skin irritations.
6. Regulate Weight and Energy Levels Drinking aloe vera juice naturally allows the body to cleanse the digestive system. Our diets include many substances which can cause fatigue and exhaustion. Taken regularly, aloe vera juice ensures a greater feeling of well-being, allowing energy levels to increase and helps maintain a healthy body weight.
7. Daily Dose of Vitamins & Minerals Aloe vera juice contains vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12 (the aloe vera plant is one of the few plants in the world to contain vitamin B12), C, E, Folic Acid and Niacin. The human body cannot store some of these vitamins, so we need to supplement them regularly through our diet. The minerals found in aloe vera include Calcium, Sodium, Iron, Potassium, Copper, Zinc, Manganese, Magnesium, Chromium and more… Plenty of good nutrition in aloe vera juice!
8. Amino Acids The human body requires 20 amino acids to build protein; 8 of these amino acids are ‘essential’ which means the body can’t make them itself. Aloe vera contains 19 of these amino acids, and 7 of the essential amino acids. So drinking aloe vera juice tops up your body’s daily supply.
9. Dental Health Aloe vera is extremely helpful for your mouth and gums. As well as its natural anti-bacterial and anti-microbial actions, it contains vitamins and minerals which promote cell growth and healing. There are some aloe vera toothgels available which contain a high level of pure aloe vera, which may help with bleeding gums and mouth ulcers.
10. Better than Nutritional Supplements Recent research has shown that adding good foods to our diets, rich in naturally occurring vitamins and minerals, is far better than adding supplements alone. The good news is that Aloe Vera juice is considered a food, rather than a manufactured supplement. So drinking aloe vera juice is probably better than taking supplements alone, because our bodies can absorb all the nutrients in aloe vera more easily, and utilise them more effectively.

What is Spirulina Pacifica?

Spirulina Pacifica is the trademarked name of a Hawaiian strain of edible blue-green microalgae developed by the Cyanotech Corporation from the spirulina platensis species. The algae is farmed in shallow ponds located near the Pacific Ocean that combine fresh water with deep ocean water that enriches the spirulina with minerals. Spirulina is considered a rich, natural source of nutrients, especially for vegetarians.

Nutrition Source

Spirulina Pacifica contains a highly absorbable form of vegetable protein with a high amino acid content. It is rich in vitamins and minerals and an especially good source of vitamin A in the form of beta carotene, vitamin B-12 and iron.
The chlorophyll in spirulina that gives the algae its deep green color also contains mixed carotenoids and other antioxidants. These antioxidants neutralize harmful free radicals in the body and protect the skin, eyes and immune system.

Organic Spirulina Certified by Soil Association UK Free UK delivery! www.naturecomplete.com

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Potential Medicine

Spirulina Pacifica produces polysaccarides that destroy bacteria. It also contains gamma linolenic acid (GLA), a fatty acid recognized for both anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Chronic inflammation plays a role in the development of arthritis, heart disease and tissue damage throughout the body.
In laboratory animals studied at the University of South Florida's Center for Aging and Brain Repair, antioxidants from spirulina reversed normal age-related brain cell loss and memory decline. In similar animal studies, diets supplemented with spirulina appeared to reduce the severity of strokes and stroke-related injuries.

Supplement

Under the brand name Nutrex Hawaii, Spirulina Pacifica is available as a supplement in powder and tablet form. It is also an ingredient in powdered drink mixes such as EnerFood. The powders can be mixed into fruit juices and smoothies or sprinkled over cereals and other foods.

Green Product

Cyanotech Corporation positions itself as an environmentally conscious company, committed to recycling and minimizing water waste in the production of Spirulina Pacifica. In 2009, they redesigned their packaging to use tree-free paper labels developed by FiberStone. FiberStone tree-free papers are made from crushed limestone and the paper-making process uses no water and no chemicals.

Organic Spirulina Powder 250g £13.50+p&p. Natural organic superfood and powerful antioxidant. www.NaturalSpirulinaPowder.co.uk

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Acai Berry

Acai berries are the small purple fruit of the acai palm. They grow naturally in Central and South America where the natives have used them in their diets for many generations. They know all about the incredible health benefits of the acai fruit but it is only in the last few years that the rest of the world has begun to sit up and take notice. Consumption of acai berries has gone through the roof in recent years, as more and more people have become aware of the health and fitness potential of acai berries.

Acai berries have a wide reaching beneficial effect on the body, helping to promote health by controlling blood pressure, supplying vital vitamins and reducing inflammation but it is its potential to aid weight loss that has really captured the public’s imagination.

Can acai berry help weight loss?

We all know how hard it can be to shed those extra few pounds. Whether it’s spending countless fruitless hours in the gym or practically starving yourself on the latest fad diet, achieving your ideal body weight or at least one that you are comfortable with, can be difficult – but it just got a little bit easier. Most of us could do with all the help we can get and that’s where the acai berry comes to the rescue.

Acai berries contain powerful antioxidants that help to boost the body’s natural metabolism. This is the rate at which you burn calories and therefore lose weight. In fact, acai contains one of the highest antioxidant levels of any fruit according to the international measurement standard ORAC. This means that by adding acai to your diet every day, not only will you increase the natural levels of antioxidants in your body but you can also help it to burn fat more effectively. Acai berries also contain high levels of essential fatty acids like omega-6 and -9 that can help induce a natural weight loss within the body.

Acai berries also aid weight loss by increasing your natural stamina and energy levels. This means that you are able to exercise longer and harder, burning off more fat and developing muscles. The powerful antioxidants in acai berries fight cell-damaging free radicals, which are responsible for aging. This means that acai berries can help to keep you feeling fresher and younger and more able to exercise on a regular basis.

Acai berries also contain high amounts of fibre, which help to keep you feeling full for more of the day. This means that you won’t need to eat such large portions at meal times and won’t spend most of the day with those nagging hunger pains that result in the inevitable snacking.

Acai berry and detox supplement can help you to lose weight quicker?

Acai berries also help to increase weight loss by removing waste found in the intestines and stomach. This contributes to the overall detoxification of the body, removing unnecessary matter from within, making you feel healthier, lighter and ready for action. The detoxification process can also be aided with a number of other supplements. Detox supplements are designed to aid the body to cleanse areas such as the colon, liver and intestines, often affected by poor digestion. By working together with acai berries, detox supplements can have a thorough deep cleaning effect on the whole body. This is the perfect starting point for a new health drive or for people just needing a boost of energy or vitality.

If you have been feeling sluggish or lethargic and haven’t been able to snap yourself out of it, try combining the amazing health promoting acai berries with a detoxification supplement. This combination increases weight loss by getting rid of those extra pounds quickly but it also then helps to control appetite and metabolism. Clearing the stomach and colon of toxins, it allows blood pressure to return to normal and reduces cholesterol levels. It also allows the body to absorb nutrients at a faster pace meaning it is harder to put the weight back on.

Will I still need to exercise to lose weight?

In short, the answer is yes. Although the acai berry can help to stabilise the body’s cholesterol levels even without exercise, in order to make the most of the acai berry’s weight loss potential you will still need to exercise. This is because the secret to effective weight loss is increasing your metabolism. This helps the body to burn of fat quicker. The beauty of the acai berry is that it helps the body to do this more efficiently, meaning you will see results faster. The acai berry also helps you to feel generally healthier because of the high levels of free-radical fighting antioxidants. This will make you far more inclined to exercise regularly than an acai-free diet. A regular intake of acai, combined with a detox supplement will help you to lose weight but retain the motivation to get out there and achieve the body and lifestyle you have always wanted.

Chia Seeds

For most people, the term chia seeds brings back memories of cute clay figures in which we used to pour a handful of chia seeds, soaked it in water and in a week had the fluffy, green chia pet. They were extremely popular for a while, and until recently, very few people knew of any other use for chia seeds. But, the latest craze about ‘super foods’ and raw food diet revealed the true treasure hidden in these tiny but mighty seeds.

Forgotten treasure of Aztec Indians

According to local folklore, Aztec Indians cultivated and revered chia plants in pre-Colombian times. Chia seeds were the most important part of the plant and they were made into many local dishes which remained popular in Mexico and Guatemala to this day. Chia seeds were, and still are, ground and mixed with ground corn for a popular dish called pinole, or soaked in water for a refreshing drink called pinolillo, which is the national drink of Nicaragua, or chia fresca in Mexico.

What do we eat

Chia seeds are not the only food that we are rediscovering today. Throughout history, humans depended on 7,000 plants for their most common food needs. Today, mostly due to the modern, completely mechanized agriculture of large scale, majority of the world population survives on about 150 plant species. In fact,  the majority of world eats only 12 plants, rice, corn, wheat and soy beans being the most common. This is bad on many levels: commonly used plant crops are vulnerable to plant diseases, they provide poor nutrition and very uninteresting diet. Their cultivation affects plants biodiversity. Fortunately, many native peoples, especially in Central America, continued growing and eating plants and seeds like chia seeds and saved them from extinction.

In the crazy world we live in, about one billion people are going hungry every day. At the same time, obesity is one of the major health issues of developed countries. People that can afford good and plentiful food are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of healthy eating and are looking into sources of health and good nutrition in forgotten foods like chia seeds.

Chia plant

Chia plant belongs to the mint family. It is an annual, what means that it has to be replanted every year. It is grown exclusively for its seeds, which are very rich in oil – 30 percent of each chia seed is pure oil, making chia seeds very economical to cultivate.  Although chia has been grown since pre-Colombian times, only now we know about its rich nutritional value and health benefits.

Benefits of chia seeds

Chia seeds owe their current popularity as a health and even ‘super’ food to their high content of omega-3 fatty acids, and  α-linolenic acid. Research shows that omega-3 fatty acids are vital in brain function and normal development and growth. They are found to reduce the risk of heart disease and arthritis and even lower the risk of cancer.  Omega-3 fatty acids are also found to affect brain function and behavior. They can be used to treat high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis, depression and many other health problems.

Chia seeds are also rich in protein, fat and dietary fiber. In addition, chia seeds are good source of calcium, essential minerals, potassium, phosphorus, sodium and manganese.  The ability of chia seeds to slow down the speed with which our bodies convert carbohydrates into simple sugars leads to a hope that chia seeds can play a big future role in controlling diabetes and in fighting obesity. The research is under way in finding other potential benefits chia seeds can have in treating various diseases.

Commercial cultivation

Although it is not the country’s native plant, the biggest commercial grower of chia today is Australia, followed by Mexico, Bolivia, Guatemala, Ecuador and Argentina.

Chia is recognized by European Union as novel food and is gaining popularity all over the world as an important ingredient in raw food diet and as a food supplement. It is consumed raw, in salads, soaked in liquid as a drink, or ground and used in a porridge or mixed with other flours and baked into a bread. Although there is now a range of recipes on the market for preparing chia seeds for consumption, it is probably best to look into the way native Mexicans are eating it. After all, they have been doing it for millenia, so it must be for a reason.