Natural Food Supplements: What They are, How They Work, and Why Take Them. Part I
The first part of a concise and information packed review on nutrient rich supplements. In Part I we get a closer look at bee pollen, chlorophyll and reishi mushroom as powerful sources for the healing and rebuilding of the body.
Part I: Bee Pollen, Chlorophyll, and SUPER ‘Shrooms!
The shelves in the health food store can oftentimes be overwhelming. There is an endless array of natural supplements, vitamins and minerals in a variety of different forms. Whole health, and the importance and awareness of preventing illness before it happens is becoming more and more prevalent in our culture. So how do you distinguish what’s best for you and which of these power foods has stood the test of time? This article will help shed some light on these natural supplements, what they are good for and how to administer them.
BEE-POLLEN
Bee-pollen is a miracle food!! It is comprised of nearly every known nutrient. It is a complete protein and contains every essential amino acid. It is loaded with b-complex vitamins including B1, B2, B3 and B5 (also known as pantothenic acid). Pantothenic Acid combined with the other B vitamins is a known antidote for allergies. If one suffers from allergies look to a local source of fresh bee-pollen as it increases its anti-allergenic properties. Please note that a small percentage, (.05%) of the population is allergic to bee-pollen therefore sample a few grains before administering and check to see what your reaction may be. If you develop any type of rash, wheezing or any type of discomfort please discontinue use. Again, this type of allergy is very rare. In addition to complete protein and B-Complex, bee pollen is high in niacin, folic acid, vitamin c, potassium and the fat-soluble vitamins A & E. In fact, two 500mg tablets contain 600mg of natural potassium!!! WOW. Bee Pollen is highly absorbable, has anti-microbial action and thus strengthens the immune system. Donald Lapore in “The Ultimate Healing pollinating beeSystem” states that “there is a certain quality of glucosides in bee pollen that acts as a transporter to carry the nutrients into the blood stream and I feel its effectiveness is unsurpassed”. He also comments that Olympic trainers are notorious for using bee pollen while in training. But rosemary Gladstar says it best when she states that “Bee pollen is a combined miracle of flowers and bees. A wonderfully uplifting food, bee pollen captures the essence of flowers and the energy of bees”. The collection of pollen by bees is a miraculous gift and should be used consciously and sparingly out of respect for the enormous amount of energy that goes into collecting it. A couple teaspoons a day sprinkled on yogurt or fruit or mixed into a shake, is sufficient. My favorite recipe is as follows. One cup of organic high cultured yogurt, preferably plain…NO SUGAR! two cups of organic soy milk, teaspoon of bee pollen, two tablespoons liquid chlorophyll, and some fruit, I usually use banana and pineapple (or try frozen blueberries or raspberries. Add a little Ice to this concoction and blend. It’s the perfect power packed health shake!!!!
SUPPLEMENTS CONTAINING CHLOROPHYLL
This one can be confusing because there are a number of wonderful plants and supplements that contain chlorophyll. Among them are alfalfa, wheat grass, spirulina, and my personal favorite… a pure liquid extract of chlorophyll. The one I use is made by world organics and has 100mg of alfalfa leaf as its source. Chlorophyll is a green molecule common to plants that releases ions when exposed to sunlight. It is one of the most mineral rich food sources on the planet. Minerals are essential for healthy nerve function, muscle tone, and the formation of blood and bone. Chlorophyll is an excellent blood cleanser and detoxifier. Food sources and supplements containing chlorophyll are high in calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium and all known vitamins. This powerful super food helps to regenerate liver cells and increases circulation to all organs by dilating the blood vessels. It is healing to all types of intestinal and digestive problems as it increases peristaltic action to the colon, and thus relieves constipation. In addition chlorophyll has a healing effect on intestinal ulcers, gastritis, liver disorders, eczema, hemorrhoids, infections, athletes foot, and cancer. The liquid forms of chlorophyll like the one mentioned above can be mixed in juice or as I mentioned under the section on bee-pollen in a delicious shake. Other forms of supplementation are tablet, capsule, and powder. Green drinks can be made from powders like spirulina or made into wholesome juices with fresh wheat grass (for this you would need a juicer). Herbal teas are another excellent way to introduce chlorophyll into the body. Look for bright green herbs like Nettles and Dandelion Leaf. Teas are wonderful because a simple infusion of herbs is the easiest way to assimilate vitamins and minerals into our bodies. Make a batch and drink it throughout the day, It’s nice to add a little hibiscus or peppermint to make it more palatable for newbee herbalists.
SUPER SHROOMS
Certain mushrooms are supreme tonics and super immune builders. Two examples are the ever-popular Reishi as well as the Shitake mushroom. These mushrooms have been popular for at least 2,000 years in the Far East and the ancient Chinese believed that these particular mushrooms gave eternal youth and longevity!
Shitake mushroom is another wonderful healing fungi. Shitake has been prized for its tonic value for years. According to Leslie Tierra in “The Herbs of life”, which is a wonderful resource that links eastern and western herbalism, “Tonic herbs build strength, prevent disease from occurring, balance the body’s energy, strengthen the disease-recovery process and nourish the blood and substance of the body”. In addition to being able to powerfully activate the immune system, shitake has anti-parasitic, antiviral and anti-microbial qualities. Massive research has been conducted on this mushroom as an anti-tumor as well as being capable of restoring and balancing the entire cardiovascular system, normalizing blood pressure and regulating cholesterol levels.
Both Reishi and shitake mushrooms can be bought in health food stores and administered as a tincture, capsule, or again as a tea infusion. As with any herb or supplement be aware of your source. This may take a little investigation and research on your part but it is well worth it. At the end of this article, (see Part II), I will provide a concise list of herb and vitamin company’s you can reference for qualified sources of natural supplements.