Health benefits of plant foods

I really believe that if we eat a good mix of plant food we will get everything our body needs. I think we are often duped by reductionist thinking that breaks everything down into it's smallest part and thinks that particular thing is what we need. This thinking has lead to us eating far too much protein leading to chronic health problems and the burgeoning industry selling us expensive vitamins and supplements that we could easily obtain in a more healthy balance in whole plant foods. I know over the years I have been taken in by this and had to do complete paradigm shift in my thinking, values and belief systems to get to where I am now.

However, having said all that it can be useful to know what particular plants offer to us apart from taste, variety and overall general nutritional benefits. So below is a list of a few of the things I use and what I have found out about them. 

I do adapt the information a bit by removing anything that suggests taking these plants as supplements that have the "active ingredient" separated from the whole food.  Also if there is anything that indicates eating these plant foods with animal products is removed from the information I have found

Turmeric

The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin. Turmeric has been used for over 2500 years in India, where it was most likely first used as a dye.The medicinal properties of this spice have been slowly revealing themselves over the centuries. Long known for its anti-inflammatory properties, recent research has revealed that turmeric is a natural wonder, proving beneficial in the treatment of many different health conditions from cancer to Alzheimer's disease.Here are 20 reasons to add turmeric to your diet:
1. It is a natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent, useful in disinfecting cuts and burns.
2. When combined with cauliflower, it has shown to prevent prostate cancer and stop the growth of existing prostate cancer.
3. Prevented breast cancer from spreading to the lungs in mice so may be useful in cancer prevention in humans.
4. May prevent melanoma and cause existing melanoma cells to commit suicide.
5. Reduces the risk of childhood leukemia.
6. Is a natural liver detoxifier.
7. May prevent and slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease by removing amyloyd plaque buildup in the brain.
8. May prevent metastases from occurring in many different forms of cancer.
9. It is a potent natural anti-inflammatory that works as well as many anti-inflammatory drugs but without the side effects.
10. Has shown promise in slowing the progression of multiple sclerosis in mice and may do so in humans.
11. Is a natural painkiller and cox-2 inhibitor.
12. May aid in fat metabolism and help in weight management. 
13. Has long been used in Chinese medicine as a treatment for depression.
14. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it is a natural treatment for arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
15. Boosts the effects of chemo drug paclitaxel and reduces its side effects.
16. Promising studies are underway on the effects of turmeric on pancreatic cancer.
17. Studies are ongoing in the positive effects of turmeric on multiple myeloma.
18. Has been shown to stop the growth of new blood vessels in tumors.
19. Speeds up wound healing and assists in remodeling of damaged skin.
20. May help in the treatment of psoriasis and other inflammatory skin conditions.

Turmeric can be bought whole and grated or chopped into recipes or bought as a pre-ground powder. It is not a hot spice but the powder does turn everything yellow. Once you start using turmeric on a regular basis, it's fun to find new ways to use it in recipes. My favorite way to use it is to add a couple of pinches of it to tofu mayo salad or scrambled tofu. It adds a nice flavor and gives the tofu a rich yellow hue.
Contraindications: Turmeric as a supplement should not be used by people with gallstones or bile obstruction. Though turmeric is often used by pregnant women, it is important to consult with a doctor before doing so as turmeric can be a uterine stimulant.

Copied and adapted from:
http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/20-health-benefits-of-turmeric.html

Cilantro

Saw this on
http://www.naturalnews.com/035741_heavy_metals_cilantro_detox.html

"The anti-inflammatory and detoxification power of cilantro, a medicinal herb whose seeds are known as coriander, is greatly underrated and largely unknown in Western culture today. But if you suffer from a chronic inflammatory disease, which can manifest itself as arthritis, an autoimmune disorder, heart disease, brain fog, fatigue, and irritable bowel syndrome, and a number of other debilitating illnesses, then cilantro just might be the natural solution for you.

Rich in phytonutrients, flavonoids, and active phenolic compounds, cilantro has long been used by ancient cultures to prevent indigestion and other digestive disorders, and recent studies have confirmed that the herb does, indeed, help alleviate various stomach ailments. Dr. James A. Duke, Ph.D., a retired botanist from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and author of The CRC Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, for instance, says that drinking a cup of cilantro leaf tea can remedy any form of stomach discomfort (http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/benefits-of/cilantro).

Cilantro contains two specific compounds known as cineole and linoleic acid that both possess anti-arthritic and anti-rheumatic properties. Cilantro also contains a substance known as dodecenal that is twice as powerful as the antibiotic drug gentamicin at fighting infection and eradicating harmful microbes from the body. Cilantro is also a natural antiseptic that can help wounds heal more quickly, and is a natural chelator of heavy metals from the body.

Eating several tablespoons of cilantro-based pesto every day (http://www.rawfoodinfo.com/articles/art_cilantroremheavymetals.html), in fact, is an excellent way to help cleanse your body of toxic heavy metals like mercury, arsenic, and lead, which can accumulate in tissue and elsewhere as a result of repeated environmental and dietary exposure.

As far as inflammation is concerned, researchers from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, India, found that rats given a powdered extract of coriander seeds to treat rheumatoid arthritis experienced far less swelling and inflammation compared to rats given a steroid treatment for the condition. The research team also found that coriander extract can alleviate joint inflammation associated with other types of arthritis as well.

"We undertook this experiment after we found [cilantro's] mention in the traditional systems of medicine like Ayurveda and Unani for its anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatic activities," said Surender Singh, co-author of the study which was published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research. Traditional Ayurveda and Unani, after all, have long used cilantro, with much success, to treat inflammatory conditions (http://www.everydayhealth.com).

A 2004 study published in the journal Food Chemistry found similar benefits for both cilantro and coriander. Since those suffering from chronic inflammatory conditions have been found to have lower-than-normal antioxidant levels, and cilantro is a powerful antioxidant, it is hypothesized that the mechanism by which this medicinal herb alleviates inflammation is via its unique antioxidant content.

So how can you integrate cilantro into your own diet? Blending a handful of fresh, organic cilantro into your daily smoothie is one option (http://mariefrohlich.blogspot.com). You can also also sprinkle it into salads, stews, and other meals. Chopped cilantro also tastes great when added to fresh salsas and dips, so you can try adding it to those recipes.

http://www.naturalnews.com/035741_heavy_metals_cilantro_detox.html#ixzz1xAir5rwR