And the super foods and super herbs are…

Hey, guys, take this quick quiz:

Do you have any of these incomprehensible symptoms:

• Difficulty reducing weight?

• Constipation and irregularity?

• Dark circles under the eyes?

• Irritability and mood swings?

• Premenstrual tension?

• Headaches and insomnia?

• Lack of vitality? 

• Skin blemishes?

• Inability to digest fats?

• Puffy skin?

• Brain fog and the feeling of being “spaced out”?

• Food cravings and late-night binge?

Check.  Check. Check. Check? Well, find out what’s wrong with you and make it right through the very intriguing workshop “Balance Your Hormones through Super Foods and Super Herbs, Let Food Be Your Medicine” Part 4 set on Saturday, August 31, at 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at SugarLeaf MEDICard Center, Buendia corner Paseo de Roxas.

(Fee is P2,000 per person, less P200 for early bird confirmations.)

“Here’s what’s happening to your liver right now: Toxins from food, air, water, and even from our emotions are needed to be processed by the liver. Some of these toxins are unavoidable, but every once in a while, you have to cleanse them with the support of a fresh food detox,” asserts Angelo Narciso Songco, marketing and business development, SugarLeaf, Inc. (e-mail angelo@sugarleafph.com).

Always full of energy, Angelo enumerates the countless benefits of a cleansing diet:

• More energy. The more greens people add to their diet, the more enthusiastic and energetic they get. Reducing the demand on your digestion will boost your physical and emotional energy. When your body doesn’t have to process heavy foods and toxins, you feel energetic and invigorated. 

• Healthier body weight. With imbalanced hormones, most people have weight plateaus. This can get broken, and workouts can yield better results. With simple nutrient-dense foods, you will feel easily satisfied and overeating is less likely to happen.

• Younger skin. Within just several days of being on a cleansing phase, you’ll notice a big difference in your skin and youthful complexion. Introducing more greens in your diet has an immediate and noticeable difference in the puffiness of your skin.

• Better digestion. Moving to a fresh food diet will dramatically improve your digestion and elimination. You’ll feel better because you’re digesting better. What’s going on in the gut affects every part of your overall health and well-being.

• Better mood. You’ll feel less irritable, more interested in spending time with others and less “on the edge of your nerves” because your body is feeling rested and peaceful right down to your cells.

• Better focus. You’ll think clearly, feel more focused, and get more things done because your attention and energy aren’t tied up with your digestion.

And  now, Angelo shares this list of super herbs and super foods:

• Adaptogens. Possessing remarkable properties that can’t be found in other foods or herbs, adaptogens can increase our resistance to physical, environmental, emotional and mental stress, without any side effects, when consumed in moderate amounts. Of course, stress is unavoidable, which makes our ability to cope with stress crucial in avoiding diseases, including heart disease, and having a healthful, long, and fulfilling life.

 Two of the most effective anti-stress adaptogens  are ashwagandha, which acts on the master and pituitary glands by balancing the hormones, and rhodiola, which is better than ashwagandha as  it regulates our flight or fight response and increases our resistance to stress.

Other adaptogens that bear watching are: Eleuthero or the Siberian ginseng, which is used by athletes, especially Russians, to improve their endurance and recovery between workouts; Asian ginseng or Panax ginseng, which acts on the sex hormone-producing glands, adrenal glands, immune system, the brain as well as the liver and pancreas by stabilizing blood sugar levels; American ginseng which, like its cousin Panax ginseng, increases the natural production of the growth hormone and testosterone, thereby improving general well-being  and slowing down aging; licorice, which helps prevent and treat inflammation and auto-immune disorders; astragalus, one of the best immune system boosters; genoderma, one of the most famous medicinal mushrooms which can help prevent and even treat several forms of cancer, besides viral and bacterial diseases; schisandra, which has a profound effect on the cardiovascular system; lignands, which can help protect and regenerate the liver by increasing glutathione; gynostemma, which can improve heart function and blood flow; Peruvian ginseng or maca, which has the ability to balance several hormones and prevent breast and prostate cancer (but it contains glucosinolates which are known to cause goiter); dong quai or female ginseng, which is very useful in treating female problems, including menopause; vitex, chaste tree berry, which helps reduce PMS symptoms.

• Shatavari.  An asparagus root, its active compounds are a type of steroidal saponin, which has been shown to effect cholesterol, the nervous, gastrointestinal, and immunological systems.

• Coconuts. Great for hormonal health, fresh coconut meat provides the building blocks for various sex hormones, including the anti-aging hormone DHEA. Eat it fresh straight from the nut, or include in smoothies or other recipes you’ll go nuts over.  

• Bee pollen. It helps boost fertility in women and also helps reduce the distressing symptoms of menopause. More, it curbs appetite so it’s easier for you to limit your food intake without depriving yourself of the important nutrients your body needs to function optimally.

• Maca. In the same family as broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage, it contains no hormone-mimicking molecules so it’s safe to use for everyone. A word of warning: Start with a low dose and slowly increase. Taking too much can cause detoxification, which may create detox symptoms.

• Kelp. A natural multi-mineral supporter, it provides usable iodine for the production of thyroid hormones.

• Raw cacao. It’s got many special benefits: healing, rejuvenating, anti-aging, immune-boosting, hormone-balancing, slimming, beautifying, and strengthening. It is especially high in magnesium, sulfuriron, chromium, tryptophan, and antioxidants. It makes the liver and pancreas function optimally. 

When you eat cacao, you’re constantly in love! Blame it on its blissful chemical called anandamide that’s produced naturally by our bodies when we are feeling happy and great. Cacao enzyme inhibitors keep this chemical in our body around longer.

Herb fun discovering a new healthy lifestyle!