Green foods are foods rich in chlorophyll, the amazing substance that makes all life possible on this planet. A protein compound with a magnesium molecule at the center, chlorophyll is able to convert sunlight into chemical energy.
The phrase, "green and growing," shows the connection the color green has with life-generating powers. Green foods help to build and sustain both the generative (growing) and regenerative (healing) powers of the body. They provide vital nutrients for tissue repair, enhance the body's ability to recover from chronic and degenerative disease, and enhance energy and immunity.
While it is often tempting to assign all of the positive benefits of green foods to chlorophyll, this simply isn't the case. Green foods contain a host of other valuable nutrients that can build good health, vitamins, minerals, antioxidant compounds and nutritional factors that are still waiting to be discovered. For instance, it has recently been found that animals who are allowed to graze (eating green grass) produce much higher levels of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) than animals fed commercial feed or fodder. CLA has many healing properties. It helps reduce inflammation, decreases abdominal fat, enhances muscle development, lowers cholesterol and triglycerides, and reduces insulin resistance. Who knows what other benefits of these green foods will be discovered in the future?
We don't need to wait until science has discovered all the benefits to eperience them.
Growing Healthy with Greens
We may not all have time to grow wheat and barley grass. So here are some great products that we can take that afford us the benefits of green foods. These green friends can help improve our health and well-being.
Wheat Grass - The most nutritionally dnese of the cereal grasses. It has been used as a general tonic to overcome many kinds of chronic degenerative diseases, and as a supplement to enhance energy and immunity. It is an ingredient in the following products: Ultimate GreenZone, Super Algae, It is also found in Herbal CA, a mineral rich herbal formula for tissue healing, THIM-J, a combination for enhancing the thymus gland and immune system, and Defense Maintenance, an antioxidant blend for the immune system.
Barley Grass- The juice of young barley grass is extremely nutritious. It is reported to contain 16 vitamins, 23 minerals, 18 amino acids and hundreds of active enymes. It contains 30 times more vitamin B-1 than milk, 6.5 times more carotene (a vitamin A precursor) than spinach, 11 times the calcium of cows milk, nearly 5 times the iron of spinach, 15 times the protein as an equivalent amount of milk and nearly 7 times the vitamin C in oranges. It also contains 80 micrograms of vitamin B-12 per 100 grams, a vitamin nearly impossible to obtain from plant sources. Barley grass has an alkalizing effect on the body, helping to reduce lactic acid build-up and sore muscles. It has also been used as a general tonic in chronic illness, as a food to reduce intestinal inflammation, and as a digestive aid. Barley Grass can be found in the following products: Barley Juice Powder
. Barley juice powder is also an ingredient in Defense Maintenance, an antioxidant formula designed to enhance immunity, and ENERG-V, an energy-enhancing combination. It is also a component of Ulitmate GreenZone and pH GreenZone.
Grasses aren't the only green foods we can benefit from. Algae are also rich sources of chlorophyll and other important nutrients.
Spirulina - Spirulina is an algae that is highly nutritious, and one fo the best sources of vitalized amino acids (protein) on the planet. It is also a rich source of vitamins and minerals. Many studies have shown that it enhances the immune system and lowers cholesterol. It has been beneficial for people with anemia, cataracts, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, glaucoma, fatigue hypoglycemia, liver disease, ulcers and hepatitis. Spirulina is available in capsules, and is an ingredient in GABA Plus, a combination that helps balance neurotransmitters in the brain, and MetaboMax EF, a formula for weight loss. It is a key ingredient in Super Algae, Ultimate GreenZone, and pH GreenZone.
Blue Green Algae is a chlorophyll rich algae harvested from Klamath Lake. It is a rich source of protein, B Vitamins and beta-carotene. Blue-green algae has many of the same health benefits as spirulina. It has antiviral properties, lowers blood cholesterol, and reduces blood clotting. It is an important ingredient in Super Algae.
Chlorella is another green algae that contains chlorophyll and vitamins E, B2, and B12. It has been reported to help with conditions such as rheumatism, nephritis, eczema, ulcers, cirrhosis of the liver, diabetes, AIDS and allergies. Chlorella is an ingredient in Super Algae, Ultimate GreenZone, and pH GreenZone.
Other Greens - There are a number of herbs and foods that are also great ways to get green. Alfalfa, Stinging Nettles, and of course green foods like chard, spinach, kale, beet greens, and so forth should be consumed regularly as part of a healthy diet.
With all of these choices, there's simply no excuse why we shouldn't all be benefiting from these healthy green foods.
