Why Mulethi (Liquorice) Is Considered A Winter Superfood

Let's agree - the traditional remedies for common health problems are back in vogue. In the past few years, we have witnessed the return of several super foods and 'gharelu nuska' (home remedies) in the most 'desi' way possible. Many of us are turning back to our roots for healing measures that withstood the test of time and proved to be healthier in the longer run. That's not all. Over the years, several studies have also found that these superfoods aid immune health, prevent viral infections and more. One such popular superfood is mulethi (liquorice roots). Also spelt as licorice, this herb has been a part of Ayurveda since aeons. According the book 'Healing Foods' by DK Publishing, mulethi is prized for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. If taken in the right amount, it may also help improve metabolism and nourish us from within. Besides, mulethi is known to be "an expectorant and decongestant that can help fight respiratory infections", the book reads.

Celebrity nutritionist Lovneet Batra further states that mulethi can also be considered a perfect ingredient to add to our winter diet. According to her, mulethi "helps us cure chronic diseases and give us a number of offerings". Lovneet Batra further took to her Instagram to explain the several health benefits mulethi has to offer.

Here're 6 Dietician-Approved Health Benefits Of Mulethi:

1. Cures Cough And Cold:

Mulethi helps cure cough and cold, especially dry cough. It is also great for curing asthma-related symptoms during the winters because it is a natural bronchodilator.

2. Reduce PCOS/PCOD Related Symptoms:

According to a study published in the journal Integrative Medicine Research, licorice might inhibit the symptoms of PCOS by regulating imbalanced hormonal levels and irregular ovarian follicles.

3. Prevents Menstrual Cramps:

Mulethi is enriched with antispasmodic properties, which are also known to work as muscle relaxant. This further helps prevent the cramps and make us feel at ease.

4. Aids Gut-Health:

Mulethi contains active compounds glycyrrhizin and carbenoxolone. These properties might help prevent gastric and peptic ulcers and relieve constipation, stomach discomfort, heartburn, acidity and other stomach problems.

5. Reduces Stress:

If taken in right amount, mulethi also helps relax our nerves and reduce stress.

6. Boost Skin-Health:

Mulethi also helps reduce hyperpigmentation in skin. It also an emollient that might help maintain a healthy glowing skin.

Mulethi Dosage: How To Include Mulethi In Your Winter Diet:

Celebrity dietician Lovneet Batra also mentioned how to include mulethi in your winter diet to make the most of it. According to her, one can include it in form of mulethi tea for overall benefit. "You can have mulethi by taking a 3-4 inch piece of mulethi and boiling it in water. Have empty stomach in the morning and feel the difference," Lovneet writes on her post.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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What is Chlorophyll? All You Need to Know

If you feel like you’ve been hearing the term ‘chlorophyll’ more often recently, it is no coincidence. Chlorophyll supplements have been gaining quite a lot of popularity, and the health benefits of this substance have been hailed by many all across the internet. But what exactly is chlorophyll? In the article below we’ll take a close look at the benefits it offers, according to health experts, as well as recommend some ways to attain it naturally.

What is Chlorophyll?  

One of the most common things people know about chlorophyll is that it’s what gives plants their green color. That's true. Chlorophyll is a group of green pigments with a similar chemical structure that plays a vital role in photosynthesis, allowing plants to absorb energy and nutrients from sunlight. It contains various vitamins and antioxidants, which are responsible for its therapeutic properties for the human body.

One of the primary ways to incorporate chlorophyll into your diet is by eating green vegetables, such as asparagus, spinach, or broccoli. The reason chlorophyll supplements are so popular is that naturally obtained chlorophyll may not survive digestion long enough to be well-absorbed by the body. Most chlorophyll supplements actually contain chlorophyllin - a water-soluble semi-synthetic derivative of natural chlorophyll, which contains copper instead of magnesium. The copper can be detected by the plasma, which potentially makes chlorophyllin better absorbed by the body. However, these claims are yet to be officially proven by research. 

 

The Health Benefits of Chlorophyll  

1. Boosts skin health - 

Research suggests that applying chlorophyll topically may have skincare benefits such as reducing inflammation, clearing acne, smoothing wrinkles, and improving signs of sun damage. One study from 2016 found that women who applied a gel containing chlorophyllin for 12 days showed reduced signs of photoaging, which is aging that results from sun exposure. The study found that the effects of topical chlorophyllin were comparable with those of vitamin A known as tretinoin (which has been proven to help with anti-aging).

Another study, published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, followed 24 women with mild-to-moderate acne for 8 weeks, as they applied a topical treatment of acne cream and a rebalancing gel containing chlorophyllin. The researchers found that this regimen improved pore size, skin smoothness, clarity, skin tone, and acne lesions.

 

2. Blood builder - 

Chlorophyll may help construct and improve the quality of red blood cells, which is why some people call it a “blood builder”. Chlorophyll is chemically similar to hemoglobin, a protein that is essential in red blood cells as carries the oxygen to the various body organs. 

 

Research published in the journal Indian Pediatrics found that chlorophyll behaves similarly to hemoglobin, even though it contains magnesium while hemoglobin is made with iron. The research team also noted that wheatgrass juice, which is about 70% chlorophyll, had a positive effect on patients with hemoglobin deficiency disorders such as anemia and thalassemia.

3. Natural deodorant - 

Chlorophyll has been used to neutralize certain odors since the 1940s. Today, some popular deodorants and mouthwashes still contain chlorophyll.

A recent study looked at dietary supplements for people suffering from trimethylaminuria, a rare condition where the body is unable to break down the chemical triethylamine (TMA). Since triethylamine has a strong fish-like smell, people with trimethylaminuria and TMA build-up give off a strong and unpleasant body odor. 

 

The study found that the chlorophyllin supplements decreased the number of TMAS, and therefore neutralized the smell. 

 

4. Promotes weight loss - 

It’s no secret that eating your greens aids in weight loss, and it turns out that chlorophyll may be one of the reasons why. A 2014 study involving 38 female participants found that those who took a green plant membrane supplement that included chlorophyll once a day had greater weight loss than a group who didn’t take the supplement. The research team also suggested that the supplements were linked to lower cholesterol levels. The mechanism behind these findings, however, is currently unknown.

Safety, Risks, and Side Effects 

According to Dr. Niket Sonpal, a certified internist, the natural chlorophyll you get from food has no known side effects. People who take chlorophyll supplements in amounts similar to those found in food don't have any risk either. However, taking chlorophyll in excess could lead to digestive problems, diarrhea, and increased susceptibility to rashes when applied topically. So please read the instructions carefully and take no more than the recommended amount. 

 

It’s important to note that the effects of taking chlorophyll supplements in pregnant or breastfeeding women are yet to be studied. We strongly advise talking to your doctor if you're interested in taking chlorophyll, as with any other new supplement. This is especially true for those who take other medications regularly. 

 

Chlorophyll sources 

As we mentioned earlier, chlorophyll can easily be obtained naturally through green vegetables. 

Varieties that are particularly rich in chlorophyll are: 

 

Collard greens 

Spirulina 

Parsley 

Broccoli 

Green cabbage 

Spinach 

Asparagus 

Green beans and peas 

 Matcha green tea

As to preparation and consumption of natural chlorophyll, some research in the Journal of Zhejiang University found that cooking chlorophyll-rich foods by boiling or stir-frying them lowers their chlorophyll levels. Therefore, it may best to eat them raw or use light cooking methods like steaming to get the most out of the vegetables’ chlorophyll content. 

 

You can make your own natural chlorophyll extract by using parsley and water. The process is quite simple: you will need 80 grams of curly parsley leaves and 6 cups of water. 

1. Wash and dry the parsley leaves. 

2. Place the leaves and water into a blender and process for a few minutes until it forms a bright green liquid. 

3. Strain this through a fine sieve and pour into a saucepan. Over low heat, stir constantly until you see green particles rising to the surface. It's important that you do this slowly. 

4. Pour this into a container along with a handful of ice and place it in the fridge to cool. 

5. When cold, pour through a muslin-lined sieve. Once drained you can throw away the water. 

6. Scrape as much of the green paste that is remaining on the muslin as possible and store in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. This should give you about 2 tablespoons of homemade chlorophyll, which you can add to smoothies or salads. 

 

The bottom line is, chlorophyll has a variety of health benefits, from skin to nutrition. While some people believe chlorophyllin supplements to be more effective than chlorophyllin that is naturally obtained from green vegetables and herbs, the scientific evidence behind this claim is inconclusive. The majority of health experts agree that the safest way to obtain it is through veggies - and you'll get a lot of other nutrients as well that way!

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement