Ginger

Ginger is one of the most commonly used spices in the world. Ancient cultures used it to preserve food and combat digestive problems. Chinese sailors used ginger to relieve seasickness, while the Greeks wrapped ginger in bread, which evolved over time to become the gingerbread with which we are familiar today.

Ginger contains various amino acids, vitamins, and other nutrients, which can alleviate migraines, fight ulcers, and nourish the respiratory and digestive systems. Ginger contains the antioxidant vitamins A and C. Ginger helps alleviate or prevent a variety of ailments, namely indigestion, cancer, and arthritis. In some cases, ginger is recommended for arresting chronic internal bleeding.

Studies show ginger to be anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal. In China, reports show that fresh ginger has been highly effective for rheumatism. In the U.S., a study on 247 osteoarthritis patients showed that those who took a standardized and highly concentrated extract of ginger twice daily experienced greater reduction of knee pain than those given a placebo.

Ginger reduces inflammation by preventing overproduction of tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-1, which are cytokines that cause inflammation, pain, and damage to cartilage when tissue is injured. Ginger also suppresses enzymes' production of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory prostaglandins and leukotrienes, reducing pain and swelling. Ginger's anti-inflammatory property is also due to its antioxidant quality.

A serving of 100g of ginger provides 10% of the manganese an adult requires each day, making it ideal for bone nourishment.

Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum is excellent for dispelling heat and counteracting inflammation. Every part of the chrysanthemum is edible.

Multiple Benefits
Chrysanthemum is used as an antipyretic and as a treatment for vertigo, abscesses, fainting, lumbago, rheumatism, and intestinal gas. The juice from the leaves is often applied to wounds to alleviate swelling and pain. Such properties make chrysanthemum flower tea an ideal summer beverage, and it is popular among those who are prone to eyestrain due to long hours of computer usage. In addition, it is often drunk at meals because it aids digestion.

Traditionally, chrysanthemum is used to relieve mild fevers and headaches and to soothe sore throats. What's more, it has antibacterial and antiviral properties and is believed to detoxify the body and purify the blood.

The flower is said to improve vision and is used for a wide range of eye problems, such as sore eyes and eyestrain. The petals of chrysanthemum  - which contain carotenoids, a type of antioxidant that can be converted by the body to vitamin A - are used to treat boils, dizziness, fever, and conjunctivitis. 

Cardiovascular Disease Prevention
Research is demonstrating chrysanthemum's heart-protective effects. Flavonoids in chrysanthemum have been found to help lower high blood pressure and dilate blood vessels. Chrysanthemum also seems to help lower high blood cholesterol levels.

Anticancer Effects
Chrysanthemum's many health benefits may be due to its high levels of different phytochemicals with powerful anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer effects. These include chrysanthemum (cyanidin-3-glucoside), acacetin. luteolin, chlorogenic acid, and dicaffeoylquinic acids.

ABM Mushroom

The Agaricus Blazei Murill (ABM) mushroom is originally from Brazil. It is also known as himematsutake, Mushroom of God, and Mushroom of the Sun. It is an important part of local's daily diets in Piedade, a small town in São Paulo, Brazil. Those who live in Piedade have uncommonly good health and experience a lower frequency of cancer and geriatric disease than the general population in the area.

Powerful Ally in the Fight against Cancer
The ABM mushroom is rich in the polysaccharides beta-1, 3 D-glucan and beta-1, 6 D-glucan. These polysaccharides can aid production of T cells, interferon, and interleukin to help prevent reproduction, spread, and relapse of cancer cells as well as virus-infected cells.

Research by the National Cancer Center laboratory and Tokyo College of Pharmacy showed the elimination of cancerous tumours in 90% of lab animals fed with ABM mushrooms. While polysaccharides found in most fungi can only affect certain solid tumours, those in ABM mushrooms are reportedly effective against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma, sigmoid colon cancer, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, and most solid tumours.

Strengthens the Immune System
Research at King Drew Medical Center of UCLA found that the ABM mushroom increases the total number of immune cells throughout the body. Furthermore, research has shown that ABM mushroom not only increases the number of natural killer (NK) cells, but also makes each individual NK cell more powerful.

Antioxidant Effects
Exopolysaccharide AbEXP-la extracted from ABM mushroom displays anti-oxidant activity and can eliminate free radicals.

Antiviral Protection
ABM mushroom is also cited as a powerful antiviral agent, preventing viruses and harmful agents from entering delicate tissue.

Wholesome Source of Iron
One hundred grams of ABM mushroom contain 9.65 mg of iron - one of the highest percentages of iron found in plant foods -  that is easily absorbed by the human body. The ABM mushroom provides the human body with a wholesome source of iron with no side effects.

Enhances Absorption of Calcium
ABM mushroom contains ergosterol, which converts into Vitamin D2. This vitamin promotes the absorption and use of calcium in the body. Ergosterol and Vitamin D2 combine to protect and strengthen bone health, and they even help prevent diseases like osteoporosis.

A Perfect Combination of Nutrients
The ABM mushroom is high in protein as well as vitamins B1, B2, and minerals needed by the body (such as calcium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus and iron), thus providing multiple health benefits to the body.