Sunday, September 25, 2011

THE LEAVES OF LIFE


ABW  Leaves of Life is a natural, organic, herbal dietary supplement made of pure Alfalfa, Barley and Wheatgrass grown in Australia and is sold at Mercury Drugstores nationwide.  It cost only P10.00 each and maybe started at 2-3 caps a day then reduced to only one cap after 2-3 weeks.

The following is an assembled information intended especially for Senior Citizens who may wish to become more energetic, a little bit younger, and who dreams of good health.  The info herein are copied verbatim from internet sources http://www.abwhealth.com/ and  http://www.nutritional-supplements-health-guide.com/  for the purpose of promoting good health and not for increase sale or commission.


What is Alfalfa?
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is an herb that grows in many places and climates. It grows to up to about 3 feet and bears flowers which are bluish-violet in color. It is classified not as a leafy vegetable as you might think, but as a legume. It has been used mainly as livestock feed.

Alfalfa as a Health Food
Alfalfa is one of the most nutrient-rich food sources. The benefits of alfalfa stem from the fact that it is rich in vitamins including vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, E and K. It is also especially rich in minerals such as magnesium, calcium, iron, phosphorus and potassium, all in easily digestible forms. It is also a natural source of fluoride, fiber, antioxidants (such as chlorophyll), and phytonutrients (such as octacosanol, carotenoids and saponins). It is said to contain over 300 nutrients and phytonutrients.

Health Benefits of Alfalfa
-Alfalfa and cholesterol. Alfalfa (leaves) has been seen to reduce cholesterol and reduces blood sugar levels, as well.
-Alfalfa and digestion. Alfalfa is enriched with fibers such that they facilitate digestion. Legumes are naturally good for the digestive system.
-Alfalfa for detoxification. Alfalfa reportedly has the ability to improve liver health and detoxifies the body from harmful toxins.
-Alfalfa and menopause. Alfalfa alleviates symptoms of menopause and makes post-menopausal side effects such as hot flashes more manageable.
-Alfalfa for muscle and joint problems. Supplementation with alfalfa is effective in relieving stiffness and pain caused by muscle problems, arthritis and bursitis.

Other Benefits. Alfalfa has also been reported to treat kidney, bladder and even prostate problems, and is seen to be effective for treating urinary track infection. It also has the ability to increase energy levels and reduce fatigue.


Barley has been used for human consumption for the longest time. This is not only because it adds a unique delightful flavor to dishes, but because it adds nutritional value to the food we eat.

Health Benefits of Barley
Intake of barley is very likely to help you maintain your overall health in the long term. These whole grains are rich in protein, vitamins, minerals and amino acids essential for our health. More importantly, barley is one of the richest sources of both soluble and insoluble fiber.

Insoluble fiber aids in proper excretion of waste products in the body, while soluble fiber (known as beta glucan) mixes with liquid, binds to fatty substances and allows them to leave the body. Barley is also seen to be rich in tocotrienols, which is an antioxidant which helps lessen risk for contracting heart disease and cholesterol problems.

Wheat and Barley
The health benefits of wheat and barley are very comparable, and some claim that they are one and the same. However, barley is rich in both soluble and insoluble fiber, while wheat is only rich in the latter. While both can help prevent "roughage" during excretion, barley also helps promote general heart health.

All forms of barley contains almost all vitamins, minerals, amino acids and fiber that your body needs. However, the value of barley nutrition and its effect on your health depends largely on the type of barley that you consume. The figures may vary largely, but the main rule

Kinds of Barley
Barley nutrition today comes in all forms possible. The grain, the leaves and the extract of barley are all used as food sources, especially Barley grass.

Barley Grass, most especially on the young leaves, are excellent sources of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants. Though it does not contain as much dietary fiber as can be found in barley grains, it contains chlorophyll which can help detoxify your body from harmful toxins.

Wheatgrass
What is wheatgrass, anyway? Wheatgrass is the term for the young Agropyron plants, which are related to wheat. These plants look like lawn grass in its early stages. Wheatgrass is rich in a vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, chlorophyll and fiber, but then again you probably might know this much already.

Wheatgrass Juice Benefits
People generally take in wheatgrass by crushing the leaves into juice and drinking the wheatgrass extract regularly. Commercially, wheatgrass juice powder and frozen wheatgrass juice are largely available for those who lead busy lifestyles.

Wheatgrass nutrition through juicing has been seen to provide immense benefits. If you want to rid your body of toxins, increase your energy levels, regularize bowel movement, strengthen your immune system or simply enhance your health by boosting your vitamin and mineral intake, drinking wheatgrass juice once or twice a day can easily do the trick.

Wheatgrass Medicinal Benefits
Wheatgrass research has shown the potential of wheatgrass as medicinal plant. In fact, it has been regarded to be "The Medicinal Grass." The nutritional content in wheatgrass makes it a powerful cleanser and helps rid of the toxins in the body. Its chlorophyll content has a drying effect on the sinus and helps relieve colds on one hand, and increase hemoglobin production in another.

Furthermore, it has anti-bacterial properties and helps in promoting wound healing. It plays a role in keeping the bones and teeth strong and healthy. Wheatgrass has also been seen to improve sugar disorders such as diabetes. Surprisingly, this plant also displays some anti-ageing properties and can keep your hair from greying.


More Benefits of Wheatgrass Nutrition
One of the most heralded benefits of wheatgrass therapy is its effect on cancer. Many people strongly believe in the benefits of wheatgrass in treating and preventing cancer. It helps neutralize the toxins and free radicals in the body.

Aside from that, it promotes alkalinity to fight off acid-loving cancer cells. Moreover, wheatgrass nutrition has also been seen to have positive effects on reducing the risk of heart diseases and high blood pressure.

Side Effects of Wheatgrass
As it is a natural product, wheatgrass nutrition does not pose a significant risk for those who take them at normal levels. However, if you have not taken it before, there may be chances of mild side effects which can include stomach disorder, nausea and headache.

However, there is generally no need to take in more than a few glasses each day, and if you have tasted it at least once, you might not want to take in more than necessary.

You must pay careful attention on your wheatgrass source as some undesirable side effects may be caused by soil contamination. Taking megadoses of wheatgrass supplements can also cause unpleasant but mild side effects.

Wheatgrass Supplements
If you are not a fan of herbal juices and would like to spare yourself of the agony of it, there are wheatgrass supplements that you can take. Wheatgrass nutrition through dietary supplements can be achieved by taking in a tablet twice a day before meals.

These days, more and more people seem to be taking chlorophyll supplements as part of their daily dietary supplementation. This is mainly because of the many claimed benefits that chlorophyll is said to offer.



CHLOROPHYLL IS PRESENT IN ALFALFA, BARLEY, AND WHEATGRASS



What is Chlorophyll?
Chlorophyll is the green pigmentation found in plants. It is central and important as it is responsible for absorbing and harnessing sunlight, which is in turn essential for plants to go through photosynthesis.

Chlorophyll Health Benefits
The benefits of chlorophyll is not only limited to plants. Chlorophyll offers a multitude of benefits to humans. It is important to not that chlorophyll and human blood are similar in structures and composition, except for its central metal (chlorophyll has magnesium while human blood has iron).

Some of its health benefits include the following:
-antioxidant properties to fight free radicals ridding out toxins that are taken in due to pollution, smoking and from food stimulates the production of red blood cells
-helps in good blood circulation
-anti carcinogenic properties: prevention and delay of certain diseases such as cancer (caused by free radicals)
-helps in wound healing
-a good deodorizer for bad breath or body odor

Chlorophyll Sources:   Where is Chlorophyll Found?
Leafy vegetables are the main foods that are rich in chlorophyll content. The amount of chlorophyll found in each vegetable varies. In spinach, for example, chlorophyll is present by as high as 1% based on dry weight estimation. Fruits do not have significant amounts as compared to vegetable sources. Teas, most especially green tea, are good sources of chlorophyll as well. However, the amounts of chlorophyll that you intake is not as high as when they are taken as chlorophyll supplements.

Chlorophyll Supplements
Chlorophyll supplements now flood the market with different brands and dosages. They come in the form of chlorophyll extract (or chlorophyll herb extract), chlorophyll capsules, chlorophyll tablets or chlorophyll powder. All these forms differ only in the manner by which they were produced, but they are all one and the same. Their doses vary as well. For example, one chlorophyll capsule is equivalent to three teaspoons of liquid chlorophyll. Chlorophyll powders are usually incorporated with other natural herbs such as alfalfa and green tea. Capsule supplements, on the other hand, come in 100 to 600 milligram doses.

Who Should Take Them?
Taking chlorophyll supplements will allow you to experience the different health benefits of chlorophyll that were mentioned above. Chlorophyll is strongly recommended for anemic and border-line anemic patients. It is also useful for people who have bone diseases and arthritis, and as an alternative for antibacterial medications. Chlorophyll supplements are also beneficial for smokers, for those who eat unhealthy food and for those exposed to pollution - all for toxin eradication purposes. They are widely-used as well as a measure for eliminating body odors and bad breath.