A-Z culinary uses Articles

What Is Clove?

Clove was traditionally used as a food preserver before the advent of refrigeration. It keeps food from going bad and reduces food-borne illnesses because it has antiseptic and anti-parasitic properties. Later on, the medicinal properties of clove were discovered and clove has been used for its benefits in soothing digestion and decreasing gas and bloating. Clove can also be used as an oil a topical pain reliever and an antiseptic. 

Exploring The Key Health Benefits of Clove

As mentioned, clove is beneficial to digestive health. It helps to keep things circulating and is packed with fibre which helps decrease gas build up and bloating. Clove tea can make for a nice digestif after meals. Food-grade clove products are also beneficial to dental health and oral hygiene. On a nutrient level, cloves contain manganese, this mineral helps manage the enzymes responsible for repairing bones and making hormones. This mineral also has antioxidant benefits which can further protect your body from free radical damage and help with anti-aging. Cloves are also an excellent source of vitamin K. 

Aside from its being filled with beneficial nutrients, the active properties in cloves offer antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties both when it's ingested or applied topically as an oil. 

Shopping For Quality Clove Supplements

Clove can be purchased as a loose herb, spice or essential oil. The loose herb can be made into a tea for topical application or internal use. You may also see clove combined with other herbs in a tea to soothe digestion. The essential oil of clove is a highly concentrated substance, when using essential oils, especially in sensitive areas, be sure to test the oil first on a small area and dilute the oil properly with a carrier oil for topical application. It's important to note that essential oils aren't safe for internal use.

Cautions & Considerations To The Benefits of Clove

Essential oils are toxic when taken internally, so never ingest clove oil or other essential oils. Prolonged use of topical clove oil may lead to gum damage. Clove may cause an allergic reaction when used topically or internally.

Do you remember eating Jell-o as a kid? Remember that fun, jiggly dessert in a rainbow of colours? You were eating gelatin, which is a common ingredient used in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.

What Is Gelatin?

Gelatin is an odourless, colourless, tasteless, thickening material that is made by boiling animal tissues like bones, cartilage, tendons and skin. It is most commonly sourced from cows and pigs and is derived from collagen found in the bones and hides of these animals.

Key Health Benefits of Gelatin & How It Made

Gelatin is a hydrolyzed form of collagen, meaning collagen goes through a process where water is added and the molecules of collagen are broken apart during a heating process. You can do this yourself by boiling the bones and cartilage of cows or pigs and is commonly used to make food dishes like aspics.

When the natural molecular bonds are broken down in collagen strands it results in molecular forms that rearrange more easily into a structure which forms a semi-solid gel when cooled, called gelatin. Ultimately, it is chemically similar to collagen and can have similar effects as collagen on the body such as reducing joint pain and strengthening joints, skin, hair and nails.

Top Uses For Gelatin

This unique product has a multitude of uses in the food industry. It is used as a gelling agent to make jiggly desserts, marshmallows and gummy candies shaped like animals. It is also a texturizer used to improve the textures of foods like yogurts and ice creams and is used to stabilize food products like fruit juices and margarine. It has also been used in “reduced fat” products to enhance the “mouth feel” and to simulate the mouth feel of fat without adding calories.

The pharmaceutical industry uses it as a stabilizer in vaccines and as a binder for tablets. It is often used to make capsules, which are used to make both medications and supplements. You can even buy your own gelatin capsules to encapsulate your own herbal formulations.

It is also used in supplement form to treat osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease and is used to strengthen skin, hair and nails. Studies have shown that hydrolyzed gelatin can be useful to reduce joint pain and because it has similar properties to collagen, it can strengthen connective tissues.

Gelatin Alternatives For Vegans

Some people choose to avoid gelatin because it is sourced from animals. Some cultures that do not eat specific animals, such as cows, pigs or horses will want to avoid gelatin made from those particular animals. Sometimes the animal source is listed on the label of the product, however, if it is not and you want to know the source, simply call the company directly to ask about their particular source of gelatin.

For vegetarians or vegans who choose not to eat animal products, there are some vegetarian alternatives to gelatin, including seaweed extracts like agar and carrageenan, and other plant sources like pectin and konjak.

Using Gelatin Capsules For DIY Supplements

You can buy empty gelatin capsules to make your own herbal encapsulations, which allows you to more closely control dosage and make your own unique herbal combinations.

You can supplement with gelatin for joint pain associated with osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease by taking 1500mg daily with meals. Some studies have used very high doses, up to 10 grams per day for osteoporosis with little to no side effects. Some side effects that were noted were digestive upset and allergic reactions. Since it comes from animal sources, you want to be sure you are using a quality product that is free of contaminants.

What is Himalayan Salt?

Rock salt is also known as halite, rock salt, or as Himalayan salt in Pakistan. This mineral was formed into crystals when ancient enclosed lakes and seas evaporated. As the body of water evaporated, it left behind its salt content in thick beds in the earth.

Himalayan Salt Mining

There are large pockets of salt beds throughout Canada and the United States, as well as in Pakistan and the United Kingdom. These deep salt beds are mined to remove the salt, providing us with a source of usable halite.

Uses & Benefits of Himalayan Salt

Most commonly, halite is used to melt ice on the surfaces of walkways and roads in the winter. Because salt water has a lower freezing point than pure water, adding salt to the ice can melt the already frozen portions and prevent refreezing. This can help to maintain safe walking and driving conditions, even in sub-zero temperatures. Halite is also used to make salt lamps for decoration and makes large salt rocks used in some cooking techniques. Some clinics will use halite as an aerosol therapy for respiratory conditions such as asthma.

Impurities & Considerations

Unfortunately, when the ancient salt water lakes were evaporating, they also contained other minerals and substances that become trapped in the salt as the water disappeared. Thus, halite is full of impurities, some of which could possibly be detrimental to health. Because of this, it may be preferable to avoid using halite as a food additive, and to use other forms of salt instead. That being said, halite is still often used as a food additive in a number of places around the world. Table salt is a purified form of halite, and is the standardized form more commonly used for eating.

Oregano (Origanum vulgare) is a plant in the mint family that is closely related to marjoram. It has been used worldwide as a culinary spice for flavouring grilled meats and vegetables and as a preservative for meats. In ancient Greece, Hippocrates used oregano as an antiseptic, and as a cure for stomach and respiratory ailments. More current healthcare practitioners use oregano extract for its antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. Oregano oil can be used topically for skin infections, like Athlete's foot, ringworm and folliculitis. It is also useful for treating colds, sore throats, coughs, chronic respiratory conditions, yeast infections, viral infections, bacterial infections, diarrhea and indigestion.

Top Health Benefits of Oregano

Respiratory Infections

This herb not only kills infecting microbes in the respiratory tract but also acts as an expectorant (helps to expel mucus) and antispasmodic (relieves coughing). This is beneficial for a number of respiratory conditions like bronchitis, croup, and common colds and flu. If you are using oregano for respiratory concerns, be sure to use an oregano supplement that's made for internal use.

Digestion and IBD

In the digestive tract oregano soothes digestion and decreases diarrhea, by stopping intestinal spasms. It also directly kills gastrointestinal microbes and lessens gas and bloating. The current theory is that Inflammatory Bowel Diseases like Crohn's and Colitis may have a triad of predisposing factors. These factors include an unbalanced gut flora, a trigger event such as physical or emotional stress, and a bacterial or microbial invasion (infection). Given this theory, studies are currently investigating the use of oregano oil to treat IBD and help prevent flares. If you are using oregano for digestive concerns, be sure to use an oregano supplement that's made for internal use.

Oral Health

Oregano formulated for internal uses can also be used or oral hygiene. Rub on the gums to treat and prevent gingivitis, as well as a few drops added to your toothbrush to kill germs and treat bad breath.

External Uses

Externally, you can apply oregano to almost any affected area, although use extreme caution when treating highly sensitive mucosal membranes, such as the vagina and anal areas. It is highly recommended, when treating these areas that you use a carrier oil to dilute the essential oil, to prevent burns. Olive, almond or coconut oils are all good options. Before applying externally, you may want to test a small area of skin with the diluted essential oil, to ensure there is no reaction or determine if further dilution is necessary. A few drops of oregano oil can be added to shampoos to treat dandruff, eczema or seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp.

Best Co-Supplements To Take With Oregano

It is essential to be sure that you supplement probiotics when taking oregano internally. Because of its antimicrobial action, oregano can also eradicate the normal healthy gut flora, which can cause further digestive problems. Supplementing probiotics can replenish this loss and prevent future infections.

Oregano As An Essential Oil

The essential oil of oregano is a highly concentrated substance. It comes in various strengths, sometimes referred to as a percentage (i.e.: P73). Make note of the phenol carvacrol, one of the most active ingredients in oregano, responsible for the majority of its medicinal benefits. A carvacrol content of 70% or more is optimal.

Tips on Taking Oregano Oil

Oregano can be purchased as a loose herb, encapsulated herb, spice or essential oil. The loose herb can be made into a poultice for topical application, used for inhalation or taken as a tea for internal use. Oregano may be included in combination teas for soothing digestion. When the essential oil is taken internally, 1-3 drops under the tongue, 3x/daily is a typical dosage. Acutely, you can do up to 3 drops every hour for the first day you are experiencing signs and symptoms of cold, flu or food poisoning (for up to 10 hours). The earlier in the infection cycle that oregano is taken the more easily it prevents progression to a full-blown illness.

Saffron extract comes from the stigmas (the long thin hair-like projections in the middle of the flower) of the saffron crocus plant (Crocus sativus). This extract has long been used in traditional Persian medicine for the treatment of depression. It was recently shown on Dr. Oz's self-titled show as one of the belly-fat-busting supplements. Dr. Oz stated that this extract can "annihilate your urge to over-eat". Reviewing the literature, this extract has far more potential than just that (although it does that too). It has also been found to help cognition and healthy cell development.

Top Benefits of Saffron

Weight Loss – Reducing Emotional Eating

A recent study in a journal called Nutrition Research showed a significant benefit of saffron extract in promoting weight loss in slightly overweight women. It was found that this particular extract reduced snacking and enhanced satiety or the feeling of having had enough. They showed that this extract combats emotional eating. It was found to trigger the same chemical cascade in the brain that creates the feeling that you get in the short-term from eating carbohydrates. Thus, supplementing can give you the ability to say "no", even when faced with tempting foods.

Alzheimer's Disease

One study found that 30mg of saffron extract daily was equally as successful at treating mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease as donepezil, a common pharmaceutical drug used in these cases. Thus, this extract can help to protect mental function in those afflicted with Alzheimer's disease.

Healthy Cell Growth

Preliminary research shows successful promotion of apoptosis ("cell-suicide") in lung and colon cells. A number of studies have successfully examined saffron extract as a treatment against several unhealthy cell lines in test tubes. Further research is required, but saffron extract may have beneficial effects.

Depression

A study of 40 depressed people, found that 30mg per day of saffron extract was found to be as effective as fluoxetine (Prozac) in the treatment of depression. Thus, in addition to its other benefits, saffron extract may also help with symptoms of depression. It is likely that these effects happen through similar alterations in the brains chemical pathways that allow for reduced food cravings. These effects are not surprising since saffron has been used in traditional Persian medicine for this purpose for centuries.

Taking Saffron Extract

Saffron extract is available in capsule and liquid form from a variety of manufacturers. It has been well studied at a dose of 30mg per day, often divided into 15mg doses given twice daily. This dose has been found to be safe and without significant side effects.