nurture
4 supplements WE LOVE
Eastern intelligence says our bodies are woven from food. The nutrients we ingest metabolise into the energy and information that form our cells, tissues, and organs. Our bodies have a daily need for essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to maintain balance. Here are our 4 favourite supplements of the month.
1. A S H W A G A N D A Ashwaganda is one of the most powerful herbs in Ayurvedic healing and is known as a ‘vitalizer’. It is rejuvenating, balancing, strengthening and calming to the nervous system. Ashwaganda is used to relieve fatigue, nervous exhaustion and memory loss. It has been used since ancient times as a restorative tonic. In Sanskrit Ashwagandha means ‘the smell of a horse’ indicating that the herb imparts the vigor and strength of a stallion. It is often used to strengthen the immune system after an illness. Ashwaganda is an adaptogenic herb meaning it can modulate your response to stress or a changing environment. It also helps the body cope with external stresses like environmental toxins and internal stresses like anxiety and insomnia.
2. ALOE VERA Aloe Vera as an important healer can be traced back 6,000 years to early Egypt, where the plant was recognised on stone carvings and called the ‘plant of immortality’. Aloe Vera has a wide range of applications from treating wounds, to preventing hair loss, helping with hemorrhoids, detoxification and easing digestion. Topically Aloe Vera acts remedially on burns, frostbite, psoriasis, and cold sores, and internally for bowel diseases, digestion and fever. Aloe Latex is used as a laxative. Aloe Vera has over 200 active components including vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, polysaccharide, and fatty acids. It is an alkaliser and a medicinal detoxifying agent.
3. BREWERS YEAST As the name states Brewer’s Yeast is an essential ingredient in beer-making. It’s a single celled fungus specifically cultivated as a nutritional supplement. With a high profile of B-complex vitamins, including B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), (B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), B9 (folic acid) and biotin, it is used for energy, nervous system support, digestion and keeping the skin, hair, eyes and the liver in good condition. Brewer’s yeast is popular with people following a vegetarian diet.
4. MAGNESIUM Many people are surprised how quickly supplementing with magnesium rids health symptoms like sleeplessness, muscle cramps, facial tics and body pain. Although magnesium is an abundant mineral in the body and is available in many different food sources, magnesium deficiency is still fairly common. Magnesium is an important player in many biochemical reactions in the body, like protein synthesis, muscle and nerve function, blood glucose control, and blood pressure regulation.
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