Ashitaba An Amazing Super Food with a Broad Range of Benefits |
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The Broad Range of Benefits of Ashitaba
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What is Ashitaba? Ashitaba is a lush green plant that has its origins Extending Your Life Span Ashitaba’s scientific name, Angelica keiskei Koidzumi, comes from the Latin name for “angel,” most likely due to its “heavenly”, well known health benefits that have given it such notoriety. The inhabitants of Hachijo Island are well known for their longevity, having some of the longest life spans on earth (i.e. many commonly live well into their 90’s in good health). Ashitaba has been an integral part of their diet for hundreds of years. When all aspects of their life style were analyzed, the researchers
found that the consumption of ashitaba was a
heavy contribution to their healthy, extended lives. Even
the local residents of the island refer to ashitaba
as the “longevity herb”. As more research has been
conducted on this special strain of angelica, ashitaba has A Well Guarded Secret The oldest written record of the benefits of ashitaba appear to be more than 2,000 years old. Of the many thousands of known plants, |
ashitaba belongs to the elite 1% category called “medicinal plants.” In China, ashitaba has had a long history of use to purify the blood, detoxify the liver, cleanse the colon, improve lung function, enhance blood circulation, improve nerve dysfunction, and relieve muscle and joint pain. From the Ming Dynasty to the Shogun warriors, the ashitaba plant traveled from China to Japan and was a well guarded secret of strength and longevity for hundreds of years among the elite classes of society. Ashitaba’s Benefits In traditional Chinese medicine, ashitaba is considered a superior, strengthening yin tonic. It has a wide range of known, health-promoting benefits. It provides immune system stimulation, promotes healthy function of the stomach and intestines, demonstrates specific anti-viral and anti-bacterial activity and reduces inflammation. Other studies show it helps cleanse the blood, regulate blood
sugar levels (anti-diabetic action), promote healthy
cholesterol levels (decreasing unhealthy LDL cholesterol),
stimulates the production of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) for
excellent nerve function, suppresses cell growth abnormalities
such as tumors (as seen in cancer), helps decrease high
blood pressure, remove toxic wastes from the body, aids natural sleep cycles, improves visual acuity and rovides
peri-menopausal relief. An interesting side benefit many
users of ashitaba have reported their skin feels smoother and
much healthier. |
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Ashitaba’s Benefits in Chronic Disease
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New Research Why is ashitaba such a giant Super Star among plants? New research showed the astonishing results that ashitaba out-performed all other herbs that were tested for their antioxidant potential based on the ORAC guide (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) (in Nutraceuticals World, Sept, 2002). Ashitaba’s phenolic compounds possess various key properties: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumorigenic (i.e. stops tumors from growing), anti-carcinogenic (i.e. stops cancer), antimicrobial (i.e. stops infection), nerve cell growth enhancer and a detoxifier. What an amazing list of benefits! A Unique Super Food Ashitaba is a true functional Super Food, containing a vast spectrum of beneficial properties and a unique array of phytonutrients, including 11 vitamins, 13 minerals, chlorophyll, enzymes, carotene, germanium, saponins, proteins, plant fibers, glycosides, courmarins, and a potent, rare class of flavonoids called chalcones. Ashitaba’s rich chlorophyll content helps purify the blood, detoxify the organs and alkalinize the body. Chlorophyll is also called “green blood” because its structure is very similar to human blood. Ashitaba’s natural content of organic germanium promotes the body’s production of interferon, a key defense substance against harmful viruses and bacteria. Germanium also helps purify the blood by increasing oxygen, creating an alkaline pH and activating blood cell replacements. Chalcones As scientists began to analyze the reason for the unusual longevity of the Hachijo Island residents, they discovered that Ashitaba is the only plant known to contain chalcones, a class of potent flavonoid compounds. The chalcones in ashitaba include xanthoangeol, xanthoangelol E and 4-hydroxyderricin. Clinical trials performed on chalcones confirm that they are potent antioxidants which help to protect the organs from destructive free radical damage and slow the aging process on a cellular level. Extensive research has shown chalcones are also antiinfective, working to prevent pathogens from entering the cells. Chalcones have been proven to work on the mucus membrane of the stomach and suppress excessive secretion of gastric juice. They give rise to ashitaba’s use as a natural diuretic, laxative and a superb aid to healthy metabolism. Chalcones were also found to inhibit general inflammatory processes in the body which is true of all flavonoids. Other Compounds in Ashitaba Ashitaba also contains numerous other health-boosting phytonutrients. Nerve Growth Factor Stimulation. Researchers have found
that the certain compounds in ashitaba can stimulate the production
in vivo [inside the body] of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF). NGF
is an important biological substance that is essential for the development
and survival of neurons in both the central and peripheral In one study, those who took ashitaba had a 20% increase in NGF after only 4 days. The nerve growth support factors in ashitaba can mean critical maximum support for those with poor or damaged nerve development or nerve injuries.
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Coumarins. Ashitaba also contains coumarins (including psoralen, imperatorin, columbianagin, isorhazelpitin, rhazelpiton, selinidin), a class of widely occurring phenolic compounds, such as found in citrus fruits. Coumarins are being studied for their potential anticarcinogenic properties and preclinical studies show promising effects against skin tumorigenesis. (Cai, Y, Kleiner H, Johnston D, Dubowski A, Bostic S, IVie W, DiGiovanni J. “Effect of naturally occurring coumarins on the formation of DNA adducts and tumors induced by benzo[a]pyrene and 7,12- dimethylbenz[a]anthracene in skin," Carcinogenesis 18:1521-1527, 1997) 4-hydrodexydelisin glycosides: Ashitaba contains unique glycosides called isoquercitin, ruteorin, angelic acid and bergapten. Melatonin. Ashitaba contains a significant amount of melatonin, a well known antioxidant with benefits of calming the body, stress reduction, anti-aging and anti-carcinogenic properties. Natural Vitamins & Minerals: Ashitaba contains a wealth of naturally occurring vitamins and minerals, including beta-carotene, vitamin C, calcium, iron and potassium. Ashitaba also contains vitamin B12, not typically produced in plants. Vitamin B12 has been recognized for its ability to promote the production of blood cells, increase attention span and concentration, increase the production of growth hormone and promote the integrity of the immune system. Beware of “Junk” Ashitaba However, like all nutritional products, beware of your source of ashitaba. The original, full powered source of ashitaba is grown on the pristine Hachijo Island contains the complete range of phytonutrients in full ideal cellular resonance. Sources that were tested that were grown elsewhere (especially in the U.S., grown with polluted water in poor soil, etc.) have been like shadows of the real thing – with extremely deficient cellular resonance (often chaotic values). It is best to avoid these sources altogether. The Ashitaba Super Star Once a well guarded secret of the elite of ancient societies, now we can all benefit from this medicinal plant Super Star, grown from the original pristine source — Hachijo Island. Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, once said: “Let your food be your medicine.” And so, we may all envision a time when this incredible Super Food becomes a household word with every mother asking her children before they go off to school: “Have you had your ashitaba today?” To regain and maintain our own ideal health, we must all return to grass roots of true nutrition – for real, sustaining nourishment of the body. And by the way, have you had YOUR ashitaba today? References Inamor, Y, et al., Anti-bacterial activity of two chalcones, xanthoangelol and 4-hydroxyderiicin, isolated from Angelial Okayama, et al., Anti-tumor promotion by principles obtained in Angelica Keiski, Department of Pharmacology and E, Hayashi A, Takahashi R, Aoyagi Y, Murakami T, Kimoto K. Effects of angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitor from |
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