Fantastic Health with Your Favourite Flavours
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by Stephanie Martin
My initial plan for today’s article was to cover at least 10 different foods. However, I had to cut it down to 3 once I realised that I had already written well over two pages! I must confess though, that I do tend to get ‘over-excited’ about the amazing properties of natural foods and supplements however, this time I feel I am justified in my excitement! Just wait till you read about all the health benefits of lemons, onions and vanilla…

lemons1. LEMON
Alkaline - When you think of the most acidic-tasting fruits, lemons definitely come out on top. However, did you know that they are actually one of the most alkalinizing foods you can eat! Rich in the alkaline minerals, calcium and potassium, lemons are wonderful for balancing body pH. Bacteria, yeast and unwanted organisms, such as Candida and parasites, thrive in an acidic environment, so it is essential to maintain a balanced internal environment! Lemons are also wonderful for easing acidity in the stomach, as well as alleviating acid-related conditions such as ulcers, arthritis, gout and chronic rheumatism. Drink fresh lemon juice every morning or drop a couple of lemon slices into your water bottle (please make sure it’s not plastic!) You can even add a teaspoon of chia seeds for an extra nutritional and energy boost! 
Cleansing – lemon juice is extremely cleansing and detoxifying. The citric acid helps remove the impurities and fermentative effects of an overworked and over-stressed liver by stirring up any toxic settlements that have not been properly eliminated via the detoxification organs (skin, kidneys, bowels & lungs). Juice a whole lemon with your Oscar or Hurom Juicer together with some cucumber, celery, mint and apple for a refreshing and delicious green juice. Yum!
lemon_water_squeezeImmune boosting – Lemons are extremely rich in Vitamin C which is essential for a strong immune system! Just make sure you eat/drink them as fresh as possible because if left exposed to the air for long periods of time, most of the valuable vitamin C in the juice is lost. Lemons are highly effective in treating all types of coughs and colds, fever and sore throats. A cup of Rooibos or Green tea with lemon juice and a teaspoonful of raw honey is an ideal remedy to help keep yourself cold and cough free.
Anti-Cancer - Research shows that lemons have even been shown to fight cancers of the mouth, skin, lung, breast, stomach, and colon due to the high presence of the anti-cancer compound, limonin. 
Acne - Lemon juice is a natural astringent and mild antibacterial agent. Apply directly to acne-prone skin or breakouts to bring down any inflammation and to promote healing (just be warned that it may sting a little!). 

2. ONION
Onions not only provide a wonderful flavour, they are also one of the earliest known food medicines in history. Full of health-promoting flavonoids, vitamin C and E, chromium, potassium, folic acid and fiber, it’s no wonder onions were regarded as a cure-all! 
onionsartAnti-Allergy – Onions are an outstanding source of the flavonoid, quercetin. Quercetin is nature’s anti-histamine; wonderful for alleviating mild allergy problems, reducing inflammation, preventing asthma attacks, supporting the immune system and clearing excess congestion. 
Cardiovascular health – Onions have been associated with a reduced risk for cardiovascular disease. Their rich supply of sulfur compounds (of which quercetin is the most powerful) all work together to help prevent the unwanted clumping together of blood platelet cells, as well as helping lower blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, reduce blood pressure and improve cell membrane function. 
Cancer - Quercetin is also a powerful antioxidant that acts as an anti-cancer agent to block the formation of cancer cells. White onions unfortunately lack this antioxidant, so make sure to eat plenty of yellow or red onions! Researcher Terrance Leighton, Ph.D. of the University of California at Berkeley also discovered that quercetin deactivates the growth of estrogen-sensitive cells often found to cause breast cancer. The anti-cancer trace mineral, Selenium, is also present in onions.
Anti-bacterial – Onions also have excellent anti-bacterial properties, particularly against Helicobacter pylori, the ulcer-forming microorganism. Interestingly their antibacterial benefits have also been shown to inhibit gum (periodontal) disease bacteria!  
Colds & Flu – As well as their anti-viral and anti-bacterial benefits, the pungent sulphur-compounds of onions help to increase blood circulation, induce sweating and thus bring down a fever. Onion soup with garlic and ginger is the perfect remedy to ward off infection. Otherwise mix equal parts of raw honey and onion juice, and take a couple of teaspoons every four to six hours. 
red-onionCleansing – Allicin, a sulphur-containing compound found in onions, promotes liver detoxification and purification and is also useful for removing environmental toxins and heavy metals from your blood and liver. Allicin occurs best when onions are finely chopped or crushed. Make a delicious salsa with finely chopped red onion, tomatoes, garlic, lemon and coriander (add chilli for an extra kick). 
Diabetes - The chromium in onion helps diabetics' cells respond appropriately to bringing down the insulin level and improve glucose tolerance. 
Bone & Joint Health – the flavonoids in onion have been shown to help increase bone density by inhibiting the activity of osteoclasts (cells that break down bone) while stimulating the bone building cells, osteoblasts. Added to this the high sulfur content of onions may also provide direct benefits to our connective tissue, as natural sulfur is essential for proper cartilage, ligament and joint formation.

3. VANILLA
I recently learned from a beautiful friend of mine that vanilla beans are actually the pods of a tropical climbing orchid. The orchid opens in the morning and closes in the evening, which means that it only has 12 hours to be pollinated. Without pollination, no vanilla bean will grow and the bloom will fall. To further complicate matters, only the Melipona bee, native to Mexico, can pollinate the orchid so in cultivation, each orchid has to be hand pollinated! And then each pollinated flower produces a single vanilla bean nine months later! 
vanilla_beansHeadaches - Vanilla extract contains Eugenol, an essential oil that has antiseptic and analgesic properties and that helps unclog blood vessels. One home remedy is to drink a tablespoon of pure vanilla extract in a glass of water before going to bed.
Depression – the aroma of Vanilla has sedative effects, often effective as a mild anti-depressant and mood up-lifter. It even helps improve sleep quality and alleviate insomnia. Enjoy my favourite vanilla dessert with blended banana, almonds, pure vanilla extract, rice milk and loads of ice or simply inhale the aroma of vanilla to calm anxiety and enhance relaxation. 
Anti-carcinogenic –The anti-carcinogenic property of vanilla is due to the active polyphenol compound, vanillin. This strong antioxidant has shown to have anti-tumor activity, reducing free-radical damage and preventing the growth and spread of cancerous cells. 
Nausea - Vanilla extract has been used to help calm the stomach when you are feeling nauseous. Simply add a few drops of vanilla extract or a vanilla bean to a glass of water and sip slowly while inhaling the wonderfully calming vanilla scent.  

Aside from all the health benefits of these 3 foods, I am most excited about the fact that they are easy to use, available all year round, affordable and extremely versatile in almost all your favourite recipes! I hope you will enjoy them now not only for their wonderful flavour but for their health benefits too! 

Follow us on our Facebook page to read more about the 7 other foods and flavours that I’ll be writing about over the next couple of weeks.