Someone said, “Humans are passionate about health and pleasure.” We yearn for a tasty, fat-free, sugar-free chocolate bar, smoke organic tobaccos and drink Coke zero. A hedonist and health junkie what a combo! As they say, life is short, live your life the way it makes you happy. Some people find pleasure in eating a chocolate bar or visiting a chocolate factory. Though chocolates are not considered “good” snack option, do you know that chocolates comes from an herb called Theobroma cacao that contains many health benefits? The “Chocolate tree” thrive in tropical countries and it can grow up to 20 feet. The main ingredient in chocolates are the seeds or beans are fermented, dried, roasted and then ground into a paste. It becomes yummy by adding sugar.

What’s hot: Studies show that cocoa powder have a variety of health benefits. An alkaloid found in the beans (theobromine) stimulates heart, kidneys and muscles. It’s a stimulating herb, both cooling and warming. It’s also diuretic and lowers high blood pressure by dilating blood vessels. Cocoa is also used in many cosmetic products, especially cocoa butter as a very effective skin moisturizer. For culinary use, chocolate flavoring is added in sauces, drinks and many more. My favorites are chocolate cakes and chocolate milk shakes.

What’s not-so-hot: Not all chocolates we love are fat-free and sugar-free. Chocolates is a common trigger of allergies and for some migraines.

Photo Source: Kalyx.com

Cocoa butter lip balm $5, organic cocoa powder $10.35, fat-free chocolate chip cookies $3.49

I’m a sucker for blueberry cheesecakes and blueberry muffins! When I’m out, I try to find delis that sells this scrumptious and delicious dessert plus a big mug of coffee. Just eating blueberry cheesecake put a big smile on my face. But there’s more about blueberries that I should be happy about. Check it out!

About the plant: Blueberries are widely cultivated for culinary purposes.  But Highbush blueberries and rabbit-eye blueberries are the preferred crop for commercial cultivation. Blueberries are from the genus Vaccinum.  They are shrubs that grow up to 4 m. tall. They thrive in temperate countries.

What I discovered: Aside from being a super yummy dessert, blueberries were discovered to have high nutrient content. The extracts are rich in anthocyanidins, a bioflavonoid and phytonutrient that gives blueberries the antioxidant properties. It is cooling and pungent. Blueberry preparations have a diuretic effect, laxative (if taken in large quantities) and can lower blood sugar levels.  Here’s more: it is said that blueberries can be applied to hemorrhoids, burns (fruit), eczema; the juice is used as a mouthwash for imflamed gums and to sooth sore eyes; extracts from supplements maintain peripheral circulation and skin collagen… the best part: proven to combat typhoid and bacilli of the colon. The leaves and the fruits are the parts being used from this shrub.

What’s hot: Blueberry is a superfruit! Just imagine a wide array of health benefits you’ll get in taking blueberry fruits and supplements. Its therapeutic use extend to patients with diabetes, anemia, dysentery, diarrhea and urinary problems. No garden space? No worries, you can plant these shrubs in a pot! Gurney’s have dwarf blueberries for you to choose from.

What’s not-so-hot: Some products like blueberry jams, preserves, jellies, juices, do not contain the “real” blueberries. Some are artificially made. Hence, if you can’t grow your very own blueberry shrub, do your own research and find the product that works for you.

Someday, I’ll have this shrub in my garden and I’ll have blueberry cheesecake everyday, putting it in my vanilla ice cream sounds yummy too!

I love the smell of fresh lemon grass and I love it in my food. This herb is not as attractive as the others for it is a “grass”, but you may wanna give it a second look.

About the plant: Lemon grass grows well in the tropics for it likes a warmer climate. But it can also grow in temperate countries as long as the temperature will not fall below 7C. There are over 50 species of these genus native to the tropical and temperate countries of the world. Cymbopogon grasses contain citral, which is a lemon fragrance.

What I discovered: Aside from being a popular culinary ingredient in Asian cuisine, this herb is also anti-fungal and anti-bacterial. The leaves and stems are the parts being used. Boil fresh lemon grass and add to a bath for a refreshing, cooling and calming bath or if you have stubborn athlete’s foot you may want to give your feet a chance to try the “lemon grass soak.” Some also extract oil from lemon grass for cosmetic use, essential oil for incense burning and candles. Another practical use you can try is to cut fresh lemon grass leaves and form a knot and place it inside cabinets or cupboards to repel insects. Had enough lemon grass information overload? Here’s the most exciting part…

Got the article from a friend about drinking fresh lemon grass tea might cure cancer. The article entitled, “Fresh lemon grass fields in Israel become Mecca for cancer patients,” was written by Allison Kaplan Sommer (2006) (too bad I think her blog is down). It says in the story that in a research started by Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel – lemon aroma in herbs like lemon grass kills cancer cells in vitro, while leaving healthy cells unharmed. Drinking fresh lemon grass tea that contains enough citral prompt cancer cells to commit suicide. The process of cancer cells committing suicide is called apoptosis. The cancer patients were told to drink 8 glasses of hot water with fresh lemon grass steeped on it on the days they went for their radiation of chemotherapy treatments. Drinking lemon grass tea also help relieve digestive upset. Nobody knows for certain how it works, BGU scientists’ theorized that, “in each cell in our body, there is a genetic program which causes programmed cell death.”

What’s hot: The many practical uses of this herb. If it can cure the big C – its an added bonus.

What’s not-so-hot: I do not know anyone (yet) who was cured of the big C because of drinking fresh lemon grass tea.

But I do know of someone who drinks fresh lemon grass tea everyday. He drinks it for his ulceritis to sooth and calm his tummy.