Monday, September 12, 2016

Chlorophyll

Heat is a beautiful thing, passion, intensity and fire. We need heat to love and to survive.  When heat is overloaded in the body however there is an array of health problems that arise. I was told years ago as a little girl that I needed to cool my body and skin down.  The redness on my face I experienced from blushing and skin irritation was an excess of heat. In Ayurveda this is known as an imbalance of the Dosha Pitta, responsible for fire. We now know that many diseases are caused by an over-abundance of acid in the body. Acid in large quantities can cause inflammation which then leads to disease. We can think of acid as excess heat and alkalizing as a way of cooling the body. Many detox diets are a way for the body to become more alkaline and therefore become more balanced. There are many foods and activities that create acid in our bodies and we can see it in certain ways. Alcohol and drugs for example burst blood vessels on the skin, interfere negatively with digestion and affect sleep patterns. These are all signs of an overly acidic condition. Coffee unfortunately is another acid causing drink that can lead to indigestion and acne. To combat these activities we can introduce alkalizing foods and supplements. The rule of thumb with alkalizing foods is anything green. 
When we eat greens we are automatically removing heat. The darker the green the more alkalizing the effect.  When we alkalize the body we will notice, clearer skin, weight loss, less irritability, sounder sleep, and better digestion. This is why cancer patients will often go on juice cleanses, a way to quickly remove acid from the body. Juicing is a great way to alkalize the body but for people that work full time it can be a challenge time wise. Chlorophyll is a great alternative to juicing.  Chlorophyll is simply the green pigmentation in plants. It is is filled with many health benefits and can be mixed in an 8 oz glass of water on an empty stomach. 
It comes in liquid form and is a deep green color with almost no taste, but a subtle scent of seaweed. Chlorophyll is said to calm inflammation, skin rashes, candida, anemia, cleans out heavy metals, and is even being used for cancer treatment. Another great benefit of chlorophyll is that it is a natural deodorant for the body. It rids the mouth of bad breath which is a sign of bad digestion as well as fighting natural body odor. Its a way for the body to naturally get energy as well, which is why i will take it first thing in the morning. This cools the body and speeds up the metabolism for the day.  Foods that are naturally rich in chlorophyll can also be added to your diet such as seaweed, leafy greens, broccoli, sprouts and asparagus. Remember when these vegetables are over cooked and turn brown the level of chlorophyl and other minerals decreases. The best solution is to eat them raw or slightly steamed for maximum benefits. Chlorophyll is is an easy and hugely beneficial addition to a healthy diet!