Green Futures

Tag: health

  • Health Benefits of Vegetables; Onions and Shallots

    Onions and shallots are full of nutrients including, Vitamins A, B, C, magnesium, potassium, sulphur compounds, bioflavonoids, essential oils (mono or sesquiterpenoids) and natural sugars.
    They are great vegetables to add to your diet to support bones and joints especially if you experience rheumatoid arthritis or gout.  They support the blood and circulation and are beneficial for people who have arteriosclerosis, onions and shallots help to support the immune system especially if you are coming down with a cold or the flu and they are also beneficial for period pains in women,
    Onions have antibiotic and anti-fungal properties and can block tumour formation, reduce cholesterol levels and prevent blood clots from forming.  They help to ease water retention and promote the elimination of urea.  Onions are beneficial to both the digestive and circulatory systems.  They can be juiced or used in a decoction for the treatment of digestive problems, diarrhora, coughs, colds and flu.  You can even make an onion syrup by layering sliced raw onion with brown sugar or molasses which will eventually turn into an onion syrup and require the onions to be strained after 4 weeks.
    Onions can be eaten raw – macerating them in olive oil makes them more palatable.  Onion juice can be drunk mixed in water or carrot juice and can also be applied neat to insect stings, warts and boils.
    Info courtesy of;
    Emma Warrener
    Western Medicinal Herbalist within Grimsby and Cleethorpes
    Check out my website at: www.herbsforhealthandwellbeing.co.uk
    Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/GrimsbyHerbalUK

  • Health Benefits of Potatoes

    Hear is more info on the health benefits of the vegetables which are sold at Green Futures:
    We have all been told that potatoes are a form of starchy food and should therefore be eaten in moderation and although they are correct there are health benefits from eating potatoes.  Potatoes are full of carbohydrates and are a starchy food source but it also contains Vitamin’s B, C, folic acid, copper, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur too.  Yes they should be eaten in moderation as carbohydrates which are not utilised as energy are changed into fat and stored in the body until a time when it is needed – therefore too many carbohydrates can lead to weight gain.  How they are cooked should also be taken into account to preserve the vitamin and mineral content.  Receiving local, seasonal vegetables will ensure a higher content of nutrients compared to shop bought which can take up to six weeks to reach the shelf of your local department.
    Potatoes have an affinity with the digestive system especially for people who have peptic ulcers, experience gastritis or have diabetes.  They are good for mild digestive problems and can soothe an upset stomach.  Try having potato juice, mixed with equal amounts of carrot and cabbage juice (you may want to add a splash of lemon juice to taste) but this juice/ vegetable smoothie has constituents which can help to ease the symptoms of gastritis and peptic ulcers.
    The juice or pulp of a raw potato can be applied neat if you have burnt yourself and can also relieve the irritation from insect bites, eczema and boils.  Do not eat the green parts of a potato if you get one as these can cause stomach upset – they have been exposed to sunlight and have built up a number of alkaloids.  The potato comes from a family called solanaceae which is the same family as deadly nightshade, bitter sweet, hembane and thorn apple all very poisonous plants.  Every part of the potato plant (except the humble spud itself) is also poisonous.  The green part of the potato (when it occurs contains a similar mix of the solonaceae alkaloids and should be avoided.
    Information from
    Emma Warrener
    Western Medicinal Herbalist within Grimsby and Cleethorpes
    Check out my website at: www.herbsforhealthandwellbeing.co.uk
    Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/GrimsbyHerbalUK