Several years ago I heard a comedian tell how some friends of his had tried to sell him on the virtues of eating vegetables raw. He would obtain more nutrients if he didn’t cook his vegetables, they told him. Being a good-old southern boy, he replied, “Cook that broccoli ‘til its yeller and pour cheese sauce all over it! Just take a pill and cook the vegetables.” Being born in Tennessee, I can relate to his response, and I confess that I do occasionally enjoy some cooked-to-death broccoli smothered in a warm, gooey cheese sauce. And while I eat a healthy diet on an everyday basis, I also recognize the need to add a nutritional supplement to the nourishing food I eat.
Most people today are aware that even healthy foods, like raw vegetables, are lacking in nutrients. Grown in over-planted, depleted soil and sprayed with harmful chemicals, our food falls short when it comes to the nutrition upon which our grandparents thrived. So we supplement.
Smart marketing has convinced us that the simple multi-vitamin is our ticket to good health and long life. We swallow pill after pill, most of us unaware that these synthetic vitamins are doing our bodies little, if any, good. As chemical imitations of the nutrients found in nature, synthetic multi-vitamins are very difficult for the body to process and utilize. Most of these vitamins pass, unused, right through our systems and are eliminated.
So you might be wondering . . . if our food is lacking and our multi-vitamins are not much help, what is the answer to filling our nutritional gap? Thankfully, our Creator gave us herbs to nourish and strengthen our bodies! Man-made imitations pale in comparison with the complexity and amazing healing powers of God-given herbs. Containing more than simple vitamins, herbs also include enzymes, antioxidants, trace elements, activators, proteins, essential fatty acids, and many other components our bodies need to thrive. All these things work harmoniously to form the perfect nutritional supplement.
For the past year, we at More Than Alive have been experimenting with different herbs to create a blend that would be highly nutritious and easy to incorporate into our diets (while not tasting gross!). After tweaking amounts and trying the blend ourselves for months, we have finally settled on a great combination for a whole-food nutritional supplement.
Barley grass powder: A sound nutritional base, barley grass contains five B vitamins, including vitamin B12, an especially important nutrient for vegetarians. Folic acid, pantothenic acid, beta carotene, and vitamins C and E are also present in barley grass, as well as traces of over 70 minerals, including calcium, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus. Barley grass contains 18 amino acids plus chlorophyll, and is packed with enzymes.
Spirulina powder: Filled with a multitude of vitamins and minerals, spirulina is also an excellent source of protein. The How To Herb Book (Velma J. Keith and Monteen Gordon) notes that, “It has been tested in Japan and Europe and found to benefit people who suffer from many ailments, including: anemia, cataracts, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, glaucoma, hepatitis, physical imbalances, aids weight loss.” A concentrated nutrition source, spirulina is an important addition to this blend.
Beet root powder: Also a hefty nutritional food, beet root has a mild cleansing action as well. It has been used in the treatment of high blood pressure, anemia (beet root is high in iron), digestive complaints, cardiovascular disorders, regulation of menstrual cycles, and is good for the skin. The high level of folate in beet root makes it invaluable during pregnancy, as folate can help prevent spina bifida and anencephaly. Magnesium is also present in large amounts. Since magnesium helps calcium work effectively, beet root is a good food for aiding in the prevention of osteoporosis.
Carrot powder: Like barley grass, spirulina, and beet root, carrot powder is bursting with nutrition that is easily absorbed and used by the body. Containing protein, iron, calcium, vitamins B1, B2, B6, C, and K, carrot powder is also a good source of biotin, potassium, thiamine, folic acid, and beta carotene. It has been used to help skin, hair, and nails, improve eyesight, increase immunity, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, regulate blood sugar, and prevent stroke. Valued for its high level of antioxidants, carrot powder has been used as an anti-aging supplement.
Kelp powder: Nutritional Herbology (Mark Pedersen) says, “Kelp is an excellent herbal source of calcium, magnesium, sodium, and iodine. Iodine is essential to normal thyroid function. It is used to increase the metabolic rate and strengthen connective tissues, including the hair, skin, and nails. Kelp has been used to treat hypothyroidism, enlarged glands, debility, fatigue, eczema, psoriasis, arthritis, and obesity.” Kelp is also highly prized for its mineral content.
Turmeric root powder: Known for its anti-inflammatory effects, turmeric has been used to treat hepatitis, inflammatory bowel diseases, bruises, colic, and spasmodic dysmenorrhea. It is also used with ulcers and hemorrhaging due to its astringent properties.
Cayenne pepper powder: In the book Left for Dead (Dick Quinn) we find the following information about cayenne: “The herb itself contains many nutrients essential to the health of the circulatory system, including alpha-tocopherols, vitamin C, and minerals. Cayenne also contains a high amount of vitamin A (beta-carotene), which aids in healing ulcers . . . cayenne’s high mineral content, including sulphur, iron, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus, makes it an effective treatment for diabetes, gas, arthritis, pancreatic and throat disorders. “One of the most remarkable qualities of cayenne is its ability to act as a catalyst. Cayenne intensifies the beneficial effects of other herbs by ensuring speedy and thorough distribution of the herb’s active components to the important functional centers of the body, such as those responsible for metabolism, data transmission, cellular respiration, and neural hormonal activity.”
This nutritional powder can help improve many health conditions in addition to being a sound nutritional base. However, the addition of some herbs can be beneficial to you in targeting your specific troubles.
- Lack of energy / stamina: Add a few tablespoons of Chia seeds and/or a small amount of Cayenne pepper powder for every tablespoon of the MTA Superfoods.
- Poor circulation (hemorrhoids, varicose veins, cold hands and feet, etc.): Add a teaspoon of Cayenne pepper powder for every tablespoon of the MTA Superfoods. However, remember to start with smaller amounts of the added cayenne (no more than 1/4 teaspoon for starters) and work your way up with regular use.
- Hormonal imbalance: Add a teaspoon of Chaste tree berries powder for every tablespoon of the MTA Superfoods.
- Hypothyroidism: Add a teaspoon of Kelp powder for every tablespoon of the MTA Superfoods.
- Any and all heart conditions / irregular blood pressure: Add a teaspoon of Hawthorne berry powder for every tablespoon of MTA Superfoods. Beware that Hawthorne berries can upset the stomach if taken on a completely empty stomach.
- Inflammation and arthritic conditions: Add a teaspoon of Turmeric root powder and/or Diatomaceous earth for every tablespoon of the MTA Superfoods.
- Damaged hair and/or nails: Add a teaspoon to tablespoon of Diatomaceous earth for every tablespoon of MTA Superfoods.
- High cholesterol: Add a tablespoon of Diatomaceous Earth powder for every tablespoon of the MTA Superfoods.
- Weight loss: Add a teaspoon to a tablespoon of Spirulina powder for every tablespoon of the MTA Superfoods.
Suggestions:
- It’s easy to add this herbal food to your diet. I take 1-2 tablespoons every morning in a glass of grape juice. You could also stir the mix into tea, kombucha, or water, or blend into a smoothie.
- It is best to take this with meals or as a meal substitute.
- Be sure to drink plenty of liquid before and after ingesting the powder.
- It is important not to take this mix within an hour or so of taking Bentonite clay or Activated charcoal powder, because the clay or charcoal will absorb the nutrients in the mix.
- Safe during pregnancy, nursing, and for children.
lindjoy
March 22, 2010 at 4:06 pm reply?
I purchased this, looking for several things... least of which as a long-time
SLE pt, searching for a sound herbal blend without those herbs mixed in that lupus pts really need to avoid if we don't want our systems to kick into overdrive (this is not easy). Also, as a 50+ yr old, I am obviously concerned with hormones and other things, but also have skin care issues that I know are as well-addressed internally as externally (serums, etc). Well, let me tell you, this blend is nothing short of awesome (and I am about as particular as you will find - trust me!). Not only that, my body revolts at just about everything; it
LOVES this! Honestly, I wish that I had taken a close-up picture of my face & hands before I started this blend. I know a little something about herbs, but I have to say that I'm shocked. The sallowness under my eyes is all but gone; enlarged pores are almost gone; I had a few spots on my hands that are almost gone; the swollen belly is almost flat; ankle swelling is gone; I could go on, but this is getting close to an essay, and I don't want to bore you further...
BUT, the thing is,
ALL OF
THIS is in
LESS THAN A
WEEK, people! Do realize that I am a compromised person in a less-than-optimized state, taking many & multiple 'toxic' meds, but still (and even more so), this is crazy amazing. I am
NOT someone who eats badly or lives a 'bad' lifestyle. I'm the juicer-health food-obnoxious whole food person (I don't care/judge what anyone else does, but I can't afford to do that if I want to be half-way well). My take on this blend is that More Than Alive is on to something really
FABULOUS here, so
PLEASE don't take it off...
EVER! Oh, and, it's a tad hot to the taste/throat, but doesn't taste bad so don't hesitate to buy it... it's worth every cent! Thank you & bless you (And, I loved your story & my family are refugees, as well. Thank you for sharing your beautiful & heart warming story.).
