My old teacher use to say thats its not what you eat, its what you absorb!. He instructed us that clear circulatory pathways, (or CCP for short) was so important, that if we wrote it anywhere on an exam paper he would give us a few marks.
He told us that he took 1/2 tsp of cayenne pepper everyday day in a glass of milk, before going to bed for his circulation.
He was a very interesting man who promoted under water swimming to clear your lymphatic system, and build lung capacity. He was always proud to boast that he could hold his breath so long, that on three separate occasions lifeguards had jumped into swimming pools to rescue him.
The human body has hundreds of thousands of kilometres of blood vessels, and most of us do not do enough exercise daily to keep these blood vessels clean and flowing. There is however, one certain food that stands alone to boost our circulation.
Mexicans know the secret
Nowhere in the world is chilli consumed to the extent that it is in Mexico, it may be one of the greatest contributing factors to their supreme health and longevity.
Chilli is sprinkled on all fruits, including oranges, apples, mangoes and melons. It is added to almost every cooked food, and often in such vast amounts that would leave the average westerner gasping for water and air.
Although it has such extreme effects when consumed it is also very soothing and beneficial to the gastro-intestinal tract. It stimulates circulation, helps digestion by increasing the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. It increases enzyme production, and is amazing in helping to alleviate symptoms of constipation such as haemorrhoids.
It is high in Vitamin C and phytochemicals (anti-cancer compounds) and above all a powerhouse of antioxidants. It also helps to quench the free radical fire caused by living an inactive lifestyle subsisting on too many processed foods.
The old wives tale of 1/2 tsp of chilli placed under the tongue to help pull someone out of a stroke or heart attack makes you realise, consuming chilli is literally a jump start to your circulatory system.
A very easy way to add chilli into your diet is by simply adding a sprinkle of cayenne powder to coffee, hot chocolate or juices.
It gives you quite a kick.
A word of caution, start slowly. Chilli's are very hot and the bowels may take a little adjusting initially, if you know what I mean.
For any clients that have a sluggish digestive system, I often get them to include a little ginger with their meals, or a very small ginger tea. (Remember not to drink too much liquid with a meal as this dilutes the digestive enzymes)
This works perfectly for children who tend to get a little congested and on many occasions when looking after a sick child I have found it returns rosy cheeks from the pale white but a key is to sip very slowly.
My name is Blair Harvey and I have had the pleasure of working at one of Australia's best Health Retreat's for the past fourteen wonderful years. Over those years I have had the delight of working with a spectacular kitchen team, we all have an immense passion for cooking good healthy food that is unique and tantalizing to your taste buds. Together we have not only developed our skills in cooking wholesome, nourishing and out right delicious foods, but we have been committed to broadening our knowledge of healing with whole foods and exploring the beauty of healthy living. Because of our enthusiasm in the benefits of foods and there healing properties I developed a blog to help us SHARE what we have learnt with the rest of the world.
You will find tasty gems of wisdom on health, food and healing, helping to expand your mind and revitalize your knowledge of healthy eating.