The Vegan Lifestyle

More people are becoming aware of the importance of antioxidants and their health benefits for the body. Beauty products such as creams, and anti-aging medications are mixed with antioxidants. Antioxidants are good for cell and tissue rejuvenation, and are good to reverse premature aging.

Antioxidants are molecules that slow down and prevent the oxidation of other molecules in the body. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that transfers an electron from a substance to an oxidizing agent. This chemical reaction produces free radicals which start a chain reaction that can cause cellular damage. Antioxidants stop this chain reaction by removing the free radical intermediates and prevent other oxidation reactions by being oxidized themselves.

Free radicals produced during oxidation are not good for the body. They not only damage the cells but accelerate the process of aging too. Saturated fats in the diet, cigarette smoke, heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium and lead; hydrogen peroxide, ozone, nitrous oxide from car exhaust, ultraviolet rays, cosmic rays, medical x-rays, and other toxic chemicals in food, water and air are free radicals that should be avoided.

Certain vitamins, enzymes, and minerals such as vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium and zinc are powerful antioxidants. Other antioxidants are the alpha and the beta carotenes, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin, flavonoids, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B6, coenzyme Q10, cysteine, silymarin, and pycnogenol.  These antioxidants are found in herbs such as turmeric, bilberry, burdock, garlic, gingko biloba, and in extracts such as those in grape seed and pine bark.

There are also substances made in the body that fight free radicals. These are glutathione, melatonin  and several others. Low levels of antioxidants in the body can cause oxidative stress which may be a precursor of so many diseases. Antioxidants are now widely used as ingredients in most dietary supplements to treat diseases such cancer and coronary heart diseases.

Gotu kola is now becoming more popular, and its health benefits are well known throughout the world. With the health trend now on herbal and other natural medicines, most people have known the therapeutic value and health benefits of gotu kola.

Gotu kola is a medicinal herb that thrives in India, China, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Indonesia, and other tropical countries. This herb, also known as “centella asiatica”, thrives well in places with good water supply and much sunlight.

Gotu kola is rich in vitamins A, B, E, and K. It also contains magnesium which is crucial to many body functions such as energy production, protein formation, and cellular replication.

Gotu kola is called “Brahmi” in Sanskrit, which means “wisdom” or “consciousness”.  This herb is very good in boosting memory and intelligence because it increases blood circulation and oxygen supply to the brain. Gotu kola re-vitalizes the brain and the nervous system, increases attention span, and improves concentration. It is also used to treat depression and anxiety.

Gotu kola is a good nerve tonic. Like gingko biloba and lecithin, gotu kola dissolves and unclogs the cholesterol in blood vessels, thus improving blood circulation in the body, and supplying more oxygen to the brain for good memory and intelligence.

This cholesterol-dissolving property of gotu kola makes it good for the treatment of varicose veins and venous insufficiency. This also makes gotu kola as a good herb for lowering high blood pressure.

Gotu kola is good in the treatment of wounds, and for acetic acid- induced gastric ulcers. It is also good for the treatment of skin rashes, itching, redness, thick skin, and other skin diseases such as psoriasis and leprosy.

Gotu kola has powerful antioxidant properties. It increases the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. This herb is called  “miracle elixir of life” because of its anti-aging and rejuvenating properties that promote youthfulness and longevity. A legend is told of Chinese herbalists who lived up to more than 200 years because of their taking raw gotu kola.

Gotu kola neutralizes blood acids and cools  the blood, making it good for fevers and inflammations. It is a blood purifier, and is good for heart and liver functions. Gotu kola is used to treat rheumatism, blood diseases, connective tissue disorders, schizophrenia, kidney stones, and poor appetite.

Gotu kola has anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties. It is used to treat syphilis, hepatitis, diarrhea, epilepsy, asthma, mental fatigue, and insomnia.

Gotu kola has many health benefits. Some herbalist used it to treat Alzheimer’s disease. Most adults eat the raw leaves of gotu kola daily to prevent dementia and other memory-related problems due to old age.