[Latin Name] Andrographis paniculata(Burm.f.)Nees

[Plant Source] Whole herb

[Specification] Andrographolides 10%-98% HPLC

[Appearance] White powder

Plant Part Used: Herb

[Particle size] 80Mesh

[Loss on drying] ≤5.0%

[Heavy Metal] ≤10PPM

[Storage] Store in cool & dry area, keep away from the direct light and heat.

[Shelf life] 24 Months

[Package] Packed in paper-drums and two plastic-bags inside.

[Net weight] 25kgs/drum

[What is Andrographis?]

Andrographis paniculata is a bitter tasting annual plant, referred to as the “King of Bitters.” It has white-purple flowers and it is native to Asia and India where it has been valued for centuries for its numerous medicinal benefits. Over the past decade, andrographis has become popular in America where it is often used alone and in combination with other herbs for a variety of health purposes.

[How does it work?]

According to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the active ingredient in andrographis is andrographolides. Due to the andrographolides, andrographis has potent anti-inflammatory and antimalarial properties. It also has antimicrobial properties, meaning it can help to fight off and prevent infections from harmful microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria and fungi. In addition, andrographis is a powerful antioxidant and it can help to prevent free radical induced damage to your cells and DNA

[Function]

Cold and Flu

Scientists have discovered that andrographis helps to boost the immune system by stimulating the body’s production of antibodies and macrophages, which are large white blood cells that scavenge harmful microorganisms. It is taken for both the prevention and treatment of the common cold, and it is often referred to as Indian echinacea. It might help lessen the severity of cold symptoms such as sleeplessness, fever, nasal drainage and sore throat.

Cancer, Viral Infections and Heart Health

Andrographis may also help to prevent and treat cancer, and preliminary studies done in test tubes found that extracts of andrographis help to treat stomach, skin, prostate and breast cancer. Due to the herb’s antiviral properties, andrographis is used to treat herpes and it is also currently being studied as a treatment for Aids and HIV as well. Andrographis also promotes heart health and can help to prevent the formation of blood clots as well as to dissolve already formed blood clots. In addition, the herb relaxes smooth muscles in the walls of blood vessels and thereby helps to reduce high blood pressure.

Additional Benefits

Andrographis is used to promote gallbladder and digestive health. It also helps to support and strengthen the liver and it is used in combination with other herbs in several Ayurvedic formulations to treat liver disorders. Finally, andrographis extracts taken orally have been found to help neutralize the poisonous effects of snake venom.

Dosage and Precautions

The therapeutic dose of andrographis is 400 mg, twice daily, for up to 10 days. Although andrographis is considered safe in humans, the NYU Langone Medical Center warns that animal studies suggest that it may impair fertility. Andrographis may cause unwanted side effects such as headaches, fatigue, allergic reactions, nausea, diarrhea, altered taste and pain in the lymph nodes. It may also interact with certain medications and as with any supplement you should consult your health care practitioner before taking the herb.

Snack Episode:
www.cookinggurutv.com

Trail Mix Recipe:

1 cup of unsalted raw pecans (broken into smaller pieces)
¼ cup of unsalted raw or toasted pumpkin seeds
2 slices dried pineapple hand torn
1 cup of raw and unsalted cashews
¼ cup of raisins
¼ cup of dark chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 400 and place Pecans on cookie sheet.
Roast (if you purchased the raw kind) Pumpkin seeds for 3-5 minutes. When cooking both Pecans and Pumpkin Seeds at the same time, rotate pan for even roasting or place them on the same cookie sheet. Check on them after a few minutes and be careful not to burn.
While nuts and seeds are roasting in oven, place all other ingredients in a separate bowl and mix well with hands.
When done, put hot Pecans and Pumpkin Seeds from cookie sheet iinto the bowl with other ingredients and mix up well to spread chocolate throughout the mix. Be prepared for chocolate covered hands.
Place bowl in refrigerator so chocolate hardens. Check after 15 minutes or so to see if bowl is chilled and if trail mix creates a cluster.
Store in a plastic container (at room temperature) or zip loc baggy.

Guru Tips:
To shorten process, wait about 5 minutes or so till nuts and seeds are cool and add to the rest of the trail mix ingredients.
To save time, buy toasted, unsalted pecans and pumpkin seed (if available).
This Trail mix can last you all week and great for sharing and eating for a pre and post workout boast.
Replace any of the above ingredients with golden raisins, toasted unsalted almonds, peanuts, chocolate covered Espresso Beans (more energy boast) or chocolate covered almonds.

Smoothie:

⅓ cup of vanilla non-fat yogurt,
2/3 cup of vanilla non-fat frozen yogurt
3-4 big strawberries,
3 chunks of mango (1″ long slice)
⅛ cup of blueberries fresh or frozen
¼ of cup of unsweetened Almond Milk
1 TB of Coconut Water
½ tsp of honey

Place all items in blender and mix till smooth and desired consistency.

Guru Tips:
Can replace plain unsweetened Almond Milk for Vanilla unsweetened Almond Milk
Use soft over riped mangos
try papaya instead of mangos
try ½ large bananas or 1 small banana instead of mangos
Can use low fat version of Vanilla Yogurt
Add protein (whey) powder for a protein boost for post workout
Mix and Match favorite fruit
No need to add ice…this drink will be plenty refreshing and cold
Don’t use orange juice…creates a weird taste
Use leftover Coconut water as a natural way to hydrate instead of Sugary Power drinks
serves 1-2

10 Reasons Why You Should Be Eating More Tomatoes

There is more to eating Florida tomatoes than good taste, they are great for your health! 10 good reasons to eat more! Tomatoes are full of health enhancing properties, read on to discover how the humble tomato can improve your health.

Tomatoes are loaded with many, many health benefits. In fact, they are incredibly versatile and can be prepared in a seemingly endless number of dishes, as well as being great to eat alone. Keep reading to find out why you need to stop neglecting tomatoes as a part of your regular balanced diet.

10 Health Benefits from Eating Tomatoes

1. Tomatoes are good for your skin.

Tomatoes contain a high level of lycopene, which is a substance that is used in some of the more pricy facial cleansers that are available for purchase over-the-counter.
If you want to try tomatoes for skin care, you need to start with about eight to twelve tomatoes. Peel the tomatoes and then place the skin on your face with inside of the tomato touching your skin.
Leave the tomatoes on your face for a minimum of ten minutes, then wash. Your face will feel clean and shiny. Some redness may occur, but should fade with time.

2. Tomatoes help prevent several types of cancer.

A number of studies have been conducted that indicate that the high levels of lycopene in tomatoes works to reduce your chances of developing prostate, colorectal and stomach cancer.
Lycopene is a natural antioxidant that works effectively to slow the growth of cancerous cells. Cooked tomatoes produce even more lycopene, so go ahead and cook up a batch of your mom’s famous tomato soup.

3. Tomatoes help maintain strong bones.

Tomatoes contain a considerable amount of calcium and Vitamin K. Both of these nutrients are essential in strengthening and performing minor repairs on the bones as well as the bone tissue.

4. Tomatoes help repair damage caused by smoking.

No, eating tomatoes is not the most recent fad to help you quit smoking. However, tomatoes can reduce the amount of damaged done to your body by smoking cigarettes.
Tomatoes contain coumaric acid and chlorogenic acid that work to protect the body from carcinogens that are produced from cigarette smoke.

5. Tomatoes provide essential antioxidants.

Tomatoes contain a great deal of Vitamin A and Vitamin C. This is primarily because these vitamins and beta-carotene work as antioxidants to neutralize harmful free radicals in the blood.
Free radicals in the blood stream are dangerous because it may lead to cell damage. Remember, the redder the tomato you eat is, the more beta-carotene it contains. In addition, you also want to keep in mind that cooking destroys the Vitamin C, so for these benefits, the tomatoes need to be eaten raw.

6. Tomatoes are good for your heart.

Because of the Vitamin B and potassium in tomatoes, they are effective in reducing cholesterol levels and lowering blood pressure. Therefore, by including tomatoes in your regular balanced diet you can effectively prevent heart attacks, strokes as well as many other heart related problems that may threaten your life.

7. Tomatoes are good for your hair.

The Vitamin A in tomatoes works perfectly to keep your hair shiny and strong. In addition, it also does wonders for your eyes, skin, bones and teeth.

8. Tomatoes are good for your kidneys.

Adding tomatoes without seeds to your diet has been proven in some studies to reduce the risk of kidney stones.

9. Tomatoes are good for your eyes.

The Vitamin A found in tomatoes is fantastic for improving your vision. In addition, eating tomatoes is one of the best foods to eat to prevent the development of night blindness.

Tomatoes are packed full of the valuable mineral known as chromium. It works effectively to help diabetics keep their blood sugar levels under better control.