Aloha Dragon's Den family,
Happy Valentines Day from us here at the Dragon's Den Herb Shop.
Don't forget that every day is the perfect day to express love to your dear ones!
Whether you celebrate Valentine's Day or not, we've got lots to love at the Dragon's Den Herb Shop...herbal remedies and heart-healthy supplements, crystals, candles, gifts and plenty more to experience.
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In Love with Beets
There's something about the vibrancy of color found in beets - it's almost as if nature wants us to pay special attention to this magical food.
The rich colors of beet juice slightly resembles our most precious life-giving body fluid, the blood.
Beets are a great food for the heart, mainly due to the valuable nitrates they provide that our bodies convert into Nitric Oxide.
Nitric Oxide relaxes and dilates the arteries, allowing for smooth blood flow in our cardiovascular system.
Many studies have been conducted to research the health-giving benefits of beet juice, such as the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and vascular-protective benefits, as well as it's effects on athlete recovery time and hypertension.
Beets and beet juice are a great healthy option for anyone looking to strengthen their heart and improve athletic performance.
At the Dragon's Den Herb Shop, we have an easy option for those who aren't able to obtain fresh beets or beet juice - Beet Juice Crystals by Flora!
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Red Beet Latte
Ingredients:
1 cup almond milk (coconut works as well)
1/2 tsp. Red Beet Crystals
Sweetener of choice
Options for preparing:
Can be served warm or cold.
For warm, combine all of the ingredients together in a pot over a low flame.
For cold, add all of the ingredients to a high speed blender and blend to combine. Top with extra beet crystals for a pop of color!
Recipe credit: Adeline Waugh at www.florahealth.com
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Craving Cacao?
The chocolate bars you find at the grocery store can be full of sugar and dairy. Give yourself the gift of love and health, skip the sugar-laden treats and opt for this nutritive Shakti Cacao Powder! This versatile Cacao Powder is blended with Ayurvedic herbs like Ashwagandha and Shatavari, as well as digestive spices like ginger, cinnamon and cardamom.
See the video below with Lala Naidu demonstrating how to make a healthy and delicious medicinal Hot Cacao!
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Supplements for the Heart
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." - Benjamin Franklin
There are plenty of things we can do to take care of our hearts: exercise, stress management, eating a rainbow of fruits and vegetables, get adequate sleep and enjoy healthy relationships.
Some supplements that are heart-friendly are listed below:
CoQ10- This essential nutrient is found naturally in the human body, mostly in the heart, liver, kidney, and pancreas. Studies have found that supplementing with CoQ10 might be a helpful adjunct for patients with heart issues thanks to it's powerful antioxidant properties. [1][2]
Magnesium- Magnesium is very crucial to the body for its role in over 300 enzymatic reactions, blood pressure regulation, glycemic control, and lipid peroxidation. Its vital role in the body also affects the cardiovascular system; those with low levels of magnesium have been found to have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease & death.
In this article, Magnesium was studied in how it could possibly benefit hypertension, cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, atherosclerosis, cardiac arrhythmia, and other heart diseases.
Vitamin E- An antioxidant and anti-inflammatory vitamin, Vitamin E is easily consumed via food: nuts, seeds, and high quality oils such as wheat germ oil. A recent study found that taking Vitamin E may help to strengthen the heart muscle post-heart attack.
Hawthorn Berries- These beautiful red berries are well-known in herbalism culture. Hawthorn berries have been studied for their anti-oxidant and hypotensive properties, also for the Nitric Oxide they contain. Dr. Christopher, a well-known herbalist, has this to say about the heart and Hawthorn berries:
"The heart is our life pump, and when it is not properly fed (with wholesome foods) it suffers malfunction (weakness and heart attacks) causing the heart failure condition that is one of the world's greatest killers. The mucusless diet used over a period of time can rebuild a heart to a good strong condition, but if the heart, its valves, and other working parts are in a weakened condition and need quick help we use a great "heart food or tonic" to assist it back to health. This food is the hawthorn berry... This natural drug is claimed to be a curative remedy for organic and functional heart disorders such as dyspnea, rapid and feeble heart action, hypertrophy, valvular insufficiency sufficiency, and heart oppression."
For more on Dr. Christopher on Hawthorne berries, visit herballegacy.com.
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Chinese Medicine for the Heart
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In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Heart is considered "the Emperor" because of its necessary role in pumping and circulating Blood to other organs.
The Heart is the home of the Shen (spirit) and when either are imbalanced, disturbances like insomnia, stress, anxiety, chest pain, and heart palpitations may be present.
On the other hand, an individual with a balanced Heart and Shen can be observed as having a joyful, charismatic, and enthusiastic demeanor.
The Color correlated with the Heart in Traditional Chinese Medicine is Red, and thus red foods and herbs are said to be good for the Heart. (Beets, anyone?)
There are many formulas and Chinese herbs that can benefit the Heart- one of which is Dan Shen Yin Wan - also known as Salvia Teapills.
Dan Shen Yin Wan has several actions in Traditional Chinese Medicine: it is said to unblock Qi, invigorate Blood, move Blood Stasis, and alleviate pain - all of which are helpful actions for a healthy Heart.
To learn more about the Heart in Traditional Chinese Medicine, visit ITMonline, where you can find specific Heart patterns and recommended Heart herbs and formulas.
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Be sure to stop in at The Dragon's Den Herb Shop for natural remedies, gifts, crystals and more!
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