Today’s walk through Mother Earth’s Medicine Cabinet will lead us down a path to check out Pine Pollen. All pine trees produce this magnificent pollen that can be harvested or purchased at a health food store. The pollen is not actually pollen -- it is technically considered to be a form of seed. It isn’t packed with flavor but it has a light nutty taste.
Minerals are an essential part of our diet. Did you know that minerals cannot be made by the body? That’s right, they have to be ingested. Today’s walk through Mother Earth’s Medicine Cabinet will take us down the long road of minerals we need, and what foods we can get them from.
Trace minerals, also known as trace elements or micro-minerals, are minerals we only require in very low doses, whereas our body requires more of the major minerals. Minerals basically serve three functions for our body.
Sorghum is native to Sub-Saharan Africa and was first harvested in the Nile River basin approximately 7000 years ago. It became a crop in India around 3000 B.C.E. and found its way east by way of the Silk Road. It was brought to Rome from India in approximately 60 C.E., then to Spain and finally Europe in the 12th Century. Benjamin Franklin introduced the plant to North America and it eventually became a major crop.
Cassava, manioc, yuca, manihot, tapioca…maybe you’ve seen this long, dense tuber in the [exotic] produce section of your local market. The staple starch goes by the scientific name Manihot esculenta, but its common name differs depending on the region. Native to South America, Africa and parts of Asia, cassava has been a staple carbohydrate in the diets of those living in such sun-drenched, tropical regions. In the U.S., we most commonly find cassava or manioc in the form of tapioca balls, which are made from the pulp of the starchy tuber.
Ever think about how we would get nutrients if we were unable to purchase containers of encapsulated vitamins? Well, from our gardens of course! Before vitamin capsules even existed, we gained our nutrients naturally from fruits, veggies, and herbs grown in the garden. Today, there are gardens that are specifically grown to yield plants just for the sole purpose of providing nutrients for the body.
Amaranth is a seed that has been part of the Aztec diet for more than 8000 years, when the Aztecs would collect the seeds in the wild. They also used the seeds to make flour for baked images of their gods during festivals and for tributary payments. The plant began to be cultivated in Mexico approximately 4000 B.C.E. and continues to be a native Peruvian crop.
I’m sure you’ve heard how important it is to drink enough water. The question is, though, what kind of water should we be drinking? We are becoming chronically dehydrated and contrary to popular belief, the answer isn’t to simply “drink more water.” In order to get your body hydrated, you need to start thinking quality over quantity.
Black beans are a species of the common bean and are native to areas in Central and South America. They were brought to Europe in the 15th century and became a major crop in India and China. Today, they are a staple in many international cuisines. Black beans are rich in nutrients and are used to prevent many diseases. Ayurveda uses black beans to regulate Pitta and Kapha doshas and recommends they be avoided by those with Vata dosha.
Although conventional electrolyte drinks, otherwise known as sports drinks, seem innocent enough, their ingredients are not. Most of them contain a lot of unnecessary chemicals like food coloring, artificial flavors, and processed sugars. The main purpose of electrolyte dinks is hydration, replenishing electrolytes, and energizing the body. These drinks are great to have with you during sweaty workouts.
The production of molasses was developed in India in approximately 500 B.C.E. Arab invaders brought the product to Spain, and a century later it came to the West Indies with Christopher Columbus. The British began cultivating sugar cane in Barbados in 1646, and by the end of the century molasses was a commodity. It is not clear when blackstrap molasses was first used for human consumption.