The passion fruit is round to oval, yellow or dark purple, soft to firm, juicy interior filled with numerous mucilaginous seeds! Which you either love or hate! The different types of passion fruits have various exterior appearances. Maracuya has an absolutely wonderful aroma with a tart, slightly bitter sweet taste.
The yellow maracuya is a rich source of minerals like magnesium, vitamin C and beta- carotene which is converted into vitamin A, as and when the body requires it. This vitamin is essential for good vision, good skin, hair, and mucous membranes especially the lungs, healthy bones, and for the proper functioning of the immune system. So if you frequently get lung infections you should be eating a lot of beta-carotene rich foods. Vitamin C is involved in the formation of collagen, bone and teeth, red blood cells and enhances the absorption of iron from food, plus it enhances our resistance to infections. . Rich in antioxidants, plus magnesium – so many people do not get enough magnesium, adequate amounts are needed for good functioning bowel, nerves and muscles, plus for calcium to be utilized correctly the body need enough magnesium, it improves our immune systems and has a mild laxative effect.
Therapeutically – the flowers, leaves, and stems of the passionflower (passiflora) plant are used for medicinal purposes in many countries. In South America it is commonly used to calm hyperactive children. In Brazil it is used to treat coughs and bronchitis, urinary tract infections, antispasmodic, sedative and to stabilize the heart. In Italy, a combination of passion flower, belladonna, and lobelia is used to treat asthma. In Poland, a proprietary drug for treating excitability and highly stung conditions contains an extract of passion flower. It also contains naturally occurring serotonin (our happy chemical) plus a chemical called maltol which has a sedative effect, reducing the affects of stress. In addition, a flavonoid named chrysin has been shown to have significant anti-anxiety properties. Also helps to relieve pain in a very mild way.
Germany leads the way in modern herbalism in Europe today, they have an enviable system – generally herbs are prescribed before the stronger pharmaceutical drugs are. They are also leading the way in modern research into the actions and effectiveness of phyto-compounds (plant chemicals). During the early twentieth century, Germany included this herb into many over-the-counter sedatives and sleep aids. Today, professional herbalists use passionflower (often in combination with other calming herbs) to help treat insomnia, tension, and other health problems related to anxiety and nervousness. In Europe the herb has been used for over a hundred years for many conditions. In 1978, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned these preparations! Passion flower appears to be completely nontoxic, and has now been approved for use by the FDA. However, do not take more than is recommended at anyone time.

It contains certain alkaloids (phyto-chemicals) that help to lower blood pressure, having a sedative and antispasmodic action. It has been used in the treatment of bronchial asthma, insomnia, nervous gastrointestinal disorders and menopausal problems. Very early research indicated that an extract of passion plant was effective against the uncomfortable symptoms of the menopause. It is extremely helpful if you experience restless nights, the herb has shown no side-effects, and appears to induce a normal peaceful sleep pattern. Observations in the morning are consistent – there seems to be a completely normal functioning of the body and mind, in contrast with the effects usually experienced with sleeping pills.
In a nut shell it relieves pain, reduces anxiety, relieves mild depression, diuretic (helps with fluid retention), reduces inflammation, lowers blood pressure, expels worms, reduces spasms, or cramps, calms nerves, mild sedative.
Passionflower may also relieve anxiety in people who are recovering from heroin addiction. In a recent study including 65 heroin addicts, those who received passionflower in addition to a standard detoxification medication experienced significantly fewer feelings of anxiety than those who received the medication alone. It would help with any addition like nicotine. Passionflower preparations are made from fresh or dried flowers and other above-ground parts of the plant. Both whole and cut raw plant materials are used. Flowering shoots, growing 10 to 15 cm above the ground, are harvested after the first fruits have matured and then either air-dried or hay-dried. For an infusion of tea for adults = I teaspoon of the dried herb in a mug of boiled water, steep for 5 to 10 minutes. Drink one mug full three times a day, maximum.
The fruit can be cut in half and the content eaten with a teaspoon or scoop out the center and place into sieve and squeeze though the juice from the seeds, add the juice to your salad dressing, wonderful flavor and aroma to any salad.
Final word of caution – If you are on pharmaceutical medication such as anti-depressants, sleeping pills, pain-killers, any sedative or anti-histamines etc do not take passiflora – leaves or flowers, however eating the fruit is okay. Do not take the plant if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, but the fruit is fine.

Sonia Jones from The Haven Spa and Alternative Treatment Clinic, Boquete, Panama

The common herbs and spices in your kitchen cupboard can help your lung function, allergies, immune system, and inflammation so add more to your cooking.

Turmeric – this is a spice is well know for its use in Indian cooking. The substance found in turmeric called curcumin has anti-inflammatory properties as well as an antioxidant affect. It encourages the production of bile, which will enhance the digestion and absorption of ‘essential fatty acids’, involved in producing the correct balance of prostaglandins. The hormone like substance involved in inflammation and anti-inflammation.

Cinnamon is very good for lack of energy, and for a sluggish digestive system. Has a much milder action then cayenne (chilli) increasing circulation, good for every system in the body, encouraging more oxygen, and nutrients to every cell.

Ginger – has been scientifically validated as an anti-inflammatory. Increases and strengthens a poor circulatory system. It is a general immune tonic. Ginger helps to relieve symptoms of colds and flu, take a warm bath with ginger infusion at the first sign of a cold. It encourages sweating allowing toxins to be released via the pores.

Fenugreek seeds - help lung congestion aiding in bringing up mucus, this is why opera singers use to use it to clear phlegm. It soothes irritated nasal and sinus tissue with a drying effect on the mucus in the nose and throat.

Don’t limit yourself to these four mentioned about add a variety of herbs and spices at every opportunity they will enhance your general health, strengthen your immune system, and well-being.

For salads add fresh herbs like basil, when you see that parsley on your plate eat it. Dried herbs can be added to soups, plan to cook a few more Thai dishes, or ginger in your smoothie. Garlic and onions in general are excellent for the lung function, so add extra when you can.

There are many headlines declaring chocolate is good for you, it is not quite true in the sense a lot of articles don’t clarify what exactly is meant by chocolate. Most people eat chocolate bars and this month there will be plenty of chocolate Easter Eggs to be had.

There is chocolate and there is chocolate and then there is cocoa. In some traditional societies like the Kuna people of Panama, they drink a lot of cocoa, they are considered healthy but they also eat a lot of fruit, vegetables, rice, and fish. Their cocoa beans go though minimum processing, it is not chocolate they are eating or drinking.

The original drink was made by the Aztecs – the drink was prepared by crushing the cocoa beans, they were then boiled in water, plus various spices were added.

Cocoa contains alanine, alkaloids, alpha-sitosterol, aphla-theosterol, amylase, arginine, ascorbic-acid-oxidase, aspariginase, beta-carotene, calcium, dopamine, fructose, glucose, glutamic-acid, leucine, linoleic-acid, lipase, lysine, niacin, peroxidase, phenylacetic-acid, phenylalanine, phosphorus, riboflavin, rutin, tannins, theobromine, thiamin plus so much more.

It is rare to find minimally processed cocoa, you need to look out for the term raw cocoa, the beans have been dried slowly at low temperature to preserve more of the amazing nutritional properties.

The average chocolate that most people eat contains 23% to 29% cocoa

100% cocoa powder 1 tablespoon – plenty for a drink = 20 calories

Chocolate kisses 41 gms this is 9 small pieces =  230 calories

The average chocolate bar does not announce the amount of cocoa it contains you need to read in the small print. Good quality chocolate will often declare on the front of it packaging – 50%, or 60%, or 70%, or 80% , I have even see 90% cocoa chocolate!

For instance a quality 60% cocoa chocolate it is said to contain 40% sugar and of the 60% cocoa (half is cocoa solids and the other half is cocoa butter).

The average chocolate with less than 30% cocoa contains huge amounts of sugar as the first ingredient, and milk solids as the second ingredient (another cheap ingredient).

The phyto-chemicals theobromine and theophylline both found in the cocoa plant, are chemicals that are beening used in modern medicine as anti-asthmatic. So if you are going to eat chocolate for health reasons then only if it is 70% cocoa or more. Other wise you are eating huge amounts of sugar that compromise the immune system.

Sonia Jones ND from The Haven Spa and Alternative Treatment Clinic.

Horseradish

It grows to about 30cm tall, with large shiny tooth-edge leaves and swollen roots. It comes from the same family as mustard and cress and is rich in sulfur.

Horseradish contains a compound called sinigrin, which acts as a decongestant. In Japan it is called wasabi, a green paste made from the dried root.

The taste is hot, similar to mustard. The part that is used is the swollen root.

It’s a stimulating herb with similar properties to cayenne pepper. It can be used like mustard as an external stimulant. Good for slow digestion, urinary infection and lung problems, as well as rheumatism but is especially good for clearing the sinuses and helping breathing problems. It is also antibacterial.

The fresh root can be kept for sometime in the fridge. Or completely cover finely grated fresh horseradish with apple cider vinegar and let it stand for 10 days, strain and store in a cool dark place.Take 1 teasp 2 to3 times a day diluted in a little warm water. To improve digestion, take 30 minutes before meal.

To make a tea – ½ teaspoon of powder or 1teasp of the fresh chopped herb in a cup of boiled water, steep for 5mins and drink 3 times a day or more often in cases of flu.

A small amount of wasabi paste held in the mouth will ease sinus congestion and breathing.

Horseradish is traditionally eaten with roast beef, to improve digestion.