Sunday, August 2, 2015

Cucumber/Honey/Ginger/Raisins/Aloe- FACTS


Cucumber/Honey/Ginger/Raisins/Aloe- FACTS

The great scholar Ibn al-Qayyim mentioned the health benefits of cucumbers. He quoted the Prophetic Hadith relating that the Messenger of Allah (Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam) used to eat qiththa (cucumber) with rutab (fresh dates). [Tirmidhi At'ima 37] Ibn al-Qayyim said the cucumber has the followin
g health benefits:

• Quenches thirst • Calms an inflamed stomach • Beneficial for pains of the bladder • Its seeds are diuretic He also said that cucumbers should be eaten with something like dates, raisins or honey, as these will rectify its negative effects on the stomach.

 Cucumber Facts Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus) belong to the same family as watermelon, zucchini, pumpkin, and other types of squash. There are main two varieties of cucumber; those that are grown to be eaten fresh (slicing cucumbers), and those that are cultivated to make pickles, such as gherkins. The flesh of the cucumber is composed of about 95% of water, but it also contains Vitamin C and caffeic acid, which is a naturally occurring compound shown to be a cancer inhibitor. The skin of the cucumber is rich in fiber and contains a variety of beneficial minerals including silica, potassium and magnesium.
 
The silica in cucumber is an essential component of healthy connective tissue, which includes muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and bone. The high water content of cucumber makes it naturally hydrating, and cucumbers are commonly used for various types of skin problems, including swelling under the eyes and sunburn. 
 
 
 The two compounds present in cucumbers; ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) and caffeic acid, prevent water retention, which may explain why cucumbers applied topically are often helpful for swollen eyes, burns and dermatitis. People who took part in the study DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), found that adding foods high in potassium, magnesium and fiber, such as cucumbers, reduced high blood pressure to healthier levels.

 Tips on Using Cucumbers • Choose cucumbers that are firm, rounded at the edges and that are a bright to dark green color. • Thinner cucumbers will generally have less seeds than those that are thicker. • Cucumbers should be stored in the refrigerator where they will keep for several days.

 Many cucumbers have a waxed skin, and this should be peeled before eating so as not to consume the harmful chemicals present in the wax. Better still; try to purchase cucumbers with an unwaxed skin, so that the nutrient-rich skin can also be eaten=
Honey Honey is a sweet and sticky fluid produced by honey bees from the nectar of flowers and plants. Its colour, flavour, thickness and aroma vary depending on the flower or plant from which the bees gather the nectar. Bees ingest the nectar they collect into their ‘honey stomach’, the nectar is regurgitated and dehydrated repeatedly until it reaches the desired quality at which stage it is placed by the honey bee into a honeycomb cell where it gradually converts into honey. Evidence from Qur’aan and Sunnah In the Qur’aan, Allah informs us about the honey of honey bees, that their honey varies in colour and that it is a healing for mankind. He the Most High said:
 “There comes forth from their bellies, a drink of varying colour wherein is healing for men. Verily, in yhis is indeed a sign for people who think. [16:69]
 He, the Most High, also mentions honey in the Qur’aan as one of the foods of paradise: 
“The description of Paradise which the Muttaqûn (pious) have been promised is that In it are rivers of water the taste and smell of which are not changed; rivers of milk of which the taste never changes; rivers of wine delicious to those who drink; and rivers of clarified honey (clear and pure)...” [47:15]

Medical uses Honey has been used throughout centuries by many nations. The ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Chinese, Assyrians and Romans used it in healing and as food. It is a natural antiseptic which prevents infection and is an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agent. Its properties make it far superior than most of the antibiotics prescribed today. Honey is a food, a drink, a sweet, a remedy a type of refreshment and an ointment and that there is no substance that is more beneficial. Since the medical uses of honey are many for the purpose of brevity we will only mention some of the maladies it is most commonly used for.
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Raisins Aid Digestion, Are Good For the Memory and Have Many Other Health Benefits The scholar Ibn al-Qayyim in his work "The Prophetic Medicine" described raisins as dried sweet grapes. He said that the best raisins were large-bodied, plump, thin skinned. Some of the health benefits he mentioned about raisins were found in the flesh of the fruit. He said that they could be beneficial for the trachea, chest, lungs, and kidney and bladder pains. Other benefits he mentioned were:

• Strengthening the stomach • Aiding digestion • Promoting bowel movement • Good for the memory
In summary, Ibn al-Qayyim said that raisins provided sound nourishment and the best type were seedless. What Are raisins?

 Raisins are dried grapes and consist of 70% pure fructose and contain fiber, antioxidants, iron, potassium, and calcium. Raisins are also packed with phytonutrients and are a source of the trace mineral, boron. 
 
 When the grapes are converted to raisins, they lose some of their beneficial phenols through the grape-drying process, but grapes seem to be least affected by this process compared to other dried fruit such as apricots and prunes. Some of the health benefits of raisins include: bone health Boron is a mineral critical to bone health and osteoporosis. It is required to convert estrogen and vitamin D into their most active forms. Studies have shown that boron provides protection against osteoporosis and can reproduce the positive effects of estrogen in postmenopausal women. Raisins are among the top foods that contribute to dietary boron.

 Macular Degeneration A study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology found that eating fruit daily, including dried fruit, could lower the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration. This disease is the primary cause of vision loss in older adults. Tips on Eating Raisins To prolong the shelf life of raisins and to prevent them from becoming dried out, they can be stored in the refrigerator.

 Raisins will be the most fresh if consumed within six months. Commercially grown dried raisins and other dried fruit may be treated with sulfur dioxide or other sulfur-containing compounds as preservatives to help prevent oxidation, bleaching of colors and to extend their shelf life. Sulfur dioxide itself is poisonous when inhaled, and although sulfur dioxide fumes aren't inhaled when eating dried fruits treated with the gas, the residues left on the fruit alter its nutritional value and can have adverse effects the body. It is therefore advisable to check labeling when buying all dried fruit and avoid sulfite-preserved food.

ALOE VERA (SABILA)
"Aloe is very beneficial, especially Indian variety; it cleanses the bilious superfluities in the brain and the optic nerves; when applied as ointment on the forehead and temples with rose water, it is beneficial for headache. It is beneficial for ulcers of the nose and mouth, and purges black bile and melancholy. Persian aloe sharpens the intellect, strengthens the heart and cleanses the bilious and phlegmatic superfluities from the stomach, when two spoonfuls are drunk in water. It restores the jaded and spoilt appetite. When drunk in the cold, there is fear lest it purge blood.

" What Is aloe? Aloe is a family of flowering plants in the Lily family, which have thick, juicy flesh stalks. Aloe can also refer to the sappy liquid that the plant excretes when its stalks are cut open.

 The aloe plant is made up of water, 20 minerals, 12 vitamins, 18 amino acids and 200 active plant compounds (phytonutrients). aloe vera is a species of aloe and is the most commonly used type of the plant for healing purposes. It is known as a powerful healing ointment, and many studies have shown that aloe is beneficial in speeding the healing of burns, sunburns, cuts, bites, rashes, and lesions, as well as other conditions like indigestion.

 The anti-inflammatory chemical, B-sitosterol is present in aloe vera, and this is what effectively treats many skin conditions arising from insect bites, plant rashes, allergic eruptions, etc. Along with another ingredient, salicylic acid, aloe greatly reduces the time it takes for skin to heal from minor or severe burns. Health Benefits of Aloe The internal use of aloe vera has been linked with improved blood glucose levels in diabetics. Other studies have suggested that oral aloe vera gel may reduce symptoms and inflammation in patients with ulcerative colitis. Compounds extracted from aloe vera have been used as an immunostimulant that aids in fighting cancers in cats and dogs; however, this treatment has not been scientifically tested in humans. Aloe vera extracts have antibacterial and antifungal activities. For example, aloe vera extracts have been shown to inhibit the growth of fungi that cause tinea (fungal infections of the skin), but this has not been proven in humans. For bacteria, inner-leaf gel from aloe vera was shown to inhibit growth of the

Streptococcus and Shigella species of bacteria. Research conducted in Spain showed that a thin layer of aloe vera gel was highly effective in preserving foods. For the experiment, they dipped table grapes into an aloe vera gel, and then stored them at refrigerator temperatures. Untreated table grapes went bad in 7 days, but the grapes dipped in aloe vera stayed fresh for an astonishing 35 days.

Tips on Using Aloe Aloe plants can be grown as house plants and in warmer climates can be cultivated outside in the garden. Pure aloe gel can be purchased to use on sunburns, bee stings, nettle stings, grass rashes, blisters, small cuts, scrapes, and lesions. Since it is a clean, alcohol-free, mild, non-oily, and soothing balm, it is useful to have as a pain-free treatment of every day skin irritations.=====================

Ibn al-Qayyim: Healing Through the Sweet-Scented Plants Myrtle and Basil Ibn al-Qayyim mentioned the health benefits of plants with a sweet scent, in his Prophetic Medicine. He described how two scented plants, myrtle and basil were beneficial for the body. Ibn al-Qayyim said that myrtle had cleansing properties and was beneficial for the head and haemoptysis (coughing up blood). 
He mentioned that the leaves of the myrtle plant could be crushed with vinegar and used to stop a nosebleed, or that the dried leaves when crushed were beneficial for ulcers. He also said the plant could strengthen weak organs and when it was rubbed on the body, it dried out excess moisture and sweat, and dispelled odor from the armpits. Another benefit he mentioned was that it reduced hair loss and darkened the hair. Ibn al-Qayyim said that the sweet-scented basil was beneficial for headaches when inhaled, and that it could help to aid sleep, control diarrhea, calm the stomach, and strengthen the heart. What Is myrtle? Myrtle (Myrtus) is a species of flowering plants, which are usually shrubs or small trees. It has fragrant leaves and essential oil is extracted from them.

Myrtle is usually grown as an ornamental garden shrub, which produces flowers and berry-like fruits in the summer. It can also be clipped to form a hedge. What Is basil? Basil (Ocimum basilicam) is a herb belonging to the mint family (Lamiaceae). There are many varieties of basil, differing in shape, size and color. It is usually grown for culinary purposes. Basil is rich in rosmarinic and caffeic acid, two phenolic compounds with strong antioxidant properties. Other phytochemicals in basil include orientin and vicerin, flavonoids that protect cells from damage, oils such as camphor and 1,8-cineole, that have antibacterial properties, and carotenoids such as Beta-carotene. Health Benefits of Basil Anti-adhesion Basil has been shown to make platelets, a component of red blood cells, less "sticky"- a process that may reduce the chance of blood clots forming. Immune Response A study showed that rats that were given a particular variety of basil, holy basil, had decreases in immune responses to allergens.

Antibacterial Properties Oil of basil has demonstrated strong antibacterial properties, even with antibiotic-resistant types. It has been found particularly effective in killing harmful bacteria found in produce. Tips on Using Basil Choose leaves that are bright green and free from any brown or yellow spots. Fresh basil can be prolonged by placing stems in water on a windowsill. Sprigs should remain fresh for at least a week. When stored in a cool, dark, dry place, dried basil should last for up to six months. Add basil to tomato sauces, stir fries, pasta, etc just before serving.


Onions are Beneficial for Expelling Toxics, Treating Skin Conditions, Eye and Ear Problems Among Other Benefits The scholar Ibn al-Qayyim described some of the health benefits of onions in his great work "The Prophetic medicine." He said that onions were beneficial for expelling toxic odors from the body, cleansing the stomach and improving complexion. He specifically mentioned the benefits of onion seeds for: The treatment of leukoderma (a chronic skin disease that causes loss of pigment, resulting in irregular pale patches of skin); 
 
Effective against alopecia when applied as an ointment; Mixing onion seeds with honey and using as a kohl for the treatment of leucoma (an eye disease consisting of an opaque white spot on the cornea). Ibn-al Qayyim also mentioned applying onion juice in the ear to treat ear and hearing problems. He said that cooked onion was beneficial for jaundice and a cough. One of the drawbacks he mentioned of eating raw onion was that it can cause bad breath, but these effects could be eliminated by cooking the onion. What Are onions? Onions are a member of the lily family and there are two basic types: Bulb-forming: these are the onions commonly used in cooking, and consist of many varieties including white, yellow and Spanish onions. Perennial: these are clusters of onions that can be replanted to produce another crop of onions.

Onions contain quercetin, a powerful flavonoid antioxidant. Onions are an excellent source of fiber, Vitamin C and folate. Phytochemicals found in onions, particularly allyl sulfides, appear to reduce the risk of some cancers. Some of the health benefits of onions found in recent studies include: Cancer: Yellow onions were found to contain the third highest level of phenolic (a type of antioxidant), of all vegetables in an American study, and were fourth highest in anticancer-growth activity. Lung Cancer: onions are rich in the phytochemical quercetin, and a study showed the beneficial effects this has on lung cancer; people who increased their onion consumption decreased their risk of developing lung cancer.

Colon and Liver Cancer: researchers at Cornell University found that stronger-tasting onions were more effective at inhibiting the growth of liver and colon cancer cells than milder-tasting onions. Heart Health: Allyl sulfides, found in onions, decrease the tendency of blood clots to form, which can significantly lower LDL cholesterol levels. A study of Japanese women found that those with the highest onion intake had the lowest LDL cholesterol. Another study, conducted at the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that stronger-tasting and stronger-smelling onions made blood platelets less sticky, therefore reducing the risk of atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, heart attack and stroke. Tip on Using Onions Avoid onions that are soft, whose skin is wet, or that are sprouting. 
 
 Onions do not have to be eaten raw to obtain maximum health benefits; quercetin is relatively stable while being cooked so retains its powerful effects. Cooking onions gives them a sweeter taste, and prolonged heat causes the sugars to brown the onion, known as caramelizing. Slicing an onion causes its cell walls to tear, which releases a sulfur compound called propanethial S-oxide, and this can cause eye irritation. This effect can be reduced by placing the onion in the refrigerator an hour before cutting. Cutting an onion under running water can also reduce irritation to the eyes.

The function of mountains: “He cast firmly embedded mountains on the earth so that it would not move under you and rivers and pathways so that hopefully you will be guided.” (Qur’an, 31:10)
 
 “Have We not made the earth as a bed and the mountains its pegs” (Qur’an, 78:6-7)

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