Water does the body good

By Erin Ernest

As you begin to age, you may start to notice dryness to your skin, bags under your eyes, difficulty concentrating, and headaches creeping up when you don’t get enough of it.  You see Americans crazed by health and fitness who carry around big jugs of it, making sure they get the daily required dosage into their body. After the New Year, you might see your coworker switching out their daily afternoon coffee or soda for it. We are talking about water, which could arguably be the most essential part of any living being’s diet.  

Water comprises about 75% body weight in infants and 55% in the elderly; it is essential for cellular homeostasis and life. According to a study by The National Center for Biotechnology Information, humans can survive only four days without it.

 

The benefits of staying hydrated

Drinking plenty of water can aid your body in functioning at its highest capacity.  Here are a few things that staying properly hydrated can do for your body.

It can improve physical activity

During exercise, your body uses a great deal of water.  If you drink enough water before, during and after a workout, studies have found that it will reduce fatigue, improve endurance and lower your maximum heart rate.  

It will help you lose weight

Increasing your water intake can help you if you are struggling with the “battle of the bulge.” Many studies show that people who are on diets achieve better results when they also increase their water intake.

It is a natural mood booster

People who drink more water tend to be happier!  One study found that when people who regularly drank less than 1.2 liters of water per day doubled their intake to 2.5 liters, the participants experienced significantly less confusion, fatigue and sleepiness. On the other hand, for people who regularly drank two or more liters per day, and were then restricted to one liter per day, found negative effects to the lower intake, including decreased contentedness, calmness and positive emotions.  

It boosts your brain power

Are you having difficulty concentrating? Pour yourself a nice, tall glass of ice cold H20.  Studies suggest that even mild dehydration can impair cognitive function in the short-term. Alternatively, many studies show the correlation between the proper level of hydration and performing better during cognitive tasks.

It prevents headaches

Do you ever wake up in the morning with a pounding headache after a night of imbibing your favorite drink? Water deprivation is to blame, as dehydration is one of the most common causes of headaches.  Even if you don’t overindulge in alcohol, studies have found that drinking enough water can prevent headaches, especially migraines.

It protects against diseases and other health problems

Drinking more water is an easy way to increase your overall health and wellness.  Drinking enough water is a small choice and studies have found that can become a tool to protect yourself from heart disease, constipation, urinary infections, kidney stones and asthma. It may even help fend off some cancers.

Are you drinking enough?

Living in a developed nation with ample clean drinking water available, one would expect that the average American’s water intake is on par with the daily recommendations, but that isn’t the case.  According to a study by the Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health, 50% of U.S children and teenagers do not drink enough water daily. The problem doesn’t vanish once adulthood sets in either. The National Hydration Council states that one in ten consultations for chronic fatigue can be attributed to dehydration.

 

It may seem as though the solution is simple: drink more water.  But with so many differing opinions on the subject—from the best sources to get it from to how much you actually need to consume—it’s still difficult to know whether or not you are providing your body with the water it needs to function best.

 

Most articles indicate that eight glasses a day seems to be the magic number; however, this may be a myth that was founded by a 1945 study by the Food and Nutrition Board, for which rigorous proof is lacking. A more recent study conducted in 2008 by the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology further demonstrated no significant health benefit of sticking to the 8 x 8 rule (8 8-ounce glasses per day). It also needs to be taken into account that everyone’s needs are different due to climate, level of activity, age, temperature and intake of other beverages, so it’s impossible to come up with a concrete rule of how much we should drink.  

 

A study by The National Academy of Sciences also notes that 22% of water intake of the average American comes through the consumption of food, which means that perhaps we don’t need to drink as much as we think we do.  Water-based foods like broth and certain fruits and vegetables can greatly contribute towards one’s daily water intake.

 

Determine your proper hydration

 

How can you know exactly how much water you should drink? The Institute of Medicine provides us with a rough guideline of 91 ounces per day for an adult women and 125 ounces for an adult man.

 

The Institute also states that prolonged physical activity and heat exposure will increase water losses and raise your daily fluid needs.  Reports vary greatly on how much athletes and those who regularly exercise should drink, as every individual has different needs and temperature and conditions play a large role in what this number should be. The American Council on Exercise recommends this basic guideline for drinking water before, during and after exercise.  

 

  • Drink 17 to 20 ounces of water two to three hours before you start your workout.
  • Drink eight ounces of water 20-30 minutes before you start exercise or during your warm-up.
  • Drink seven to ten ounces of water every 10-20 minutes during your workout.
  • Drink eight ounces of water no more than 30 minutes after you finish.

Knowing the benefits of drinking water and also having a general guideline for how much should consume, it is clear that simply making a decision to drink more water can benefit your health in a variety of ways.    

Tips for being better hydrated

If you have difficulty drinking regular water, you can add cucumbers, mint or lemons to kick it up a notch.  It’s also recommended to drink a glass before each meal to fend off overeating and help your body know when it is full so you don’t overindulge.

Jahmu is a great tasting way to stay hydrated. Simply add a teaspoon to hot or cold water and drink away!

Happy hydration!

Ceylon Cinnamon: Not Your Average Spice

By Vera Remes

There are several varieties of cinnamon, but are not all created equal. Ceylon cinnamon, or Cinnamomum zeylanicum (CZ), is the most precious among them. Made from the inner bark of the Cinnamomum tree, Cinnamon has been used as a medicinal ingredient throughout history, dating back as far as Ancient Egypt. Ceylon cinnamon ensures health benefits without ingesting significant amounts of a compound called coumarin, which is believed to be harmful in large doses. Coumarin is contained in the common Cassia variety of cinnamon, but not in Ceylon cinnamon.

Ceylon (CZ) or Cassia?

You can tell the difference between Ceylon (CZ) and Cassia by sight, smell, taste and feel.

Ceylon (CZ) cinnamon

CZ is fragile, easily broken, soft and crumbly and tan in color. CZ’s thin and paper-like textured bark forms multiple layers when rolled up. It has a delicate, sweet taste with subtle notes of clove, creating a flavor profile appropriate for pastries, cakes, desserts, and of course teas and coffees. CZ originates from Sri Lanka and is used in most parts of Europe. CZ is also the cinnamon used in Jahmu.

Cassia and Saigon cinnamons

Cassia cinnamon, as well as Saigon cinnamon, is primarily sourced from China and sold in hard, reddish brown rolls.  Both contain a high level of coumarin content, which can be harmful for the liver and kidney when consumed  regularly. The pungent, full-bodied taste of Cassia and Saigon make these cinnamons suitable for Chinese braised meat recipes.

Coumarin is found in all cinnamon, and can be harmful for the liver and kidney when consumed regularly. The main difference between the CZ (Ceylon) and other types of cinnamon is that CZ has a much lower level of coumarin. Otherwise, the chemical composition of all cinnamons are similar enough to be able to discuss the benefits of this powerfully beneficial spice, regardless of the variety used.

The benefits of cinnamon

Traditional medicine already acknowledges the use of cinnamon for respiratory, digestive and gynecological ailments, but a review of recent studies disclose other benefits:

  • Anti-microbial and anti-parasitic activity
  • Lowering of blood glucose, blood pressure and serum cholesterol
  • Antioxidant and free-radical scavenging properties
  • Inhibition of the hallmarks for Alzheimer’s disease and helps to inhibit bone loss and promote bone healing
  • Anti-secretagogue (a substance that inhibits secretion) and anti-gastric ulcer effects
  • It improves anti-inflammatory activity
  • Wound healing properties
  • Liver protective properties

The studies reported minimal toxic and adverse effects.

Cinnamon may help also fight the HIV virus. HIV is a virus that slowly breaks down the immune system and, if left untreated, can eventually lead to AIDS. Cinnamon extracted from Cassia varieties is thought to help fight against HIV-1, the most common strain of the HIV virus in humans.  A laboratory study looking at HIV-infected cells found that cinnamon was the most effective treatment of all 69 medicinal plants studied. Bottom line: test tube studies have shown that cinnamon can help fight HIV-1, the main type of HIV virus in humans.

When you were young and mom sprinkled cinnamon on your French toast or cereal, she not only made your food taste yummy, she was ensuring your good health. Besides cinnamon being one of the most delicious spices, it is one of the healthiest spices on earth. Besides a long list of health benefits, it tastes great. Find Ceylon cinnamon in every Jahmu product.

Perfect for the holidays: Sugar-less Jahmu Chocolate & Nut Butter Fudge

The holidays are here, and it can be hard to find a healthy option for sweet indulgences. The good news is that there are lots of options out there—if you know where to look, and are open to a little creativity and ingenuity in the kitchen. This recipe adds a kick to the traditional holiday peanut butter cup by cutting out the refined sugar, and adding the blood-sugar regulating, craving-mitigating power of Jahmu. Not only that, but they make a great addition to any cookie swap (or for Santa).

To learn more about how the spices in Jahmu complement any low-sugar diet, read our article on sugar, HERE.

Jahmu Sugar free Chocolate & Nut Butter Fudge Bars

Prep time: 10 mins
Cooking time:15 mins
Set time in the fridge: at least 20 mins
INGREDIENTS:

  • ½ cup Peanut Butter (or any nut or seed butter such as almond, sunflower or cashew)
  • ½ cup raw cacao
  • 4-6 oz of unsweetened baking chocolate
  • 1 cup coconut butter or coconut manna (use the oil that come on top of it. You may add extra coconut oil for a smoother texture, but do not replace coconut butter entirely with coconut oil)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • Sweeten to taste (If you want it to be complexly sugar free I recommend using stevia. If you choose to use sugar I recommend maple syrup and/or coconut sugar)
  • 2 teaspoons caffeine free Jahmu

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Line a pan with parchment paper or tin foil.
  2. Create a double boiler on your stove by filling a pot with about an inch of water and placing a smaller pot or metal bowl inside of it.
  3. Bring the water to a boil, then turn the heat to low.
  4. Add the coconut butter, coconut oil, and unsweetened chocolate in the small pot.
  5. As the coconut butter and chocolate melt stir in the cacao powder, Jahmu, vanilla, sea salt, and sweeter of your choice. If you use stevia remember, less is more!
  6. Continue stirring and allow mixture to become liquid, but do not let it boil! Taste it to see if it’s sweet enough for you liking (be careful tasting—it will be hot!). Add more sweetener if you desire.
    **Note: To make the chocolate more liquid, add more coconut oil. To make it more solid, add more chocolate, coconut butter and/or cacao. The chocolate will harden in the fridge but will remain a fudge like consistency at room temperature.
  7. Pour the chocolate onto the parchment paper or tin foil lined pan
    Add plops of nut butter and spread/swirl them throughout the chocolate.
  8. Put the pan of chocolate into the fridge.
  9. Once it has solidified, you can cut it up into squares. I recommend storing the leftover chocolate in the fridge.

***Note: you can use this base chocolate fudge recipe (without the nut butter) to make other variations, Try adding ingredients such as peppermint, candy canes, nuts, orange peels, caramelized ginger, dried fruit, etc.

Enjoy your naturally sweet dessert!

Tea Meditation: Embracing the Power of Choice

As human beings, we have the power to choose. Some decisions are BIG and some are small, but they are all important. We are constantly making choices, even when we are not aware of it. The more present we are, the more likely we are to make “good choices,” choices that are in alignment with our highest good. When we listen to our intuition, we make choices from a place of love. When we listen to our ego, we often make choices from a place of fear. Choices made from a place of loving presence will always bring us joy, wisdom, healing, abundance, connection, fulfillment, and love. Meditation and mindfulness practices help us to be more present and more aware of our intuition.

Tea meditations can make it easier to return to the place of loving presence throughout the day, which increases the probability that the choices you make are aligned with your true desires. The intention for this tea meditation is to tap into this power of choice so that you make healthy choices all day long.

The power to choose

There are times in life when we believe we do not have a choice, when we feel powerless or victimized. We may not have chosen this specific situation but we can always choose how we relate to it. We can’t choose our feelings, but we can choose how we relate to them. Sometimes we choose to worry about feeling worried, to stress about feeling stressed, to be scared of being scared, to be sad about feeling depressed. These choices perpetuate the unpleasant feeling keeping us in a vicious spiral of negativity. If a child or good friend felt angry, would you be angry at them for feeling angry or would you compassionately allow them to express their anger so they could let it go and heal?

Through meditation, we can tune into these feelings, acknowledge and accept them, then choose to relate to them differently. We watch them pass like a storm.

A meditation embracing the power of choice

To practice this meditation, you may choose to say something like, “even though I feel anxious right now, I still love and appreciate myself.” In every moment you can choose acceptance, compassion and love.

  1. Read through this meditation first and then practice it on you own. It is more simple than it looks.
  2. Choose a tea or warm beverage that will feel best in you body right now. Are you drinking this beverage just because it’s what you drink every morning or is this really what you want to put in you body?
  3. Choose a comfortable pose in which to sit and drink you tea.
  4. Take five deep breaths with you eyes closed. Breathe down into your belly so you feel it expand like a balloon on the inhale, and contract on the exhale.
  5. Bring your awareness to your solar plexus chakra, which is located in the center of your belly. This is our power center! This is where we find our will to choose. Notice how your tummy feels as you breathe into it. Imagine a bright yellow and gold sun in the center of your belly. Feel the power and energy from this sun radiating throughout your body and out into the room.
  6. Pick up you cup of tea and feel its warmth connecting with the warmth from your solar plexus. Imagine this tea is liquid sunshine, the ultimate fuel for every cell in your body.
  7. Say to yourself,  “I choose to be present right now.” Take a sip of tea and feel your consciousness scanning your body as you relax into the present moment.
  8. Say to yourself, “I choose to be happy.” Take a sip of tea. Smile and feel happiness resonating throughout your body.
  9. Say to yourself, “I choose to be healthy.” Take a sip of tea and imagine every cell in you body is healthy. Feel all the parts of you body that feel good and healthy right now and allow this feeling of wellness to outshine any feelings of pain or disease.
  10. For the remainder of the meditation, choose your own affirmations. With each sip of tea, choose another affirmation. They don’t all have to be positive! We become empowered when we become aware that we sometimes choose to feel powerless, or choose to be angry, or we choose to be sad about something. Dive deep into why you might choose to be the victim. How does this choice serve your ego? If there is a particular person in you life with whom you are frustrated, remind yourself that you choose to be in relationship with that person. If there is a situation in your life that is not enjoyable, do you choose to be in it? Are you really stuck or do you choose to feel stuck? Do you choose to do what you do for a living? Do you chose to be where you are right now? Owning your choices brings back your power!

Fenugreek—A Jahmu spice powerhouse

By Vera Remes

From ancient times, fenugreek played a major role in herbal healing. Modern scientific research has verified that this spice that is so prevalent in Ayurvedic medicine and Indian cuisine can help reduce cholesterol levels and control diabetes among other things.

Fenugreek and digestion

Although we all have to eat to survive, for some, eating to live can be a painful, even embarrassing experience.  Enter fenugreek. Because of its warming nature and bitter taste, a tea brewed with this ingredient is an excellent appetite builder and digestive aid. Studies have shown that it alleviates occasional gas or discomfort, while strengthening the digestive tract.

Fenugreek for women’s health

In American folk medicine, fenugreek was considered a potent menstruation promoter and a recent study has confirmed this. In that study, the fenugreek group experienced significantly larger pain reduction, the duration of pain decreased and decreased systemic symptoms of dysmenorrhea (fatigue, headache, nausea, vomiting, lack of energy, syncope). No side effects were reported.

For centuries, rumor has it that harem women were fed fenugreek seed to make them more buxom. This turns out to be more than mere hearsay.  A study found the seeds, in addition to female steroid precursors, also contain compounds that increase healthy breast tissue. Since the seeds contain diosgenin and other plant phyto-estrogens, Fenugreek provides a mastogenic effect that results in enhanced breast size.

Promoting sexual health and libido in both women and men

A 2017 study published in the International Journal of Medical Sciences found that an enriched extract of fenugreek seeds was found safe and effective in improving testosterone levels, healthy sperm profile, mental alertness, cardiovascular health and overall performance in men. A double-blind randomized clinical study found that Testofen, a fenugreek seed extract, reduced age-related symptoms of androgen decrease while increasing testosterone levels and improving sexual function in healthy aging males.  A study of healthy menstruating women looked at the influence of a fenugreek seed extract (Libifem) on testosterone, estradiol and sexual function The study indicated that this extract may be a useful treatment for increasing sexual arousal and desire in women.

Fenugreek for mothers

India’s traditional Ayurvedic physicians routinely prescribed fenugreek to nursing mothers to increase their milk. The findings of a recent online survey asked 188 breastfeeding mothers about their experiences with, and sources of information on, herbal remedies (including fenugreek). Seventy-six of the women questioned reported that they felt as though they were not producing enough milk to meet the needs of their child and 54% indicated that they had not supplemented with formula but found herbal remedies, such as fenugreek, useful.

Fenugreek for overall health

Although continuing studies are warranted, ancient peoples knew what modern medicine has only just started to explore and verify. Fenugreek can be a viable and safe alternative for certain conditions and illnesses.  Further medicinal applications for this natural herb will likely be uncovered in time.

This is why we chose to include fenugreek as one of our spice ingredients in Jahmu Chai. Get a healthy dose of fenugreek, turmeric, ginger and other health-promoting herbs in every serving of Jahmu Liquid Sunshine.

About Us
Contact
Recipes
WHOLESALE
Ingredients

Jahmu PBC – helping you get more turmeric and ginger into your daily routine since 2013.

1(800)-JAHMU-12

FDA Registered

Jahmu Disclaimer

The information contained on jahmu.com and our other marketing materials is intended for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. If you have or believe you may have a medical ailment seek professional help.

Website Terms and Conditions

By visiting jahmu.com you agree to allow us to store cookies in your browser in order for the web pages to load faster and for us to advertise Jahmu to you through remarketing. Click here if you would like to opt out of Google Analytics tracking

Jahmu PBC ©2023 | All Rights Reserved