98 July-August 2015 www.womanthismonth.com LIFESTYLE | wellbeing We are wonder-women in our homes, offices and businesses; charging into action the minute our feet touch the ground each morning, only exhaling when we hit the sack at night. But hey! Even superwomen need a daily shot of power to stay well. Our experts put the facts before you. Pick your favourites. GREEN GOLD Hala Al Khaldi, nutritionist and MD of Diet Delight, tells us the bright green blades of wheatgrass are an effective healer because they contain all minerals known to man, and vitamins A, B-complex, C, E, and K. Wheatgrass is extremely rich in protein and contains 17 amino acids - the building blocks of protein. Wheatgrass contains up to 70 per cent chlorophyll, which works pure magic in the human body. This ‘liquid sunshine’ is antibacterial and can be used both internally and externally as a natural healer. According to Hala, factors like the quality, convenience of use and cost should be considered before choosing between fresh and powdered wheatgrass. “Fresh wheatgrass is unprocessed so it will always be more nutritious than wheatgrass powder, no matter how much care is taken in drying or grinding to form the powder,” says Hala. She also cautions against mistaking wheatgrass juice with frozen wheatgrass juice or juice in bottles with added preservative. “The processing of wheatgrass to make it last for weeks defeats the very purpose of taking wheatgrass as a raw food supplement,” she says. Powdered wheatgrass shines bright for its fibre content, which wheatgrass juice is devoid of. Fibre is an aid for digestion, preventing heart disease, diabetes and weight gain. But your powder must come from organically grown wheatgrass made by a trusted brand. Wheatgrass has been said to not only reduce the frequency of common colds and increase the speed of recovery from colds, but also prevent and fight cancer, by way of boosting the immune system. “Additionally, the molecular structure of chlorophyll in wheatgrass is similar to that of haemoglobin. Haemoglobin (in blood) transports oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. Wheatgrass will help build and renew blood cells in the body and increase the oxygen available to fight cancer cells,” says Hala. THE SUNSHINE SPICE Turmeric, with its hard-to-miss deep yellow colour, is found in homes around the world, including the Middle East, as a spice cabinet staple. Du’a Al-Khalily, clinical nutritionist at Don Your Supercape Superfoods come and superfoods go, as short-lived fads of health freaks around the world. But there are some that have been around for ages, and are here to stay. Behnaz Sanjana finds out more.
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