Growing healing herbs and plants also comes with the benefits of playing in the dirt: plenty of fresh air and exercise.

Imagine for a moment the processes that take place in our bodies as soon as we encounter even a tiny breach of the skin. A miniscule scrape draws a little blood, fends off infection and eventually heals over, involving so many processes and encapsulating so many minor miracles—none of them conscious, willed or even noticed—that the mind simply boggles.

Now imagine these processes on a scale much larger and more complex: wounds, burns, sore throats, fevers, queasy stomachs. For the seemingly endless things that can go wrong with our bodies, each of us carries an arsenal of weapons, tools and front-line soldiers ready to protect and defend against invaders, interlopers or the simple imbalances that can set us on a rocky path. If the complexity and wonder of that don’t just knock you out, what would it take to impress you?

How about the amazing fact that much of what you need to promote these processes is available in the plant world, and that you can grow these plants and turn them into not just good food, but good medicine, for pennies and without side effects?

Besides the beauty and bounty of the garden—and the exertion involved in creating and maintaining it—our bodies have been interacting with plants for millennia and know what to do with plant medicines. Herbs interact with our bodies as recognizable nourishment that helps them do what they’re cut out to do: get better. With that as a place to start—that our bodies are designed to heal and actually want to do so—we can plant a garden that gives them fuel for that endeavor.

Check out How to Grow a Garden with Healing Herbs

Growing Your Healing Herbs and Plants

The joy of most healing herbs and plants is that they’re easy to grow and sometimes “medicine” is as easy as making a cup of tea. And the options are endless when it comes to growing these plants. Some of them fit easily into your existing garden, or you can start a healing garden from scratch. If you don’t have a large stretch of garden space, you can tuck in little healing gardens wherever you have soil, sun and access to water. Many of these plants also do well in containers. Check with your local nursery or a seed catalog to get the lowdown on growing habits and soil needs for the variety you select. And remember to grow your plants as organically as possible. You can’t expect your body to heal when you’re giving it pesticide tea.
Herbs for Digestion

Dill (Anethum graveolens). An enthusiastic grower in most environments, dill can reach at least shoulder-high, with large, bright-yellow flower heads. Its ferny leaves and feathery flowers make it a pretty garden filler in any setting, but remember that this is a healing garden and dill also has work to do. Used throughout the ages as a remedy for babies’ colic, it is also a calming herb that settles digestion and helps promote a calm sleep. Dill seed oil is antibacterial, and chewing a few seeds after a meal will freshen your breath while it helps your digestion.

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare). A cousin to ferny dill, fennel is a large, lovely plant that easily can reach a height of 5 feet. All parts of fennel are edible and provide a mild licorice or anise flavor. Used medicinally for thousands of years, fennel helps freshen breath, aids digestion, soothes colic, balances the appetite, and relieves bloating and gas. It can also help relieve coughs and sore throats when gargled. In many parts of North America, it grows wild and weedy; it’s fond of full sun and doesn’t need rich soil. Note: Fennel also is a favorite food of the swallowtail butterfly. If you see a tiger-striped green and black caterpillar on your fennel, for the sake of the butterfly, let the caterpillar be. More than half the fennel in my garden a few years ago became fennel sticks a couple of days after the hungry, hungry caterpillars found it. But I’d rather have stems than no butterflies, so I looked the other way.

Chamomile (Matricaria recutita or Chamaemelum nobile). Happy-go-lucky chamomile flowers have graced home gardens for centuries and its apple-scented tea has worked for generations to calm the nervous system and soothe digestion, particularly in children. The two major varieties are German (M. recutita, formerly M. chamomilla) and Roman or English (C. nobile). Though they have different growing habits (German is taller, with less dense foliage; Roman hugs the ground and makes a pretty, aromatic groundcover), their medicinal applications are practically interchangeable. In the garden, chamomile tends to bolt quickly and shrivel in intense summer sun. Germany’s herbal regulatory body, called the Commission E, has approved chamomile for relieving digestive spasms and inflammation. (For more on Commission E, see “What is the German Commission E?” further along in this article.) It eases bloating and indigestion after meals, can ease heartburn, and is a useful remedy for mouth ulcers and canker sores. It has been shown to enhance the healing of skin, to help prevent infection and has been used since ancient times to wash wounds and sores—a practice now borne out by science. Note: Those with intense ragweed allergies should introduce chamomile slowly, as the two plants are relatives.

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis). A favorite of bees everywhere (Melissa is Greek for “bee”), lemon balm has been popular among herbalists for thousands of years and is a utility herb that’s good in so many ways, it’s a challenge to categorize. A member of the aggressive-growing mint family (you were warned!), this aromatic healer is high in essential oil content and is used to reduce fevers and treat colds, to calm the digestive tract, to relieve spasms related to cramps and headaches, and to overcome insomnia. It improves mood and mental performance and is approved by Commission E as an effective treatment for cold sores. Lemon balm will wilt in the hot sun and likes to sprawl in more shady spots. It is an excellent herb for the home gardener because it is best used fresh due to its volatile oils’ tendency to dry quickly once it’s picked.  

Peppermint (Mentha xpiperita). Humans have cultivated mint in some form for thousands of years, though peppermint is a relative newcomer, according to herb expert and author Steven Foster. It’s easy to grow from cuttings (not seeds), and any little bit of runner with a node will produce a new plant (which, of course, will then do its best to take over your neighborhood). Versatile peppermint is used for indigestion, irritable bowels, colds and coughs, muscle aches and tension headaches. Recent research shows that its essential oil contains substances that relieve muscle spasms and inhibit the growth of bacteria and viruses. Menthol is its primary constituent, giving this hardy perennial its signature scent and unmistakable flavor. Dry peppermint leaves throughout the growing season and you’ll have an aromatic, uplifting and digestion-settling tea all winter.  
Herbs for the Skin

Calendula (Calendula officinalis). It’s such a cheerful flower, you’d want calendula in your garden even if you didn’t know what a powerful healing herb it is. A wonderful emollient herb, calendula is used in lotions, salves and ointments for chapped skin, dermatitis, minor cuts and burns, insect bites, diaper rash and even hemorrhoids. Popularly known as “pot marigold,” calendula grows into handsome bunches of leaves topped by simple daisy-like flowers in tones ranging from yellow and gold to deep orange. Calendula grows from seed and likes sun. It requires loose soil, but doesn’t need it heavily fertilized or rich. It’s a perfect plant to grow in containers and will self-sow in your garden. Note: Do not confuse calendula with the common garden marigold, genus Tagetes. Calendula flowers are edible and have very little scent; Tagetes have a stronger scent and are inedible and medicinally impotent.

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium). A member of the Aster family, yarrow is known throughout the Northern Hemisphere as a perennial weed that grows alongside roadsides, meadows and “wastelands.” The genus name Achillea is taken from the legend that Achilles made a poultice of the plant to stanch his soldiers’ wounds during the Trojan War. Achilles was onto something: Yarrow contains an alkaloid that actually does stop the flow of blood. The plant also contains more than 120 other components, some of which calm muscle spasms, reduce pain, ease digestion, calm anxiety and reduce inflammation. Yarrow is an easy plant for beginners, requiring no care and remaining pest-free and winter-hardy in Zones 3 through 9. It’s a pretty, ferny plant in the garden, with clusters of tiny white, ivory or pale pink flowers that bloom from early summer into early fall. For minor cuts, wash the wound thoroughly (yarrow isn’t antiseptic), then crush some leaves in the palm of your hand and apply to the cut to stop the bleeding. Note: Try yarrow on a small spot of skin first, as some people experience an intense allergic reaction to it.

Lavender (Lavandula spp.). Lavender’s needs are simple: It wants alkaline soil, several hours of hot sunlight a day and dry feet—meaning keep its soil well-drained and don’t overwater it. If you meet these criteria and work with your local nurseries or regional online sources, you’ll find plenty of lavender options that will grow in your area. You can use the fragrant essential oil of English lavender (L. angustifolia) in do-it-yourself lotions, salves, balms, soaps and vinegars. Its uses in aromatherapy for calming and relaxation are well-documented, as are its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, known since ancient times. It is licensed in Germany as a standard medicinal tea for sleep disorders and nervous stomach, according to the American Botanical Council (ABC). And bearing in mind the 2012 International Herb of the Year, you might find extra motivation: Lavender and roses were made for each other. Note: Mexican lavender (L. stoechas), commonly used in landscaping, is not appropriate for medicine or cooking.

Aloe (Aloe vera). If all of the plants alleged to be Cleopatra’s beauty secret were laid end to end, they would reach from here to the Nile. However, in the case of the spiky succulent aloe vera, the odds are good that the femme pharaoh actually did include this skin-nourishing herb in her regimen. The fleshy, lance-leaved plant has been cultivated for its medicinal effects since long before Cleopatra’s reign and is known to be good for sunburn, minor burns and insect bites (no word on its effectiveness against the bite of an asp). The gooey gel found in its leaves soothes irritated skin and eases topical pain, as well as providing antibacterial protection, and its soothing juice has been shown to be effective in treating psoriasis. Though many “aloe vera” products can be found on supermarket and pharmacy shelves, many of these products have as much or more water, fruit juice and preservative as herb. Given how easy the plant is to keep on hand, it makes more sense just to pot up a few and break off a leaf as needed. (Unless you live in a warm and relatively dry climate, aloes do better in pots so you can transfer them into the house when the cold weather hits.)
Herbs for Coughs, Colds and Flu

Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea, E. angustifolia, E. pallida). Many echinacea species are attractive in the garden, but E. purpurea, E. angustifolia and E. pallida are the coneflowers generally recognized as most potent for medicinal use. A member of the aster family, echinacea grows throughout North America and, according to Foster, the Plains Indians used the common prairie species of coneflower (E. angustifolia) as medicine more than any other plant. A large body of research (sometimes contradictory) can be found relating to echinacea’s usefulness in preventing colds and flu. Less ambiguous is its role in helping reduce the length and severity of these common illnesses, as well as its role as supportive therapy for lower urinary tract infections, poorly healing wounds and chronic ulcerations. While most references suggest using echinacea root for medicinal use, many herbalists recommend making a tea of the fresh or dried flowers of E. purpurea, which contain chemical constituents similar to those of the root. Plants and seeds of E. purpurea are widely available from nurseries and seed houses. The seeds germinate readily, or plants can be easily propagated by dividing the roots. This species does well in any well-drained garden soil, will tolerate up to half shade and is remarkably drought-resistant. On the other hand, Foster says, plants and seeds of E. angustifolia are harder to find, and the seeds germinate much less readily.

Tip: Of the many available types of Echinacea, three are recognized as healers. Of those three, Echinacea purpurea is the best bet in the garden.

Sage (Salvia officinalis). The genus name Salvia derives from the Latin salvere (“to be saved”), which gives a good idea of the esteem in which sage has been held over the millennia as a curative herb. Versatile and easy to grow, sage is beautiful in the garden, tasty in the kitchen and a stalwart in the medicine cabinet. With antibiotic and antiseptic properties, it has been prized in treating inflammation in the mouth or throat, including gingivitis and canker sores. Commission E approves sage as a standard medicinal tea for gastrointestinal issues and night sweats, as well as a topical rinse for inflammation. A number of herbalists use sage in their prescriptions for those hallmarks of menopause, hot flashes and night sweats. A perennial that’s best grown from starts, sage likes full sun and doesn’t like to get its feet wet, so make sure the soil is well-drained and not too heavy. For canker sores, or sore throat and tonsils, make a tea with 2 teaspoons dried sage leaves (more if you use fresh leaves), 1 cup boiling water and a dash of salt.

Horehound (Marrubium vulgare). This old-fashioned herb is indispensable for the modern healing garden. It tames troublesome coughs, and grows easily. Learn how to make your own cough drops in Herb to Know: Horehound Drops.
What is the German Commission E?

The Commission E is Germany’s herbal regulatory body. Their findings are published in English. (See “Resources.")

Since the late 1970s, Germany’s drug regulations have required a system that registers herb products. This system requires development of information on how herbal products work (their chemistry and pharmacology), how well they work (clinical trials), and safety information based on their long history of use and any new scientific data.

Anyone who has done even cursory research into an herbal supplement or product has seen references to findings by the German Commission E. Few of us know what the commission is or how it is doing work that, by all rights, our own regulatory agency ought to do for the American consumer. If you’re interested in healing herbs and plants—and you probably are if you’re reading this magazine—this relatively unknown working group has a great deal of influence on the choices available to you. —Steven Foster is a noted herb expert.

Sources:
The ABC Clinical Guide to Herbs by Mark Blumenthal (American Botanical Council, 2003)
The Green Pharmacy by James A. Duke, Ph.D. (Rodale Press, 1997)
Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs by Mark Blumenthal, Alicia Goldberg, Josef Brinckmann, eds. (American Botanical Council, 2000)
Homegrown Herbs by Tammi Hartung (Storey Publishing, 2011)

Agent Orange was the chemical defoliant used by the U.S. in Vietnam, and it caused lasting ecological damage as well as many serious medical conditions in both Vietnam veterans and the Vietnamese.

Exposure to 2,4-D has been linked to major health problems that include cancer (especially non-Hodgkin's lymphoma), lowered sperm counts, liver disease and Parkinson's disease. A growing body of evidence from laboratory studies shows that 2,4-D causes endocrine disruption, reproductive problems, neurotoxicity and immunosuppression. Furthermore, tests within the industry show that 2,4-D is contaminated with dioxins, a group of highly toxic chemical compounds that bioaccumulate, so even a minute amount can accumulate as it goes up the food chain, causing dangerous levels of exposure. Dioxins in Agent Orange have been linked to many diseases, including birth defects in children of exposed parents - and, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 2,4-D is the seventh largest source of dioxins in the U.S.

USDA approval of Dow's GE corn will trigger a big increase in 2,4-D use – and our exposure to this toxic herbicide. Yet the USDA has not assessed how much exposure will increase, nor analyzed the resulting impacts on public health, the environment or neighboring farmers (2,4-D is prone to drift and cause damage to nearby crops). Instead, the Agency has once again bowed to the pesticide industry by giving preliminary approval to still another pesticide-promoting crop that will likely harm people and their children, including farmers, and the environment. The USDA claims to be adhering to a scientific process, yet they are blatantly ignoring the science on 2,4-D.

Source: http://www.nhiondemand.com/industrysciencejournal/article.aspx?id=359&utm_source=NHI+OnDemand+Newsletter+List&utm_campaign=aa99cbb18b-ISJ_SodaTax-AgentOrangeCorn_Feb01_2011&utm_medium=email

http://action.responsibletechnology.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=9142

Growing sprouts is a very simple and straightforward process and there are many different sprouting products available on the market ranging in price and style. Here is a fun, easy, inexpensive way to increase the nutrition in your family's diet.   

Step-by-Step Sprouting for Nutrition:

• place about 2-3 Tablespoons of seed in a sprouting sieve, professional mechanized sprouter, or your basic, run of the mill, mason jar with sprouting lid (these can be purchased at your local health food store or online
• wash seeds thoroughly
• soak the seeds overnight or for approximately 12 hours and then rinse thoroughly
• place the seeds in the germinator of your choice and ensure that they are evenly spread out and not too cramped together. If using a mason jar, set jar on it's side, making sure seeds are spread out around inside of jar.
  
• place the germinator in a well lit spot, but away from direct sunlight and keep at room temperature    rinse with water twice daily
• after 4-6 days your sprouts are ready to harvest (depending on type)– rinse thoroughly and keep refrigerated (consume within 5 days)
  

Sprouting and safety

There have been a few recent news stories regarding salmonella contamination in sprouts. These have been combined with warnings from the Food and Drug Administration that sprouts could be contaminated with food poisoning bacteria and advising the very old, the very young, and those with compromised immune systems to avoid raw sprouts.

Most people knowledgeable in sprouting feel that these stories were far overblown because it made interesting news - it's the original "health food might be bad for you" story.

What can you do to be extra safe in your sprouting? Use certified organic seeds. Organic certification assures that seeds have been grown and handled in a manner which helps minimize possible sources of contamination. Manure used on organic fields, for example, must be composted for a long period of time. Composting has been shown to reduce or eliminate pathogens in manure. Organic farmers are also required to use rodent/bird proof storage for seeds destined for consumption. Organic sprouting seeds have NOT been implicated in any outbreak of food poisoning.

Make sure to rinse sprouts thoroughly, even after they are of the right length, this will hopefully eliminate the possibility of spoilage.

Refrigerate finished sprouts. Ideally you want to eat them right after you pick them. Those sprouts are still growing in your plate! Now that's "Fresh"!

Happy sprouting!

http://www.energiseforlife.com/sprouting_benefits.php
http://www.healingdaily.com/detoxification-diet/sprouts.htm

Sprouts are nutritious and when you grow your own sprouts, then you get not only freshness, but maximum nutrition!

Of course, growing your own sprouts can save you money too. Growing sprouts is relatively easy too!

A seed, nut or bean will contain what is known as enzyme inhibitors. These enzyme inhibitors have the sole responsibility of preventing the seed, bean or nut from sprouting until the environmental or climatic conditions are suitable for growing. How do we neutralize these enzyme inhibitors? Simple, we trick the seed, nut or bean by soaking it in water and then keeping it moist for 4-7 days. This "simulates" nature and the see, nut or bean thinks it is time to start growing.

The presence of enzyme inhibitors,is what causes many who eats nuts or beans to have digestive problems (flatulence). The enzyme inhibitors are doing their job. After eating the nut or bean, the enzyme inhibitors counteract or de–activate your body's own digestive enzymes.

Seeds, nuts and beans are loaded with valuable nutrition, especially once sprouted. This is because once a seed, nut or bean begins to sprout, the enzyme inhibitors cease doing their job — and this is why a sprout is started. A sprout possesses all of the energy, vitamins and nutrients and power that enables it to be transformed from a small seed into a strong plant. At this stage its nutritional value is at its highest for instance, sprouted seeds can contain 400% more protein than lettuce and over 3900% more beta-carotine. So, due to their size and taste you are able to eat hundreds of sprouted seeds at a time. In so many sprouts, you are eating the equivalent of hundreds of fully grown plants all at once – when else would you be able to get the goodness of one hundred mature plants in one meal?!

For example studies have also shown that broccoli and other types of sprout contain exceptionally high levels of a natural cancer fighting compound called sulforaphane (20 – 50 times more than in mature broccoli) which helps support antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin E.

Sprouted Seeds: Raw, Crisp and Delicious

Sprouts are an alkalizing, living food which continue to grow and gain vitamins after being harvested, which when compared to food bought at the supermarket which begins to lose their nutrient content as soon as they are picked (and are not then consumed for weeks on end) become very attractive – especially if you are trying to add more raw food to your diet.

They are great to be eaten on their own, used in salads and stir-fry's or juiced into your green drink

Many different types of sprout are available including alfalfa, broccoli, little radish, mung bean and a range of mixes including fitness mix, gourmet mix and aromatic mix.

How to Sprout

http://www.energiseforlife.com/sprouting_benefits.php
http://www.juicingbook.com/sprouts

What it would have been like to eat a grape in the Garden of Eden straight from the hand of God? Unfortunately we will have to wait until heaven for that experience.

With the curse of the ground after sin entered the world, and the further desolation resulting from the Flood, the ground doesn’t bring forth as it did in the beginning. And with today’s current agriculture practices wearing out the soil, the quality of our foods has been in a steady decline for several decades. The earth truly is beginning to “wax old as a garment” (Isaiah 51:6).

Fruits, vegetables, and grains no longer contain enough of the nutrients our bodies require. We are literally starving, no matter how much we eat of them. Today’s current agricultural practices are wearing out the soil. In the last 70 years the nutritional value of our food has declined significantly. Why? Because of the loss of topsoil due to erosion, overuse of inorganic nitrogen fertilizers, and other farming practices that leave the soil depleted. “Food grown in nutrient deficient soil lacks the nutrients needed to keep people healthy.”i

Consider a few statistics:

• In less than 20 years the parts-per-million content of iron in tomatoes has gone from 1938 to under 5, spinach has gone from 1584 to less than 31.ii


• The mineral content in corn in the 1920s was 5% today it is less than 1%.iii


• Wheat has dropped in protein and mineral content by more than half.iv


• Recent studies that compared the mineral content of soils today with soils 100 years ago found that agricultural soils in the United States have been depleted of 85% of their minerals.v

 

When we consider what constitutes the foundation of our foodstuffs it is not hard to see that 80% or greater of the diseases that plague our planet have their roots in nutritional deficiencies.

Without adequate nutrition, especially minerals, research has shown that people develop chronic health conditions. More and more nutritional studies have linked many of today’s most prevalent, life threatening chronic diseases—diabetes, heart disease, stroke, obesity, high blood pressure, macular degeneration, bone loss, and dementia to nutritional deficiencies.vi

Take a moment and consider what happened during the Flood. When the fountains burst forth and the rain poured down, it sloshed about and mixed everything in the water. As the water calmed, that fertile soil began to settle out. Today we know that certain minerals will settle at specific depths because of their molecular weight and the drawing action that water has upon them. We see this on a grand scale in layers of lime, in veins of precious metals or in layers of various other minerals. Even all the veins of coal were once not only the vegetative matter, but also the humic matter that was once in that Edenic soil.

We do not need to accept nutrient deficient soil and food. Back in the 1920s and 30s God opened the eyes of some individuals that saw where the trend of conventional agriculture was leading. Some of these individuals were Dr. Charles Northern, Dr. Carey Reams, and Dr. William Albrecht. Few gave them heed, but decades of research revealed that with proper cultivation, the soil could be brought back and the nutrient quality of produce could be increased tenfold.

These men were able to increase the sugar content of produce by up to three or four times. The sweeter the produce the tastier it is. And generally, the sweeter the product, the greater the mineral content. This is because sugars are bound to phosphates in the plant and when the phosphate entered the plant it brought along other minerals with it.

Today many people have a “sweet tooth.” They are trying to satisfy themselves on cakes, candies, and sweets because their body knows that naturally sweet things have lots of minerals. It’s the minerals their bodies are after:

“Nutritional research has revealed the critical interrelationship between minerals and optimum human health. There are seventeen known essential minerals and many other trace minerals that are all needed for good health. Minerals interact with each other in many of the body’s critical metabolic functions. Minerals may be more vital to physical and mental health than vitamins. The full spectrum of essential minerals is critically important to the maintenance of human health. Because the human body cannot manufacture minerals, deficiencies are common.vii

Might it be that so many are ill because today’s foods just don’t contain the nutrients they used to? There is something we can do abut that. We can return our foods to a level that could only be surpassed by that original produce as it came from the hand of the Creator.

The key to achieving flavorful, nutrient rich food is to restore your depleted soil. We need to rebuild and establish the four main components of healthy, biologically active soil:
1. Adding the major minerals: calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium.
2. Incorporating carbon into the soil through compost, manures, or other humic matter.
3. Activating the soil with biologicals through microbial and myccorhizzal inoculants.
4. Making sure the trace minerals like boron, iron copper, and zinc are balanced in the soil.

The chief mineral in the soil is calcium. Soils deficient in it will simply not produce sweet, top quality produce. Calcium acts as the base in which all other minerals react and give off energy. Much could also be said about the relation of energy in the soil to plant growth and quality. Lastly, to take a plant to its greatest potential a good foliar feeding program should be established. A plant will absorb 80% of what it needs through the air, so supplying a good nutrient spray will definitely increase the plants mineral and sugar content.

Knowing the quantity of each soil amendment to add is important, and balance is necessary, so we shouldn’t run out to the garden and dump a ton of lime (calcium) thinking it’s going to produce 200lb watermelons. Start by having your soil tested. It usually costs less than $50. Your local Ag extension office should be able to help. Once you know the deficiencies in your soil, concentrate on how to build it back up.

Today we don’t have to settle from poor quality, poor tasting produce if we take an active part in growing our own food and fortifying our soil. We can return to a diet that has these nutrient dense foods in it, but the quantity of each amendment is important and balance is necessary so we shouldn’t run out to the garden and dump a ton of lime thinking it’s going to produce 200lb watermelons. It may require a bit of study, but it is truly a rewarding field of study that will repay us and our families with better health and fewer medical bills for years to come.

Steve Day is Director of Home For Health Ministries in Kentucky. For more information, visit www.homeforhealth.net.

 

 

i. John B. Marler and Jeanne R. Wallin, Human Health, the Nutritional Quality of Harvested Food and Sustainable Farming Systems (Nutrition Security Institute, 2006): 2.

ii. John D. Hamaket, of Civilization (Michigan: 1982).

iii. William Albrecht, The Albrecht Papers Volumes 1 and 2.

iv. Ibid.

v. John B. Marler and Jeanne R. Wallin, Human Health, the Nutritional Quality of Harvested Food and Sustainable Farming Systems (Nutrition Security Institute. 2006): 4.

vi. Ibid: 3.

vii. Ibid.

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration or Health Canada. Our articles and products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician before following any recommendations or using any product on our site. Print this document Get Healthy! Gardening Core Research Healthy Living Resources Health Hazards Knowledge
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With improved health on the minds of many Americans, right now is a good time to discover how important blueberries are in maintaining good health, according to LSU AgCenter nutrition specialist Heli Roy.

Blueberries Offer Health Benefits

"Foods with a lot of color also have high levels of anthocyanins, which are antioxidants that help keep us healthy," Roy said.

These antioxidants help the body by keeping blood vessels strong, killing cancer cells, regulating glucose and insulin values and killing different microbes in the intestinal tract, Roy explained.

"Years ago when we talked about fruits, we mainly talked about the number of calories they had, but today we know more about what are called phytochemicals, which are these strong antioxidants found in blueberries," she said. "So we know they are much better for us than we knew 20-30 years ago."

Another reason blueberries are important is their ability to neutralize free radicals in the body.

"Free radicals are highly reactive compounds in our body, and we produce them all the time. When we breathe, oxygen is inhaled and carbon dioxide is exhaled," Roy said. "During the process, free radicals are produced. They are produced excessively when you smoke or drink or by radiation like from the sun."

Blueberries are capable of neutralizing these free radicals and prevent their damage.

"What happens as we age is that we go through a sort of 'rusting' effect," Roy said. "Antioxidants in blueberries help prevent us from rusting."

Minimizing free radicals is a good thing because they react with everything, whether proteins, fat or carbohydrates, and the reaction is usually bad, Roy said.

Living in Louisiana makes it easy to receive the benefits that blueberries offer because they grow well here, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill.

"Blueberries are one of the easiest of the home-fruiting plants to grow in Louisiana," Gill said. "They require very low maintenance. About all they need is acid soil with good drainage."

The ideal planting time for blueberries in Louisiana is during the cool months from October through about March. The plants are cold tolerant and are not affected by Louisiana winter weather.

It is best to plant more than one variety. They cross-pollinate, which means more fruit that also are larger.

"Often nurseries will have plants in three-to-five gallon containers nearly large enough to start producing," Gill said. "Growers don't like to hear me say this, but we recommend taking off fruit the first year, so there is not as much stress on the plant."

The second year, the plant will be stronger, and all of the fruit will be available for jellies, jams, pies, muffins or just as a fresh snack, Gill said.

Blueberries have gotten good press over the past 10 years, mainly because people know about antioxidants and how good they are for you, LSU AgCenter fruit crops specialist David Himelrick said.

"There are basically three different varieties of blueberries grown in the state, which provides three picking seasons. The first varieties are beginning to be harvested now," Himelrick said. "They come in three waves here – early June, early July and early August."

If you're thinking about growing blueberries on a commercial basis, Himelrick said marketing and harvest are two major considerations.

"Harvesting is the real bottleneck in my opinion," Himelrick said. "The berries are small, so they are labor intensive. You almost have to be part of a cooperative to get custom harvesting done."

Blueberries are grown all over the state, but the big commercial marketing groups are either in Texas or Mississippi. So growers close to these states have an advantage.

"We recommend you have your market before you plant your crop," Himelrick said. "The choices are u-pick operations, mechanical harvesting or custom harvesting."

Blueberries are a long-term investment -- you can't change varieties every year. The plants will live as long as people if you take care of them, Himelrick explained.

Despite the lack of rain this year, some blueberry growers are picking a good crop of berries.

Adam Aucoin, of St. Francisville, has a 26-year-old stand of 80 bushes on one acre. "I have a good crop because with the age of my trees," Aucoin said. "My trees have established roots, and they have been able to tolerate the drought better than younger trees would." Aucoin sells his blueberries to restaurants and to individuals through his u-pick operation by appointment.

This year Aucoin signed on to Louisiana MarketMaker, the LSU AgCenter's online interactive marketing system that puts consumers in touch with producers across the country.

"I've been looking at new markets because many of the farmers markets have become saturated with blueberries, Aucoin said.

Some other blueberry growers are having a tougher time with the dry conditions. Cliff Muller of Ethel has had to irrigate his crop.

"I've been pumping 5,200 gallons of water per hour for the past six days," Muller said. "Out of all those years, this is my first time having to irrigate." Muller, who has been in the business for the past 22 years, said he has never seen this much drought stress. His two-acre, pick-your-own operation is slated to open Saturday June 4. "We will be open Thursday through Saturday for probably the next six weeks or until the berries are gone," Muller said.

He also signed on to Louisiana MarketMaker to give his farm more visibility.

For additional information on Louisiana MarketMaker visit the LSU AgCenter website at www.LSU AgCenter.com.

Source: http://www.nhiondemand.com/industrysciencejournal/article.aspx?id=257&utm_source=NHI+OnDemand+Newsletter+List&utm_campaign=a915b5f23b-ISJ_Blueberrys_Jul06_2011&utm_medium=email

View the original article at Louisiana State University - LSU AgCenter