Ashwagandha - Withania somnifera
„Ashwa“ (horse) „gandha“ (root smell), the name itself points to the plant's ability to provide strength and vitality (animal strength hidden in the root). Known by names „Indian ginseng“ (similar root shape), also „winter cherry“ (fruits resemble cherries). From the small bush with yellow flowers, mainly the root is used in traditional medicine. Given its calming effects, it's appropriately named Withania somnifera, sleepy or dreamy. The Latin name somnifera also reveals its sleep-inducing property.
Cordyceps - Zombie in Reality
Cordyceps sinensis - this is our zombie predator. In China, it is called "in winter insects, in summer herbs." Imagine a fungus that during reproduction in summer shoots its spores (seeds), which attach to the insect's body. It gradually grows throughout and parasitizes it, devours it from the inside out, with the insect still alive, even altering its outer appearance but still foraging until it retreats underground where it dies and mummifies. The fungus can survive in it for a longer period. The fungus literally controls the host's body, growing out of its body in summer, forming slender "sticks" 5-20 cm high. This inspired the video game series Last of Us where the Cordyceps fungus turns humankind into zombies. In real life, this video game unfolds in the actual life of insects. The victims are larvae of butterflies, large ants, spiders...
Is iodine a necessity? ... Iodine - Kelp
Iodine is a trace element, with an interesting role in health, which we associate with the thyroid gland. It occurs naturally in the marine environment and one of the richest natural sources of iodine is kelp seaweed, also known as "Bladderwrack, Norwegian Laminaria," which has been used in traditional medicine and cuisine for centuries. Kelp can absorb large amounts of iodine directly from the ocean. The body needs iodine to produce thyroid hormones, without which much more would not work ... our metabolism would not function properly, we would have little energy, and our minds would be dull.
Apple Vinegar , ... not just for models
Apple vinegar is one of the most popular natural products with a wide range of health benefits. Apple vinegar has been sought after for centuries for its beneficial effects on health, including supporting digestion, regulating weight, maintaining stable blood sugar levels, and improving cardiovascular health.
Magnesium - the most important mineral?
If you ask any athlete (especially endurance sports) what supplement they always have with them at competitions, the most common answer will be "magnesium". Magnesium is certainly one of the most important minerals for our body. It is a so-called "deficient" mineral because we lose it from our body through sweating during excessive exertion, but also when you don't exercise! Just living in noise, stress, exertion...
Vitamin B3 Niacinamide
Vitamin B3 - niacin, perhaps the older ones also know it as vitamin P. It belongs to the group of B vitamins, which we find in the multiform B-complex. It is a very important group of vitamins that we necessarily need for the proper function of vision, mucous membranes, skin, heart... In the body, they are responsible for the production of energy in cells and are essential for the proper functioning of cardiac, muscle, and nerve activities.
