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3 Super Foods You Didn't Know About...

1 - Burdock Root, its latin name is Arctium lappa.

Burdock is a plant and is also a super food unknown for most of us.

The root of young burdock plants can be harvested and eaten as a root vegetable. It is quite rare to find it in modern European cuisine, although it remains popular in Asia. Plants can grow about one metre long and two centimetres wide.

Burdock root is very crisp and has a sweet, mild, and pungent flavour with a little muddy harshness that can be reduced by soaking the roots in water for five to ten minutes.

All parts of burdock, the root, leaf, and seeds are used to make medicine. Burdock has a wide variety of healing properties and it helps in reducing fever, increasing urine flow, killing germs, and purifying the blood. It is effective in treating colds, started to be used against cancer cells, it heals anorexia nervosa, aids in gastrointestinal complaints, reduces joint pains (rheumatism), it also works for gout, bladder infections, complications of syphilis, and skin conditions including acne and psoriasis.

Burdock is used for high blood pressure, it acts on “hardening of the arteries” (arteriosclerosis), and purifies the liver. Burdock increases sex drive and has been widely used by Chinese, Japanese and Korean for that. When applied to the skin helps for dry skin (ichthyosis), improves situations of acne, psoriasis, and eczema.

2 - Kudzu Root, also called Japanese arrowroot

Roots are known to be the source of a plant’s energy and should occupy a special place in our diets and our medicine chests. Kuzu root, in particular, has been used by Eastern healers for almost 2,000 years and is most often utilized in foods to impart its ability to heal and balance natural sugars. Kuzu is very effective for digestive disturbances and calm the nerves. Kuzu is also noted for its high flavonoid composition and is gaining traction in the medical community for its ability to treat a variety of health concerns. In its native land, kuzu enjoys an excellent reputation and must be considered as a valuable alternative to the potentially harmful pharmaceuticals that pervade our society.

Natural Home RemedyKuzu root can be found in a couple different forms that can be at home to treat a number of “everyday” ailments. Kuzu can be found as a starch, which I consider its “rock” form, where the root is cleaned and processed to remove the inedible fibers. Kuzu starch is most commonly used to treat minor indigestion and the symptoms of the common cold, but it can also be used as a remedy for constipation, to stimulate appetite and to calm hyperactive children or minds.

Alternately, kuzu root can be purchased dried, which has the added benefit of containing more water-soluble flavonoids that are often lost during starch production, and can be found in herbal teas. Widely marketed as kakkon, this herbal tea frequently contains a variety of other herbs (typically ginger, licorice and cinnamon) that can be combined to combat a variety of ailments. Upset tummies no more!Pharmaceutical AlternativeModern medicine is catching on to all the hype and is using kuzu root, or its extracted flavonoid puerarin, to reduce high blood pressure, regulate blood sugar, relieve chronic migraines and ease muscular tension. A few studies have even found that the consumption of flavonoids reduce the risk of cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. A strange twist to its medicinal value, kuzu has been getting a lot of press lately around its apparent ability to help treat chronic alcoholism. And, although the observed reduction in alcohol consumption was by no means overwhelming, it is another example of kuzu’s ability to help treat disease without the need for synthetic medicines. Kuzu Foods & DessertsNow to the important stuff: food! Kuzu is unsurpassed as a thickening agent and can produce sparkling sauces, gloss soups and provide a smooth texture to a wide variety of foods. Considering an indulgence? Kuzu can even be dusted on vegetables or fish prior to frying to provide a light and crisp coating. All awesome choices, but kuzu is most often utilized for its ability to help balance the acidity of sweets and is commonly used in desserts such as puddings, pies, icing and atop a variety of cakes. Kuzu’s superior jelling strength, taste, texture and healing attributes place it above other natural starches such as arrowroot and is healthier alternative to corn and potato starches that are highly processed and chemically treated. Simply adding crushed kuzu starch to fresh fruit and juice over low heat makes an amazing fruit sauce that will satisfy your sweet tooth and is a healthier alternative to artificial sugars and syrups. Ancient herbal remedies such as kuzu are a powerful, all natural source of healing that have proven extremely valuable in treating a number of everyday ailments and are now gaining widespread acceptance in the medical community for use in combating a variety of health concerns. By integrating natural remedies we can organically improve our health and wellness while avoiding modern pharmaceuticals and the potentially harmful side effects that they may cause. All this while enjoying an outstanding safety record is proof enough that ancient herbal remedies can be considered a valuable source of relief in our pursuit of total health and wellness.

3. Lotus Root

Lotus root contains many essential vitamins. Is a great source of Vitamin C, which helps boost the immunity of a person and fight viral infections.

The root also contains essential minerals like zinc, magnesium, copper and iron, which help the body in the production of red blood cells.

Lotus root is known for strengthening the respiratory system of a human body, which ultimately helps a person fight a number of diseases.

They are rich in dietary fiber and low on saturated fats, hence keeping a person's calorie count in check.With so many reasons this root vegetable gives to a human being, one should make sure to include in the diet regularly.