Agar Agar a medicinal super food

Agar agar, aka kanten, seaweed gelatin, China grass, sea vegetable gelatin (gelatina vegetal). Agar agar is a sea weed extract that is mostly found in health food stores and supermarkets, especially Asian supermarkets in a white powder or thread form. The thread form looks like translucent plastic threads. Agar agar is also used as a vegan substitute for gelatin. 

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Uses of Agar Agar

• Medicinally, agar has several applications. For instance, it is used as a mild laxative that can help in removing toxins, fats and sugar from the gut. Since it absorbs glucose from the stomach and passes through the gut quickly, agar agar is ideal for people with type 2 diabetes melitus. Additionally, it also absorbs cholesterol and is therefore good for lowering cholesterol. In fact, agar agar is even used as a more effective and vegan substitute for gelatin for treating bone, cartilage and joint damage. In fact, its use can prevent the need for operations like hip and knee replacement. Since it helps to regenerate tissue and organs, agar agar is even repairs kidney and heart damage. In fact, it is simply useful in the treatment of all diseases and injuries, including heart disease, cancer, Alzheimers and Parkinsons disease. Since agar agar can contribute to the reversal of any disease (and improvement of one's general health), its use may contribute to not needing / avoiding stem cell transplants (a common treatment for some types of cancer). Yes, it is also good estrogen-dependent cancers like breast cancer, ovarian tumors and uterine cancer. It is common for medical use to involve one serving daily for up to 2 months, 30 minutes before meals or 2 hours after meals. However, do NOT use agar agar if you have viral or bacterial infections (as it promotes microbial growth).
• For weight loss and as a high fiber, vegan health food in ice cream, jelly desserts, meal replacement recipes, 'milk' thickeners and so on. As with any other algae, it is rich in iodine and trace minerals. It is often used for weight loss because it is free of sugar, carbs, fat and calories but has lots of fiber. Furthermore, agar agar is free from starch, soy, corn, gluten, yeast, wheat, milk, egg and preservatives. Agar allows you to create solid forms from liquids to the extent that the end product may be sliced with a knife, chewed and swallowed. Although having 0 calories, it has a slightly sweet taste. Although the taste of end products can be the same as gelatin (an animal product), agar agar renders end products with a different feel. For instance, agar agar products do not have the same soft and bouncy feeling as gelatin. Agar agar is commonly used to thicken soups, ice creams and to create fruit desserts. NB, Agar agar is free of taste, odor or color. NB it will not set in certain conditions, namely in wine, vinegar, distilled water, foods rich in oxalic acid (like chocolate, spinach, beets, beet greens, wheat germ, peanuts).
• Cosmetically, agar agar can be used to soften and moisturize the skin and hair. It can therefore be used in soap, ointments, lotions and creams, especially since it has anti-wrinkling properties. It has been said to be used in toothpaste.

Agar Agar in Powder Form

Quantity to use is roughly 1 tsp powder : 1.3 cups liquid for a sold product that can be cut with a knife.

• Add the powder to only cold water or other clear liquid that allows you to see how well it dissolves. (It will form clumps if added to hot water). 
• Whisk and bring to a boil until the powder is completely dissolved. Check whether the agar agar has completely dissolved by looking at the solution while it pours out of a spoon. 
• Continue whisking until the end to ensure the agar agar does not settle and create a gel layer at the bottom of the pot.
• Dissolve sugar if you wish the sweet taste. 
• Turn off the heat and quickly add fruit puree (and lime to taste if you wish), tea, milk and or juice. 
• Pour into the mold while still hot. Get rid of air bubbles before the liquid cools and sets by stirring around them with a spoon and or tapping the bottom of a firm mold on a hard surface. 
• Add chunks of fruit and pieces of leaves (like mint for instance). 
• Allow to set either at room temperature or in the refrigerator. (Unlike gelatin, agar agar does not need to be refrigerated in order to set). If you wish to pour different layers, use a fork to stick holes in the first layer when it has already fully set before pouring the second layer. Do not worry about melting the first layer since agar agar does not melt easily with heat.

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Agar Agar in Strand Form

Quantity to use is roughly 1/3 cup of chopped up strands : 1.3 cups liquid for a sold product that can be cut with a knife.

• Soak the strands in cold water or  other clear liquid that allows you to see how well it dissolves for 15 minutes. 
• When soft and hydrated, simmer for roughly 5 minutes or until the pieces are completely dissolved.
• Follow the steps used for the powder form after the powder is thoroughly dissolved in hot liquid. (See above)

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MORE RELATED TO AGAR AGAR AS A MEDICINAL SUPER FOOD

• Bone health
• Learn about the pancreas, insulin and diabetes
• A liver and gall bladder flush to help protect against diabetes 
• More health recipes

• Speedup digestion
• Fermented foods (sauerkraut, vegan yogurts)
• Sauerkraut (full instructions)
• Fermented vegetables
• High protein yogurt with chickpeas
• Extra creamy yogurt with oats
• DIY chickpea yogurt
• Oat yogurt
• Vegan milks and other drinks
• Creamy rice milk
• Water kefir
• Tofu
• Chickpea tofu
• Breakfast or snacks
• Vegan Caribbean Christmas cake
• Pink (beetroot) pancake recipe
• Tortillas (Green spinach)
• Protein granola bar
• Pizza
• Barbadian (aka Bajan) conkies
• Rice and beans aka gallo pinto
• Other
• Vegan eggs
• Topping (guacamole inspired)
• Papaya salad to improve enzyme activity and improve digestive health
• Sprouts (lentils)
• Ghee (not vegan)

No flush for Master Cleanse Salt Water Flush & Kidney Health

From time to time, friends join me for my customized cleanse programs. Some of my protégés opt for fasting and using the salt water flush (SWF). This post is inspired by a question posed by one such person. She inquired about the success rate of the SWF.

The salt water flush (SWF) involves drinking a specific saline solution that is followed by a bowel movement of that still unabsorbed solution along with intestinal waste within usually 45 minutes. This bowel movement is often called a ‘flush’. While this process is straightforward and generally works without a problem, some people may experience a ‘no flush’.

Cleanses can be diagnostic

There are several possible reasons. Read about edema that may (not) indicate unhealthy kidneys. However, one reason of particular concern involves stressed or diseased kidneys. It is useful to first note that, among other things, the kidneys balance the body’s salt concentration and fluids. Healthy kidneys do not become overworked by drinking the salt water drink. They leave the salt unabsorbed which in turn allows the solution to scrub and detoxify the colon. Conversely, unhealthy kidneys may absorb the salt and, in turn, prevent a flush.

Furthermore, a no flush is a sign that cleansing is not likely to occur as required. This is specifically because the kidneys are a final point of filtration and detoxification. Kidney cleansing and general health should therefore be among the earliest objectives when undertaking any cleansing program.

What to do if you experience a ‘no flush’

• Do not drink any more salt water, particularly if you already suffer from diabetes and or hypertension. Some master cleanse practitioners suggest altering the amount of salt. However, I suggest avoiding this either immediately or at all. If the SWF is somehow unsuitable for your body either on one attempt or in general, it is best to allow your body to rest and process the extra un-evacuated salt before proceeding further. After all, holding excessive amounts of salt is likely to further overwork your kidneys in another of its functions, ie to filter waste from the blood and drain in out via urine. Clearly, this is counterproductive in a detox. Cleansing with naturopathic control involves sympathetically listening to the needs of the body and applying ‘no harm’. In short, that means reacting as though the kidneys were children, not through bullying them for being stubborn but tending to a clear need for healing.
• As an option to fasting, revert to an extra light, cleansing version of the ease-in phase.
• Make treating the kidneys an immediate priority, especially if you have noticed symptoms that often signal stressed or diseased kidneys (like painful urination, excessive sleep, fatigue, hypertension, insomnia, nausea, loss of appetite, shortened attention span, shortness of breath and itchy skin). For instance, all teas, soups, snacks and so on should exclusively or mostly include ingredients that treat the kidneys. In fact, you may even continue to drink the master cleanse lemonade because its ingredients will help to treat the kidneys. You can even continue to work simultaneously on other phases like parasite cleansing and the liver cleanse. 
• If you are particularly keen on having a thorough bowel movement, do one or both of two options. Use senna tea as a laxative. Avoid psyllium husk as a laxative. A senna-related bowel movement is likely to occur within a few hours. The second option involves performing enemas with ingredients that are particularly healthful for the kidneys. These ingredients include rhubarb, concha ostrease, dandelion and liquorice.

Treating the kidneys is for the long haul

Natural kidney treatment can improve kidney health and is therefore as important as more popular cleanses of the colon and liver. However, depending on the particular kidney health problem you may have, effective natural kidney treatment may need to extend well beyond a short cleansing period. For instance, this may involve incorporating special attention on the kidneys may into your daily life for several months, or even years before significant improvements are noticeable.

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CONTENT RELATED TO NO FLUSH MASTER CLEANSE SALT WATER FLUSH & KIDNEY HEALTH:

• Kidney flush enemas
• Day by day cleansing program
• Do a colon cleanse with aloe vera
• Take Control! Subscribe to our YouTube channel
• Potassium (like in the form of bananas) is often recommended for edema