(NaturalNews) In the nineteenth century, Charles Darwin developed his theory of "natural selection" (later referred to as the "survival of the fittest"), about how a plant or animal`s ability to adapt to its environment will lead to a thinning of the herd. This concept is clearly evident in the plant kingdom today. When looking to propel yourself to the limits of your physical and mental capabilities, or when attempting to overcome a diagnosis that requires a focused approach and potent remedy, consider looking to those plants that have shown the greatest propensity to excel under the most difficult circumstances.
Many of the most nutritionally dense and medicinally potent superfoods and herbs have something in common. They grow in climates and under circumstances that might be classified as "extreme conditions."* Often times, the harsher the climate and more extreme the circumstances, the more robust and vigorous the resulting medicinal qualities of the plants are, and the more potential they have for delivering a therapeutic healing result, or to help steer your physiology in the desired direction.
Here are five foods that flourish when pushed to the limit by Mother Nature:
Camu Camu Berry: Imagine a fruit-bearing tree that is at various times partially submerged in flood plains. This gem from the Amazon is the most concentrated source of vitamin C in the world. Think of the medicinal potential of a bowl filled with oranges. That is essentially what is contained in a single Camu Camu berry.
Chaga Mushroom: This mushroom usually grows on birch trees in cold climates, such as northern areas of the U.S. and in Russia, including Siberia. It has shown the capacity to inhibit cancer tumor growth and is also a terrific overall immune system modulator.
Maca: This root vegetable is routinely subjected to extreme fluctuations in temperature while growing at an elevation of 14,000 feet in the Andes Mountains. This superfood provides terrific support for the endocrine system, helping to nourish glands and rebalance hormones.
Noni Fruit: Nothing demonstrates nature`s fury better than a volcanic eruption. Noni is a superfruit that can actually thrive while growing in volcanic soil. It delivers a multitude of health benefits, including anti-inflammatory effects and improved digestion.
All living plants: This includes plants growing anywhere from your front yard or garden to the Amazon Rainforest. A plant growing in your yard may not appear to be subjected to harsh conditions, but consider this: plants in the ground are subjected to an onslaught of attacks by microbes in the soil, and they must develop resistance and defenses to counter these attacks, which give them antiviral, antibiotic, and antifungal qualities that can ultimately be transferred to their end user.
Whether it is intense heat or brutal cold, extreme fluctuations in temperature, flood rains, or microbes in the soil, plants have the proven ability to adapt, survive, and flourish. As a result, plants not only survive nature`s fury, but they develop special health-enhancing, nutritional qualities that can be transferred to those who consume them.
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(Note: "Extreme conditions" refers to those elements and environmental circumstances brought forth by Mother Nature, not man-made extreme conditions, such as genetically engineered seeds created to withstand man-made herbicides in order to produce "frankenfoods" sold by an ethics-lacking corporate machine.)Resources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myrciaria_dubiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lepidium_meyeniihttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20607061http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survival_of_the_fittesthttp://www.straightfromtheclay.com/Noni-Fruit.htmlhttp://www.naturalnews.com/report_camu_camu_0.htmlhttp://www.soilandplantlaboratory.com/pdf/articles/BeneficialSoilMicrobes.pdfAbout the author
William Rudolph is a natural health enthusiast who enjoys researching and learning about natural health approaches and strategies, longevity techniques, and natural ways of achieving peak performance.
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