JAMAICAN SORREL/RED SORREL
Jamaican Sorrel is a vibrant red flower, with petals that can be eaten. (not to be confused with another plant also named Sorrel, that is green in colour). It has a sweet, slightly tarty, floral taste just like cranberries but without the strong tarty taste.
Sorrel has been used in traditional medicine for centuries if not, thousands of years and was native to Africa, but made its way over to the Caribbean during the transatlantic slave trade.
Since its first planting on the Island of Jamaica, Sorrel became known as Jamaican Sorrel or Red Sorrel.
In Jamaica, as Sorrel lives and dies in one season around New Year, then you’re more than likely to come across its dried flowers.
The Jamaican Sorrel dried flowers are available in other countries, including the UK or Ethiopia, but as of yet, I have only ever seen it available for sale as a dried flower, so you will need to use your imagination and create a drink with the dried flowers, unless you know someone who is willing to share their homemade drink or recipe. It can be consumed both hot or cold with whatever ingredients you decide to add. I prefer to add a little natural ginger, cinnamon and honey.
Research shows that Sorrel is beneficial for high blood pressure, weight loss, coughs and colds, hangovers and some cancers. It is also beneficial for skin conditions such as acne and eczema because of its antioxidant properties. The powerful antioxidant is called Protocatechuic (PROTO-CAT-E-CHU-IC) acid. It is more powerful than vitamin E and it actually scavenges for free radicals roaming around the body.
As a quick reminder, free radicals are created by the UV rays of the sun, by pollution, the air we breathe, stress, medication, the things we eat & drink, our tap water, etc. These are responsible for our skin damage, skin ageing and collagen loss, which can not only make the skin sag and wrinkle, but also cause the dull, uneven skin tone and pigmentation scarring issues, after our acne has gone.
…And, that’s only the skin.
I didn’t even mention body issues like arthritis!
Did I mention yet that Jamaican Sorrel has anti-inflammatory properties which will benefit your acne further?
I know for myself that when I can feel the acne cyst starting to make an appearance on my face; Sorrel & Ginger tea, as well as Moringa tea, Golden Turmeric Milk with cinnamon, are all my main go-to drinks as they all have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and the added advantage of tasting gorgeous.
Ginger is pretty much always added to Jamaican Sorrel drinks, because as well as tasting nice, and giving your drink that zingy kick, our ancestors knew that by combining the two ingredients, you have a double whammy drink that targets not only inflammation around the body, but also on your skin, and ultimately this will benefit your eczema and acne.
Not only do Jamaican Sorrel and Ginger when combined have extremely high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Individually they are potent.
Sorrel is rich in Iron, Selenium, Copper, Manganese, Chromium and Phosphorous.
- Iron aids in the healing of acne (wound healing).
- Selenium: Hormone balancing, anti-inflammatory, fight infection
- Copper – a deficiency can cause acne by promoting the production of sebum (the skin’s natural oil) and inflammation.
- Manganese – amongst other things it keeps the antioxidant defences performing at their top level of cleaning up those free radicals.
- Chromium aids in the production of collagen
- Phosphorous is responsible for the growth, repair and maintenance of all tissues and cells in the body and it also filters out toxins.
GINGER
There are approximately 30 chemicals in ginger, and they all help to alleviate the inflammation, discomfort and irritation caused by acne and eczema.
Just like Sorrel, it doesn’t just deal with the symptoms on the skin, it also works on the entire body. It stimulates blood flow and can boost the skin’s overall health and can actually help prevent premature skin ageing.
As well as adding ginger to drinks, you can cook with it, or simply take it as a supplement. If you scrub it and clean it well, you don’t have to peel it. I also like to freeze it because I don’t have to defrost it. I just use it straight out of the freezer.
When ingested, ginger can help to fight the acne scars and dark spots caused by our pesky skin issues. But, as with many natural ingredients, as well as being taken orally it can be used topically.
Did I mention that ginger also has antimicrobial properties? In other words, it helps fight the microbes on the surface of the skin, that cause acne.
Of course, everything that I’m talking about is only as good as the work you put in, so if you’re still eating crap then…
CRAP IN EQUALS CRAP OUT!
Considering everything I have said about Sorrel and Ginger, the one most important factor for me is how good they both taste together.
What more can I say?
You’re enjoying a tasty beverage and also getting health benefits from it!
Alison x
For more information, watch our YouTube video: @ Tigs and Moo Naturals
Food & Drinks That Help Fight Acne: Jamaican Sorrel & Ginger
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