Poppy oil is a light yellow liquid with a mild, slightly bitter taste and exceptionally high linoleic acid (a polyunsaturated fat) content.
How to make it
Clean and dry the poppy seeds, and then extrude the oil in a press to obtain cold pressed poppy oil. Keep the oil in a larger container until it settles, and then store it in bottles in a dry, dark place to be used within the next 9 months. This oil is the number 1 maintenance agent of bones, as it stops the deteriorating process of bones, and then it starts rebuilding them.
Dosage
- To maintain bone mass: 1-2 teaspoons daily
- To treat osteoporosis: 3-4 teaspoons daily with meals
Poppy is a real treasure in the culinary culture of many peoples as it is relatively easy to cultivate and it has many beneficial properties. It is rich in amino acids, fatty acids, phosphorus, calcium, potassium, magnesium and iron. It has been known for a long time that it slows down the aging process and it lowers blood pressure. Because of its fatty acid composition it prevents thrombosis and embolism. It optimizes the cholesterol level in the blood, it improves the defense mechanisms of the body, and it speeds up the healing of wounds. It enhances brain power, it strengthens the nerves, it reduces pain in the nerves, and it has a calming effect. It has high phosphorus content, a mineral responsible for the absorption of calcium, and for building calcium into the bones. However, it is important to know that poppy seed oil is a dietary supplement, not a medicine, and its beneficial effect starts manifesting over a longer period of time. To enhance its positive effects, it is recommended that poppy seed oil is consumed with other healthy oils (flax seed oil, walnut oil).
During the research, two groups of 20 subjects each were formed, both of whose members were women suffering from osteoporosis. The members of one group received traditional treatment, whereas the members of the other group consumed 1 teaspoon of poppy seed oil per day. The results convinced everybody: the bone structure of the women treated with the oil showed normal values after a 12-16 month treatment.
Poppy seed oil is not a medicine, but a healthy food; therefore, it needs to be consumed for a long time to exert its beneficial effects.
Osteoporosis is a very widespread disease among aging women, but lots of men also suffer from it. In countries with an aging population this disease will become even more common.
The bone structure of the human body is solid and hard, but it is subject to a constant change. The bones are made of a dense outer crust and a spongy inner tissue, with three kinds of cells responsible for three different functions: destroying bone, building bone, and making up the basic structure of the bone.
The development of the human bones starts in the mother’s womb, and the density of the bones peaks at around 25-30 years of age. Ideally, the density of the bone mass doesn’t change during the following years; however, it is very difficult to maintain this ideal situation with proper nutrition and appropriate exercise.
In the buildup of the bones and in the prevention of bone mass loss, hormones play a significant part. With the approaching of old age, the process of bone mass destruction slows down, but the building process becomes even slower, not being able to keep up with the destruction process. When bone mass density reaches a critical low, the bone will break as a result of the slightest impact. Physical activity, the work of the muscles, has a proven beneficial effect on maintaining high bone density. For example, lack of muscle work results in a severe bone mass loss in the matter of a few months when astronauts spend time in the space.
Unfortunately we can’t influence genetics, the most significant risk factor of osteoporosis; the highest possible bone mass and the quality of our bones is determined by our genes in as much as 80%. Our gender and age are also factors we can’t do anything about – the top bone mass density level of women is lower to begin with, it decreases drastically after menopause, and it continues to deteriorate with old age.
Osteoporosis doesn’t cause any symptoms at the beginning. Pain will occur only after microscopical breaks in the bones. The pain is more frequent in the back, at the lower back and in the hips. The pain will increase if a person stands for a prolonges period, and it will suddenly appear when he or she uses stairs or lifts a heavy object. The pain subsides during resting periods or in the lying position, and it increases during exertion. Later on, the pain will become permanent especially in the spine, even during the night.
A sign of osteoporosis is the changing of body structure and posture: body height may decrease even 10-15 centimeters, resunting in oblique folds on the upper body; the back becomes rounded, the pelvis prortudes forward, and the lower ribs lean on the hip bone. A skinny figure and atrophic muscles are also characteristic signs, along with an unsteady gait, a result of the shifted center of gravity.