History of ingredients
Spirulina was THE superfood of the Aztecs. This incredibly nutrient dense algae has been documented in Spanish writings, and it was told that they would harvest the spirulina from lakes and then leave it to dry out in the sun producing green cakes. Once the cakes were dried out, the Aztec people would mix it with food or make bread out of it…. It was also taken with water by marathon runners when they were out on their long treks. The benefits of spirulina have been documented from as early as the 15th Century, so its hardly surprising that it it’s the main ingredient in Hence Green Stack.
Ashwaganda use dates to India in 6000 BC. The root is named ‘horse’ (ashwa) based on the logic that upon consumption, it gives you the power of one. Ashwaganda was documented regularly in the Ayurveda, which is India’s ancient tradition of medicine. It was used both topically and orally, and was used to reinvigorate the system and increase lifespan.
Yamabusitake (Lions Mane) is a mushroom that grows across Asia in mountainous areas. It has been said that Buddhist monks, over 2000 years ago, would use Lions Mane mushroom powder in their tea in order to boost brain power and optimise their focus whilst meditating.
Matcha can be traced back to the 7th century in China. The Tang Dynasty (7th – 10th Century), was when tea was established as China’s National drink. They would steam the tea leaves, make them into bricks, so that the tea harvest was easier to transport. However, it was only during the Song Dynasty (10th-13th Century) that these green tea leaves became popular. The seeds were transported to Japan by a Buddhist Monk, and were considered to be a luxury item and a status symbol as it was produced in limited quantities. It was here, in Japan, that they developed a new method for growing the green tea, by planting it in shaded conditions. To this very day, the method that they formulated is credited for maximising matcha’s health benefits.
Curcuma (turmeric) has been used in India for the last 4000 years, but originally was used primarily for Religious ceremonies. However, the understanding of the benefits of turmeric is only fairly recent. Over 3000 publications worldwide have been made on the uses of turmeric over the last 25 year, and its advantages are continuing to be further investigated. Rightly so!
Broccoli Sprout and its benefits have only been discovered in recent years. You might think that the broccoli sprout boasts the same nutritional value of the ever popular broccoli, but you would in fact be wrong! Broccoli was cultivated in Italy during ancient Roman times and was introduced to England and American in the 1700s. The sprout of the broccoli plant is grown over a few days, then harvested, the sprout then being used in things like salads. Broccoli sprout is much higher in glucoraphanin than the full grown broccoli plant. The body converts glucoraphanin into sulforaphane which is an anti-inflammatory and protects against a wide range of diseases. In 1997, a piece in the New York Times drew peoples attention to the broccoli sprout’s cancer fighting properties, and since then its popularity has increased.
Black pepper extract is one of the earliest spices known. In early historic times, pepper was cultivated in South East Asia. Pepper became an important trade item between India and Europe and served as a valuable medium of exchange. Pepper has been commonly used in Ayurveda, India’s ancient tradition of medicine, for the use of aiding the digestive tract.