Collagen is the main protein of connective tissue in animals and the most abundant protein in mammals, making up about 25% to 35% of the whole-body protein content. It is naturally found exclusively in metazoa (multicellular animals), including sponges. In muscle tissue it serves as a major component of endomysium (a layer of connective tissue which surrounds individual muscle fibers). Collagen constitutes 1% to 2% of muscle tissue, and accounts for 6% of the weight of strong, tedious muscles. It is responsible for skin elasticity, and its degradation leads to wrinkles that accompany aging.
胶原蛋白是一种生物性高分子物质。在动物细胞中扮演结合组织的角色。为生物科技产业最具关键性的原材料之一，也是需求量十分庞大的最佳生医材料。其应用领域包括生医材料、化妆品、食品工业、研究用途等。现在胶原蛋白正慢慢进入美容护肤领域. 胶原蛋白是人体组织结构的主要成分之一，也是人体内含量最多的一种蛋白质，约占人体蛋白质总量的25-33%，相当于人体体重的6%，它遍及全身的各个组 织器官，如：皮肤、骨骼、软骨、韧带、角膜、各种内膜、筋膜等，是维持皮肤与组织器官形态、结构的主要成分，也是修复各损伤组织的重要原料物质。
胶原蛋白被称为“骨中之骨，肤中之肤”，可以说是真皮层强有力的后盾，其对皮肤的作用不言而喻。不要小看它，你的皮肤这么光滑，这么水嫩，这么有弹性吗？还是多亏了胶原蛋白。段建华告诉记者，胶原蛋白对皮肤的好处，具体表现在以下几个方面。
保湿：胶原蛋白含亲水性的天然保湿因子，而且三螺旋结构能强劲锁住水分，让皮肤时刻保持湿润、水嫩的状态！
滋养：活性胶原蛋白对皮肤的渗透性强，可透过角质层与皮肤上皮细胞结合，参与和改善皮肤细胞的代谢，使皮肤中的胶原蛋白活性加强。它能保持角质层水分及纤维结构的完整性，改善皮肤细胞生存环境和促进皮肤组织的新陈代谢，增强血液循环，达到滋润皮肤的目的。
亮肤：皮肤的光泽取决于含水量，胶原蛋白良好的保水能力使皮肤水润亮泽，散发健康的光彩。
紧肤：当胶原蛋白被皮肤吸收后，填充在皮肤真皮之间，增加皮肤紧密度，产生皮肤张力，缩小毛孔，使皮肤紧绷而富有弹性！
防皱：真皮中丰满的胶原蛋白层，将皮肤细胞撑起，结合保湿和抑制皱纹的作用，共同达到舒展粗纹，淡化细纹的功效！
修复：活性胶原蛋白能直接渗入肌肤底层，且与周围组织的亲和性好，可协助细胞制造成胶原蛋白，促使皮肤细胞正常成长。同时，活性胶原蛋白本身还具有消炎和更新肌肤的作用。
营养：胶原蛋白对皮肤的渗透性强，可透过角质层与皮肤上皮细胞结合，参与和改善皮肤细胞的代谢，使皮肤中的胶原蛋白活性加强。它能保持角质层水分及纤维结构的完整性，改善皮肤细胞生存环境和促进皮肤组织的新陈代谢，增强血液循环，达到滋润皮肤的目的。
Cordyceps is a genus of ascomycete (Sac Fungi) fungi that includes about 400 described species. All Cordyceps species are endoparasitoids, mainly on insects and other arthropods (they are thus entolopathogenic fungi), a few are parasitic on other fungi. The best known species of the genus is Cordyceps sinensis, first recorded as yartsa gunbu in Tibet in the 15th Century. The Latin etymology describes cord as "club", ceps as "head", and sinensis as "chinese". Cordyceps sinensis, known in English commonly as caterpillar fungus is considered a medicinal mushroom in oriental medicines, such as trasitional Chinese medicines and tradisional Tibetan medicine.
Cordyceps sinensis containing about 7%, 28.9% carbohydrates, fat, about 8.4%, protein 25%, fat 82.2% for the unsaturated fatty acids, in addition, still contain vitamin B12, ergosterol and six carbon sugar alcohol, such as alkaloids.
冬虫夏草 （学名：Cordyceps sinensis），又名中华虫草，是中国传统的名贵中药材，它是由肉座目麦角菌科虫草属的冬虫夏草菌寄生于高山草甸土中的蝠蛾幼虫，使幼虫僵化，在适宜条件下，夏季由僵虫头端抽生出长棒状的子座而形成（即冬虫夏草菌的子实体与僵虫菌核（幼虫尸体）构成的复合体）。它主要产于中国青海、西藏、西川、云南、甘萧、贵州等省及自治区的高寒地带和雪山草原。药理学现代研究结果中，青海冬虫夏草含有虫草酸约7%，碳水化合物28.9%，脂肪约8.4%，蛋白质约25%，脂肪中82.2%为不饱和脂肪酸，此外，尚含有维生素B12、麦角脂醇、六碳糖醇、生物碱等。
Bird's Nest from Traditional and Modern Chinese Medication's Point of View.
(Chinese Medication Dictionary) Bird's Nest is used as restorative and remedial food since the Ching dynasty as recorded in (Major Herbs Guidebook) and (Major Herbs Digest). Previous clinical researches have concluded that bird's nest has a (sweet and calm) character. Bird's nest contributed medical benefits to lung, stomach and kidney neural system. Several ancient medicine books such as (New Major Herbs), (Southern Mountain Chronicle) and (New Herbs Revised) all recorded plenty of detail of bird's nest remedial benefits.
Bird's Nest from a Nutrition Point of View
The main nutrition contents of bird's nest are carbohydrate (30%) and protein (5%) although its protein content can be compare to that of milk or eggs. Bird’s nest also contains plenty of calcium and phosphorus, as well as some iron and iodine. There are still some other untraced compositions that may have medical benefits; hence we can not judge its value by the main nutrition contents alone.
Bird's Nest from a Biochemical Point of View
The book (Evaluate Bird's Nest) written by a biochemist has also proven that protein contained in bird's nest have some bioactive elements which might have nourishing and replenishing effects on humans body.
The experts conclude that bird's nest has three main functions:
1. Enhances the rebirth of cells and tissues.
2. Improves the immune system functions of our body
3. Improves the body's tolerance toward the damage done by X-rays or other radioactive reagents.
Bird's nest is an excellent restorative food with a sweet and calm character; it is good for any age or gender
Ladies: Frequent consumption result in fairer skin, helps to stay young and look radiant.
Pregnant Women: Consumption during pregnancy will improve immune functions of the fetus and the mothers will be able to recover easily after giving birth.
Elders: Clears phlegm, strengthen lungs and kidneys, improves spleen as well as enhances appetite.
Children: Enhances immune ability, not inclined to get colds or flu
Men: Improves kidney and strengthens lungs, so not inclined to get weak.
燕窝在传统中医和现代中医的表现
燕窝是中医界历来被誉为滋补佳品.很早就有关燕窝的记载.《本草纲要》中提及：【燕窝甘淡平，养胃润肺，止咳化痰补而能清，为调理虚劳、滋阴养颜、补虚之圣药】。现代科学研究表明：燕窝含有丰富的氨基酸、蛋白质和微量元素，能养阴润燥，益气补中，健脾补肺，治损补虚等.
燕窝的营养学观点
燕窝的主要营养成分是30%的碳水化合物和5%的蛋白质,并含有大量的钙和磷以及一些铁和碘.至今燕窝里仍有一些未被人认识的成分,到目前为止还不能为其医疗作用下结论.
燕窝的生物化学观点
燕窝可以增强体质，补充体能，加快疾病康复和增强免疫力。一只可食的燕窝中的特定动物蛋白质具有以下三个功能:
1. 促进细胞的再生
2. 提高细胞免疫力
3. 提高单个细胞受的对X 射线的损伤抵抗力。
燕窝性平味甘,是适合任何性别和年龄段的滋补佳品
妇女:燕窝中的表皮生长因子和水提物质强烈刺激细胞再生、分裂、组织重建调、节内分泌循环,使皮肤滑嫩红润光泽.
孕妇:孕妇食用燕窝能使未来新生儿更强壮、白皙、漂亮、抵抗能力增强、不易生病.妊娠后的产妇食用燕窝能更快更好的恢复元气和体形.
老人:大养肺阴、化痰止咳,维持健康、延年益寿.
儿童:促进食欲、提高吸收能力,增强免疫力,不易感冒.
青壮年:滋补强身、增强体力、补肾固精.
Lavender 薰衣草
The lavenders (Lavandula) are a genus of 39 species of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae, native to the Midirerrance region south to tropical Africa and to the southeast regions of India. The genus includes annuals, herbaceous plants, subshrubs, and small shrubs. The native range extends across the Canary Islands, North and East Africa, Southern Europe and the Mediterranean, Arabia and India. The cultivated forms are planted in gardens world-wide, they are occasionally found growing wild as garden escapees, well beyond their natural range. However, since lavender cross-pollinates easily, there are countless variations within the species. The color of its flowers has come to be called lavender.
Lavenders are widely grown in gardens. Flower spikes are used for dried flower arrangements. The fragrant, pale purple flowers and flower buds are used in potpourris. Dried and sealed in pouches, they are placed among stored items of clothing to give a fresh fragrance and as a deterrent to moths.
The plant is also grown commercially for extraction of lavender oil from the flowers. This oil is used as an antiseptic and for aromatherapy. Lavender is also used extensively as herbal filler inside sachets used to freshen linens and discourage moths from closets and drawers.
薰衣草屬 （学名：Lavandula）原產地由地中海地區、南至熱带非洲、東至印度、非洲北部和東部、南欧洲南部、地中海等地區。
因為可栽培的品種被廣泛栽培在世界各地的栽培園裡，人們偶爾也能在許多非原產地發現從園裡飄逸出來的種子形成的野生狀態的薰衣草族群。
狹葉薰衣草是本屬最常被栽培的種類，目前已經培育出很多不同類型的品種。其他常種植來觀賞的種類有西班牙薰衣草、齒葉薰衣草和蕨葉薰衣草。
薰衣草的花穗可以做乾燥花和飾品。淡紫色、有香味的花和花蕾可以做香罐和香包，把乾燥的花密封在袋子內便可做成香包，將香包放在衣櫃內，可以使衣服帶有清香，並且可以防止蟲蛀。薰衣草的商業栽培，主要是要取得薰衣草的花來提取薰衣草精油，薰衣草精油可以做为杀菌剂芳香疗法時使用的香精油。
薰衣草的花會分泌大量的花蜜，這些花蜜可以生產高品品质蜂蜜，地中海周邊的國家是薰衣草蜂蜜的主要產地。薰衣草的花可以做薰衣草果酱，可以做為西點蛋糕的材料及裝飾物。薰衣草可以在烹調食物時，做為辛香料使用。
Green Olive 橄榄
Olive oil's health benefits
Olives are high in Manounsaturated fat, iron, Vitamin E and dietary fiber. The beneficial health effects of olive oil are due to both its high content of monounsaturated fatty acids and its high content of antioxidative substances. Studies have shown that olive oil offers protection against heart disease by controlling LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels while raising HDL (the "good" cholesterol) levels. No other naturally produced oil has as large an amount of monounsaturated as olive oil -mainly oleic acid. Olive oil is very well tolerated by the stomach. In fact, olive oil's protective function has a beneficial effect on ulcers and gastritis. Olive oil activates the secretion of bile and pancreatic hormones much more naturally than prescribed drugs.
Types of olive oil:
Extra virgin - considered the best, least processed, comprising the oil from the first pressing of the olives.
Virgin - from the second pressing.
Pure - undergoes some processing, such as filtering and refining.
Extra light - undergoes considerable processing and only retains a very mild olive flavour.
橄榄油在地中海沿岸国家有几千年的历史， 在西方被誉为“液体黄金”，“植物油皇后”，“地中海甘露”，原因就在于其极佳的天然保健功效,美容功效和理想的烹调用途。可供食用的高档橄榄油是用初熟 或成熟的油橄榄鲜果通过物理冷压榨工艺提取的天然果油汁，是世界上唯一以自然状态的形式供人类食用的木本植物油。它原产地中海沿岸诸国。人类对它的栽培历 史已有数千年之久。橄榄油以其独特理化指标与保健功能，正在逐步成为新世纪理想的食用油。在西方很多国家已普遍使用橄榄油，如果拿普通色拉油和橄榄油比较，色拉油呈透明黄 色，闻起来有明显的油脂味，入锅后有少许青烟；橄榄油颜色黄中透绿，闻着有股诱人的清香味，入锅后一种蔬果香味贯穿炒菜的全过程，它不会破坏蔬菜的颜色， 也没有任何油腻感。
