March 13, 2016

Wild Green Oats Boost Dopamine

Have you ever wondered why you no longer can process information and focus quite as well as you did in your youth? Or have you ever pondered as to why it is so difficult for some people to stay away from the dessert table or quit smoking? The answer may be due to one common denominator that resides within your brain…dopamine. What is Dopamine? Dopamine is known as the “feel-good” neurotransmitter that signals neurons to regulate mood and brain function and plays a large role in reward behavior. Around age 45–60, the enzyme that breaks down dopamine, called monoamine oxidase-B […]
March 10, 2016

Ginseng: Supports a Healthy Libido

The term ginseng refers to a family of plants belonging to the group Panax, the roots of which have been used in traditional healing for millennia. While ginseng has been cultivated in East Asian countries, including China, Korea, Vietnam, and Bhutan, the ginseng that is arguably the most prized grows wild in North America, specifically in Wisconsin and Canada. Siberian ginseng is completely different from Asian and American ginseng. Nevertheless, this herb has benefits of its own.    Ginseng is an Adaptogen Ginseng is known as an adaptogen, meaning that it helps the body adapt to a variety of conditions. The […]
March 9, 2016

EWG’s Dietary Guidelines Give Straight Facts

WASHINGTON– EWG’s new Dietary Guidelines give people solid nutrition advice and highlight the shortcomings of the Obama administration’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans released earlier this month, which were confusing to consumers and overly influenced by the $1 trillion-a-year food industry. “These guidelines serve the public interest, not the vested interests,” said Ken Cook, president and co-founder of EWG. The government’s guidelines watered down evidence that a plant-based diet is better for health and the environment by not clearly advising Americans to eat less meat. These guidelines did not explain the serious health risks of exposure to mercury in certain fish. […]
March 7, 2016

10 Reasons To Oppose The Senate DARK Act

This week, the Senate Committee on Agriculture will consider a new version of the DARK Act. The House of Representatives has already passed legislation blocking your right to know what’s in your food. Here are the top 10 reasons to oppose the Senate version of the DARK Act: Americans have a right to know – Nine out of ten Americans want the right to know what’s in their food and how it’s grown – regardless of age, income or even party affiliation. 64 nations have GMO labeling – Two-thirds of the world’s consumers – including citizens of Russia and China […]
February 23, 2016

Dong Quai: The Female Ginseng

Dong quai is a root known as the “female ginseng.” Ginseng is well-known for its ability to support endurance, memory, sexual function (particularly for men), and heart health. Dong quai’s use in Chinese medicine has been documented for more than one thousand years, mainly for easing women’s menopausal symptoms, which is why it’s called the “female ginseng.” But it’s not just for women. It can actually benefit men and women alike with many other aspects of health including mood, bone, joints, lungs, brain, and heart. Female Ginseng Offers Relief from Female Hormone Issues Like ginseng, dong quai is used as a […]
February 21, 2016

Does Berberine Fight Diabetes?

Berberine is a yellow compound found in several different plants including barberry, goldenseal, phellodendron and Oregon grape. Berberine has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and immune enhancing properties, but in recent years, much research has been published around its role in protecting against cardiovascular disease as well as treating diabetes and insulin resistance. How does It work? Berberine activates a specific enzyme called adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, or AMPK. AMPK is also sometimes called the “metabolic master switch” because it plays an important role in regulating metabolism in the body. Increased AMPK activity benefits the body in so many ways. For those with […]
February 17, 2016

Leafy Veggies Support Good Bacteria

An article reported on February 15, 2016 in Nature Chemical Biology reveals the discovery of Spencer Williams of the University of Melbourne and colleagues of an enzyme needed by beneficial bacteria in order to feed on a sugar known as sulfoquinovose (SQ), which is abundantly produced by leafy, green vegetables. “We discovered the enzyme YihQ, which is used by bacteria to absorb and metabolize these sulfur-containing sugars as food,” explained Dr Williams. “Sulfur is critical for building proteins, the essential components of all living organisms. Sulfoquinovose is the only sugar molecule which contains sulfur, and ‘digestion’ of the molecule by bacteria […]