Willow bark has an important place in medicine and in human history. Known by many names– pussy willow, purple willow, black willow, it is traditionally used to reduce pain and fever and was the original source of salicin, a chemical similar to aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) from which the drug was created in the 1800’s. The medicinal use of willow bark dates to 400 BC when people were advised to chew on the bark to reduce fever and inflammation in the body. Since then it has been used in many cultures for these purposes. Willow bark contains many benefits to the […]
Thirty-year-old Jim related his recent striking experience: “I’m sitting at my desk at work, when all of a sudden
A comforting and creamy chowder that features sweet potatoes and corn, two foods that, if consumed often, are linked to lower rates of heart disease and obesity. Sweet potatoes, especially, are a great source of potassium, which can blunt the impact of high sodium intakes to maintain a healthful blood pressure. Sweet Potato & Spicy Corn Chowder with Shrimp Ingredients: 1 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil ½ cup celery, diced 1½ cups finely chopped red bell pepper 1 small yellow onion, diced 2 cloves garlic, minced 4 cups fresh or frozen corn, thawed 1 chipotle pepper, seeded and minced (from a can of chipotles in adobo) ½ jalapeno, seeded and […]
Could you be low in essential vitamins and minerals? Learn how to spot nutrient shortfalls in your diet based on chronic symptoms. Symptom: Symmetric low-back pain. Possible deficiency: Vitamin D. Sun exposure generates less vitamin D in darker-skinned people and the elderly. Obesity increases the risk of vitamin D deficiency, too. What to eat: Salmon, egg yolks, vitamin D-fortified milk, and vitamin D-enhanced mushrooms. Supplement with: 6,000 IU vitamin D3 daily for eight weeks for deficiency, then 1,500−2,000 IU daily to maintain levels. Symptom: Swollen and/or bleeding gums. Possible deficiency: Vitamin C. About 6 percent of U.S. adults are […]
Every morning, many of us sip our coffee with no real thought given to the beans behind the brew. But coffee beans are extraordinarily complex fruits containing thousands of beneficial compounds — only a handful of which have ever been individually investigated by scientists. Not only is coffee packed with antioxidants, but it’s the greatest source of antioxidants in the American diet. The average American coffee drinker consumes about 3 cups of coffee a day, but extensive research has found that higher volumes — even as high as 12 cups daily — can help prevent most of the age-related diseases that are killing […]
Turns out, the specific diet which is shown to reduce stroke risk may also reduce the risk of depression. People who eat vegetables, fruit and whole grains may have lower rates of depression over time, according to a preliminary study conducted by American Academy of Neurology. The study found that people whose diets adhered more closely to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet were less likely to develop depression than people who did not closely follow the diet. In addition to fruit and vegetables, the DASH diet recommends fat-free or low-fat dairy products and limits foods that are high […]
Looking for a beautiful way to help planet Earth? Now is your moment. New, mission-driven personal care companies are launching impressive products that seek to inspire healthier beauty choices. Long- standing companies are reformulating products for meaningful impact. All of which means you’re empowered to connect the dots between health, beauty and sustainability. These emerging trends are shaping the future of natural and organic personal care, with a focus on today’s top-of-mind issues: health, environmental sustainability, trust and integrity. Who says beauty is only skin deep? Small-Batch Goodness The craft movement is alive and well, offering fuller ingredient transparency and […]
With a fierce commitment to truth and a profound literary sensibility, science writer and author Abby Norman weaves together medical research and her own health trials in a gripping medical mystery and an inspiring story of perseverance and empowerment. Ask Me About My Uterus is Norman’s journey to understand her own pain and a quest to make doctors believe in other women’s pain. In the fall of 2010, during her sophomore year of college, then 19-year-old Abby Norman was repeatedly hospitalized in excruciating pain. Over the next several months her strong dancer’s body dropped 40 pounds and grey hair sprouted […]
Why do some of us get sick more often than others? What makes us more susceptible to illness? What’s the secret to staying healthy? According to Joel Fuhrman, M.D., a leading expert and board-certified medical specialist his latest book, Super Immunity, offers a comprehensive guide to superior health. Super Immunity is an easy-to-follow approach to eating that gets the body’s immune system working to its fullest potential which promotes the body’s strongest defense. Based on the latest scientific research, Super Immunity reveals how to become almost totally resistant to colds, influenza and other infections. If we do “catch” something, ‘super […]
Did you know that one of the oldest folk remedies is something that is probably in your pantry at this very moment?
