You’ve likely heard about melatonin. It’s a supplement that’s been around for a few decades now. It was originally touted as a cure for jet lag and even everyday insomnia. Yet, further research on melatonin revealed that it’s benefits were much more extensive than a sleep aid. Recently researchers in Toronto have uncovered yet another benefit of melatonin that has special importance to older people and their bones. Here’s what they found… Is Melatonin The New Key To Osteoporosis? As I mentioned above, we’ve known for a few decades now how great melatonin is for helping with sleep disorders. But […]
The current issue of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition published the finding of Sheila G. West and her associates at Penn State University of an improved response to stress among those who consumed walnuts and walnut oil. “People who show an exaggerated biological response to stress are at higher risk of heart disease,” explained Dr West, who is an associate professor of biobehavioral health. “We wanted to find out if omega 3-fatty acids from plant sources would blunt cardiovascular responses to stress.” In a crossover study, Dr West’s team gave 22 healthy men and women with elevated cholesterol an […]
Potassium is also integral to skeletal health. It enhances nerve and muscle function while reducing the risk of osteoporosis, stroke, and kidney stones. This FoodTrient also keeps blood pressure low and maintains hydration. It can be found in significant amounts in bananas, figs, bitter melon, kiwi fruit, prunes, lima beans, acorn squash, moringa leaves, potatoes, and spinach. My simple Moringa Dip combines moringa leaves, olive oil mayonnaise, and sweet pickle relish. For an extra potassium punch, add steamed spinach. You can also make a potassium-rich vegetable soup with lima beans, acorn squash, and potatoes starting with a veggie stock. After […]
A healthy heart is key to a long life. When I say this to my patients many of them protest that avoiding cancer or protecting your brain is just is important. While they have a point, I stand by my statement. The reason I feel so strongly about heart health is that I’ve seen time and time again that people who take good care of their hearts tend to avoid other deadly, chronic diseases like liver disease, many cancers, and Alzheimer’s. The steps you take to improve your heart health will have a great impact on your overall health. And […]
Here are five super seeds that health experts around the world recommend people should include in their diet. Sprinkle these over your baked dishes and breakfast cereal for a health boost Good things come in small packages. In the world of wellness, super seeds embody this truism like no other food. Packed with essential nutrients and with multiple health benefits, they are nature’s precious gifts to humanity. 1. Chia seeds: Vegetarians miss out on Omega-3 fatty acids since they can’t eat seafood. An easy solution to their dietary dilemma is chia seeds (and flaxseeds), which are a good source of this nutrient. […]
As people get older, they tend to sleep less. The reason why can have a lot of factors. A combination of hormone imbalances, melatonin and other nutritional deficiencies, stress, lack of exercise, or illness can contribute to poor sleep. Just because poor sleep is common to people over age 50, that doesn’t mean it’s a normal part of aging or that it should be ignored. In fact, if you want to stay independent as you get older, you’ll want to know what researchers recently discovered… Over-50: Poor Sleep Makes You Sick and Ages Your Brain Faster I’ve found that many […]
The Chinese have been growing and eating jujubes for over 4,000 years. Jujube, or Chinese date, trees are shrub-like with thorny branches. The fruits are shaped like small apples that are green when unripe and turn brownish red. As they ripen and age they wrinkle and shrink to the size of a large date. The flesh of the fruit is most like an apple when it’s unripe. As it ripens it becomes soft and spongy. Asians generally steep slices of jujubes in hot water and make a jujube tea. Sometimes they reduce the tea on the stove and add sugar, […]
Like many of my patients, you’re thinking more about ways you can prevent, or improve, heart disease. And, you’ve been pretty good about using the most common ways: Diet, exercise, controlling weight and better managing stress. But, there are also 4 off-the-radar things you can do to protect your heart. Some of these you may already be doing every day and others may surprise you… 4 Uncommon Ways To Protect Your Heart If you’ve read my newsletter articles regularly, you’ve learned a lot about how to protect your heart through the most commonly used methods. You may have also learned […]
As a health conscious individual, you probably know the importance of drinking plenty of fluids. It is likely that you sip lemonade on hot days, drink water during tough workouts and pack sports drinks in your child or grandchild’s lunch bag for soccer practice. These are all important steps to squelch the common causes of dehydration, but what about the uncommon causes that catches you unaware? A wide array of medical issues can lead to dehydration. Considering that our bodies are made up of 50% to 65% water, this element is critical to virtually all our physical functions. Every organ […]
The modest ginger root, curcumin, is demonstrating in the lab exactly why traditional healers have used it for thousands of years. Curcumin, an ancient spice in the ginger family, also known as turmeric root, is gaining plenty of attention for its positive impact on a number of ailments. It is shining as an antioxidant, for example, as well as for its beneficial effects in prohibiting tumors, for its anti-inflammatory properties, and even for its ability to retard some of the progress of the virus that causes AIDS. This sounds like a lot of claims for a seemingly unpretentious kitchen spice. But, […]