You may have seen the medicinal plant, mullein, growing along the side of the road, noticed it’s beautiful flowers and never known that it is, in fact, one of the oldest known medicinal plants. However, parts of this flowering plant have been used in traditional and folk medicine in many cultures for centuries for a variety of lung problems, gastrointestinal troubles, inflammation, skin conditions and migraines. Mullein, officially Verbascum thapsus L. or Verbascum densiflorum, has been used medicinally since ancient times and its popularity has once again been increasing commercially for the past few years. The part of mullein used […]
For over a decade, the Environmental Working Group’s Guide to Sunscreens has helped us see the light when it comes to choosing a safe and effective sun care product. While almost three-fourths of the products analyzed were found to offer inferior sun protection or potentially harmful ingredients such as oxybenzone, it wasn’t all bad news in this year’s report. Mineral sunscreens are on the rise, and top-rated products lived up to their claims by using nontoxic and effective ingredients. Other rising trends include non-GMO formulations and sun-protective clothing. These nine picks all received a 1 (safest) rating from the EWG. Tips […]
The delicious culinary herb thyme is a staple in most kitchens and one of the most popular herbs today, but there may be health benefits to using it medicinally as well. Thyme, or Thymus vulgaris, is a perennial shrub with small grey-green leaves native to the Mediterranean. Culinarily, thyme is used in a variety of seasonings from poultry and other meats to vegetables, dressings, sauce, soups and stews. But thyme is also used medicinally for: Lung issues (cough, bronchitis) Gastrointestinal troubles like gastritis, colic, diarrhea Stimulating appetite Sore throats Skin disorders Thyme oil and extract is used topically and in […]
When I was in China recently, I discovered a well-kept beauty secret of the elite – Jade Rollers. Jade rollers as beauty aids have been around since the 7th Century in China, but they are relatively new to the U.S. market. If you’ve stayed up too late, had a little too much to drink, or just had a stressful week, that can take a toll on your face. After long flights and time differences, I found myself struggling to get back on California time, and my face was puffy from losing sleep. When I tried my new jade roller, it […]
The dairy aisle used to be so simple—whole milk, low fat milk, non-fat milk, half and half, cream and maybe goat’s milk if it was a health food store. With the growing number of people with lactose intolerance, or those following a vegan diet, the consumption of plant-based ‘milks’ has been expanding by about 11 percent each year since 1999. Consumption of cow’s milk has declined by 25 percent since 1975, according to Cooking Light Magazine. Cow’s milk was for decades considered an almost perfect food with 8g protein, 460 mg potassium (13% of the RDA), 35% of the RDA […]
Turns out our mothers may have been onto something when they told us to eat our vegetables – especially our
Chinese cuisine has long been recognized as one of the great world cuisines, up there with French and Italian. But much of the familiar Chinese food in the U.S. consists of many fried dishes that are often loaded with salt, sugar and monosodium glutamate (MSG). Tasty, yes. Superfoods? Hardly. The truth is, traditional Chinese cooking is based on many healthful ingredients that are certainly considered to be ‘superfoods.’ When I was in China recently, the FoodTrients team and I were delighted to sample a number of Chinese dishes from Yantai (in the picturesque agricultural and coastal area of the Shandong […]
You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old. Exercise is the one anti-aging treatment entirely in your own power. Take charge of your fitness with Just Move! Written specifically for people north of sixty by James P. Owen, a former couch potato who’s decidedly within that demographic, it aims to be inspiring, even empowering, while giving you just enough knowledge to create your own exercise program fitness basics you need to know with no confusing buzzwords or information overload. Former Wall Street rainmaker Owen was 70 when he decided he had to get fit. Years of […]
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a condition which is estimated to impact about 20% of Americans each year. It’s a serious form of depression, which can range from mild to severe, and last anywhere from 3-6 months. While the direct cause of SAD hasn’t been proven, deficiencies in sunlight and vitamin D, and the disruption of our circadian rhythm that comes with wintertime are major factors in the development of SAD. Since a lack of sunlight is a major part of SAD, it makes sense that more people are affected by the condition in the north; an estimated 10% of people in […]
On a quest to achieve richer fulfillment in your life? While happiness may be relative, there are actions you can take every day to keep your mind positive and your body at its best. Here are 12 happiness activities to exercise daily, excerpted and adapted with permission from the book The How of Happiness by Sonja Lyubomirsky. 1. Express gratitude Bolsters self-esteem; encourages moral behavior; diminishes feelings of anger and bitterness. Strategies: Keep a gratitude journal. Express gratitude directly to someone else, either in person or by writing a letter that you can send or keep. 2. Cultivate optimism Prompts […]