Bees are the givers of health and life in more ways than one. In fact, a good deal of planetary life depends upon these small creatures. For example, bees are responsible for 80% of the pollination needed for the existence of fruits and vegetables. The most commonly known bee product is, of course, honey, which has been consumed by humans for thousands of years. But royal jelly deserves an equal amount of attention. Here’s why. What is Royal Jelly? Royal jelly, created within worker bee glands and fed to the hive queen, results in a life span that is up […]
Here are five quick ideas for reasonable fast-food choices that will help alleviate some of the guilt of occasional drive-through dining (and yes, we name names here…so be ready to see if your favorite option is good or bad news!)… Your shift ended late and you have a ton of things that need to be done. Or maybe you’re on your way to work and realize that you’ve not yet eaten. And guess what? You’re hungry. You only have time for one thing…(insert evil music)…fast food! Can you really pick up a meal from a fast-food restaurant and still maintain […]
The key to a happy life . . . is a healthy brain From the outside, it looked like Dr. Wendy Suzuki had it all. She was a world-renowned neuroscientist. She had been lauded by her peers with many prizes and had produced many highly regarded scientific publications. She had tenure at a top-ranked university, where she also ran her own lab—two of the most difficult and highly coveted positions for any scientist to attain. And yet . . . Wendy was forty, frumpy, and focused on her work one hundred percent of the time. She was single, overwhelmed by […]
Despite it being known as the “blood-clotting” vitamin, research shows vitamin K has anti-aging, anti-cancer, and even bone-building effects. Within the last couple of years, it has garnered even more attention for its potential role in preventing heart disease. Impressively, a recent study found that one of its sub-fractions, vitamin MK-7, improved arterial health. The results were published in the journal,Thromobosis and Haemostasis. Vitamin K2 Reduces Arterial Stiffness and Improves Elasticity A fundamental role of vitamin K is to keep calcium out of arteries and into bones. With aging, the reverse is frequently seen, which could explain why older people are stricken with […]
Anyone remember the 1994 exposé of movie theater popcorn? This cinema staple, known for its delicious taste and aroma, had been consumed for years by a public blissfully unaware of the fact that it was loaded with demonized saturated fat. Movie theatre popcorn was (gasp) popped in coconut oil, an “evil” tropical fat that had no place in a healthy diet. As a result, concession stand popcorn sales dropped by half and many venues scrambled for an alternative. Fast forward twenty years, and coconuts, which never went out of favor in their native countries, are now touted for their health benefits. […]
Over the centuries, the root-like stem of the Curcuma longa plant has been used to make yellow dyes and spike food with some tasty zing. But an ever-growing mountain of evidence shows that boldly colored turmeric with its earthy, bitter-gingery taste may offer a plethora of potential health benefits. Multiple studies — most originating in India, Europe and Australia — show that turmeric, and especially its color-rich constituent of curcumin, can help prevent or treat a wide spectrum of cancers, inflammatory conditions, autoimmune problems, neurological ailments including Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and diabetes neuropathy, among other metabolic diseases. Interest in turmeric and curcumin began […]
Scientific opinion has flip-flopped on the issue of alcohol consumption. While various religious groups – some of them known for their health and longevity – prohibit its use, other people are convinced of the benefits of alcohol, especially when it comes to wine. The “French Paradox” has become a cliché in regard to the relative healthiness and low risk of cardiovascular disease experienced by a population that consumes a significant amount of fat but drinks wine in moderation. However, it may be wishful thinking to attribute the health of the French to wine alone, as there are other French lifestyle factors […]
Citrus fruit is a well-established staple of the American diet. Even among those who tend to avoid fruits and vegetables, orange juice is often a favorite. As it turns out, Citrus fruit, aside from being delicious, is a bountiful source of important nutrients.
People who are obese may appear healthy for a while but their condition declines over time, said a study that followed more than 2,500 people for 20 years. The research by scientists at University College London is the longest of its kind, and its findings support previous research that has shown people who are overweight face a higher risk of heart attack, stroke and some kinds of cancer than thin people as the years go on. For the purposes of the research, “healthy obesity” was defined as not having high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or other metabolic risk factors. A total […]
Every morning, many of us sip our coffee with no real thought given to the beans behind the brew. But coffee beans are extra-ordinarily complex fruits containing over 1,000 compounds – only a handful of which have ever been individually investigated by scientists. Not only is coffee packed with antioxidants, but it is the greatest source of antioxidants in the American diet. The average American coffee drinker consumes about 3.1 cups of coffee a day,5 but extensive research has found that higher volumes – as much as 4 to 12 cups daily – can help prevent most major killers, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, liver disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. […]
