Scientists have isolated the unique molecule that provides olive oil with its multitude of health and life-extending benefits. Known as oleuropein, it is the polyphenol that can help lower bad cholesterol and blood pressure, prevent cancer, protect against oxidative damage, and help guard against cognitive decline. Oleuropein provides the distinctive tangy, pungent, almost bitter flavor found in high quality extra virgin olive oils. It’s also responsible for most of olive oil’s antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and disease-fighting characteristics. In fact, when oleuropein was given to animals with tumors, the tumors completely regressed and disappeared in 9 to 12 days! The olive tree (Olea europaea) produces oleuropein abundantly […]
Here in the U.S. when you see fresh cherries in the stores, you know it’s really summer. Growing up in Southeast Asia, even though they are not a fruit native to the tropics, we did eat cherries imported from China, which is the #3 producer of cherries in the world, right ahead of the U.S., which is #4. Of course, cherries taste wonderful and they are a rare treat because their season is short—May through July—and they are very fragile. There are two main types of cherries; the sweet ones grown in the Pacific Northwest that we eat fresh, and […]
Ashwagandha, a traditional Ayurvedic herb that is used for conditions ranging from arthritis and anxiety to liver disease and sleep issues, is trending strongly in the natural products market. Known for its powers of helping the body adapt to stress in the environment, ashwagandha supports the immune system and may help reduce inflammation. Because of the ability to help the body achieve self-regulatory balance within various systems, this herb is often used to prevent the effects of aging and to treat systemic or hormonal conditions such as fibromyalgia or fertility disorders. With clinical trials as evidence for the efficacy of […]
I was sitting in my friend’s lush, tropical-style garden recently, admiring her beautiful collection of flowering bromeliads. These are very exotic looking plants with spiky leaves and red, pink or golden elongated flowers reaching out from the middle. They are native to the tropics of Central and South America and West Africa. In a colorfully glazed pot there was a miniature ornamental pineapple. I remembered that pineapples are also bromeliads and this got me thinking about how much I enjoy pineapple and the wonderful things pineapples do for your health. Pineapples are second only to bananas as Americans’ favorite tropical […]
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 […]
In your quest to keep your skin looking youthful longer, I’ve got some exciting news for you. Dermatology researchers now think they may have found the mechanism that triggers skin aging. In addition, a new natural source of a powerful skin anti-oxidant has been found as well. These 2 discoveries could be the 2 biggest breakthroughs in skin aging that you’ll want to know all about. Let’s start with the first one… Glycans: This Skin Sugar May Hold The Key To Skin Aging Up to age 30, you have an abundance of a skin surface sugar called “glycan”. After age […]
While blueberries and strawberries usually gain recognition for their health-enhancing properties, raspberries have quietly built an impressive resume of vast health benefits that match any berry. The fruit’s potent anti-inflammatory power contributes to fighting obesity, enhancing cardiovascular support, battling cancer, and combating diabetes. Raspberries’ History Although the exact origin of raspberries (Rubus spp.) is unknown, it’s believed they were cultivated in Europe more than 2,000 years ago and introduced to North America from eastern Asia through trading. The edible fruit is one of the most popular berries in the world, with top producers in Russia, the United States, Serbia, and […]
If you’re a woman over 50 and you have a family history of melanoma, you’ll want to know the new findings about an old, simple pain reliever. Researchers have found that it may cut your risk of developing melanoma 30% and more the longer you take it. Here’s what you should know… Melanoma Risk? Study Shows Aspirin Can Help Aspirin is a simple pain relieving compound that has been used for decades for headaches, fever, muscle cramps, and more. Even though aspirin is a manufactured “drug”, its active ingredient, salicin, is actually derived from white willow bark, a natural herb. […]
Vitiligo can be a depressing condition to live with. Generally, people get it in their younger years and live with it throughout their life. But, late onset vitiligo, occurring after 55 years of age, is also becoming more common. But, a couple of new treatments are showing new promise in treating vitiligo. New Non-Drug Treatments for Vitiligo Vitiligo is a skin condition marked by many, or just a few, white patches of skin and/or hair. Singer Michael Jackson brought vitiligo to greater public attention as he developed the condition in his early 40’s. It’s estimated that about 2% of people […]
In what can only be described as “utterly cool,” Dr. Travis Utter, a Daytona Beach chiropractor, recently installed a Juka Cryosauna machine to assist patients with a variety of pain related issues. The high-tech chamber, which looks like something out of a science fiction movie, uses liquid nitrogen that needs replenishment at least once a week at $200 a tank, according to Dr. Utter. While in the chamber the patient is asked to keep moving in quarter turns with a temperature inside the chamber that cannot exceed minus 250 degrees F. Patients are not allowed more than two sessions in […]