Funky Health Tips

People who know me know I eat a lot of seemingly strange foods. I am committed to getting most or all of my vitamins and minerals strictly from my diet and well, sometimes that requires a little extra work. So, while it may seem strange to the people around me there are a few things I try to eat daily or several times a week that you may want to try also. Some are more palatable than others, although, as I often say, taste is a mindset and you do begin  to enjoy the foods that make you feel great. So let’s discuss a couple of things you might try adding to your diet.

• Spices: While I use a wide variety of spices in my cooking for both flavor as well as nutritional value, turmeric and cinnamon are the two I perhaps value the most highly. Turmeric has incredible anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties that keep aches and pains as well as colds and viruses away. Cinnamon has powerful anti-inflammatory properties as well in addition to being chock full of anti-aging anti-oxidants. How often do I find the opportunity to use these spices? Well, so often that I keep them in my purse! Don’t believe me? Go ahead and ask to see the next time we meet! I sprinkle cinnamon in coffee and tea throughout the day and turmeric on any healthy fat as it can only be metabolized with oils.
• Albido: That is to say the white skin just inside the peel of a citrus fruit is something that most people remove as it is quite bitter, but I eat as mush of it as I can. You will too when you know how good it is for you. That part of the fruit (particularly in grapefruit) contains more anti-oxidants than the whole rest of the fruit combined! While it may not be the tastiest bit, it certainly is the healthiest. I recommend peeling grapefruit, leaving as much of the albido intact as possible and eating daily or several times a week! I also eat the white, astringent part of the pomegranate too!
• Parsley: Nope not just to season my food. I chew it whenever I can. You may laugh, but parsley is not only loaded with anti-oxidants, it also has many heart healthy properties in addition to having two times your daily dose of vitamin K in just 3 tablespoons! Besides all of the health benefits, it works as a fantastic breath freshener. Chew parsley, not gum! But, please, be sure to let me know if I ever have some in my teeth.
• Coconut oil: I have a jar of coconut oil in every room of the house. Just kidding, but almost not. Coconut oil is full of everything good for you, especially omega-3′s. I try to use it in as much as I can! Oatmeal is the best way to ensure that I get some daily, but you can also bake with it as a substitute for butter or vegetable oil. Here is why it’s not just in the kitchen. This dense oil makes a fantastic moisturizer! It has been said to reduce  the appearance of wrinkles. I like it because it leave my skin feeling drenched, not greasy.

So there you have it. Laugh if you will, but I suggest you try a few of these tips, if not all of them. Still skeptical? Think about it this way, if they didn’t work do you think I’d carry a spice rack around in my purse?

Natural Remedies for Rheumatoid Arthritis

 I would like to share a story about my grandparents with you.  My grandmother, whom I loved dearly, suffered with RA.  When I was a very young child; five, seven or even 10 years old, I used to tag along with my grandparents when they went to the “mineral baths” in northern Greece.  I must tell you I felt quite special, most of the people at the mineral baths and the surrounding hotels were all over 50 0r 60 years old.  I was the only child, I guess my grandparents liked me tagging along.

Lest you start to wonder why I bring up this story, I have been asked many a time about holistic remedies for RA.  Some years ago I started to recommend to people to create their own mineral baths.  My grandparents used to travel for their mineral bath, but they could do so, they were retired.  I have recommended the following regimen and it does seem to bring some measure of relief to people with RA.  You will need to purchase organic, clay cat litter.  Please ensure it is 100% clay as these days there are all sorts of additives.  The other items you will need to purchase are epsom salt and baking soda.  I know this may sound funny to you but once a week create a mud paste out of the cat litter (combine the cat litter with water).  Get into your tub and cover yourself with the mud paste.  Keep it on as long as you can stand, rinse yourself and then soak in a warm bath with epsom salt and baking soda.  Please try this and do it once a week, I do believe that it might relieve some of the pain.

RA can certainly be affected by lack of sleep so if you can, make an extra effort to sleep eight hours per night.  If you find you are having a hard time falling asleep please remember that a cup of chamomile tea will help.

There are certainly a number of things that can help with inflammation.  I think a cup of hot water with the juice of one lemon will certainly aid in reducing inflammation.  Cinnamon is a such a great anti-inflammatory that every single morning you should combine a teaspoon of honey with a teaspoon of cinnamon and eat it.  This will eventually help with inflammation.  I like turmeric, it is a fantastic spice that aids in the reduction of inflammation.  You will find that many of our recipes include turmeric.  It is important to increase your intake of omega-3s.  Begin eating raw walnuts, and consume as much wild Alaskan salmon as you can.  Remember what I say about the canned salmon, it is a great go to item, if it says wild Alaskan on the can.

There are certainly several vitamins and supplements that you should take; vitamins C, E and D3.  Oh yes, one supplement not to forget is CoQ10.  If you get busy and forget about the nuts and salmon, remember to take fish oil and glucosamine.  Please remember, this is my own personal opinion but I should also tell you that I have shared these natural remedies with other people and they have helped quite a bit.  Try them and let me know how you do.

An Extraordinary Spice…Cinnamon!

This spice is so extraordinary that I carry around a little jar of it in my purse at all times.  Imagine the funny looks I must get when I pull it out of my bag and sprinkle it on my food in public.

Cinnamon is one of the world’s oldest known spices.  The tree is native to Sri Lanka where it was discovered thousands of years ago.  Because of its nutrition and health benefits, it is the best spice available.  It’s unique healthy and healing properties come from the components in the essential oils that are found in its bark.  Cinnamon is extremely high in anti-oxidants as well.  It has also been used as a medicine by other cultures since ancient times.

Since I love Top Ten lists and Top Ten reasons to do anything, below you will see ten reasons to incorporate cinnamon into your daily routine.

1. One study found that it boosts cognitive function and memory
2. May help people with Type 2 diabetes since it can help control blood sugar levels
3. Cinnamon may lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, triglycerides (fatty acids in the blood) and total cholesterol
4. A study released by researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Maryland showed that cinnamon reduced the proliferation of leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells
5. A person suffering from a cold should take one tablespoon of honey with 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon powder daily for 3 days. This process will cure most chronic cough, cold and clear the sinuses.
6. Due to its antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-parasitic and antiseptic properties, it is effective on external as well as internal infections
7. Cinnamon helps in removing blood impurities, therefore, it is often recommended for pimples – An external application of paste of cinnamon powder with a few drops of fresh lemon juice over pimples & black heads could give a beneficial result
8. It is a great source of manganese, fiber, iron, and calcium
9. Honey and cinnamon paste is good for boosting the immune system, removing regular fatigue and increasing the longevity of an individual. It is also known to have anti-aging properties.
10. Cinnamon spice contains anti-inflammatory compounds which can be useful in reducing pain and inflammation associated with arthritis.    A study conducted at Copenhagen University, where patients were given half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder combined with one tablespoon of honey every morning had significant relief in arthritis pain after one week and could walk without pain within one month.

So here’s the scoop… or the dash – as it were… Carry cinnamon around with you.  Sprinkle it in your coffee or tea.  Sprinkle it on your oatmeal.  Sprinkle it on your fruit.    It can benefit the immune system, decrease arthritis pain, improve our cholesterol, and much, much more. So try it the next time you have a cold. It might be just the thing you need!

Oh – (not from experience or anything) If you decide to turn it into a paste and put it on a blemish… Remember to wash it off before leaving your house!

Have fun with cinnamon and let me know what you think!

Natural Solutions for Ringing in The Ears

After reading my blog about energy drinks yesterday, Dr. Smith forwarded a response to it.  I thought it was extremely important and relevant so I wanted to share it with you today.  “Thank you for your informative article.  I would like to comment on taurine:  There has been very good studies done on this very important sulfur containing amino acid.  Taurine can act as an anti-oxidant and can protect against atherosclerosis in the arteries, especially useful for many diabetic patients, protects against ischemia (reduced blood flow) in heart cells, has neuroprotective ability especially patients suffering from some forms of epilepsy by working synergistically with GABA receptors in the brain (calming -dampening down the over-excited nerves), it has shown to help in some cases of tinnitis (ringing in the ears) as well as being involved in the cholesterol elimination pathways of the body.  When prescribed by a knowledgeable doctor for the right reasons it can be a very useful natural intervention.  Merely putting it in energy drinks is rediculous especially when other stimulants are included.”

I am not quite sure why but in the last few months we have received a large number of e-mails with questions related to ringing in the ears.  I guess I think it might be fate that Dr. Smith chose to point out the benefits of taurine.  If you are one of those many people who have e-mailed us regarding ringing in the ears, you might want to think about a natural approach like taurine.

Speaking of natural, oh, don’t seem so shocked, you knew I was going to go here.  It has been my experience that a large number of individuals simply cut out artificial sweeteners and that does seem to alleviate the problem of  “ringing in the ears”.  Listen folks, I will tell you time and time again, look at your grocery store like a garden of life.  Keep on walking by those artificial sweeteners and head straight for the super foods.  By the way, it is my nature to always point out solutions, therefore, since I am not a fan of Equal or Splenda or any of the like, why not discover the many healthful benefits of agave nectar, honey, maple syrup and even raw sugar is preferable to the Splendas of the world.

Now, I am certain that some of the physicians reading reading my health blog yesterday just wanted to jump out of their seats at the sheer mention of enjoying a good cup of java.  Oh well…I must tell you I love my cup of java with a heaping tablespoon of honey and lots of great shakes of cinnamon.  It’s called moderation my friends.