January 2009

  • Health Benefits of Red Wine

    By lisala on 1/27/09 7:38am
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    In the last eight years or so, there's been a lot of research on the possible beneficial effects of the antioxidants in red wine. Image of a glass of red wine and a basket of breadThese potential and very positive side effects, include reducing the production of "bad" LDL cholesterol, and increasing the "good" cholesterol, HDL, as well as reducing blood clotting—all of which help reduce the risk of heart disease. Most of the benefits seems to be very much a side effect of the flavonoids and other antioxidants in red wine. Here's a quick rundown of the current research into some additional potential benefits of moderate red wine consumption.

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  • Old Indian Wild Cherry Bark Syrup

    By dubayns on 1/25/09 11:06pm
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    Manufactured by Planetary Herbals, Old Indian Wild Cherry Bark Syrup, or as I have lovingly deemed it, OIWCBS is an excellent supplement for daily living as well as an effective cough-suppressant. In what would seem to many as a stereotypical moment, my Native American roommate presented me with a bottle of OIWCBS after a day and a half of hacking and wheezing on the couch. I guess he felt bad for me, bad enough to grace me with a bottle of what he referred to as, “An old Indian secret passed down from generation to generation.” I found comfort in his jest, but even more comfort lie in the contents of the small brown bottle of syrup that was now in my hands.

     

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  • Throat Coat to the Rescue

    By dubayns on 1/25/09 10:34pm
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    After suffering through 3 days of coughing, post-nasal drip, and general congestion, I was ready for any remedy my friends at the local organic health food store had to offer. In fact, I was ready to send some over-the-counter medications into battle on my behalf. The cold had made headway almost every day and the damage it was inflicting on my throat and nasal passages was becoming too much to bear. I joined a friend for a movie and glass of tea and was introduced to my new favorite organic herbal tea, Throat Coat.

     

    After suffering through 3 days of coughing, post-nasal drip, and general congestion, I was ready for any remedy my friends at the local organic health food store had to offer. In fact, I was ready to send some over-the-counter medications into battle on my behalf. The cold had made headway almost every day and the damage it was inflicting on my throat and nasal passages was becoming too much to bear. I joined a friend for a movie and glass of tea and was introduced to my new favorite organic herbal tea, Throat Coat.

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  • Omega Fatty Acids

    By lisala on 1/9/09 12:38pm
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    You've likely heard fairly frequent references to omega-3 fatty acids and the numerous health benefits associated with them, or Image of a chunk of fresh salmon, displayed on a plate.possibly, seen expensive dietary supplements at your local health food store or pharmacy. The truth of the matter is that you don't need to buy supplements, which are pricy and which may or may not actually work; we don't have enough research data to really know. But there's enough variety of food, good, healthy food, that contains omega-3s that you shouldn't have a problem finding a palatable, healthy source in your normal diet.

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  • New York Times: The 11 Best Foods You Aren't Eating

    By erika on 1/8/09 9:24am
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    This New York Times "Well Blog" post has had a huge impact on the culture of healthy eating since it was published last June. In summary, the 11 foods are:

    1. Beets
    2. Cabbage
    3. Swiss chard
    4. Cinnamon
    5. Pomegranate juice
    6. Dried plums
    7. Pumpkin seeds
    8. Sardines
    9. Turmeric
    10. Frozen blueberries
    11. Canned pumpkin

    For more detailed information on why each of these foods is good for you, you can read the original blog post here.

    I think part of the reason this list has become so popular is that, unlike many other "you should eat this" lists, all of these foods are familiar and easily available. Turmeric, a spice often used in curry, is probably the most foreign of anything on the list. Everyone has heard of beets and frozen blueberries, and we encounter all of these foods at the grocery store on a regular basis.

    The second reason why this article has been a hit is that the author is right - we aren't eating them. It is one thing to understand intellectually that beets are good for you.

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