Archive for Food and Nutrition
How to use Healthy Medicinal Herbs and where to find them
Posted by: | CommentsIn the age of pill popping and overmedication, have you ever thought that the weeds growing around your house may improve your health? Most of us consider weeds in the yard as only an annoyance, filling our time on the weekends. Before running to Lowe’s or Home Depot for tools and chemicals, look more closely; perhaps many of your weeds are actually unrecognized natural remedies.
Sassafrass found in South Eastern United States
Before this pills-in-a-bottle era, we had herbs. Before mass-produced cough syrup, we had herbs. Before skin creams, we had herbs. Thankfully enough, we still have herbs; however, until recently the knowledge associated with many of them had been lost to mainstream society. Natural herbs – in the hands of qualified personnel – can help with a multitude of health issues, from headaches, menstrual pain, colds and sore muscles to something as odd as chronically dry skin. No matter what your ailment, chances are that somewhere on earth there is an herb for it.
Herbs are all around us and we take for granted their healing powers because it is far simpler to go to the store and pick up a drug. With the very diverse fauna we have in the Triad area it would be a waste of our natural resources not to take advantage of the healthy herbs that often have greater benefits and less harmful effects to our bodies than their artificially derived counterparts. For example, did you know that a herb that grows wild in the southeast United States was at one time the chief ingredient of root beer. Sassafras, seen growing wild in your back yard and on the side of the road as you head up to Pilot Mountain, was once used as a painkiller and as an antiseptic. When I was a child I can remember my mother using it to clear up mucus associated with a cold. This is but one example of the healthy herbs that are abundant around our home, and there are many more if only we take the time to learn more about them. Another is the American Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), known in the southeast as “pawdads,” which is high in vitamin C and great during the colder months. Even un-ripened fruit is touted as being extremely astringent.
When considering herbal care, remember that herbs are helpful but some plants contain potentially harmful substances. Before venturing into the community to find herbs, do some research. Speak with an herbalist (easily found in the phone book or through the American Herbalist Guild), or consult a resource such as the SW School of Botanical Medicine (www.swsbm.com). Though the school is in Arizona, they still have quite a large collection on the subject of medicinal herbs from around the country, including our region. It also has a wide variety of plant formulas, including their helpful effects and some of the precautions associated with them. Some herbs do interact with artificially derived drugs, so it’s very important to discuss your plans with your doctor if you are taking other medications. Keep your doctor updated on your medical and herbal plans, but remember that most conventional doctors know very little about herbs. It is ironic that herbs have been around much longer than pills, yet we still know so little about them. Unfortunately it’s economics – pharmaceutical companies stand to lose vast sums if too many people know how to cure an ailment from the plants in their yard.
Do your research both on the herbs and on the person prescribing them. Ask other clients/patients about their experiences to get a feel for how effective the herbs and herbalist are. At best you will find that herbs are a viable, healthy alternative and can be a wonderful way to reconnect with the natural order of the planet.
Organic Food: Is it Better Than The Alternative?
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Today I had the pleasure of spending about an hour chatting with a nice chap from the local cancer center. Generally his job is to make sure that the patients are happy. More importantly, he also checks to make sure the people working with those patients are happy. The conversation centered on the idea that if the care giver is in good health, they serve as a good example and influence on the patients that they care for.
The conversation took a turn when he asked if organic food is better than the alternative. It seems like a no-brainer, but I was not sure I could answer the question without taking a step back from the query.
Most people these days may know what organic food is. However, you may be surprised to know that not all foods are created equal, and the term organic might be more of an economic definition than a true statement about the food. So here is the Economics 101 for the food. When a company, or even a local farmer, says that his or her food is organic, it generally means that it has not been overly manipulated by humans. In other words, if it did not come from the earth or the rear end of an animal, it is not organic. The economics behind that statement are more complicated, however. If you sell organic food you can sometimes get away with charging 30-60% more than the alternative. This does not necessarily mean that it’s justifiable. It just means that you charge what you think the market will bare.
From a strictly nutritional standpoint (and people on both sides of the aisle may disagree), it just seems that if nature (and I don’t mean “Nature Valley”) has created it without our interruption, then there is a good chance that it is better for you. In fact I would argue that there is just more flavor in an organic apple than in the alternative. I even tasted mangos in a blind test, and I could not distinguish them from a peach. This is not good since I have traveled to countries where mangos grow on trees in people’s back yards and you can literally smell the mangos long before you can actually see them. The same goes for peaches. Natural food just has a bit more than the alternative: higher nutrient density, better color, and more flavor (meaning less need to add salt or other spices to enhance the flavor). It comes naturally.
The conflict is this: Where do you find more value when comparing the health value versus the dollar-cost? To put this in perspective, my sister-in-law went to Whole Foods Market ( www.wholefoodsmarket.com) for a grocery run. It cost her $600 for a 100% organic shopping cart. It cost another person $125 for the comparable non-organic shopping cart.
One might be tempted to say that good health has no price. This would be a valid point, but the non-economic costs have to be kept in mind. In order to pay for a $600 food bill in urban America, you will have to work harder to make more money, stay away from your family, get really stressed, and maybe even fall over dead from the increased demands. There is a very real chance that it may not be worth it. The reality is that just because a food is organic does not necessarily make it better.
I would say that there is a compromise and even an alternative. Grow your own food, get some organic and some conventional. It’s less expensive, you will work you rear end off, get in shape, and keep your garden in good form. There is also a good chance that you can determine for yourself (without too much outside influence) what organic food means to you and how healthy you believe it is when considering all the factors.
Nikki Roach is a health and wellness coach and massage therapist for nearly 11 years.
She encourage the use of exercise, sleep, massage therapy, acupuncture, proper food consumption, stress management approaches, fiscal responsibility and prayer to your high power. For a FREE report on ways to save money and improve your wellness visit: http://www.nrteam.com
Fat Management Programs – How to Evaluate the Good, Bad and Really Ugly Ones
Posted by: | CommentsHow many people do you know that have been on a diet? And are off that diet? And are now heavier than they were before the diet?
We live in a society consumed by the ever-increasing desire to be physically smaller. We have low-carb, no carb, low fat, and no fat. There are infomercials screaming that they have the solution to regaining that high-school figure, and magazine articles explaining how to trim unwanted inches in your midsection. There are pills, machines, creams, drinks, and even electrical devices all touting their weight-reducing abilities. The vast majority of these products and programs will not work because overall health is not their objective. What can you do to get a better sense of what works?
To evaluate different programs and products, dispassionately evaluate them with the following ten-question rubric. If a product or program adequately satisfies all ten questions, then it’s worth the investment for your future health.
1. How many calories do I need? If the product’s answer is based on a hypothetical person, rather than you, then be skeptical. Each of us is different and has vastly different nutritional needs, so look for products that take into account your weight, age, gender, and activity level.
2. How many pounds of fat can I loose in 7 days? If the program promises more than three pounds per week, be wary. Programs that predict drastic weight loss often do so through eliminating essentials such as protein, water, and important nutrients.
3. Why do women live longer than men? This loaded question finds its answer in the fact that men tend to carry their excess weight around vital organs while women carry it towards the hips and buttocks. The body has to work harder when the fat is around the vital organs, so it’s more prone to “breakdowns.”
4. What third party verification exists for the product or program? If it can’t be verified by another credible researcher and isn’t published in a related science journal, then question its legitimacy.
5. What cream do I need to apply to remove the fat? If you have to rub a topical lotion on your body to lose weight, wouldn’t you have skinny fingers? Don’t expect good results from these products.
6. Does the product contain caffeine? If so, it’s likely a starvation diet. Many manufacturers include caffeine to mask the effects of insufficient caloric intake, such as fatigue.
7. What accountability protocols are in place to help keep me on track? There are times when you just don’t want to be healthy, and this is acceptable in moderation. However, if there is no viable impetus to get back on the program, it will be less successful.
8. Is weight loss the most important factor in the program? If you only want to lose weight, you are missing the point. The goal of nutrition is to ingest precisely the amount of energy that is expended.
9. How does the program measure success? If the answer is in pounds, walk away. Scales are often the most harmful devices in the house since, with a few exceptions; they do not give a sense of your overall health. Look for one that measures body fat so that weight is not your sole concern.
10. Is a behavior modification program offered? After a major life change or traumatic event many people gain weight due to using food as a mental drug. If dependency develops, a good counselor, life coach, psychotherapist or support group can be invaluable to ending impulsive eating. Even without a major change, these professionals can help you understand better the difference between psychological and physical hunger. There is a big difference.
Many programs work very effectively. There are probably ten times as many that do not work in the long run because their goal is simply to make money. Be smart and use the above questions so that you can focus on living a healthy life instead of just the number on the scale.
Nikki Roach is a health and wellness coach and massage therapist for nearly 11 years.
She encourage the use of exercise, sleep, massage therapy, acupuncture, proper food consumption, stress management approaches, fiscal responsibility and prayer to your high power. For a FREE report on ways to save money and improve your wellness visit: http://www.nrteam.com
Garlic – Is it Really Nature’s Viagra?
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The Discovery Health Channel recently ran a program about garlic and how its effect may be similar to those of the male enhancement drug, Viagra. The study involved eight middle-aged, English men suffering from erectile dysfunction (ED) who would, in conjunction with a diet consisting exclusively of fruits and vegetables, consume four cloves of garlic a day for 12 days. While the suspense was (and is) immense, let’s examine how Viagra became so famous in such a short time.
A few years ago, researchers at the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer were trying to find a medication that would improve cardiovascular function and decrease both chest pain and blood pressure. In one of those classic blunders – remember the discovery of penicillin – the drug being tested lacked effectiveness for its intended purpose but had a side effect of increasing blood flow to the male reproductive organ. The rest, as they say, is history; what makes us stand at attention here is that garlic may hold similar effects, albeit with fewer risks since garlic is naturally occurring.
Allium sativum L., or garlic, is in the onion family Alliaceae and, according to research, is one of nature’s most
promising and readily available herbs. The University of Maryland’s Medical website claims, though the research is not definitive, that garlic can help prevent heart disease (including atherosclerosis, or plaque buildup in the arteries that can block the flow of blood and possibly lead to heart attacks or strokes), high cholesterol, and high blood pressure, while also improving the immune system. Since impotence is frequently caused by problems with blood flow, garlic’s effects logically would help with ED. A study published in 2000 by the US Department of Health and Human Services found that using garlic helped reduce the chances of cardiac complications; however garlic appeared to do little to decrease levels of bad cholesterol.
Of the eight men in the British study mentioned above, six of them showed increased activity and blood flow. However, before you run out to the store and start warding off vampires, look at the other factor that was included in this experiment: for twelve days, the patients consumed no fatty foods, coffee, or anything else that did not come directly from the ground to the table. This fact indicates that garlic alone may not return life to the bedroom. Eating healthily, as any doctor will agree, is the best way to extend the life of the entire body. This study supports that fact more than any other.
What can be taken from this study is that while your local grocer may have the natural cure for ED, nature works more slowly than artificial medications. Do not expect overnight success from minor dietary changes. An all-round healthy diet and lifestyle will, over time, may produce the same effects as the medical substitutes. Considering that these men consumed more garlic at one time than most of us would in one week, if you try this option you should expect some side effects – especially the fact that your breath would be able to strip paint.
Even if you aren’t concerned with ED, think about the other healthy effects of garlic, that staple of Italian food. Enjoying the natural herbs and vegetables so common in the cuisine, you can gain other health benefits from the garlic such as the antioxidant which decreases the chance of developing certain types of cancer. Keep an open mind and, as with anything new, consult the family doctor to make sure that it is a safe option before you try it.
Nikki Roach is a health and wellness coach and massage therapist for nearly 11 years.
She encourage the use of exercise, sleep, massage therapy, acupuncture, proper food consumption, stress management approaches, fiscal responsibility and prayer to your high power. For a FREE report on ways to save money and improve your wellness visit: http://nrteam.com
Sugar in Foods – How to Avoid the Traps
Posted by: | CommentsOur family loves Ginger Snaps. When we were children, my siblings and I would find all types of creative ways to use the delectable disks. From spicing up a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich to adding fire to ice cream, the Ginger Snap had a fixed place in most of our menus. So you can imagine how disappointed I was when, in one of those adult moments, I flipped the box over to see just what caused the Ginger Snap’s appeal. The answer horrified me. How could this be? Is it a mistake on the label or am I possibly misreading it? The snap came from the arch-enemy of dentists: sugar!
I had read the packaging correctly, and unfortunately my days of consuming 10-15 cookies in one sitting had come to an end. Not only was there sugar, there were other forms of sugar disguised in creative names.
As we enter that adult phase of our lives, many of us try to reduce our sugar consumption for personal reasons or under the advice of our medical practitioners. But the desire to cut back on the sweet stuff is made even more difficult because food manufacturers often disguise sugar with legal – yet crafty – labeling. Most often, the list of ingredients on food products begins with the ingredient of greatest quantity and continues in descending order until the final ingredient (of least quantity) is listed. Some manufacturers find ways to list sugar with different names, thereby making it appear as if each sugar is an insignificant part of the product.
Beware! The truth is that, when combined, all these sugar pseudonyms often equal almost half of the ingredients in common food products.
Returning to my Ginger Snaps, I found sugar for sure. Reading further, I found brown sugar, corn syrup, and dextrose. Though labeled differently, in the end they are just various forms of sugar. Naturally, there are some ways to avoid falling into manufacturers’ sweet snares.
First, become aware of the common alternative names for sugar that you will see listed on ingredient lists. These monikers include sugar (obviously), honey, brown sugar, corn syrup, dextrose,
These Disk have a secret bite to them
lactose, maple sugar, sorghum syrup, turbinado sugar, caramel, dextrin, fructose, grape sugar, invert sugar, maltose, and molasses.
Second, if you want to ease back on the amount of sugar that you consume in your food and beverages, choose sugar-free options. Sugar free beverages are often indistinguishable from their sugar-laden counterparts. The multitude of sugar substitutes offer another way to cut back on your sugar intake. Most of them are safe, but it’s a good idea to do at least some preliminary research before using them. The FDA regulates food safety, but an overworked and understaffed federal agency can’t catch everything.
Third – and this is only if you can really do without sugar as we commonly consume it – opt for either black strap molasses or Sugar in the Raw. These products are the least processed forms of sugar available, and they retain quite a bit of the nutrients not found in white sugar. As a matter of fact, in order to obtain snowy white sugar, manufacturers wash it an average of seven times, stripping many of the natural nutrients. Raw sugar is usually washed only twice.
Finally, and most effectively, you can just take simple sugar out of your diet. This seemingly extreme measure does not mean you can’t enjoy the great tastes of foods, but you will have to find healthy alternatives to satisfy that sweet tooth.
We still love Ginger Snaps, but we have sought out the similar snacks that use unprocessed sugar or no sugar at all. If we do want to relive the youthful, carefree days, we might slip in four or five of the decadent Ginger Snaps every once in a while.
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Nikki Roach is a health and wellness coach and massage therapist for nearly 11 years. Since arriving in this country she has taken the knowledge that was handed down from her grandmother and offers people guidance on the proper use of natural healing methods. She encourage the use of exercise, sleep, massage therapy, acupuncture, proper food consumption, stress management approaches, fiscal responsibility and prayer to your high power.
