Why You Need to Cut Back on Salt
According to new research, cutting your salt intake may be more important than you may think. A new study reports that if the United States cut its salt intake by just a half teaspoon a day, we could prevent 92,000 deaths and 99,000 heart attacks a year.
“The [ heart] benefits of reduced salt intake are on par with the benefits of population-wide reductions in tobacco use, obesity, and cholesterol levels,” says Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, PhD.
The culprit, says researchers, isn’t the saltshaker, but rather the amount of salt in processed foods. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 77% of the salt in our diets comes from processed food.
While food manufacturers aren’t likely to reduce the amount of salt in their products, experts recommend cutting down on these foods and paying special attention to food labels.
A study in the U.K. found that the body adjusted to reduced salt consumption in a matter of weeks. Meaning, once you cut your salt intake, you’ll start to prefer your food with less salt. Win!
New Year, New You – The Ayurveda Way
Good health is a life-long process. Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of health and longevity offers us many simple yet profound tips for maintaining a lifestyle that can be sustained for an entire lifetime. “Ayur’ means longevity, ‘veda’ means science, this science of longevity is user-friendly and is applicable universally. Ayurveda states that there are three body/mind constitutions that are formed by pairing up the five elements, namely Vata, Pitta and Kapha.
Vata is composed of air and space; and governs all movement within the body. Vata is responsible for nervous system function, respiration, elimination, childbirth and menstruation. Pitta is made up of fire and water and is responsible for digestion and metabolism. Kapha, composed of earth and water is responsible for structure, immune function and mucus production. The greatness of Ayurveda is the wisdom that we are all made of these five elements albeit in varying degrees. To experience health and well-being, these doshas must be balanced by adjusting the individual’s lifestyle and food habits. Read more
22 Natural Remedies to Combat Colds and Flu
Cold and flu season is upon us again. Learn the difference between H1N1 and the regular flu, and how to combat the bugs, naturally.
by Svetlana Konnikova, MA, AN
Do you know that several hundred different viruses cause the common cold and a seasonal flu? You can get infected when sneezing and coughing people near you pass infected droplets into the environment. Usually it happens during cold winter months. However, a cold or flu can strike at any time.
Cold season has already started. At first, the best defense is to be prepared how to prevent these seasonal sicknesses and know the difference in the common cold , H1N1 and seasonal flu symptoms. Try to get proper treatment as soon as you get prickling sensation in the nose. It’s a sign that you must take urgent care of yourself before it’ll get worse.
Let’s see how colds, H1N1 or seasonal flu are different:
Common Cold Symptoms:
Prickling sensation in the nose
Running, and later stuffy, nose
Sneezing
Congestion
Sore throat
Fever
Body aches
Growing cough
Symptoms last 3 to 5 days
H1N1 or Seasonal Flu Symptoms:
Fever
More Painful Body Aches
Diarrhea
Dry Cough
Severe Fatigue
Respiratory Problems
Dehydration
Sources say that it may take testing to determine if you have seasonal flu or H1N1.
If you got a cold, your body sends you a signal that you run down and your immune system is weak. First of all, clean up your body. I don’t use the word ‘detoxify’ because it is so overused. Just try to treat yourself with the following effective, natural healing remedies.
Naturopathy:
1. Make a hot foot bath with a mustard powder. Add 2 tsp. mustard powder to 2 pt. of water. Mix it and put your feet in for 15 minutes. It will enhance the body’s ability to get rid of toxins and will make easier on your immune system to fight the common cold.
2. A hot bath with chamomile or lavender will produce steam you can inhale to clear a stuffy nose and relax the muscles.
3. Prepare a glass of warm mineral water and gargle to relieve a painful throat.
Healing with Herbs and Superfoods:
4. Take two finely sliced garlic cloves and mix with 2-3 tsp. organic raw honey. In my experience, acacia or linden honey are the most effective. Eat this mixture and drink a cup of hot spring water with a piece of squeezed lemon.
Acacia honey is one of my favorites because of its golden clear color, great taste and potential to remain in liquid for a long period of time due to its high concentration of fructose. Linden or Lime Tree honey is also clear and has fresh, balsamic, meadowy flavor and delicate aroma.
5. Drink hot elderflower tea, It’s excellent for almost all cold symptoms. Place in a cup one tsp. (one packet) dried elder flowers or 1 tbsp. fresh elder flowers. Add boiling water and steep for 15 minutes, then strain and drink as is. To make this herbal tea more pleasant, add one 1 tsp. linden or acacia honey and a slice of lemon or lime. Drink several times a day.
6. Put 1-2 tsp. raspberry preserve in a cup with hot spring water. Mix it and drink. It’ll help you to relieve high fever.
7. Take 1-2 capsules Echinacea extract or pour several drops of Echinacea tincture into 1/4 cup with spring water and drink. Echinacea Echinacea Angustofolia) is immune stimulant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, blood purifier, antibiotic and antiviral. The same you can do with Astragalus, if Echinacea is not available in area you live.
8. Some organic farms in the U.S.A. and Canada produce organic Echinacea tea blends with delicate flavors of mint, licorice, orange or lemon which are effective natural healers for colds and flu.
9. You can also find in health food stores a very effective treatment for sore throat–Herbal Throat Spray with herbs that have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, such as Echinacea mixed with Oregano oil, Astragalus and St. John’s Wort.
10. Eat several times a day oranges. Even one orange a day is a great source of vitamin C which will help you to relieve cold symptoms and block further infection.
11. Eat bell peppers and other vegetables. Drink freshly squeezed juices from carrots, parsley and green apples, as a supply of antioxidant nutrients. It also helps to boost your immune system and makes for faster recovery from colds.
12. Eat white and red, delicious cherries for the same supply of antioxidants and to prevent colds and flu.
13. Eat 1-2 tsp. a day a raw honey from bees who feast on Echinacea flowers. It is an instant boost to your immune system and energy building food.
Falcon Ridge Farms in Canada produces this delicious product which contains all essential minerals necessary for a healthy life. This honey is unprocessed, but just extracted from the honeycombs at room temperature to preserve all natural enzymes. The American Botanical Council states that “Echinacea may be of value for any infection, chronic or acute, but especially where there is not long-term immune deficiency or dysfunction.”
Taking Vitamins and Minerals
14. Drink extra fluids: spring water with a piece of squeezed lemon or lime and 1/2 tbs. honey. Make freshly squeezed juices or steep herbal teas to avoid becoming dehydrated. I like to use pomegranate juice, which also helps with fatigue and loss of energy when you are sick with colds or flu.
15. Some experts recommend to consume 4-6 oz (120-180 g) of fresh protein daily to help build cold-fighting antibodies and enzymes.
16. 1-2 capsules (about 2-3 g) of natural (not synthetic) vitamin C with bioflavonoids daily helps to treat a headache provoked by colds.
17. To relieve pain and irritation in the upper airways, buy zinc gluconate lozenges or Ricola lozenges with mint and lemon that give better effect if sucked rather than chewed or swallowed whole.
18. Drink freshly squeezed juices. Fresh pomegranate juice (8oz) with with one tsp. honey will take away anxiety, fatigue and stress, which deplete levels of immunity.
19. Herbal essential oils help effectively to treat sinus, stuffy nose and painful sore throat. Prepare 2 cups (about (18-20 fl.oz) with boiling water, add 3-4 drops of pine needle essence, 2 drops of clary sage, 2-3 drops of eucalyptus essence, and 1 drop of thyme (optional). Mix it with a special medicinal glass stick. Then inhale to clear throat and sore nasal passages.
20. Keep 1-2 plants with geranium flowers in your bedroom and/or family room to clean the air from dust and bacteria.
21. Place bowls of water with green herbs like basil, parsley or dill on the windowsills to keep the environment moist.
22. When you’ll feel better start doing outdoor exercise, which will help to combat anxiety and stress associated with colds and flu, which deplete levels of immunity.
Good luck in preventing and/or treating colds or flu!
Copyright 2009.
References: Mama’s Home Remedies: Discover Time-Tested Secrets of Good Health and the Pleasures of Natural Living by Svetlana Konnikova, MA, AN, Aurora Publishers, 2008; Complete Well-Being, A Guide to Symptoms and Cures by Dr. Caroline Shreeve, Paragon Books, 2003
Svetlana Konnikova, MA, AN is an award-winning author, publisher, consultant, herbalist, researcher and entrepreneur. Svetlana is perhaps best known for writing her latest book, 2009 Gold Mom’s Award Winner, Mama’s Home Remedies: Discover Time-Tested Secrets of Good Health and the Pleasures of Natural Life, which has become a best-selling book worldwide. Visit her blog at http://mamashomeremedies.com/
5 Herbs to Calm your Nerves
When you’re super-stressed, sometimes taking a deep Belly Breath just doesn’t cut it. Fortunately there are herbs out there that can help you when you’re feeling anxious, nervous or overwhelmed.
These five herbs have been hailed for centuries for their ability to help you chill out. Just as a precaution, you should always check with your doctor before taking any dietary supplement.
Valerian Root
Valerian Root is native to Europe and Asia and was used in ancient Greece to treat a variety of disorders, including minor aches, pains and infections. Today Valerian is used to combat anxiety, tension and insomnia. Try a cup of Valerian tea to take the edge off a rough day. Side effects are usually mild, but if you feel overly fatigued and/or depressed, discontinue to use.
Skullcap
No, this isn’t your kid’s latest favorite band, it’s Scutellaria lateriflora, an herb used to calm the nervous system. It’s native to North America and thrives in a dark-moisture rich environment. Skullcap is pretty powerful, so it’s vital you consult your doctor before taking this herb. Pregnant women should avoid Skullcap all together.
Lemon Balm
Lemon Balm should win the Most Useful Herb award. In addition to being a sedative, it also has antioxidant, antiviral and antibacterial properties, and is a common ingredient in a number of medicines. You can find it in tea or in pill form, but some people like to cook with it. You can toss it in pasta, salad dressing, even cheesecake!
Winter Cherry
Winter Cherry, a.k.a Ashwagandha, is found in India and North America and has been used for centuries to treat inflammation, tumors and of course, tension. Stress-busting properties aside, Winter Cherry has long been used to promote mental health, vitality and immunity. It can be a little hard to digest however, so make sure you begin with a very small dose so not to upset your stomach.
Hops
The Hop is an herb native to Britain that has primarily treats insomnia, but also has a calming effect on the nervous system as well. And yes, it is the same stuff that’s used to flavor beer. Try it in a tea from the store or brew your own at home. You’ll need a teaspoon of hops and 8 ounces of boiling water. Make sure to let the tea steep for at least a couple of hours for the maximum benefit. Enjoy!
Your Blissful Brain
If you think you are too young and healthy to experience memory loss, think again: after age 20, memory decreases by 1 to 2 % per year. (For those of us who partied hard, memory may have decreased even more.)
Fact is, everyone over 30 has some degree of memory loss, which usually becomes significant by age 45. 76 million American baby boomers comprise the most rapidly increasing age group at the greatest risk of developing memory loss, including mild cognitive impairment (MCI), dementia, and mind-robbing, physically ravaging Alzheimer’s disease. Read more
Herbs That Chill
Who among us doesn’t want, need or look forward to chilling out with legal, effective and nontoxic help? Here are some herbal tea time tips that can help you remake/remodel your mood in a matter of minutes. Some caveats, however:
*As with all plant products, some people may be allergic to the herbs discussed below.
*If you are taking prescription drugs, first ask your doctor if there are any known drug interactions with the herbs listed here. Read more
Life After Caffeine
You probably already know that caffeine is addictive, but did you know that it can negatively affect your endocrine system, moods and energy levels? In fact, daily caffeine intake, in the form of coffee, tea or caffeinated sodas, may subtly drain energy by flooding your body with stress hormones such as cortisol, which wears down the brain as well as other crucial organs and body systems.
Read more
The Starchetarian
written by stephen hornyak
Cousin Marty is pursuing his undergrad degree at Cal Arts. Like most of my family, he’s come from back east. My wife and I have invited him over for dinner a few times. Rumor has it that he’s a vegetarian so he’d fit right in with a certain leg of our California clan. However he rarely returns phone calls, forgets he’s made dates, and leaves cryptic messages. We have not seen his face after nearly a whole semester. We were beginning to wonder if Marty held an inherited grudge from the meat eating side of the family, when my sister-in-law Cheryl a whole foods chef posited that, “Marty must be a Starchatarian.” Curious but cautious, I probe Cheryl to explain what sounds like a theory. “He’s an uneducated vegetarian, Cheryl continues, who probably eats way too much pasta and sugar, which makes him spacey.” I’m aghast at the diagnosis, it seems prejudice to peg poor Marty so early and without seeing him, but I’m interested in the premise, so let’s explore it. Read more
Live the Slow Life
Living the slow life with food as the focus is as rewarding as it is easy, and it can be done daily by each one of us. Living the slow life can also be done with others, because part of the pleasure of slow food and the Slow Food movement is in sharing, which is why the convivia are so compelling. What could be more fun than sharing a passion for good food and wine with other people who feel the same way? Some convivia have only a dozen or so members, while others may have 60 or more, yet each convivium has its individual character and interests. Read more
