Natural Mood Elevators
Ads for antidepressants make it seem as though the most logical solution for a case of the blues is to seek a prescription. Pharmaceutical drugs may be helpful — even necessary — for people with severe depression, but for others, there are natural solutions that may work even better, with less risk of adverse side effects. Dietary supplements and lifestyle changes can be used to naturally lift your spirits. Read more
Natural Support for Liver Function
People sometimes complain of feeling “off,” a sense of being not quite well, if not exactly sick. This is how it was for 51-year-old “Larry,” a business executive in Southern California. Larry had been divorced for several years and whenever his busy work schedule allowed it, he was enjoying the bachelor social life. But now he wasn’t feeling right — at his annual physical his doctor said his tests were fine and maybe he just needed to slow down. That didn’t satisfy Larry, who was sure something was amiss. He decided to schedule an appointment with naturopathic physician Mark Stengler, ND, since NDs can often identify illness that MDs overlook in their symptom/disease-focused paradigm. Read more
Natural Anxiety Soothers
The other day I heard from a friend of mine with a new baby — her second in three years. She sounded harried… hardly a surprise. She described her life as an endless round of attending to her two children, caretaking her husband, housekeeping and managing her career. She’s not sleeping well and frequently feels jittery and anxious. Not being one to turn automatically to pharmaceuticals, she called to ask if I knew of any natural remedies for stress and anxiety. Read more
Garlic Can Reduce Blood Pressure
Garlic is an oft-touted natural remedy, particularly regarding affairs of the heart. Regular garlic consumption has been said to improve cardiovascular health. In the past, one way it was believed to improve health was its ability to reduce blood pressure. Read more
The Antioxidant Power of Parsley
Bursting with freshness and flavor, parsley is the perfect way to eat green and celebrate the bounty of summer. It is a rich source of nutrients, including vitamins A, C and K. Parsley also contains lutein and zeaxanthin, which are carotenoids important for protecting vision. Often used as a garnish, parsley deserves center stage.
SINGING THE PRAISES OF PARSLEY
Leo Galland MD, author of The Fat Resistance Diet, sang the praises of this versatile herb in a recent conversation on why you should include fresh herbs in your diet. “Fresh vegetables and herbs maximize both nutrition and flavor, factors that I believe are critically important when making the switch to a healthier diet,” he told me, adding that new research focused on the benefits of parsley, in particular, is compelling. “Researchers are continuing to discover the remarkable health benefits of parsley, which is rich in anti-inflammatory phytonutrients.” Inflammation-fighting foods, such as parsley, can help make fat-burning hormones work, according to Dr. Galland’s “fat resistance” diet plan.
In fact, parsley outstrips most vegetables in its ability to raise the levels of antioxidant enzymes in your blood. The carotenoid content is also high. Since apigenin, a flavonoid, is stored in the body, it is less important to eat lots of parsley than to eat it often. A study done in Denmark in 1999 found that eating about a tablespoon of parsley daily raises the levels of important antioxidant enzymes in blood cells.
“Parsley’s high nutrient density, with lots of nutrition for a limited number of calories, makes it a perfect example of the type of food we should eat, since increasing nutritional quality is the key to both losing weight and nurturing health,” Dr. Galland notes.
HOW TO ENJOY FRESH PARSLEY
Chefs often sprinkle fresh parsley onto dishes as an easy and tasty way to add vitality and color. Simply tear the leaves into pieces, then toss them into your favorite dishes such as omelets, soups, salads, pizzas, pastas — the ways to enjoy parsley are endless. Parsley is the major component of tabbouleh, a delicious Moroccan salad that also includes tomatoes and onions. Many people don’t think about cooking parsley, but you can actually sauté it (stems and all), serving them alongside broiled or grilled meats or fish. Dr. Galland says he tries to eat about one tablespoon of fresh parsley every day.
Fresh parsley is generally available year-round in most supermarkets and natural food stores, as well as at farm stands during the summer and fall. Choose parsley in bunches with perky, bright green leaves and avoid those that are wilted or waterlogged. (However, wilted leaves can be freshened by trimming ends and placing in cold water.) As always, organic is best.
At home you can store parsley in a bag in the refrigerator, but first, make sure the leaves are dry so they stay crisp.
GROW YOUR OWN PARSLEY
If you want to exercise your green thumb, growing parsley at home is fun and easy, even for novice gardeners. Grow it on your deck or right in your kitchen where it’s pretty and you will remember to use it often. You — and everyone you cook for — will be glad you did.
Get a free one-day meal plan with delicious recipes at Dr. Galland’s Web site, www.fatresistancediet.com/trial/.
Source(s):
Leo Galland, MD, is the director of the Foundation for Integrated Medicine and the author of acclaimed books Power Healing (Random House), on integrated medicine, and Superimmunity for Kids (Dell) on preventive nutrition for children.
Nature Ways to Treat Thyroid Disorder
Difficult Thyroid Diagnosis
A good friend has been feeling sluggish and depressed lately, and to make matters worse, she’s slowly gaining weight. Since she’s approaching 50, she attributes all this to getting older — but I suggested she see her doctor for a check-up since thyroid disease can also be associated with these symptoms. In fact, experts estimate that more than 27 million Americans, half of whom don’t know it and 80% of whom are women, suffer from thyroid disease. It’s a diagnosis that many physicians miss — in part because they don’t listen closely to what patients are saying. I sat down with some experts on thyroid and hormone disorders in order to learn what to look out for (including the not-so-obvious symptoms), what you need to bring to the attention of your doctor and also how to balance your thyroid naturally. Read more
Herbs, Spices, and Other Flavors
Phase 7: Healthy Meal Planning - Step 3: Herbs, spices, and other flavors
You may be concerned that reducing some ingredients in a healthy diet, such as fat, salt, and sugar, could leave your foods a little blander than you’d like.
Don’t worry. The plant world offers all sorts of herbs, spices, and other flavorings to give your foods a tangy, spicy, or fragrant kick. Use these flavorings properly, and you may never notice that your foods have less fat, salt, and sugar. Read more
Eating to Prevent or Treat Disease - Food allergies, intolerances, and other discomforts
Phase 6: Eating to Prevent or Treat Disease - Step 6: Food allergies, intolerances, and other discomforts
If you’ve ever felt sick after eating something, the experience might have left you convinced you were allergic to the food you ate. However, an allergy is only one possible explanation. It could be a food intolerance or other food-based problem. Some foods, such as milk, and some food additives, such as sulfites, can cause both allergic and intolerant responses. Read more
Eating to Prevent or Treat Digestive Ailments
Phase 6: Eating to Prevent or Treat Disease - Step 5: Digestive ailments
A number of organs handle food as it journeys through our body, including the esophagus, stomach, and large intestine. Painful symptoms can crop up when digested material doesn’t move in the right direction or moves too slowly, or other problems arise with digestive organs. Read more
Eating to Prevent or Treat Cancer
Phase 6: Eating to Prevent or Treat Disease - Step 4: Cancer
Normally, your body’s cells divide and grow in an orderly manner to replace cells that are old and damaged. Unfortunately, sometimes the genes in cells that control how they split to form new cells become altered, or mutated.
These cells may grow and multiply out of control, forming a tumor. Blood vessels grow to the tumor to feed it nutrients, and the growth may spread to other parts of your body. Read more
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