Since ancient times our ancestor’s harvested the many herbs and spices that grew wild around them, mixed potions, and treated ailments. Man was after all a hunter-gatherer, and an omnivore, (an organism which gets its food energy from both plant and animal material).

The humble herb and spice rack in your kitchen today need not be just a decorative feature, although they look quite pleasing to the eye hanging on the wall, in both modern and old fashioned styled homes. They can in fact hold a plethora of natural healing ingredients that can also add great taste to the foods you eat every day.

Of all the herbs and spices you can choose from for flavour, there are 15 that are more powerful than the rest. Below is the list and you may well be surprised to learn of the many diverse conditions for which they’ve proven so very useful.

1/. BASIL Basil is an herbal carminative, that is, it can relieve gas and soothe stomach upsets. One possible explanation for its calming effect is a compound called eugenol, which has been shown to help ease muscle spasms. Research is still preliminary, but laboratory studies also suggest that compounds found in basil may help disrupt the dangerous chain of events that can lead to the development of cancer

2/. CAYENNE Cayenne pepper is a hot red powder made from tropical chilli peppers. It contains alkaloid capsaicin, which relieves pain by blocking the chemicals that send pain messages to the brain. If you eat cayenne at the first sign of any type of headache, with plenty of water as a chaser, this spicy herb may be an effective alternative treatment. Added to food, cayenne perks up appetite, improves digestion and relieves gas, nausea, and indigestion. The herb also thins phlegm and eases its passage from the lungs, thus helping to prevent and treat coughs, colds and bronchitis.

3/. CINNAMON Cinnamon bark contains an oily chemical called cinnamaldehyde that kills a variety of illness causing bacteria, including the dreaded E.coli, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus aureas. Research shows that cinnamon is also able to stop the growth of the Asian flu virus. Herbalists report that cinnamon bark also helps regulate the menstrual cycle and checks flooding during menopause. Also cinnamaldehyde has a tranquilizing effect that helps reduce anxiety and stress.

4/. CLOVE Oil of clove is 60 to 90 percent eugenol. A potent pain deadening antimicrobal. Clove has earned the official endorsement of the FDA as an effective stopgap measure for tooth pain. Clove is also among the spices that can help the body use insulin more effectively, thus lowering blood sugar somewhat. In one lab study, clove was also found to speed healing of the dreaded cold sores.

5/. DILL Dill has been used to soothe the digestive tract and treat heartburn, colic and gas for thousands of years. In fact, the word dill comes from the Old Norse word dilla, meaning to lull or soothe. The herb has an antifoaming action that suggests why it might help break up gas bubbles. Like parsley, dill is rich in chlorophyll, which also makes it useful in treating bad breath.

6/. FENNEL Rich in volatile oils, fennel is what’s known as a carminative herb, meaning that it can ease bloating, gas pains, and digestive spasms in the small and large intestines. Fennel can also reduce bad breath and body odour that originates in the intestines. Women who are breastfeeding may find that fennel, which works in a way similar to the body’s hormones, increases milk flow.

7/. GARLIC Intact garlic cloves contain an odourless, sulphur-containing amino acid called alliin. When the garlic is crushed, alliin becomes allicin. Research shows that allicin helps lower cholesterol and blood pressure and also helps prevents blood clots. Garlic can also reduce the risk of developing atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Compounds in this familiar bulb kill many organisms, including bacteria and viruses that cause earaches, flu and colds. Research indicates that garlic is also effective against digestive ailments and diarrhoea. What’s more, further studies suggest that this common and familiar herb may help prevent the onset of cancers.

8/. GINGER When it comes to quelling the queasiness of motion sickness, ginger has no equal say herbalists. In fact, researchers have demonstrated that ginger beats dimenhydrate, the main ingredient in motion sickness drugs such as Dramamine, for controlling symptoms of seasickness and motion sickness. Ginger stimulates saliva flow and digestive activity, settles the stomach, relieves vomiting, eases pain from gas and diarrhoea, and is effective as an anti-nausea remedy. This aromatic herb also helps lower cholesterol. Herbalists have also found it to be useful as a pain reliever.

9/. MINT Herbalists the world over use mint, as a premier stomach tonic, to counteract nausea and vomiting, promote digestion, calm stomach muscle spasms, relieve flatulence, and ease hiccups. Menthol, the aromatic oil in peppermint, also relaxes the airways and fights bacteria and viruses. Menthol interferes with the sensation from pain receptors, thus it may be useful in reducing headache pain. Scientific evidence suggests that peppermint can kill many kinds of micro-organisms, and may boost mental alertness. In one study, people who inhaled menthol said they felt as if it relieved their nasal congestion, although it didn’t increase their measurable airflow.

10/. OREGANO Oregano contains at least four compounds that soothe coughs and 19 chemicals with antibacterial action that may help reduce body odour. The ingredients in oregano that soothe coughs may also help un-knot muscles in the digestive tract, making oregano a digestive aid. This familiar spice also contains compounds that can lower blood pressure too.

11/. PARSLEY Diuretic herbs such as parsley prevent problems such as kidney stones and bladder infections and keep our body’s plumbing running smoothly by causing it to produce more urine. They also relieve bloating during menstruation. Also there’s a reason for that parsley on the edge of the diner plate, its not just there for fancy decoration; it’s an effective breath freshener because it contains high levels of chlorophyll.

12/. ROSEMARY Rosemary is one of the richer herbal sources of antioxidants, which have been shown to prevent cataracts, and contains 19 chemicals with antibacterial action that help fight infection. Traditionally used to ease asthma, this common culinary ingredient has volatile oils that can reduce the airway constriction induced by histamine, that chemical culprit of asthma and other allergy symptoms. Herbalists think that rosemary may also help ease breast pain by acting as a natural drying agent to fluid filled cysts.

13/. SAGE The oils found in sage are both antiseptic and antibiotic, so it can help fight infections. Sage is effective for symptoms of menopause, night sweats and hot flashes, because of its estrogenic action and because its tannins can dry up perspiration. There’s also compelling evidence that sage may b of value to people with diabetes for whom the hormone insulin does not work as efficiently as it should. Lab studies indicate that sage may boost insulin’s action.

14/. THYME Thyme contains thymol, which increases blood-flow to the skin. The warmth is comforting, and some herbalists believe that the increased blood-flow speeds healing. An anti-spasmodic. Thyme relaxes respiratory muscles and is endorsed for treating bronchitis by Commission E, the expert panel that judges the safety and effectiveness of herbal medicines for the German government. Aromatherapists say that thyme’s scent is a mood lifter.

15/. TURMERIC Many clinical studies agree that curcumin in turmeric has anti-inflammatory effects, including a significant beneficial effect in relieving rheumatoid arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome. Curcumin, which gives this spice its familiar yellow pigment, may also lower cholesterol. Turmeric is also packed with antioxidants, including vitamins A, C, and E, which have been shown to prevent cataracts.

Passed down to us by our forefathers and countless generations throughout the world, these 15 food additives and enhancers are just a selected few that are currently known to have medicinal and beneficial properties, yet represent the more commonly used. By including these herbs and spices into your daily cooking or diet on a regular basis, you will greatly enhance your quality of life, and reduce the need for those expensive, and often damaging pharmaceutical drugs.

To your continued good health

John Elliott aka Oaky Wood is the co-founder of The Corner 4 Women thecorner4women.com thecorner4women.com is a poet, writer, artist, webmaster and designer.

Tags: antioxidant, anxiety, asthma, cholesterol, diet, Heart, hiccup, menopause, perspiration, quality of life

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Eating constitutes one of the most important familiar and social activities. When selecting our food and planning our meals we are influenced by history, culture, and environment, as well as by our particular preferences and taste.

Food is a source of gratification and pleasure that, combined with a good nutrition, has vital effects on our health and quality of life. Healthy eating habits are essential for adequate children’s growth and development, as well as for their performance at school, both intellectual and physical. They also help active adults keep in shape. But which eating habits are healthy and which ones are not?

The key is eating in a moderate way and having food that contains an adequate nutrient equilibrium. Each ingredient in our food contains has one or more of these nutrients and for that reason looking for a wide variety of ingredients in our meals contributes to giving our body what it needs.

Eating healthy is not about eating plenty of everything. It is not gong on absurd diets, nor eliminating some kinds of food from our lives. It’s about trying to choose ingredients such as cereals, vegetables, fruits, low-fat milk, and cheese, and reducing red meat consumption as well as sugar and salt.

Amongst the fundamental nutrients needed for a good heath, we can find water, carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, minerals, vitamins, and some others. Factors like age, sex, height, the amount of exercise you regularly get, and the overall health status determine the amount of nutrients your body needs.

As for calories, a balanced nutrition is achieved easily by daily including ingredients on the following proportions:

• 50 to 60 percent Carbohydrates

• 12 to 20 percent Proteins

• 25 to 30 percent Lipids (fat)

Of course, these values are just an approximation—only your doctor knows your particular needs.

In order to be able to choose our food wisely, it is helpful to know some things about the different types of ingredients.

Refined flours obtained from cereals like corn or rice and are used to make bread, cookies, pasta, etc. These are a great source of complex carbohydrates, which represent a good energy source. They also contain proteins, fiber, B-complex vitamins, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and selenium. Besides, they contain low fat and no cholesterol.

Legumes like peas and beans contain a good deal of proteins, complex carbohydrates and fiber, and don’t contain cholesterol. It’s recommended to include a good amount of these ingredients in our daily diet.

Vegetables are also a good source of fiber, provide vitamins, and they even help your body produce its own vitamin A.

Fresh fruit contain vitamins, fiber and minerals, and are a good source of water and simple carbohydrates. Peaches and melons help your body produce vitamin A, and citric fruits are powerful suppliers of vitamin C.

Milk is a very important component of every diet. It provides essential proteins, lipids, vitamins A, D and some of the B-complex vitamins, and also minerals like calcium and phosphorus.

Fish is a great source of minerals and vitamins. Red meat is also a source of lipids, although it is less recommended than other kinds of meat because of the high cholesterol content.

It may be wise to ask your doctor about your diet. He will be able to recommend any change or nutritional supplements you may need.

Remember, eating well is living well.

Zach Thompson is a Glyconutrients Representative. You can get a free Glyconutrients consultation by visiting myglycoshop.net Glyconutrients. Clinical studies have shown that glyconutrients can help balance your immune system.

Tags: cholesterol, diet, mineral, quality of life, vitamin c

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If you have diabetes, elevated glucose levels can damage nerves needed to help pass food along from the stomach through the intestines; the motility disorder called gastroparesis is one of the major complications of the disease.

Gastroparesis causes delayed emptying of food from the stomach into the intestinal tract, which can lead to feelings of early fullness and bloating, as well as heartburn, nausea and vomiting. It’s commonly associated with type 1 and type 2 diabetes; that’s because chronically high blood sugar over many years can damage nerves throughout the body. In the case of gastroparesis, poor blood sugar control can damage the vagus nerve, which helps orchestrate the complex connections in the digestive tract and affects the wavelike movements that propel digested food through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

“As a result, the stomach doesn’t empty very well,” advises Cindy M. Yoshida, M.D., a gastroenterologist in Charlottesville, VA, and author of No More Digestive Problems. Complicating matters is the fact that when food lingers too long in the stomach, it can become fermented, which can lead to bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine. “This can cause problems with the absorption of foods that can, in turn, lead to weight loss and metabolic problems like dehydration and electrolyte imbalances,” Dr. Yoshida explains.

Gastroparesis Diagnosis

The condition is typically diagnosed with a gastric-emptying scan: A person eats a standard meal, then the stomach is scanned to see how quickly it empties. To treat gastroparesis, dietary adjustments are usually in order: Experts recommend eating smaller, more frequent meals that are low in fat and fiber. This may help with both gastric emptying and the feelings of fullness that often haunt people with this condition. It can also help to have liquid meals—such as soups or pureed foods—which typically pass through the stomach more easily and quickly. And keeping tight control of your blood sugar can improve symptoms of gastroparesis.

Gastroparesis Treatment

A few different drugs—including pro-motility agents and antibiotics—can be used to treat gastroparesis. One emerging treatment uses Botox, which has been found to relax the muscle that lies between the stomach and small intestine. Relaxing that muscle allows the stomach to release food more readily. As with other Botox treatments, however, the results are temporary.

In another new development, gastric pacemakers have been found to help with gastroparesis. This treatment involves the surgical implantation of the device on the stomach, where it provides electrical impulses that “help mimic the normal movements of the stomach, causing it to empty faster,” says Prabhakar Swaroop, M.D., an assistant professor of gastroenterology at the St. Louis University School of Medicine. In fact, one recent study at the University of Memphis in Tennessee found that electrical stimulation decreased nausea and vomiting and improved the rate of gastric emptying in one week. Even better news is that the study also found that the results were sustained over one full year in those patients who had gastric pacemakers permanently implanted.

While there isn’t a cure, discovering the options in gastroparesis treatment can improve your quality of life.

©Diabetes Focus, Second Quarter 2007

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Tags: diet, Heart, high blood sugar, implant, quality of life, weight Loss

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When people are diagnosed with Diabetes, their reactions range from, ‘So what, another pill,’ to, ‘My life is over.’ We’re going to examine the serious complications of the disease, the available treatments and, most importantly, how you can personally reduce the complications and medicines through diet and exercise to lose weight. Since Type 1 Diabetes occurs in childhood, with medicine and diet control required for survival, the focus in this article will be on the more common disease, Type 2 Diabetes.

What Is Type 2 Diabetes? This is a disease where the body has been overfed with carbohydrates (carbs) for so long, it develops a weird kind of reaction to them. Insulin is a chemical your body makes, to turn carbs into energy in your cells, but, when you’ve been overdosing on carbs for a long time, your cells become resistant to the insulin and can’t absorb the energy. Your cells begin starving even though there’s more than enough carbs for energy. The carbs stack up in your body as blood sugar (glucose) and eventually get added around your waist as fat, leading to obesity. The fat and starving cells make diabetics sluggish and tired, and almost continually hungry. It’s easy for Diabetics to develop food addictions because of this hunger. As we load up to satisfy our hunger, we send our blood sugar into a roller-coaster, where we risk stroke at high-sugar times and Diabetic coma at low-sugar times.

What Are The Diabetic Health Risks? Stroke and coma are just the 2 immediate extremes of Diabetes. When you add in the fact that Diabetes is the number one cause of kidney failure, a major cause of cardio-vascular diseases and a contributing factor in many cancers, pneumonia and other serious diseases, Diabetes could be the number one cause of death in the U.S. Short of death, Diabetes is nothing to ignore. It’s a leading cause of blindness, nerve diseases, periodontal disease, vaginal yeast infections and amputations of fingers, arms, legs, ears, noses and other extremities. It slows healing from all diseases and infections. Diabetes needs to be treated seriously in order to extend your life and retain a high quality of life.

What Treatments Are Available? Diabetes treatment can be as simple as monitoring and diet/exercise control, to adding a pill to your daily medicines, to insulin supplements, to complex and painful surgery and living assistance for normal daily activities. There are new treatments being discovered all the time but you should have the attitude of ‘less-is-more’ when it comes to treatment. The less treatment you need, the longer and better your life will be. Even with minimum treatment, you’ll need to monitor your blood glucose levels regularly to make sure everything is going right. Your doctor will recommend a home glucose monitor, other diabetic supplies and blood glucose lab tests about every 3 months. As your disease progresses, the monitoring and labs will be more extensive. Once you’re taking medicine, you should test your blood glucose at least twice daily, when you get up and 1-2 hours after your biggest meal. If you’re using insulin injections, you’ll be testing more often than that. No matter what stage of Diabetes treatment you’re in, diet and exercise can help.

How Do Weight Loss Diet And Exercise Help Manage Diabetes? Unfortunately, many people approach Diabetes like a headache…taking a pill is enough. With this disease, you have to look at diet and exercise as medicine. I reduced my average blood glucose by 50% (to normal) in 6 months just by changing my diet and exercise. Most medicines don’t claim to do as much. The diabetes.org/home.jsp” target=”_blank American Diabetes Association (ADA) is a great place to learn about the disease, treatment, diet, research, etc. Using the ADA diet as a guide, I ate smaller meals with 3 in-between meal snacks, keeping a balance of proteins, carbs and fats, I added high fiber fruits and vegetables, lots of water, and I watched my cholesterol. I should point out that I was less hungry on this diet than when I ate without control. I did aerobic walking and other exercises for 30 minutes, 5-6 days per week. As diabetics, if we reduce our weight by just 5 %, we can make improvements of up to 30% in our blood sugar. For a 200 pound person, that means losing 10 pounds…anybody can do that. You can find more information on e-health-fitness.com/weight_loss_tips.htm” target=”_blank diet and weight loss all over the internet. Just be careful to consult your doctor and not do any fasting type diets because they lower your blood glucose too much.

We who suffer from Diabetes need to recognize that this disease will progress, but we can control how fast it progresses. If we just take the meds the doctor gives us, the prognosis isn’t good for the length of our lives or the quality. If we decide to fight the disease by controlling our diet and exercise, we may not need medicine for years, we’ll add many years to our lives and have a far better quality of life during those years. What’s your choice?

Glen Williams is founder and CEO of EHF, Inc. and Webmaster for e-health-fitness.com e-health-fitness.com. He has done extensive research on personal and family health and fitness issues and has been helping and advising people on health since 1987.

Tags: american diabetes association, cholesterol, diabetic, diet, exercises, lose weight, obesity, quality of life, weight Loss

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