June 2, 2020

Produce Alert! Get EWG’s New Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides

Nearly 70 percent of the fresh produce sold in the U.S. contains residues of potentially harmful chemical pesticides, according to EWG’s analysis of the latest test data from the federal Department of Agriculture. But the dirtiest produce commodity, according to the USDA’s Pesticide Data Program, is not a fresh fruit or vegetable but a dried one – raisins. Raisins didn’t qualify for the Dirty Dozen, since we don’t include processed foods in the list, but if they did, they would top the list by a mile. Ninety-nine percent of conventional raisins tested positive for at least two pesticides, including some […]
June 2, 2020

Brazilian Pepper Tree: A Berry with BIG Benefits

You may not have ever heard of the Brazilian Peppertree, Schinus terebinthifolia, but have likely heard of its relatives which produce pink peppercorns, pistachios, and cashews. This thorny tree is native to Brazil and becomes invasive in subtropical areas like Florida, California, and Arizona. Unlike its relatives, the Brazilian Peppertree isn’t used to season food; its role is more medicinal. The small pink fruits from this tree have been used by traditional Amazonian healers for generations to treat infections and wounds. Traditional folk medicine has asserted that the Brazilian Pepper Tree possesses antibacterial activity which can be harnessed by isolating […]
May 20, 2020

How To Support Brands That Support Healthy Soil

Climate change is a global issue, and we can all do our part to combat it. By supporting natural products
May 20, 2020

Top 5 Essential Oils for Your Skin

Your skin is a hugely important part of your health. The largest organ in the body, it protects
May 5, 2020

Elderberry Is an Anti-Flu Agent Worth a Try

Elderberry is a traditional medicine plant known for its antiviral and anti-influenza properties. Record of its use is recorded through history in Europe,
May 5, 2020

Broccoli Compound Helpful For Diabetes

The June 14, 2017 issue of Science Translational Medicine published the finding of an ability for sulforaphane, a compound that occurs in broccoli and other vegetables, to lower the liver’s production of glucose. By comparing gene signatures for diabetes with the potential ability of 3,852 compounds to affect these genes, Anders Rosengren and colleagues identified sulforaphane as having the highest overlap. “A large number of genetic variants and tissue gene expression profiles (“disease signatures”) have been associated with complex polygenic diseases over the last decade,” the authors explain. “One potentially interesting approach is to use genetic and gene expression data […]
May 5, 2020

A Healthy Debate: Vegetarianism vs. Regenerative Beef

Industrial meat production is a leading cause of global warming, yet a plant-based diet alone might not solve the problem—or could it? What’s the way forward on this contentious debate? We put the challenge to two of our senior editors, Bill “Reg” Giebler and Jenna “Veg” Blumenfeld. Here’s what they had to say to one another. Bill Giebler: As we explore the ethics of meat eating, I look to the history of humanity. Eating animals was the hunter part that accompanied the gatherer; therefore, as cultivation became the norm for food production some ten thousand years ago, animal management was […]
April 21, 2020

Most of Us Will Age Normally

Memory declines as we age, but most people will never experience the severe neuronal loss of dementia. “The Aging, Demographics and Memory Study” on the prevalence of dementia concluded that 13.9 percent of the U.S. population over the age of 71 has some form of dementia, with Alzheimer’s disease accounting for just less than 10 percent, says brain researcher Carol Barnes. “That means 86 percent of us age normally.” The likelihood of dementia increase as people age, hitting 1 in 3 by age 85. Barnes, director of the University of Arizona’s Mc-Knight Brain Institute, has studied the aging brain for […]
April 21, 2020

Relax With Holy Basil

Anxiety is the most common mental illness in the United States. Roughly 18% of Americans have this condition and many go untreated. It’s actually estimated that about two thirds of those suffering forgo medical treatment. Many are concerned about the side effects associated with anxiety medications, and rightfully so. They’re not exactly risk-free. Luckily, there are a number of safe herbs that not only alleviate anxiety, but offer additional health benefits as well. Below, we’ll explore the anti-anxiety effects of holy basil, one of nature’s best stress-relieving herbs. Holy Basil Offers Multiple Health Benefits Holy basil has been used traditionally in Asia for thousands of years. […]
April 21, 2020

Toxic Tuna: Too Much Mercury?

Like many of my patients, and readers, you probably know that there have been concerns about eating different types of tuna as they can contain methyl mercury.  Some recent news stories regarding children eating tuna have suggested that tuna may be even less safe than previous guidelines advised.  Several groups of researchers, though, have differing opinions on how much tuna is safe for you to eat and that’s what I’d like to tell you about. USDA vs. Other Agencies – Selenium vs. Methyl Mercury First, let me explain to you the concern about methyl mercury.  Tuna, like other fish, absorb […]
April 7, 2020

Try Some Natural Swaps for These Medications

While you may think of prescription medications as being created by scientists in a lab, the truth is that many drugs started as natural products. These plant-derived compounds are refined, isolated, and replicated in a lab where they become the common medications you’re familiar with. Many natural products can still offer health-promoting support and have powerful effects, just like medications. Keep in mind that you’ll need to work with your doctor on this for safety but here are some examples of natural counterparts to pharmaceutical drugs you may already be using. 1. PHARMACEUTICAL DRUG: IBUPROFEN Ibuprofen is one type of […]
April 7, 2020

A DIY Fresh Start for Natural Spring Cleaning

If you’re having trouble finding all of the cleaning products you need or just want to make some yourself, we
March 18, 2020

What Are the 7 Top Foods To Fight Cancer?

I have long believed that people can transform their health with the foods they eat. I encourage patients with a wide array of conditions to examine their diets in addition to using traditional treatments and medicines. For some, adopting a healthy diet full of produce, whole grains and lean protein can improve symptoms through weight loss. For people with certain diseases, choosing foods with unique, wellness-promoting qualities can provide a major boost to their health. For those seeking to actively prevent cancer, the foods you eat can bring big health benefits. Countless studies have been done on the effects of different diets or […]