Category: Uncategorized

The Health Benefits of Catus Juice: It May Help Fight Cancer

Catcus juice, also called prickly pear cactus juice, is thought to help reduce the risk of cancer – although it is still early days for the research into this.

A study published in Nutritional Journal by Da-ming Zou showed that cactus juice may be a good alternative to chemotherapy, when treating cancer. Catcus juice has also ben shown to inhibit cancer cell growth and slow tumor growth.

However, you should certainly not replace chemotherapy or other cancer treatments with cactus juice at this stage though; more rersearch is still needed.

Other Benefits of Cactus Juice

Anti-oxidant: Luna Tesoriere is the leading author in a study for the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition on cactus juice.  She says that cactus juice provides many anti-oxidant benefits, and that it works as wellas Vitamin C supplementation in enhancing overall anti-oxidant effects in the body.

Cactus juice outpaces Vitamin C in reducing oxidation of fats (which can contribute to atherosclerosis).

Read More »

Announcement for new category

I’ll be launching a new category on the blog next week, “Eat Your Way to Health.”

The recipes I’ll be giving have major health benefits; they’re not just low fat or high fiber ones – they have benefits beyond that. For inatance, the sweet potato recipe that I’ve got for you next isn’t just delicious, it’s also something that helps manage diabetes. Look for the sweet potato recipe in your email Monday, April 30th. 

Look out for a new recipe every week to begin with. Try them out, and let me know what you think.

5 Ways Bad Diet Can Lead to Poor Health in Children

This is a guest post from Ally Wagner

Adults know that a poor diet can lead to all sorts of health problems from insomnia to diabetes. But did you know that the same rules apply to children? With dietary needs of their own, kids can also suffer the consequences of a poor diet. To that end, we have gathered just five of the ways a bad diet can lead to poor health in children.

1. Childhood Obesity

With the incidence of adult obesity on the rise, it is no surprise that it has found its way into children. This report from the CDC reports that incidence rates in childhood obesity have more than tripled in the past 30 years, with the result being that about one in three kids and teens are considered overweight or obese. Just some of the health problems associated with obesity include higher risk of cardiovascular disease, prediabetes, and sleep apnea.

2. Skin and Lung Conditions

It isn’t just the waistline of the kids that is at stake diet wise. Kids who don’t get a good diet can also suffer from higher instances of skin and lung conditions, such as infections. This article from New Zealand reports that students who do not eat breakfast or bring lunches to school have lots of sores and boils because their immune system is weakened. It also reports that researchers there found links between poor nutrition and several illnesses like pneumonia and bronchitis.

3. Bad Behavior

Bad diets don’t necessarily have physical outcomes either. The University of Southern California found that a lack of zinc, iron, protein, and vitamin B could produce a higher instance of bad behavior. In a study on the children of an island off the coast of Africa, scientists found that the more malnourished the children were, the greater the chances were of them getting into fights, cheating, and even taking drugs.

4. Lower Energy Levels

Sugary snacks and sodas can be good for a short term rush but come with more bad than good. A good diet can actually lead to consistent and healthy energy levels in kids. Suite 101 provides this guide to healthy snacking for kids and includes tips such as how to combine protein and carbohydrates for a healthy snack.

5. Pregnancy Diet

Eating right doesn’t start when children move to solid food. It is also an important consideration for expecting mothers. This article from Science Daily details how a poor diet during pregnancy can have a long term impact on the health of the child. Possible outcomes of a poor pregnancy diet include obesity, higher cholesterol, and higher blood sugar in children.

Ally Wagner is studying to become a nurse and also contributes to Nurse Practitioner Programs which helps those studying to become nurse practitioners.

Soup & Weight Loss

Soup may be your best friend when it comes to losing those extra pounds but not because there is some kind of magic power in soup.

Pennsylvania State University did a study for five weeks with 60 participants; soup was serve as a starter the first four weeks. In this study researchers used a light vegetable soup with more broth than vegetables. After eating the soup there was a 15 minute waiting period before serving the main meal; the fifth week of the study no soup was served before the meal.

When the participants ate soup before eating the main meal they consumed 15 to 20% fewer calories. In case you are curious lunch was pasta-cheese tortellini in tomato sauce.

Of course the reason the soup worked is because the participants started to feel satisfied before the pasta arrived so therefore eat less pasta.

Important to remember: The soups used in this study were all made-in-house and none with heavy cream.

Bottom Line: It is thought that eating soup as a starter at least four times a week could lead to a substantial weight loss. Soup is certainly much safer and cheaper than weight loss pills.   

Vitamin E, Garlic, and Anticoagulant Drugs

Did you know that taking vitamin E and/or garlic with anticoagulant drugs can be dangerous; the combination is the same as taking a double dose of an anticogulant drug meaning your blood will become too thin.

Low Carb Diets

The more popular low carb dieting became the more low-carb diets and products manufactures introduced to you the consumer. A few of the low-carb diets like the South Beach Diet distinguish between the beneficial and harmful fats but this just isn’t the case with all low-carb diets and products on the market. As a result many of the low-carb products are high in saturated and trans-fats, the type of fat that has long been known to lead to heart disease.

In the beginning those on low-carb diets do lose weight faster but by the end of the year there is neither significant difference in weight loss or health benefits in any other area. There are ample studies that a diet high in saturated and trans-fats put you at high risk for such diseases as heart, diabetes and cancer.

Taking a minute to read the list of ingredients on commercially produced foods may save your life. Learn more about healthy eating at www.everydayhealth.com

Got Almonds

Maybe the question should be “Got Almonds” rather than “Got Milk”.

1 cup almonds has 418 mg. calcium, 1 cup milk has 298 calcium.

If your child does not care for milk let him/her munch on a few almonds. 

Great Holiday Dip

Light And Lively Lima Bean Dip

From the January issue of The Herb Campanion www.herbcampanion.com  

This is a tasty way to eat your vegetables. The one change I made in the recipe is rather than a vegetable bouillon cube and two cups water, I combined one cup Wolf Gang Puck’s vegetable broth and one cup water to cook lima beans.

Two 10-ounce packages frozen baby lima beans

1 medium onion, chopped

1 vegetable bouillon 

1 teaspoon grated lemon peel

2 cups water

1 teaspoon dried cumin

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 tablespoons minced fresh dill or 1 teaspoon dried

3 cloves garlic, minced and mashed

3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil

1/4 cup low-fat sour cream

 juice of 1 lemon

1/4 cup minced red bell pepper, for garnish

1 lemon, cut into weddges

In a medium saucepan, simmer beans, onion, bouillon cube, and lemon peel in water until beans are soft, about eight minutes.

Drain: return to pot and mash with a potato masher or pastry blender. Add cumin, oregano, black pepper, garlic, dill, 3 tablespoons olive oil and sour cream, stir to combine. Stir in lemon juice. Add salt to taste. Mound into a serving bowl and cool to room temperature.

To serve, drizzle remaining teaspoon olive oil on top, sprinkle with minced bell pepper and place lemon wedges alongside. Dip keeps for three days covered and chilled.

I found this is best made the day before you want to serve

Make pita chips to serve with dip. Cut pita bread into triangles and toast in oven.

Taco Shells

I just read a great tip for making your own taco shells, the ones you buy are usually fried.

Hang soft corn tortillas directly over rack (with sides hanging down), bake at 400 degress until crisp.

Check ingredients label when buying tortillas, some contain lard or partially hydrogenated vegetable oil.

A little Sugar is sometimes a good Thing

From Dr. Andrew Weil’s newsletter “Self Healing”; Swallowing sugar can cure hiccups.

Dr Weil states that putting a teaspoon of sugar or honey on the back of the tongue and swallowing slowly can make the hiccups go away. Sugar may stimulate the nerve that causes hiccups, thereby stopping the spasm. Swallowing opens the glottis, which also helps.

www.drweil.com