Health

 According to greek legend, when the gods walked upon the earth, they lived on walnuts. It’s no wonder why they did. As an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants walnuts have many potential health benefits. 

Walnuts are an exceptionally good source of omega-3 fatty acids, a special type of fat the body cannot manufacture. Numerous studies have demonstrated that people who consume a diet rich in omega 3 oils have a significantly reduced risk of developing heart disease. Specifically, Omega 3 fatty acids help to reduce artery clogging plaque from forming within the walls of coronary arteries.
These important fatty acids also impact the healthy functioning of nerve cells. A relative deficiency of omega 3 oils leads to the formation of cell membranes that are much less “fluid” than normal, which can ultimately affect behavior, mood and mental function. In fact, decreased consumption of omega 3 fatty acids has been correlated with increased rates of depression.
Walnuts also contain polyphenolic compounds which are powerful antioxidants and inhibit free radical damage to LDL cholesterol, further reducing the possibility of plaque formation.
Add Walnuts to your Daily Diet
Despite the significant health impacts, an estimated 60% of Americans are deficient in omega-3 fatty acids. The good news is that increasing YOUR body’s supply of healthful omega 3 fatty acids couldn’t be any easier - just toss a few walnuts into your morning oatmeal, or your dinner salad, or grab a handful as a quick afternoon snack.

What do Heavy Winter Rains Have in Common

with Glaucoma?

Every winter across the US, heavy rains bring thoughts of flooding, backed up drainage systems and overflowing streets. When the drains and city sewers get clogged, the overflow of winter rains can bring a once bustling community to a grinding halt.

Most all of us, at one time or another has experienced heartburn.  Heartburn is a common symptom of acid indigestion. 

Have you ever wondered what was going on inside your body to cause this annoying sensation?   Heartburn occurs when the acidic contents of the stomach are refluxed into the lower esophagus.  Since the cells lining the esophagus are not able to withstand exposure to acidic conditions, irritation and inflammation result; hence the burning sensation.  Individuals that are at greater risk for experiencing acid indigestion are those with hiatal hernia, weakened valve between esophagus and stomach (lower esophageal sphincter) and those with an impaired ability to clear liquids or food from the esophagus into the stomach.

 I adopted Pepper from a shelter in 1992, just after I moved to Philadelphia.  I had cats growing up on a farm in Wisconsin, but never had the opportunity to have one as an adult, due to various rental agreements.  From 1992, to 1998 when I met my partner Neal, it was just us two.  I had had relationships during that time, but perhaps Pepper knew that they would not last and therefore didn’t pay much attention. Then I met Neal and after several weeks he began to notice a change in her behavior, saying one day, “You know she’s trying to kill me.”

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 Whether it is name-calling, peer pressure or physical intimidation, bullying has become a serious  epidemic in schools, neighborhoods, communities and even homes around the world. It can have a  lasting impact on people for life, in some cases resulting in serious depression and suicide.

Do you feel like the bruised princess who slept on a pea?

•               Does your mattress swallow you up like a sinkhole?

  • Would a bed of nails be an improvement?

  • Do you spend more time tossing and turning than sleeping?

  • Do you wake up every morning with an achy, stiff back? 

  • Are you just as tired as when you went to bed?

Piled high in the grocery store produce area you may have noticed peculiar-looking fuzzy fruits with thick brown-green skin, each about the size of a lemon. When cut open, their inside is bright green, although in the late 1990s a sweeter yellow-fleshed variety was also developed.

 Every winter across the US, heavy rains bring thoughts of flooding, backed up drainage systems and overflowing streets. When the drains and city sewers get clogged, the overflow of winter rains can bring a once bustling community to a grinding halt. Like the back up caused by winter's inevitable down pour, poor drainage of a person's eye can lead to high eye pressure which is a cause of Glaucoma. The vision loss can be devastating and drastically change the life of a once active adult. In fact, nearly three million people have glaucoma, but half do not realize it because there are often no warning symptoms. 

The yearly American pilgrimage is soon to come. Like a herd of thirsty wildebeests, thousands will gather under colossal television monitors and millions of shining light bulbs, seeking to quench their thirst for resolution. Out of the grasp of hungry predators and potentially fatal stampedes, resisting crocodile-laden riverbeds (otherwise known as the streets of New York), others observe the extravaganza in the refuge of the living room. Hypnotized by the lights and sounding of the crowd, all watch. The symbolic display of time passing shoots colors through the air. A captivated crowd gasps in amazement as the large pulsating sphere drops from the sky. And so it begins. The New Year’s Ball initiates the deepest introspection that most of us partake in each year.

 Cranberries are the fruit of a native plant of North America. These red berries are used in foods and in herbal products.

Common Names—cranberry, American cranberry, bog cranberry

Latin Name—Vaccinium macrocarpon

What Cranberry Is Used For
Historically, cranberry fruits and leaves were used for a variety of problems

Vision is paramount in this day and age; 80% of our sensory perception to the world is through our eyes. There are a hundred times as many nerve fibers devoted to vision than to hearing. In fact 40% of the brain is devoted to what we must see and perceive around us.

 Chasteberry is the fruit of the chaste tree, a small shrub-like tree native to Central Asia and the Mediterranean region. The name is thought to come from a belief that the plant promoted chastity—it is reported that monks in the Middle Ages used chasteberry to decrease sexual desire.

Common Names—chasteberry, chaste-tree berry, vitex, monk's pepper

Latin Name—Vitex agnus-castus

 Two types of chamomile are used for health conditions: German chamomile and Roman chamomile. While the two kinds are thought to have similar effects on the body, the German variety is more commonly used in the United States

Common Names—chamomile, German chamomile

Latin Names—Matricaria recutita, Chamomilla recutita

Cat’s claw grows wild in many countries of Central and South America, especially in the Amazon rainforest. The use of this woody vine dates back to the Inca civilization.

Common Names—cat's claw, uña de gato

Latin Names—Uncaria tomentosa, Uncaria guianensis

Of course, your family expects a traditional holiday meal.

 But, you yearn for the fun and challenge of cooking up something a little different and adventurous. Why not do both? Prepare the traditional meal of time-honored favorites your family loves, but this time, give tradition a tasty timely tweak.  Here are some recipes to help you discover that traditional doesn't have to mean predictable. We've taken holiday menu classics and recharged them with a few fresh new ingredients. Try these delectable subtle flavors that add to but don't overpower the familiar ones and take your holiday dinner from being a good meal to a great one.
 

People with cancer want to do everything they can to combat the disease, manage its symptoms, and cope with the side effects of treatment. Many turn to practices known collectively as CAM(complementary and alternative medicine)—for example, botanical (herbal) and other dietary supplements, acupuncture, massage, and yoga.

Creatine is a naturally occurring amino acid (protein building block) that's found in meat and fish, and also made by the human body in the liver, kidneys, and pancreas. It is converted into creatine phosphate or phosphocreatine and stored in the muscles, where it is used for energy. During high-intensity, short-duration exercise, such as lifting weights or sprinting, phosphocreatine is converted into ATP, a major source of energy within the human body.

Creatine supplements are popular among body builders and competitive athletes. It is estimated that Americans spend roughly $14 million per year on creatine supplements. The attraction of creatine is that it may increase lean muscle mass and enhance athletic performance, particularly during high-intensity, short-duration sports (like high jumping and weight lifting).

Valerian is a plant native to Europe and Asia; it is also found in North America. Valerian has been used as a medicinal herb since at least the time of ancient Greece and Rome. Its therapeutic uses were described by Hippocrates, and in the 2nd century, Galen prescribed valerian for insomnia.

Common Names—valerian, all-heal, garden heliotrope

Latin Name—Valeriana officinalis

Valerian is a plant native to Europe and Asia; it is also found in North America. Valerian has been used as a medicinal herb since at least the time of ancient Greece and Rome. Its therapeutic uses were described by Hippocrates, and in the 2nd century, Galen prescribed valerian for insomnia.

Common Names—valerian, all-heal, garden heliotrope

Latin Name—Valeriana officinalis