How Holiday Spices are Good For Your Health.

Cinnamon

The sweet and spicy flavor of cinnamon has been used by many different cultures for its medicinal properties for hundreds, even thousands, of years.

One of the most talked about benefits of cinnamon relates to type 2 diabetes. A study published in the journal Diabetes Care found that half a teaspoon of cinnamon a day significantly reduces blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. It also reduces triglyceride, LDL cholesterol, and total cholesterol levels among this group.

Cinnamon’s other benefits include:

• Supports digestive function
• Constricts and tones tissues
• Relieves congestion
• Relieves pain and stiffness of muscles and joints
• Relieves menstrual discomfort
• Blood-thinning compounds that stimulate circulation
• Anti-inflammatory compounds that may relieve arthritis
• Helps prevent urinary tract infections, tooth decay and gum disease
• It’s a powerful anti-microbial agent that can kill E. coli and other bacteria

Nutmeg

Nutmeg is another spice that has a variety of healing properties and can be used in a wide range of dishes during the holidays and all year long. It is useful for:

• Insomnia (nutmeg can produce drowsiness so it should be taken when you have a chance to relax or sleep)
• Anxiety
• Calming muscle spasms
• Nausea and vomiting
• Indigestion
• Diarrhea
• Joint pain and gout
• Lowering blood pressure
• Male infertility and impotence
• Improving concentration
• Increasing circulation
• Lowering cholesterol
• Toothaches (nutmeg oil)

** Please note that taking too much nutmeg (one to three nuts or less) can cause side effects such as nausea, hallucinations, swelling and shock.

Clove

Cloves have a potent, sweet and spicy, aromatic flavor that makes a great complement to many foods. They have been consumed in some areas, such as Asia, for more than 2,000 years. Among the clove’s most well-known healing properties is its ability to relieve tooth and gum pain, but it has many benefits beyond that. These include:

• Anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and antioxidant properties
• Relief from respiratory ailments such as asthma and bronchitis
• Relief from muscle pains from injuries or arthritis and rheumatism
• Eliminates intestinal parasites, fungi and bacteria
• May encourage creativity and mental focus

Ginger

Ginger is another spice with a potent flavor that is great for warming your body and adding kick to foods. It’s medicinal properties include:

• Soothes nausea, motion sickness and other stomach upset
• Relieves morning sickness
• Anti-inflammatory properties
• Eliminates intestinal gas
• Relaxes and soothes the intestinal tract
• Antioxidant properties
• Relieves dizziness
• Boosts the immune system
• Protects against bacteria and fungi
• Encourages bile flow
• Promotes cardiovascular health

Peppermint

The therapeutic effects of fresh peppermint leaves have been known since ancient times and its aromatic aroma has come to symbolize hospitality in many cultures. Its healing properties include:

• Soothing to the digestive tract
• Relieves symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome
• May protect against cancer
• Inhibits the growth of bacteria and fungus
• Relieves the symptoms of allergies and asthma

While there are many benefits to be had by adding spices to your diet, don't forget that these foods should not be taken every day or you run the risk of developing an allergy to them. Spices should not be looked at as a "cure" for your health problems, only by addressing the underlying causes of illness with a healthy diet and lifestyle will you be able to achieve optimum health.

Original article from http://www.mercola.com

Qigong Alleviates Chronic Fatigue Symptoms

The positive effects of Qigong continue to lap at the shores of mainstream media. 

From Family Practice News 

NEW ORLEANS – The traditional Chinese medical therapy known as quigong exercise resulted in significant reduction in fatigue scores in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome in a randomized controlled trial.

Qigong also led to significant improvement in validated measures of mental and physical health and spiritual well-being, Jessie S.M. Chan reported at the annual meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine.

A dose-response effect was evident. Practicing qigong for at least 30 minutes on at least 3 days per week produced better outcomes, according to Ms. Chan, a doctoral candidate at the University of Hong Kong.

Qigong, translated as "life energy cultivation," is an ancient Taoist art of self-healing. It’s an increasingly popular form of complementary and alternative medicine in the United States. It combines regulation of the body, mind, and breath through a program of gentle exercises and meditation.

From a traditional Chinese medicine perspective, Ms. Chan explained, chronic fatigue syndrome is caused by blood stasis due to a deficiency of Qi, or vital energy. The key treatment strategy entails restoring the balance between yin and yang and stimulation of the blood to get the Qi circulating.

From the perspective of the busy Western primary care physician, of course, chronic fatigue syndrome is an often frustrating condition for which up until now only two interventions have been shown beneficial: cognitive behavioral therapy and graded exercise training.

The randomized trial included 154 patients aged 18-55 years with unexplained chronic fatigue of at least 6 months duration plus multiple other findings consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention definition of chronic fatigue syndrome. While participants met criteria for the syndrome, most of them did not carry a formal physician diagnosis, and thus would most accurately be said to have chronic fatigue syndrome–like illness, she noted. 

Read the entire article here: 

http://www.familypracticenews.com/news/more-top-news/single-view/qigong-alleviates-chronic-fatigue-symptoms/aa201d9059274173f4db9fc2505c568d.html

New Study: Cannabidiol, a non- THC compound derived from Marijuana effectively treats schizophrenia.

A certain marijuana compound known as cannabidiol (CBD) can treat schizophrenia as well as antipsychotic drugs, with far fewer side effects, according to a preliminary clinical trial. Cannabidiol differs from THC which is the much publicized intoxicating chemical in THC. 

The research team, led by Markus Leweke of the University of Cologne in Germany, studied 39 people with schizophrenia who were hospitalized for a psychotic episode. Nineteen patients were treated with amisulpride, an antipsychotic medication that is not approved in the U.S., but is similar to other approved drugs.

The remaining 20 patients were given CBD, a substance found in marijuana that is considered responsible for the mellowing or anxiety-reducing effects. Unlike the main ingredient in marijuana, THC, which can trigger psychotic episodes and worsen schizophrenia, CBD has antipsychotic effects, according to prior research in both animals and humans.

Neither the patients nor the scientists knew who was receiving which drug. At the end of the four-week trial, both groups made significant clinical improvements in their schizophrenic symptoms, and there was no difference between those getting CBD or amisulpride.

“The results were amazing,” said Daniel Piomelli, Ph.D., professor of pharmacology at the University of California-Irvine and a co-author of the study. “Not only was [CBD] as effective as standard antipsychotics, but it was also essentially free of the typical side effects seen with antipsychotic drugs.”

Antipsychotic drugs may cause devastating and sometimes permanent movement disorders; they can also lower a patient’s motivation and pleasure. The new generation of these drugs can also lead to weight gain and increase the risk for diabetes. These side effects are well known as a major hindrance during treatment.

http://psychcentral.com/news/2012/06/07/marijuana-compound-may-beat-antipsychotics-at-treating-schizophrenia/39803.html

Circumcision may help reduce chance of prostate cancer.

From the NY TIMES: 

Researchers studied 1,754 men with prostate cancer and 1,654 controls in King County, Wash. They asked the men if they were circumcised and if they had ever had a sexually transmitted infection. The investigators also gathered information on prostate cancer from a tumor registry.

The study, published Monday in the journal Cancer, controlled for age, race, family history of prostate cancer and other factors. The scientists found that circumcision before first sexual intercourse was associated with a 15 percent lower risk for prostate cancer.

There is evidence for the role of germs in the development of several cancers — cervical, liver and stomach cancer among them. And there is good evidence that circumcision can reduce rates of sexually transmitted diseases. Sexually transmitted germs have been found in the prostate, including chlamydia, H.I.V., and HPV.

Although the exact mechanism remains unknown, the authors suggest that circumcision eliminates the possibility of germs flourishing in the moist environment under the foreskin, and reduces the chance for infection.

Read entire article here. 
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/13/health/research/report-says-circumcision-may-reduce-risk-of-prostate-cancer.html?ref=science

Is your Olive Oil really Virgin; or even made from Olives?

In our recent story highlight: Not All Fried Food Is Linked To Heart Disease & Premature Death we discussed how not all fried food is bad for you. Specifically foods cooked in real Virgin Olive Oil. 

Extra Virgin Olive Oil must meet strict quality standards. It means the oil is made only from crushed olives and has not been treated with heat or chemical solvents. To meet the legal definition of "extra virgin" it must also pass a taste test. 

However, in the United States, the FDA allows producers to label their products as heart-healthy without checking what goes into the bottle.

In  author Tom Mueller's, "Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil," a book that reveals that most of the extra virgin olive oils sold in U.S. supermarkets are not what they seem. In fact, in Mueller's new book, he reveals that most of the oils labeled "extra virgin" are probably not the quality, antioxidant rich oils that consumers think they're eating to protect themselves from cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's and other health problems.

In this expose' Mueller explains how many resellers mix olive oil with lower-quality, lower-priced seed oils that have been extracted using industrial solvents and then pass it off as high-quality olive oil. Oils have even been heated, deodorized and colored to perpetuate the fraud. One of the producers he interviews for the book estimates that some 50 percent of oils sold as "extra virgin" are not.

Mueller lives in Liguria, Italy with his wife and children. His work has also appeared in the New York Times Magazine, Atlantic Monthly and National Geographic.

 "Three weeks after I started (the book), I was sitting in a dark bar talking with this undercover military policeman who was mentioning (Italian Prime Minister Silvio) Berlusconi and wire taps and national criminal conspiracies and I thought, 'What is this? I didn't sign on for heroin trafficking, or uranium or anything like that. This is olive oil.'" Meuller said. 

"I thought it was going to be a happy, upbeat, tasty story. Very, very soon after I realized it was very different than what I expected and much richer," he says. 

"There's no oversight. Just .3 percent of food that comes into America, undergoes any kind of checking whatsoever and that includes barcode scans," Mueller says.

Some Additional Highlights from a recent NPR interview (link below). 

On why 4 out of 10 bottles that say Italian olive oil are not actually Italian olive oil

"A lot of those oils have been packed in Italy or have been transited through Italy just long enough to get the Italian flag on them. That's not, strictly speaking, illegal — but I find it a legal fraud, if you will."

On extra light olive oil

"Extra light is just as caloric as any other oil — 120 calories per tablespoon, but the average person looking at it might say, 'Oh, well, I've heard olive oil is a fat, so I will try extra light olive oil.' ... It's highly, highly refined. It has almost no flavor and no color. And it is, in fact, extra-light in the technical sense of being clear."

On which oil to use while frying or sauteing

"From a health point of view, olive oil is wonderful [for frying]. From a taste point of view, there are times when at really, really high temperatures, an extra-virgin with really bitter flavors and pungency can become a little unbalanced. And the bitterness can become overbearing. And obviously, from an economic point of view, if you're spending a lot of money for an extra-virgin, maybe high-heat cooking in some circumstances really isn't the best thing. But for lower heat, every extra-virgin olive oil is good — it really depends on the dish you're putting together."

Listen to the NPR / National Public Radio interview here: http://www.npr.org/2011/12/12/143154180/losing-virginity-olive-oils-scandalous-industry