Bringing wholesome healthy tips
If you were to visit Indonesia, and especially if you had the chance to visit an Indonesian home, you’d likely be offered a delicious, sweet, healthy drink called jamu. Jamu is an herbal tincture that originated in Java’s royal courts more than 1,300 years ago. It is known throughout Indonesia for its positive effects on digestion, as an anti-inflammatory, and as an immune system booster. Later, I’ll share the easy…
You used to run mini-marathons in the morning, work a full-time job, catch a late show with friends and still have energy to spare. But now you need to take a nap after grocery shopping and doing a load of laundry. What happened? Well, unfortunately for us all, a loss of energy is normal with age. As you get older, you lose precious mitochondria, the powerhouses of your cells. Your…
Did you know the 10,000-steps-a-day mantra was thought up by a Japanese marketer back in the 1960s? They were looking to sell a pedometer named Manpo-Kei, or the 10,000 steps meter, so they came up with the slogan, “Let’s walk 10,000 steps.” Somehow that became conventional wisdom. But since it’s been put to the test several times over the past several years, the results have been mixed… One study did…
When you think of lead poisoning, you probably envision peeling paint, and then take a deep breath, believing you’re safe, since after all — lead paint has been banned in the U.S. since the 1970s. But don’t relax too soon… Lead poisoning and its effects are still going strong. And according to researchers, they’re to blame for approximately 5.5 million heart deaths each and every year — more than smoking…
When a blood clot forms in a vein or artery, it can be deadly, resulting in a heart attack, stroke or organ failure. That’s why it’s so important to be aware of the risks we all face when it comes to blood clots — from the obvious, like being over 60 years old or smoking, to the sneakier risks like irritable bowel syndrome, cancer treatment or the stagnant blood that…
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is getting more attention these days. You have probably read the headlines about two well-known actresses afflicted with the condition. Another reason for the attention is that the National MS Society reports that more people are being diagnosed with MS today than in the past. Some people with MS (like a cousin of mine) can live a normal, active life for years. Others live the majority of…
Not only is yoga a proven stress reliever, it’s great for both brain and heart health. It also helps with balance, strength, flexibility and mood. But what if your heart isn’t healthy? Is yoga still a good fit for you? Yoga has been tested in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF), and it was found that doing yoga two times a week for eight weeks reduced edema and depressed mood…
Around one in 20 adults experiences depression at some point in their lives. But how do you know the difference between a bout of the blues and clinical depression? Usually, a blue mood is temporary, while depression lingers, grows more intense and interferes with your day-to-day activities. With depression, symptoms like fatigue, lack of enthusiasm and feelings of worthlessness keep you from finding enjoyment or purpose in life. The factors…
Did you know that almost half of all adults in the U.S. suffer from hypertension? Worse, only one in four of us can get it under control. That leaves far too many of us at a much higher risk of heart disease, stroke and even Alzheimer’s. But of all the factors that contribute to raising your blood pressure — overweight, poor diet, no exercise, diabetes and high cholesterol — I’ll…
Study after study has already proven exercise to be one of the most valuable weapons in the battle against cancer. In fact, physical activity has been shown to not only reduce cancer risk but also help increase the odds of keeping it at bay, as long as you keep moving. However, most of those studies have been performed on people who were considered healthy. So what about people who are…