Whether you realize it or not, you’ve probably eaten cocoa butter many times in your life — plus smeared it onto your skin. It’s the fat source used to make chocolate, giving it its alluring, melt-in-your-mouth, silky feel. It can be found in basically all types of chocolate, including dark, milk or white. What else…
People living in parts of northern Europe have been using cod liver oil for centuries to enhance immunity and protect them from dark, long winters. They have also used cod liver oil as a natural solution for rheumatism, aching joints and stiff muscles. The primary source of cod liver oil was eating the fresh livers of Gadus morhua fish. While…
People are always on the lookout for a weight loss supplement that can simply melt away fat and leave muscle mass unaffected. However, when it comes to quick fixes in terms of changing your body composition, the facts about weight loss supplements are rarely as positive as the claims may sound. This is no different…
Cinnamon is a powerful spice that has been used medicinally around the world for thousands of years. It is still used daily in many cultures because of the widespread cinnamon benefits, not to mention its distinctly sweet, warming taste and ease of use in recipes. Interestingly enough, researchers have found that the spice ranks No. 1…
Chia seeds are frequently featured as the star ingredient in many healthy eating recipes, ranging from baked goods to protein bars to smoothies and beyond. Why are chia seeds good for you? Apart from offering a pop of flavor and texture to your favorite foods, they also provide health perks, such as helping balance blood…
If reading food labels is part of your shopping experience, you may have come across the mysterious ingredient called xylitol. What is xylitol exactly, and is it good for you? Although it's reported by manufactures as being “all natural,” few suspect it’s actually a healthy ingredient, especially when consumed in large amounts. Unfortunately, natural doesn’t…
Essential oils have been used for thousands of years in various cultures for medicinal and health purposes. Because of their antidepressant, stimulating, detoxifying, antibacterial, antiviral and calming properties, they continue to gain popularity as natural, safe and cost-effective therapy for a number of health concerns. There's no wonder why considering the high cost of health…
Anthocyanins are just one of the more than 6,000 different types of flavonoid polyphenol phytonutrients! Other types that have similar properties to anthocyanin include flavanols, flavones, flavanones, flavan-3-ols and isoflavones. The reason we hear more about anthocyanins compared to other related antioxidants is because they are widely available in many fruits and veggies. Experts believe…
Herbal tea is made from plants that have therapeutic properties, with impressive nutritional value and health-promoting antioxidants. This type of tea is commonly consumed in traditional medicine to help the body maintain balance and ward off illness. Adding a daily cup of herbal tea to your diet can boost your antioxidant intake by a whole…
Looking for a natural remedy that has a long history of medicinal use? There’s evidence that the elderberry plant may have been cultivated by prehistoric man. There are also recipes for elderberry-based medications dating back to Ancient Egypt. However, most historians typically trace its healing abilities back to Hippocrates, the ancient Greek known as the “Father of…