What is kimchi? Also called gimchi or kimchee, it is a traditional, fermented, probiotic food that is a staple Korean side dish. Dating back hundreds of years, there are dozens of different recipes for making kimchi, but nearly all have several vegetables and seasonings in common that give it its signature taste. Some of the main…
Today, we have hundreds of different beauty products available to us — acne washes, toners, scrubs, etc. — but what did people use thousands of years ago before commercial chemicals existed to help heal their skin? When it comes to natural skin care, one time-honored medicinal plant is witch hazel, which Native Americans relied on for…
With its sharp leaves and thick, knobby skin, the exterior of a pineapple doesn't give any indication of the goodness inside. First, this fruit is known for its juicy, sweet golden flesh but increasingly also for its secret weapon: bromelain. What most people don’t realize about pineapples is that they're infinitely more useful to humans…
Sauerkraut, a form of fermented cabbage, has been popular throughout Central Europe for hundreds of years. Sauerkraut combines one of the healthiest foods there is (cabbage) with one of the most beneficial and time-honored food preparation methods ever used (fermentation). According to the Institute for Integrative Medicine at the University of Witten in Germany, sauerkraut…
Turmeric — the main spice in curry, a traditional Indian dish — is argued by many to be the most powerful herb on the planet. There are thousands of studies proving turmeric benefits, especially those related to its renowned healing compound called curcumin. Curcumin is what makes turmeric a “functional food,” meaning one that has…
Although it may have a well-deserved reputation as one of the top arthritis supplements on the market, glucosamine does far more than just relieve joint pain. What are the benefits of taking glucosamine? Research shows that it can help decrease inflammation, lead to improved gut health and more. Not only is glucosamine extensively studied and widely…
A common star of mushroom coffee and mushroom tea, the chaga mushroom is loaded with impressive health benefits. It actually has one of the highest ORAC scores of any food. Why is this a good thing? ORAC stands for “oxygen radical absorbent capacity.” The higher the ORAC value, the better a food's ability to protect…
Seeing bright red blood in stool is no laughing matter, especially when it’s your own poop. Sometimes it can mean something serious is going on. Other times it may be minor and nothing to lose sleep over. Either way, bloody stool can be quite alarming, and most experts agree it’s not something to just ignore.…
If you're someone who struggles with digestive issues, such as acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease or nutrient malabsorption (a common problem among elderly adults), then digestive enzymes may be one of many dietary supplements that can help offer you relief. When we take these enzymes in supplement form we can benefit by more…
If you experience acid reflux symptoms — such as chest pains, burning sensations that can pick up at night and disturb your sleep, and difficulty eating many foods — and want to find some relief, you must improve your acid reflux diet and make necessary lifestyle changes. These changes include rethinking how you sleep and…
