Did you know that about 25 percent of the drugs prescribed worldwide are derived from plants? Of the 252 drugs in the World Health Organization's essential medicine list, 11 percent are exclusively of plant origin. In fact, about 200 years ago the first pharmacological compound, morphine, was produced from opium extracted from the seed pods of…
Did you know that codeine is dangerous for your child? After reviewing adverse event reports for the past 50 years, the FDA concluded that prescription codeine and tramadol should not be given to children and adolescents. Upon their review, the agency found 64 cases of severe breathing problems, including 24 deaths, as a result of…
It often feels like the foods we crave are the most unhealthy foods like fast food: after a rough day at the office or a harrowing time with toddlers, most of us don't pine for a big bowl of veggies or a nice, juicy mushroom steak. Instead, we tend to want comfort foods like crispy fried…
First there was quinoa, then it was kale. This year, however, it's all about the cauliflower. This unassuming vegetable often gets passed over for veggies of a brighter hue, like broccoli, or leafy greens like spinach. Often boiled to mush and force-fed onto children by their parents, cauliflower hung out on the sidelines until recently, when we…
Vibrio vulnificus causes an estimated 80,000 illnesses worldwide and 100 deaths in the United States every year. What is Vibrio vulnificus? It's a type of serious, sometimes even deadly, infection most often caused when someone consumes raw, contaminated seafood. It's estimated that V. vulnificus is one of the few foodborne illnesses with an increasing incidence in developed nations; it caused…
In a breakthrough study, scientists found evidence that using tea for Alzheimer's could drastically lower your risk of developing the condition. It's true, sipping tea could help ward off Alzheimer’s disease, according to a 2017 study out of the National University of Singapore says. (1) Most of us don’t give a second thought to brewing a…
Nearly everyone is familiar with the idea of using a slow cooker for hands-off cooking over a long period of time. But there's another kitchen tool you might have been overlooking that can come to your rescue on busy nights: the pressure cooker. You'll be amazed what you can cook with these pressure cooker recipes, as…
Beef stroganoff originated in Russia during the mid 1800s, and since then, it has become a popular dish around the world, taking on many variations of the original recipe. Today, you often see beef stroganoff served in a sour cream sauce with strips of beef filet, but this gluten-free beef stroganoff is a little different.…
Did you know that breathing radon for prolonged periods can present a significant health risk to you and your family? According to the Surgeon General's National Health Advisory, millions of homes have an elevated radon level and more than 20,000 Americans die of radon-related lung cancer every year. (1) And what's really scary is that there…
The loss of pituitary gland hormone production — also known as hypopituitarism — can be a serious, life-long condition. The pituitary gland is our master gland. It helps to produce many hormones that are necessary for our bodies to function properly. Symptoms for this rare condition can be severe. However, with appropriate treatment, individuals with hypopituitarism…
