Did you know that the manufacturing of aloe vera extracts is one of the largest botanical industries in the world? In the U.S., it has found widespread use in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food industries. If you walk down the health and beauty isles of your local grocery store, you'll likely see multiple products made with aloe vera.…
Passing kidney stones is known to be extremely painful, which is why they can easily put someone out of work, ruin his or her week, and make it hard to go about normal activities. Of course, you want to diminish your kidney stone symptoms quickly because they’re agonizing and uncomfortable to live with, but perhaps even more…
With the rise in popularity of gluten-free baking, tapioca flour has become a staple for many people. Because cassava roots, from which tapioca is derived, are naturally very high in carbohydrates, tapioca starch is able to be extracted and made into gluten-free flour or "pearls." These are used as a thickening agent in various kinds…
Homeopathy is an alternative medicinal practice that uses the smallest possible amount of an active ingredient in order to help treat a disease, even if this same ingredient can contribute to an illness in the first place. Another way to put this concept: "like cures like." Studies indicate that an estimated 5 million American adults…
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a serious, long-term illness that can impact many body systems. Chronic fatigue prevents sufferers from doing their usual activities and may confine some people to their beds. CFS can result in strained relationships with friends and family, especially when it remain undiagnosed and/or untreated. Guilt, anxiety and anger are all…
The aloe vera plant has been used for centuries for its medicinal properties and to improve skin and hair health. Each leaf of the plant has three layers: the inner clear gel, middle layer of latex and outer rind. Aloe vera juice comes from all three layers of the leaf, which are crushed, ground and…
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…
Do you know what's been called "the most successful pathogen in human history?" It's a type of bacteria known as Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), and it's been around for at least 200,000 years. Believe it or not, it's actually not uncommon for someone to have this bacteria living inside of her for an entire lifetime…
For many people with binge eating disorder, mindful eating feels very difficult, and thoughts about food, body weight and eating are near-constant: Did I eat too much? Do I need to restrict? When should I eat again? What should I eat next? Why can't I just stop eating? Why am I so out of control around food?…
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…
