Lets Root for Anti-inflammatorys

Being someone who suffered from chronic inflammation for many years and continually came up short with any Rx or over-the-counter drug, it's no wonder why I have a special place in my heart for any natural anti-inflammatory. So if you're like me and have long given up on popping pills to relieve inflammation, then you're in luck because hands down nature has the best anti-inflammatorys around.

Fear not though, you won't have to Root around very long to find some of these little natural wonders. Actually many of them are right there in your spice rack, and if you buy organic food products, spices in this case, and you're actually using them, then you're definitely getting some of their benefits.

Why stop (short) there though... when a recipe calls for "freshly grated" or "freshly chopped" or "freshly minced" spices then do your food and your health a favor and use the actual root. One of the most commonly called for (fresh spices) and conveniently enough commonly offered "roots" is the ginger root, and take it from someone who cooks/eats homemade meals every day... it's well worth the minuscule amount of extra effort it takes to substitute a couple of shakes of dried powder with the fresh stuff, and the difference in flavor will amaze you.

Since health is always my first priority though, ending with the flavor benefits would be, well, incomplete to say the least. The fact is, studies show that ginger root has many therapeutic properties one of which is the ability to inhibit the formation of inflammatory compounds as well as having direct anti-inflammatory effects. Ginger has been used for thousands of years for alleviating gastrointestinal problems (gas to be exact) as well as to aid the digestion process. More recent studies confirm these beneficial qualities by proving ginger to be far superior to Dramamine (or equivalent drugs) for preventing symptoms associated with motion sickness and especially those of sea sickness.

It's true that organic processed foods are no doubt superior to non-organic processed foods, but the fact is that these processes, whether preformed to Organic standards or not, deplete foods of some of their nutritional properties. So remember, fresh is always best whenever possible.

Pumpkin Soup

Everyone knows pumpkins are good for pumpkin pies, but that's usually where the recipe creativity stops with most people. Pumpkins as all winter squash are very nutritious, and like most winter squash make great soups.

Pumpkin Soup (all ingredients are organic)

1 Pumpkin
1/2 Onion
2 c Chicken Broth
1/2 tsp Nutmeg
1/2 tsp Ginger (freshly grated)
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
Sea salt & Cracked pepper to taste

Cut the pumpkin in half (long ways), peal, and core; put the seeds aside, they are great toasted or raw once dried. In a large pan steam both halves (cores facing down) for about 25min or until soft. Chop the onion and heat them in a skillet until they get translucent and just begin to brown (not burnt). When pumpkin is fully steamed, place in a large bowl and mash with a potato masher. Add other ingredients and stir together well (you may also use a blender at this point to get a smoother consistency). When finished, pour soup into a pot and heat for about 10min or until warm.

Read That Lable On Those prenatals

My wife has a couple of friends who are pregnant and were discussing prenatal vitamins.

They say their doctor insists upon taken them, but are they all they are cracked up to be?

Just because something is prescribed by a doctor don't assume what your taking is truly the best thing for you or your baby. There is no doubt in my mind that expecting mothers should supplement their diets with vitamins and minerals, especially since the majority of Americans are malnourished due to poor diets, but that doesn't mean all prenatal vitamins are created equal.

It is important to really examine the label on these or any multi-vitamin to be sure you are getting the best quality vitamins and minerals that you need, AND NOTHING ELSE! It was very disturbing for me to see that so many of these vitamins that these doctors are prescribing have a laundry list of garbage (in the form of dyes and fillers) listed under "inactive ingredients". A good quality multi contains high quality vitamins and minerals and very minimal "inactive ingredients".

Do pregnant woman really need dyes and food coloring in their vitamins? Does a developing fetus really need vitamins filled with chemicals in the form of fillers and binders? Do expecting mothers really need allergens in the form of whey or the many faces of soy in their vitamins when children and adults alike are becoming more and more allergic to these foods?

I actually saw soy listed 3 times, under 3 different aliases, in one prenatal vitamin... disturbing indeed, but it's not just the inactive ingredients that need to be scrutinized. I actually saw a number of these vitamins that contain vitamin D in the form of D2, when numerous studies have shown that vitamin D3 is the better more essential form for optimal health.

I recall a fact that I read that stated, "a well informed patent knows more about nutrition than the average MD", and the evidence just keeps piling up.

The Truth about Coca-Cola's Heart Truth

Coca-Cola's "Heart Truth" campaign is, in a word, ridiculous... No wait, disturbing... It's ridiculously disturbing!

I mean talk about your irony, and I quote...

"The Heart Truth campaign celebrates healthy lifestyle choices, which have become increasingly important to Diet Coke consumers. In the third year of our partnership with the NHLBI, we are proud that we can continue to play an important role in this educational conversation,"

This straight from the horses mouth; William White, Brand Director of Diet Coke North America to be exact.

Oh, Coca-Cola plays a huge role in the health of all too many Americans, but it is nothing to be proud of. Soft drinks are one of the leading causes of obesity, diabetes, and you guessed it, heart disease in children in this country, and based on the latest research it doesn't matter if you're drinking diet or regular soda (What soft drinks are doing to your body).

The research shows that between the artificial sweeteners such as Aspartame, which is a chemical that stimulates your body into thinking it wants (needs) more sugar, or the phosphoric acid that not only gives them their bubbly quality but according to tests have shown to deplete your body's blood calcium levels.

So from me to Coke (if you're listening)... If you want to be a part of "heart health" in this country then do everyone, especially children, a favor and stop contributing to what has become an epidemic.