CLOSE
Healthy Food

0 772

Researchers have found that that an enzyme extracted from pineapple stems called bromelain is superior to 5-fluorauracil (5-FU), a chemotherapy agent useful in treating cancer. “This antitumoral effect [bromelain] was superior to that of 5-FU [5-fluorouracil], whose survival index was approximately 263%, relative to the untreated control,” said the researchers.

One of the greatest issues with fighting cancer, particularly with 5-FU, is that it damages healthy cells severely. And that’s really the trick with killing cancer. Killing cancer cells is not particularly difficult – it’s finding a treatment for cancer that doesn’t kill the rest of you that proves challenging. Researchers found bromelain to be as effective if not more so in killing cancer and much less taxing on the person suffering from cancer.

The unfortunate truth is that even if this study were to be cross-examined and confirmed by dozens of other scientists and oncologists, it’s unlikely that it would be taken seriously, granted FDA approval, and used to treat this terrifying disease. There’s money in fighting cancer, and bromelain is pretty inexpensive.

To view additional research on the potential therapeutic properties of bromelain in over 30 health conditions, visit the open source, natural medical resource page on bromelain.

Image credit: Tom Allender, Flickr

0 4306

One of the biggest challenges to living off the grid in a sustainable way is figuring out what to do with your trash. It’s less a problem of disposal and more an issue of figuring out how to make use of everything you bring in. Making a compost heap is a great way to dispose of old food scraps and turn it into nutrient-rich soil. It takes your trash and turns it into a sort of black gold. But did you know you can regrow a lot of your food scraps?

What kind of foods can you regrow? Let’s run down the list.

1. Carrots.

Carrots are an easy one. Simply chop the tops of your carrots off, leaving about three quarters of an inch of the carrot still attached to the greens. Put in soil and water. A new carrot will grow out of the top.

2. Celery.

This was a good one for my household. We eat a ton of celery! Instead of throwing out the base of your celery, simply plant it in some decent soil and it’ll start regrowing almost immediately. Harvest it as you need it, and eventually you’ll never buy celery again.

3. Onions.

When you go to chop an onion, cut the roots off the bottom of the onion. Be sure to leave a little bit of the vegetable with the root. You don’t need much. Put the roots in soil, water frequently, and a new onion will grow out of it.

4. Green onions.

Like celery, simply plant the bases of your green onions in some soil and harvest as necessary. It will regrow rather quickly.

5. Romaine lettuce.

Leave a couple inches of leaf on the base of the plant and plant it in soil, just as you would celery or green onions.

6. Ginger.

This one isn’t exactly a food scrap, but you can break apart a ginger root and grow more ginger out of it. After about four months, you can re-harvest portions of the new root as you need it.

7. Pineapple.

Pineapple is one of the more difficult ones to regrow due to the length of time it takes and the fact that it only grows easily in some climates. But when you chop the top, leafy portion of the fruit off, plant it directly into some potting soil. A new pineapple will grow out of it.

8. Potatoes

One of my favorites. It’s so easy and you can yield a ton of potatoes out of just a few eyes. As they begin to grow eyes, or those little nodes you see coming out of the skin, chop them up, leaving a small cube of the potato with the eye itself. Plant a few inches apart in deeper soil. This one isn’t for small pots for sure.

9. Garlic.

Again, not exactly a food scrap, but you can take one bulb of garlic and, after fully grown, turn it into about a dozen. Simply break apart the bulb and plant in soil with the sprouted end up in the autumn. It may sound weird, but if you plant in the fall, it’ll begin growing early in the spring and you’ll have your harvest ready by late summer.

10. Mushrooms.

This is also a pretty difficult one to regrow, but it’s possible. Remove the head of the mushroom and plant the stalk in the soil with the very top of the stalk exposed to the air. A new mushroom head will grow out of the stalk if its kept in cool, moist areas without too much light.

Image credit: April Griffus/Flickr

0 1049

You don’t generally think of winter as being a particularly bountiful time when it comes to eating fresh foods. But there are 7 delicious vegetables that are in season all winter long.

Why eat fruits and vegetables that are in season? Because when produce is in season, it’s at its very best. It’s more nutritious, it tastes better, eating seasonally helps bring variety to your plate, and it’s much much easier on the environment too. Eating seasonal also improves the chances that you’re eating a local vegetable as opposed to one harvested halfway across the planet and artificially ripened in transit.

New veggies won’t be in season until May, so get your fill of these guys.

1. Brussels Sprouts.

2. Spring Green Cabbage.

3. Savoy Cabbage.

4. Carrots.

5. Cauliflower.

6. Kale.

7. Leeks.

0 4146

No one wants to eat pesticides, right? Unfortunately, organic food can be pretty tough to afford, though the good news is that the price is coming down on them. Fruits and vegetables that aren’t grown organically usually come into contact with a variety of different pesticides and chemicals. Even organic produce can be contaminated by neighboring, non-organic fields. There’s really no need to buy an expensive fruit wash and sometimes rinsing with water doesn’t always do the trick. Cold tap water has only been effective in removing about 9 of the 12 most common pesticides. Try this instead:

Mix a half cup of vinegar in a bowl of water and submerge your fruits and veggies for 15 minutes. After that, rinse your produce under running water and wash them thoroughly.

At the very least, you should always take the time to rinse off your produce before you eat it, whether it’s organic or conventionally grown. Your produce may seem like it’s clean, but many of the chemicals used as pesticides are tasteless, odorless, and invisible.

Image credit: Flickr, Sunny Abesamis

0 2108

I love growing tomatoes. They’re easily my favorite vegetable, and summer just doesn’t feel like summer without a bunch of delicious tomatoes growing. They’re pretty easy to grow too. But how can you really ramp up the yield from your plants? We’ll break it down for you.

Step 1: Get 7 feet of heavy wire fencing that’s about 6 feet high and 3 feet of small mesh hardware cloth that stands about 30 inches high.

Step 2: Put the hardware cloth into a circle about 11 inches wide and secure it by threading wire over the edges.

Step 3: Sit the circular basket in the middle of a fertilized plot and fill to the brim with compost.

Step 4: Take the larger, 27 inch circle of heavy wire, and place around the center and make sure it is firmly in the soil.

Step 5: Plant your seedlings around the outside of the heavy wire circles.

Step 6: You can water them once a week, by placing a slow running hose on top of the compost basket.

Step 7: As the vines grow, you may want to secure them to the wire with some nylon string.

Step 8: After about 3 months your plant will start to produce fruit, so you can begin your harvesting.

Step 9: Continue to water and refill the compost basket.

Step 10: Enjoy your fresh, home grown tomatoes!

Video instructions:

0 9484

At some point or another, all women have trouble with vaginal health. But it turns out, there are foods that can be the answer to poor vaginal health issues. I know, it probably sounds silly, but you can eat your way to a healthier vagina.

Here is a list of foods that have a positive impact on your vaginal health:

1. Cranberry juice.

Craberry juice is full of acidic compounds that fight off bad bacteria and help prevent UTIs. Go for natural, no-added-sugar brands. Always choose oraganic!

2. Yogurt.

Yogurt has good bacteria cultures needed for a healthy vagina. Yogurt also helps balance the pH of the vagina. Plain yogurt is fine, but you can consume any kind.

3. Garlic.

Like we need a good reason to eat garlic. Garlic has antimicrobial and antifungal properties. You can eat it raw, cooked, or take it in pill form. It’s good for getting rid of yeast infections too.

4. Dark chocolate.

Dark chocolates are high in flavonoids, which is an antioxidant. Studies have shown that women who eat a bit of dark chocolate a day report better overall sexual health.

5. Drink water.

This is a no-brainer. Being properly hydrated is good for your whole body, vagina included.

6. Fresh fruits and vegetables.

Eating plant-based food reduces menstrual cramps, improves your skin, and gives you an easier orgasm. Eat a diet high in vitamins and minerals. Leafy greens should be a go to. Get plenty of vitamin B6 and potassium.

7. Nuts and seeds.

Seeds and nuts are high in vitamin E, which prevents dryness of the vagina, as well as oils. Almonds and pumpkin seeds are high in zinc, which helps combat itching and regulates the menstrual cycle.

Photo: Getty Images

0 470

The liver is the organ in the body in charge of detoxifying the body of a variety of toxins and metals. It also helps stimulate your body’s digestion. If you’ve been eating lots of bad food and drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, it may be time to think about taking care of this vital organ.

It turns out, you can help the liver stay healthy and do its jobs with the simple grape. Be sure to pick up grapes that are a darker color. The light green grapes won’t do the trick.  In the morning, soak a half cup of grapes in warm water for 15 minutes. Then run them under the sink giving them a thorough cleaning.

Put the grapes in a glass and fill it with boiled water. Allow to sit at room temperature until the next morning.

The following morning on an empty stomach, drink the water and eat the grapes. Recline for an hour or two and put a warm compress on the right side of the abdomen (where the liver is located. Conduct this cleansing exercise 4 times a month.

Prev123Page 3 of 3

You May Like

©