US Surgeon General Calls For the End of the Tobacco Epidemic
"Enough is enough. We need to eliminate the use of cigarettes and create a tobacco-free generation." - Dr. Boris Lushniak, acting Surgeon General To put it plainly and simply: cigarette smoking is a plague upon the health of our nation. While fewer Americans smoke today compared to the 1960s, it remains a huge public health issue with numerous repercussions. The...
5 Reasons to Love Aloe Vera – The Medicinal Superfood
Cleopatra and Nefertiti, two Egyptian Queens incorporated Aloe vera into their beauty regime to keep their skin soft and supple. Pedanius Dioscorides (circa 40-90 AD) was a Greek physician, botanist and pharmacologist who extolled the medicinal virtues of aloe in a 5-volume encyclopedia about herbal medicine and other substances. Gaius Plinius Secundus (AD 23-79), known as Pliny the Elder, was a...
33 Foods that Starve Cancer
“The obvious thing is to think about what we could remove from our diet. But I took a completely opposite approach and began asking: What could we be adding to our diet that could boost the body’s defense system? In other words, can we eat to starve cancer?”- Dr. William Li Cancer is the second most common form of death...
Why Do I Crave Chocolate?
Ah, chocolate - the food women report craving more so than any other. Of course, men can also be susceptible to chocolate cravings, but significantly more women than men report 'needing' it. For some women, these cravings only happen around their menstrual cycle, and for others, it's an urge that can come on at any time. While there is no single,...
Is a Gentically Modified Non-Browning Apple on the Way?
The latest GMO up for approval by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the "Arctic Apple," also known in some circles as "Frankenapple." The modification? This apple has had its genes modified so that it does not oxidize and turn brown when sliced. If this sounds to you like a pretty useless result for over a decade of work...
5 Things You May Not Know About Okra
Okra, also known as lady finger, is most commonly seen in Southern cooking, as these green pods are cultivated in the warmer regions of the globe. Like most vegetables, okra is high in fiber and chock full of a variety of vitamins and minerals. However, just as each fruit and vegetable is unique in what it brings to the...
Link Between Heart Disease and Dementia in Older Women
A large-scale German study recently made a connection between heart disease, one of America's most prevalent - and in many cases most preventable chronic disease, and a higher risk of dementia in aging women. The study was led by Dr. Bernhard Haring of the University of Wurzburg. Dr. Haring and his research team surveyed over 6,000 women between the...
How to Even Your Skin Tone Naturally
An uneven skin tone can stem from a variety of factors, including sun damage, stress, pollution, acne scars, certain medical conditions and certain additives in cosmetics. It may also be genetic; if your close family members have unevenly pigmented skin, chances are, you do too. Americans spend millions of dollars per year on products that claim to even out skin...
No More Tears Formaldehyde Free
Consumers are making the difference when it comes to companies taking action to remove potentially harmful substances from their products. Johnson & Johnson, the maker of “No More Tears” baby shampoo, responded to consumer pressure in 2011, promising to remove formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane from the product by the end of 2013. This has now been accomplished, and the reformulated...
Make Your Valentine Smile with a Delectable (and Healthy!) Dark Chocolate Fondue
With Valentine's Day fast approaching, many of us are racking our brains for the perfect dessert idea for that special someone. Unfortunately, most desserts are packed with white flour and sugar, and a sugar crash an hour after dessert may not be the best way to say, 'I love you.' If you wish to create a delicious, visually stunning dessert...
