Category: health
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Botany versus Life Experience
I taught a foraging walk last Saturday with my friend Joe the Forager (the guy who runs Eattheplanet.org) and I have to say we work great as a team. Joe is awesome with botanical terminology, history of plants, knowing native varieties versus introduced varieties, and showing you the physical traits of each plant and how…
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Why eating SAD makes you SAD
Have you ever heard of the Standard American Diet (SAD)? Unfortunately, half of the plant-based calories (6%) come from French fries. That means only 6% of America’s calories are coming from health-promoting fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. [Source: https://www.forksoverknives.com/wellness/standard-american-diet-sadder-than-we-thought/] The vast majority of Americans are pressured by a combination of the economic need to…
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Feed Your Brain, Feed Your Gut: How Nutrition Impacts Your Mood and Mind
Have you ever noticed that you feel happier and more energized after eating a hearty Cobb salad, versus how your body feels after eating a McChicken and fries? Have you ever been in a situation (alone in an elevator when a stranger steps in or out hiking on a trail when you notice someone watching…
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My elbow was talking to me…
Yep, you read that right. No, I’m not crazy. This has happened several times now. After eating something that my digestive tract disagreed with or my body did not like for some reason, my inner elbow on my right arm (for some reason it only happens on that side, perhaps because it’s my dominant arm)…
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Did you know that Peanut Butter can harm you?
“Nooooooooo!” I cried with a tear in my eye as I finally realized the truth. Ever since I read the word “aflatoxin,” I have been on the fence about this for months. There’s no way my beloved peanut butter company would allow that in their jars, is there? What is it anyhow, and why does…
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Herbal Smoking Blends for People Quitting Tobacco
I’ve never been a cigarette smoker—and truthfully, I can’t tolerate the smell—but I’ve worked with enough people over the years to understand how powerful nicotine addiction can be. My only personal experience with smoke came from intentionally burning dried mullein leaf to test its traditional use as a lung-clearing herb (spoiler alert: it works). Beyond…
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Heart Health for Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is tomorrow. I don’t know about you, but this year it doesn’t seem like a big deal to me. However, in years past, it WAS a big deal… whether I was single or in a relationship. Whether you are paying close attention to your heart because you desire romantic love or your heart…
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Favorite Herb This Week: Ginger
Ginger is the herb I’d like to highlight this week, as I have started working with it more frequently since growing my own last season. Zingiber officinale is the official Latin name, and the plant is native to somewhere in Southeast Asia. You CAN, however, grow it here in Connecticut if you play your cards…
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Bone Broth Revisited
You’ve likely heard various diet fads touting the incredible benefits of bone broth: a slow-cooked broth made with animal bones. You can purchase jars of bone broth at most health food stores for anywhere from $9 to $20 a pint. But do the physical benefits your body gets really merit that kind of expense? If…
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Fighting Cancer Naturally
As far as I can tell, I don’t have any more cancer. Yet. I felt a lump on my neck a few months ago and decided to have it checked out at the doctor. They ended up doing an ultrasound of my thyroid gland, which led to a biopsy, which eventually led to a very…