What Is Damiana? Damiana, or Turnera diffusa, is a flowering shrub found throughout Mexico, the West Indies, and parts of Central and South America. The leaves have historically been used as traditional herbal therapies for tonic and cleansing purposes. Indigenous people in Central and South America have used the leaves to make a tea, which is believed to have relaxing and aphrodisiac effects. (more…)
Hoodia gordonii is a succulent plant native to South Africa and Asia where indigenous populations have traditionally used it, most notably the Khoi-San, as an appetite and thirst suppressant during long hunting expeditions into harsh environments. These appetite-suppressing qualities of hoodia gordonii have made for a number of inquiries into its potential as a weight loss aid. (more…)
This evening, at 6pm CST, I will be going live on the air with Christine Blosdale on KPFK 90.7 FM in Los Angeles, as well as 98.7 FM in Santa Barbara. (more…)
What Is Gymnema? Gymnema sylvestre is an herb found in the tropical forests of India and Asia. Gymnema has historic use as a therapy for diabetes and arthritis and has also earned significant recent interest as a multi-supportive therapy for weight management. Evidence suggests gymnema can reduce cravings for sweets, sugar absorption during digestion, and promote normal blood sugar levels. (more…)
A study conducted by researchers at the University of Barcelona shows that organic tomatoes contain higher levels of phenolic compounds than conventional tomatoes [1]. Phenolic compounds are organic molecules with proven human health benefits and are found in many vegetables. This further substantiates previous research by the UB's Natural Antioxidant Group when they verified that organic tomato juice and ketchup contain higher polyphenol content than juice and ketchup made from conventionally grown tomatoes. (more…)
