When you feel the sniffles coming on, what’s your go-to remedy? Do you reach for a refreshing glass of orange juice? Do you listen to your grandma’s advice to eat lots of vitamin C-rich fruits and veggies to help you feel better? As it turns out, the age-old wisdom to load up on this potent vitamin to get and stay healthy is more than an old wives’ tale. Vitamin C is a proven antioxidant that has many essential functions in the body, including supporting the immune system.[1] But how does […]
When Thomas B., a technical director from Sherwood, Arkansas, started looking at all the benefits of taking the essential mineral zinc, he was amazed. "I started reading about zinc and knew I had to start using it," he says. "I remember thinking: How could I be missing something this important?" Thomas takes zinc as soon as he thinks he might be coming down with a cough or cold. The key is to take zinc within 24 hours of developing symptoms because that’s when it’s most effective.[1] "Zinc is my go-to […]
With delicate, white floral bouquets atop long branches, the anise plant lends a lovely look to any yard or wild field. Related to fennel and Queen Anne’s lace, anise (Pimpinella anisum) is originally native to the eastern Mediterranean region. While the lacy flowers are lovely, it’s the anise seeds that receive the most attention for health. Anise seeds have a subtle licorice flavor and people have used them as an after-dinner digestif for centuries. In ancient times, Greeks and Egyptians chewed them as a natural digestive aid to soothe indigestion, […]
Itchy, scratchy skin. Unexplained sneezing and red, watery eyes. Constant headaches? Is this an allergy — or something else? You may be experiencing histamine intolerance — when too many of these compounds have built up in your blood, causing an allergy-like reaction. Histamines themselves are immune fighters that respond to foreign invaders, like pollen or food you're sensitive to. But when you get too much, then pow! — histamine intolerance hits. Histamine intolerance is not the same as histamine sensitivity. If you're histamine-sensitive, any amount will cause a reaction. With […]
Whether you use it to reduce stress, improve sleep, or boost your immune system, holy basil — also called tulsi — is an amazing herb. According to the Hindu religion, the plant is an earthly manifestation of the goddess who was devoted to Vishnu, the god who preserves creation and life. Tulsi is often grown around Hindu shrines and offered in worship as a sacred plant, and because of its role in that religion, some consider chewing the leaves a disrespectful act. Because of its many therapeutic properties, Ayurvedic practitioners […]
