All the approaches in this article help the heart. Mix and match the ones that best fit into your life and the lives of those you love.
You aren’t going to like these statistics. But you don’t have to live them out.
Our experts share strategies to boost heart health and prevent diabetes with herbs....
One American dies every 35 seconds from cardiovascular disease—from a heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, or other condition of the heart and blood vessels. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the No. 1 killer in the United States for men and women, claiming more lives than the next four leading causes (cancer, respiratory illnesses, accidents and diabetes) combined.
What you might find even more surprising is that almost every American has the beginnings of this condition. That’s right—unless you’ve been a lifelong vegan, it’s virtually certain that your artery walls show at least the beginnings of the cholesterol-rich deposits (atherosclerosis) that lead to heart attack and most strokes. That’s what several studies have found, including a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association by pathologists who autopsied the arteries of 2,876 Americans who died between the ages of 15 and 34. All of them—100 percent—showed at least some atherosclerosis.
Now the good news: Lifestyle and dietary modifications offer measurable protection against diseases of the heart and blood vessels. You know the standard prescription for preventing heart disease: Don’t smoke. Exercise regularly. Limit dietary salt and saturated (animal) fat. Banish trans fats. Maintain your recommended weight. Control your cholesterol and blood pressure. What you might not know is the list of herbs, supplements and other natural approaches that also can make a difference. Go for Garlic Garlic (Allium sativum) is an herbal mainstay for heart health. In a classic study, researchers at New York Medical College in Valhalla analyzed five previous studies and found that one clove a day reduces cholesterol by 9 percent. Other studies show similar reductions. For every 1 percent decrease in total cholesterol, the risk of heart attack drops 2 percent. The issue isn’t cut and dried, however. Some studies show no cholesterol-lowering effect of garlic, notably a recent Stanford report published in Archives of Internal Medicine that used raw cloves and a garlic supplement. But right now the weight of evidence still favors using garlic as a cholesterol reducer.
Garlic reduces the volume of the atherosclerosis plaques that narrow the arteries. German researchers measured plaque volume in 152 people with heart disease, then gave them garlic (900 mg a day). After four years, their plaque volume was reduced by up to 18 percent, resulting in a substantial increase in blood flow and significantly less risk for heart attack and stroke. Garlic also helps prevent the formation of internal blood clots that trigger heart attacks and most strokes.
To get the most of garlic’s cholesterol-lowering benefits, chop, mince or smash it to release its heart-protective compounds. Cook lightly or eat raw. (Remember, this is a clove, not an entire garlic bulb, which might make you healthy, but might also limit your social life.) Garlic supplements, including deodorized varieties, have similar effects. Most of the studies showing that garlic lowers cholesterol have used aged garlic extract, not fresh cloves. Garlic supplements with proven benefits include Kwai and Kyolic. Follow supplement label directions or take the equivalent of one clove a day.
All the approaches in this article help the heart. Mix and match the ones that best fit into your life and the lives of those you love.
You aren’t going to like these statistics. But you don’t have to live them out.
Our experts share strategies to boost heart health and prevent diabetes with herbs....
One American dies every 35 seconds from cardiovascular disease—from a heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, or other condition of the heart and blood vessels. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the No. 1 killer in the United States for men and women, claiming more lives than the next four leading causes (cancer, respiratory illnesses, accidents and diabetes) combined.
What you might find even more surprising is that almost every American has the beginnings of this condition. That’s right—unless you’ve been a lifelong vegan, it’s virtually certain that your artery walls show at least the beginnings of the cholesterol-rich deposits (atherosclerosis) that lead to heart attack and most strokes. That’s what several studies have found, including a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association by pathologists who autopsied the arteries of 2,876 Americans who died between the ages of 15 and 34. All of them—100 percent—showed at least some atherosclerosis.
Now the good news: Lifestyle and dietary modifications offer measurable protection against diseases of the heart and blood vessels. You know the standard prescription for preventing heart disease: Don’t smoke. Exercise regularly. Limit dietary salt and saturated (animal) fat. Banish trans fats. Maintain your recommended weight. Control your cholesterol and blood pressure. What you might not know is the list of herbs, supplements and other natural approaches that also can make a difference. Go for Garlic Garlic (Allium sativum) is an herbal mainstay for heart health. In a classic study, researchers at New York Medical College in Valhalla analyzed five previous studies and found that one clove a day reduces cholesterol by 9 percent. Other studies show similar reductions. For every 1 percent decrease in total cholesterol, the risk of heart attack drops 2 percent. The issue isn’t cut and dried, however. Some studies show no cholesterol-lowering effect of garlic, notably a recent Stanford report published in Archives of Internal Medicine that used raw cloves and a garlic supplement. But right now the weight of evidence still favors using garlic as a cholesterol reducer.
Garlic reduces the volume of the atherosclerosis plaques that narrow the arteries. German researchers measured plaque volume in 152 people with heart disease, then gave them garlic (900 mg a day). After four years, their plaque volume was reduced by up to 18 percent, resulting in a substantial increase in blood flow and significantly less risk for heart attack and stroke. Garlic also helps prevent the formation of internal blood clots that trigger heart attacks and most strokes.
To get the most of garlic’s cholesterol-lowering benefits, chop, mince or smash it to release its heart-protective compounds. Cook lightly or eat raw. (Remember, this is a clove, not an entire garlic bulb, which might make you healthy, but might also limit your social life.) Garlic supplements, including deodorized varieties, have similar effects. Most of the studies showing that garlic lowers cholesterol have used aged garlic extract, not fresh cloves. Garlic supplements with proven benefits include Kwai and Kyolic. Follow supplement label directions or take the equivalent of one clove a day.
All the approaches in this article help the heart. Mix and match the ones that best fit into your life and the lives of those you love.
You aren’t going to like these statistics. But you don’t have to live them out.
Our experts share strategies to boost heart health and prevent diabetes with herbs....
One American dies every 35 seconds from cardiovascular disease—from a heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, or other condition of the heart and blood vessels. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the No. 1 killer in the United States for men and women, claiming more lives than the next four leading causes (cancer, respiratory illnesses, accidents and diabetes) combined.
Chickweed is a wild growing plant that is good for treating skin rashes. It is perfect for weeping bites or rashes and it reduces general itching. Lavender is probably the most commonly used herb for skincare because of its overall benefits to the skin and it is mild, yet inviting scent. It is found in perfumes and lotions. It is the perfect herb for treating mild rashes, burns, bites, and abrasions in children. Placing Eucalyptus in a green tea bath bag can help you breathe easier when you are suffering from a cold or chest congestion. Eucalyptus has been used throughout history to help loosen phlegm and clear the lungs and nasal passages. Rose Petals - Signifying love, beauty and youth, roses are considered in aromatherapy to be a calming nerve used for relieving tension. Rosemary – If you are looking for an uplifting pick-me-up, add the rosemary herb to your green tea bath bags. Like lavender, it is valued for it’s pleasant scent and the herb is known to be invigorating to the senses. Other herbs that produce an exhilarating green tea bath are peppermint and spearmint. The menthol content in these herbs is what produces the invigorating scent, and cool, fresh flavor when used as flavoring. In the bath, mints are said to lift the spirits and improve mood when you are feeling drained. If you are looking for a detoxification herb, consider dandelion, red clover, or nettle. These are all wild growing plants that are readily available. They are used for pulling impurities from the skin and treating prolonged skin irritation that hasn’t responded to other treatment.
How to Make Green Tea Bath Bags
The complication with placing herbs directly in the bath water is that it can be messy. Making bath bags elliminates the need to clean the herbs from the tub after the bath. All you will need is a cloth fabric through which the herbs can easily infuse into the water. Cheese cloth, nylon hose, or a light-weight cotton cloth will work perfectly to make green tea bath bags.
Place 1 cup of the dried herb chosen in the center of the cloth.
Tie the cloth closed by making a knot in nylon hose, or tie a ribbon around cloth fabric.
Tie the bag in place under the facet, so the warm bath water pours over it.
Tips: An alternative to a cloth green tea bath bag is a tea infuser. This can also be used by tying it directly under the faucet while running the bath. If you prefer to purchase green tea bath bags, they are available in natural health stores, or online at Amazon.com.
You can make green tea bath bags to calm your nerves, lift your spirit, or heal your skin. An herbal bath is a perfect way to pamper yourself after a long day, or simply give yourself the break that you deserve.
Chickweed is a wild growing plant that is good for treating skin rashes. It is perfect for weeping bites or rashes and it reduces general itching. Lavender is probably the most commonly used herb for skincare because of its overall benefits to the skin and it is mild, yet inviting scent. It is found in perfumes and lotions. It is the perfect herb for treating mild rashes, burns, bites, and abrasions in children.
Placing Eucalyptus in a green tea bath bag can help you breathe easier when you are suffering from a cold or chest congestion. Eucalyptus has been used throughout history to help loosen phlegm and clear the lungs and nasal passages.
If you are fighting a losing battle against weight control and if you have been fighting this particular battle for a very long time then it is time that you looked at things a little more differently or maybe start looking at things from the other end. This end could be the wrong end, but has proven to be the right one for the success stories of many people's weight loss. Are you confused with what I am rambling about? Well, I am talking about having your colon cleansed so that even you would win the battle and start losing weight really soon. And the best way to do it would be to go on a fast and ensure that you take a lot of herbal teas and infusions to do the trick. Here you will see the benefits of certain herbal infusions that would cleanse your colon and help you lose weight. Infusion 1 The very first infusion that you will have to consider would be green tea with sage basil which is also known as Indian basil. Green tea by itself has a lot of anti-oxidants that helps purify your blood. Now an infusion with sage basil would also ensure that there are no harmful bacteria infesting your bowels. It would clear the bacteria and prevent it from forming again. Infusion 2 For your very second infusion, you can consider the readily available fruit infusions. This would have to have only fruits that have high vitamin c content in it. This would ensure that the green tea leaves again act as an antioxidant and also provide slimming benefits of citrus fruits. When you are on an infusion or herbal tea diet, you will have to ensure that you drink a lot of this infusion when it is hot. Along with it, you will also have to drink a lot of water so that the unwanted fat and accumulated toxins are easily flushed out of your system. Now try these two infusions and see how even you can have a healthy colon along with a stunning figure in no time.
If you are fighting a losing battle against weight control and if you have been fighting this particular battle for a very long time then it is time that you looked at things a little more differently or maybe start looking at things from the other end. This end could be the wrong end, but has proven to be the right one for the success stories of many people's weight loss.
Are you confused with what I am rambling about? Well, I am talking about having your colon cleansed so that even you would win the battle and start losing weight really soon. And the best way to do it would be to go on a fast and ensure that you take a lot of herbal teas and infusions to do the trick. Here you will see the benefits of certain herbal infusions that would cleanse your colon and help you lose weight.
Infusion 1
The very first infusion that you will have to consider would be green tea with sage basil which is also known as Indian basil. Green tea by itself has a lot of anti-oxidants that helps purify your blood. Now an infusion with sage basil would also ensure that there are no harmful bacteria infesting your bowels. It would clear the bacteria and prevent it from forming again.
Infusion 2
For your very second infusion, you can consider the readily available fruit infusions. This would have to have only fruits that have high vitamin c content in it. This would ensure that the green tea leaves again act as an antioxidant and also provide slimming benefits of citrus fruits.
When you are on an infusion or herbal tea diet, you will have to ensure that you drink a lot of this infusion when it is hot. Along with it, you will also have to drink a lot of water so that the unwanted fat and accumulated toxins are easily flushed out of your system.
Now try these two infusions and see how even you can have a healthy colon along with a stunning figure in no time.
Taking the Confusion Out of Infusion: How to Make a Rosehip Infusion 1/18/2011 10:16:37 AM By Deb Doubek Tags: Deb, Infusions, Rose Hips, Rosehips, How To, Medicine Cabinet, Recipes
DebDeb Doubek's family owns a small herb farm and herbal skin care business in Porterfield, Wisconsin. It is there that they play and work with herbs on a daily basis. Deb is a Master Gardener Volunteer, organizer of a local herb group, and a teaches herb-related and soap-making classes for a local technical college, folk school, and right on the farm. (www.petermanbrookherbfarm.com)
As a first time blogger for The Herb Companion, I have a little confession to make. Quite frankly, I am a bit on the chubby side. One of my goals for 2011 is to simply drink more water, and I plan to do that by drinking a variety of infusions.
My favorite simple infusion is made with rosehips (Rosa canina), also known as rose haws, hip berry or wild rose. Rosehips contain a fair amount of vitamin C and can help stave off cold symptoms. They are the fruit of the rose and have also been used to make jams, jellies and soups.
An infusion is basically the same as a tea, except the herbs and the hot water have been left to steep longer with the hopes of a stronger brew. Let’s get started!
Taking the Confusion Out of Infusion: How to Make a Rosehip Infusion
1/18/2011 10:16:37 AM
By Deb Doubek
Tags: Deb, Infusions, Rose Hips, Rosehips, How To, Medicine Cabinet, Recipes
DebDeb Doubek's family owns a small herb farm and herbal skin care business in Porterfield, Wisconsin. It is there that they play and work with herbs on a daily basis. Deb is a Master Gardener Volunteer, organizer of a local herb group, and a teaches herb-related and soap-making classes for a local technical college, folk school, and right on the farm. (www.petermanbrookherbfarm.com)
As a first time blogger for The Herb Companion, I have a little confession to make. Quite frankly, I am a bit on the chubby side. One of my goals for 2011 is to simply drink more water, and I plan to do that by drinking a variety of infusions.
My favorite simple infusion is made with rosehips (Rosa canina), also known as rose haws, hip berry or wild rose. Rosehips contain a fair amount of vitamin C and can help stave off cold symptoms. They are the fruit of the rose and have also been used to make jams, jellies and soups.
An infusion is basically the same as a tea, except the herbs and the hot water have been left to steep longer with the hopes of a stronger brew. Let’s get started!
How to Make Homemade Natural Cough Syrup with Garlic, Lemon and Honey By NaimaManal, eHow Member
Colds and the flu, how can we combat that nagging cough and stuffiness? Before thinking of running to the local store for a cold and flu remedy, look in your food stock.
When we were younger, my mother kept a fresh jar of this homemade cough remedy in the refrigerator. It was a delight to take as a child; its sweet yet tarty taste made it easy for her to give to us. We would even take an extra spoon or two, in between!
Keeping a supply of fresh lemon, honey and garlic during the winter months will give you a cough remedy that is both tasty and nutritious, and is safe to take! Difficulty: Easy Instructions Things You'll Need:
* Fresh Lemon * Fresh Garlic * Honey * Jar with lid * Grater (fine) or chopper * Fork or a citrus juicer
1.
Garlic and Lemon
Cut a lemon in half and squeeze out the juice into a bowl. Use a citrus juicer or a fork. Insert it into the lemon and twisting the lemon to release all of the juice. Scrape off the pulp, as well. Lemons have hot and dry qualities, which is the opposite of a cold. It cuts and dissolves phlegm, making it a suitable agent against both the cold and flu.
2.
Next, use your fine grater to grate 1 to 3 cloves of fresh garlic, according to what you can tolerate. Mix this in with the lemon juice. Garlic is also hot in nature, and its moisture quality also helps it dissolve and break down phlegm, especially in the throat and chest.
3.
Add an equal amount of honey as there is lemon juice. Honey is excellent for colds because it also dissolves phlegm. It is also a natural preservative, and it kills infections. It is an excellent food, drink and remedy.
4.
Mix all ingredients together and store in a glass jar with a lid. Refrigerating the mixture makes it cool, and is more suitable for children, while keeping it at room temperature will give the garlic extra potency. The mixture will keep longer if refrigerated.
As a variation, you can also add other beneficial cold remedies. Grate fresh ginger into the mixture, as well.
6.
Ground Cayenne will Give the Cough Syrup Some Kick
Cayenne is another natural agent that brings heat and draws out cold. Add a little ground cayenne to the mixture, if you can tolerate the heat.
7.
Horehound
Horehound is another natural cold remedy that can be mixed into the syrup. Add 1/2 teaspoon of dried, ground horehound, or even freshly chopped horehound.
8.
Fresh Peppermint
Peppermint is another delightful ingredient to add to this mixture. If you have fresh or dried peppermint, you can add this to the lemon, honey and garlic mixture, instead.
9.
Wild Cherry Bark
Wild Cherry Bark is another cold remedy that works well with the lemon honey and garlic mixture. Add a teaspoon of ground wild cherry bark to the mixture.
How to Make Homemade Natural Cough Syrup with Garlic, Lemon and Honey
By NaimaManal, eHow Member
Colds and the flu, how can we combat that nagging cough and stuffiness? Before thinking of running to the local store for a cold and flu remedy, look in your food stock.
When we were younger, my mother kept a fresh jar of this homemade cough remedy in the refrigerator. It was a delight to take as a child; its sweet yet tarty taste made it easy for her to give to us. We would even take an extra spoon or two, in between!
Keeping a supply of fresh lemon, honey and garlic during the winter months will give you a cough remedy that is both tasty and nutritious, and is safe to take!
Difficulty: Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need:
* Fresh Lemon
* Fresh Garlic
* Honey
* Jar with lid
* Grater (fine) or chopper
* Fork or a citrus juicer
1.
Garlic and Lemon
Cut a lemon in half and squeeze out the juice into a bowl. Use a citrus juicer or a fork. Insert it into the lemon and twisting the lemon to release all of the juice. Scrape off the pulp, as well. Lemons have hot and dry qualities, which is the opposite of a cold. It cuts and dissolves phlegm, making it a suitable agent against both the cold and flu.
2.
Next, use your fine grater to grate 1 to 3 cloves of fresh garlic, according to what you can tolerate. Mix this in with the lemon juice. Garlic is also hot in nature, and its moisture quality also helps it dissolve and break down phlegm, especially in the throat and chest.
3.
Add an equal amount of honey as there is lemon juice. Honey is excellent for colds because it also dissolves phlegm. It is also a natural preservative, and it kills infections. It is an excellent food, drink and remedy.
4.
Mix all ingredients together and store in a glass jar with a lid. Refrigerating the mixture makes it cool, and is more suitable for children, while keeping it at room temperature will give the garlic extra potency. The mixture will keep longer if refrigerated.
As a variation, you can also add other beneficial cold remedies. Grate fresh ginger into the mixture, as well.
6.
Ground Cayenne will Give the Cough Syrup Some Kick
Cayenne is another natural agent that brings heat and draws out cold. Add a little ground cayenne to the mixture, if you can tolerate the heat.
7.
Horehound
Horehound is another natural cold remedy that can be mixed into the syrup. Add 1/2 teaspoon of dried, ground horehound, or even freshly chopped horehound.
8.
Fresh Peppermint
Peppermint is another delightful ingredient to add to this mixture. If you have fresh or dried peppermint, you can add this to the lemon, honey and garlic mixture, instead.
9.
Wild Cherry Bark
Wild Cherry Bark is another cold remedy that works well with the lemon honey and garlic mixture. Add a teaspoon of ground wild cherry bark to the mixture.
Recipes / Healthy Recipes / 5 Satisfying Smoothie Recipes 5 Satisfying Smoothie Recipes Drink your nutrients with these delicious frozen concoctions By Woman's Day Staff Posted January 21, 2011 from Eating Light
Smoothies have been all the rage for years—and for good reason. Not only are they easy to make, but they’re refreshing and full of nutrition. If you’re craving a fruity treat, get out the blender and try one of these six frothy, protein-packed concoctions.
Recipes / Healthy Recipes / 5 Satisfying Smoothie Recipes
5 Satisfying Smoothie Recipes
Drink your nutrients with these delicious frozen concoctions
By Woman's Day Staff Posted January 21, 2011 from Eating Light
Smoothies have been all the rage for years—and for good reason. Not only are they easy to make, but they’re refreshing and full of nutrition. If you’re craving a fruity treat, get out the blender and try one of these six frothy, protein-packed concoctions.
