Today is National Day of Writing. Because #WhyIWrite is trending on Twitter I thought I'd share my story. One day a man who was like a second father to me was rushed to the hospital for an emergency bypass. No one told me about his health ordeal but I awoke from a terrifying nightmare in which he gr…
Blog posts : "michelle schoffro cook"
Should You Actually Feed a Cold and Starve a Flu?
Most of us have heard the old adage, “feed a cold and starve a fever.” But have you wondered whether there is any truth behind the sentiment? Yale University professor and author of a new study published in the medical journal Cell had that thought. He wondered whether eating during a cold …
4 Halloween Herbs for Year-Round Health
“Double, double toil and trouble. Fire burn and cauldron bubble,” chanted the witches of Shakespeare’s Macbeth as they added ingredients to their brew. While an eye of newt and tongue of frog may not interest you there are a few other herbs that are fitting for both Halloween and great heal…
6 Super-Healing Herbal Medicines to Start Using Now
There are thousands of herbs, many with proven medicinal properties, and many still left unexplored by scientists. It is difficult to choose only six herbs to keep at home because there are so many amazing medicinal herbs, but the following help ensure that you have a fairly well-rounded stash for …
The Spice that Kills Breast Cancer Stem Cells
Who doesn’t love ginger cookies or spice cake? The signature ginger flavor adds a delightful taste to almost anything to which it is added. But taste is not the only reason to love this amazing spice. Not only is ginger a delicious addition to food, it is also one of the best natural medicin…
A Guide to Cutting Sugar Out of Your Diet
Let’s face it: we are seriously addicted to sugar. Since the 1950s the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), informs us that our per capita consumption of sugars like sucrose (table sugar) and high-fructose corn syrup increased 43 pounds, or 39 percent, between 1950-59 and 2000. E…
25 Ways to Get More Fermented Foods in Your Diet
Most people know that fermented foods build great gut health, but a growing body of research shows that they build strong immunity, brain health, heart health, and more. As a result there are more reasons than ever to eat more fermented foods. Check out my blogs “9 Reasons to Love Sauerkraut” …
The Holiday Spice that Boosts Mood, Fights Depression
Who doesn’t love the taste of ground nutmeg over a holiday hot chocolate or latte? It’s not only the classic eggnog spice, it’s perfect in spice cookies and other holiday fare. While delicious holiday treats may be enough reason to enjoy nutmeg, research shows that it may help boost moods and help…
What Exactly are “Natural Flavors” in Candy?
If candy manufacturers were required to declare the exact ingredients found in candy, the label would read like something out of a witch’s brew: dried beaver’s sac, sheepskin excretions, or insect excretions. This may sound more like “trick” than “treat” but it’s true. When it comes to…
Your Diet May be Shrinking Your Brain
You might want to rethink that cola and hamburger as these foods may be shrinking your brain. New research in the online journal BMC Medicine found that the Standard American Diet (SAD) can cause shrinkage of a part of the brain known as the left hippocampus. While poor dietary choices have bee…
The Mushroom that Regrows Brain Cells
Photo credit: Robert Rogers, author The Fungal Pharmacy. and professor at Northern Star College.
Regrowing brain cells sounds like something straight out of a science fiction novel, not the stuff of scientific research involving mushrooms. After all, when we think of mushrooms we’re far mo…
10 Probiotic-Rich Foods to Supercharge Your Health
Most people know that yogurt (at least the unsweetened kind with live cultures) is a healthy option but few people consider the many other foods rich in beneficial bacteria or yeasts that help boost health. Based on my new book, The Probiotic Promise: Simple Steps to Heal Your Body from the Insid…
How Nature Rewires Your Brain and Reduces Mental Illness Risk
Have you had your daily dose of trees, flowers, and shrubs? No, I don’t mean in the form of herbal medicine, although there are countless studies supporting the use of herbalism in our daily lives. I’m referring to spending time communing with nature. We all know that spending time in nature just…
The Food that Cuts Your Risk of Premature Death by 20 Percent
Here’s some news to go nuts about. Exciting research found that simply adding one food to your diet could drastically slash your risk of dying. According to the study published in the New England Journal of Medicine eating nuts could save your life. The researchers found that eating a handfu…
The Little-Known Herb that Combats Allergies
It’s that time of year again: the season of itchy eyes, sneezing, runny noses, and breathing troubles for anyone who suffers from allergies. While it is tempting to run for the decongestants and anti-histamines and lock yourself indoors, Mother Nature offers help in the form of a little-known herb…
South African Herb Has Potent Anti-viral Activity
A South African herb known as Pelargonium sidoides (Umckaloabo) which has been used and approved for the treatment of respiratory conditions like bronchitis has been studied for its antiviral effects with excellent results. The research published in the journal Antiviral Research showed that Umcka…
The Mushroom that Shows Great Promise against Cancer
When we think of cancer in our Western world, we tend to think of harsh chemicals or toxic radiation as the treatments. But promising new research published in the journal Phytomedicine suggests that we might want to give serious consideration to the humble mushroom cordyceps that quietly rears it…
The Herb that Alleviates Menstrual Cramps Better than Advil or Motrin
Every woman who has ever experienced painful menstrual cramps knows the importance of pain relief. For some women cramps can be mild while others experience debilitating pain that can affect their ability to work, attend school, and participate in athletics or social activities. Dysmenorrhea—the m…
The Surprising Natural Remedy for Allergies
Aaaa-choo. It’s that time of year again for allergy sufferers. You may be surprised to learn that probiotics are among the best natural remedies for allergies. If you’re hooked on antihistamines, decongestants, and desensitization shots you might be inclined to think there is little value in such…
EPA Classified Roundup as Carcinogen 30 Years Ago…but Mysteriously Reversed Decision
Scientists and environmentalists have been saying that the world’s most common weed killer, known as glyphosate, or Monsanto’s Roundup, is a carcinogen for decades. Last week, the World Health Organization report indicated that, indeed, glyphosate it is a probable carcinogen. Now there’s evid…