If you enjoy the smell of clean clothes straight out of the dryer you may be shocked to learn that smell comes at a cost. Most commercial fabric softeners–dryer sheets or the liquid variety–contain many toxic chemicals.
According to the Allergy and Environmental Health Association, both l…
We’ve all been taught to soak dried beans before cooking them. After all, the digestibility of them improves, or at least that’s what we’ve been taught. More recently, people have jumped on the don’t-soak-your-beans bandwagon. To soak or not to soak? That’s the fundamental question of cooking legume…
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 …
“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…
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 …
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
We all know that there is a lot of salt in fast food but just how much sodium is in that McDonald’s food you’re eating? I’ve compiled a list of some common foods to give you a sense. Keep in mind that most experts recommend getting less than 2300 mg of sodium per DAY (not meal!) and that anyone wi…
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…
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…
I was probably only a few years old when I first tasted sauerkraut. Like most people, my first taste also involved a hot dog and mustard. But I immediately loved its unique sour and tart flavor. Later in life I began experimenting with many sauerkraut combinations, including my favorit…
Here’s some exciting news for pain sufferers: new research shows that an herbal extract is more effective than acetaminophen (Tylenol) or nimesulide—a potent prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) at alleviating pain.
The study reported in the Journal of Pain R…
Most people know about the health benefits of yogurt but few have even heard about kefir (pronounced ke-FEER). In many ways it is like a drinkable form of yogurt but offers even greater health benefits than yogurt. Like yogurt, kefir is typically a cultured milk product (although there a…
Save 20% on Dr. Cook's EBooks. Use coupon code SPG20 at checkout.
Acid-Alkaline Food Chart
