Posts Tagged ‘Garlic’

Super Salad Smoothie Recipe

February 10, 2014 Written by JP

During my recent health crisis, I began looking into new ways of getting more fresh fruits and vegetables into my daily diet. One option that immediately came to mind was eating salad. This isn’t my favorite way of enjoying vegetables, but, admittedly, it is a healthy and practical way to eat more of them. After a few days of having salad after salad, I began to wonder: Could I get more nutrition from similar ingredients if I blended them up? A crazy idea, I know. However, in theory, the end result could be something like a combination of a salad and soup. In practice, it became known as my “Super Salad Smoothie”.

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Posted in Food and Drink, Nutrition, Recipes | 7 Comments & Updates

Uncommon Cold Remedies

November 19, 2012 Written by JP

The common cold is back with a vengeance this year, at least in my neck of the woods. And, while “it” never really goes away, the common cold certainly becomes more prevalent during the winter months and is as dependable as clockwork or rush hour traffic. Researchers are continually on the lookout for natural and safe ways of managing and preventing symptoms associated with upper respiratory infections (URIs). As a result, each year there are more and more holistic and integrative options to consider if you hope to avoid the seemingly inevitable coughing, runny nose and sneezing that comes with the season.

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Posted in Alternative Therapies, Children's Health, Nutritional Supplements | 11 Comments & Updates

Garlic Supplements

October 19, 2012 Written by JP

The issue of garlic supplementation is clouded by seemingly contradictory research. For instance, a current summary article in the esteemed Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews concluded that “evidence currently available is insufficient to determine whether garlic provides a therapeutic advantage versus placebo in terms of reducing the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality”. A separate meta-analysis in the journal Science of Food and Agriculture notes that, in general, garlic consumption reduces total cholesterol and triglycerides. However, differences may be apparent based on the form of garlic used: aged garlic, garlic oil or powdered garlic. Nevertheless, the concluding remark of the latter review states that these effects “should benefit patients with risk of cardiovascular diseases”.

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Posted in Food and Drink, Heart Health, Nutritional Supplements | 17 Comments & Updates

Natural Health News for Women

September 30, 2012 Written by JP

This past weekend I was combing through hundreds of current studies involving natural health. I came across five trials that I thought would be particularly useful for women of all ages. Sharing this information with family and friends could very well make a difference in the life of one woman or perhaps many. In addition, you’ll honor the hard work being done behind the scenes by countless scientists who genuinely hope to improve the quality of affordable, effective and safe health care for women throughout the world.

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Posted in Alternative Therapies, Nutritional Supplements, Women's Health | 13 Comments & Updates

Jicama Three Ways

June 18, 2012 Written by JP

One of my favorite, summer snacks is fresh jicama. It’s got everything you can possibly hope for in a healthy, low carb treat. Jicama is crunchy, refreshing and is kissed with just the right note of sweetness. This under appreciated root vegetable, which is also known as Mexican turnip or yam bean, is a noteworthy source of dietary fiber, potassium and Vitamin C. And, since it’s largely comprised of water, jicama is also an excellent way to stay hydrated as the thermostat rises. As a bonus, a generous, one cup serving of jicama contributes less than 50 calories to your daily tab.

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Posted in Diabetes, Food and Drink, Nutrition | 4 Comments & Updates

Heavy Metal Toxicity

January 25, 2012 Written by JP

Heavy metal exposure has become an increasingly relevant topic in the modern age. The air we breathe, the food we eat and even the homes we live in are potential contributors to unsafe levels of toxic minerals including cadmium, lead and mercury. Although this is undeniably true, there’s no sense worrying ourselves sick about it. A far more constructive approach is to look for ways to minimize heavy metal exposure, such as the use of air purifiers, safer building materials and water filtration. And, while we’re at it, perhaps we should add a little more garlic to our diets for good measure.

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Posted in Alternative Therapies, Diabetes, Heart Health | 14 Comments & Updates

Garlic Breath Remedies

December 7, 2010 Written by JP

Garlic is one of the most commonly enjoyed seasonings in modern cuisine. There’s little doubt that many a dish benefits from it. Likewise, the health promoting attributes of garlic have been revered and utilized by civilizations for thousands of years. All that said, the after effects of Allium sativum consumption sometimes leave much to be desired. The reality is that garlic doesn’t just affect breath via the oral cavity. Recent scientific inquiries into this malodorous topic attest to the fact that certain sulfur compounds in garlic such as allyl methyl sulfide (AMS), hydrogen sulfide and methanethiol can also emanate from the gut. But you don’t necessarily need to give up garlic altogether in order to keep your colleagues, friends and mates happy. Before resorting to such extreme measures, you might consider trying out the following natural breath fresheners.
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Posted in Alternative Therapies, Dental Health, Food and Drink | 11 Comments & Updates

Black Garlic and Late Night Snacking

November 18, 2010 Written by JP

It’s been an interesting week on Twitter. As always, I discovered a broad array of health information that expanded my knowledge base. Today’s blog highlights three of the numerous interesting tweets. The first item is inspired by Dr. William Yates. He takes on the important topic of stroke-related depression. Next, a visit with Dr. Jonny Bowden and one his colleagues, Colette Heimowitz, M.Sc, to review some timely advice about how to minimize nighttime snacking. Finally, Dr. Andrew Weil explains the differences and similarities between black and fresh garlic.
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Posted in Diet and Weight Loss, Food and Drink, Heart Health | 10 Comments & Updates

Cilantro Pepita Pesto Recipe

October 12, 2010 Written by JP

I often discuss the concept of complementary medicine wherein one uses an alternative or holistic strategy to improve the efficacy and safety of a conventional treatment. Today’s recipe could be considered a “complementary recipe”. You can add it to a variety of main courses or side dishes to enhance flavor and catapult its health promoting potential. In fact, this an excellent approach to take whenever constructing meals. Start with a nutrient dense menu item, then think about how you can make it even more beneficial by selectively incorporating antioxidant rich dips, marinades and sauces.
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Posted in Nutrition, Recipes | 2 Comments & Updates

Branzino en Papillote Recipe

September 14, 2010 Written by JP

Cooking can be an adventure. I recently undertook a recipe that involved using an ingredient and cooking technique that were completely new to me. In doing so, there was a certain degree of excitement and trepidation involved, but it’s precisely that kind of risk and uncertainty that can produce a richly rewarding (and delicious) experience. Today’s recipe now ranks among my favorite seafood meals of all time. What’s best of all is that I know exactly how it was made and the quality of the healthful components contained therein.
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Posted in Nutrition, Recipes, Women's Health | 4 Comments & Updates

Heartburn, Insomnia, Kidney Disease and More

August 27, 2010 Written by JP

It’s hard to believe but I’ve been writing this blog for over a year and half now. In that time I’ve written hundreds of columns that I hope will be relevant for many years to come. The best way to ensure relevancy is to revisit old topics from time to time. This is an advantage for online writers. Unlike text book authors, we can update our work with the most current scientific data without having to request a revision from a publisher. This provides a winning situation for the readers, the writers and the trees that won’t be turned into pages.
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Posted in Heart Health, Nutritional Supplements, Women's Health | 9 Comments & Updates

Aged Garlic Extract

September 25, 2009 Written by JP

The wisdom that comes only after many years of living and learning is generally a desirable by-product of the aging process. On the other hand, many of the physical changes that are a part of the equation are almost always unwelcome. A similar dynamic occurs in the maturation of food. A certain degree of ripeness is necessary in order for most fruits and vegetables to be edible. But if they’re left to ripen for too long, they’ll spoil. However, there are certain instances where prolonged aging of food can yield medicinal properties. One example is the unique aging process that Allium sativum (garlic) sometimes undergoes. Read more »


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Posted in Food and Drink, Heart Health, Nutritional Supplements | 11 Comments & Updates

Doctor Patient Relationship

July 29, 2009 Written by JP

I believe that the cornerstone of good health is a constructive relationship between patient and physician. It’s a real gamble to remain passive and simply hope that doctors will ask all the right questions and pass along every piece of pertinent information that is currently available. That’s simply too great a burden to place on any type of “healer”. But beyond that, I think all patients have a responsibility to share what they’ve personally learned in order to improve the quality of their own care and, possibly, the care of fellow patients. The following information may be relevant to many who would like to take a more pro-active approach in their own wellness program. Read more »


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Posted in Heart Health | 6 Comments & Updates