I was reading the current issue of Prevention magazine, November 2010, and found a little piece of information that relates to a previous post about mushrooms and boosting the body's immune system, (Boost Your Immune System Naturally ), so I wanted to share the information here.
According to Prevention magazine, you can reduce breast cancer risk 64% just by eating a white button mushroom every day.
I am not sure what their source is, but it seems like a painless, economical and delicious way to reduce breast cancer risk, so I am happy to pass on the information. (The reference was on page 43 of the November issue.)
Friday, October 22, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Boost Your Immune System Naturally
I get asked frequently about natural ways to boost the immune system. There are many herbs which have shown at least some tonifying effect on the immune system, including Echinacea, Astragalus, Garlic, and Ginseng, I will write about them soon.
Some of my personal favorites for giving the immune system a boost are mushrooms. Mushrooms are a great low calorie addition to any diet, and have many health benefits, including helping to reduce chronic inflammation.
But there are several varieties of mushroom which have been held in extremely high regard as immune system tonics for centuries, including Shiitake and Reishi mushrooms.
Shiitake mushrooms are widely available fresh or dried, and found in most supermarkets and health food stores. (They are my personal favorites from a taste standpoint.)
Shiitake mushrooms are delicious added to stir fries, soups, stews, and sauces; pretty much anywhere you would use any other type of mushroom. The stems are extremely woody, so use only the caps in cooking.
Japanese studies have shown that Shiitake mushrooms boost the immune system, as well as inhibit viral replication, two activities which make Shiitake a great addition to your diet. Research in Japan has also developed a cancer treatment based on Shiitake mushrooms.
Reishi mushrooms are immune boosting powerhouses. At one time, these mushrooms were extremely rare, and prohibitively expensive, because they were only found growing in high, remote mountains. The technique to grow Reishi mushrooms was discovered only relatively recently, which has made them much more affordable, you no longer need to be the Emperor of China to afford them.
Reishi mushrooms were thought to increase longevity and so were highly prized..
Modern research has shown them to be high in immune boosting phytochemicals, and to improve production of lymphocytes (lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell, and an important part of the body's defenses against infection). Reishi also seems able to modulate immune response, (this means it can strengthen a weakened immune response, and lessen an overactive immune response), and helps some allergy sufferers get relief from their symptoms. Reishi also seems to have some anti-cancer properties, and is a part of a number of commercially available preparations said to protect the immune system of patients undergoing radiation or chemotherapy as part of a cancer treatment regimen. (If you are being treated for any medical condition, please check with your doctor before using any herbal supplements.)
Reishi mushrooms don't seem as widely available as Shiitake mushrooms, although most local health food stores carry several varieties of prepared Reishi supplements, as powders, capsules and extracts, as well as an instant tea concentrate. It's a useful supplement anytime you feel your immune system needs a boost.
I'll have more to say about natural ways to strengthen the immune system in upcoming posts.
Some of my personal favorites for giving the immune system a boost are mushrooms. Mushrooms are a great low calorie addition to any diet, and have many health benefits, including helping to reduce chronic inflammation.
But there are several varieties of mushroom which have been held in extremely high regard as immune system tonics for centuries, including Shiitake and Reishi mushrooms.
Shiitake mushrooms are widely available fresh or dried, and found in most supermarkets and health food stores. (They are my personal favorites from a taste standpoint.)
Shiitake mushrooms are delicious added to stir fries, soups, stews, and sauces; pretty much anywhere you would use any other type of mushroom. The stems are extremely woody, so use only the caps in cooking.
Japanese studies have shown that Shiitake mushrooms boost the immune system, as well as inhibit viral replication, two activities which make Shiitake a great addition to your diet. Research in Japan has also developed a cancer treatment based on Shiitake mushrooms.
Reishi mushrooms are immune boosting powerhouses. At one time, these mushrooms were extremely rare, and prohibitively expensive, because they were only found growing in high, remote mountains. The technique to grow Reishi mushrooms was discovered only relatively recently, which has made them much more affordable, you no longer need to be the Emperor of China to afford them.
Reishi mushrooms were thought to increase longevity and so were highly prized..
Modern research has shown them to be high in immune boosting phytochemicals, and to improve production of lymphocytes (lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell, and an important part of the body's defenses against infection). Reishi also seems able to modulate immune response, (this means it can strengthen a weakened immune response, and lessen an overactive immune response), and helps some allergy sufferers get relief from their symptoms. Reishi also seems to have some anti-cancer properties, and is a part of a number of commercially available preparations said to protect the immune system of patients undergoing radiation or chemotherapy as part of a cancer treatment regimen. (If you are being treated for any medical condition, please check with your doctor before using any herbal supplements.)
Reishi mushrooms don't seem as widely available as Shiitake mushrooms, although most local health food stores carry several varieties of prepared Reishi supplements, as powders, capsules and extracts, as well as an instant tea concentrate. It's a useful supplement anytime you feel your immune system needs a boost.
I'll have more to say about natural ways to strengthen the immune system in upcoming posts.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Helpful Websites for Food Allergy Information
A reader asked me for some information about a food allergy. I have not done any recent research about food allergies, but I found some websites that may be helpful. I have included a list of links below:
Mayo Clinic on Food Allergies
Food Allergens Information
National Institute of Health Food Allergy Portal
Food Allergy Myth Buster
Tips for Coping With Food Allergies
Help Kids Understand Food Allergies
And here is a cookbook to check out:
The Whole Foods Allergy Cookbook
Mayo Clinic on Food Allergies
Food Allergens Information
National Institute of Health Food Allergy Portal
Food Allergy Myth Buster
Tips for Coping With Food Allergies
Help Kids Understand Food Allergies
And here is a cookbook to check out:
The Whole Foods Allergy Cookbook
Sunday, February 07, 2010
A Natural remedy for Both Diarrhea and Constipation
There is a natural remedy that treats both constipation and diarrhea. It is readily available and safe for all age groups, and also tastes good. There are many varieties available, to please any taste.
What is this wonder remedy? The apple.
Apples have been used medicinally at least since the days of the Romans, who used them to treat diarrhea.
Apples contain a soluble fiber called pectin. Pectin occurs in most fruits, and is a big part of the reason fruits are healthful. Antioxidants, including polyphenols, and vitamins and minerals, etc.also are part of the health benefits of fruits, but pectin affects the digestive system in a particular way that I want to mention here.
Pectin acts as a stool softener and laxative , so it is very useful for constipation. Apples contain sorbitol, a natural fruit sugar, which has some natural laxative properties.
Pectin is a key ingredient in many popular over the counter anti-diarrheal remedies. Bacteria in the intestines convert the pectin into a protective coating which soothes the intestinal lining, which can be irritated by the microorganisms which cause diarrhea.
We've heard since we were children that an apple a day kept the doctor away; I don't know if that is true, but eating apples regularly is a good way to keep your digestive system healthy, and they are delicious!
What is this wonder remedy? The apple.
Apples have been used medicinally at least since the days of the Romans, who used them to treat diarrhea.
Apples contain a soluble fiber called pectin. Pectin occurs in most fruits, and is a big part of the reason fruits are healthful. Antioxidants, including polyphenols, and vitamins and minerals, etc.also are part of the health benefits of fruits, but pectin affects the digestive system in a particular way that I want to mention here.
Pectin acts as a stool softener and laxative , so it is very useful for constipation. Apples contain sorbitol, a natural fruit sugar, which has some natural laxative properties.
Pectin is a key ingredient in many popular over the counter anti-diarrheal remedies. Bacteria in the intestines convert the pectin into a protective coating which soothes the intestinal lining, which can be irritated by the microorganisms which cause diarrhea.
We've heard since we were children that an apple a day kept the doctor away; I don't know if that is true, but eating apples regularly is a good way to keep your digestive system healthy, and they are delicious!
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