Showing posts with label Herbs and Spices. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Herbs and Spices. Show all posts
Monday, April 13, 2009
Berry-Peach Tea Recipe
Recipe for Berry-Peach Tea: 1. Place tea bags in a 2quart pitcher or glass measure. Carefully pour boiling water over tea bags. Cover and steep 8 minutes remove tea... Read more
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Selecting a CAM Practitioner
Selecting a health care practitioner — of conventional or complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) — is an important decision and can be key to ensuring that you are receiving the best health care.... Read more
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Garlic as a Cancer Fighter? Maybe Not
(HealthDay News) -- Since ancient times, eating garlic has been credited with many medical benefits, including fighting viruses, bacteria and cancer as well as lowering cholesterol.... Read more
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Nettle, or stinging nettle, is a perennial plant growing in temperate and tropical wasteland areas around the world
Nettle, or stinging nettle, is a perennial plant growing in temperate and tropical wasteland areas around the world. The plant has been naturalized in Brazil and other parts of South America. It grows 2 to 4 meters high and produces pointed leaves and white to yellowish flowers. Nettle has a well-known reputation for giving a savage sting when the skin touches the hairs and bristles on the leaves and stems. Read more
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Herbal Remedies for Asthma?
Spices, Herbs Boost Health for Diabetics
(HealthDay News) -- Spices may do more than flavor your food: New research suggests a shake of this and a pinch of that could also boost the health of diabetics.
Researchers bought 24 herbs and spices and found that many appear to have the power to inhibit tissue damage and inflammation brought on by high blood-sugar levels in the body.
The study didn't examine the direct effects of spices on diabetics. Also, spices are typically used in small amounts, making it unclear if those who eat them would get much benefit.
Still, "this gives people a tool to work with in terms of keeping their health as they want it to be," said study co-author James Hargrove, an associate professor at the University of Georgia.
Hargrove and his colleagues were intrigued by spices because they're rich in antioxidants, which are thought to protect cells from damage. "One can put a lot of antioxidant power into meals by using spices" without making people fatter, he said. "Because of the way they're prepared, herbs and spices tend to have low calorie contents."
In addition, spices are cheaper than many other food products, he said.
The researchers decided to look into the anti-inflammatory properties of spices. "We said, 'Let's just go to Wal-Mart, get all the McCormick brand spices we can find, and check those. That was as complicated as our study design was."
The findings appear in a recent issue of the Journal of Medicinal Food.
In laboratory tests, the researchers found that many of the spices and extracts appeared to inhibit a process known as glycation, which has been linked to inflammation and tissue damage in diabetics.
The spices that seemed most likely to help diabetics included cloves, cinnamon (previously pegged as a possible blood-sugar reducer), allspice, apple pie spice and pumpkin pie spice, Hargrove said. Top herbs included marjoram, sage and thyme.
Other spices and herbs were "still rich compared to other foods" when it comes to the effect, he said.
Lona Sandon, national spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, said that while research does suggest that spices are high in antioxidants and may reduce blood-sugar levels, it's difficult to make recommendations about how much to use.
Even so, "I say add as much herbs and spices as your taste buds and tummy can take," she said. "They add flavor and fun to foods without adding calories or fat. Their potential for promoting health outweighs any risks, unless, of course, you have an allergy to a particular spice."
More information
Learn about the history of spices from the University of California at Los Angeles.
Researchers bought 24 herbs and spices and found that many appear to have the power to inhibit tissue damage and inflammation brought on by high blood-sugar levels in the body.
The study didn't examine the direct effects of spices on diabetics. Also, spices are typically used in small amounts, making it unclear if those who eat them would get much benefit.
Still, "this gives people a tool to work with in terms of keeping their health as they want it to be," said study co-author James Hargrove, an associate professor at the University of Georgia.
Hargrove and his colleagues were intrigued by spices because they're rich in antioxidants, which are thought to protect cells from damage. "One can put a lot of antioxidant power into meals by using spices" without making people fatter, he said. "Because of the way they're prepared, herbs and spices tend to have low calorie contents."
In addition, spices are cheaper than many other food products, he said.
The researchers decided to look into the anti-inflammatory properties of spices. "We said, 'Let's just go to Wal-Mart, get all the McCormick brand spices we can find, and check those. That was as complicated as our study design was."
The findings appear in a recent issue of the Journal of Medicinal Food.
In laboratory tests, the researchers found that many of the spices and extracts appeared to inhibit a process known as glycation, which has been linked to inflammation and tissue damage in diabetics.
The spices that seemed most likely to help diabetics included cloves, cinnamon (previously pegged as a possible blood-sugar reducer), allspice, apple pie spice and pumpkin pie spice, Hargrove said. Top herbs included marjoram, sage and thyme.
Other spices and herbs were "still rich compared to other foods" when it comes to the effect, he said.
Lona Sandon, national spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, said that while research does suggest that spices are high in antioxidants and may reduce blood-sugar levels, it's difficult to make recommendations about how much to use.
Even so, "I say add as much herbs and spices as your taste buds and tummy can take," she said. "They add flavor and fun to foods without adding calories or fat. Their potential for promoting health outweighs any risks, unless, of course, you have an allergy to a particular spice."
More information
Learn about the history of spices from the University of California at Los Angeles.
Herbal Supplements: Consider Safety, Too
Herbal Supplements: Consider Safety, Too - Many herbs have a long history of use and of claimed health benefits.... Read more
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Herbs and Spices for Better Health
The regular use of certain herbs and spices could reduce your risk of diabetes and may even slow the physical effects of aging. Read more...
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