Wednesday, April 22

Author: Catherine

Stock up on these 9 healthy foods to boost your immune system during coronavirus, says doctor and dietitian
Diet

Stock up on these 9 healthy foods to boost your immune system during coronavirus, says doctor and dietitian

As cases of coronavirus continue to rise, taking daily precautions such as washing your hands, social distancing, exercising and getting enough sleep is key to lowering risk of infection. But maintaining a healthy diet to help boost your immune system may also give you an edge. It’s important to note that no research has been done on foods that help fight against COVID-19 specifically. However, previous studies have found that eating certain foods can improve your health and strengthen your body’s ability to fight other invasive viruses. Here are nine expert-approved foods to stock up on during your next grocery store trip, along with creative ideas on how to add them to your diet... Read more at CNBC
China is encouraging herbal remedies to treat COVID-19. But scientists warn against it.
Remedies

China is encouraging herbal remedies to treat COVID-19. But scientists warn against it.

Traditional Chinese medicine pharmacists prepare herbs to produce doses of concoctions they say helps combat the coronavirus pandemic at the Xiaogan Chinese Medical Hospital in Xiaogan City, in central China's Hubei province, in February. China’s National Health Commission reported last month that of the more than 80,000 people infected with COVID-19 since the outbreak began in December, 90 percent took some form of traditional Chinese medicine to treat their symptoms. "TCM mixtures can be toxic, contaminated or adulterated with prescription drugs; they can also interact with prescription drugs," Ernst said. It can also give patients a false sense of security, leading them to neglect proven medications or therapies. "It is a legal health system in China which is parallel with West...
GMOs Are an Ally in a Changing Climate
Genetically Modified Foods

GMOs Are an Ally in a Changing Climate

Someone once told me you could survive on just peanut butter sandwiches and oranges. I have no idea if that's true, but the advice suggested a tasty lunch for a road trip. It was a freezing, foggy day last December, and I was preparing to drive from my home in Klamath Falls, Oregon, to California's Central Valley, the great agricultural heartland of a state that produces a third of the country's vegetables and two-thirds of its fruits and nuts. As I spread my peanut butter, I read the packages on my counter. My nine-grain bread promised, vaguely, that it was “made with natural ingredients.” My oranges were “locally grown.” Read the full story at Wired
9 Most Effective Natural Remedies to Treat Seasonal Allergies, According to Experts
Remedies

9 Most Effective Natural Remedies to Treat Seasonal Allergies, According to Experts

If you suffer from seasonal allergies, you've probably got a love/hate relationship with spring. It's tough to go outside and smell the roses when you're snuffy and sneezy. The birds might be singing, but your sinuses are screaming for relief. Oftentimes, people reach for over-the-counter antihistamines to lessen the severity of their allergic symptoms and they can be effective. These drugs block the chemical histamine which the immune system produces when a person is exposed to an allergen. The production of histamine can cause runny nose, watery eyes, itching, swelling, and other symptoms. While it would make sense to lean on antihistamines to relieve the sniffles, medicines like these can also have negative side effects such as drowsiness, fatigue, headache, and nausea. Click here...
Botanicals

Thailand lawmakers vote to legalise medical marijuana in groundbreaking move

Thailand's legislature has officially proposed allowing the licensed medical use of marijuana, making it a potential trailblazer in Asia in legalising what used to be regarded strictly as a dangerous drug. The National Legislative Assembly on Friday submitted proposed amendments to the Health Ministry that would put marijuana and the plant kratom, popular locally as a stimulant and painkiller, into a legal category that would allow their licensed possession and distribution under regulated conditions. The ministry will review the amendments before forwarding them to the Cabinet, which will return it to the legislature for a version that will then be voted on. The process may be completed before the end of the year. The proposed changes would not allow recreat...
Can Natural Remedies Really Help You Fight the Coronavirus?
Remedies

Can Natural Remedies Really Help You Fight the Coronavirus?

As COVID-19 blasts its way across the globe, viral wellness videos, tweets, and social media posts are springing up in its wake. Whatever the platform, these blitzes share the same underlying message: Certain supplements and natural remedies can prepare your immune system to do battle against the infection caused by the novel coronavirus. “Anybody who’s making specific medical claims needs to supply a quality body of evidence,” says David Stukus, an immunologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Ohio. “It’s really important to investigate before taking claims at face value.” So far, says John Mellors, chief of infectious diseases at the University of Pittsburgh, no randomized clinical trials have shown vitamins or natural remedies to be effective in treating or preventing COVID-19. ...