Wellness

Despite the basic truth of the cardinal rule of nutrition—you are what you eat—some caveats have been discovered in recent years. For instance, it’s not just what we eat, but it’s when we eat, what we drink, and what other habits we’re engaging in on a daily basis. And a new study in the journal Molecular Psychiatry finds that our stress levels may actually undermine our healthy food choices. Why stressors would affect how our bodies respond to food is an interesting question. One possibility is that the boost in inflammation that comes from stress might act to counteract the effect of healthier oils since it essentially mimics the physiological effects of unhealthy fats. (Unhealthy foods, like certain fats, processed food, and excess sugar seem to raise inflammation in the body.) The s...

In a world that is increasingly moving faster and faster, stress and anxiety are unfortunately a daily struggle for many people. We’re all familiar with the idea of ‘comfort food’ but the truth is that refined, sugary and fatty foods may actually make you feel worse when you are already feeling low. Instead, try munching on some of these foods that have been proven to calm anxiety. 1. Blueberries - rich source of antioxidants and Vitamin C that reduces the stress hormone cortisol 2. Spinach - high in magnesium, which helps you to feel calmer 3. Turkey - contains tryptophan, an amino acid that prompts your brain to release serotonin – a chemical that makes you feel good, has a calming affect and even gets you ready to sleep. 4. Probiotics - Recent studies have shown that there i...

In berry form, black currant has been used for a range of conditions from Alzheimer’s disease and upper respiratory tract infections to muscle fatigue and peripheral arterial disease (PAD). The dried leaf of black currants, when taken orally, also addresses several medical problems, including arthritis, gout, rheumatism, diarrhea, colic, hepatitis, liver ailments, convulsions, and inflammatory disorders of the mouth and throat. Additionally, black currant dried leaf can relieve coughs, colds and whooping cough; purify urine and promote larger output; and treat bladder stones. The leaf makes a good cleansing tea as well. For insect bites or minor wounds, black currant leaf applied topically can soothe the skin, according to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. Significant res...