We have made amazing strides in recent years in understanding the human genome. Many researchers have been surprised to discover that the DNA sequence doesn’t adequately explain why some of us are more susceptible to diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Instead they have found that the nutrition available to our grandparents can have aContinueContinue reading “Epigenetics, Pesticides, and Your Health”
Tag Archives: health
Five Flavors, But Don’t Forget Bitter
Some cooking traditions focus on artfully combining the flavors our tongue perceives. The five flavors are sweet, salty, sour, spicy, and bitter. American cuisine doesn’t emphasize bitter as much as some other cultures. We will have coffee after a meal for something bitter or dark chocolate or maybe some slightly bitter greens in our salads.ContinueContinue reading “Five Flavors, But Don’t Forget Bitter”
Build a Better Brain with the Mineral Lithium
No, I am not crazy (or no more so than the average person), but you might describe me as very excited by the potential brain benefits of lithium. While lithium is most famous for its use in large doses for bipolar disorders, lower doses can have an impressive array of benefits for mood and long-termContinueContinue reading “Build a Better Brain with the Mineral Lithium”
Hydrate for the New Year
In the summer time, hydration is often on people’s mind, but when it is cold, we can forget to drink water. Staying hydrated is one the most important steps you can take for your health any time of the year. Seventy-five percent of the human body is composed of pure water. This means that inContinueContinue reading “Hydrate for the New Year”
Healthy Hints for Holiday Happiness
The holidays can be a time to relax and enjoy time with your family. And they can be a time to run yourself ragged trying to make holiday magic happen for others. On top of this, some struggle with seasonal depression from reduced sunlight and fewer opportunities to exercise. While winter can be an enchantingContinueContinue reading “Healthy Hints for Holiday Happiness”
Give Yourself the Gift of Time
I am not going to lie to you. Being healthy takes time. It takes time to cook healthy food for yourself. I always make sure I have at least 30 minutes in the morning to make a nutrition breakfast. It takes time to exercise, but every hour you exercise is essentially an hour you areContinueContinue reading “Give Yourself the Gift of Time”
New Insights into Natural Diabetes Prevention
I recently cut fruit juice out of my husband’s diet. I told him I wasn’t going to buy it anymore for him because of a recent study that correlated the consumption of 3 servings of fruit juice per week with a 10% increased risk of diabetes. Even before reading this study, I hadn’t been aContinueContinue reading “New Insights into Natural Diabetes Prevention”
Enhance Digestion and Absorption with Black Pepper
This ubiquitous spice on nearly every table in America is for more than just flavoring. Black pepper actually increases your ability to absorb nutrient. Black pepper stimulates the activity of the digestive tract by increasing the production of digestive enzymes and supporting normal gut motility. Black pepper also is a circulatory stimulant so it increasesContinueContinue reading “Enhance Digestion and Absorption with Black Pepper”
Vitamin C: Powerful Protector
For colds, most people reach for vitamin C to help them get back on their feet sooner. They might chose it because they can tell it helps them feel better, or they might have heard about one of the numerous studies supporting its use. Most studies show that vitamin C reduces the severity of coldContinueContinue reading “Vitamin C: Powerful Protector”
Omega-3s for Mood
Fish oil has numerous well-documented benefits for our health. It is probably best known for its cardiovascular advantages of decreasing cholesterol and clotting. Here I am going to focus on its mood supporting qualities, because there have been a number of exciting recent studies. In one study following patients with major depression, the likelihood ofContinueContinue reading “Omega-3s for Mood”
Dr. Laurell Matthews, ND 