MAY 30, 2024 BANANNAS

I feel Bananas are given a bad rap. People avoid as ripe bananas are high iu sugar. I need you to think beyond the sugar for a moment. Bananas are one of the best sources. Adding bananas to your diet is easy because of their accessibility. By itself, banana fruit (banana is scientifically considered a berry, by the way) is packed with nutritional benefits. It is high in potassium, iron, magnesium, and vitamins A, C, and E.

There are many varieties of bananas and all of them are proven to be good for your health. Among them, the unripe ones are the best for you when it comes to prebiotics.

Bananas help a variety of medical conditions because of their potassium content
If you are constipated or having any digestive issues, eating a banana may ease your problem. It is rich in fiber that regulates bowel movement and calms your digestive tract. It may also help balance the electrolytes during bouts of diarrhea. Bananas are also a natural antacid and helps with reflux

Potassium is an electrolyte that boosts the flow of electricity in your body to keep the heart beating. This mineral is abundant in a piece of banana, which is beneficial in improving your overall heart health. A medium-sized banana has about 358 mg of potassium, and the recommended daily intake of potassium is between 3,500 mg and 4,700 mg. So, you have plenty of room to add more potassium-rich foods to your diet. Bananas can reduce the blood pressure level and keep it under control which wards off cardiovascular problems.

Bananas are mood boosting because they contain tryptophan, which gets converted in the gut to the happy hormone, serotonin

Lastly , High potassium foods are known to boost calcium production which improves bone health. It may prevent calcium loss and improve bone mineral density. Bananas are beneficial against osteoporosis, especially in women after menopause.

Until tomorrow…

MAY 29, 2024 PREBIOTICS

Taking probiotic supplements alone cannot solve all gastrointestinal problems.

You might need glutamine. You should first see a Naturopathic Gastroenterologist to determine your needs. There is food allergy testing Ig G, SIBO testing and a GI Map to determine your intestinal flora. This will check for bacteria, parasites, and yeasrt

Probiotics need the help of prebiotics to keep thriving. And, this is mainly achievable by eating prebiotic and fermented foods.

Bananas are one of the best sources. Adding bananas to your diet is easy because of their accessibility. By itself, banana fruit (banana is scientifically considered a berry, by the way) is packed with nutritional benefits. It is high in potassium, iron, magnesium, and vitamins A, C, and E.

There are many varieties of bananas and all of them are proven to be good for your health. Among them, the unripe ones are the best for you when it comes to prebiotics.

Green, or unripe bananas, contain resistant starch or prebiotic fiber that cannot be broken down by the digestive tract. They travel all the way to your large intestine and serve as food for the beneficial bacteria.

MAY 28, 2024 DAIRY

While revered for their nutritional benefits, including being a prime source of calcium and protein, dairy products are also at the center of various health debates.

Dairy products are traditionally celebrated for their rich nutritional content. They are a primary source of calcium and play a crucial role in bone health and development. Beyond calcium, dairy is also rich in other essential nutrients such as vitamin D, potassium, and phosphorus, all vital for maintaining a healthy body. The high-quality protein in milk, cheese, and yogurt contributes significantly to muscle repair and growth

However, the fat content in dairy has been a topic of debate. Also being debated is animal welfare and the treatment of animals. There are many NetFlix movies dealing with food. On these shows you see how the agricultural industry works. This evolution has not been without controversy, as concerns over animal welfare and the use of hormones and antibiotics have become increasingly prevalent. The treatment of dairy cows and the conditions in which they are kept are crucial factors that impact the quality of dairy products and the ethical considerations of their consumption.

Why can’t you consume raw dairy from quality farms ? You can in some states but not in New York or New Jersey. Read the Untold Story of Milk . If you live in NY and you want raw milk, drive to Connecticut or Pennsylvania . You can always join www.westonaprice.org . I never understood why you can sell oysters, mussels, crabs and lobsters on the Long Island Expressway, but we canty sell raw dairy. More people get Hepatitis A and other infections from raw fish, that does not happen with quality raw milk.

There are dairy alternatives today as almond milk, coconut milk These may be better but also have some health issues. You could make your own nut milk

Until tomorrow…

MAY 23, 2024 MIGRAINES

The exact cause of migraines is not fully understood. Various triggers have been identified as specific foods, hormones and stress I am particularly interested in the foods that cause triggers in migraines.

One food we know that triggers migraines is chocolate. Although sometimes a comfort food it does trigger migraines One key ingredient in chocolate is theobromine which is similar to caffeine in coffee. This affects the blood vessels and can lead tp headaches Not everyone that eats choclate gets migraines. Also since chocolate contains hjigh levels of lead and cadium, is this the reason you get migraines ?

Even aged cheese can cause migraines in some individuals The younger cheeses are sometimes better for individual’s with migraines Alcohol has long been associated with migraines The usual culprits ar ehisamine and tannins ( ttannins are in coffee induc emigraiens too ) Alocohol like coffee is a diureticv which canm cuase dehydration which leads to the migraines

Aspartame is a sugar substitute It might be a good substitute for some, but can cause migraines in some The chemical compound to interact with the neurotransmitters of the brain , which can cause migraines

Find your trigger if you suffer from migraines Have the doctor do a Ig G food allergy test

Until tomorrow…

MAY 22, 2024 TEA ISN'T ONLY FOR WINTERS

We each venture to the tea cabinet for a warm cup o your favorite tea during the winters . Most of our teas and from herbs. There are many teas from trees I cunsome herbal and tree teas throughout the year. In the summer I might make a tea , set it on the counter in a pitcher and drink it at room temperature on a sunny afternoon.

I love Pine Needle tea made from the White Pine tree. The needles of this tree appearing in clusters of four are used to make this tea, It is rick n flavinoids, Vitamn A and Vitamin C Pine needle tea supports the respiratory system You actually chop 2 tablespoons of pine needles per one 8 ounce cup. Steep for 5- 10 minutes and drink hot or at room temperature I always add my own honey to my teas.

Three other trees orovide the necessary ingredients for may of our cough syrups. These are the Elderberry tree, Black Cherry tree and the Choke Cherry tree Elderberry perhaps is the one best known. I can imagine that 7Song ( my mentor/colleague and friend in Ithaca- Founder of the Northeast School of Botanical Medicine ) has wild-crafted a branch of this tree. Removing the outer nark gives rise to the inner moist green bark ( which smells like almonds ) Shave and grind the dry nner bark and steep 1 teaspoon to every 8 ounces of water for 10 mintes. Ony drin when yu can still smell the almonds. If there is no almond smell discard the bark

I have three trees of Elderberry teas in my backyard in Black Rock CT The trees are between 4-5 years ago, I have not yet to make a herbal tea from the elderberry flowers I enjoy watching these trees bloom

Until tomorrow…

MAY 21, 2024 BIOFILMS

When I think of chronic infections I treat I think of Lyme Disease and other tick borne illnesses, EBV ( chronic fatigue ) Over the last fifteen years I have recognized that if an infection persists despite my conventional and integrative treatments I think f biofilms. What is a biofilm ? A biofilm is a gel like substance composed of microbes ( which can be bacteria, fungi etc ) which attach to any cell in the body We known from research there are complex communities in the gut

This is why when treated SIBO- small intestinal bacterial overgrowth I often use a biofilm disruptor There are many on the market - the best is BioDisrupt This is made by Researched Nutritionals It has two proprietary blends called EnzymeDisrupt and HerbDisrupt. The constituents are varied but contain lyzozyme, serratiopeptidase and others which can promote the body’s normal ability to disrupt extracellular matrices. This allows the infection to be treated. The HerbalDisrupt contains berberine rosemary and peppermint, These herbs have been studied to support the body’s normal anti adhesion properties and promote digestive comfort. It also promotes the body;s healthy response to invading organisms, and promotes healthy levels of extracellular mucus.

These biofilms create a physical barrier this it is hard to treat and allows mold, Lyme and EBV to persist . This barrier not only doesn’t allow the herbs I use to work, but the conventional antibiotics as well

So in short, disrupting or dissolving biofilms can help overcome their ability to flourish and improves the effectiveness of antimicrobial therapies ( whether antibiotics or herbs ) against them

Until tomorrow…

MAY 20, 2024 FERMENTED FOODS

Recently there has been a high consumption of fermented products. It is not only in the younger popular but many of my older patients are using kefir. Studies have shown that eating fermented foods can have an impact on short and long term impacts on brain function thus reducing stress

The fermented foods are a source of an amino acid called tryptophan. This amino acid is crucial in producing the happy hormone ‘ serotonin ‘ Serotonin is also responsible for mood

There is a study being conducted in Ireland at the University of Cork to pinpoint which fermented food is most beneficial for brain health I am sure that vegetabe based fermented foods will be on top

Start consuming fermented foods

Until tomorrow…

MAY 16, 2024 CANCER FIGHTING FOODS

In the quest for maintaining optimal health and reducing the risk of cancer, dietary choices play a crucial role. Certain foods, packed with powerful nutrients and antioxidants, have been identified as having potential cancer-fighting properties

One food I would never think as a cancer fighting food are walnuts. Walnuts are a powerhouse of nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids, which have shown promising results in cancer prevention. These nuts contain compounds that can potentially slow down the growth of cancer cells. Studies have suggested that walnuts may particularly be effective against breast and prostate cancer. Moreover, the regular inclusion of walnuts in diets has been associated with reduced risk of these cancer

This next food is great for heart health and digestion. It is also effective as cancer preventing. Broccoli, a cruciferous vegetable, is rich in sulforaphane, a compound that exhibits strong anti-cancer properties. This compound not only helps in the prevention of cancer but also hinders the growth of already existing cancer cells. Sulforaphane targets cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed, making broccoli a valuable addition to a cancer-preventive diet. Studies have particularly noted its efficacy in reducing the risk of colorectal and bladder cancers. I use a lot of sulforaphane is breast cancers

Lastly I would incorporate berries into your diet. I think of blueberries as a great antioxidant and cancer fighting berry. Yet there is another one. Raspberries are abundant in antioxidants, particularly ellagic acid, which has shown potential in cancer prevention. This antioxidant helps neutralize harmful free radicals in the body and has been linked to inhibiting the growth of cancer cells. Consuming raspberries may lower the risk of developing several types of cancer, including skin, lung, bladder, and breast cancers.

Until tomorrow…