Explorations In The World Of Natural Health
Whenever I travel somewhere new, I’m always amazed at how many amazing foods I had never even heard of before. This was the case with mongongo (aka manketti) before I went to Namibia. After seeing locals cracking open the strange nuts, I learned all about the benefits of mongongo nuts, especially the oil for hair and skin. Read more
If you visit Senegal or certain other West African countries, you are certain to see people selling baskets full of kenkeliba. These leaves come from the combretum micranthum shrub and are consumed as a sweet tea. Not only does the tea actually taste pretty nice, but Kenkeliba has a long list of health benefits which will make you want to drink more of it.
I first came across amla – also known as Indian gooseberry or amalaki – when a friend brought back some amla pickles from India. The amla berries were tart, fibrous, and surprisingly tasty. It was only later that I learned about the many amla benefits for health.
You spend the bulk of your sexually-active youth trying not to get pregnant. Then, when you do want to get pregnant, you realize it isn’t going to be so fast nor easy. No wonder women turn to some many fertility superfoods. One of the lesser-known fertility foods is yams.
I first heard about aguaje – also known as buriti or Mauritia flexuosa — while traveling in Peru. We were in the small city Tarapoto which is situated in the middle of the jungle. At virtually every street corner you could see women with knives in their hands, quickly and expertly peeling the scaly skin off of a fruit to reveal bright orange flesh beneath. Read more
Turmeric has a long history of being used as a spicy, food coloring, and even as body paint in religious rituals. Its medical use also dates back a very long time – approximately 4000 years. However, it is only recently that the world has been made aware of the health benefits of turmeric and how many nutrients are packed into it. Read more
You’ve started to take turmeric to get the many health benefits of curcumin, its active compound. Maybe you are sprinkling turmeric into foods that you eat or drinking turmeric tea… But that doesn’t necessarily mean you are getting the full benefits of the superfood. Read more
When it comes to superfoods, you’ve got to understand that most haven’t been extensively studied. We can only infer a causative link between the food and health benefits. Read more