JUNE 15, 2021 NASTURTIUM OFFICINALES

Nasturtium officinales is better known as watercress or yellowcress. It is very edible. This year I planted seeds in pots in my small but practical greenhouse. To my excitement they start to grow. I repotted them this past weekend in a pot on the patio.

Their leaves are edible and full of vitamins and minerals. The leaves contain vitamin C and E . It is a tonic , stimulant and a blood purifier. The leaves are great in a salad. They have a peppery taste unlike mustard greens and arugula.

Try them I promise you will like them

Until tomorrow…

JUNE 14, 2021 EDIBLE PLANTS

Last week I received my copy of The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods by Dr Nicole Apelian. You must get a copy of this book. It discusses all edible plants, lichens, mushrooms and seaweeds. It is comprehensive and easy to read. It made me think how lucky I am that I have planted many small fruit trees on my property. This weekend I picked strawberries from my strawbverry ‘ field’ or rather patch. I also picked a Gooseberry off my bush

There are more than 50 species in the Ribes genus and all are edible. If you plant a Gooseberry bush you should be aware of its fine hairs and thorns at the bases of these plant. Its flower its green to purplish starting in April to June and then the picking begins of the gooseberry. You can start picking in June

The unripe ones are used for jams , pies and sauces. I found out if you want to see if ripe, give the berry a little squeeze. I picked one over the weekend that was unripe and tasted. It was very tart

In my new book which I love there is a recipe for Mackerel with Gooseberry sauce. You will not regret getting this book

Until tomorrow…

JUNE 10, 2021 EAT YOUR VEGETABLES AND FRUIT

Who doesn’t want to slow the aging process. You can feel better if you eat better You are what you eat. Consume more vegetables and fruit and slow the aging process. There are many superfood concentrates out there in powder form and capsule form. There are always promotional advertising for the best superfood supplement on the market I am not saying that the one you are taking isn’t good. I just want to see the contents

We do know that less than 1 in 10 Americans eat enough fruits and vegetables. This means that these individuals are on a fast track to decreased survival and longevity. In addition if he / she does survive- they will not be healthy.

Do you consume:

1. Broccoli

2. Blueberries

3. Green tea

4. Dark Chocolate

5. Apples

6. Tomatoes

7. Camu camu

8. Elderberries

9. Chokeberries

10. Spinach

There are superfood supplements that contain the above and more. Search them out. I prefer to eat some if not all of them fresh.

My breakfast is either a protein shake with almond butter, a gluten free cereal with different types of berries every third day, a hot gluten free cereal with raw honey and even can be 2 scoops of a nut butter. Change your diet today

Until tomorrow

JUNE 9, 2021 SULPORAPHANES

Sulforaphane is a sulfur-rich compound found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, bok choy, and cabbage. It has been shown to provide powerful health benefits. This is a natural health boosting compound. Research has shown that sulforaphanes are 105 x more potent than the antioxidant resveratrol ( found in grapes and red wine ) as well as 13 x more potent than curcumin ( tumeric )

So why use this natural compound ? Sulforaphane is a powerful phytochemical and research is starting to show it may help protect your body against cancer. I have used and recommended it in many of my cancer patients

When you think of its benefits you think of

It neutralizes toxins. Phytochemicals like sulforaphane are antioxidants  that cancel out free radicals. Free radical are tiny particles that weaken and damage healthy cells. They form in your body because of pollution, UV rays, food additives and preservatives, and even through natural processes like digestion.

It reduces inflammation. Because sulforaphane neutralizes toxins, it also calms inflammation in your body. Inflammation has been linked to several kinds of cancer.

It may protect your DNA. Some studies have shown that sulforaphane blocks mutations in DNA that lead to cancer.

It may slow tumor growth. Sulforaphane has been shown to reduce the ability of cancerous cells to multiply. That means it may slow tumor growth or reduce its ability to spread to other parts of your body.

I have no reason not to try these compounds. I would prefer taking it in a capsule form than consuming more broccoli or other greens than I already do consume

Until tomorrow…

JUNE 8, 2021 GLUCOSAMINE

When you hear the supplement name , glucosamine you think of bone and muscle diseases. It has traditionally been used for joint issues and usually combined with chondroitin and even MSM There was a significant study published that glucosamine reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. It was a large study group of nearly 470,000 individuals who did not have CV disease and these individuals were followed for 7 years

The conclusion was surprising even to me. Glucosamine use was associated with a 22 % lower risk of cardiovascular death- which 18% lower risk of coronary artery disease and 9% lower risk of stroke. There are many reasons for this Glucosamine has been shown in several years to increase one’s lifespan. It is a potent activator of autophagy, This is a normal process which cells rid themselves of toxic metabolic waste.

I find the process of autophagy to be fascinating. More research needs to be done on herbs and supplements that are activators of autophagy It could be the way we can live and healthier and longer life

Until tomorrow…

JUNE 7, 2021 WHY REAT VEGETABLES AND FRUITS

There are many reasons to eat rich in vegetable and fruits. There is also is reason to drink tea. Vegetables and fruits contain flavonoids. Flavonoids are a group of plant metabolites thought to provide health benefits through cell signaling pathways and antioxidant effects. Flavonoids are polyphenolic molecules containing 15 carbon atoms and are soluble in water.

A recent article published in the journal Neurology reported an association between consuming more flavonoids and a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. There were 200 participants. Each were divided into groups according to their level of intake of flavonoids.

Those individuals that consumed 15.3 mg of flavonoids were day had the lowest risk of developing the disease —about 15%. Those with the lowest intake about 5.3 mg had a 30 % risk of developing the disease

The moral of the story - eat plenty of vegetables and fruits

Until tomorrow…

JUNE 4-6, 2021 PROPOLIS

The products of a beehive have medicinal benefits. These include propolis, bee pollen, royal jelly, honey and bee venom. As a beekeeper I use all prodcuts of the beehive for medicinal use and some not for medicinal use ( as beeswax candles and honey consumption ) Recently an article was published in the HerbalGram of the American Botanical Council. The study was on the benefit of the glu like substance, propolis

Propolis, a substance made by honeybees from plant resin to help maintain the hygienic environment of their nests, has been reported to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in humans, to inhibit beta-amyloid accumulation in vivo, and to increase the brain-derived neurotrophic factor in vitro

The sudy was using propolis for verbal memory in elderly Japanese men

The article defined dementia as a chronic, progressive brain condition associated with a decline in cognitive functions. It can affect memory, thinking, orientation, understanding, calculation, learning, language, and judgment. Multiple factors contribute to age-related dementia, including inflammation, oxidative stress, neurotransmitter decline, and beta-amyloid accumulation. WEe do know that some drugs may be used to delay the progression

The authors concluded this “ Propolis intake improves not only verbal memory but also information processing, attention, and concentration in a group with high cognitive function" … and "no side effects were shown by propolis ingestion,"

Asama T, Hiraoka T, Ohkuma A, Okumura N, Yamaki A, Urakami K. Cognitive improvement and safety assessment of a dietary supplement containing propolis extract in elderly Japanese: a placebo-controlled, randomized, parallel group, double-blind human clinical study. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. February 24, 2021;2021:6664217. doi: 10.1155/2021/6664217.

Join the American Botanical Council and have access to all of their journals

Until tomorrow…

JUNE 3, 2021 FLOWERS IN THE SHADE

There are a few North American plants that bloom in the shade. When growing in the shade it is important to make sure the soil is rich in nutrients which support the plant. You can test your soil with a soil kit. Most garden shops offer a soil kit very reasonably. I did it before I planted my gardens in Connecticut. I started with Bleeding heart ( (Lamprocapnos spectabils) and Columbine ( Aquiegia species ) They look wonderful I might move the bleeding hearts near the many hostas in the garden

This year I have planted two other shade flowers. I have planted a Cardinal flower ( Lobelia cardinalis ) and Coral bells ( Heuchera species) Although the coral bell flowers can be small , these flowers attract hummingbirds. The Cardinal flower relies on hummingbirds for pollination. So you see honeybees are NOT the only pollinators in my garden. I will try next year Turtleheads ( Chelone species)

Until tomorrow