AUGUST 3, 2023 CABBAGE

Cabbage is a popular cultivar of the species Brassica oleracea Linne (Capitata Group) of the Family Brassicaceae (or Cruciferae) and is used as a leafy green vegetable.

It is a herbaceous, biennial, dicotyledonous flowering plant distinguished by a short stem upon which is crowded a mass of leaves, usually green but in some varieties red or purplish, which while immature form a characteristic compact, globular cluster (cabbagehead).

The plant is also called head cabbage or heading cabbage, and in Scotland a bowkail, from its rounded shape. The Scots call its stalk a castock, and the British occasionally call its head a loaf. It is in the same genus as the turnip – Brassica rapa. The cabbage leaves often have a delicate, powdery, waxy coating called bloom. The occasionally sharp or bitter taste of cabbage is due to glucosinolate(s). Cabbages are also a good source of riboflavin.

Did you ever look at cabbage? I never did. I really do not like cooked cabbage. I love it in its raw form. Cabbage is a leafy, green vegetable that resembles a head of lettuce. The leaves are a denser and lighter in color but cabbage are related to broccoli and cauliflower. There are 2 different types of cabbage, the lighter colored, mild flavored crinkly leafed Savoy and the heavier deep red burgundy colored red cabbage.

They all have the same beneficial cabbage nutrition.Besides the riboflavin cabbage has lots of minerals, vitamins, Vitamin C, niacin and B6. The B vitamins are needed to reduce the cardiac risk factor homocysteine which has been associated with stroke and heart attacks. Also, these vitamins can help break down fats and fatty acids to make them more digestible. They can also help cleanse the body and prevent kidney stones and regulate blood pressure.

There are other vitamins in cabbage including vitamin K, vitamin A, and Folates. There is not enough Vitamin K to interact with the conventional drug, coumadin but I wouldn't eat excess cabbage either. These vitamins are known to protect the heart, control cholesterol and help maintain insulin blood levels. This can help prevent diabetes. But perhaps one of the most important things these vitamins do is to prevent diseases like cancer. Any leafy green vegetable contains cancer fighting agents.

Omega 3 acids are also a part of cabbage nutrition. Many cultures who consume a lot of Omega 3 acids are known to have little or no cardiovascular diseases or high blood pressure. Younger children can also benefit from eating cabbage because it promotes healthy development of the nerves, brain and eyes. There was a blog in March 2010 about the benefits of Fish.

Cabbage is naturally low in fat. So if you want a nutritious snack with lots of potential for healing that is low in fat--CONSUME CABBAGE. It contains a large amount of fiber which is beneficial for digestive health to maintain a healthy weight. Everyone seems to be seeking sources of fiber--I usually use cabbage as a fiber in addition to to ther fruits and vegetables. Although it is low calorie, it also contains carbohydrates.What vegetable doesn't contain carbohydrates? The answer is none. All fruits and vegetables contain carbohydrates. But, it is a lot better than consuming bread, pasta, and cake. Since the calorie count is so low, the carbohydrates simply give the person more energy throughout the day. Women with extreme cases of post menstrual syndrome and menopause issues who eat cabbage on a daily bases can get relief from their symptoms. Cabbage has an amount of natural estrogen found in many vegetables. People who suffer from breathing difficulties or asthma seem to do better when they eat cabbage and even depressed people can be cured by eating it. The vitamins associated with cabbage naturally raise serotonin levels to make a person happier.

Eating cabbage everyday is a great way to get most of your daily vitamins in one small, low calorie serving.

Until tomorrow…

AUGUST 2, 2023 BASIL

The plants in this world are a gift from your Higher Power. Love, Pray, water and nourish the plants.

Ocimum minimum is a charming plant in the pots on my patio in Black Rock CT As it blows in the wind, I glance at the other plants in the gardens. When I water the pots it is fragrant of lemon and spice. It is one of the varieties of basil, dwarf basil to be exact. All of the types of basil are popular flavoring herb. I haven't found any medicinal use as I study this herb. The basils are some of the most delightful of all seasoning herbs. I prefer Rosemary and Thyme. It has been said that the Romans thought one should curse and use profanity when sowing the basil to insure its germination. There is a French phrase meaning 'using abuse' -"semer le basile". Pliny, whom I read in Latin class says it is an aphrodisiac and was given to horses at the mating season. In my heritage land of Italy, women are said to wear basil because of its supposed efficacy in engendering sympathy. Perhaps this is why the Itaians are so sensitive and sympathetic to certain things. Bacon said, "It is strange which is reported that basil too much exposed to the sun doth turn into wild thyme"

In general, Basil (Ocimum basilicum) of the family Lamiaceae (mints), is a tender low-growing herb. Remember Lemon Balm, peppermint and spearmint are also in the Mint Family. As most of us know, Basil is a culinary herb prominently featured in Italian cuisine, and also plays a major role in the Southeast Asian cuisines of Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. The plant tastes somewhat like anise, with a strong, pungent, sweet smell. Besides the dwarf basil, there hare many varieties of basil. That which is used in Italian food is typically called sweet basil, as opposed to Thai basil, lemon basil and holy basil, which are used in Asia. While most common varieties of basil are treated as annuals, some are perennial in warm, tropical climates, including African Blue and Holy Thai basil.I thought basil was native to Italy. Of course I did, I am Italian. It is not! Basil is originally native to Iran, India and other tropical regions of Asia.

Until tomorrow…

AUGUST 1, 2023 MANDRAKE

I wanted to discuss a plant that is Holy. The Mandrake--the opposite of Holy --Mandragora officinarum. There are many legends with this plant. It is poisonous and should not be be considered in any form. The roots are thought to have hallucinogenic properties. I am discussing it because it is mentioned in the Bible. The mandrake is from the Family Solonaceae. The flowers are clusters of white to pale purple bell shaped flowers. I will never see a mandrake here. It is found in the southeastern Mediterranean.

From the Bible:
"The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved." Song of Solomon 7:13(KJW)

These plants are loaded with poisonous alkaloids. It is said that the flavor is sickeningly sweet, but will produce dizziness, madness and death if eaten. The Mandrake root is large, brown and rugged. Some say it resembles the human body. It is said to be used in love potions and incarnations. I cannot understand this if the plant kills. Well, maybe you do want to kill your lover. Or perhaps the lover of your partner.

Evil is said to fall upon anyone who digs up the root of a mandrake. The Jews tied their dogs to the root to pull out of the plant from the ground. This way bad luck would fall upon the dog and not the Master. How clever.

Do you remember seeing Mandrakes in Harry Potter

Even my beloved Shakespeare wrote about mandrake in Antony and Cleopatra:
Give me to drink mandragora
That I may sleep out this great gap of time
My Antony is away.

Until tomorrow…

JULY 31, 2023 LET'S GET WELL

I saw Let’s Get Well on my bookshelf at home I want to acknowledge Adele Davis.

Daisie Adelle Davis (25 February 1904 - 31 May 1974), popularly known as Adelle Davis, was an American author and nutritionist who became well known as an advocate for specific nutritional stances such as unprocessed food and vitamin supplementation. She gained prominence in the 1960s and 1970s with widespread media attention and became the most recognized nutritionist in the country.

Have   you ever eaten too much for dinner and  then had trouble falling asleep? You felt bloated  You couldn't fall asleep until 3 AM. This is sometimes the story I hear over and over again
You feel bloated . Then the acid reflux starts

Why did this happen in the first place ? Well you ate too late. As famous nutritionist, Adele Davis ( Lets Get Well) stated- You must eat breakfast like a king/queen, lunch like a price/princess and dinner like a pauper.
You might remember hearing about Mylanta - but that is a band aid to your problem. You need to change your dietary lifestyle . This starts the vicious cycle of cannot sleep, cannot concentrate and have headaches. You will start to see many specialists to treat these individual problems, which in reality is from the way you are eating. Do you want to get well ? Do you want to remain miserable every time you eat?


You need to make a change !

I would try the following recommendations for at least one week
1. Drink only water with your dinner
2. Eat slowly and chew carefully
3. Eat the foods you want, except carbohydrates and stop when you are full
4. Finish your meal at least a couple hours before bedtime . This seems like common sense but every one needs a little reminder now and then

Here are five rulers which I find important
1. Do not combine fruit with any other food eat fruit alone
2. Do not combine protein with a simple starch
3. Do not combine a breads, which is a simple carbohydrate with a protein
4. Drink only water with your dinner
5. After dinner do not eat anything until the next morning

 I feel the hardest part of this is the combination of protein and simple starch and protein with bread. Lets break it down into simpler terms This means no eat, fish, chicken or beans with white potatoes, pasta. Instead have these meats with freshly stemmed vegetables

So the next time you have this 3 am wake up feeling remember how you combined your foods. Food combining is very important. As Marion Nestle  " You Are What You Eat ."
I suggest you rotate your foods. This means what you eat on Monday you can also eat on Thursday, Tuesday choices will the same on Friday, and Wednesday meals will be the same on Saturday. This is a safe rotation dietary change

Until tomorrow…

JULY 27, 2023 OBESITY

The lack of access to proper nutrition is not only fueling obesity, it is leading to food insecurity and hunger among our children. --Tom Vilsack

Childhood obesity is best tackled at home through improved parental involvement, increased physical exercise, better diet and restraint from eating. --Bob Filner

Sundays growing up was a feast in my  home. The extended family came over as our Nanny and Poppy wanted all their children together. It always included bread, pasta, meatballs ( in gravy - red tomato sauce), a main dish, nut platters, fruit platters and then expresso/desert. Entirely too much food for one meal. And this was not the Holidays. I do as I get older miss those days !

I have learned that those refined carbohydrates have lead to family obesity and even death. Just because you were raised to eat this way...YOU DO NOT HAVE TO. Get smart .Be well informed about what you are eating.



1. Obesity affects 50 % of the American population

2. Fat should account for 20-25% in a healthy woman and 17- 19 % in a healthy man

3. At least one-third of Americans are 30% or more overweight

4. More than 60% of Americans are currenbtly on a diet.

5. More than 40 billion dollars is spent on diet aids alone

6. One in every 3 US teenagers are overweight putting them at risk as they get older

7. Obesity increases the risk of premature death, heart attacks, strokes ( and all other cardiovascular diseases) , gallbladder disease, osteoporosis and certain typoes of cancer

8. Apple shape in the mid section can indiucate a medical issue versus a pear shaped in the mid section

9. We have an obesity epidemic

THE FACT IS THAT AMERICA IS FAT.

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT.

MONEY SHOULD BE SPENT ON DISEASE PREVENTION WHICH PRIMARILY SHOULD INCLUDE DIETARY AND EXERCISE LIFESTYLE CHANGES

Until tomorrow...

JULY 26, 2023 GOOD HERBS TO HAVE

Elderberry has its primary benefits within antiviral and immune boosting categories. Elderberry has been used for generations as an herbal remedy. Ancient Greeks used elderberries as a vital part of their medicine cabinet. 

Elderberry has been studied for use in Influenza A and B, HIV, and upper respiratory infections. One study showed that elderberry can decrease the length of a cold. I don’t know about you, but I would do or take just about anything to shorten the length of any illness.  

Elderberry Tincture has a dosage of 10-30 drops 3 times daily I have 4 different varieties of elderberry trees in my yard. I recently got a new species. In the past 5 years I have made elderberry syrup. Now I buy quality herbal remedies as Supreme Nutrition, Gaia herbs or Herb Pharm

Another good herb is Black Walnut. Black Walnut is primarily used as an antiparasitic, but it also has antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral qualities. Used throughout history, black walnut has been used to remove parasites. A 2019 study concluded that Black Walnut could be utilized for inflammatory diseases as well. 

Black walnut, also known as Juglans nigra, comes from a hardwood tree found primarily on the East Coast. Native Americans used different parts of the bark, nut, and tree itself for medicinal purposes. 

Dose is 10-30 drops 3 times per day depending on the brand

Until tomorrow…

JULY 25, 2023 SYMPTOMS/ CAUSES OF IRON DEFCIIENCY

When someone is feeling tired I do these blood tests- complete blood count, thyroid levels, B12, iodine and vitamin D levels, and especially iron studies Iron is a crucial mineral our body requires for performing various functions. Iron is an element found in hemoglobin, a protein that helps capture oxygen from the lungs and transport it throughout the body. If the body does not have hemoglobin, the body muscles and tissues will not receive oxygen and perform their function effectively, causing anemia. Anemia is a health condition in which, due to iron deficiency, less iron is present in red blood cells.

For iron to be low you could have a blood disorder as thalassemia or even sickle cell. Moire common causes are an individual who doesn’t eat red meat Causes of an iron deficiency depend from individual to individual. Certain common causes include: 

1. Foremost the main reason may be due to a lack of intake of iron in your food. 

2. A person with inflammatory bowel disease 

3. During pregnancy, the iron demand in your body increases. 

4. Heavy blood loss during periods. 

   You can do something about your iron levels. You can eat more foods rich in iron as red meat, leafy greens and nuts and seeds You can take an iron supplement and even get iron intravenously by your physician. I usually advocate having 1 teaspoon of black stray molasses twice a week to boost your iron I also give yellow dock tea which absorbs more iron .

   Get your iron levels checked today It is important

   Until tomorrow…

JULY 24, 2023 CURB YOUR APPETITE

t is not easy to curb your appetite during the summer ! There are social gatherings, the beach and there are those delicious summer fruits Try to focus on what you eating while doing activities. It is important to focus on your food while eating. Most people eat their food while watching a T.V. show or while staring at their phones. Avoid this habit as it becomes difficult for your brain to register the signals. Studies show that being mindful while eating is important as your brain needs to register your food. Eating quickly or mindlessly will only make you want to eat more I eat nuts while I am stitching on the couch

I sometimes snack on dark chocolate Studies show that eating dark chocolate has a ton of benefits for those who wish to lose weight. The stearic acid present in dark chocolate slows down digestion which keeps you full for long

I always make sure I eat more protein. On my dinner plate I eat protein first, then vegetables and lasty the complex carbs

You can also use two herbs that reduce appetite . Ginger is a common spice found in most kitchens and is widely used for its health benefits. Ginger helps in reducing blood sugar levels, nausea, and muscle pain. Ginger also aids in reducing Appetite and controlling cravings. A study shows that regular consumption of 2 grams of ginger powder mixed with lukewarm water before breakfast reduces the cravings The other herb is gymnema . You can this herb in a lozenge and use it 30 minutes before a meal to suppress your appetite

Eat carefully. Eat smartly and reduce carbohydrates.

Until tomorrow…