HEALTH CORNER

Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

 ~ Matthew 11:28

Did you know the word "Sleep" is mentioned 107 in the Bible? Sleep is so essential to life, that laboratory animals deprived of sleep die. And humans don't seem to be immune to the life-threatening effects of sleeplessness either...

HEALTH CORNER

THE POWER OF HONEY   
PART II  ~ CINNAMON and HONEY

Last issue we featured the benefits of cinnamon alone in Health Corner. This issue we are adding to that with the power of HONEY...

HEALTH CORNER: CINNAMON: Not Just for Sticky Buns!

Did you know that Cinnamon can be beneficial in everything from lowering blood sugar to weight loss to healing pimples? 

It's true...  

Cinnamon is a small evergreen tree belonging to the family Lauraceae, native to Sri Lanka[1]. Known from remote antiquity, Cinnamon was the first mention of a particular spice in the Old Testament, when Moses was commanded to use both sweet cinnamon (Hebrew קִנָּמוֹן, qinnāmôn) and cassia in the holy anointing oil. In Proverbs, the lover's bed is perfumed with myrrh, aloe and cinnamon. And, in Song of Solomon, the writer described the beauty of his beloved as "cinnamon scents her garments like the smell of Lebanon." It was so highly prized among ancient nations that it was regarded as a gift fit for monarchs and even for a god. Though its source was kept mysterious in the Mediterranean world for centuries by the middlemen who handled the spice trade, to protect their monopoly as suppliers. 

Cinnamon was imported to Egypt as early as 2000 BC. Those who report Cinnamon comes from China confuse it with cassia.[7] It is also alluded to by Herodotus and other classical writers. Too expensive to be commonly used on funeral pyres in Rome, the Emperor Nero is said to have flaunted his wealth by burning a year's worth of the city's supply at the funeral for his wife Poppaea Sabina in AD 65.

PLEASE NOTE: What is sold as Cinnamon in the US is actually Cassia. A chemical called coumarin in Cassia could be toxic. So when you buy Cinnamon make sure it is real Cinnamon and not Cassia. (CLICK LINK BELOW TO COMPARE, also view the Wikipedia article, for the difference between Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum, synonym C. zeylanicum) and Cassia (Cinnamomum aromaticum, synonym C. cassia. Below link also has true organic cinnamon for purchase) http://www.ceylon-cinnamon.com/Identify-Cinnamon.htm

ADDITIONAL READINGS:

Brief History of Cinnamon:

American Botanical Council, articles on Cinnamon:

Cinnamon's impact on Lower Blood Glucose and Cholesterol: 

RESOURCES:

(A) Wikipedia article has extensive references and links, and should be read to fully understand the difference between Cassia and Cinnamon: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinnamomum_verum

(B)  http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/10-health-benefits-of-cinnamon.html

STAY TUNED FOR PART II IN NEXT QUARTER'S ISSUE: 
 "The Power of Cinnamon & Honey"

 

HEALTH CORNER - How To Eat Fruit Properly

Most people think that eating fruit along with their main meals is a good way to stay healthy. Without properly understanding the body's digestive cycle over a 24-hour period, you may be consuming fruit in a manner that will not bring you any real nutritional benefit. Having lots of fruit with your main meals or eating it, as a desert after meals is not the way fruit should be eaten. In fact consuming fruit on a full stomach causes the entire meal to rot, ferment and turn to acid. The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach and digestive juices, the entire mass begins to spoil.

In order for your body to get the maximum benefit of eating fruit you should follow the guidelines given below:

• Always eat fruit on an empty stomach. You can do this at any time during the day, as long as it is on an empty stomach. It is also a good practice to consume mainly fruit before noon, as this will help complete the body’s elimination process.
• 
  After eating fruit, you should leave around 30 minutes before consuming any foods besides fruit.


• 
  Wait at least three hours after a meal before you eat any fruit. This will ensure that the previous meal has left the stomach and putrefaction and fermentation of that meal in the stomach can be avoided.


• 
  Never eat fruit along with other foods. Fruit should only be eaten on its own.
  Never eat fruit as a desert, after a meal.


• 
  Avoid fruits like bananas and avocados in the morning because they are heavy foods and tax the digestive system. These can be eaten after noon when the body is in the appropriate digestive cycle for such foods. Also avoid combining different kinds of fruit like watermelon, grapes, or strawberries with any other fruit.


• 
  If you feel hunger during the morning, eat fruit and you can keep eating portions of fruit until your blood sugar level goes back to normal, resulting in your hunger disappearing.


• 
  If possible, eat only organic fruit.


• 
  Avoid processed, cooked, or canned fruit. These contain large amounts of sugars, additives and other undesirables. Additionally cooking fruits destroys all the vitamins.

Fruit is digested in the intestine and not in the stomach. It is also rapidly digested and goes through the digestive system in around half an hour. The brain runs on glucose and fruit is the most efficient source of blood sugar. With sufficient fruit consumption your blood sugar levels normalize, allowing your body's hunger mechanism to be properly regulated and thus avoid over-eating and obesity.

…SO HERE ARE A FEW HEALTHY FRUIT FACTS:

KIWI: Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E, and fiber. Its vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.

APPLE: An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low vitamin C content, it has antioxidants and flavonoid, which enhances the activity of vitamin C, thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack and stroke.

STRAWBERRY: Protective Fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits and protect the body from cancer causing, blood vessel-clogging free radicals.

ORANGE: Sweetest medicine, eating 2 to 4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessens the risk of colon cancer.

WATERMELON: Coolest thirst quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene - the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are vitamin C and potassium.

GUAVA & PAPAYA: Top awards for vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene; this is good for your eyes.

HEALTH CORNER

Living With Diabetes:

WHAT IS IT? Simply, diabetes is a disease in which the body is unable to produce or unable to properly use and store glucose (a form of sugar). Glucose backs up in the bloodstream — causing one’s blood glucose or "sugar" to rise too high.

WHO GETS IT? Diabetes can occur in anyone. However, people who have close relatives with the disease, who are obese, have high cholesterol or high blood pressure, and who do not exercise are at a greater risk. That risk increases, as people grow older. People who are over 40 are more likely to develop diabetes, although the incidence of type 2 diabetes in adolescents is growing. Also, women who develop diabetes while pregnant (a condition called gestational diabetes) are more likely to develop full-blown diabetes later in life.

Diabetes is more common among Native Americans, African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders. Though African Americans are 1.6 times more likely to have diabetes as non-Hispanic whites. Twenty-five percent of African Americans between the ages of 65 and 74 have diabetes, and one in four African American women over 55 years of age has diabetes

HOW DO I CREATE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE WITH DIABETES

EXERCISE REGULARLY: If you have specific health concerns you should consult your doctor before beginning any exercise regime, however some good choices are: aerobic exercise, water aerobics, walking, even dancing.

EAT HEALTHY MEALS: Healthy eating includes eating a wide variety of foods including vegetables, whole grains, fruits, non-fat dairy products, beans, and lean meats, poultry and fish. There is no one perfect food so including a variety of different foods and watching portion sizes is key to a healthy diet, as well as eating at the same time everyday. Also, make sure your choices from each food group provide the highest quality nutrients you can find. In other words, pick foods rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber over those that are processed. People with diabetes can eat the same foods the family enjoys. Everyone benefits from healthy eating so the whole family can take part in the same meal plan.

MONITOR YOUR BLOOD SUGARS regularly each day, and keep regular appointment with your doctor to help you manage your disease.

HEALTH CORNER - Drinking Water

YOU’RE NOT SICK, YOUR BODY’S JUST THIRSTY..

The human body is composed of 25 percent solid matter and 75 percent water. So we should begin to realize that in the same way we have a “hunger pain” signal, we also have a “thirst pain” signal in the body. It is unfortunate that indigestion is treated with all sorts of medication when it is most likely the outcome of not enough water.

There are a lot of non-prescription slow poisons that one can buy even in supermarkets to treat. However, what we really need is water. Water is probably the most effective substance we can feed our bodies. Other health problems that will be improved by drinking proper amounts of water are: rheumatoid arthritis pain, low back pain, neck pain, headaches, high blood pressure, and high blood cholesterol. To learn more about how you can heal your body with water read: “Your Body’s Many Cries for Water” by F. Batmanghelidj, MD (ISBN 0-9629942-3-5 (paper back edition)). Here’s to a life filled with substance and meaning and good health!

HEALTH CORNER

It’s a brand new year. Consider

taking this opportunity to make a commitment to take better care of yourself. Did you know that there is a little green plant that can revolutionize your life? It’s called Chlorella, a microscopic freshwater single-celled green algae that has a strong outer cell wall and has the ability to rapidly reproduce itself into 4 new cells every 20 to 24 hours.

So what does that mean in plain language? Chlorella is a powerful nutrient-dense super food. It contains 60% protein, 18 amino acids (including all the essentials amino acids), and various vitamins and minerals. When taken on a regular bases it rebuilds your health by rebuilding your cells from the inside out. Chlorella is extremely high in chlorophyll content. In fact, chlorella contains the highest amount of chlorophyll of any known plant, and that’s why it does such a great job feeding the human cells.

You can purchase “Sun Chlorella” (brand name) at The Vitamin Shoppe on Route 22 or visit their website at: http://www.sunchlorellausa.com to learn more. Here’s to better health in 2009!