Posted in Food as Medicine

  Chronic constipation is a condition that may present with a range of unpleasant abdominal symptoms for patients. One of the ways to achieve symptom relief is by using natural treatment options. A recent study compared the effectiveness of kiwifruit, psyllium and prunes in patients diagnosed with chronic constipation. What is chronic constipation? Chronic constipation can be broadly defined as ‘unsatisfactory defecation, characterised by infrequent stools, difficult stool passa...

Oatmeal is one the most underrated and inconspicuous whole grains.  It is often regarded as a super food because of its ability to affect our health and wellness in a variety of different ways.  Personally I enjoy steel cut oatmeal at breakfast most days of the week.  I find oatmeal to be satisfying yet not too filling, easy to prepare and it staves off my hunger and snacking triggers throughout my morning. Steel cut oats (also known as Irish Oats or Coarse Ground Oats) inclu...

The glycaemic index is a tool that’s often used to promote better blood sugar management. Several factors influence the glycaemic index of a food, including its nutrient composition, cooking method, ripeness, and the amount of processing it has undergone. The glycaemic index can not only help increase your awareness of what you’re putting on your plate, but also enhance weight loss, decrease your blood sugar levels, and reduce your cholesterol.  The glycaemic index (GI) is...

Coconut oil is very different from most other cooking oils and contains a unique composition of fatty acids. The fatty acids are about 90% saturated. But coconut oil is perhaps most unique for its high content of the saturated fat lauric acid, which makes up around 40% of its total fat content  This makes coconut oil highly resistant to oxidation at high heat. For this reason, it is very suitable for high-heat cooking methods like frying  Coconut oil is relatively rich in medium-...

This “Eye Pie” recipe is not made with a traditional white flour crust but contains all the hearty comforts of a pot pie filling. The veggies inside are selected for their lutein content, which is especially supportive for eye health, and in lieu of a crust, it’s topped with a zeaxanthin-rich cornbread layer. If supporting eye health by eating a delicious, comforting meal sounds good to you, click here for the recipe.  Lutein and zeaxanthin are powerful antioxidants fo...

Cherries, along with many other berries, are a rich source of antioxidants, especially anthocyanins. They help prevent or repair the damage that is done to the body’s cells by free radicals. Queritrin–a flavonoid–is rich in tart cherries, and has been found by researchers to be one of the most potent anticancer agents. Cherries also contain ellagic acid, a naturally occurring plant phenolic known as an anti-carcinogenic/anti-mutagenic compound. Some researchers say that ella...