Posted in Wellness

Spanish conquerors of the Americas first learned of passion flower from pre-colonial (before 1492) people who traditionally used it as a sedative to treat insomnia and nervousness. They took passion flower to Europe where it became widely cultivated and was introduced to European folk medicine.  It became a popular traditional botanical medicine, as well as a homoeopathic remedy, for the relief of mild symptoms of mental stress, anxiety and mild sleep disorder. A number of species, incl...

Our internal body clock, called a circadian clock, tells us when we are ready to sleep. There are actually several circadian clocks in the body, found in the brain and other organs. They are triggered by cues such as daylight (we feel alert) and darkness (we feel drowsy). These clocks can also be triggered by artificial bright light or stimulants like caffeine and alcohol that cause us to feel awake even if it is nighttime. There are several phases of sleep our body experiences. They are c...

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...

Lavender is not only fragrant and pretty—it is edible. Lavender can offer a floral, herbal taste and aroma to many recipes, such as this delicately spiced beverage. Filled with chai tea, coffee, almond or coconut milk,  dried lavender flowers and just a touch of honey, you can enjoy this relaxing beverage as a much healthier option over many coffee shop latte drinks, which are often laden with sugar and high-fat additions that are high in calories. Ingred...

We all know exercise is good for us, but that still leaves plenty of questions. How much exercise? Who benefits the most? And when in our lives? New research led by University of Pittsburgh psychologists pools data from dozens of studies to answer these questions, showing that older adults may be able to prevent declines in a certain kind of memory by sticking to regular exercise. "Everyone always asks, 'How much should I be exercising? What's the bare minimum to see improvement...