The common green pea, which is the seed of the Pisum sativum plant, has been a staple food across the world for centuries. Indeed, archaeologists have found that peas were regularly consumed as far back as the late neolithic era of modern Syria, Turkey, Jordan, and Greece. Immature peas were also a popular food in medieval Europe, whose inhabitants often incorporated them into soups and gruel. Due to their small size, sweet taste, and starchy…
Along with radiation poisoning, heavy metal toxicity is one of the most pressing health issues of our time. Our environment is absolutely saturated with mercury, aluminum, lead, and other metals that constantly enter our bodies through the food we eat, the water we drink, the skies we pollute, and countless other ways. Unsurprisingly, such bioaccumulation is proven to possess a long-term threat to our mental and physiological health, prompting a growing number of health-minded individuals…
The robust and abundant cabbage, which is closely related to other leafy green vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower, has a long history as both a food and medicine. For example, the Ancient Greeks would routinely prescribe cabbage or cabbage juice to treat constipation or mushroom poisoning, while the Ancient Egyptians consumed cabbage before meals to lower the intoxicating effects of wine. The British even brought cabbage to the trenches of World War I, since its…
The cayenne pepper is the hot chili pepper of the Capsicum annuum plant, which is native to northern South America and southern North America. A nightshade fruit that is related to the bell pepper, jalapeno, and paprika, cayenne peppers are often dried and ground into a powder then used to prepare spicy meals. Many cultures also like to add them to cakes, chocolates, and even beverages. Despite their various uses in the kitchen, however, cayenne…
According to the Stanford Center for Sleep Sciences and Medicine, nearly 1 in 10 adults in the United States suffers from insomnia. Though most of these people suffer from short-term insomnia, many of them also suffer from chronic insomnia (i.e. difficulty falling or staying asleep for more than six months). Such sleep deprivation can significantly decrease the quality of one’s life. While stress related to work and family remains the number one cause of insomnia,…
