Along with the single-celled green algae chlorella, spirulina is one of the most widely-studied foods on the planet. In fact, studies in the last decade alone have shown that the regular consumption of spirulina can enhance brain function, improve white blood cell count, stimulate antibodies, boost liver health, and more. Spirulina can also help remedy almost any nutrient deficiency due to its incomparable concentrations of vitamins and minerals. A study published in the March-April 2014…
Oil pulling is a process of swishing an edible oil around the mouth for between 10 and 20 minutes, ideally upon awakening, for detoxification purposes. Its origins lie in the Ayurveda, the ancient healing system of India, and countless people from all backgrounds swear by it. In fact, if one believes the online reports written by those with first-hand experience of oil pulling, there doesn’t seem to be any condition that it can’t at least…
Few foods can beat maca root when it comes to improving stamina and physical performance. In fact, this nutritious tuber, which is native to the Andes of South America, was the Incas’ primary source of energy, and it remains a popular natural alternative to anabolic steroids among many of today’s athletes. Studies have also shown that maca root can help rebalance hormones, decrease total cholesterol, and treat constipation. It is even a rare example of…
For centuries, shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes) have been utilized as a medicine in their native East Asia. Traditional Chinese medicine, for instance, would commonly prescribe shiitake for people suffering from upper respiratory disease, poor blood circulation, and fatigue. In Japan, shiitake were beloved for their anti-aging properties. And Europeans, who have rigorously studied shiitake under the microscope since they first arrived on the continent, appreciate their impressive cholesterol lowering and weight loss properties. However, an…
In 2008, an American writer and explorer named Dan Buettner published a book entitled The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who’ve Lived the Longest. This book, which was an extension of a report Buettner wrote for National Geographic in 2005 about longevity, contained information about five regions in the world in which people lived for an unusually long time (often over 100 years, as proven by verifiable birth certificates). These five…
