food as medicine

The first time I encountered the stinging nettle, I was unaware. I met its dark green leaves at a friend’s house (a friend who has a definite imp on her shoulder) and she asked me to touch them. Unsuspectingly and whole-heartedly I did, to a hand that felt it had just been stung by a million different bugs. Admittedly, it’s not very painful, but it does leave you with a buzzy feeling of ants walking down your veins. However, the rather prickly exterior of this plant hides many benefits within.

Mushroom coffee is a blend of coffee and dehydrated mushroom powder. Why mushrooms, you ask? Because these mushrooms have many health and healing properties that can upgrade your morning beverage, increasing your ability to handle the stressors of your day. Some of the amazing benefits are that they can boost your immune system, give you sustained natural energy, relieve stress, help you focus, improve athletic performance, improve respiratory and liver function, fight cancer and tumors, are anti-viral, reduce hypertension, and can lower cholesterol.

Some things are hailed as “superfoods” only to get debunked when further research is done. Other foods bounce on and off the good-for-you list—one week you’re enjoying them and the next you’re avoiding them. With all the confusion surrounding healthy eating, trying anything with so much hype surrounding it can be intimidating.

Honey is not only a delicious sweetener, it has long been used for its medicinal properties. Not all honey, however, is the same. Harvesting methods, as wells as the source of honey itself, determines the potency of effectiveness when it comes to healing powers. One of the most effective in the honey world is Manuka honey.

Cranberries are more than just the lumpy, coagulated red side dish on your Thanksgiving dinner table, and certainly more than the name of a 90s rock band. These acidic red berries do more for your health, and perhaps more for your taste buds, than you think. Read on to find out why it’s worth it to take a second look at cranberries.

You might think of mochi as the neon-green or fluorescent pink-colored ice cream treat popular at Japanese restaurants, but mochi is a traditional Japanese food that has been eaten for hundreds of years. While once considered a "Food for the Gods," mochi remains a talisman of prosperity and luck in Japanese culture–especially during New Year's celebrations. While sweet mochi is delicious as a treat, the more traditional brown rice or glutinous rice mochi makes a satisfying and healthy snack. Here's why:

Most of us have been sucked into the ‘eat small meals more frequently’ advice given out by dieticians, nutritionists and the media in equal order, with varied results. However, new research points out that frequent snacking and small meals may be more of a hindrance than a help!

Not only is it citrus season, but it's February, and that means it's National Grapefruit Month! I was surprised to find out that grapefruit had its own month of celebration, but why shouldn't it? Grapefruits are packed full of vitamins, they taste amazing, and they're a quick fix to a healthy breakfast. In honor of the grapefruit, here are eleven fun facts why you should celebrate and eat grapefruit all month!

“You are what you eat” may not be the literal truth, but your diet can certainly influence your appearance. Eating different foods (and drinking certain beverages) can help your skin become clear, glowing, and healthy from the inside out. Try a few of these delicious dietary additions to give your skin the boost it needs.

Stinging Nettle Leaf sounds a little scary, but never fear — all it wants to do is take care of you. Here is why you need this all-purpose herb in your life.