Powerfully minty-fresh with a cool distinctive fragrance, peppermint oil is quickly becoming one of the most versatile essential oils in the world. The rapidly growing perennial plant native to Europe and Asia supports a wide range of health benefits due to the nutrient-rich compounds present in peppermint leaves.
The Jerusalem artichoke is neither an artichoke nor has it any connection to Jerusalem. It is the tuber at the root of a flowering plant of the aster family and is native to North America. The flower is similar to the sunflower and the tuber, much like that of ginger, with a texture of a potato. In 1585, Sir Walter Raleigh came upon the plant cultivated by the area peoples of Virginia.
Recovering from a drug addiction is one of the hardest things for a person to do—especially when you’re feeling depressed and looking for something to help improve your mood.
Join Basmati.com every week for a Q&A session with one of Basmati’s practitioners, Melissa Hill (FDN-P)! We know that there is a lot of confusing information out there, which can make applying health advice overwhelming. Sometimes, it’s best to ask a practitioner directly, so each week we’ll cover a common health question!
The artichoke has origins in the Mediterranean basin. It is a member of the thistle family and evolved from the cardoon plant. It is the bud part of the plant before it flowers, which is edible. It is composed of triangular scales around the central choke known as the heart and only the lower half or fleshy part of each scale can be eaten, but the heart is the most delectable part of the artichoke. The immature bud can be eaten in its entirety.
Arugula is also known as “rocket” and is originally a Eurasian cruciferous plant related to cauliflower, kale, and mustard. It grows wild in Asia and the Mediterranean basin and takes its name from the Latin term “eurca,” meaning caterpillar, because of the plant’s hairy stems.
I first discovered purslane while pulling weeds from my garden. The plant was succulent-like, with thick padded leaves, brightly colored red stems, and tiny yellow flowers. I inspected it closer. It looked like a vegetable I had seen sold at the farmer’s market and so, with a few stems in hand, I went to my computer to investigate.
Wheat berries are the true whole wheat. They are the complete grain that contains the bran, germ and endosperm. They can be grown into wheat grass, ground into flour or used as side dishes and in salads. They are rich in nutrients, making wheat berries a superfood that benefits the entire body. Wheat berries have several varieties; the Hard Red Spring and Hard Red Winter have a brown tint and are high in protein.
Honey is a wholesome, sticky, syrup that is naturally created by bees. It is a popular commodity, often overly-processed, packaged, and sold commercially in almost every grocery store. Many people buy processed honey, but is the pasteurized stuff really all that great? Read on to find out why you should try to avoid purchasing processed honey.
Reason 1: Processed honey often contains added ingredients.
With the season of spring comes new life and beautiful growth! The allergies that can come with the season, on the other hand, are not so beautiful. People often experience such issues as runny nose, sneezing, coughing, and wheezing. Most conventional allergy medicine today can cause unwanted side effects. Thankfully there are herbs out there for just about anything that ails you, including seasonal allergies. Finding the right ones is key to alleviating those symptoms that can cause you discomfort and misery.