heart health

Yoga Inversions: The Upside To Upside Down Poses

Most of us have tried our hand at yoga at some point in life. It may have been a college fad, or a newbie job one. Or it may have been something far more health-oriented and passion-driven. So let’s talk a little about yoga asanas today and that too of a specific kind.

 

Superfood 101: Bell Peppers!

Bell peppers are a member of the family Solanaceae or Potato family of the genus Capsicum L. or pepper P containing four species. The plant is known by its scientific name capsicum and is commonly called sweet pepper. The name bell pepper was derived from the shape of the fruit. Though in the genus Capsicum, bell peppers do not contain capsicum, a substance that produces the heat in peppers.

5 Ways To Truly Live Agelessly

Last month, an article published by NPR suggested that in many cases, seniors can have hearts that look 30 years younger than their age. In fact, the study on which this was based demonstrated that people who had been exercising throughout their lives had muscles that matched those of 25-year-olds; participants in the study were 75.

6 Herbs For Healthy Teeth & Gums

Healthy teeth don’t just make us look good.  Our teeth and gums are critical for health.  We obviously need our teeth for chewing so that we can break down food in one of the most important steps in the digestive process.  Inadequately chewed food leads to many problems down the line.  But, did you know that the

Superfood 101: Tamarind!

Tamarind is a member of the family Fabaceae ⁄ Leguminosae or Pea family of the genus Tamarindus L., commonly known as tamarind, containing the species Tamarindus indica L. or tamarind. The tree is native to Africa and was introduced to southern Asia in 2000 B.C.E. and arrived in the Americas in the 16th century.

Superfood 101: Jaboticaba!

Jaboticaba is a member of the family yrtaceae or Myrtle family of the genus Myrciaria Berg, also known as guava berry, containing the species Myrciaria cauliflora (Mart.) O. Berg or jaboticaba. The plant is native to Brazil and is also known as the Brazilian grape tree. For millennia the native peoples used jaboticaba as a snack and for making wine. Its nutritional value has made this fruit a valuable tool in their healing arsenal.

The Botanical Dog: 4 Heart Herbs For A Healthy Hound

Did you know that at least 10% of the dogs in the U.S. suffer from heart disease?  The rate is even higher in elderly dogs (my old chihuahua has the beginnings of congestive heart failure), and in certain breeds.  Breeds with a susceptibility to heart issues include chihuahuas, along with basset hounds, lab retrievers, German shepherds, golden retrievers, boxers, rottweilers and others.  If you have one of those breeds, it’s not a bad idea to start support early and, of course, to make sure your dog is checked out by the vet regularly. 

How Heat Heals

We like to wistfully muse about our lives. To play with the concept of this—literally—self-contained unit of time. This line of thinking has been called introspection, reflection, egocentrism, existentialism…I spent a considerable amount of time inside this line of thinking when I was in school. Whenever I would share my thoughts with friends or classmates I’d inevitably get “whoa, that's so deep man” in reply, and not much else. This irked me to no end. Yet, their disinterest had meaning in and of itself. How was running on this proverbial hamster wheel at all relevant to daily life?

Superfood 101: Sapoti!

Sapoti is a member of the family Sapotaceae or Sapodilla family of the genus Sapota Mill., also known as sapota P, containing the species Sapota zapotilla (Jacq.) Cov. or manilkara zapota P. The plant is also called pouteria sapota, mamey sapote, marmalade tree, red mamey, and zapote. Sapoti is native to some islands in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America.

Superfood 101: Pitanga (Surinam Cherry)!

Pitanga is a member of the family Myrtaceae or Myrtle family of the genus Eugenia L., also known as stopper P, containing the species Eugenia uniflora L., commonly named Surinam cherry P. The plant is native to the tropical regions of South America and was brought to India from Brazil by the Portuguese. It is also known as Surinam cherry.