Friday, August 28, 2009

Wheat grass juice

I am all in favor of keeping it natural; natural foods, natural herbs all things natural. However, let's be real. Face it-tornadoes and poison ivy are also natural. So, once in a while there is a problem with natural. Just this week there was a gentleman who tried wheat grass juice for the first time. As it happened, this man is 85 years old with chronic kidney problems (he sees a nephrologist regularly) and diabetes. His daughter (who is into health foods) offered him a small cup of fresh wheat grass juice. The next thing he knew, he became dizzy and weak. He checked his blood sugar with a glucometer (or blood glucose meter) and discovered that it was off the charts high. Possibly this was due to a high content of carbohydrates and potassium affecting his blood sugar and kidneys. Moral of the story? Always be careful in selecting new foods, nutraceuticals and supplements especially if you have chronic illnesses.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Aphrodisiacs

Oyster aphrodisiac


Bing

This is the second article in a series on aphrodisiacs. In the first article it was explained that an aphrodisiac is a substance that can purportedly increase sexual desire. Additionally, because desire is a mental process/emotion, drugs like Viagra which work on a physical basis alone (per claims of the manufacturer) do not fit the true definition of aphrodisiac. Of course, it can not be denied that if people have an expectation for sex and a purple pill is popped at the right time, the expected activity may certainly result.

Oysters are among the oldest and most commonly utilized aphrodisiacs available. In fact , the word aphrodisiac is derived from Greek mythology. Specifically, it comes from the goddess Aphrodite. The story states that the goddess came from the ocean perched upon an oyster shell and that she gave birth to Eros, god of desire. There is also the ancient belief that foods that resemble certain body parts stimulate or enhance those parts. An example of this would be walnuts and the brain. A walnut cracked in half reveals a geography startlingly similar to the human brain. Further, modern science has found walnuts to contain vitamin E which is essential for sexual and reproductive health.

Oysters resemble female genitalia. They also have a sensuous feel. When taken on the half shell with a glass of wine, might this not be a true elixir? And similarly, like walnuts containing nutrients that are good for the brain, oysters contain nutrients which are essential for reproductive health. Specifically, oysters contain zinc. The highest concentration of zinc in humans is in the prostate gland which helps to produce semenal fluid. Might this contribute to enhanced desire? Zinc is also necessary for the production of testosterone. Other nutrients found in oysters are certain amino acids which have been found to stimulate the nervous system and increase sex hormones in lab experiments with rats.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Ginger prevents motion sickness and relieves upset stomach

I have used ginger (Zingiber Officinale) extensively in my holistic practice. It is one of the safest herbs available and can be quite effective in preventing motion sickness and relieving upset stomach. It can also improve digestion. Research has shown that ginger can help prevent vomiting. Many of my cancer patients who have undergone chemotherapy derive great benefit from ginger. Many are relieved to go off their antiemetic (prevents vomiting) meds and instead relax with a cup of ginger tea. Simply pour boiling water over about 1 gram (about 1/3 teaspoon) of freshly cut pieces of ginger and strain after 5 minutes. It is also possible to purchase capsules in a health food store. Total dose for the prepared ginger is between 2 and 4 grams.