By Joan McDaniel May 11, 2013
I don’t know about eating a Yam-a-Day, but it is certainly has more vitamins like Beta-Carotene (Vitamin A), B vitamins, and Potassium then the other One-A-Day advertised product.
One-a-day
A sweet potato provides a natural source for vitamins and is certainly better absorbed by the body. Now I am not talking about the candied yam like the one anticipated at Thanksgiving dinner. I mean a plain boiled, baked or steamed Sweet Potato. The Sweet potato is sweet enough on its own. And if you keep the skin on, it is also high in fiber. The sweet potato is a starch and a carb but a vegetable carb. There are good carbs and bad carbs. Wheat both white and brown bread, rice, white or brown are considered bad carbs and Vegetable carbs are considered good carbs.
I mean a simple boiled or steamed Yam.
Blood Sugar Benefits
The Sweet Potato is not only considered a good carb it is actually good for blood sugar regulation. Many people think about starchy root vegetables as a food group that could not possibly be helpful for controlling their blood sugar. That’s because many people realize that food starches can be converted by our digestive tract into simple sugars. If foods are especially concentrated in starch, there can often be a risk of too much simple sugar release in our digestive tract and too much pressure upon our bloodstream to uptake more sugar. (The result in this situation would be an overly quick elevation of our blood sugar level.) What’s fascinating about sweet potatoes is their ability to actually improve blood sugar regulation—even in persons with type 2 diabetes.
Also note it is important to consume 3-5 grams of saturated or poly-saturated fat along with your sweet potato to reduce the carb and increase the full beta-carotene benefit. Include a fat like Olive-oil, coconut oil or other good fat.
White Potato is good but not as good as the Sweet Potato
The white potato is a good carb also but a little light when it comes to vitamins. Whether mashed, baked or roasted, people often consider potatoes as comfort food. It is an important food staple and the number one vegetable crop in the world. Potatoes are available year-round as they are harvested somewhere every month of the year.
The potato belongs to the Solanaceae or nightshade family whose other members include tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, and tomatillos. Potatoes are called tubers for they form a part of the root system under the soil.
When you compare the benefits of the sweet potato vs. the white potato the sweet potato wins hands down.
Picture credit http://health.yahoo.net/articles/nutrition/food-face
Higher Fiber twice as much fiber as other types of potatoes.
Nutrition Daily Value % 1 Cup
White Potato Sweet Potato
Fiber 15% 29%
Manganese 19% 28% Great antioxidant plus
Potassium 26% 15% helps lower blood pressure
Vitamin A — 438% Beta Carotene
Vitamin B6 27% 61% helps keep walls of blood vessels flexible for healthy blood flow.
Vitamin C 28% 37% Rich in Vitamin E also
Some Sweet potato History
Sweet potatoes are native to Central America and are one of the oldest vegetables known to man. They have been consumed since prehistoric times as evidenced by sweet potato relics dating back 10,000 years that have been discovered in Peruvian caves.
Christopher Columbus brought sweet potatoes to Europe after his first voyage to the New World in 1492. By the 16th century, they were brought to the Philippines by Spanish explorers and to Africa, India, Indonesia and southern Asia by the Portuguese.
The Sweet Potato was introduced and grown in the Southern United States during the Civil War. George Washington Carver and the Tuskegee Institute, introduced the peanut plus other cash crops like the sweet potato to be cultivated in the south to replace the soil destroying cotton. It not only provided revenue, but a nutritional loaded food for the farmer to support their selves. The sweet potato is popular in the south to this day. The Americans gave the name “yam” to the orange-fleshed American grown sweet potato to distinguish it from other sweet potatoes.
Sweet potatoes are a featured food in many Asian and Latin American cultures. Today, the main commercial producers of sweet potatoes include China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan, India and Uganda.
The Sweet Potato has over a thousand species
The edible tuberous root is long and tapered, with a smooth skin whose color ranges between beige, brown, orange, purple, red and yellow. Its flesh ranges from beige through orange, pink, purple, red, violet, white, and yellow. Sweet potato varieties with white or pale yellow flesh are less sweet and moist than those with red, pink or orange flesh. Also note; the fresher the potato is the softer the skin. A potato fresh from the farmer’s field is soft, a potato that has been sitting in a bin for some time is hard and tough to eat.
The sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is a dicotyledonous plant that belongs to the family Convolvuaceae. Its large, starchy, sweet-tasting, tuberous roots are a root vegetable. The young leaves and shoots are sometimes eaten as greens. You cannot eat the white potatoes plants leaves but you can eat the sweet potatoes. The sweet potato is only distantly related to the potato (Solanum tuberosum) and does not belong to the nightshade family.
South Carolina Sweet potato Vine
The genus Ipomoea that contains the sweet potato also includes several garden flowers called morning glories.
Some suggestions.
- Sweet potatoes don’t have to take a long time to prepare. Cutting them into 1/2-inch slices and Healthy Steaming them for just 7 minutes not only brings out their great flavor but helps to maximize their nutritional value. And you can add cinnamon, nutmeg, and/or cloves for extra flavor and nutrition.
- It is important to consume 3-5 grams of saturated or poly-unsaturated fat along with your sweet potato to reduce the carb and increase the full beta-carotene benefit. Include a fat like Olive-oil, coconut oil or other good fat.
- Steaming is the Healthiest Way to cook the sweet potato, but boiling or roasting have shown to also have good blood sugar effects.
- The Sweet potato is an excellent source of fiber if eaten with the skin on but the fresher the potato is the softer the skin. A potato fresh from a farmer’s field is soft, a potato that has been sitting in a bin for some time is hard and tough to eat.
A Special note about George Washington Carver 
George Washington Carver is famous for the introduction of the peanut as a profitable cash crop in the south to replace cotton. Growing Cotton destroyed the soil and to be profitable more and more land had to be planted. But what has been forgotten is – he also introduced other cash crops such as soybeans and the sweet potato. These crops allowed the newly freed slave to grow their own nutritional loaded food and support themselves by farming a cash crop.
Brief history of George Washington Carver
His exact birthday is not known, he is believed to have been born into slavery in Missouri in January 1864. He died on January 5, 1943. What is known about Carver, is his reputation and invention and research into farming and growing crops. In 1896 Booker T. Washington first principal and president of the Tuskegee Institute invited Carver to head its Agriculture Department. Carver taught there for 47 years, He taught methods of crop rotation, introduced several alternative cash crops for farmers that would also improve the soil of areas heavily cultivated in cotton, initiated research into crop products (chemurgy), and taught generations of black students farming techniques for self-sufficiency.
Videos from food channel
Sweet potatoes – nutritional powerhouses
http://www.therealfoodchannel.com/videos/healthy-foods/sweet-potatoes—-nutritional-powerhouses.html
Sweet potatoes in the developing world
http://www.therealfoodchannel.com/videos/healthy-foods/sweet-potatoes-in-the-developing-world.html
Sources
http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=64
http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=48
http://health.yahoo.net/articles/nutrition/food-face
http://www.naturalnews.com/035739_sweet_potatoes_beta-carotene_nutrients.html
http://www.wehealny.org/healthinfo/dietaryfiber/fibercontentchart.html
http://www.naturalfoodbenefits.com/display.asp?CAT=2&ID=60
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/999.html
By Joan McDaniel April 26, 2013
Folk Medicine continued
This is my second post on Alternate medicine, civilizations and traditions. Americas practiced Homeopathy medicine before the 1930s. It rested on tradition and philosophy. The Rockefeller Foundations and its unlimited funds created what we now know as Modern medicine. Heavily financed, patient profit guaranteed, scientific business would become the new American medical profession. It would be based on chemicals, chemistry, pharmacology, and science. It uses pharmacologically active agents or physical interventions to treat or suppress symptoms or pathophysiologic process of diseases or conditions. It ignores body function and focuses on organ function.
I am recovering from being very sick and I have found many others along the way with the same story. Researching what causes illness has many concluding – it is life style and what you eat that made you ill. Modern medicine ignored me and could not help. Like myself, these people have found solutions and have “regain control of their health”. People have “cured themselves” from some pretty nasty diseases including terminal cancer.
Grandma Talked About
It seems to me the general public is getting sicker, disease is increasing like antibiotic resistant super bugs, Auto Immune disorders, Alzheimer’s, ADHD, dementia, depression, diabetes, food allergies, cancer, Heart problems, immune suppressed disease, and obesity to list a few. People are asking questions. They are returning to their tradition – the system Grandma talked about – the systems that have worked for over 6,000 years – and finding healthy solutions like I did.
Allopathy Medicine 
Allopathy was a term coined by doctors of homeopathy to refer to all forms of medication which are not considered alternative medicine. The modern allopathic doctor is taught to see the human body as a collection of organs that have independent function. They use Pharmaceuticals, and Lab test never really asking or caring how you feel or what you eat. The Pharmaceuticals have a huge list of nasty side effects, and the labs see only part of the picture but a very extensive list of profitable Pharmaceutical Patents. Today’s Doctor, also called, allopathic, modern, or western have little if any training in nutrition, hands on, or natural medicine and homeopathic medicine. A new scientific medicine was to be created concentrating on scientific solutions. This new approach replaced the well-established homeopathic Colleges and institutions all over the country.
These Doctors are the people who spend a fortune going to Medical School at some famous “Teaching Hospital”. Yet the field of Nutrition isn’t even an educational requirement. Today’s well educated Doctor is taught to turn toward the profit making patented medication, not our traditional teaching or Herbal remedies.
Folk Medicine has become Alternate medicine
Since the start of time, generations of civilizations have passed on life saving remedies and folk traditions. Every civilization had an elder or spiritual leader, who specialized in medical remedies. This knowledge was passed on to the next generation. Some traditions go back over 6,000 years. The knowledge was written down but in most cases it was verbally communicated in the form of things my Grandparents told me. Traditions using self-applied health enhancement methods (SAHEM). Below is a list of some of these traditions. I am writing this for I am afraid we are losing the concept of Folk medicine.
Some civilization traditional medicine
As I have listed in previous posts there are many traditional arts some of them are – African medicine, Alternative, Acupuncture, Atkins diet, Ayurveda, biofeedback, Biology-based practices, Breathing Exercises, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Chiropractic, Dance Therapy, Folk Medicine, Greek Medicine, Herbalism, Herbal medicine, Herbal treatments, Homeopathy, Massage Therapy, meditation, Mind-body medicine, Music Therapy, Naturopathic, osteopathic manipulation, Osteopathy, palliative care, self-healing, Shamanism Traditions, Self-applied health enhancement methods (SAHEM), Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and many others.
Alternative medicine vs. Western or Modern Medicine
In complete contrast to Western medicine, alternative medicine treats the body, mind and spirit as a whole rather than so many separate parts. It supports the human body’s immune system rather than destroy it. Modern medicines extensive use of antibiotics have created the Super Bug resistant to any antibiotic treatment (MRSA). In the process, the treatment has destroyed the body’s good bacteria (immune system) as well as the bad.
Alternative medicine is all about finding balance and harmony. This can be done through many techniques including natural cures, massage therapy, meditation and acupuncture. Unlike Western medicine, alternative medicine rarely creates unwanted side effects. Pharmaceutical companies have convinced people that side effects are just a normal part of medicine, when the fact is they should not be. True medicine works with the entire body.
Folk Medicine based on evidence based science.
Evidence Based Medicine
In this post I deal with the overall concept of evidence based medicine, a concept kept alive by what we call the scientific method. I explore the practice of folk medicine, alternate medicine and holistic medicine vs. the practice Western or Modern medicine. Future posts will deal with individual civilizations like Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurvedic from India.
I am not anti-science, if anything I feel the scientific method of the 17th Century, has been overtaken by pseudo-science. The science used by modern medicine is based on chemistry forgetting the overall philosophy of healing. The Health Care Ranger of Natural News calls traditional medicine “evidence-based science”.
The trust we gave science to find the truth using principles of reasoning seems to have been replaced by greed, cooperate profit driven motive, group think, distorted science based on falsified evidence, bribery and corruption of government regulators. If I spend more time thinking about it I find myself thinking — there is a War on Science.
The trouble ridden, and short term double-blind and placebo-controlled trial as the standard for the modern medicine’s scientific method has many questioning the results and length of study. Many stories have surfaced of rigged trials and findings. Yet the industry is quick to assert the “scientific proven” efficacy of a new drug. The very same industry that has been found conducted it’s the research on its own product.
Has modern medicine reverted back to bloodletting?
Bloodletting (or blood-letting) a medical practice performed by physicians from antiquity until the late 19th century. It is the withdrawal of often small quantities of blood from a patient to cure or prevent illness and disease. The practice has now been abandoned for all except a few very specific conditions.
Instead of testing, measurement and modification of hypotheses the new science seems to be based on propaganda, shelf life and is destroying the health of the population. As I continue my research, I am finding most of our traditional natural remedies have been proven using the Scientific method.
Are we re-living the Roman Inquisition?
Galileo Galilei – (February 15, 1564 – January 8, 1642) As every school child should know, Galileo was an Italian astronomer, mathematician, philosopher, and physicist who played a major role in the Scientific Revolution. He is considered to be the father of modern observational astronomy. He was sentenced to indefinite imprisonment in 1633 by the Roman Inquisition who found him “gravely suspect of heresy“. This was subsequently commuted to house arrest, under which he remained for the rest of his life.
His crime? He claimed the earth rotated around the sun not the sun rotated around the earth.
Galileo Galilei
The Scientific method was used by different scientists to prove or disprove a theory.
Scientific method
Before the scientific method scientists came up with theories and everyone thought they were true, until Galileo proved Aristotle a Greek philosopher wrong. Aristotle thought that light stone would fall faster to the ground than a heavy stone. Galileo disagreed with his theory and set up an experiment that proved stones of different weights fall at the same pace.
Homeopathy a form of holistic medicine
Homeopathy formally developed by Samuel Hahnemann
Homeopathy is another form of alternate medicine. Many people think of homeopathy as the same thing as herbal medicine, but that is not necessarily true. Homeopathy seeks to treat diseases with the philosophy that “like cures like”. This means that when you have a disease, you will be treated with a medicine causes similar symptoms to what you have.
The principles of homeopathy go back to Hippocrates around 2500 years ago, but weren’t formalized as homeopathic medicine until 200 years ago. It was formally developed by Samuel Hahnemann and comes from the Greek words homios which means like and pathos which means suffering. One of the most interesting things about homeopathy is that many of the treatments are made from poisonous ingredients like rattlesnake venom which have been extensively diluted.
Self-applied Health Enhancement Methods (SAHAM)
Dr. Mercola has an elaborate article on; The Five Levels of Healing. Follow the link for the detail information and Videos.
Health.net also has a great article on SAHEM.
Below is a brief summary of the concept of SAHEM:
The Five Levels of Healing are based on a healing model developed some 12,000 years ago. It has been the influence for Tibetan medicine, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), as well as Ayurvedic medicine and many others.
These self-applied health enhancement methods (SAHEM), that spring from the Asian traditions, are tried and true techniques refined over thousands of years. Some of these ancient methods are listed below:
- Attitudinal harmony
- affirmation
- breath practice and self-healing
- concentration
- emotional resolution
- focus
- gentle movement
- intention
- meditation
- relaxation
- reflex stimulation (self-applied massage, stroking, thumping, pressure)
- toning, sounding or chanting
- visualization
Until my next post
Sources
http://www.progress.org/monop01.htm
http://www.everyday-wisdom.com/old-fashioned-remedies.html
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2000/02/20/breathing-part-one.aspx
http://www.dreliaz.org/recommended-product/for-healthy-circulation/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/jan/23/antibiotic-resistant-diseases-apocalyptic-threat
http://www.healthy.net/Health/Essay/Self_Applied_Health_Enhancement_Methods_SAHEM/135/2
http://www.sassafrasstation.com/herbal-remedies/natural-remedy
http://www.essentialoils.co.za/homeopathy.htm
http://www.naturalnews.com/036702_doctors_nutrition_fatalities.html
What You Don’t Know About Your Vitamins CAN Hurt You
By Joan McDaniel April 18, 2013
I have been doing research and turned my attention to Vitamins and supplements. But articles from the Health Ranger (NaturalNews) on Vitamin additives that made me do a second look at the nutrition label. The article warns of harmful additives used to formulate common Vitamins and supplements. I have gathered several articles on the same subject so I decided to put together a complete list of the most common natural and synthetic additives used to formulate (make) Vitamins.
Health care officials recommend a daily multiple vitamins to cover the Recommended Daily Allowances (RDA).
After putting this list together and finding some dangerous mind-blowing ingredients in these vitamin supplements I have decided what you don’t know will hurt you! It is questionable if you’re getting any vitamin at all. Seems to me I’ll get sicker taking the vitamin then if I did without.
I also disagree with the RDA’s recommendations. Your body needs nutrients, not toxins. Every day is different and everyone’s body is different. Learn to listen to your own body not some 1950 prearranged group’s Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) – But more of that later – On with Vitamin supplements. 
I am not a chemist and don’t have the foggiest idea what half of these ingredients mean. But some sound very familiar like nail polish (Shellac), talcum powder and sand. I now understand why many natural food enthusiasts recommend getting vitamins from the actual natural food source rather than by synthetic pill form.
Shellac is nail polish
This research has made me do a complete double take on what exactly I put into my body. For example; I decided I needed the Vitamin magnesium so I bought a magnesium supplement only to find it (and a lot of other processed foods like baby food, hard candies, and soap scum) contain Magnesium Stearate.
Magnesium Stearate – a lubricate used as a filler when manufacturing vitamin supplement pills. It is derived from cottonseed which makes it a hydrogenated saturated fat. This fat allows the particles to flow or slide quickly during manufacturing speeding up the manufacturing process. It speeds up manufacturing process, but once consumed by the human body it slows if not prevents absorption of nutrients. Magnesium stearate melts at about 120 degrees C, is not soluble in water. Your body cannot dissolve it or the vitamin that comes with it. It is expelled as a foreign substance.
Three sources for additives
- Plant (e.g. starches, sugars, cellulose)
- Animal (e.g. lactose, gelatin, stearic acid)
- Mineral (e.g. calcium phosphate, silica)
There is a big difference between Synthetic vitamins and natural vitamins. In the mid-1930s, multivitamins became available in grocery stores and pharmacies. These supplements were made from natural, dried and compressed vegetable and fruit concentrates. In the early 1940s Synthetic tablets began being produced and the games began. Synthetics are man-made in the lab to look like the real thing. Synthetic may be derived from toxic sources such as coal-tar, glue, nail polish, petroleum, talcum powder, or other known carcinogen sources.
Synthetic additives interfere with the delivery and absorbing of any vitamin or mineral. In many cases the vitamin you take is simply expel from your system as a foreign substance. That is the good part. Some of these additives get stored in the muscle and cells as toxins and free radicals which in time can create inflammation and illness.
Natural Ingredients for Vitamin Additives include:
When and if you can find a provider of natural vitamins these are the additives plus others that you should find on the label. There are reliable manufactures that provide a safe product, you just have to search for them.
Bioflavonoids – naturally occurring plant compound
Cellulose – A bulking agent also referred to as dietary fiber.
Citric acid – Natural acid causes foods to taste sour. Lemons contain large sources of Citric acid.
Dulse – used as an organic base non-synthetic foundation.
Magnesium ascorbate – Neutral salts
Magnesium activator of Amino acid chelate
Medium chain triglycerides -
Natural flavors
Potassium sorbate – Used in fermentation occurs naturally in some berries.
Purified Stevia Extract – Natural Plant sugar alternative supplement
Purified water –Mechanically filtered water
Sodium Alginate – Food thickener
Sodium ascorbates – Water-soluble vitamin, known as vitamin C.
Vegetable glycerin (palm) – Natural lipids known as triglycerides
Xanthan gum – Natural Food thickener
Xylitol – A naturally occurring pentose sugar alcohol sugar substitute
Multi Vitamins example
Seems to me these ingredients do more to protect the product than they do to give me anything natural. An example: Centrum “C” vitamins made from the Coal Tar, Silicon, and petroleum distillate. Below is a label from Centrum C – I could not find petroleum but boy I sure found a lot of other stuff. None of it sounds too natural to me. The ingredient Soy is not organic therefore is GMO.
Note – Wyeth is a Pfizer’s subsidiary Pfizer owns Centrum and Bayer owns One a Day.
Ingredient additives that inhibit the effectiveness of Vitamins are:
The follow is a list of Excipients. These items inhibit the function of the vitamin if not completely prevent the vitamin absorption in the human digestive system. These can be classified according to their function. Some serve multiple functions:
- Binders – Glue
- Coatings and Glaze (Shellac)
- Colors
- Compression Aids
- Disintegrates
- Extenders
- Fillers
- Flavors
- Flow Enhancers
- Film formers
- Lubricants – Fatty acids from hydrogenated vegetable oils
- Preservatives
- Suspending/dispensing agents
- Sweeteners
Excipient additives that inhibit the effectiveness in supplements:
- Calcium Stearate – main component of soap scum, a white solid that forms when soap is mixed with hard water
- Corn Starch – preservative encapsulate, binder
- Crospovidene – preservative
- Dicalcium phosphate – acutally decrease absorption
- Microcrystalline cellulose – lubricant provider
- Ethylcellulose
- Flavors or Natural Flavors
- Food dyes – FD&C Food dyes are made from coal tar that may retain carcinogenic impurities.
- Glaze – A glassy film covering. Like a glace for pottery or for a ham.
- Hydoxy Propyl Methylcellulose – cellulose preservative
- Lactose – Sugar from milk
- Magnesium Stearate – Animal based filler saturated fatty acid also used to make candles, soap and softening rubber. It also makes “bathtub rings.”
- Palmitate – Palmitic acid is also used to produce cosmetics, release agents and soaps
- Potassium Sorbate
- Shellac – Nail polish
- Silicon Dioxide – derived from quartz used in the production of computer chips, ceramics, glass and is also called sand.
- Stearic Acid – Animal based filler saturated fatty acid also used to make candles, soap and softening rubber
- Sodium Borate – The common name for this additive is borax which is a detergent.
- Sodium Benzoate – also used in vinegar, carbonated drinks (carbonic acid), and fireworks.
- Sodium Glycolate – A Starch
- Sucrose – Table Sugar
- Talc – talcum powder
- Titanium Dioxide – White pigment
This is a partial list. The next time you see a different ingredient look it up in a search engine and be amazed.
Look out Vitamin supplements may be hazardous to your health.
After this article I will take a longer look at getting most of my vitamins from the actual natural food rather than an artificially produced vitamin pill. To quote the health ranger again – “No matter what the FDA says or wants you to believe, organic vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, prebiotic, and enzymes are “MEDICINE,” and synthetic vitamins are simply ANTI-MEDICINE – disease and disorder breeding health criminals. Get smarter. Read the labels. Ask questions. If your vitamins are not organic, then they’re probably making you sick.” 
Talc is great for the baby’s bottom but not so great in my gut.
Talc – talcum powder
I do not recommend the purchase of any product, or the consumption of any product shown.
Sources
http://www.naturalnews.com/039271_vitamins_supplements_magnesium_stearate.html
http://www.trustedhealthproducts.com/vitamin-c-and-more/
http://www.trustedhealthproducts.com
http://www.indiamart.com/scientificsurgicalcorporation/pharmaceutical-excipients.html
www.trustedhealthproducts.com.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/43113-definition-sodium-ascorbate/
http://www.naturalnews.com/036650_synthetic_vitamins_disease_side_effects.html
http://www.naturalnews.com/036241_nutritional_supplements_media_lies_disinfo.html
By Joan McDaniel April 11, 2013
You don’t have to be a Cowardly Lion to like Turmeric.
What is Turmeric?
Turmeric is all about ancient civilization and deep traditions, both in food and holistic medicine. It has been harvested for more than 5,000 years. Like ginger you plant it in the ground and eat the roots. We know it for its yellow color but there is much more to learn of its powers. The plant is called Curcuma longa and the root is called a rhizome. It has a tough brown skin and a deep orange flesh. Like ginger and other spices it has amazing anti-inflammatory and healing benefits. It is also used as a textile dye.
Turmeric is traditionally been used both in the Traditional Chinese and Indian Ayurvedic traditions of holistic medicine. It is also known as “Indian saffron”. It is 5 to 8 times stronger than Vitamin E and stronger than Vitamin C.
In South Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine turmeric is used in spice curries, for dyeing, and to impart color to mustard condiments.
Its active ingredient is curcumin and it has a distinctly earthy, slightly bitter, slightly hot peppery flavor and a mustard smell.
Turmeric is anything but weak – It is a powerful healing herb used in ancient holistic healing.
Turmeric is native to Indonesia and southern India. Arab traders introduced it into Europe in the 13th century, but it isn’t until recently it has become popular in Western cultures. The leading commercial producers of turmeric include China , Haiti, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, and the Philippines.
Turmeric used in disease prevention
Turmeric has been used in over 500 applications in disease prevention and treatment in some of the following applications: 
Anti-inflammatory Turmeric Plant
Antioxidant
Helps maintain blood sugar
Cancer fighter and treatment
Helps maintain cholesterol levels
Helps support a healthy blood and circulatory system
Improves cognitive functions for those with neurological disease pathology Turmeric Plant
Helps Diabetic blood sugar maintain
Diabetic prevention
Maintain a healthy digestive system
Helps promote eye health
Fat loss promoter
A good source for fiber
Heart disease prevention
Improves your Immune System
Liver detoxifier
Local antiseptic for wound care
Natural painkiller
Helps promote a healthy overall skeletal system (healthy bones and joints)
Reduced oxidative stress
Source for iron, manganese, potassium and vitamin B6
Skin tonic
Here is more information on the top health benefits of turmeric.
According to Dr. Mercola’s article Turmeric is … “The Spice that Ignites Your Body’s Astonishing Immune System” 5 to 8 times stronger than vitamin E and stronger than vitamin C, this ‘antioxidant breakthrough’ may help boost your immunity, maintain normal cholesterol levels, and put the brakes on aging.*
Rhizomes in plant
Plant Ground into a powder
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant of the ginger family. It is native to tropical South Asia and needs nice warm temperatures between 68°F and 86°F and a good amount of water or rainfall to thrive. Plants are gathered annually for their rhizomes, and when not used fresh are boiled for several hours, dried in hot ovens then grounded into the deep orange-yellow power we see in the spice jar.Many plants are propagated this way asparagus, Cannas, fingerroot, galangal, ginger, irises, Lily of the Valley, sympodial orchids, and Turmeric.
Turmeric
A gift from nature
Spice with a healing history
The Food Channel Turmeric Video
http://www.therealfoodchannel.com/videos/healthy-foods/turmeric.html
Please note this is not a recommendation for any product nor advice to buy any product.
Coconut cream care
Most people know turmeric as a primary spice in curries. The FDA considers it a “food color additive” for its bright yellow-orange color.
For thousands of years, turmeric has been recognized for its healing properties. Studies show benefits for turmeric and its active component, curcumin, as an anti-inflammatory, in treating arthritis, slowing the growth of cancer, protecting against liver damage, and even protecting against Alzheimer’s.
Some sources say that big pharma tried to get the FDA to change the classification of turmeric and call it a drug. What does that tell you?
Many people who have experienced the benefits of turmeric get their daily dose as a tea. Here’s a simple recipe from Dr. Andrew Weil:
- Bring four cups of water to a boil.
- Add one teaspoon of ground turmeric and reduce to a simmer for 10 minutes.
- Strain the tea through a fine sieve into a cup, add honey and/or lemon to taste.
Sources
http://organicindia.mercola.com/herbal-supplements/turmeric.aspx?e_cid=20130101_DNL_YRP_1
http://naturalsociety.com/overcoming-pharmaceuticals-top-health-benefits-of-turmeric/
By Joan McDaniel April 7, 2013
Has Political Correctness made us forget our history?
Has Political Correctness (PC) and the thought police waged a battle for your mind? Has PC thought influenced your beliefs allowed us to forget our history and deeply held tradition notions? Like George Orwell’s Newspeak, non PC language has become forbidden by law, and transgressors should be punished.
Alternate Medicine
There is a Natural Remedy for Just About Everything.
Helping You Get Healthy and Wealthy
If you are suffering from virtually any disease or condition, there is a natural remedy that can help heal you. In many parts of the world, herbal remedies have been used for thousands of years to cure disease and improve quality of life.
There are numerous forms of natural remedy medicines. All of them focus on individualizing treatments, treating the whole person, promoting self-care and self-healing and recognizing the spiritual nature of each individual. Some of the most widely used are:
African medicine , Alternative, Acupuncture, Atkins diet, Ayurveda, biofeedback, Biology-based practices, Breathing Exercises, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Chiropractic, Dance Therapy, Folk Medicine, Greek Medicine, Herbalism, Herbal medicine, Herbal treatments, Homeopathy, Massage Therapy, meditation, Mind-body medicine, Music Therapy, Naturopathic, osteopathic manipulation, Osteopathy, palliative care, self-healing, Shamanism Traditions, Self-applied health enhancement methods (SAHEM), Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and many others.
I will be giving a brief summary of just some of the most popular in later posts. This will serve as an introduction to the concept of Alternate Medicine.
Native American Practices
With the birth of modern medicine, we in America have a healing tradition that has been forbidden and now is totally forgotten. This tradition is that of the Native American tribal elder, herbalist, healer, Medicine Man, Shamanism, spirit communicators or Witch Doctor. This forgotten tradition is represented by the Medicine wheel pictured below. Click the link to go to the site the wheel has some interesting meanings.
Picture Credit http://basicallymedicine.blogspot.com/2008/12/native-american-medicine-wheel.html
Has Modern Medicine Failed?
Maybe we have missed something – in our hurry for the latest scientific grand solution we have forgotten our past. If you have ever been sick, I mean really sick – You can’t even get out of bed you are so sick – suddenly you see life very differently. You ask your doctor … What happened to me…? He just gives you more pills or schedules you for a Cat Scan or lower GI. But then says “your Insurance won’t pay for it”. I didn’t need a Cat Scan to learn that I was sick due to my life style what I ate.
Western medicine has created the “Superbug” can our immune system be restored?
According to recent articles in the news; overuse of antibiotics, have created what some scientist are calling “super bugs”. A Super bug is; bacteria that has developed resistance to all known antibiotics. The Germ theory was created when Alexander Fleming discovered the first antibiotic penicillin in 1928. The widely accepted germ theory of disease has many fundamental flaws. Antibiotics kill both the good and the bad bacteria resulting in weakening or destroying the human immune system. While scientist are trying to find new drugs or a solution to this problem, Holistic and alternate medicine is promoting the use of fermentation, nutrition and using probiotic to restore the human body’s immune system.
According to Britain’s most senior medical advisor Dame Sally Davies; “ …the rise in drug-resistant diseases could trigger a national emergency comparable to a catastrophic terrorist attack, pandemic flu or major coastal flooding.”
And she is not alone other scientist are warning that antibiotic resistance proteins are increasing in strength. An article in biology news warns of resurrection of 3-billion-year-old antibiotic-resistance proteins
Alternate traditional medicine
It didn’t take a day to get sick and it will not take a day to get well. It will take time there isn’t a magic bullet or red pill that will and make it all better tomorrow. The one thing I have learned among many others is that while getting well I have learned to STOP and Listen. You can almost hear the ancients. There in that bird, or in that cloud. They are all around you STOP and LISTEN. But above all begin to listen to your own body – Its telling you something.
This article will not address the human body’s immune system or how to handle the on-coming “Super bugs” battle, but a LOOK SEE at some of our traditional systems of the past and the wisdom of our elders.
The Birth of Modern Medicine
During and after the Progressive Era Woodrow Wilson and World War I, America’s traditionally doctor practiced Holistic medicine or natural medicine. That would all change with the Rockefeller investment money.
John D. Rockefeller Sr. and Jr. Picture credit http://www.whale.to/cancer/griffin14.html
In 1903, John D. Rockefeller Jr. the son of the famous Oil baron established an organization that would promote American Education in all levels everywhere in the country. He provided financial support to established eastern institutions as Columbia, Brown, Bryn Mawr, Harvard, Wellesley, Yale, and Vassar. This program revolutionized the study of medicine in the United States. Traditional Holistic Medicine would become scientific and profitable. The typical Medicine man, or Witch Doctor would be a thing of the past and a new huge money-maker would be established.
In 1924 Fisbein was appointed the head of the American Medical Association (AMA). Fisbein created is guidelines and a Seal-of-Acceptance allowing “Only “regulars” to join this new, prestigious organization, which excluded herbalist, homeopathy and Indian (Witch) doctors.
The Witch Doctor
Each civilization across the world and across the span of thousands and thousands of years also has their deep and rich ancient traditions. Diagnosis is reached through spiritual means and a treatment is prescribed, usually consisting of an herbal remedy that has not only healing abilities, but symbolic and spiritual significance.
Native American or Shamanism
Currently there are many Native American educational services, healing practitioners, metaphysical groups and Shamanism workshops all over the country. These practices have been adopted from traditions that originated from various Native American tribes. History indicates that each tribe would have one or more elders who were groomed in the healing arts. These individuals would serve as herbalists, healers, and spirit communicators. The duties and types of healing arts and spiritual ceremonies performed would naturally vary from tribe to tribe.
Medicine Man Movie
When I first entered the term “Witch Doctor” in a search engine I received the link to this movie.
A pharmaceutical company sends biochemist Dr. Rae Crane into the Amazonian rainforest to locate researcher Robert Campbell after his wife and research partner abandon him.
Medicine Man is a 1992 American film directed by John McTiernan. The film stars Sean Connery and Lorraine Bracco. It also features a noteworthy score by composer Jerry Goldsmith.
At least it is nice to know that someone knew the tradition of the word even if you have to go back to 1992.
More on other Traditional Medicine soon
Sources
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/jan/23/antibiotic-resistant-diseases-apocalyptic-threat
http://www.sassafrasstation.com/herbal-remedies/natural-remedy
http://www.whale.to/cancer/griffin14.html
Picture Credit http://basicallymedicine.blogspot.com/2008/12/native-american-medicine-wheel.html
Picture credit Medicine man www.toutlecine.com http://health.wikinut.com/~wiedg/health
By Joan McDaniel March 8, 2013
What is CO?
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is slightly lighter than air. It is toxic to humans and animals. Carbon monoxide is produced as a byproduct when operating a stove or in internal combustion engine in an enclosed space which then produces carbon dioxide (Co2), in other words Carbon monoxide poisoning. I have heard the rumor that some people last act on earth was to close all the windows and put their head in an oven. In other words — commit suicide.
CO other natural sources include other forms of combustion like forest fires, iron smelting, and volcanoes.
Treating meat with carbon monoxide is more common than you think.
According to this Video from the food channel CO is being used as a preservative.
Global Warming
Co is not a preservative, it is the result of burning and flame and once all the O2 is gone you get Co2. Where is Al Gore when you need him? Isn’t he all upset about Co2 and Global Warming?… err Global Cooling…err CLIMATE CHANGE??? … or something like that?????
But the same thing that once burned makes Co2 makes packaged meats look pink and fresh. It actually prevents the meat from aging.
Is your meat treated with CO?
Video (2:45):
Video from the food channel
This Video is dated
Uploaded on Jul 25, 2007
“70% of ALL Beef and Chicken has been treated with Carbon Monoxide Gas. It can make bad meat look good. How many people have become poisoned by this chemically altered meat that we are eating and feeding our children? Our Government works on behalf of big business NOT for The People Of America!”
I have included it anyway to make people continually aware that the meat as packaged in the super market may not be all you think it is….Joan McDaniel
- Traci Styner
The Real Food Channel
P.S. Please share Real Food Channel videos with your friends, family and
colleagues.
Video on youtube
Meat treated with carbon monoxide
To repeat part of an old article of mine:
Why All the Fuss About Grass-Fed Meat?
Grass-fed beef is vastly superior to grain-fed beef, and in fact it’s the clear beef of choice you should be eating. It is far more important to choose grass-fed than to choose organic, as most grass-fed beef are also organic.
Not only is it raised in a more sustainable way for the environment, and a more humane way for the animal, but it’s the superior choice for your health.
Grass-fed beef, for instance, is lower in fat than regular beef and, more importantly, contains higher amounts of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a fatty acid. Grass-fed animals have from three to five times more CLA than grain-fed animals.
The Growing Demand for Grass-Fed Beef in America
Dr. Mercola’s article explains more about what is grass-fed beef and why it is a much better choice.
When I want to eat beef, I use my local New York farmer who’s link is below.
Grass Fed cows
From Kiernan Farm http://kiernanfarm.com/
You best bet to find grass-fed beef is a local farmer. Check out your local Farmers Market and local Health food stores and ask around
Food Fight Video
Published on Feb 26, 2013
FOOD FIGHT – Saving Kids From Processed Junk – Earth Amplified feat. Stic.Man of Dead Prez
This is hitting the Web and going Viral. It is not addressed to my age group but I get the message loud and clear. I have provided the lyrics at the end in case you are like me and can’t quite hear or understand what it says….Joan.
From the Food Channel
It’s the hottest food-related
video making a statement
through social media.
I admit, it’s not my usual
style of music. But it gets
to the point in a big way.
Food Fight is the story of a kid who
lives in a world where the food at
the local corner store is killing his
neighborhood — literally.
Video: on youtube:
A boy must escape a world where the processed food is killing his neighborhood — literally. SHARE to teach kids who is behind it, and how to escape.
Food Fight is the story of a kid who lives in a world where the food at the local corner store is killing his neighborhood — literally.
I admit, this isn’t normally my style of music. Kudos to Ben Zolno, AshEl Eldridge (aka Seasunz) and SoS Juice for getting the word out to an audience we might not reach in other ways.
LYRICS
VANDANA SHIVA:
“Once they have established the norm –
that seed can be owned as their property –
royalties can be collected.
We will depend on them
for every seed we grow
of every crop we grow.
If they control seed, they control food, they know it; it’s strategic.
It’s more powerful than bombs.
It’s more powerful than guns.
This is the best way to control the populations of the world.”
CHORUS:
That’s what the streets them say.
That’s what police them say.
That’s what the Babylon say.
Put cola upon lips
and get popped the same way now.
That’s what The Pentagon say.
That’s what the generals say.
That’s what the empire say.
Put death down your throat,
you get dropped the same way.
SEASUNZ:
There’s a war going on inside,
no man is safe from:
DDTs, PCBs,
every corner in the hood got a KFC
or McD’s. It’s crack speed like RED
Bull-ish they pulpit — so caffeine,
Kit Kat like a click-clack holes in your genes
Cuz everything at market ain’t all what it seems.
Little Debbie bussing biscuits at sugar-high fiends.
Ain’t nothing but a G thing –
GMO, MSG, genocide of street gangs.
Aspartame or street cane.
Monsanto is Rambo.
Round Up with ammo.
Who would have known you can die from a diet
Diabetes and the -itis from the dairy and the dose
of the high fructose
cuz your ribs too close
so you might start a riot.
Might be a FOOD FIGHTER!
CHORUS REPEATED
SEASUNZ:
They shootin’!
Made you look
at the labels on the food that you cook.
Just say no to cocoa box
cuz when you Google the ingredients, you might get got.
Is your milk on drugs? Cuz your brain on Fox.
Factory farming spawning the Meatrix plot,
Globally warming us all, enough cows and NOx
driving the climate, driving a hummer or not.
Drive-in like a drive-by.
E.coli served super sized with a side of super lies.
so tell me what’s more gangsta than that?
Bullets or burgers both blaze burners to black.
Breakfast is a little like Texas,
Petro is everything that you’re eating on
My pesto is backyard like choppin’ chard.
My school lunch pack a punch.
FOOD FIGHT IS ON!
CHORUS REPEATED
STIC.MAN:
What’s Beef?
Beef is when you’re 12 years old and obese
clogged arteries, can’t see your own feet
until you’re up in ICU, guaranteed to be an ‘I see you”
From that processed food.
Suicide. It’s a suicide.
Don’t want no microwaves, no pesticides.
Fast food’s a slow death in disguise.
It’s the wild wild westernized world of deception and lies.
What’s Beef?
Beef is when you starve in a famine.
Nothing won’t grow and the land stays barren.
Pollution in the river, mercury in the salmon.
What sense do it make, being at war with the planet?
We’re at war for the mind so impressionable.
Instead of vegetables,
we reach for Red Bulls.
Poor diets kill more brothers than pistols.
We’re fighting for our lives like Michael Vic’s pit bulls.
Dog eat dog, America eats the young,
We die from beef, but more from meat than the gun.
Bullets for breakfast and mass murder meals.
Enemy of the state, and your plate is the battlefield
in this FOOD FIGHT!
