Are Some of Us Just Wired to be Happy?
Introduction: Do you know someone that just seems to exude joy and happiness? It may be in their genes. New data shows that some of us are just wired to be grateful, happy and positive. It is the old argument nature or nurture. But here is the thing, whether you have...
The Importance of Being “Awe Inspired”
Introduction: The field of positive psychology is providing valuable insights on exactly how our emotions influence our physiology. One are of body function that is very closely tied to our emotional experiences is the functioning of our immune system. Our emotional...
The Power of Synergy
In regards to life, one of the most interesting phenomena, is the power of synergy. A simple explanation of synergy is when 1+1 does not equal 2, but something much greater. In terms of our health, what the research shows is a tremendous synergetic effect between...
You’ve Heard Gratitude Is Good For You. Here’s What Science Says
A growing body of scientific work shows that gratitude and kindness are traits that lead to higher levels of well-being. People who are grateful and kind are happier, less depressed, less stressed and more satisfied with their lives and social relationships. The...
7 Tips For Better Communication In All Of Your Relationships
A major cause of stress for most people is the realm of interpersonal relationships. Whether with your partner, at home with family members, with friends, and on the job, relationships are tough. Everyone has unique needs and desires, and unique ways of expressing...Welcome
July is National Blueberry Month
On May 8, 1999 the United States Department of Agriculture proclaimed July as National Blueberry Month. It is fitting that July is the month of celebration given the importance of blueberries in American history and the fact that the United States produces over 90% of all of the blueberries in the world.
Blueberries are among the most important foods for good health. The diverse and wondrous health benefits of blueberries are primarily due to their high content of specialized pigments known as anthocyanins. These special flavonoids are responsible for the deep blue or purple color of blueberries.
Currently, the most popular medical use of blueberries is their use in improving vision and protecting against age-related macular degeneration. Additional research also points out that blueberries may be protective against the development of cataracts and glaucoma, and quite therapeutic in the treatment of varicose veins, hemorrhoids, and peptic ulcers.
Another very practical application of the antioxidant activity of blueberries is in the protection against Alzheimer’s disease and age related cognitive decline. In animal studies researchers have found that blueberries help protect the brain from oxidative stress and may reduce the effects of age-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease. Specifically, when older rats were given the human equivalent of 1 cup of blueberries a day they demonstrated significant improvements in both learning capacity and motor skills, making them mentally equivalent to much younger rats. When the rats’ brains were examined, the brain cells of the rats given blueberries were found to communicate more effectively than those of the other older rats that were not given blueberries.
While blueberries are an excellent food, a blueberry concentrate with all the anthocyanin-power of fresh picked blueberries is a convenient way to gain all of the health benefits. Two 500 mg capsules of a 36:1 blueberry concentrate is equivalent to ¼ cup of fresh blueberries. For general health, take two capsules daily.
For more information, please see the completely revised and updated 3rd edition of The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine.
On the Dr Oz show
On the show I discussed the failure of conventional medicine to address the underlying issues in many health conditions offering little more than drugs as biochemical “band aids.”
