Eating For Health

There are so many advertisements and articles on home remedies.   You may have heard about soothing a sore throat with honey or how peppermint oil may help headaches.   But what does science say about home remedies?   Which ones truly work?   In this blog post, we’ll explore some popular natural remedies and separate the science-backed solutions from the myths.   Before trying any home remedies , check with your health care provider.   Some home remedies can affect how prescription drugs and over-the counter medications work.      🌿 Home Remedies That Actually Work 🍯 1. Honey for Coughs ( 1 ) ·          Acts as a natural cough suppressant. ·          Especially helpful for children over age 1. (DO NOT give honey to an infant younger than 1 year of age.)   ·          May work as well as OTC cough syrups. · ...

Almost everyone thinks sodas are not good for your health.   Sweetened sodas are loaded with added sugar and low-calorie sodas use artificial sweeteners which many people try to avoid.   But there are new sodas on the market being advertised as good for your gut.   What are these sodas and why are people drinking them for a healthier gut? What are the new sodas promoting gut health? Two types of sodas are being marketed.   Prebiotic Sodas:   Prebiotics are mainly fiber that feed our healthy gut bacteria.   Two brands of prebiotic sodas are Poppi and Olipop .   On the Olipop can it states, “Supports Digestive Health”.   The prebiotic fibers in Olipop include cassava root, chicory root, Jerusalem artichoke, guar fiber, and Nopal cactus.   Olipop also contains Calendula Flower for its lutein, beta-carotene and flavonoids.      Probiotic Sodas:   Probiotics are healthy bacteria usually found in foods like yogurt but n...

Almost every day we read about chemicals, preservatives, other additives in our foods that are not good for our health.   This week, my husband showed me an article in the Wall Street Journal, Research Delivers A Gut Punch About Emulsifiers Used In Food .    What are “emulsifiers”, why are they in food, what foods have emulsifiers, and what are the health concerns about emulsifiers in the foods we eat? What are emulsifiers? Emulsifiers help mix food components together like oil and water.   Salad dressings often have emulsifiers in them.   Food manufacturers add emulsifiers to foods to improve the texture, appearance, taste and shelf life of the foods we buy.   What emulsifiers are commonly added to foods?   According to WebMD , “there are over 100 different emulsifiers that can be added to foods”.   In the US, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates what emulsifiers can safely be added to foods and list these on the list of G ene...

This week at the gym, a few people were saying how they or a relative were recovering from some illness, colds, flu or other illnesses that got them run-down and not feeling good.  Are there immunity boosting foods that will help you fight off infections?  As we get older , our immune system is weaker and we are more likely to get sick.  For those over 65, respiratory infections and in particular pneumonia, are leading causes of death.  What foods can you add to your diet to boost your immune system? Citrus Fruits Citrus fruits are a great way to add some important nutrients like vitamin C and folic acid to one’s day.  (See: How does vitamin C keep you healthy? )  Citrus fruits include oranges, grapefruit, lemons, limes, clementines, and mandarins.  Vitamin C is known for helping to strengthen one’s immune system.  Besides vitamin C, citrus fruits add important antioxidants that have anti-inflammatory effects.  Enjoying a glass of real, ...

Are you one of the people who have made a resolution to lose a few pounds in 2025?   If you or someone you know wants to drop a few pounds, what are the best weight loss diets to be on? So many diets don’t change your lifestyle but offer a quick solution but for many a temporary solution.   You may lose some weight but once you go “off” the diet, you gain the weight back.   Every year U.S. News & World Report ranks the Best Weight-Loss Diets .     What makes a weight-loss diet a winner?   A diet you can stay on for the long haul.   Not really a diet but an eating pattern that keeps the weight off. A diet that promotes healthy weight loss, not quick weight loss due to loss of water and muscle and not fat.   A diet that doesn’t slow your metabolism like some quick loss diets do. A diet that doesn’t give up any food groups so you can stay on it long term. U.S. News and World Report notes a healthy diet focuses on lean protein, high fi...