Stress and anxiety can seem to be a normal everyday occurrence for many people. So many of us just become accustomed to a high stress level, until it is soon perceived as acceptable. But over time this chronic stress and the resulting constant stream of cortisol creates long term damage including premature aging, weight gain, high blood pressure, and contributes to many other diseases.

Balanced body chemistry is extremely important in order to maintain health, which is one reason consuming a diet high in alkaline foods is important. Acidosis, or over-acidity in the body tissues is one of the primary factors underlying many diseases. Staying alkaline depends on the efficient functioning of our body’s three natural buffering systems, and so we want to do all that we can to support the proper functioning of those systems.

Many of you have heard of Maca by now, it’s fairly common to see it in most stores. And, that’s a good thing. Maca is truly a super food in every sense of the word, and the hype is well deserved. Maca is a root that has been used in Peru for a very long time, and is in the radish family. It is considered an adaptogenic root that can help you deal with stress, give you energy, provide hormonal balance and increase physical endurance.

’ve been drinking hibiscus tea for years because it’s delicious and healthy! But now, there are even MORE reasons to enjoy this delicious flower tea. Hibiscus flowers contain a substance called Gossypin, a flavone that has been found to suppress inflammation and cancer. In fact, scientists have now found that gossypin has the ability to totally stop melanoma cells from growing.

I get asked often about nutritional yeast: what is it, do I need it, why should I use it, how should I use it and what brand should I use. Let’s start with the basics for those who aren’t aware of what it is. Nutritional yeast is a deactivated yeast that is sold as a food product and marketed primarily to plant based eaters. Nutritional yeast is made from a single-celled organism called Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, cultivated on molasses, and then harvested, washed, and dried using heat processing to deactivate it. You can find nutritional yeast in individual containers or in the bulk bins of your local health food store.

Best nuts for men: Brazil Nuts, Pecans. Brazil nuts are packed with selenium, a mineral that can protect against prostate cancer. Just one nut contains more than a day’s worth, so you don’t need a lot! Pecans are also good for men’s health, because they are loaded with beta-sitosterol, which is a plant steroid that is also promotes prostate health.

Seaweeds are the most nutritionally dense plants on the planet. They can contain up to 10 times more calcium than milk and eight times as much as beef. The chemical composition of seaweeds is very close to human blood plasma, which greatly helps build our own blood. Seaweed also has the ability to alkalize the body, and protect us from a wide variety of toxins including heavy metals, by converting them to harmless salts that the body can eliminate.

I’ve been drinking quite a bit of turmeric tea and juice lately. Turmeric is often talked about these days, but few people truly know the amazing benefits of this inexpensive amazing spice. To date, over 5,000 medical studies have found over 600 potential health benefits of turmeric! It’s no wonder it has been used for over 6,000 years. The major benefits of turmeric come from a polyphenol known as curcumin.

Pineapples are one of the most versatile and nutrient rich fruits we can consume. Most of use stick to eating the sweet, fleshy, nutrient dense part of the pineapple. But did you know that most of the powerful enzyme Bromelain exists mostly in the core and that you can make an incredibly healing tea out of the skin and core combined? Bromelain is important because it helps to improve protein digestion, reduce inflammation and treat indigestion.

There are so many herbal teas available to us that can truly add amazing healing to our lives. Many people are hesitant to try new herbal teas, and limit themselves to the more common black, green or white teas, and their varieties like chai, earl grey, matcha and perhaps a few common herbal teas like chamomile and yerba mate. But there is a veritable medicine chest of teas available to us in nature, and I would love to share those with you!

I use cumin in my recipes quite often. Not only because I love the taste, but because it is such a healing spice for the digestive system, and works exceptionally well for those suffering from indigestion, bloating, constipation, nausea, and gas. Nutritionally speaking, cumin seeds contain vitamins E, A and B-complex and are an excellent source of zinc, selenium, iron, copper, calcium, and manganese.

Low – Calorie Dieting equals starvation to your body. Did you know that the World Health Organization established that “starvation begins at fewer than 2100 calories per day”. In the United States, on any given day, half of all women eat less than 1500 calories. This is quite simply not enough food to keep the calorie furnace going.