FOOD AS MEDICINE
TART CHERRY JUICE
A friend had visited Canyon Ranch and learned about the benefits of Tart Cherry Juice. And the benefits are many. It can help fight inflammation, reduce muscle soreness, and boost your immune system. Tart cherry juice contains melatonin, so it may help you sleep better. I understand a young mom went viral on TikTok touting its sleep benefits for her toddler, and it is selling out at many grocery stores! I find it delicious and replaced my red wine with it during DryJanuary. It is much tastier than non-alcoholic wine! I buy the organic brand of Lakewood, but your local grocer may have other brands and varieties. The most important thing is to make sure it is Tart Cherry Juice.
A friend had visited Canyon Ranch and learned about the benefits of Tart Cherry Juice. And the benefits are many. It can help fight inflammation, reduce muscle soreness, and boost your immune system. Tart cherry juice contains melatonin, so it may help you sleep better. I understand a young mom went viral on TikTok touting its sleep benefits for her toddler, and it is selling out at many grocery stores! I find it delicious and replaced my red wine with it during DryJanuary. It is much tastier than non-alcoholic wine! I buy the organic brand of Lakewood, but your local grocer may have other brands and varieties. The most important thing is to make sure it is Tart Cherry Juice.
CELERY JUICE
A friend of mine had a brunch to introduce her friends to many foods she committed to while recovering from various health issues. At the brunch, she gave us all the book, The Medical Medium, which recommends multiple cleanses as a journey to health and is a proponent of celery juice. One takeaway from the brunch was how effective a daily celery juice was to cleanse the body. Some of the claims of celery juice are that it is hydrating and has nutrients. Other claims that are not proven are that it helps gut health and prevents illness. I decided to try celery juice; I just had to find a source of celery juice that I liked. Fortunately, Namaste Cafe makes excellent celery juice. I have extra ginger in it because I love the taste, and it has health benefits.
DAILY ACV - APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
When I turned 55, my cholesterol spiked. I have a pretty healthy diet and lifestyle, so I was surprised. As the youngest of 4 girls, I checked in with my sisters, who had all been put on a statin to control their cholesterol levels. I agreed to take the 10 mg of Lipitor that my doctor prescribed, but I wanted to see what else I might do to help Lower my cholesterol. After a lot of digging, I learned that a daily dose of Apple Cider Vinegar (raw, unfiltered) has been shown to lower cholesterol (see article included in this post). I decided to give it a try. I now take 1 tablespoon of Bragg's ACV daily with 1 tablespoon of local honey in 4 ounces of warm water. My cholesterol reduced, and I have built up better resistance to local allergies by taking local honey. I research as best I can evidence that what I subscribe to has merit. I will share an article that may interest you on the merits of apple cider vinegar.
Fortune Magazine published an article on December 31, 2023 that citing "The most “robust” evidence is for apple cider vinegar’s effects on blood sugar, Johnston says. In a 2021 review of nine studies published in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, apple cider vinegar lowered fasting blood sugar and HbA1c (an average of blood sugar levels over three months) in people with type 2 diabetes. It also brought down their total cholesterol." Read the full article on the link below.
LOCAL HONEY
While the scientific evidence does not support ingesting local honey helps with seasonal allergies, it has worked for me. I was a terrible allergy sufferer. I faithfully have a tablespoon of local honey daily with one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in 4 ounces of warm water. According to the Tom's of Maine website, local bees make local honey, which means the pollen they collect and brings back to the hive is all sourced from local plants. Since many seasonal allergies are caused by these same plants, eating honey-containing pollen can combat those allergies. While no formal studies have been conducted on the effects of local honey on allergies the idea behind trace exposure to allergens to desensitize patients to food allergies is gaining steam. In addition to potentially fighting allergies, one of the great benefits of local honey is that it's unprocessed and pure. The stuff you find in the grocery stores is often filtered a process that removes the trace amounts of pollen it might contain. The purer the honey, the stronger its medicinal benefits like potential anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.
ESSENTIA - MY FAVORITE WATER
For a few reasons, Essentia water has been my go-to water for a while. My chiropractor, Ali Austin at Duxbury Wellness, recommended that I drink water with electrolytes. Electrolytes play a crucial role in muscle function, helping relieve tight muscles. They are minerals with an electric charge, like sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, essential for various bodily functions. Maintaining a proper balance of electrolytes through diet or supplementation can be beneficial in managing muscle tightness. My sister was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer 12 years ago. I am overjoyed to say she is cancer-free. When she switched to immunotherapy for treatment, she also changed oncologists. Her new oncologist recommended many dietary changes, including only drinking pure water. Since that time, I have been drinking pure water exclusively. When I searched for water with electrolytes, I chose Essentia because it is pure water with electrolytes.
