Green Health and Complementary Medicine
Beta-glucans are naturally occurring polysaccharides which are found in the cell wall of fungi and yeasts. However, modern agricultural practices and processes have removed the majority of the beta-glucans in our diet. In the Victorian era, even though infant mortality was high, research suggests that following childhood, life expectancy was not markedly dierent than it is today. It is thought that the consumption of foods rich in beta-glucans may have played a key role in the Victorians’ long and healthy life spans.1
Good health cannot exist independently from a strong immune system. Every minute of every day, this complex system is under constant attack from pollution, germs, viruses or stress.
A weakened immune system is susceptible not only to colds, flu and infections, but also to more serious health conditions. Various factors can negatively impact immune health such as alcohol,
sugar consumption, lack of sleep and a nutrient poor diet.
Kava kava (Piper methysticum) is a popular medicinal plant, which hails form he south pacific islands. The islanders there have used it as a treatment for a variety of mental health issues, over the centuries, which includes depression, anxiety and insomnia.
If you often experience sleeping problems, instead of popping sleeping pills, you can use essential oils, which are a much healthier option. These oils can help you to unwind and relax before you go sleep and even sleep deeper. The quality of your sleep can be influenced by many things including what you drink and eat, what you do before going to bed, the things beside your bed and your level of stress. Some of the essential oils you can use for sleeping problems include lavender, vetiver, roman chamomile, ylang ylang, bergamot, sandalwood, marjoram and cedar wood.
Superfood is a group of products in which the concentration of nutrients exceeds the concentration of nutrients in 99% of other foods. Superfoods are commonly referred to as something between food and medicine.
In recent years, some research has come out demonstrating that casein in cow’s milk may sometimes break down into peptides called casomorphins. These peptides have opioid structures, leading to the popular (though as of yet unfounded) conclusion that dairy may act like opioids in the human body. Soon the headlines were flying with absurd claims that cheese is like heroin. Some even stupider claims suggest that cheese may be akin to crack cocaine – a comparison that misses the point entirely, since crack cocaine is not an opioid. And the vegan advocates didn’t miss the opportunity to remind us, “See, we told you that milk is bad!”
One of the myths that originally prompted me to write this book is the persistent myth that white flour turns into glue in the gut, binding, clogging, and coating the stomach and intestines. Those who make this claim often advocate for consuming whole grain flour or other whole grain foods instead of white flour foods. So is there any merit to the argument? And are the proposed remedies helpful alternatives?
