Posts Tagged ‘immune system’
Posted by terrepruitt on December 9, 2020
I feel like there is a lot of pressure during the Holidays. I hear so many people exclaim this time of year is so stressful. Just recently I had a conversation with a friend who couldn’t sleep and she noticed that the same thing happens every year. I get it. And this year, this year could be so much worse in terms of amount of stress. There are so many ADDED stressors. We each have our own “regular” Holiday stress and we each have our own stressors that are added because of the world situation, so I am not going to list them because I don’t want to bring up one you may not have thought of! 🙂 You may have seen a few of my posts in the past about how I was trying to reduce the stress during the Holidays. I believe that there are different types of stress. Two examples of types are things we can’t control and the ones we can . . . perhaps even the stressors we cause or add ourselves. I know those were the ones I was trying to reduce. Life is stressful and this year is a doozy so why not try to alleviate some of the ones we can. I was thinking . . . .
Perhaps this year might be the year when your friends and/or family draw names. Instead of the regular everyone-buying-something-for-everyone, maybe just focusing on one person might help relieve some stress. It could also include maybe some conversations and building of relationship with that person. Maybe you get to talk to them to see what the want or what they like. To me, right now, it is precious to speak with people since I am not actually going out and seeing people. Some friends had made comments to me about how difficult shopping is this year because of the situations and restrictions. A lot of people don’t like shopping online . . . they like to be in stores to SHOP and that might not be possible this year. So buying for one person might be the answer to helping lessen the stress.
Seems like the stereo-typical stress of having to be with family is already eliminated, but for some not being able to be with family is causing stress. I know many people might be Zoomed out, but I still think it is still a great way to gather without being there in person. Whatever you regularly do, do that . . . if you dress up, dress up. If you have ugly sweater gatherings, do that. Try to keep the connection with friends and family but keep it as stress free as possible.
Maybe giving up sending out cards. Maybe not having the big dinner because it is just going to be the few in your household, so maybe skip a dish or two. Maybe decorating less. Look at what causes you stress — what you can control — and see if you can change the pattern. Whatever you can do to help alleviate stress in this stressful time of year, might be great this year.
I am a big believer that this time of year should be fun and joyful so I think less stress is best.
Also, this is a difficult one for many of us, get enough sleep. It is a fact that it is more difficult to deal with stress when we have not had enough sleep. So work on that. This is a big one for me as I tend to stay up late anyway and turning off my Christmas tree to go to bed is one less day I have to enjoy it so I stay up late.
Also . . . yeah, another one . . . eat good. Avoiding sugar is something that is really difficult this time of year . . . . although there might actually be less sweets to tempt you this year if you are not going into the office with a break room table full of treats. Sugar is not a friend to the immune system and right now our immune systems can use all the help they can get.
Stress does not help with sleep nor the immune system so it is somewhat cyclical.
This time of year is stressful. Especially this year with all that we have gone through. We are exhausted, tired, and stressed. Now some of these things are not things that people readily admit soooooo they might not even be identified. This year we’re going through stuff. So think about what you can do to help relieve the stress.
Anything you can cross of your stress-causing list?
Oh, Yin Yoga could help you with stress . . . having a free class Friday, 12.11.20 – info at http://www.helpyouwell.com/
Posted in Misc | Tagged: Christmas Tree, COVID-19 Christmas, Holiday pressure, Holiday stress, immune system, stress causing list, stressful, stressors | Leave a Comment »
Posted by terrepruitt on November 10, 2015
So recently I bought some oregano essential oil and I have yet to use it. I don’t even remember why I bought it, I mean I would have bought it with a specific purpose in mind, but then by the time I got it I forgot. Or . . . what could have happened is I purchased it with a specific purpose in mind thinking I needed oregano essential oil for that, but when I went to re-check on what I needed for that purpose I didn’t need oregano oil. So now I have oil and I am not sure what to use it for.
I am thinking it is one of the essential oils used to boost the immune system. I probably bought it for that because we were entering cold season and I thought it might give us some extra fighting power. Or maybe I thought to buy it when we were in the throes of our fungus situation. Perhaps I wanted to use it to help with that. Or perhaps I wanted to use it to help with sinuses, as in allergies. I honestly can’t remember.
The bottle says:
“Oregano is often referred to as nature’s cure-all. It is known to help get rid of a sickness quickly by fighting the root cause when diffused. It can ease sore throats, congestion, bronchitis and muscles aches. Add to a carrier oil at max dilution of 1% and apply directly to your abdomen to help with digestion.”
I don’t cook with oregano because I think it is one of those flavors I am not particularly fond of.
This essential oil smells smokey. I actually like the way it smells. But I am still not sure what I bought it for.
On one of my other essential oil posts, Crystal Breath, I had a friend comment about her use of oregano oil, she said, “I take Oregano oil a couple of different ways. The first way is with 2 (and only 2) drops YLEO Oregano oil in a tablespoon of raw honey. The other way is not Young Living but Gaia Oregano oil tincture. 30 drops in an inch of water (much more palatable that way BTW)!!!”
Do you use oregano oil? What do you use your essential oregano oil for? How do you use it?
Posted in Essential Oils | Tagged: immune system, oregano essential oil, Plant Therapy Essential Oils, sore throats, Young Living Essential Oils | 4 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on March 27, 2014
So, I am experiencing one of the oddest situations we have created for ourselves in the world of modern medicine and technology. I am sitting with my mother waiting for her scheduled time to die. I am starting this story for you a little bit backwards, because Tuesday I didn’t have a chance to post. My mother has been sick for a bit and I have been wanting to write about it. I wanted to share plus I am surprised to find it is a bit therapeutic. But I always thought I should ask her before I posted something, but now I feel it is past that point. I came up to be with her on Monday for the day for what we thought would be a procedure that would get her back out in the world and home. But it turned out that the doctors decided that the procedure would be too risky AND it wouldn’t really give us much more time. So they advised us to decide when they should remove the breathing tube that is keeping her breathing.
My mother is fully conscious. She has cancer that has affected her throat so she has not been able to eat for probably about a year and a half. She has not been able to swallow well for about eleven months. She’s been spitting into a cup and used a feeding tube. As I said I am telling this story a bit backwards, I will do another post regarding how this all started. I thought I would have time on Tuesday after my Nia class and Yoga Class to type up the beginning of the story so you could get a glimpse of how much she has been through and to end up here is just — I have no words. I started to type it but I didn’t finish and ended up not posting on Tuesday.
The cancer has spread to a point that is has basically mangled her trachea. She was in Reno on Friday and in the hospital with a tube in her throat Sunday morning. The tube is a small one they use on pediatric patients. That is the only size they could get down there and it was a struggle at that. One is not meant to live like that. The body will keep fighting it and trying to reject it. And with her body it is really going to try to fight it because her body has already had a severely compromised immune system. So a breathing tube — especially one meant for children — is not a long term solution.
When the tube was placed in her throat the idea was that it was going to be temporary — she was in the emergency room on Saturday and the tube was placed in during the wee hours of Sunday morning. The hope was they could put in a stent on Monday. Then, the thought was things could proceed a bit more. There was talk of additional chemotherapy and maybe even more radiation. But the team of doctors met and they were not optimistic. The doctor that would be performing the surgery was very frank and honest in talking to us about the procedure and the miracle that he would have to perform. He said he would do it if my mom said yes. But with the facts in front of her she decided not to have it done.
So then her next decision was when to have the doctors remove the breathing tube, the one that is keeping her alive. What kind of decision is that to have to make? I am still just having the most difficult time with someone having to be faced with that decision. Living with a breathing tube that is so small you can hardly get any air and that has to be cleaned out all the time is not for the weak. She can’t talk, she can’t laugh, she can’t cough, and she can’t cry. That is probably the worst part. She can’t cry. The pain is too horrible. She has much to grieve for and she can’t cry.
This is just crazy. I am at a loss. I am putting it down because I have to get it out. I am not ready to cry yet because I am pretty sure I won’t stop or maybe I am still just in shock. I had an entirely different picture of what was going on.
We are visiting as much as we can. Friends and family are visiting. She is communicating by writing. Sometimes she uses a little white board and sometimes she uses paper. We are not so great at guessing what she is trying to say, so she patiently writes it down for us. She also still has her sense of humor. She is funny.
I have found that the outpouring of love from people is really up lifting and very helpful. I have vaguely mentioned on Facebook that my mom was ill and many people have responded with positive thoughts and mentions of prayers. It really is helpful — all of it. To know that people are out there doing what they do when they want to support someone in need is amazing. So I am posting this to help shed some light on my vagueness and to give some of the people who are supporting me (and my family) some idea of what is going on.
Now the big thing. The big bad. The ugly. The most important thing . . . . the hardest thing . . . the thing I am typing blindly (I can’t see through tears). . . . can you take a moment out of your day (I know I am asking a lot) on Monday, March 31, 2014 at 1:00 pm to help her on her way? She is a strong, strong woman. A woman who has a lot to live for so letting go might be really difficult for her to do. If there were thoughts and prayers and vibes and ju-ju and love and songs and dances and lights and sparkly stuff to help her let go . . . to help her on the path to the next journey–that would be awesome. The angels will be there too, but I am sure she would love the additional stuff — she always loves a party. Would you do that?
Thanks.
Posted in Diane Bacho | Tagged: 2014, angels, breathing tube, cancer, collapsed trachea, dance, death decision, Diane Bacho - 1948 to March 11, emergency room, immune system, ju-ju, March 31, modern technology, mondern medicine, Nia, outpouring of love, pediactric breathing tube, positive thoughts, prayers, scheduled time of death, vibes | 48 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on November 7, 2013
As you know I am a Nia teacher not a doctor nor a medical professional, but I would like to share some things with you because it seems the situation is becoming more and more prevalent in the population. I thought I would point out a few things so we can learn the difference and try to keep it straight. I am talking about gut problems. Stomach, intestines, and colon issues. I talk to more and more people who are having issues. You might even be aware of the fact that my cat has an issue. Now, I am not going to get into what might be the cause of the issues because that is very complex and I think it relates to the individual. Plus you probably already know that I believe much of our food “stuff” is partially responsible for ALL of our health issues. This post though is just to help shed some light on the terms and letters you might be hearing. Specifically, IBS and IBD! What do those letters stand for: IBS is Irritable Bowel Syndrome and IBD is Inflammatory Bowel Disease. They are not the same thing. And I don’t think you want one over the other. They are just something no one wants.
Keep in mind I am just sharing what I have gleaned off the internet, so yes, the information could be faulty, but you might agree it makes sense. Also, keep in mind that this post, nor anything you read on the internet–including my blog–should not be used to diagnose a situation. Go to a medical professional for that. This article just might help you learn somethings that will allow you to ask the right questions or perhaps point you in the right direction to get a diagnosis (from a professional) and work on the treatment you need.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome/IBS and Inflammatory Bowel Disease/IBD are gastrointestinal disorders. The symptoms might present the same, but they are not the same . . . although some people think that you can have IBS if you have IBD. With IBS the doctor might not see anything wrong. The bowels appear normal, but they are not functioning normal and more than likely are causing pain and discomfort. With IBD, the intestines do not appear normal they are inflamed and do not function as they should. With IBD the entire digestive tract could be affected by inflammation.
IBS is considered a “functional disorder”, things look fine, but don’t operate fine. With IBD there is damage and the damage keeps the body from absorbing the necessary nutrients. A little like a gluten intolerance might cause pain and discomfort and Celiacs Disease keeps the body from getting what it needs from food. IBD is an autoimmune disease, where the body’s immune system is on overdrive and ends up doing damage to the very thing (the body) it is supposed to protect.
The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America’s website states researchers are leaning away from the idea that stress CAUSES IBS, they now believe it has to do with a “disturbance in the way the brain and the gut interact”. They think the nerve endings in the gut are overly sensitive and the controlling nerves are over active.
The cause of IBD is unknown.
Both disorders have digestive issues associated with them, and both can also have additional health issues arise in connection with the disorder. There you have it, a really quick glance at the main difference between Irritable Bowel Syndrome/IBS and Inflammatory Bowel Disease/IBD. Both have similar symptoms, but IBS does not have inflammation and show signs of damage, whereas the digestive tract with IBD is does.
What do you have to share about IBS/IBD?
Posted in Misc | Tagged: "functional disorder", autoimmune disease, Celiacs Disease, colon issues, doctor, Gastrointestinal Disorders, gluten intolerance, IBD, IBS, immune system, Inflammation, inflammatory bowel disease, intestines, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, medical professional, stomach, The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America | 2 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on August 3, 2013
I was to meet some friends for lunch on one of my friend’s birthday. I was the first one to arrive. There is a little store, Moonfyre Metaphysical, between the two restaurants we were deciding between. While I was waiting I popped in to see what stones they have. It is one of those stores that has stones, crystals, candles, incense, books, CD’s and stuff. They have a wide range of books. They also do readings and Reiki. I was primarily looking at the stones. One caught my attention — Mookaite (aka Australian Jasper).
My friend walked over to where I was and immediately reached for one and was about to say something when she saw that I had already noticed how pretty they were and was reading about it. It is a combination of jaspers; red and yellow. Some of the stones were primary red, some primarily yellow, and some a nice mix. I chose two. One with a multitude of striations. They are so pretty. Normally I am attracted to blue. So I always gravitate toward blue stones and crystals, but this time I was fascinated by a RED (and yellow) stone. Which is really funny because I normally don’t care for either. But these were really beautiful.
In the container in which the stone were held there was a little piece of paper describing the stones. I asked the clerk if I could have one of the papers if I bought the stone and he said that I could have it no matter what. They are printed for people to take. So I was happy.
The paper says:
MOOKAITE
Mookaite is a unique combination of red and yellow jaspers from Australia. It imparts both a desire for new experiences and a deep calm with which to face them. Flexible mookaite encourages versatility. It points out all possibilities and assists in choosing the right one. Mookaite is a physically stabilizing stone that fortifies the immune system, heals wounds, and purifies blood.
Ha. When I read that I figured I needed this stone and that is why I was attracted to it. At this time I am not sure about the “desire” for new experiences, but I am certain I am having new experiences. I am having to face situations with an extremely ill pet and so I focused on the “deep calm with which to face them”. It has been my experience that with medical situations you have to be versatile because diagnoses change along with treatments as things progress. I need to see all possibilities and need assistance in choosing the right one. While my beliefs actually are in God, I do believe that He has created tools for us that can help us along the way. So it is not outside of my scope to think that a stone might actually encourage some of these things. Even if it is just in the form of reminding me to pray and trust.
As I was typing this up I thought if it really is a stabilizing stone that fortified the immune system, heals wounds, and purifies blood, I should make a collar that will hold it and have my cat wear it. Oh, yeah, she would love that.
Information on a website regarding Mookaite made me laugh because it is so fitting. It said this stone helps when working with animals. Also it helps make you more aware of natural cycles and see life patterns. Trippy, huh? I walk into a store and pick up a stone that is thought to help with facing decisions and allows you to be aware of the circle of life.
I always wonder where the information comes from about what properties the stones and crystals have. Maybe that is another blog post.
Anyway . . . I was pretty convinced I was suppose to find it when I read the little paper, but the information on the website has me really amazed and even more certain.
Where do you stand in the belief about stones providing assistance?
Posted in Misc | Tagged: Campbell, deep calm, God's tools, Healing stones, immune system, jaspers, mookaite, Moonfrye Metaphysical, physically stabilizing | 9 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on February 28, 2012
My family has always eaten mushrooms. I have not. I remember a time when I didn’t like them. I remember that I started liking them. Not too long after I started liking them, my grandfather, who was the one that cooked them how I liked them, starting his bizarre food behaviors. The way he cooked the mushrooms by which I started liking them was sauteing them with browned butter and a ton of garlic. Then he started adding all types of things, things that might not actually belong mixed together. But my grandfather’s decline is not the subject of this post. Neither is the fact that he was the one that introduced me to mushrooms. The subject of this post is mushrooms. There was a time and I mentioned it before in my Some Foods Can Boost Your Immune System post, when mushrooms were not thought to have much nutritional value. In fact, I remember my mother and I talking about that. We had thought that mushrooms were pretty much nationally void. But now-a-days that is not the case. Mushrooms are not a superfood, but they do have nutritional value.
Mushrooms are a fungus. There are many kind, I know, but I am talking about the plain white variety. The ones that really go with almost anything savory. I mean the other kind are good, but some of them have a very strong flavor so they might drown out a delicate sauce or flavor. But the white ones are pretty plain, so you can make them any flavor you’d like — pretty much. At the same time receive their nutritional benefits.
Mushrooms can be eaten raw or cooked. When I eat them raw it is usually in a salad or in as part of a veggie tray with dip. Oh, we also do use them as a dipper when eating cheese fondue.
Per the USDA Nutrient Database the nutritional value for about 3.5 oz of mushrooms is:
about 27 Calories
Carbohydrates 4.1 g
Fat 0.1 g
Protein 2.5 g
Thiamine (vit. B1) 0.1 mg (9%)
Riboflavin (vit. B2) 0.5 mg (42%)
Niacin (vit. B3) 3.8 mg (25%)
Pantothenic acid (B5) 1.5 mg (30%)
Vitamin C 0 mg (0%)
Calcium 18 mg (2%)
Phosphorus 120 mg (17%)
Potassium 448 mg (10%)
Sodium 6 mg (0%)
Zinc 1.1 mg (12%)
So with that information we can see there is a good amount vitamin B in mushrooms. It seems that mushrooms can be forced to make vitamin D. The process can be compared to how we convert sunshine on our skin to vitamin D. Mushrooms have a chemical called ergosterol, which, when exposed to UV light is converted to vitamin D.
Wiki states: “Testing conducted by the Pennsylvania State University showed an hour of UV light exposure made a serving of mushrooms contain twice the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s daily recommendation of vitamin D. Testing by the Monterey Mushrooms Company demonstrated 5 minutes of UV light exposure made a serving of mushrooms contain four times the FDA’s daily recommendation of vitamin D.”
Which is funny to me because I thought mushrooms preferred dark.
On Fresh Mushrooms their antioxidant contents is cited. Antioxidants are good for the immune system. They help protect the cells from damage from free radical, which are thought to be the cause of many diseases. Mushrooms contain the antioxidant Ergothioneine and the mineral Selenium which works as an antioxidant.
I love mushrooms. I am happy that they are more than just good tasting, they are good for me. We eat a lot of mushrooms. Do you? How many times a week would you say you have mushrooms? How do you prepare them? Do you eat them raw or do you cook them?
Posted in Food | Tagged: antioxidants, browned butter, Calcium, cooked mushrooms, garlic, immune system, mushrooms, protein, raw mushrooms, sauteing, superfood, vitamin D | Leave a Comment »
Posted by terrepruitt on February 14, 2012
Our local warehouse store puts out a magazine, it is called The Costco Connection. In the February 2012 issue there was an article about “Foods to protect your immune system”, by Carl Germano. The magazine said that Whey Protein, cultured yogurt, mushrooms, elderberry, garlic, and oats helps protect the immune system.
Whey protein is a by-product of cheese from cow’s milk. So it could cause allergic reactions to people with milk allergies. But the article said it is the only protein that contains powerful substances called immunoglobulins. Funny that they use that word instead of the more familiar “antibody”. Antibodies are the much needed part of our immune system that guard against infections by fighting off bacteria and viruses. Antibodies are also made by our immune system in response to foreign objects in the body.
I had always been told to eat only yogurt with “live cultures” (eww, that grosses me out just like yeast!). But back in the day they were not publicly called probiotics and it was not the latest marketing trend. Although, I am thinking that other people also have an aversion to the term “live cultures” and that is why marketing has used “probiotics”. Probiotics help keep the balance in your gut (intestines). And a healthy gut is an important part of the immune system.
Mushrooms are a healthy fungus. This article made me feel much better because all my life I had thought mushrooms didn’t have any nutritional value. This article said “once thought to be nutrient void”. I knew it! I knew they were thought to be “nothing”. They deserve their own separate post! According to Wiki the actions are not understood, some clinical trials are showing results that mushrooms might help fight diseases. I think that anything that fights diseases qualifies as something that helps the immune system, right?
The University of Maryland has information regarding the Elderberry, saying that it has been used to treat wounds for centuries and it is used to treat colds and respiratory issues. Those things alone can point to immune boosts, right? I mean, if it treats a wound it probably helps fight against infection – which is an immune function. If it helps fight colds and respiratory issues – that sounds like something helping the immune system.
ALL MY LIFE, I have been told about the benefits of garlic. My family is huge on eating garlic. My grandfather used to fry it. It is pretty good that way. Strong, but good. (Not deep fried, just fried in a pan.) Garlic is a natural antibiotic. Eating it can help fight bacteria. And Dr. Oz has stated that putting a clove in your ear can help fight off ear infections.
Oats are the cholesterol-lowering food. Oats also have a lot of fiber which we know helps the body maintain balance. According to the article “studies have shown that beta-glucans, powerful immune-regulating compounds . . . . have positive effects in animals and humans.”
So if you eat these things as part of your diet you are helping your immune system. If you don’t, you might want to include them in your diet. If you include them in your diet already, how do you do it? I am really curious about Elderberries in the diet.
Posted in Food | Tagged: antibiotic, antibodies, boost immune system, cholesterol-lowering, Costo, elderberries, garlic, immune system, immunoglobulins, live cultures, milk allergies, probiotics, The Costco Connection | 11 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on November 10, 2011
Celiac disease is a chronic, hereditary, autoimmune digestive disorder characterized by a toxic reaction to gluten. It is not a food allergy. From Page 21 of the G Free Diet, by Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and contaminated oats.
According to PubMedHealth: “A food allergy is an exaggerated immune response triggered by eggs, peanuts, milk, or some other specific food. Symptoms usually begin immediately, within 2 hours after eating.”
Celiac disease is a condition that damages the lining of the small intestine and prevents it from absorbing parts of food that are important for staying healthy. The damage is due to a reaction to eating gluten. (per PubMedHealth)
People that have celiac disease run the risk of being malnourished because their immune system could have damaged the villi in the intestines. The villi absorb nutrients from our food. This compromised digestive system can result in symptoms of stomach aches, bloating, gas, cramps, diarrhea, to name a few.
In addition to this disease and food allergies, there are food intolerances and different degrees of them. An allergy will cause an immediate and severe reaction even if just a small amount is introduced to a person that is allergic. The severity could be as much as life threatening. An intolerance is more of a nuisance that will cause discomfort, but is–in general–less severe than an allergic reaction.
I have said it before, I love bread. Have I said that before? Anyway . . . sometimes my body is in such an icky state that I am to the point that I will give up bread if I have too. But gluten is in so many things even if I give up bread I could end up in that state. It is very tricky. I am trying to figure out if it is just an intolerance. It is so interesting. It is so very difficult to distinguish. It doesn’t help that I do have hay fever and the weather could be affecting me.
I have come to the conclusion that when we have a sunny day after a rainy day I am pretty much toast. I am a sneezy-sniffling-congested-so-exhausted-I-might-as-well-stay-in-bed-because-I-am-so-miserable mess. So it rains and I think, “Oh how nice the rain washing the world.” Then the next sunny day even though I enjoy the beauty of the day I am wiped out. Next time I will pay attention . . . thinking beforehand about what I eat and I will see if I don’t eat the foods that might cause “icky body” if that helps.
I do not think I have Celiac disease. I don’t think I have a food allergy. I do think that with all of the food combinations of GMOs and highly processed foods that I have developed some intolerances. Some think (I agree with them) that wheat has been so hybridized that it is something our bodies cannot digest. It is not the same wheat that out great-great-great-great grandparents ate. Not even getting into GMO stuff, just the breeding of wheat makes it different from what it was. That in combination with all the other stuff in our Western Diets. I think the combination makes it difficult for the body to process.
There are many people who are “gluten-free” so there has to be something to it. I just wanted to mention here the three different categories (if that is what they are called). There is disease, allergies, and intolerance. All different. Sometimes with the same symptoms, but with different levels of severity and different levels of effects on one’s health. Just interesting. What do you think?
Posted in Food | Tagged: celiac disease, food allergies, food intolerances, gluten, healthy, immune system, Pub Med Health, wheat | 8 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on September 20, 2011
Whenever I think of ginger I think of that thin pale pink wet looking stuff that is put on the plate next to the wasabi when sushi and sashimi is served. I have never been draw to that pale-watery-skin-looking pile. In fact I thought I didn’t like ginger because of that stuff. I believe that is pickled ginger. It is a bit on the spicy side. I don’t like spicy heat at all. I don’t even use pepper. Not too long ago I visited a friend and she said she was going to make soup. This was her first time making this particular soup. It has ginger in it. She asked if I like ginger and I think I told her I was ok with it. Well, it turns out I really liked the soup. I believe that one of the reasons I like the soup was because of the ginger. It gave it a great flavor. I have been waiting for it to get cold here in the Bay Area so I could make the soup because I have been craving it. It cooled down one day so I thought that was the start of our cool weather so I decided to make the soup. But I had to wait a few days because dinner plans were already made a few days out. So, of course the day I decide to make it the temperatures are in the high 80s maybe even the 90s, but I was determined. I made it, it came out really good. My hubby loved it. So now we have another dish to add to our dinner menus. And it is something we can eat ginger in.
Of course, while I was cutting up the ginger I began to wonder about it. What is its nutritional value if any?
According to WHFoods 1 oz has less than 5% of the RDA of potassium, magnesium, copper, maganeses, vitamin B6.
Even without a lot of nutrients it is a very effective digestive aid. Some material I read even suggested that as one of the reason it is served with raw fish. It has been used for over 2,000 years to treat stomach related issues.
I had heard a long time ago that it is good to help relieve nausea. It can help both the motion sick such as car sickness, air and sea sickness. It also aids in relieving the morning sickness. Some studies have shown that a little as a gram of ginger helps relieve vomiting associated with morning sickness. There are even recent studies that suggest ginger relieves some of the sickness associated with chemotherapy.
Since ginger is considered an anti-inflammatory, it is not surprising to hear that it is thought to help people with inflammatory issues, such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Both the pain and the swelling have been documented as being less when ginger is included in the diet.
Some studies also show that ginger may help in stopping the growth of cancer cells. Which isn’t surprising when at the same time it is thought that a state of constant/chronic inflammation helps contribute to the growth of cancer cells. It seems more and more things that are found to help “fight”/”prevent”/”disable” cancer are the ones that also help with inflammation. Inflammation is the body’s immune response it should not be a chronic state in the body.
Even more studies hint at ginger being an immune booster. So really what have you got to lose with adding it to your diet?
Do you like fresh ginger? If so, how do you use it? Please share as I am just learning how to eat this amazing root.
Posted in Food | Tagged: air and sea sickness, anti-inflammatory, car sickness, digestive aid, fresh ginger, ginger, ginger root, hot ginger, immune booster, immune system, Inflammation, morning sickness, nutritional value, osteoarthritis, pale pink, pickled ginger, relieve nausea, rheumatoid arthritis, sickness associated with chemotherapy, spicy ginger | 12 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on January 18, 2011
The Prime Rib potluck had purple potatoes. The hostess made purple potatoes or maybe they were blue. She roasted yellow and purple fingerling potatoes. I have seen purple potatoes in the store, but not purple fingerlings. I have never had a purple potato. The way they were cooked was incredible—they were perfect. The seasoning was perfect and they way they were cooked was perfect. The purple ones did not taste different from the regular ones. But they were so pretty. I was mesmerized by the deep purple color. There is an idea out there that it is important to eat the color of the rainbow. There is a lot of nutrients in the different colors of fruits and vegetables. Research is proving that there are antioxidants found in the different colors.
Anthocyanin is responsible for the purple and blue colors of fruits and vegetables. This particular flavonoid is proving to have anti-cancer and heart-protective effects. Research is also discovering this antioxidant has benefits shown to boost the immune system and protect against age-related memory loss.
Potatoes with the darkest color are proving to have almost four times the amount of antioxidants . . . AND they hold up to 75% of their nutrients after being cooked. As you know a lot of vegetables lose a large amount of their nutrients when cooked.
According to the USDA’s website: “All potatoes are a good source of complex carbohydrates, potassium, vitamin C, folic acid, and iron.” So with the purple variety you would be getting all of that plus the added benefits of antioxidants. PLUS . . . you can’t overlook the beautiful color they add to any plate!
Have you had a purple potato?
Posted in Food | Tagged: anthocyanin, anti cancer, antioxidant, complex carbohydrates, folic acid, immune system, iron, Potassium, potluck, Prime Rib, purple potatoes, roasted potatoes, vitamin C, yellow potatoes | 8 Comments »
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