nutrition and health: Medicinal Foods

Acai Berry * Agave syrup * Alfalfa * Apple * Arrowroot powder * Artichoke, Globe * Avocado * Barley Grass * Bitter Melon * Black Walnut * Blueberries * Cacao * Cashew Nut * Coconut oil * Flax seed * Garlic * Goji Berries * Grapes * Hibiscus * HoneyBush * Hyacinth * Maitake mushroom * Noni * Parsley * Pomegranate * Ramon Nut * Rose * Salad Burnet * Sesame * Spirulina * Stinging Nettle * Sunflower * Turmeric * Watercress * Yacon Root *

It is no coincidence that so many healing herbs and plants are also foods, that provide nourishment and vital nutrients and vitamins. Your kitchen can and should be the primary source of the best medicines for you and your family.

Bulk Herbs	Bitters & Syrups	Herbal Extracts	Herbal Health

In the West we think of the foods we eat and the medicines we take as two distinct and separate things. While mainstream medical thought has slowly come around to accepting that most debilitating, preventable diseases like diabetes and heart disease and directly related to our diet, they are still far behind the curve when it comes to the concept of food as medicine.

A diet rich in nutritious foods and herbs provides much of the nutrients we need for health, however, nutritional supplements can be beneficial additions to management of osteoarthritis and other rheumatic conditions . Vitamin D and Vitamin B, as well as trace minerals; boron, selenium, zinc, and copper are not always present sufficient levels in commercially grown produce, and it is important to insure your levels are not too low. Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate work to help stop the progression of arthritis in approximately 30 percent of people, and are certainly worth trying. Supplements that are rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids like fish oils and flax have proven anti-inflammatory benefits, and should be first on your list of supplements to take. One you may not have heard of is avocado oil combined with soy, or avocado soybean unsaponifiables. (ASU) supplements have shown benefits for osteoarthritis of the knee, with patients experiencing less pain and stiffness in clinical trials. Two clinical studies found that the combination significantly improved functional disability and pain.¹ There is a delayed onset of action, which could frustrate those looking for quick relief. You may be able to reap some of the same benefits by including more avocado and soy in your diet, as well you should, but the supplements do provide a concentrated source.

It is no coincidence that so many healing herbs and plants are also foods, that provide nourishment and vital nutrients and vitamins. Your kitchen can and should be the primary source of the best medicines for you and your family.