So much to learn!

There is so much more that we need to learn about everything than what my parents had to know. Of course that has not been good for them either. Even though we have the internet there is still a lot of information for us to absorb.

My interest lately has been cooking! Unlike my Grandmother there is more and more information out there about what to eat and what not to eat. Most importantly there are herbs and spices that need to be recognized as what our bodies need just as much if not more than what whole fruits and vegetables can do for us.

This again is to address the issue of digestive health. Recently, I had to have a check up with a doctor and everything is normal so I want to pass on what I have learned the hard way. Much of what I used to help myself is from Dr. Oz and I have been doing it for many years. Now however, there is more data to prove that it works so don't just take my word for it. Somethings that I do and want to remember is:

• Drink green tea everyday, all day
• Turmeric (Curcumin) -add the spice to meats, eggs and soups or take capsules 
• Oregano leaves rough ground - sprinkled on top of eggs, tomatoes, meats, etc.
• Rosemary rough ground - cooked into meats and stews
• Fennel seed - can be slow simmered into meats and sauces
• Ginger root - grated on fruits, vegetables, soups, etc.
• No-Salt added - spices can be added to everything

These are just a few of the most important herbs to use to achieve good over all health. According to WebMD, Green tea’s biggest benefit? "It's all about the catechin content," says Beth Reardon, RD, a Boston nutritionist. Catechins are antioxidants that fight and may even prevent cell damage. In as much, Curcumin is the main active ingredient in turmeric. It has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and is a very strong antioxidant. Oregano is an important culinary and medicinal herb that has been used in medicine and cooking for thousands of years - with a number of potential health benefits. Rosemary, the herb not only tastes good in culinary dishes such as rosemary chicken and lamb, but it is also a good source of iron, calcium, andvitamin B6. (It is typically prepared as a dried whole herb or a dried powdered extract, while teas and liquid extracts are made from fresh or dried leaves.) Fennel is used for various digestive problems including heartburn, intestinal gas,bloating, loss of appetite, and colic in infants. It is also used for upper respiratory tract infections, coughs, bronchitis, cholera, backache, bedwetting, and visual problems. Ginger is commonly used to treat various types of “stomach problems,” including motion sickness, morning sickness, colic, upset stomach, gas, diarrhea, nausea caused by cancer treatment, nausea and vomiting after surgery, as well as loss of appetite.

These are just a few of the most important herbs that we need to incorporate into our diets on a regular bases. Sometimes I think that I should carry some of them with me when I dine out to make sure they get into my diet. Try different ones and see what works for you.