1. Overcome Travel Sickness
Travel sickness is common with one third of the population being highly susceptible – especially children aged three to 12 years, people who experience migraine headaches, and women, particularly during menstruation and pregnancy. The primary cause of travel/motion sickness is the conflicting signals received by the brain from the eyes and inner ears – our balance centres. The eyes perceive movement while the inner ear can’t detect this movement. It’s called ‘visual disorienta- tion’ and the result is a feeling of severe nausea. Most experts agree that prevention is key.
Start preparing for your travels 24 hours before by avoiding spicy, fatty foods and taking a preparation of medicinal strength ginger. Ginger ale or ginger biscuits won’t be strong enough for most people so head to your health store or see a naturopath for the tincture form of this pungent herb. I asked some of our experts and suggestions were made to include other herbal medicines as well, such as baical skullcap, cinnamon and gentian, especially if you suffer from heartburn. Keeping your blood sugar stable helps with travel sickness, so pack some low glycemic snacks like nuts, wholemeal crackers, and veggie sticks. Alcohol is the worst thing you could drink, so sip on water regularly instead.
A tip that sometimes works is to fix your vision on a stable reference point, such as the horizon. You can also try travelling at night or use dark sunglasses during the day to reduce visual stimulation. Sit near the centre of the boat/plane/vehicle and, if especially susceptible, try to lie down or sit in a reclining position with your eyes closed. Avoid reading and get plenty of fresh air.
2. The goji berry: a nutrient powerhouse
In Chinese medicine the goji berry, also known as Chinese boxthorn, has the number one health ranking, a fact which has sparked much Western interest in this little reddish-orange berry that is native to Asia. The Goji has been used in traditional Chinese Medicine since the first century.
According to American neuropsychologist Rose Haney, goji berries are packed with essential amino acids as well as essential vitamins and trace minerals that provide immune- boosting effects. Of the 20 amino acids we need as building blocks for protein, humans can only produce 10. The rest must be supplied through the diet. Goji berries contain 18 amino acids of which eight are essential, which makes this food source a perfect alternative for meeting your daily protein requirements. Goji berries are a rich source of vitamins C, E and B1, B2 and B6. They also contain iron, copper, zinc, calcium, selenium and phosphorus.
Additional benefits of this nutrient-rich powerhouse include its antioxidant properties due to its beta-carotene and zeaxanthin content which may be beneficial in protecting against age-related eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration1 as well as protecting the skin from harmful ultra violet rays.2
When purchasing goji berries make sure they do not contain sulphur as many companies which produce moist goji berries use sulphur dioxide or sodium metabisulfite to retard the fermentation process.
References
- Wedrich A. et al. The role of the carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin, in protecting against age-related macular degeneration: A review based on controversial evidence. Nutrition Journal. 2003; 2:20.
- Bastyr Centre for Natural Health. Beta-Carotene and Other Carotenoids Protect Skin from Ultraviolet Damage
3. Coconut oil & Alzheimer’s disease
Science has shown that coconut oil is one of the most healing foods in nature and now it seems that it may help Alzheimer’s patients.
A brain that has suffered the ravages of Alzheimer’s dis- ease can no longer make efficient use of glucose for fuel. Coconut oil seems to offer an alternative.
Coconut oil is composed mainly of saturated fat, which is necessary for many internal functions, including brain function. This oil is also full of medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs), which are sent directly to the liver where they are used as energy almost immediately. Once MCFAs are metabolised, their by-products (ketones) are sent to the brain where they can be used as fuel, helping this organ to operate as optimally as possible.
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4. Cortisol, stress and hormone link
Dealing with stress is of paramount importance to the general functioning of your hormones.
What is important to be aware of is that chronic stress comes in many forms, not just the obvious emotional, financial, relationship, work stress that we are all so aware of. Long-term illness, injury, pain or inflammation are also stressors to the body, raising cortisol levels and disrupting our hormonal balance.
5. The Cause of IBD Discovered? A Massive Step Forward
A major cause of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been discovered by UK scientists. They found a weak spot in our DNA that is present in 95% of people with the disease.
6. Mosquitoes – more than a traveller’s nemesis
It is mosquito time for us here in South Africa and I have just come across a very interesting piece of information, published in Nature Communications: ‘Antibiotics in ingested blood enhance the susceptibility of mosquitoes to malaria infection by disturbing their gut microbiota. Antibiotic exposure additionally increases mosquito survival and fecundity…’ Hopefully you are not on antibiotics! Some mosquitoes are resistant to insecticide treated bed nets. Perhaps it’s time to work with a more natural approach anyway.
We are all familiar with malaria, but another mosquito-borne virus, called chikungunya, made its début in the Western Hemisphere. You pronounce it a bit like ‘chicken-goon- ya.’ Although the illness is rarely fatal, it's by no means mild and it causes severe joint pain.
You can lessen mosquito bites by reducing the number of mosquitoes in an area. Eliminate standing water, which are any objects that can hold as little as one tablespoon of water for seven to 10 days — the time it takes for eggs to hatch and larvae to mature. Get rid of all standing water, or put a gold fish in it! Ponds populated with the right kinds of fish will work like natural mosquito traps. Empty watering cans and flower pots. Commonly overlooked breeding spots include old tires, clogged gutters, trashcan lids, and abandoned tubs and buckets. Of course, you can do an excellent job of removing habitat and still have mosquitoes, compliments of your neigbour’s garden!
Covering up may be the last thing you want to do. But it's one way to help prevent mosquito bites without using chemical mosquito repellent.
Use fans or hope the wind blows. If the air is moving, mosquitoes will have a hard time landing on you. When you are sitting on the patio or porch, turn on a fan. Good patio mosquito repellent plants include, geranium, lemon balm and catnip.
Citronella candles have been shown to reduce mosquito bites by up to 42% while being burned.
Natural repellents tend to be volatile plant oils:
- Citronella
- Lemon eucalyptus
- Castor
- Rosemary
- Lemongrass
- Cedar
- Peppermint
- Clove
- Geranium
- Cinnamon
You can look on the internet for recipes on how to make you own, or visit a health store and select a natural insect repellent.
‘If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.’
– Dalai Lama
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7. Butyrate and obesity link
There are a large number of reports that butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid, is inextricably related to obesity and weight loss.
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