The story behind Chios tears…
Chios mastic gum, often simply referred to as “mastiha” or “mastika”, is the resin that comes from the mastica tree, a small evergreen tree native to the Greek island of Chios. The production of Chios mastic gum to this day remains true to the original traditional cultivation practices, and is protected by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Greece. Dr. Carrie Decker discusses the many stages of mastiha production and its use in Greece, part of which she was able to experience in her travel to the island of Chios. The traditional medicinal uses and its current use as a dietary supplement will also be visited, as well as some interesting factoids about mastiha ice cream.
How Stress Hurts the Immune System – And What to Do About it (Video)
Stress: it isn’t just in your head. In this video, Dr. Erica Zelfand explains how our bodies respond to stress and how those reactions can wreak havoc on our immunological function, weight, blood sugar, heart health, and overall wellbeing. Topics covered include: the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the adrenal glands, cortisol, adrenaline, and the effects…
Eat Your Antioxidants, My Dear
The healthy person’s guide to fruits and vegetables If you ask the typical American how many servings of vegetables they eat per day, they’ll likely answer, “Not enough.” And they’re right; most of us aren’t getting enough of our plant-based foods or the nutrients they contain. In their 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, theUnited States…
Defeating Diabetes: Keeping Your Sugars in Check Through the Holidays
Diet, exercise, and supplements to keep sugars in check today, tomorrow, and through the holiday season Type-2 diabetes (T2DM), or insulin-resistant diabetes, is all too common in many modern societies. With countless food choices at our disposal, and with occupations and lifestyles that keep us sedentary, it isn’t surprising. The cost of food also…
