How smart is Popeye?

Smarter than you think. Popeye attributes his amazing strength to eating spinach but he is also protecting himself against osteoporosis, heart disease, colon cancer and arthritis. The Journal of Nutrition recently published a report that spinach fights prostate cancer while The Nurses Health Study reveals women whose diets are high in kaempferol, a nutrient in spinach, have a 40 percent less risk of ovarian cancer.

Spinach, like other leafy green vegetables, provides more nutrients than most other foods. Vitamin C and Vitamin A, two nutrients in spinach, are important antioxidants that work to reduce free radicals in the body known to cause blocked arteries, heart attacks, or strokes. Spinach’s Vitamin K promotes bone health. Add the iron and calcium and you have the mighty spinach. Make your spinach organic and you even increase the healthy nutrients of the mighty spinach. According to a study by Rutgers University comparing conventionally grown spinach with organic spinach, organic spinach has 97 percent more iron and 99 percent more manganese than conventionally grown spinach. Many of the essential trace elements that are absent in the conventionally grown spinach are rich in the organic. The United States—notably California and Texas—is one of the largest commercial grower of spinach.. Help the economy and yourself, have organic spinach for dinner.

Organic Spinach Recipe

Jasmati Rice with Spinach

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 large organic sweet onion, chopped
• 1 cup organic frozen mixed vegetables, defrosted
• 1 package of organic spinach, rinsed and dried
• 1 cup uncooked organic Jasmati Rice
• 2 cups of organic chicken broth

Place rice in pan with chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer. Wrap towel around lid. Secure wrapped lid on pan, making sure the cloth does not touch any part of stove top. Simmer rice for 20 to 25 minutes or until all broth is absorbed and rice is slightly dry. Turn off heat but keep pan on burner. Remove wrapped lid.

Sauté onion in olive oil for 2 minutes. Add mixed vegetables and spinach. Continue to sauté for 3 to 5 minutes. Add rice to large bowl. Add spinach mixture and stir well.
Serve Jasmati Rice and Spinach with sliced tomatoes on the side. Tomatoes help the body absorb the iron in spinach.
Sandy Powers
www.organicforhealthsite.com

Kava Kava is a member of the pepper family which grows as a bush in the South Pacific. Captain James Cook first discovered kava, and gave the plant the botanical name which means intoxicating pepper. Kava has been used for thousands of years for its medicinal effects as a sedative, muscle relaxant, diuretic, and a remedy for nervousness and insomnia. Kava has also found to be a very effective pain reliever comparable to aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen.

Recent clinical studies have shown that kava is a safe, non addictive anti-anxiety herbal, which is as effective as prescription medications containing benzodiazepines such as valium. However, unlike the prescription meds which may cause confused thinking processes and lethargy, kava actually has been demonstrated to improve concentration, memory and reaction time for people who are suffering from the symptoms caused by anxiety. Kava can be beneficial in achieving a relaxed state of mind without the adverse side effects.

Kava is mildly narcotic and produces mild euphoric changes which elevate the mood, and can also increase the sense of sound. Care should be taken to regulate dosage levels however, as very high dosages can lead to muscle weakness, visual impairment, dizziness, and drying of the skin. Long term usage can contribute to hypertension, reduced protein levels, blood cell abnormalities, or liver damage. Mixing kava with alcoholic beverage intake can increase the action of kava, and should be avoided.

With the exception of the opium poppy, kava is known to herbalists to be the most relaxing drug. Pharmacological studies have shown that kava’s active ingredients, kava lactones, produce a physical and mental feeling of relaxation and well being. It has been used in the treatment of vaginitis, gonorrhea and menstrual cramps. It is also useful for the treatment of gout, rheumatism, bronchial congestion, and cystitis. Kava can also be applied topically as a liniment for pain relief. Because of the relaxed state and sharpening of the senses this herb creates, it is also a powerful aphrodisiac.

One of the main benefits of Kava Kava is that, unlike St. John’s Wort, which requires a cumulative effect in order to be beneficial, kava works within a few minutes to help alleviate anxiety. Kava Kava can be found in many traditional and herbal pharmacies in tablet or capsule form.

NOTE: Do not use if pregnant, nursing, or being treated for depression. (Kava is a temporary mood enhancer and should not be used to treat clinical or severe depression.)

Goji berries are rich in antioxidants, particularly carotenoids such as beta-carotene and zeaxanthin. One of zeaxanthin’s key roles is to protect the retina of the eye by absorbing blue light and acting as an antioxidant. In fact, increased intake of foods containing zeathanthin may decrease the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of vision loss and blindness in people over the age of 65.

Facts about Tibetan Goji Berries

• There are many varieties of Lycium. One in particular is called “goji.” And goji is considered to be the Mother of all Lyciums!
• Goji grows in very remote unpolluted hills and valleys of Tibet and Mongolia. The soil that it grows in is so rich in nutrients that the berries are practically exploding with nourishing vitality.
• Local wildcrafters are careful to distinguish the goji berry from its distantly related offspring, the Chinese Wolfberry (Lycium barbarum). Whilst the later evolved (over centuries) from the goji berry, its genetic makeup differs considerably.
• The nutrient dense energy of the Tibetan Goji berry has been recognized to have the highest in nutritional value of all the 80 plus varieties of Lycium berries on Earth!

Healing Powers of Tibetan Goji Berries

• Relieves flatulence and works as a mild laxative
• Aids in reducing fever
• Antibacterial
• Used in treating ulcers
• Thought to have cancer treating properties when ingested.
• The fruit is a very rich source of vitamins and minerals. It’s especially rich in vitamins A, C and E, flavoniods, essential fatty acids, and other bioactive compounds

How to use Tibetan Goji Berries

• Eat the whole berry (fresh or dried)
• Add to hot or cold cereals
• Add to teas, fruit juices, smoothies etc
• Can be cooked with in any meal (the sky is the limit with this ultimate berry!)

As far back as 2002, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) ratified the recommendation of a list of 38 ingredients being added to the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances.

The government acted on criticisms that the regulation §205.606 was being too broadly interpreted. They decided to clarify the rule and reign in the wanton approval of non-organic substances. From the Federal Register, June 2007 issue:

Until recently, some producers, handlers and certifying agents have misinterpreted National List regulations §205.606 to mean that any non-organic agricultural product which was determined by an accredited certifying agent to be not commercially available in organic form could be used in organic products, without being individually listed pursuant to the National List procedures.

In January 2005, this gap was effectively closed when they stipulated that the approved items had to be present on the National List in order to be sanctioned for use as “organic.”

“Smooth Transition” Means Longer Time with Unapproved, Mislabeled Ingredients in Circulation

The ruling, further, made provision for the “smooth transition” to compliance with the more strict interpretation of regulation §205.606:

• Mislabeled products can remain so labeled, and on the market until June 2007
• At that time, there would be no new items accepted into the market
• All pre-existing supplies can be sold until stores depleted
• Once depleted, then they had to comply with the formulaic changes, change their labeling, or face fine

About the 38 Non-Organic Ingredients added to the National List

On the website, The Daily Green, Karen Berner has complied information about the 38 ingredients, from sources including the USDA, Organic Trade Association, and Organic Consumers Association. In her article she covers:

• Who supported inclusion of the 38 ingredients in the National List
• Why Organic Consumers Association is against their inclusion
• Where the ingredients come from and where they can be found

The Name is Changed, Only

The Federal government is allowing producers to sell non-organic food ingredients listing them as “organic.” Putting these non-organic materials in the “safe” organic categories, however, does not change the substance to something safe. It only serves business and confuses the consuming public. With this possibility of non-organic mixed with organic, a good rule of thumb would be to suspect anything that doesn’t say “100% Organic.”

For now, you can’t call just anything “organic.” It must appear on the National List as “organic.” The question remains, though, should there even be a list of pretend organic substances in the first place?

Facts about Peppermint:

• The chief element of peppermint oil is Menthol
• Commonly used as a both a flavoring and a therapeutic agent
• Peppermint oil has been widely used since Egyptian times
• 2 dozen species and hundreds of sub-varieties within the mint family
• Easy to grow: likes plenty of water and does great in just about any soil
• All mints are native to Europe but now grown the world over

Healing Powers of Peppermint:

• Causes constriction of blood vessels
• Provides mental clarity and elevates mood
• A natural insect repellent
• Induces perspiration
• Acts as an analgesic and is cooling to the skin

Uses of Peppermint (just to name a few):

• Expels gas and aids in calming indigestion
• Great at easing nerves and helps to de-stress
• Promotes easy breathing
• Aids in reducing fevers
• Natural astringent
• Relieves smooth muscle spasms

Take time to enjoy the many benefits of using peppermint both for medicinal use and to add flavor to your favorite items.

**Cautions: Do not ingest peppermint oil unless otherwise specified by a health care professional and be very careful if using it topically, as it may cause skin irritation in some individuals.