The common Yarrow, a hardy and pretty plant found growing in fields and ditches, is a valuable herb in every kitchen cupboard.

The medicinal applications of this plant are plentiful.

The wild plant is great for treating flu and fevers. Yarrow has a healing and soothing effect on mucous membranes. When Yarrow Root is used at the beginning, a cold often breaks up within 24 hours.

Since thousands of years yarrow has been used for a number of health conditions such menstrual ailments and bleeding hemorrhoids. In Chinese medicine yarrow is considered to represent the balance between yin and yang. In ancient China it was considered to be a sacred plant.

Similar to chamomile, yarrow is a common herbal remedy for bloating, flatulence, and mild gastrointestinal cramping.

Some studies have shown that yarrow can reduce smooth muscle spasms, which might explain its usefulness in gastrointestinal conditions. The alkaloid obtained from the herb known as achilletin has been reported to stop bleeding; however, no human clinical trials have confirmed the effectiveness of these traditional uses of yarrow.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has okayed the irradiation of lettuce and spinach. Food irradiation is the process of exposing food to ionizing radiation in order to destroy disease causing pathogens, like bacteria and viruses.

However, you can make your voice heard by taking part following this link to the FDA's 30-day comment period.

Irradiating food makes food more dangerous, not safer. Some major concerns with food irradiation include:

-The formation of free radicals, which can set off chain reactions in the body that destroy antioxidants, tear apart cell membranes, and make the body more susceptible to cancer, diabetes, heart disease, liver damage, muscular breakdown and other serious problems.

-Serious health problems in laboratory testing, including, including premature death, fatal internal bleeding, cancer, stillbirths and other reproductive problems, mutations and other genetic damage, organ malfunctions, stunted growth and vitamin deficiencies.

-The creating mutant forms of dangerous bacteria, like E. coli and Salmonella

-Nutrient loss in foods, including the destruction of vitamins and essential fatty acids.

-The formation of carcinogenic chemicals, like benzene and toluene.

-While irradiated lettuce and spinach must be labeled in supermarkets, there are currently no labeling requirements for restaurants serving irradiated produce or other items. Patrons and clients may consume irradiated lettuce and spinach in the future without their knowledge, nor consent.

Make your voice heard! During the 30-Day Comment Period visit
http:

Dr. Ronald B. Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, recently issued a warning to his faculty and staff. He says to limit cell phone use because of the possible risk of cancer. Herberman explains that an international expert panel of pathologists, oncologists and public health specialists recently declared that electromagnetic fields emitted by cell phones should be considered a potential human health risk. To date, a number of countries including France, Germany and India have issued recommendations that exposure to electromagnetic fields should be limited. In addition, Toronto's Department of Public Health is advising teenagers and young children to limit their use of cell phones, to avoid potential health risks.

More definitive data that cover the health effects from prolonged cell phone use have been compiled by the World Health Organization, International Agency for Research on Cancer. However, publication has been delayed for two years. In anticipation of release of the WHO report, the attached prudent and simple precautions, intended to promote precautionary efforts to reduce exposures to cell phone electromagnetic radiation, have been reviewed by UPCI experts in neuro-oncology, epidemiology, neurosurgery and the Center for Environmental Oncology.

Changing your diet and making good food choices can have a significant impact on lowering your cholesterol to a healthy level and help you stay off medications.

Researchers have found that eating certain "functional foods" have proven to make a big impact on your cholesterol levels. Studies have shown that combining these "superfoods" may work as well as some cholesterol-lowering medicines to reduce your "bad" LDL cholesterol levels.

The evidence is strong enough that even the FDA has given the certain foods the status of a "health claim" for managing cholesterol.

Many people can't handle or are concerned about the side effects from cholesterol drugs. Focusing on diet gives them an inexpensive and simple option.

However, eating the right foods won’t allow you to eat more of the high-fat foods. It is imperative to cut back most saturated and trans fats, because saturated fats raise your total cholesterol. Trans fats, which can be found in some store-bought cookies, crackers and cakes, are particularly bad for your cholesterol levels because they raise low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the "bad" cholesterol and lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL), "good" cholesterol.

St. Louis-based Monsanto announced recently that it is selling its posilac division that makes bovine growth hormone, also known as rBGH or rBST.

The Organic Consumers Association triumphed over the sale reporting that after 5 years of declining sales and several legal setbacks, Monsanto has decided to dump rBGH.

Monsanto insists that there's no problem with the product. But nationwide declining sales of rBGH injected milk and a growing number of consumers and dairy processors proof otherwise. Signs advertising "No artificial growth hormones used" can be found in dairy departments throughout the United States.

Due to consumer pressure, large retailers, dairies, and cafes, from Kroger to Publix and Safeway are selling milk free of artificial hormones. Countries like Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, and the European Union have banned rBGH because of its impacts on human and animal health. Starbucks has refused to purchase dairy from treated cows. Chipotle Mexican Grill, a McDonald’s spin-off, has banned rBST in its company stores.

The kids are heading back to school. So how about choosing more environmentally healthy products this year for your child’s and the environment’s sake?

On of the most important considerations to make is the storage and transportation of lunch.

Choose non-lead painted lunchboxes
Avoid lunchboxes made with lead and PVC, which are, based on research, likely two unsafe lunchbox materials.
Check for lead safe or even better, lead free labels. The Center for Environmental Health (CEH) found lead in the PVC (vinyl) lining of several lunch-box samples it tested. Lead is a neurotoxin and can lead to consequences on a child’s development. Children are only exposed to small amounts of lead through their hands holding a lunch box or through their food if it’s stored unwrapped inside the bag. However, researcher and health professionals believe that this exposure over time can lead to enough lead accumulation to cause problems for your child.

Scientists say they have discovered that watermelons have a similar effect than the drug Viagra but without the negative side effects. Watermelons have an ingredient called citrulline which can cause the production of a compound that helps relax the body's blood vessels, similar to what happens when a man takes Viagra, said scientists based in Texas.
Citrulline is found in the flesh and the rind of the fruit and turns into arginine when it reacts with enzymes of the body.
Bhimu Patil, a researcher and director of Texas A&M's Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Center, where the study took place, said watermelons might not be as organ-specific as Viagra, but theyt can be still helpful in dealing with erectile dysfunction problems.
"Arginine boosts nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels, the same basic effect that Viagra has, to treat erectile dysfunction and maybe even prevent it," said Patil.
Based on the study, which was financed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the nitric oxide can also help with heart disease, angina, high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems.
The greatest amount of citrulline is found in the yellow-fleshed watermelons, while the fruit's rind is also richer in this compound. It takes about six cups of watermelon to increase the level of arginine in order to achieve the beneficial effect.
Watermelon has a diuretic effect and has been used in the past as a natural treatment for people suffering from kidney problems.
Watermelons might also be helpful to those suffering from type-2 diabetes. Lower amounts of citrulline are also found in cucumbers and cantaloupe and in the milk casein. The greatest amounts of citrulline are found in walnut seedlings, but typically they are too bitter for human consumption.
Worldwide, there are over 1,200 varieties of watermelon. About 200-300 varieties are grown in the U.S. and Mexico, although there are about 50 varieties that are very popular.
Organic seedless and seeded watermelons can be grown without the use of agricultural chemicals. Compared to many other fruit and vegetable crops, watermelons are not heavily attacked by either insects or diseases. Weeds can be controlled by mechanical cultivation, by the use of natural mulches or by the use of biodegradable plastic mulch. Soil fertility for watermelon crops can be increased by additions of compost, animal manure, green manure cover crops and other natural fertilizers.

From the cultures of the Amazon and Brazilian rainforests comes a small dark purple berry that’s been ranked as one of the new superfoods.

Açai (pronounced ah-sigh-ee) berries, also known as cabbage palm berries, grow on the Acai Palm Tree and are related to the saw palmetto berries, and are extremely rich in antioxidants.

The acai berry is especially rich in the antioxidant properties by its concentration of anthocyanin, a colour purple antioxidant, also found in red wine that prevents oxidants from harming connective tissue while repairing damaged proteins in blood vessel walls. However, the dosage of anthocyanins in acai berries is 10-33 higher than in red wine.

The acai berry also contains 19 essential amino acids, two essential fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-9), calcium, iron, phosphorus, manganese, potassium, copper, zinc, vitamins A, C, E, a range of B vitamins, plus trace minerals, fibre, protein, and phytosterols beneficial for prostate and urinary tract health.

Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin and plays an important role in blood clotting. Deficiency is Vitamin K can result in blood clotting and internal bleeding. Vitamin K helps the blood to coagulate or to become solid.

Vitamin K, unlike other fat-soluble vitamins, is not stored in the body. Therefore it is important to get it from food. Vitamin K also activates certain proteins which help calcium to build strong bones. It also even may keep calcium out of arteries and in the bones.

The two main forms of vitamin K are Vitamin K1 (phytonadione) and Vitamin K2 Vitamin K2 compounds (menaquinones). K1 is the natural form of vitamin K, which is found in plants, and provides the primary source (up to 90%) of vitamin K to humans through dietary consumption. Vitamin K2 is made by good bacteria in the human gut, and provides about 10% of the human vitamin K requirement.

Vitamin K1 is found in dark green leafy vegetables like kale, spinach, and broccoli. Cooking or freezing does not greatly alter the amount of the vitamin in the food. Vitamin K2 can be found in fermented foods.

Nuts are a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals. They are high in good fats such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which help prevent heart disease, lower the bad LDL cholesterol and protect the good HDL cholesterol.

Nut-based beverages have become an increasingly popular alternative to dairy milk. Many people are lactose intolerant or allergic to the cows’ milk protein. Health-conscious consumer try to avoid the hormones and antibiotics found in the feed of cows, while others make ethical and environmental choices avoiding animal products all-together.

Nut and seed milk can be made from almost any kind of nut or seed.

Almonds make a tasty and nutritious milk high in protein, calcium, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus. Raw almond milk also has an alkalizing effect on the body’s ph.

Cashew milk has protein, potassium, magnesium and vitamin A.

Hazelnuts or filberts are a source of protein and potassium as well as sulphur and calcium.

Walnuts are great for protein, potassium, magnesium, vitamin A, as well as omega 3 essential fatty acids.

Pistachios are high in protein and iron.

Hemp milk offers omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, all essential amino acids, and almost half of the daily calcium intake. However, just like some other dairy alternatives, hemp milk is not suitable for infant formulas.

Soy milk is close to cows’ milk protein, but lower in calcium than cows’ milk, almond or hemp milk.

Alternatively, rice milk has a light somewhat sweeter flavour than most nut milks.

Each milk has a distinct texture, colour and flavour.

Health food stores and most grocery isles now carry a wide selection of dairy alternatives. They come in various flavours, such as plain, vanilla, chocolate or carob, cappuccino or strawberry. Nut milk can be served chilled or hot. It can be used in cooking and baking or for smoothies and yoghurt, but some adjustments are necessary to find the right recipe.

Making nut milk at home is easy. For best digestion and for cleaning of the nuts, soak hard nuts for 4-8 hours, then rinse well and throw away the old nut water.

Use one cup of nuts or seeds of your choice to 4 cups of fresh filtered water, less or more water if you choose a creamier or thinner milk. In a blender or food processor, blend the nuts and water until liquid. For additional flavour, you can add vanilla, cinnamon, chocolate powder, agave syrup or honey. Pour milk in sealable containers and use within 3 days. Nut milk also freezes well. Pour milk through a strainer for a pulp-free product. Use the left-over nut pulp for in cooking and baking.

You can also purchase a commercial nut milk maker. There are many makes and models available in stores and online.