Is It Healthier To Be A Vegetarian?

Is It Healthier To Be A Vegetarian?

So this has been a question that has come up many times when I am talking to people about healthy eating habits. 

The truth is that I truly believe that us humans are meant to be omnivores, meaning to eat both meat and plant foods. 

I do think that most people, especially in the western world, are eating to much meat and not enough plant foods. It could be that somewhere along the evolutionary line (you know if you believe in evolution) we started eating meat because of the lack of plant food during certain seasons.

The fact that the iron from red meat is better absorbed than that from vegetables is always a big point in my argument. But also the latest studies concerning omega 3. 

But as I was saying overall the western diet is unquestionably overdoing the meat thing. 

Anyway here is an article from Harvard medical school which brakes it all down very nicely.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/becoming-a-vegetarian?utm_source=delivra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=GB20180110-Vitamins&utm_id=770388&dlv-ga-memberid=29317922&mid=29317922&ml=770388 

Of course you can draw your own opinion after reading it. 

Herbal Remedies For Cats

So I have written one post in the past about natural remedies for pets, when my sister in laws dog had gotten bit while they were by us for the weekend. 

Also in the past I have had great success treating my cats eye infections with chamomile tea.

But in the past few days our cat has gotten a cold and my son who is really attached to our pets really wants me to take her to the vet. 

The truth is that we are on a tight budget right now and the vet is not covered by our medical insurance. 

So I did a bit of online research and what I really understood is simple, I am going to try to treat my cats cold the same way I would treat a persons cold, I just need to adjust the method used to give her the remedies.

My plan is to make the same winter tea that I use for children.

Chamomile
Catnip
Yarrow
Elder
Linden 

Mix it with some chicken or tuna fish, not sugar and water like I do for the kids.

Also I want to get some good essential oils in her system. So my plan is to get her into a small bathroom and steam the place up, and then add the oils to some steaming water.

I think that that should do the trick, I will write a follow up post and let you know.   

Herbal Remedies For Athletes Foot

Athletes Foot is a fungal infection that usually starts between toes three and four, and four and five. the moist environment in the area creates just the right setting for some nice fungus to settle in and make them selves at home.

The biggest problem is that if  you let it go untreated then it can get into the toe nails and that is very difficult to get rid of.

Applying tea tree oil directly to the infected are is extremely helpful. Use soothing herbs for the skin that also have anti fungal properties like calendula and alo vera. Chamomile cream can be used to relieve redness, itching and irritation.

The most important factor is consistence. Apply a cream or salve with any of the above mentioned herb several times a day until your feet are fully fungus free. 

So I wrote this post a few years ago and going through it now I feel that I have a lot to add.

This is a condition that I personally suffer from and over the past few years I have been successful in getting it somewhat under control.

The most effective change that I have found is to wear sandals as much as possible. The use of medication and herbal powders when wearing closed shoes has been a big help as well. 

Washing the feet with a herbal tea made with herbs such as Chamomile, mint, lavender, oregano and any other soothing herb can be helpful to relieve itching.

It is really funny to me that I give such suggestions all the time but so rarely do them myself. 

Just a side thought.

Also fresh Aloe Vera and Aloe creams can be great. 

This I actually have done in the past. 

My wife thinks that going to the beach is the best answer for any problem and when treating athlete's foot, she may very well be correct. 

Right actually she is always correct, never mind.

But sea salt has been found to be very effective in treating athlete's foot, so just go to the beach and soak your feet in the waves. 

You can also try soaking your feet in four thieves' vinegar, that should kill it off.

Just another one that I have not tried myself yet. 

Herbal Remedies For Poor Appetite

What herbs can be taken to improve appetite?
So before I start to get into the why and how here is a quick list for you to start with.
Ginger
Artichoke leaf
Hops strobiles
Wild lettuce
Now the question of what is the cause and how do we approach poor appetite or anorexia. This can be caused by a large number of things such as stress and weak digestion but if this lasts for a long time, I would say more than a week You should see your doctor.
Now the way that herbs can help with a loss of appetite is by stimulating the digestive system. The four herbs I mentioned above are digestive and bitter herbs. You can start by simmering a tablespoon of each herb in two cups of water for a half hour and drinking one cup two times a day a half hour before meals. Also a good bitter formula can be taken a half hour before meals.
If you feel the problem is stress related try calming bitter herbs like Chamomile and yarrow.
Drinking a good cup of chai tea or ginger lemon and honey tea can be a nice and tasty way to improve appetite.

Vocabulary Of Herbal Effects On The Body

Adaptogen – herbs that improve the body ability to withstand both physically and emotional stress.
Alterative (Depurative) – herbs that help the body cleanse itself of waist materials.
Analgesic (anodyne) – herbs that reduce pain
Anthelmintic – herbs that treat intestinal parasites by preventing their reproduction and removing them from intestinal walls.
Anti-catarrhal – herbs the reduce mucus secretion
Anti-depressant – reduce feelings of depression by activating the central nervous system.
Anti-diarrhoel – herbs that stop diarrhea.
Anti-inflammatory – reduce inflammation.
Anti-microbial (bacteriostatic/antiseptic) – herbs which act against micro – organisms that cousin diseases.
Anti-spasmodic – herbs that decrease muscle contraction by either acting on the muscle or nerves and reduce pain and stress.
Anti-pyretic (febrifuge) – herbs that lower fever
Anti-viral – herbs that prevent reproduction of different viruses
Astringent – herbs that draw together and constrict body tissues. They are helpful in treating bleeding and diarrhea.
Bitters – bitter herbs cause secretion of digestion juices and increase appetite.
Carminative – reduce digestive gas.
Cholagogue – herbs that awaken proper flow of bile from the liver and gale bladder.
Choleretic – herbs that improve production and secretion of bile in the liver.
Demulcent – herbs rich in mucilage which can help sooth and protect irritated tissue.
Diaphoretic – herb that help cause the body to sweat.
Diuretic – herbs that increase urination.
Emmenagogue – herbs that help to regulate a women’s menstrual cycle.
Estrogenic – herbs containing phetoestrogen.
Expectorant (anti-tussive) – herbs which promote the extraction of mucus from the lungs.
Hypotensive – herbs which help to lower high blood pressure.
Immunostimulant – herbs that strengthen the immune system.
Laxative – herbs that cause diarrhea.
Nervine – herbs that strengthen the nervous system.
Sedative – herbs that calm the nervous system.
Vulnerary – herbs that help to heal wounds.

Cupping & Olympic Swimmers

Old practice – New fad
This years summer Olympic games brought a whole new life to a medical practice that has been around since 3000 B.C.
People were questioning the circular bruises of the swimmers in this year summer Olympic games. It turns out that Olympic swimmers have discovered the ancient medical practice of cupping to be helpful in speeding up muscle repair.
Traditional cupping is done by using a flame to create a vacuum in a glass cup and quickly attaching the vacuum to the body. The vacuum then lifts the skin and other tissues increasing blood flow to the area. This added blood flow help to repair muscles faster.
In addition to the effects on muscle tissue cupping is a useful practice for other symptoms. Cupping helps to relax people and reduce stress. It is useful in treating skin diseases of different kinds. Cupping can be used to help treat digestive disorders like irritated bowl syndrome. Cupping can also be used to treat respiratory issues and colds

Herbal Remedies For Ear Infections

As a father of four I have had extensive experience with ear infections. From what I have learned most times ear infections are proceeded by some form of a cold symptom like a stuffed nose. The first thing I always do for a ear infection is I make a quick garlic oil and apply it to both ear as often as possible.
Cut up or crush a few cloves of garlic and heat them in olive oil over a low flame. I use a small frying pan for this but any small pan will do. Be careful not to burn the garlic, that would harm the active ingredients that we need.
Heat the garlic in the olive oil for about three or four minutes and let cool before use.
In addition I always use herbs that are effective in treating respiratory tract problems.
My five best herbs for this are:
Yarrow
Chamomile
Linden
Catnip
Elder (flowers and berries)
Use equal parts of each herb and make a cup of strong tea with one heaping table spoon per cup of boiling water. Let the herbs steep for ten minutes. Drink three cups of this tea per day.