The Health Benefits Of Cabbage

Sadly, most American households wrinkle their noses at the mere mention of this valuable, all powerful and sorely misunderstood vegetable. The word cabbage is usually enough to send children to their rooms with a myriad of excuses as to why they may not wish to eat their evening meal. While cabbage is a delicious and healthful staple in other countries, it is almost foreign to Americans, with the exception of good old fashioned cole slaw. Do recognize that this American cabbage specific, mayonnaise laden dish full of hydrogenated oils and other unmentionables, absolutely ruins the reason for eating such a healthful food in the first place.

Cabbage is a sturdy, strong and abundant vegetable. Hardy and easy to grow, it is almost universally available in all countries and cultures. Cabbage belongs to the all important family of cruciferous vegetables. The members of this family of vegetables are so named for their cross shaped (crucifer) flower petals. Rich in nutrition and fiber, cabbage is an absolutely phenomenal source of Vitamin C. Even more impressive is that cabbage is famous for a specialized, naturally occurring, nitrogenous compound known as indoles. Current research indicates that indoles can lower the risk of various forms of cancer.

Cabbage was popular with the ancient Greeks and Romans. An early Roman medicinal preparation blended lard with the ashes of burnt cabbage to make an ointment for disinfecting wounds. Throughout history, the Asian diet has been rich and abundant in cabbage and its various varieties. Epidemiological studies have found that men living in China and Japan experience a much lower rate of prostate cancer than their American counterparts. Similar data has been uncovered regarding breast cancer rates among women.

It is no wonder that the lowely, plain, boring cabbage gets rave reviews from the world of nutritionists. Cabbage is relatively cheap yet one of the richest when it comes to protective vitamins. Talk about the original weight loss food! One cup of cabbage contains only around 15 calories.

Cabbage is rich in the following nutrients:

Vitamin A: responsible for the protection of your skin and eyes.

Vitamin C: an all important anti-oxidant and helps the mitochondria to burn fat.

Vitamin E: a fat soluble anti-oxidant which plays a role in skin integrity.

Vitamin B: helps maintain integrity of nerve endings and boosts energy metabolism.

Modern science has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the health benefits and therapeutic value of cabbage, which also plays a role in the inhibition of infections and ulcers. Cabbage extracts have been proven to kill certain viruses and bacteria in the laboratory setting. Cabbage boosts the immune system's ability to produce more antibodies. Cabbage provides high levels of iron and sulphur, minerals that work in part as cleansing agents for the digestive system.

There are many different varieties of cabbage, so please, be brave and innovative. Green cabbage is the most popular, common and of course the one we are most familiar with. Take a walk on the wild side with Savoy cabbage. With yellow crinkled leaves, you can use this variety of cabbage as an alternate in many recipes. Let's not forget Bok Choy, a routine addition to Chinese recipes that has a sweet, light, celery type familiarity. Red Cabbage. It goes without saying in that it simply has to be good for you given all that beautiful plant pigment where the majority of nutrition is stored. Red cabbage is good in salads and is commonly pickled. Napa cabbage has a mild sweet taste and is incredible in stir fry dishes.

Whatever your choice of cabbage may be, enjoy a serving at least once a week along with your other valuable and health promoting cruciferous vegetables. Try to cook your cabbage lightly. Steaming and quick stir fry dishes are considered to be the best methods for preserving the power packed natural nutrition given so freely by Mother Nature. Cabbage soup anyone?

Universal Health Care - Ethical Issues In Health Care Reform

Universal health care seems to be a hotly debated topic whenever health care reform in the United States is discussed. 

Those who maintain that health is an individual responsibility do not want a system that requires them to contribute tax dollars to support fellow citizens who do not act responsibly in protecting or promoting their own health. They argue that they want the freedom to choose their own physicians and treatments, and suggest that government cannot know what is best for them.  These people argue that preserving the current system with improvements to provide better insurance coverage for citizens who remain uninsured or under insured for their medical care needs is the only reform that is needed.

Those who believe health care is an individual right support a universal health care system with the argument that every citizen deserves to have access to the right care at the right time and that a government's responsibility is to protect its citizens, sometimes even from themselves.

Two opposing arguments arising from two opposing ideologies.  Both are good arguments but neither can be the supporting argument for implementing or denying universal health care.  The matter must be resolved through an ethical framework.

Examination of the ethical issues in health care reform would require consideration of much different arguments  than those already presented.   Ethical issues would center on the moral right.  Discussion would begin with not "What is best for me?" but rather  "How should we as a society be acting so that our actions are morally correct?"

Ethics refers to determining right and wrong in how humans relate to one another.  Ethical decision making for health care reform then would require human beings to act in consideration of our relationships to each other not our own individual interests.

Examination of some of the common ethical decision making theories can provide a foundation for a different perspective than one that is solely concerned  with individual rights and freedoms. 

Ethical decision making requires that specific questions be answered in order to decide on whether intended actions are good or morally correct.  Here are some questions that could be used in ethical decision making for health care reform.

• What action will bring the most good to the most people?
• What action in and of itself is a good act and helps us to fulfill our duties, obligations, and responsibilities to each other?
• What action in and of itself shows caring and concern for all citizens?

As the answer to all  these questions, universal health care can always be considered the right thing to do.

The United States is in the most advantageous position there is when it comes to health care reform.  They are the only developed country without a national health care system in place for all citizens.  They have the opportunity to learn from the mistakes that have been made by all the other countries that have already gone down the universal health care road. They have an opportunity to design a system that can shine as a jewel in the crown of universal health care systems everywhere. 

However, all ethical decision making is structured around values.  In order for universal health care to be embraced by all citizens in the United States, they will first have to agree to the collective value of equity and fairness and embrace the goal of meeting their collective responsibility to each other while maintaining individual rights and freedoms. That may prove to be the most difficult obstacle of all.

Best Wine Selection For Heart Health

Questions about wine selection for heart health arise because of research relating moderate consumption to a reduced risk of coronary artery disease. When it comes to heart health, wine may be a good choice, but excess consumption can lead to multiple health problems. For this reason, scientists have attempted to identify what you might call "the effective ingredient" in red wine. Is there a way to get the health benefits associated with wine, without the health risks? The answer is "yes".

Scientists believe that the health benefits of wine are related to a substance called "resveratrol". Over the past five years, resveratrol has been the subject of thousands of laboratory studies. It is found in grapes, mulberries, peanuts and other plants.

First identified in 1963 by scientists evaluating the effectiveness of an Asian Folk medicine called ko-jo-kon, resveratrol was later found in grapevines and finally, in 1992, in red wine. Suggestions for the best wine selection for heart health are determined by the known resveratrol content. Reds contain more than whites. In terms of heart health, wine made from Pinot Noir grapes are believed to be the very best, because they have the highest content of resveratrol.

It is interesting to note that grape juice does not contain resveratrol. Researchers are unable to fully explain this, since it is found in fresh grapes. It could have something to do with the fermentation process or the types or parts of the grapes used. The bottom line is that for heart health, wine is more beneficial than grape juice.

The benefit of resveratrol to the plant is known. It acts like an antibiotic, protecting the plant from disease, fungal and viral infections. The benefits to humans are still being studied. There have been positive reports in the Oxford Journal of Medicine and the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. These reports indicate that there may be many benefits.

The main reason that a red wine selection for hearth health is recommended may be due to the anti-inflammatory effects of resveratrol. Researchers have linked chronic inflammation to both heart disease and cancer.

Resveratrol is also an antioxidant, which helps the body remove free radicals and other disease causing products from the blood stream. In laboratory studies, it has been shown to actually prevent cells from mutating into pre-cancerous forms. So, it's not just for heart health, wine consumed in moderation may prevent some forms of cancer.

Multiple studies have linked resveratrol to a reduced risk of coronary artery disease, cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis. When physicians recommend moderate consumption for heart health, wine selection for heart health or resveratrol supplements, they recommend a four ounce glass of wine per day or a supplement that contains an equal amount of resveratrol.

In most red wines each ounce contains about 160mcg per ounce. While no upper limit for resveratrol consumption has been established, 640mcg is acceptable for daily human consumption. This is the amount found in 4 ounces of red wine.

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The Health Benefits Of Curry

Basically curry's medical benefits are derived from their spice rich ingredients; here is the break down of usual spices found in curry (and their benefits):

Turmeric, curry's main ingredient is recognized by its yellow color. A member of the ginger family, turmeric has long been associated with its healing properties. Used as a common antiseptic in India, turmeric is used regularly to treat damaged skin such as cuts or burns. It's even being touted as a possible cure for Alzheimer's disease.

Cinnamon - Cinnamon is a natural antioxidant which is beneficial to the beautification purposes, not to mention cinnamon oil has antimicrobial properties which prolongs the life of the curry.

Black Pepper - Black pepper has a very long history of medical benefits, the list goes like this: Alleviated hemorrhoids, Alleviates gas, helps constipation, improves digestion, improves appetite lost, promotes sweating (cardio workout), Promotes urination, anti-bacterial effects, natural anti-oxidant, and everyone's favorite; helps in breaking down fat cells.

Allspice - Allspice is also known as Jamaican pepper, Myrtle pepper. It's beneficial attribute comes from folklore whereby it provide relief for digestive problems.

Anise - Anise leaves in curry are used to treat digestive problems, toothaches and the oil extract can be used to treat lice and scabies.

Asafoetida - the main medical usage for Asafoetida is for the aid of digestive system, mild cases of asthma, bronchitis and is traditionally used in the aid of children's cold.

Cardamom - Cardamom is used traditionally in Chinese medicine to treat stomach-aches, constipation, dysentery, and other digestion problems.

Chili Pepper - Red chili peppers are very rich in vitamin C and pro-vitamin A. Additionally, peppers are a good source of most vitamins B, especially B6. Potassium in chili that are high magnesium and iron would really make up for those lazy days.

Clovers - Clovers are reported by many people to be extremely effective in their struggle with nicotine cravings. Well, imagine having craving for curry instead (who'd complaint).

Coriander leaves - Coriander leaves has been used as a folk medicine for the relief of anxiety and insomnia in Iranian folk medicine.

Cumin - Cumin can be really helpful in asthma, common and a booster in immune system during cold and flu season. Capsulated Cumin can be beneficial to hair and nails, and if mixed with moisturized cream you can reap the benefits of a healthier skin.

After listing only a fraction of the benefits for eating curry, the people that gave the word curry should really give it a new identity, not as a combination of different herbs, but a combination of different medical miracles that really taste GOOD.

Health Benefits Of Ampalaya (bittergourd)

Bitter Melon, bitter gourd, ampalaya: This tropical plant which goes by many names, is commonly grown for its edible fruit, which is probably among the most bitter of all vegetables on earth.

Bitter gourd predominantly grows in tropical areas, including parts of Asia, East Africa, the Caribbean, and South America, where it is used both as food as well as a medicine. The plant's fruit truly lives up to its name, because it really tastes bitter. Although the seeds, leaves, and vines of this fruit have different uses, the fruit is considered as the safest and most predominantly used part of the plant in traditional herbal medicine.

Ampalaya Is Now Used In Herbal Medicine

Until recently, bitter gourd has been noted to be a potent herbal medicine for a lot of ailments, particularly in treating diabetes. The Philippine variety is known for its more potent anti-diabetic components.

This fruit is composed of a mixture of flavonoids and alkaloids which make the pancreas produce insulin that controls the blood sugar levels in diabetics. Aside from its touted medicinal value, it's also a very wonderful source of vitamins A, B and C, iron, folic acid, phosphorous and calcium. Ampalaya is a common herb used in Chinese herbology too.

The fruit's leaves are often used for children's coughs and are utilized in the treatment of skin diseases, sterility in women, as a parasiticide, an antipyretic, as well as a purgative. Like most bitter-tasting fruits and vegetables, bitter gourd stimulates digestion and can be very potent in people with dyspepsia and constipation.

Herbal Benefits of Ampalaya:

Ampalaya is noted to be an effective component in herbal medicine, and the fruit is known to help treat, or alleviate the symptoms of rheumatism and gout and ailments of the spleen and liver. It also is effective in helping lower the body's blood sugar and blood pressure levels. Below are among many of the beneficial aspects of using bitter gourd:

- Helps to disinfect and heal cuts, wounds & burns

- Is useful as a cough & fever remedy

- Used in the treatment of intestinal worms and diarrhea

- Helps prevent some types of cancers

- Helps enhance the body's immune system to ward off infections

- Serves as an effective antioxidant, antibacterial & antipyretic agent

How To Prepare A Herbal Ampalaya Mixture.

As the bitter fruit is famous for its many medicinal attributes, there are also other unique ways in preparing mixtures, drinks or solutions made from ampalaya. For cough, fever, worms, diarrhea, diabetes, drink a spoonful every day of grounded and juiced ampalaya leaves. For other health conditions, the fruit and leaves can both be juiced and taken orally. For wounds, burns and other skin diseases, you may apply the fruit's warmed leaves to the affected area.

Aside from the benefits mentioned above, bitter gourd is also an effective digestive agent that works by properly stimulating the secretion of gastric juices. It also aids in stimulating the liver for proper secretion of bile juices that are essential for the metabolism of body fat.

Taking juice made from bitter gourd also helps in the treatment of constipation, which is mainly caused by unhealthy eating habits and daily dietary practices. This fruit not only is good at relieving an indigestive condition, but also aids in treating constipation, by improving the movement of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as improving absorption in the intestines.

- Prime Herbal