The Secrets of Sage

Salvis Officinalis, comes from the Latin salvare, meaning to 'save' or 'cure'.

There is a proverb in an old Italian manuscript that states: 'Why should he die who has sage in his garden?'

We have the English to thank for the idea of smothering sage in onions and adding it to breads and sausage for stuffing! Who knew.

The English also drank sage tea long before black tea became the choice for this afternoon tradition. I found it very tasty.

The Secret?

Several scientific studies show that Sage brightens your mood, rejuvenates your concentration, and sharpens your memory.  Perhaps that's why a sage is thus named?

Sage extract has also been valuable in alleviating or preventing:

• Age-related Memory Loss
• Alzheimer's
• Cancer
• Diabetes and
• Ulcers

Sage is native to the Mediterranean.  This aromatic plant is easy to grow in many temperate climates, and will attract bees with its lavender flowers.

Clary Sage is the sweet and milder variety, Greek is stronger.  Dried Sage is usually Dalmatian Sage native to Croatia, and is sold rubbed, crushed or powdered.

In Cooking:

Sage goes well in gravies, butters, stuffing, meatloaf, scones, polenta, on pizza, and with fatty fish.. like Salmon.

As a Tea:

Place 6 - 7 leaves in 9 oz of water and simmer for 15 minutes.

Storage:

Sage will keep for up to a year kept in an airtight container, and stored in a dark, dry place.

Bitter Melon... What's in a Name?

A fair number of Complemenary Medicine practioners recommend eating Bitter Melon 2 - 3 times a week.  Studies are demonstrating that it has powerful blood sugar control and anti-tumor properties. It is used in Asian medicine to treat diabetes.

Whenever I found some they were not organic.  But the benefit so superseded the ingestion of the pesticides, I bought the ridged, bumpy cucumber-like vegetable anyway.

Bitter Melon is the only apt name for this veg! Method of preparation and recipe will decide whether you will eat it or not.

To prepare bitter melon, slice the fruit open and remove seeds and pith. Do not peel. Beginners to bitter melon may parboil the fruit to lessen bitterness, although aficionados say this changes the texture too much. Typically bitter melon is stuffed, pickled, or curried and served with meat or in soup.

Here are some suggestions:

• Dice and add to Pasta Sauce with lots of garlic and oregano

• Dice and cook with other vegetables, like sweet potatoes or peas in a flavored broth

• Cook it with onions and pineapple chunks, season with cinnamon

• Add it to a Curry dish

• Put some in a Stir Fry with lots of ginger, season with Coconut Aminos

• Stuff halves with heavily spiced grass-fed beef, onions and tomatoes

The evidence

Bitter melon is a fruit that grows in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean. Its reputation as a cure for Type II diabetes is what spiked the interest of Dr. Rajesh Agarwal, a lead researcher in the Colorado study. He thought bitter melon might treat pancreatic cancer, since Type II diabetes often precedes the disease.

Researchers examined the effect of bitter melon on 4 different lines of pancreatic cancer cells and in mice. Mice were injected with pancreatic tumor cells and were randomly divided into one of two groups. One group received water (control), and the second was given bitter melon juice for six weeks. At the end of the study, the tumors that developed on the mice were dissected, weighed, and analyzed.

The results showed that bitter melon juice inhibited cancer cell proliferation and induced apoptosis (cell death). Tumor growth was inhibited by 60% in the treatment group with no signs of toxicity.

Read full article here.

Other resources:

A-tonne-of-bitter-melon-produces-sweet-results-for-diabetes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3321233/

~ Be Well.

For Energy and Cardio Support - L-Carnitine

While I was going through Chemo I was advised to take L-Carnitine starting 2 days after treatment and up until my next treatment to help with low energy and reduce the possibility of neuropathy. I didn't feel overly fatigued, despite a dense dose regimen. Consult a nutritionist before taking this supplement if you are in treatment.

L-Carnitine is a substance that helps the body turn fat into energy. Your body makes it in the liver and kidneys and stores it in the skeletal muscles, heart, brain, and sperm.

Usually, your body can make all the L-carnitine it needs. Some people, however, may not have enough L-carnitine because their bodies cannot make enough or can' t transport it into tissues so it can be used. It has been proposed as a treatment for many conditions because it acts as an antioxidant.

The best food sources of L-carnitine are red meat (especially lamb), poultry and dairy, so individuals eating healthier diets with limited intake of these foods tend to have lower L-carnitine intake. Smaller amounts are found in fish, tempeh, asparagus, avocado and peanut butter. Diet alone can be insufficient to meet L-carnitine needs in states of depletion.

EFFECTS OF L-CARNITINE:

• Lowers total cholesterol and triglycerides, while increasing HDL ("good") cholesterol
• Inhibits seizures [De Vivo et al., 1998; Igisu et al., 1995]
• Helps protect the liver in patients taking Accutane and anti-seizure drugs
• Improves memory, attention and cognitive function; helps protect against brain injury and promote brain repair, particularly in the Acetyl-L-carnitine form [Igisu et al., 1995]
• L-carnitine inhibits the activity of excess thyroid hormone and reduces symptoms of hyperthyroidism
• Prevents cardiomyopathy induced by adriamycin (doxorubicin) [Anselmi et al., 1993; De Leonardis et al., 1985; Neri et al., 1983] without interfering with the anticancer efficacy of the drug nor promoting tumor growth [Peluso et al., 200 :347].
• Human studies have proven carnitine's value in supporting energy production and reducing symptoms in patients with congestive heart failure, diabetes, and lung diseases.
• Improves athletic performance and exercise tolerance.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS: Some people find L-carnitine upsets their stomach. Take with a meal to reduce this side effect.

CONTRAINDICATIONS: Use only under a doctor’s supervision if you have kidney disease or are on dialysis.

Spinach-Avo Soup

This recipe is packed with diabetes, cholesterol and cancer defense!It's not cooked so all the nutrients are preserved.

• 4 c. organic baby Spinach, well rinsed and dried
• 1 c. water
• 3 cloves roasted Garlic, or 1 large clove, raw
• 2 tsp. freshly squeezed organic Lemon juice
• Pinch of Salt
• 1/8 tsp. nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp. black or cayenne pepper
• 1 ripe Avocado, cut in half and pitted
• 2 Tbs. crushed dry-roasted Hazelnuts, or lightly toasted Pine nuts

Place Spinach, water, garlic, lemon juice and spices in a blender. Pack leaves down and blend until smooth. Scrape down sides if needed.

Spoon avocado out of its skin.  Add to blender and process until smooth.

Taste and adjust seasoning. Garnish with nuts.

Makes 4 servings.

~ Bon Apetit! ♥

The Reasoning for Seasoning*!

Abstract: The activation of nuclear transcription factor κB has now been linked with a variety of inflammatory diseases, including cancer, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, diabetes, allergy, asthma, arthritis, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, osteoporosis, psoriasis, septic shock, and AIDS.

Extensive research in the last few years has shown that the pathway that activates this transcription factor can be interrupted by phytochemicals derived from spices such as turmeric (curcumin), red pepper, cloves , ginger, cumin, anise, and fennel, basil and rosemary, garlic, and pomegranate (ellagic acid).

For the first time, therefore, research provides “reasoning for seasoning.”*

Suppression of the Nuclear Factor-κB Activation Pathway by Spice-Derived Phytochemicals: BHARAT B. AGGARWAL^*, SHISHIR SHISHODIA.

Article first published online: 12 JAN 2006 - DOI: 10.1196/annals.1329.054