Every fall, as Oktoberfest and other autumnal celebrations ramp up, beer enters the spotlight. In recent years, scientists have increasingly focused on the beverage too, because one of its main ingredients—hops—turns out to have a wide range of health-promoting properties. When it comes to beer and health, “hops are the star of the show,” says…
New review explores whether organic foods offer real health advantages over conventional options, examining links to cancer risk, obesity, and cardiometabolic health. Study: Impact of organic foods on chronic diseases and health perception: a systematic review of the evidence. Image Credit: Anatoily Cherkas / Shutterstock.com In a recent review published in the European Journal of Clinical…
Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) is an annual edible succulent and, like many plants associated with traditional medicine, is often classified as a weed. It grows naturally in Europe, the Middle East and elsewhere. It was recorded by Theophrastus and its healing properties were mentioned by Pliny the Elder in his Natural History. All parts of purslane…
Nettles, including the common stinging nettles, belong to the genus Urtica. They are usually annuals and have a long history of use both in traditional medicine and as a foodstuff. The most familiar of the nettles is the stinging nettle which has hairs on its leaves which, on contact with the skin, act like hypodermic…
Jerusalem artichokes are a great plant to include in a maintenance-free garden. Just 100 square feet of them provides enough carbs for a family of four—two adults and two kids—for a year. Called sunroot by the Indigenous peoples of the North American continent, Jerusalem artichokes are easy to grow and take no more work than…