Saffron is expensive because it requires up to 400,000 of the orange-red stigmas of the Crocus sativus to make a mere one-kilogram of the spice. Each flower has only three stigmas, which must be handpicked at dawn during a brief two-week blossoming period in late October.

The saffron crocus grows from five to nine inches tall, with long thin leaves and lilac colored flowers. It is a perennial in zones 6-10 and today is cultivated commercially on a large scale only in India and in seven of Spain’s 52 provinces. If wintered indoors in a cool place the saffron crocus is easy to grow, even in Canada. It takes about six plants to generate enough stigmas for one recipe. Harvest them early in the morning and dry by simply placing the stigmas on paper towels and storing them in a warm, dry place for a few days until they are brittle. They will keep in a small, sealed glass jar for up to five years.

The flowers of the saffron crocus do not close at night and the stigmas protrude beyond the petals. These features distinguish it from the highly poisonous Colchicum autumnale or Autumn Crocus.

The word saffron is from the Arabic, assfar or zafaran, meaning yellow. The botanical name, sativus, is Latin for cultivated.

Drinking saffron tea will allegedly induce clairvoyance. Also in the magical realm saffron is supposed to be lust provoking and was often added to love sachets. The Roman aristocracy perfumed their homes and baths with it. In Greek myth, the gods wore robes dyed with the spice. The red pigment of the stigmas supposedly developed when Hermes, the messenger god of ancient Greece, felt remorseful after accidentally killing his friend, Crocus. As his blood spilled on to the ground, Hermes turned the drops into the saffron crocus.

Medicinally, saffron has fallen out of favor as cheaper and more effective herbs have become available. During the Middle Ages however, saffron was popular as a treatment for period pain and uterine bleeding and to bring on menstruation. Pregnant women should be wary of ingesting saffron beyond small culinary amounts as in large doses the spice may induce abortion. Saffron has been used to treat indigestion and is still used in Chinese herbal medicine to relieve abdominal pain. Some herbalists do recommend saffron to treat high blood pressure as it contains a blood pressure-lowering agent called crocetin. There is a statistical low incidence of heart disease in Spain, which some people attribute to the nation’s high consumption of the spice.

Saffron is used in Arabic, Indian and especially in Mediterranean cuisine. It particularly complements fish and seafood and is an essential ingredient in French bouillabaisse and Spanish paella. It also goes well with mild cheeses, eggs, rice and other meat dishes. Powdered saffron is considerably stronger than saffron threads, but the powdered variety is frequently adulterated, so purists stick to the threads. Whether using the threads or the powder, avoid using too much of the spice as this will result in a medicinal taste. Steep the spice in a little hot water before adding to the food, and then add both the saffron and the water.

To accompany Indian food, try the following Saffron Rice:

· 1 cup Basmati rice · 2 cups of water · 1 Tbsp. butter · ¼ tsp. saffron threads (or one eighth tsp. of powdered saffron) · 3 inches of broken cinnamon sticks (pieces should be large enough to facilitate easy removal prior to serving) · 3 whole cloves · ½ an onion, chopped · 4 whole cardamom seeds · ½ tsp. salt (or more to taste)

Pour about 2 Tbsp. of boiling water on the saffron and allow to infuse for 10 minutes. Melt the butter in a pan and add the cinnamon, cloves and onions. Sauté until the onions are translucent. Add the rice, water, cardamom, salt, saffron and its water. Bring to the boil then cover and simmer for about 25 minutes – about 45 minutes if you use long grain brown rice.

In France, rabbit is often cooked with mustard. Following is a variation of a traditional French rabbit recipe using saffron as the spice with a resultant agreeable color and flavour.

Rabbit with Sherry, Cream & Saffron

· 1 rabbit, cut into six or eight pieces · ¾ cup of heavy cream · ¼ cup medium dry sherry · 1-2 cloves of garlic · 4 Tbsp. Dijon mustard · 1 tsp. salt (or more to taste) · Pinch of cayenne · ¼ tsp. saffron threads (or 1/8 tsp. saffron powder).

Pour about 2 Tbsp. of boiling water over the saffron in a small dish and allow this to infuse for 10 minutes. Place the rabbit in a reasonably tight fitting, ovenproof, lidded casserole. Place all the other ingredients into a blender – including the saffron and water after infusion – and blend well. Pour over rabbit. Cook in preheated oven at 350F for about 60 minutes until well done. Check for doneness before serving. Rabbit can take a deceivingly long time to cook. Overcooked rabbit done in a sauce is perfectly acceptable. Undercooked rabbit is not. Serve with rice.

on http://health.learninginfo.org

Aromatherapy Candles and Diffusers for the Holidays

Perhaps one of the most seasonal ways in which to use aromatherapy is either an aromatherapy candle or an aromatherapy diffuser. Inhalation is one of the quickest ways in which aromatherapy enters our bodies – and it is also one of the most effective ways for dealing with emotional issues such as stress (source: Aromatherapy for Health Professionals, Shirley Price, Len Price). Just make sure that you choose an aromatherapy candle that is made with essential oils (not fragrance oils, as they have no therapeutic properties) or add a few drops of an essential oil to an aromatherapy diffuser.

Aromatherapy Bath Oils for the Holidays

Shopping, eating and visiting with friends and family can all take their toll on our stress levels during the Holidays. One of the best ways to relax and unwind after a busy day is to take an aromatherapy bath. Add a drop or two of essential oils to your bath water, use an aromatherapy bubble bath or use bath salts (such as Epsom or Himalayan salts) that have therapeutic properties. This will help you to not only relax but will ease tired, aching muscles too, depending on the type of essential oil that you choose.

Aromatherapy for Digestive Complaints

Sometimes we eat just a little too much of the good stuff during the Holidays which can result in minor stomach upsets or digestive complaints. If you do overindulge in too many rich foods, keep a bottle of massage oil with appropriate essential oils(see below) to hand to massage over your stomach, if you experience a stomach ache.

Aromatherapy Emergency Kit for the Holidays

Essential oils have different therapeutic properties, so you need to choose the appropriate oil for your problem. Here’s a list of essential oils that I would recommend for your aromatherapy emergency Holiday kit:

• citrus oils such as lemon, orange and mandarin for digestive complaints
• ginger essential oil for digestive complaints and nausea
• ylang ylang, lavender and rose for stress.

(source: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils, Julia Lawless)

The above essential oils are just a few suggestions for Holiday complaints; you can substitute various other oils too.

Traditional Aromatherapy Scents for the Holidays

If you are trying to create a Holiday mood for your party or gathering, you might want to use some of the more traditional scents associated with the Holiday season. The following scents are common aromas used at this time of year, but you can also use other scents to create either an uplifting or mellow atmosphere in your home:

• cinnamon
• myrrh
• frankincense
• orange
• sandalwood
• pine
• cypress.

Use these scent in an aromatherapy diffuser, or as an aromatherapy candle, for the best effects.

Cautions for Using Aromatherapy During the Holidays

Essential oils are a therapeutic way in which to enhance the Holidays. However, make sure that you add just a couple of drops of an essential oil to your diffuser (and in water to avoid burning the oils). Never apply essential oils directly to the skin; use a carrier such as a massage oil, lotion or water. If you are unsure about how to use essential oils safely and effectively for the Holidays, consult a qualified and experienced aromatherapist for advice.

Happy Holidays!

Natural Health Ezine

Anxiety is a product of the mind. In order to reduce anxiety you must change your mind. Your thoughts help create your future. Give thought to the fact that we all come from the same source of life. Whatever you feel comfortable in calling it, the Universe; Divine Intelligence or G-D. Know that you are a special, unique individual with incredible potential for goodness, prosperity and happiness.

Give and You Will Receive! Give up trying to control people or events in your life. Your day is filled with endless possibilities to help yourself, family, friends and even strangers. Of course, seemingly stressful events will occur but your power lies in the ability to characterize these events negatively or positively. Every event in life is an opportunity to grow. How will you respond?

Develop a strong, positive belief system. Take action to strengthen your higher level of consciousness. Listen to that small voice inside of you. It’s telling you everything you need to know. You must believe 100% in your possibilities for success.

Action Step #1: Good nutrition is essential to maintaining a healthy state of mind. Review these suggestions with a trusted health care provider to reduce your anxiety and improve the quality of your life.

• Avoid alcohol, caffeine and smoking. They deplete your B vitamins, which are invaluable for maintaining calm.
• Eliminate trigger foods, such as, simple sugar; artificially-sweetened foods; nitrate-preserved meats; MSG; fast foods, fried foods and soda.
• Eat simple, calming foods, such as, organic whole grains, potatoes; oatmeal plus lightly-steamed vegetables.
• Increase your consumption of foods rich in calcium to help you with stress, such as, organic almonds; soy foods and dark leafy greens (i.e. kale)
• Try foods rich in magnesium to protect your nervous system, such as, kelp; wheat germ; bran; most nuts, tofu and miso
• Get foods rich in B vitamins to support your adrenals and nerves, such as, whole grains; beans and nuts.
• Enjoy foods rich in vitamin C to improve your stress response, such as, peppers; greens; broccoli, kiwi, blueberries and strawberries.

Finally, I offer you a morning meditation designed to set the tone for your day. Say it slowly and repeat it as often as you like. Remember, you are not alone; you are a part of a magnificent universe. There is real order and purpose to your life. Turning anxiety into happiness may be a meditation away – try it today…

on www.naturalhealth365.com

Betroffene können den Milchzucker nicht verdauen. Ihnen fehlt in der Dünndarm-Schleimhaut das Verdauungsenzym Laktase. Das spaltet normalerweise den Milchzucker in Traubenzucker und Galaktose auf, die dann ins Blut gelangen und vom Körper verwertet werden. Der Enzym-Mangel ist meist angeboren. In wenigen Fällen entsteht ein vorübergehender Mangel durch eine Magen-Darm-Infektion.

Fehlt Laktase, bleibt der Milchzucker im Darm, bindet Wasser, löst Durchfall aus. Zusätzlich vergären Darmbakterien den ungespalteten Zucker, dabei entstehen Gase (Blähungen).

Die Beschwerden sind normalerweise nicht gefährlich, treten nach 30 Minuten bis 2 Stunden auf. Wie heftig sie sind, hängt davon ab, wie viel Laktose Betroffene jeweils vertragen. Manche können ohne Probleme ein Glas Milch trinken, andere kriegen schon Durchfall, wenn sie nur ein kleines Stück Käse gegessen haben.

Wer immer wieder Magen-Darm-Probleme hat, sollte ein bis zwei Wochen ein Ernährungstagebuch führen: Was habe ich gegessen und getrunken? Wie habe ich mich danach gefühlt? Welche Beschwerden hatte ich? Wann genau traten sie auf?

Diese Angaben sind eine Hilfe für den Hausarzt bei der Beurteilung. Er kann bei Verdacht auf Laktose-Intoleranz auch zu einem Magen-Darm-Spezialisten (Gastroenterologen) überweisen. Denn der hat am meisten Erfahrung mit Laktose-Intoleranz und kann weitere gezielte Tests machen: Es gibt einen Laktose-Belastungstest mit mehreren Blutabnahmen und einem Atemtest. Für beide müssen die Patienten eine Milchzucker-Lösung trinken, das kann Beschwerden verursachen. Eine Gewebeprobe (Biopsie) aus dem Dünndarm kann schmerzhaft sein. Einige Ärzte setzen einen einfacheren, schmerzlosen Test ein. Dabei wird ein Abstrich von der Wangenschleimhaut für Labor gemacht.

Patienten müssen Milchzucker vermeiden. Das ist nicht einfach, denn Laktose kann z. B. auch in Würstchen, Süßigkeiten, Backwaren und Medikamenten (vor allem Tabletten) stecken. Bei unverpackten Lebensmitteln die Verkäufer fragen. Bei verpackten Lebensmitteln die Zutatenliste genau lesen. Viele Angaben weisen auf Laktose hin, z. B. Molke, Molkepulver, Magermilchpulver, Zuckerstoffe.

Das Problem: Wenn man Milch und Milchprodukte meidet, droht Kalziummangel. Dieser Mineralstoff ist wichtig für das Immunsystem und feste Knochen. Joghurt und Kefir enthalten zwar auch Laktose, aber Betroffene können diese Produkte meist noch vertragen. Denn sie liefern zusätzlich Laktobazillen. Diese Bakterien helfen, Milchzucker zu verdauen. Man kann auch etwas Milch zur Hauptmahlzeit probieren, das ist häufig noch verträglich. Reife Hartkäsesorten wie z. B. Emmentaler sind unbedenklicher als junger Käse.

Gute Kalziumlieferanten sind Brokkoli, Lauch/Porree, Soja-Milch, Tofu, Mandeln Haselnüsse, Mineralwasser mit über 100 mg Kalzium pro Liter (Etikett beachten).

Inzwischen wurde ein Arzneimittel gegen Laktose-Intoleranz zugelassen. (TilactaMed Kautabletten, rezeptfrei in der Apotheke). Es liefert das fehlende Enzym und wird zum Essen genommen. Das ist vor allem wichtig im Auslandsurlaub, wenn man die Zutatenlisten auf verpackten Lebensmitteln nicht lesen und im Restaurant nicht nachfragen kann.

Weitere Infos zu Laktose-Intoleranz bietet das Deutsche Ernährungsberatungs- und Informationsnetz (DEBInet) im Internet an: www.ernaehrung.de.

on www.naturheilkunde-news.de

Wirkt ein Medikament nicht auf die erhoffte Art und Weise, sollte man auch überlegen, ob es vielleicht an der Ernährungsweise liegt und nicht nur an der Arznei. Denn auch Lebensmittel haben Einfluss auf die Wirkung von Arzneisubstanzen.

So haben z. B. Kalzium und Magnesium die Tendenz, mit Arzneimittelwirkstoffen unlösbare Verbindungen einzugehen, sodass sie nicht mehr resorbiert werden können. Das trifft vor allem auf antibiotisch wirkende Medikamente zu. Daher sollte man diese nicht zusammen mit Milch, Milchprodukten oder Mineralwasser einnehmen. Empfohlen wird ein Zeitabstand von ca. zwei Stunden zwischen Medikamenteneinnahme und Verzehr von Milch und Milchprodukten.

Generell gilt, Arzneimittel mit mineralstoffarmen Leitungswasser einzunehmen. Steht im Beipackzettel der Hinweis “mit reichlich Flüssigkeit einnehmen” sollte mindestens ein Glas Wasser getrunken werden.

Auch ein voller Magen verhindert eine angemessene Durchlaufzeit der Arznei durch unseren Organismus, daher sollten Antibiotika oder schmerzstillende Arzneimittel auf nüchternen Magen eingenommen werden.

Diese Regel gilt aber nicht für alle Medikamente. Denn bestimmte Arzneimittel werden bei gleichzeitiger Zufuhr einer Mahlzeit besser im Körper resorbiert oder sind besser verträglich, was z. B. für das Schmerzmittel Aspirin gilt.

Koffeinhaltige Getränke wie Cola, Kaffee, schwarzer Tee oder auch Kakao können die Wirkungsweise von Neuroleptika oder Asthmamittel herabsetzen. Daher auch diese Medikamente mit dem “neutralen” Leitungswasser einnehmen. Das Gleiche gilt für Schmerzmittel in Kombination mit Koffein. Da einige dieser Präparate bereits diese Substanz enthalten, kann ein Zuviel an Kaffee oder schwarzem Tee zu einer Überdosierung von Koffein und damit zu Herzrasen, Zittrigkeit sowie erhöhter Nervosität führen.

Es folgen weitere Tipps, wie Sie Wechselwirkungen vermeiden können:

Grapefruit: Diese Frucht sollte man nicht gemeinsam mit Medikamenten verzehren. Es wird ein Zeitabstand von ungefähr vier Stunden empfohlen, da Inhaltsstoffe der Grapefruit ebenfalls die Wirksamkeit von einigen Arzneimitteln beeinflussen. Dazu gehören Medikamente zur Behandlung von Leukämie, Antibiotika, Antidepressiva, blutdruck- und cholesterinsenkende Mittel.

Salz: Medikamente zur Behandlung von Bluthochdruck oder für die erhöhte Wasserausscheidung verlangen eine zurückhaltende Verwendung von Salz in der täglichen Ernährung, um die Wirkungsweise dieser Arzneien nicht zu verringern.

Alkohol: In Verbindung mit Medikamenten gegen Diabetes oder Insulin kann der Genuss von alkoholischen Getränken Unterzucker auslösen, da die Glukoseneubildung in der Leber verringert wird. Dagegen wird die Wirkung von Schlaf- und Beruhigungsmitteln von Alkohol verstärkt. Alkohol sorgt darüber hinaus für eine Erweiterung der Blutgefäße, sodass in Verbindung mit blutdrucksenkenden Mitteln der Kreislauf zusammenbrechen kann.

Oxalsäure: Bei der Einnahme von Eisenpräparaten sollte man auf den Verzehr von oxalhaltigen Lebensmitteln wie Spinat, Rharbarber oder schwarzem Tee mindestens zwei Stunden verzichten, denn dadurch wird die Aufnahme von Eisen im Organismus gehemmt.

Bevor Sie ein Medikament einnehmen, sollte zuerst der Beipackzettel genauestens durchgelesen oder auch der Arzt um Rat gefragt werden, um solche ungewollten Wechselwirkungen auszuschließen.

on www.naturheilkunde-news.de

Neotame is a chemical derivative of aspartame, and judging by the chemicals used in its manufacturing, it appears even more toxic than aspartame, although the proponents of neotame claim that increased toxicity is not a concern, because less of it is needed to achieve the desired effect.

Neotame is bad science originally brought to you by the Monsanto Company. They sold the NutraSweet Company to J.W. Childs Equity Partners in 2000, but the approval of neotame came under Monsanto’s ownership, and was most likely a result of Monsanto’s cozy relationship with the FDA. More about that in a minute.

My recommendation for neotame is the same as that for aspartame, which is: it should be avoided if you care about your health.

Why is Neotame Dangerous?

Hopefully by now you are aware of the dangers of aspartame, if you aren’t, please review this previous article.

But as if aspartame wasn’t bad enough, NutraSweet (a Monsanto subsidiary at the time of neotame’s approval) “improved” the aspartame formula, making neotame 7,000-13,000 times sweeter than sugar (sucrose) and 30-60 times sweeter than aspartame.

How did they do this?

In 1998, Monsanto applied for FDA approval for neotame, “based on the aspartame formula” with one critical addition: 3-dimethylbutyl, which just happens to be listed on the EPA’s most hazardous chemical list.

So not only is neotame potentially more devastating to your health than aspartame, it is also approved for use in a wider array of food products, including baked goods, because it is more stable at higher temperatures.

What is 3-Dimethylbutyl?

Neotame is manufactured by combining aspartame with 3,3-dimethylbutyraldehyde, which was added to block enzymes that break the peptide bond between aspartic acid and phenylalanine, thereby reducing the availability of phenylalanine.

This eliminates the need for a warning on labels directed at people who cannot properly metabolize phenylalanine.

However, 3,3-Dimethylbutyraldehyde is categorized as both highly flammable and an irritant, and carries risk statements for handling including irritating to skin, eyes and respiratory system.

In other words, the NutraSweet company assures you that neotame is perfectly safe, while at the same time they manufacture neotame through a chemical reaction between aspartame and a substance that is highly flammable and a skin, eye and respiratory irritant (that must be handled with extreme caution by anyone involved in the manufacturing process).

Does this sound like something you want to put into your body?

Why are These Chemicals Approved for Human Consumption?

Many people actually consider the FDA to be a “subsidiary” of the Monsanto Company. It sounds impossible, but when you look at all the Monsanto executives who have gone through the revolving door between private industry and government oversight, a truly disturbing picture emerges of the foxes guarding the henhouse..

The FDA is packed by pro-business, pro-corporation advocates who often have massive conflicts of interest when it comes to protecting the health of the public.

In fact, the revolving door between private industry and government oversight agencies is so well established these days, it has become business as usual to read about scandal, conflicts of interest and blatant pro-industry bias, even when it flies in the face of science or the law.

A few examples include:

• FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, a former dental amalgam company executive, helped subvert a federal judge’s order to label mercury fillings as a hazard to children and pregnant women.
• The FDA’s top medical-device regulator, Daniel Schultz, resigned following internal dissent over decisions that his critics said were too friendly to industry.
• Janet Woodcock, the director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, was accused of a massive conflict of interest stemming from an ethics complaint filed by Amphastar Pharmaceuticals Inc.
• The agency’s list of corruptions and collusions is now a mile long. And each piece of new legislation aimed to improve its function seems to do just the opposite—making the FDA even more dependent upon financial support by Big Pharma.

Why Aspartame and Neotame are NOT a Dieters Best Friend

On of the biggest marketing and PR tactics for man-made chemical sweeteners has been the claim that they help in the battle against obesity. Folks, they don’t. They never have and they never will.

The research and the epidemiologic data suggest the opposite is true, and that artificial sweeteners such as aspartame and neotame tend to lead to weight gain. As I’ve often said, there’s more to weight gain or weight loss than mere calorie intake.

One reason for aspartame and neotame’s potential to cause weight gain is because phenylalanine and aspartic acid – the two amino acids that make up 90 percent of aspartame and are also present in neotame — are known to rapidly stimulate the release of insulin and leptin; two hormones that are intricately involved with satiety and fat storage.

Insulin and leptin are also the primary hormones that regulate your metabolism.

So although you’re not ingesting calories in the form of sugar, aspartame and neotame can still raise your insulin and leptin levels. Elevated insulin and leptin levels, in turn, are two of the driving forces behind obesity, diabetes, and a number of our current chronic disease epidemics.

Over time, if your body is exposed to too much leptin, it will become resistant to it, just as your body can become resistant to insulin, and once that happens, your body can no longer “hear” the hormonal messages instructing your body to stop eating, burn fat, and maintain good sensitivity to sweet tastes in your taste buds.

What happens then?

You remain hungry; you crave sweets, and your body stores more fat.

Leptin-resistance also causes an increase in visceral fat, sending you on a vicious cycle of hunger, fat storage and an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and more.

The Real Reason Artificial Sweetener Use Has Exploded

If you want some answers in scenarios like this it is typically useful to follow the money trail. Aspartame currently has the largest market share of all artificial sweeteners, and the people at NutraSweet would like to keep it that way.

Artificial sweeteners cost a great deal less than real sugar, corn syrup or molasses, so the processed food and beverage industry saves money by using LESS of these man-made chemicals to create MORE sweetness in their products.

Neotame is manufactured from aspartame, and builds on aspartame’s ability to provide more sweetness from less raw material, as it is 30-60 times sweeter than aspartame.

Unfortunately, one byproduct your body creates by breaking down aspartame is formaldehyde, which is extremely toxic to your health even in very small doses. The NutraSweet Company claims the addition of 3,3-Dimethylbutyraldehyde to aspartame makes it more stable at higher temperatures, and reduces the availability of phenylalanine. But nowhere do they discuss the formation of formaldehyde when your body breaks down aspartame, which is the main ingredient of neotame.

In a search of pubmed.gov, the U.S. National Library of Medicine, which has over 11 million medical citations, neotame returns zero double-blind scientific studies on toxicity in humans or animals.

If neotame was indeed completely safe to ingest, you would think the NutraSweet Company would have published at least one double-blind safety study in the public domain? They haven’t.

You have to ask yourself “why not?”

Have You Experienced a Bad Aspartame or Neotame Reaction? Be Heard!

Did you know that only a fraction of all adverse food reactions are ever reported to the FDA? This is a problem that only you as the consumer can have an impact upon.

In order to truly alert the FDA to a problem with a product they’ve approved, they must be notified – by as many people as possible who believe they have experienced a side effect. This mean you can take action against the manufacturers of these chemicals that continue to put your optimal health at risk, if you feel you have had a bad reaction to their product.

I urge you, if you believe you have experienced side effects from aspartame or neotame, let the FDA know about it!

Please go to the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator page, find the phone number listed for your state, and report your adverse reaction.

There’s no telling just how many reports they might need before considering taking another look at the safety of aspartame or neotame, but the only way to press them is by reporting any and all adverse effects!

And in the meantime, do your health and the health of your family a favor and treat all foods and drinks that contain aspartame or neotame as if they were deleterious to your optimal health. Because, in my opinion, they are.

on http://aspartame.mercola.com