The 5 worst morning habits for your health

There’s a whole slew of bad habits people do first thing in the morning. Some of them may seem innocent enough (i.e. slamming your hand on the snooze button and sleeping in a few extra minutes every weekday), but according to master life coach and mentor Bruno LoGreco, recurring bad morning habits may not only set your day off on a downward spiral, they can lead to negative health implications that can sabotage your life.

“In order for people to really break a bad habit, they have to first recognize the reward their getting from that bad habit, and then they’ve got to replace it with something more constructive,” said LoGreco, who has helped mentor and transform lives on such programs as Style by Jury and Save Us from Our House.

For a more productive day, LoGreco suggests breaking these five bad morning habits:

1) Hitting the snooze button

Hitting the snooze button in the morning for a few extra minutes of sleep can unintentionally give you a late start to the day and cause you to stay at work longer.

“By the time you get to the office, you’ve got to sit down, you’ve got to get acclimated, you’ve got to check your emails, you’ve got to figure out what’s going on for that day. You’re already behind the eight ball,” said LoGreco.

Solution: Instead of rewarding yourself with a few extra minutes of sleep, remind yourself that if you get to work on time, you’ll have more time after work to do the things that you want to do. 

“Look at it and say: ‘I’m going to get up early today’,” said LoGreco. “I’m going to get through everything that I need to get through and that will allow me to come home early, on time, and spend more time with my family or my loved one.”

2) Bad hygiene

What normally follows after people hit the snooze button is bad hygiene—mainly because people may already be running late for work, or getting their kids ready for school.

Solution: Take the time to practice good hygiene (i.e. showering and brushing your teeth). Taking a shower can help cleanse yourself from carrying over bad energy from the previous day.

“When you’re not taking a shower, you’re not rinsing that stuff off,” said LoGreco.

3) Bad nutrition

People who wake up late and are rushing to get ready tend to skip breakfast, which is probably the most important meal of the day because you’re depleted of energy.

“The prefrontal cortex needs energy,” said LoGreco. “And when you’re sleeping all night and you haven’t had any food in your system for about 12 or 13 hours, your prefrontal cortex is depleted. So not having proper nutrition actually slows you down and drags your morning.”  

Solution: To avoid exhaustion due to poor nutrition habits, try making breakfast ahead of time for busy weekday mornings, or prepare a healthy on-the-go breakfast snack that could easily be stored in a tight container and thrown in your work bag. That way you’ll still be able to enjoy a healthy breakfast, but won’t have to be in a rush to prepare it every morning. 

4) Energy drinks for breakfast

Since poor nutrition can lead to fatigue, some people load up on energy drinks in the morning to get an extra boost. Unfortunately, according to LoGreco, it’s simply an artificial energy boost and these people will “come crashing down in just a few minutes.”

Solution: Nix the energy drink and opt for a healthy, protein-packed peanut butter banana smoothie—this will give you a natural energy boost and it also makes a great“make-ahead” breakfast that could be consumed on-the-go.

5) Not knowing what you’re doing for the day

The worst habit that people could have during the day, or when they first wake up, is not knowing what they’re going to do that day—something that typically comes about due to lack of planning.

“When (people) wake up, they become very reactive to their life…they’re constantly running late, they’re making up for shortfalls, they’re not controlling their life,” said LoGreco, who notes that it could ultimately lead to people feeling unfulfilled in their personal and professional lives.

Solution: The night before you go to bed, take five to 10 minutes to figure out what the following day is going to look like and what you want to accomplish. That way you’ll be controlling your life, rather than having life control you.

“The reward that people get from not controlling their life, is that there’s no failure, there’s no fear, there’s nothing that they have to worry about,” said LoGreco. 

“But if they recognize that, (they can) say ‘I’m going to put myself out there, I’m going to put my vulnerabilities out there, and even if I fail, and I do something—I’m going to accomplish something at the end and that’s going to be my reward. And in return, I’m going to feel more accomplished and more fulfilled.’ ” 

13 'health' foods you're better off avoiding

Multivitamins


Close to half of American adults take vitamins every day. Yet decades' worth of research hasn't found any justification for our pill-popping habit.
That isn't to say we don't need small amounts of vitamins to survive — without vitamins like A, C, and E, for example, we have a hard time turning food into energy and can develop conditions like rickets or scurvy. Here's the thing: Research shows we get more than enough of these substances from what we eat, so no need for a pill!

Almond butter


Everything from Gwyneth Paltrow's daily breakfast smoothie to the grocery store around the corner now seems to contain almond butter, but the stuff is incredibly pricey.
So we asked Andy Bellatti, a registered dietitian and the co-founder of the group Dietitians for Professional Integrity, what the harm was in substituting almond butter for plain old peanut butter, which is roughly four times cheaper. "It can just be peanut butter!" says Bellatti. "If the only ingredients are peanuts and salt, that totally works. It's still going to have your protein, healthy fats, and vitamin E."

Juice


When you juice fresh fruits and veggies, you remove all of their fiber, the key ingredient that keeps you feeling full and satisfied until your next meal.
What you keep is the sugar. In the short term, a high-sugar, low-protein diet means constant hunger pangs, mood swings, and low energy. In the long term, you can lose muscle mass since muscles rely on protein.

Gluten-free bread

Unless you're one of the 1% of Americans who suffer from celiac disease, gluten probably won't have a negative effect on you. In fact, studies show that most people suffer from slight bloating and gas when they eat, whether they consume wheat or not. So go ahead and eat that bagel.
Almond milk


Alternatives to dairy milk have been surging in popularity in the last few years, chief among them almond milk. Yet almond milk is practically devoid of nutrients.
By themselves, almonds are protein powerhouses. But a typical glass of almond milk, by volume, is just about 2% almonds and contains almost no protein. And all the vitamins inside are added. So if you're looking for a truly healthy alternative, opt for soy, skim, or low-fat milk.

Granola


If you're like me, you associate anything crunchy and sold in bags in the health-food aisle with nature-loving hikers — people who get lots of exercise and keep their bodies lean and healthy. But most granola is no health product. In fact, it's packed with sugar and calories — a cup contains about 600 calories, or the same amount as two turkey and cheese sandwiches or about four cereal bars.

Egg whites


Lots of people began avoiding egg yolks when nutrition experts came out with a recommendation that eating cholesterol was bad for you because it raised your cholesterol.
But there's good news: A growing body of research shows that for the vast majority of people, dietary cholesterol (from foods you eat) doesn't really have much of an effect on your blood cholesterol. So unless you have high cholesterol, ditch those nasty egg-white-only alternatives. Good morning, eggs Benedict!

Bottled water


Bottled water is not cleaner or healthier than tap water. Yet globally, we spend more than $100 billion on the bottled, yet otherwise widely available, good every year.
Author Elizabeth Royte writes in her book, "Bottlemania: How Water Went on Sale and Why We Bought it," that 92% of the nation's 53,000 local water systems meet or exceed federal safety standards and are at least as clean and often cleaner than bottled water.

Agave nectar

Once upon a time, many health proponents (including Dr. Oz) claimed that you should swap your sugar for agave since it has a low-glycemic index and doesn’t lead to the kind of impromptu spikes in blood sugar (a.k.a. glucose) linked with plain old white sugar.As it turns out, while agave isn't high in glucose, it is high in another type of sweetener — fructose (the same stuff in high-fructose corn syrup). Some recent studies suggest that diets high in fructose are linked with several health problems, including heart disease.
At the end of the day, it doesn't so much which sweetener you use as how much you're using. "Sugar is sugar is sugar," says Bellatti.

Anything that promises to "detoxify" your system


No one needs to detox. Unless you've been poisoned, you already have a superefficient system for filtering out most of the harmful substances you eat. It's made up of two toxin-bashing organs: the liver and the kidneys. "There's nothing about these products that's detoxifying nor is there any food that’s detoxifying," says Bellatti.
While our kidneys filter our blood and remove any waste from our diet, our livers process medications and detoxify any chemicals we ingest. Paired together, these organs make our bodies natural cleansing powerhouses.

Coconut oil


Coconut oil (CO) is roughly identical to olive oil (OO) in terms of its overall calorie and fat content.
But as opposed to a tablespoon of OO, which has just 1 gram of saturated fat and more than 10 grams of healthy mono- or poly-unsaturated fats, a tablespoon of CO has a whopping 12 grams of saturated fat and just 1 gram of healthy fat. Experts suggest avoiding saturated fats because they've been linked with raising cholesterol and the risk of type-2 diabetes.

Himalayan salt

The distinctive pink hue of Himalayan salt can be traced to the tiny amount of iron oxide, or rust, in the pebbles.
It also contains small amounts of calcium, potassium, iron, and magnesium, and fractionally lower amounts of sodium than regular table salt. But is it worth the price?
"Yes, the pink hue comes from minerals but the content is close to nil. Nobody should be looking for minerals in things like sugar or salt! Just because it's Himalayan crystal salt you can't just use more of it or think it wouldn't have the same effects as other salts would. Understand that it's still salt," says Bellatti.

Coconut water

This $4-a-serving beverage is not a panacea for everything from post-workout dehydration to cancer.
Yes, coconut water is a great source of potassium and other vitamins and minerals. But it'll do your body just as good to drink a glass of water and snack on a piece of fresh fruit.

9 Turmeric Benefits You Need to Know: The Power of Kitchen Gold

If you’ve only ever used turmeric as an occasional curry spice, your life’s about to change. Even alone, bright yellow turmeric has a complex, buttery, peppery aroma that’s simply irresistible. And what’s more, there are nearly innumerable health benefits of turmeric to take advantage of when you add this spice to your diet. Turmeric benefits make this deeply-hued spice as valuable as gold in the kitchen; we’ll show you how to use it.

While you’ll often find turmeric on spice racks in powder form, turmeric is actually a member of the ginger family. When purchased fresh, in root form, it resembles ginger, with its nobby beige skin; the golden flesh is hidden until you cut into it.

The nutritional profile of turmeric is vast, according to neuropathic doctor Gabrielle Francis. “It is a potent antioxidant and has bioflavonoids, vitamin c, vitamin a, and beta carotene and can be protective against cancer cells,” she says.

Just take a look at these stats for a mere teaspoon (2 grams) of turmeric:

• .2 mg manganese (8% DV)
• .8 mg iron (5% DV)
• .5 mg vitamin C (1% DV)
• 3.9 mg magnesium (1% DV)
• 5.4 mg phosphorous (1% DV)
• 50.5 mg potassium (1% DV)
• .1 mg zinc (1% DV)

Thanks to these nutrients, and more, the benefits of turmeric are wow-worthy.

Top 9 Health Benefits of Turmeric

Turmeric contains a unique compound known as curcumin, which is not only the source of its bright color but is also the secret behind many of the health benefits of turmeric. Curcumin doesn’t only lend variety to turmeric benefits, however; it also boasts proven effectiveness, often more so than pharmacological drugs, as this report shows. 

As Serena Goldstein, ND, explains, “Drugs are made based on our physiology, somehow interfering with a certain physiological cycle depending on the drug (e.g. cholesterol drugs interfere with cholesterol metabolism),” she says. “Turmeric also acts on various physiological cycles in the body and can have the same effect.”

Here are just some of the many ways that turmeric can help you today.

1. Calm Down – Systemically

Systemic inflammation is a huge problem, the source of many health issues that are often incorrectly treated as idiopathic.

As Goldstein explains, “We may think of inflammation when an area becomes red, hot, swollen, and painful. It is a classic response to injury or infection, a very useful process when we break a bone for example, and it needs to be held in place and healed.

“However, chronic inflammation does not really have any ‘outward’ symptoms, but is a general term when even silent processes are occurring that are putting a stress on the body.”

These “silent processes” are behind many health problems, including heart disease, blood sugar issues, cancer, irregular menses, poor sleep and digestion, and more.

“Currently, many people are walking around with multiple diagnoses, in a suburban or urban environment surrounded by fumes, stressed out, not sleeping, and not eating an healthful diet, all of which promotes continuous inflammation and stress on the body,” says Goldstein.

Luckily, turmeric is a very natural way to combat these problems, thanks to its ability to inhibit NF kappa Beta, a protein complex that controls the transcription of DNA and, when incorrectly regulated, has been linked to cancer, auto-immune diseases, and susceptibility to viral infection, many of which are problems that are directly linked to systemic inflammation.

“Unresolved chronic inflammation creates an environment for certain disease processes,” explains Michelle Smekens, ND, FABO, naturopathic oncology provider at Cancer Treatment Centers of America at Midwestern Regional Medical Center. “Turmeric helps to inhibit the chemical messengers that promote inflammation in the body (…) including cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), leukotrienes and prostaglandins.”

The power of turmeric to combat systemic inflammation is astounding. “Numerous studies have demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects comparable to over-the-counter ibuprofen, as well as potent drugs like hydrocortisone,” says Goldstein.

2. Forget Me Not

Turmeric has been linked to helping people with debilitative Alzheimer’s disease stop or even reverse their symptoms. According to a 2008 paper published in the annals of Indian Academy of Neurology, the spice’s antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and lipophilic qualities can and have improved cognitive functions in Alzheimer’s patients.

Goldstein says that turmeric’s benefits include improving the health of brain mitochondria and helping with spatial memory by decreasing lipid per oxidation in brain tissue. These attributes of turmeric have an effect not only on the development of Alzheimer’s but also Parkinson’s and epilepsy.

Additional — albeit circumstantial — evidence can be gleaned from the fact that in India, where turmeric is most commonly consumed, populations have the lowest prevalence of Alzheimer’s in the world. A mere gram of turmeric daily is all it takes in some cases for symptoms to be reversed.

3. Tummy Troubles Gone

Turmeric is particularly soothing when it comes to stomach problems, ranging from mere digestive discomfort to more serious conditions.

Thanks to curcumin’s ability to stimulate the gallbladder to produce bile and its natural ability to suppress stomach acid, it can be used to treat a number of problems including indigestion, bloating, gas, and even ulcerative colitis. This chronic disease’s symptoms tend to come and go, but turmeric manages to keep them at bay in many cases, as one double-blind placebo-controlled study showed: those who took curcumin for 6 months had a significantly lower relapse rate than those taking the placebo.

The same is true for some cases of Crohn’s disease. However, those suffering from stomach ulcers will not see improvement and may even see their symptoms get worse when supplementing with turmeric.

4. No More Pain

Turmeric’s pain relieving abilities are linked in large part to its anti-inflammatory properties; in reducing inflammation, particularly in chronic cases, pain is reduced as well.

Turmeric has been proven to be a very effective pain reliever even in the most drastic of cases, like one 2009 case observed by Dr. Scott Haig, where a patient with severe hip problems necessitating hip replacement surgery eschewed traditional pain relievers entirely and managed his pain with turmeric.

Perhaps the best part: turmeric has none of the nasty side effects of other pain relievers.

“Turmeric has been shown to be as effective as ibuprofen in reducing joint pain caused by arthritis, and does not carry the potential to harm the liver,” says Lori Kenyon Farley, the co-author of The Juice Cleanse Reset Diet Book and cofounder of Project Juice. “In fact, its enzymes have been shown to help detoxify the liver and enhancing blood circulation.”

Turmeric can thus be used for a variety of pain relieving needs, from menstrual cramps to joint pain to arthritis. One 2012 study showed that patients with active rheumatoid arthritis showed a high percentage of improvement when taking curcumin supplements.

5. Cancer Preventative

Supplementing with turmeric has proven to have anti-cancer properties; in fact, cancer is one of the conditions with the most evidence for the benefits of the spice, according to Smekens.

Some evidence of turmeric’s anti-cancer properties includes a 2008 study, showing that curcumin could interfere with cell cycle, apoptosis, angiogenesis, metastasis, and inflammation, all of which could delay or impede a wide variety of cancers from developing, including leukemia, lymphoma, gastrointestinal cancers, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, lung cancer, and melanoma.

A 2009 study showed how curcumin could selectively kill tumor cells without having any adverse effects on normal cells, and several studies, including a 2011 study from the University of Illinois at Chicago, showed that curcumin could have positive effects specifically in the prevention and early treatment of colon cancer.

6. Sugar-Free’s the Way to Be

Several studies have shown that supplementing with curcumin can help manage irregular blood sugar levels, particularly with regards to diabetes; it has even been shown to reverse insulin resistance in certain cases.

One 2014 study on rabbits showed the protective effects of curcumin before diabetes occurred and its ability to treat some symptoms of diabetes, specifically type 1 diabetes. Another 2014 study showed that curcumin could ward against the development of atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes patients.

7. Heart-Healthy

Curcumin also boasts extraordinary benefits for heart health, including an ability to lower cholesterol and prevent the oxidation of cholesterol in the body, preventing cholesterol from damaging blood vessels. A 2010 study in Nutrition Research and Practice showed that curcumin could decrease LDL and total cholesterol when consuming a high-fat diet, thus reducing risk for heart disease.

Curcumin also prevents the formation of blood clots, reducing the risk of thrombosis and stroke, according to a 2008 study from the Medical College of Georgia.

8. A Feel-Good Spice

Turmeric has additionally been linked to the treatment of certain mental illnesses, particularly depression. Several recent studies show the potential anti-depressant properties of turmeric, according to Smekens, including one 2014 study published in Psychotherapy Research. “Taking 1000 mg of curcumin (…) had a similar efficacy to fluoxetine,” says Smekens. Fluoxetine is the active ingredient in Prozac.

Another 2005 study from Peking University showed that turmeric had anti-depressive effects on mice. Turmeric is a major constituent of Xiaoyao-san, the traditional Chinese medicine used to treat depression in China.

9. Antioxidant Super-Powers

Turmeric not only contains potent antioxidants, it has also been proven in some studies to increase the natural antioxidant-producing capabilities of our bodies.

A 2005 study in Antioxidants & Redox Signaling showed that curcumin was both an oxygen radical scavenger and a potent antioxidant, boosting the natural antioxidant processes of the body. Other studies have shown its ability to help with mercury poisoning and subchronic TCDD exposure.

Buying and Storing Turmeric

Fresh as a root, dried and ground into a powder, even as an extract or in easy-to-take capsules, turmeric is available in a number of forms.

While the powder may be the easiest to use in a recipe, Goldstein suggests the root for maximal flavor and health benefits, not to mention a better bang for your buck. “When you purchase the root you are getting all the constituents, versus the powder where some of its makeup may be lost in the process and it’s not uncommon to have adulterated productions,” she says. “In addition, you do not know how long it’s been stored as a powder, whereas you can feel the integrity of the root.”

Choose firm roots with a strong smell, and store in the fridge in a plastic bag for up to a month.

Smekens also highlights the importance of opting for organic turmeric, particularly in ground form, as it is the only way that you can be sure that the spice has not been irradiated.

Should you opt for the powder, bear in mind that turmeric, like all spices, is best when used fresh; this goes not only for its flavor but for its health benefits as well. Keep turmeric in a closed jar in a dark cupboard, and try to use it within six months for the very best results. 

As for supplemental turmeric, you’ll want to be even more careful choosing your source. “It is also important to purchase supplemental curcumin from a reputable manufacturer because solvents are used in extraction of this spice,” says Smekens. “Additionally, the widespread popularity of turmeric has led to questionable cultivation and processing procedures, much of which is performed by unregulated companies outside of the United States.” She recommends checking to be sure that the supplement label reads USP (U.S. Pharmacopeial), NSF (National Science Foundation), or NNFA GMP (National Nutritional Foods Association Good Manufacturing Practices), to make sure that you get when you’re paying for.

You can easily take advantage of the health benefits of turmeric simply by cooking with it. Not only is it delicious, it’s also one of the safest ways to partake in the spice. As Farley explains, the strong taste of turmeric means that you will naturally consume a safe dose. Larger doses, which can be consumed supplementally, can interact with certain medications, so be sure to talk with your healthcare professional first, especially if you have any of the following conditions:

• diabetes
• liver disease
• kidney disease
• reflux
• if you are pregnant, as it can stimulate the uterus
• if you are currently partaking in cancer treatments
• if you are taking blood thinning drugs such as clopidogrel, warfarin, or aspirin, as turmeric supplements can increase bleeding

According to Goldstein, the following doses are recommended for adults:

• Cut root: 1.5 to 3 g per day
• Dried, powdered root: 1 to 3 g per day
• Standardized powder (curcumin): 400 to 600 mg, 3 times per day
• Fluid extract (1:1) 30 to 90 drops a day
• Tincture (1:2): 15 to 30 drops, 4 times per day

5 Juices to Stop Drinking Immediately. They Could Give You Cancer

Arsenic is a harmful heavy metal known to cause cancer, kidney damage and diarrhea. It is both naturally occurring and inorganic.

American apple juice is made from apple concentrate. There can be apple concentrate from up to seven countries in one kind of Apple juice. Although arsenic, a heavy metal carcinogen, has been banned in the US for decades, it’s not always regulated in other countries where it may be in the water supply or used in pesticides contaminating the juice.

After testing dozens of samples from three different cities in America, Dr. Oz discovered that some of the nation’s best known brands of apple juice contain arsenic. 60% of apple juice concentrate is imported from China. 

Consumer Reports released its own investigation into arsenic in the food supply. It found 10% of apple juice and grape juice samples had total arsenic levels (that were inorganic, carcinogenic kind) above the drinking water standard of 10 parts per billion. In an email sent to Dr. Oz, the FDA said they are “researching the new evidence suggesting the majority of arsenic in apple juice is inorganic.”, and went on to say that there are two forms of organic arsenic in apple juice that are also potentially harmful.
The inorganic form of arsenic is more acutely dangerous and vastly more carcinogenic, according to the CDC.

The FDA also disclosed new data from the monitoring program for arsenic in juice. Nine test results reported arsenic levels above 23 parts per billion, the current level of concern.

The EPAs limit on arsenic in drinking water is 10 parts per billion. After testing dozens of samples from three different cities in America, Dr. Oz reviewed 10 samples came back higher than the arsenic limit allowed in drinking water.

5 Juices to Stop Drinking Immediately. They Could Give You Cancer

1. Minute Maid Apple Juice
Lowest Sample for Arsenic: 2 parts per billion
Highest Sample for Arsenic: 3 parts per billion

2. Apple and Eve Apple Juice
Lowest Sample for Arsenic: 3 parts per billion
Highest Sample for Arsenic: 11 parts per billion

3. Mott’s
Lowest Sample for Arsenic: 4 parts per billion
Highest Sample for Arsenic: 16 parts per billion

4. Juicy Juice
Lowest Sample for Arsenic: 2 parts per billion
Highest Sample for Arsenic: 22 parts per billion 

 

5. Gerber
Lowest Sample for Arsenic: 3 parts per billion
Highest Sample for Arsenic: 36 parts per billion
In July 2013, the FDA established an “action level” of 10 PPB for apple juice, and began refusing imports and demanding recalls for domestic products exceeding this level.
Symptoms of arsenic poisoning:
Drowsiness
Headaches
Confusion
Extreme diarrhea
Convulsions
Fingernail pigmentation change (leukonychia)

Symptoms associated with severe cases of arsenic poisoning:
Metallic taste in the mouth
Excess saliva production
Problems swallowing
Blood in the urine
Muscle cramps
Hair loss
Stomach cramps
Convulsions
Excessive sweating
Breath smells of garlic
Vomiting
Diarrhea
The final stage of the poisoning causes the patient to suffer seizures and go into shock, leading to coma and/or death.

Long-term arsenic consumption health concerns include:
Cancer
Liver disease
Diabetes
Nervous system complications
Hearing problems
Digestive difficulties
Bladder cancer
Kidney cancer
Liver cancer
Prostate cancer
Skin cancer
Lung cancer
Cancer of the nasal cavity
How can you test for arsenic poisoning
Blood, urine, hair, and nails may be tested for arsenic. Urine tests would have to be carried out within 1-2 days of the initial exposure for accurate level reading.

5 Treatment methods for arsenic poisoning

1. Bowel irrigation. Large amounts of polyethylene glycol solution is passed through the entire gastrointestinal tract to flush it out.

2. Blood transfusions

3. Use of mineral supplements

4. Observing kidney function

5. Chelation therapy
This treatment uses chemicals (dimercaptosuccinic acid & dimercaprol) to isolate the arsenic from the blood proteins

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) recognizes arsenic and arsenic compounds as group 1 carcinogens.

The Ghost Town of Bodie

One of America’s most beautiful abandoned town, now a protected State Historic Park, is Bodie, located east of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Mono County, California.

Bodie was founded by W. S. Bodey, initially as a mining camp, after he discovered gold near a place that is now called Bodie Bluff in 1859. Unfortunately, the poor man died in a snow storm that very winter and never saw the rise of the town that was named after him. Legend has it that a sign painter misspelled the name as “Bodie”, while other sources claim that the change in spelling was deliberate in order to ensure correct pronunciation.

A great collection of historic restaurant menus from the 19th century

Restaurant menus may not look like important historical material from our perspective, but a certain lady called Frank E. Buttolph had a different idea more than a century ago. In 1899, Buttolph offered to donate her private collection of American menus to the New York Public Library. Today, The New York Public Library has a collection of more than 45,000 historical restaurant menus ranging from the 1840’s to the present day. This is probably one of the largest menu collections in the world that is still growing. The person responsible for this huge gastronomical collection today is Rebecca Federman and she has a job title that sounds really tasty: Culinary Collections librarian.

Federman is the latest caretaker of this amazing collection, but the real visionary was Miss Frank E. Buttolph. She dedicated her whole life to this collection. Buttolph collected menus from every possible place that she could think of. She constantly wrote letters to restaurants, palaces, banquet halls, asking them for their menus and explaining her mission to them. It should be mentioned that Miss Buttolph did all of this on a voluntary basis, because she believed in the historical significance of these pieces of paper.

Besides collecting as many as she could, she was especially trying to find the menus that were used by important people or that were present on the table during an interesting moment from history. Buttolph was thinking about events like the coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandria, the Prussian Siege of Paris in 1870, the 1901 Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo where President McKinley was assassinated and a banquet thrown by Emperor of Japan for William Howard Taft, then Secretary of War, during the 1905 Taft–Katsura discussion.

Best and Worst: Top 10 Most Inflammatory and Anti-Inflammatory Foods!

Inflammation: A localized physical condition in which part of the body becomes reddened, swollen, hot and often painful, especially as a reaction to injury or infection. 

We all know when something is inflamed. But, what about inflammation on the inside of our bodies? Internal inflammation can happen for a host of different reasons: high temperatures when cooking food, eating processed foods, sugar, trans fats, etc. A high level of inflammation within the body can cause many health problems. An easy way to combat this? Eat more anti-inflammatory foods and eliminate the inflammatory ones. 

But, what is an anti-inflammatory food? More importantly, what is aninflammatory food? While you know healthy, whole foods from processed foods, none of us can see the true effect they have on our bodies (sometimes, until it's too late).

Often diseases such as diabetes, PCOS, excess weight gain, coronary heart disease and countless other illnesses can be contributed to the inflammation from various foods. Here is a list of some of the most anti-inflammatory foods. 

TOP 10 ANTI-INFLAMMATORY FOODS

1. Wild Alaskan Salmon: Salmon contains anti-inflammatory omega-3s (wild is better than farmed) and has been known to help numerous ailments. Try and incorporate oily fish into your diet twice weekly. If you don't like fish, try a high quality fish supplement.

2. Kelp: High in fiber, this brown algae extract helps control liver and lung cancer, douses inflammation, and is anti-tumor and anti-oxidative. Kombu, wakame and arame are good sources.  

3. Extra Virgin Olive Oil: The secret to longevity in Mediterranean culture, this oil provides a healthy dose of fats that fights inflammation, can help lower risks of asthma and arthritis, as well as protect the heart and blood vessels. 

4. Cruciferous Vegetables: Broccoli, brussel sprouts, kale and cauliflower are all loaded with antioxidants. Naturally detoxifying, they can help rid the body of possible harmful compounds.

  

5. Blueberries: Blueberries not only reduce inflammation, but they can protect the brain from aging and prevent diseases, such as cancer and dementia. Aim for organic berries, as pesticides are hard to wash away due to their size. 

6. Turmeric: This powerful Asian spice contains a natural anti-inflammatory compound, curcumin, which is often found in curry blends. It is said to have the same effect as over-the counter pain relievers (but without their side effects). 

7. Ginger: Ginger contains a host of health benefits. Among them, it helps reduce inflammation and control blood sugar. Ginger tea is a great addition to any diet.

8. Garlic: Though a little more inconsistent (in terms of research), garlic can help reduce inflammation, regulate glucose and help your body fight infection. 

9. Green Tea: Like produce, this tea contains anti-inflammatory flavonoids that may even help reduce the risks of certain cancers. 

10. Sweet Potato: A great source of complex carbs, fiber, beta-carotene, manganese and vitamin B6 and C, these potatoes actually help heal inflammation in the body. 

TOP 10 INFLAMMATORY FOODS

These foods have been linked to obesity, increased risks of numerous diseases and even death in some cases.

1. Sugar: Sugar is everywhere. Try and limit processed foods, desserts and snacks with excess sugar. Opt for fruit instead. 

2. Common Cooking Oils: Safflower, soy, sunflower, corn, and cottonseed. These oils promote inflammation and are made with cheaper ingredients. 

3. Trans Fats: Trans fats increase bad cholesterol, promote inflammation, obesity and resistance to insulin. They are in fried foods, fast foods, commercially baked goods, such as peanut butter and items prepared with partially hydrogenated oil, margarine and vegetable oil.

4. Dairy: While kefir and some yogurts are acceptable, dairy is hard on the body. Milk is a common allergen that can trigger inflammation, stomach problems, skin rashes, hives and even breathing difficulties. 

5. Feedlot-Raised Meat: Animals who are fed with grains like soy and corn contain high inflammation. These animals also gain excess fat and are injected with hormones and antibiotics. Always opt for organic, free-range meats who have been fed natural diets. 

6. Red and Processed Meat: Red meat contains a molecule that humans don't naturally produce called Neu5GC. Once you ingest this compound, your body develops antibodies which may trigger constant inflammatory responses. Reduce red meat consumption and replace with poultry, fish and learn cuts of red meat, once a week at most. 

7. Alcohol: Regular consumption of alcohol causes irritation and inflammation to numerous organs, which can lead to cancer. 

8. Refined Grains: "Refined" products have no fiber and have a high glycemic index. They are everywhere: white rice, white flour, white bread, pasta, pastries... Try and replace with minimally processed grains.

9. Artificial Food Additives: Aspartame and MSG are two common food additives that can trigger inflammation responses. Try and omit completely from the diet.

10. Fill in the Blank: Do you constantly have headaches or feel tired? Sometimes, you may develop an allergy to a food and not even know it. Coffee, certain vegetables, cheese... there might be a trigger you aren't even aware of. Try and take a few foods out to see how you feel and slowly incorporate them back in to see if there might be a hidden culprit lurking in your diet!