Natural Health Boosters

A trio of natural “therapies” for heart health, cancer, and more

Cinnamon

A pinch of spice could prove to be very nice for your heart. “We’ve learned that cinnamon can help lower cholesterol,” says Jared Schulman, MD, MPH, of Rutgers University in New Jersey, who also serves as a medical expert on Mamaherb.com, an informative Web site for better health. “Ingesting 1, 3, or 6 grams of cinnamon per day was shown to reduce triglycerides, LDL [“bad”], and total cholesterol in people with type 2 diabetes.”

Including cinnamon not only reduces cardiovascular disease risk but helps people with type 2 diabetes manage their glucose levels. One study of 60 people with type 2 diabetes found that 1 gram (less than a half-teaspoon) of cinnamon daily was effective, and there are only 3 calories in 1 gram.

“People using more cinnamon in their diet should be careful to eat Ceylon cinnamon,” Schulman says. “Some commercial cinnamon sold contains cassia (about 10%), which is derived from another type of plant. Cinnamon containing cassia also contains coumarin, which is known to cause liver and kidney damage in studies done on rodents. A rule of thumb is to consume no more than 2 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day.”

Fruit of the Sun

“Flavonoids found in grapefruit have been shown to reduce cardiovascular mortality in a number of studies,” Schulman says. “Flavonoids have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Antioxidants are proving to be extremely beneficial to many of the body’s systems because they reduce reactive oxygen species that contribute to cardiovascular disease and cancer. Citrus juices, with grapefruit juice being the highest in citrate concentration, are also helpful to patients with a certain type of kidney stone.”

Grapefruit has been shown to affect the way certain medications are metabolized, so check with your doctor about possible side effects.

Healing Nectar

“Honey, especially naturally occurring honey, is high in glutathione, super oxide dismutase, and ascorbic acid [vitamin C]. These are all antioxidants that have cardio-protective effects and therapeutic effects against some cardiac disorders and problems in the coronary arteries,” says Schulman, who adds that honey protects the colon through similar antioxidant effects. Generally, honey that is darker in color is higher in antioxidants.

Some people have used honey—especially honey derived from New Zealand—to help heal cuts, abrasions, and even acne because of its antibacterial properties. However, honey should not be given to infants or individuals with weak immune systems due to cancer, infection, or medications because it can be a source of botulinum toxin.

-- Michele Deppe