. . . some recipes Healthy doesn’t have to be boring, or tasteless. Here are some enticing recipes from Michelle King Davis’s book, Beyond Healthy Recipes, available at Beyond Health. ALL RAW SANDWICH FILLING  -  Makes 4 wraps 1 clove garlic, minced 2 T fresh lime juice 2 ripe avocados, peeled and seed removed ¼ cup onions, finely chopped Spices of choice (cumin, cayenne pepper, chili powder, oregano, or basil) Selina Celtic Sea Salt to taste 4-5 collard greens or large romaine lettuce leaves Using a food processor, process the above ingredients, except for the greens or romaine, until smooth and use it as the dressing for a combination of any of the vegetables below: Carrots, shredded Zucchini or yellow squash, shredded Tomato, chopped Broccoli, finely chopped Cauliflower, finely chopped Cabbage, shredded Bell peppers, thinly sliced Scallions, chopped Cilantro, parsley, basil or dill, chopped Mung bean, clover, broccoli, radish or alfalfa sprouts Finely c…

Because high blood pressure is a risk factor for heart attack and stroke, many doctors are quick to prescribe blood pressure-lowering medications. But there isn’t one that doesn’t have disturbing side effects, and most of the time they’re unnecessary. Eating a good diet that’s high in fruits and vegetables and low-to-moderate in carbohydrates; taking heart-healthy supplements like CoQ10, vitamin E, vitamin C, magnesium, potassium, garlic, hawthorn, taurine and curcumin; making sure you get 8 glasses of pure water a day; minimizing salt intake; learning to manage stress; losing weight if you’re overweight; and regular exercise will all help to lower your blood pressure if it’s over the ideal 120/80 or below. But scientists are wondering if particular foods may also help. It started when a study done at Queen Mary University in London, England, found that drinking a little over 8 ounces of beet juice decreased systolic blood pressure by about 5 points. Systolic blood pressure is th…

. . . it could double your risk for macular degeneration A European study on nearly 4,700 men and women over 65 found that daily aspirin users more than doubled their risk of late stage, "wet" macular degeneration. Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of legal blindness resulting in loss of independence among older Americans. The macula is a tiny, highly sensitive region in the center of the retina that allows you to see fine details and colors. Without it, you aren't totally blind, but all you see is shapes and movement in shades of black and white. With age, the macula can deteriorate in one of two ways. It can become thin and sprinkled with debris called drusen (the dry form), or blood vessels beneath the retina may push up into the macula and leak blood and fluids (the wet form). The wet form, which is considered the more serious, was the form associated with aspirin use in the above study. (Aspirin is known to cause small hemorrhages under the retina.) Other…