Category Archives: Dr. Kelley’s Kitchen

FOOD and nutrition: The good, the bad, and the ugly, including some excellent recipes and commentary about certain types of food/meals, which have proven to be of benefit. Also some harsh warnings about food and food-related products, which are over-sold, over-bought and over-used, many of which raise questions as to their safety and nutritional value.

Olive Oil is the Healthiest Choice When it Comes to Frying Food

olive_oilA new study published October 22 (2014) reinforces once again that olive oil is one of the best oils for cooking compared to other seed oils. Researchers based their conclusion on a few different factors, including nutritional content and the oil’s ability to maintain quality under high temperatures.

Published in the American Chemical Society’s (ACS) Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, scientists note that various oils have different physical, chemical and nutritional properties that can be degraded under high heat and repeated use.

Many cooking oils can become impaired while heating in the pan or frying, and the food that you’re cooking can actually also lose its nutritional content, making your choice of oil critical for producing a healthy dish. Continue reading

Is Decaffeinated Really A Healthy Choice?

Editor’s Note: We are no longer certain that the Swiss Water Method is safe, so please disregard our recommendation until we have an opportunity to do further research. For now, our recommendation is to avoid all decaffeinated tea and coffee.

pouring_coffee_2Decaffeinated drinks have been touted as a healthy alternative for several decades at the behest of the chemical industry, but these drinks are often more dangerous than the unmodified versions.

Early decaffeination efforts were abruptly terminated because of the toxic solvents that were used in the process (benzene, chloroform, and trichloroethylene). Of course, the F.D.A. is okay with benzene being inside your soft drinks (Coke, Pepsi, etc.), where it can be found in remarkably high amounts, and inside all of your microwaved foods. Money from its industry partners makes all the difference. In the early days of decaffeination, the new industry was not lucrative enough to buy F.D.A. safety studies. Continue reading

Ji: Plants Cure Cancer, Not Chemicals

veggie_tableUnbeknownst to most, a Copernican revolution has already taken place in cancer theory. Today, the weight of evidence indicates that plants and not chemicals are the solution for reversing the global cancer epidemic.

Our understanding of what causes cancer has undergone something akin to a Copernican revolution in the past decade. Biological fatalism has been the predominant force in medicine over the past half century, where most conditions including cancer were believed predestined ‘in the genes,’ and therefore impossible to reverse. Instead of looking for root cause resolution of disease (RCRD), we resigned ourselves to ‘finding it early’ and in the case of cancer, when doing so (even when it was benign), we waged war against it, quite literally using weapons grade materials (mustard gas- and nuclear materials-derived agents). Now, however, in this post-Genomic era, factors above (epi-) the control of the genes – epigenetic factors – are taking center stage; these include environmental exposures, stress, nutritional factors, and various lifestyle-based variables that are within the ambit of our control and volition, and which are often reversible. Continue reading

Wine, nuts and chocolate ‘may prevent brittle bones’: Compound in treats found to have anti-inflammatory properties

wineA glass of red wine, a handful of peanuts or a nibble of chocolate could protect against osteoporosis.

Resveratrol, a natural compound found in red wine and grapes, mulberries, cocao powder and peanuts has anti-inflammatory properties which protect against bone loss in mice and rats.

Now Danish researchers have shown the plant compound, a type of natural phenol, increased spinal bone density in men with metabolic syndrome which has been linked to low-grade inflammation that can cause bone loss.

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors, such as obesity or high blood pressure, that raise the risk of developing heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Continue reading

Man cuts out soda, increases vegetable intake, loses 125 pounds

fizzy_01Emil Oprisa describes himself as someone who once was the “embodiment of laziness,” not doing much more than eating junk food and taking a taxi just to go to the grocery store down the street (1). Eventually, his six-foot frame was carrying around an unhealthy 328 pounds.

He knew that his health was in jeopardy, but it wasn’t until 2012 when he enrolled in a masters school program in the Alps that the lure of hiking trails became his wake up call. Barely able to make steps that other people could with ease, Oprisa challenged himself and was soon able to tackle various inclines. Along the way, he lost an incredible 125 pounds and is now an avid hiker, runner and cyclist who weighs about 203 pounds (his goal is 185 pounds). However, he also says that adopting a healthier diet also played a significant role in his weight loss. Continue reading

Broccoli Loves Us

brocolliNew cancer-prevention research says that consuming broccoli sprouts makes people excrete benzene in their urine, mitigating effects of breathing polluted air.

What are you doing with the benzene you inhale? Just absorbing it, stocking up on sleepiness, dizziness, anemia, possibly leukemia? Or are you taking control and expunging it in your urine? Continue reading

Eating Strawberries May Lower Blood Pressure

  • Antioxidant-rich fruit relaxes lining inside blood vessels
  • Could eating strawberries lower blood pressure?

strawberriesIn a trial at Florida State University, 60 post-menopausal women with mild to moderately high blood pressure will have a handful of freeze-dried strawberries or a placebo once a day for eight weeks.

Their blood pressure before and after the trial will be compared.

The women in the study have blood pressure greater than 130/85, but less than 160. Higher blood pressure is common after the menopause, possibly because of hormonal changes and weight gain. Continue reading

The ‘Miracle’ Berry That Could Replace Sugar

Miracle fruit contains a protein called miraculin that tastes sweet enough to replicate the effect of sugar. Why isn’t it widely used as a healthy sweetener?

miracle fruitOf all our senses, taste is the one that people associate most strongly with expectations of pleasure. But indulgence comes at a cost. Almost 45 percent of the American population will be clinically obese by 2030, according to current predictions. That will increase the total toll on the healthcare system from related illnesses, like diabetes and heart disease, to a staggering $60 billion. Continue reading

Eating One Chicken Breast or Salmon Fillet a Day Can Reduce the Risk of Stroke by 20%

High protein diets may protect against stroke, especially if they contain a lot of fish.

Just one 20g serving of protein a day can slash the risk of a stroke by 20 per cent - and fish is particularly beneficial, say scientists

Just one 20g serving of protein a day can slash the risk of a stroke by 20 per cent – and fish is particularly beneficial, say scientists

Chinese scientists have found that eating as little as one chicken breast or salmon fillet every day – each around 20g – can reduce the risk of stroke by 20 per cent.

And for every extra 20g of protein eaten per day, stroke risk reduced by around 26 per cent. Continue reading

Chi-chi-chi-chi-Chia

One Of The Healthiest Foods In The World Is A Tiny Black Seed From South America

Chia seeds can be mixed with water and turned into a gel.

Chia seeds can be mixed with water and turned into a gel.

Chia seeds are among the healthiest foods on the planet.

They are loaded with nutrients that can have important benefits for your body and brain.

Here are 11 health benefits of chia seeds that are supported by human studies.

1. Chia Seeds Deliver A Massive Amount Of Nutrients With Very Few Calories
Chia seeds are tiny black seeds from the plant Salvia Hispanica, which is related to the mint. This plant grows natively in South America. Continue reading

Almonds, perfect snack for health

almondsHandful a day can keep heart healthy and beat the flab, results of six new studies conclude

A handful of almonds may well be the perfect daily snack for staving off disease.
The high-protein, nutrient-rich nuts help suppress the appetite, beat flab and also keep your heart healthy.

Almonds are high in beneficial monounsaturated fats and vitamin E, which protects against UV light damage and Alzheimer’s, according to six studies presented to the American Society of Nutrition Scientific Sessions in San Diego. Continue reading

10 Natural Remedies for Kidney Stones

kidneysThe kidneys are one of the most important organs in the human body. The kidneys help to detox and filter impurities from the blood, as well as waste products from your urine. Kidney stones form when the kidneys are not able to process toxins efficiently. Specifically, a crystallization of unprocessed minerals builds up. Kidney stones cause pain and possible blockage of urine flow.

The following are some simple natural remedies that may help soothe the discomfort of kidney stones and speed up the body’s natural healing process. Continue reading

7 Best Foods to Support Kidney Function

herbal_teaYour kidneys provide vital service to your body — they filter waste from your blood and send it to your bladder. They also regulate blood pressure, manage water reabsorption, control the acidity in the body, and balance electrolyte levels. Considering their importance, eating a diet to promote kidney health could be one of the best things you can do. The following seven foods will support your kidneys and make their job easier. Continue reading

Cabbage: Natural Medicine for Cancer, Diabetes and More

cabbage9The robust and abundant cabbage, which is closely related to other leafy green vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower, has a long history as both a food and medicine. For example, the Ancient Greeks would routinely prescribe cabbage or cabbage juice to treat constipation or mushroom poisoning, while the Ancient Egyptians consumed cabbage before meals to lower the intoxicating effects of wine. The British even brought cabbage to the trenches of World War I since its leaves helped to treat trench foot and bandage ulcers.

Cabbage’s historical uses as a medicine is a testament to its dense concentrations of nutrients. In fact, cabbage shares a remarkably similar nutritional profile to broccoli, and is even proven to treat the same medical conditions. Continue reading