Common Foods that Moderate Cholesterol by Susun Weed

Renowned herbologist Susun Weed writes, “If you are concerned about cholesterol, I have some great news for you. A variety of delicious foods have been shown to be as effective at moderating cholesterol as any drug. These foods lower LDL (the bad cholesterol) and raise HDL (the good cholesterol). They have a positive impact on total cholesterol and triglycerides too. And, as a bonus, most of these foods help prevent diabetes and lower blood pressure. See below for a list of these cholesterol-lowering foods. And remember to eat them cooked, frozen, dehydrated, fermented, or coated in oil for maximum benefit. Enjoy! Here’s to a healthy heart the Wise Woman Way.” From www.susunweed.com

  • Almonds (2 handfuls): Lowers LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol.
  • Apples (½ cup dried): Lowers LDL cholesterol by 23 percent; total cholesterol by 14 percent.
  • Apple (1 raw): Lowers LDL by 40 percent.
  • Avocado (1-2 a week): Fiber and beta-sistosterol compete with cholesterol for uptake (and win).
  • Beans, peas, lentils, and lima beans (¾ cup). Lowers LDL and total cholesterol.
  • Blueberries (2 cups frozen): Reduces heart disease by 40 percent.
  • Chocolate (1-3 ounces): Increases HDL, counters LDL oxidation, lowers total cholesterol.
  • Citrus fruits (½-1 cup): Rich in pectin, a type of soluble fiber; lowers LDL.
  • Cooked leafy greens (½-1 cup): Proteins and fiber bind cholesterol.
  • Fatty fish (2-4 servings a week): Reduces triglyceride levels by 25-30 percent.
  • Garlic (1-4 cloves): Lowers total cholesterol.
  • Hibiscus (1 cup infusion): Lowers LDL.
  • Nourishing Herbal Infusions (1-4 cups): Polyphenols and phytosterols reduce total cholesterol and counter oxidation of LDL.
  • Nuts (handful): Lower LDL.
  • Oats (½-1 cup): Soluble fiber lowers total cholesterol.
  • Olive oil (2-4 tablespoons): Lowers total cholesterol.
  • Pasture-fed, antibiotic and hormone-free meat and dairy (1-2 servings): Saturated fat is not the enemy of a healthy heart. The omega-3/omega-6 ratio of pasture-fed meat and milk is much closer to the ideal 1:1 ratio, than feedlot corn-fed meat and milk from soy-fed animals and promotes heart health.
  • Pears (dried or fresh, 1): Even more soluble fiber than apples; too bad for LDL.
  • Roots: The edible roots of plants are concentrated sources of phytosterols and polyphenols.
  • Shiitake mushrooms: Reduces cholesterol.
  • Tea, green (2-5 cups): Reduces LDL cholesterol.
  • Whole grains, including barley, kasha, rice, quinoa, amaranth, millet, wheat, oats. Soluble fiber lowers total cholesterol.

Green blessings, Susun Weed

Reprinted with kind permission from Susun Weed

See Susun’s book Abundantly Well: Seven Medicines

Click here for an article on “Using Infusions to Heal” by Susun Weed


13 Ayurvedic Anti-Aging Herbs by Dr. Ram Mani Bhandari

In Ayurvedic herbal treatment, anti aging means principally keeping up a healthy body into herbal treatment and bringing down the operation of aging, degeneration and depreciation. The objective of herbal anti-aging treatment is to aim for a healthy aging mode, and to maintain both mind and body working at optimum level, so the treasures of old age can be relished with peace of mind and vitality.

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Visit Nettle Meadow Farm for Artisanal (and Ethical) Cheese

Nettle Meadow Farm and Artisan Cheese is located about an hour north of Albany, NY. Lorraine Lambiase and Sheila Flanagan have tended to their beautiful farm in the Adirondack Mountains since 1990, with dozens of sheep, over 300 goats, chickens, ducks, and a couple of guard llamas living off of the land and providing their milk to be turned into some of America’s most incredible, award winning cheeses.

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Summer Tuna or Salmon Salad by Priscilla Warshowsky

| by Priscilla Warshowsky

This is a quick and simple salad to make for warm weather evenings. While tuna has high mercury, the Skipjack Wild tuna is a smaller tuna with much lower levels of mercury.  Wild Planet is a good brand.

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Dandelions May be the Health Boost You Need

It’s spring and that means our favorite pesky weed is about to make its appearance! Before you eradicate those interlopers you may want to try something different.  Dandelion, both leaves and roots, whether grown wild or cultivated, is full of medicinal benefits. The greens can be chopped into salad, cooked like spinach, or added to juicing, while the root form can be used to make an infusion/tea or extract. 

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Cooking With Qi & Conquering Any Disease

Like so many of us, I’ve been watching my nutrition and eating healthfully for years, buying only organic food and the very freshest ingredients possible. Also years ago, I cut out those foods that are known to damage our systems. I thought I was doing well until I heard about Qigong Master Jeff Primack and his food based healing system.

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What Is Natto & How Do I Eat It?

Natto is a traditional Japanese food. It’s fermented soybeans that are rich in vegetable protein. Typically eaten with rice, natto has a mild cheese-like flavor and can be an acquired taste. It has a sort of sticky paste on its surface and once it is stirred, the paste increases its volume becoming even stickier. You will find that the paste pulls apart in such a way that resembles a web. This is another characteristic that sometimes turns people off. Still, the benefits make it worth exploring, and according to The New York Times, it’s catching on. If you’re the adventurous type or enjoy uncommon textures in your food, definitely try Natto! You can even make it yourself (video) if you want.

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The Benefits of Rooibos (Redbush) Tea

Long used in Africa, and touted for its reputed medicinal properties, redbush tea has been the subject of increased research over the last few decades. As we read on www.livestrong.com: “Redbush tea is a beverage brewed from the dried leaves of the rooibos plant, a low-growing shrub native to South Africa and known scientifically as Aspalathus linearis. The herbal tea gets its name from the English translation of rooibos, which means “red bush” in Afrikaans.

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Is There an ‘All Natural’ Alternative to Antibiotics? by Susun Weed

There are good reasons to use antibiotic drugs. That said, most physicians and healthcare professionals agree that they are often overused. The overuse of antibiotics has created “superbugs” that are immune to the most common antibiotics. But on a more personal level, antibiotics can wreak havoc on your own immune system and gastrointestinal tract. The good news is that there is an all-natural alternative to antibiotics that I’ve found to be very effective.

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Summer Green Bean Saute from Priscilla Warshowsky

This is a quick and simple side dish to make for warm summer evenings, as it only requires the briefest time on the stove top. Even better, there’s no need to stress about measuring ingredients – you can let the daily harvest from your home garden, or your favorite farmer’s market be your guide, as well as the number of people you expect to feed. Likewise, you can adjust the basic recipe to your own tastes. Any leftovers can be reheated, served cold, or at room temperature – you can even add some sliced, fresh tomatoes, toss it with your favorite vinaigrette and turn it into a summer salad!

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