Healthy Food Helps the Environment, Study Says

Source: NPI Center

A healthy diet also benefits the environment, according to a scientific study presented in Brussels by the Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition (BCFN).

The study 'Double Pyramid: Healthy Food for people, sustainable food for the planet' indicates that foods with higher recommended consumption levels are also those with lower environmental impact. Contrarily, those foods with lower recommended consumption levels are also those with higher environmental impact.

The 'Double Pyramid' model combines the well-known food pyramid with the environmental pyramid, based on an estimation of the environmental impact of each foodstuff in terms of generation of greenhouse gases (Carbon Footprint), consumption of water resources (Water Footprint) and use of territory (Ecological Footprint).

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Not Getting Any? Ten Possible Reasons You’re Not Having Sex

Source: Health Magazine

Not getting any? No need to fear, you’re not alone. A hiatus in feeding your libido is a common ordeal caused by a number of internal and external factors. From lacking a seductive-looking bed (you read that correctly) to confronting bodily issues or just feeling too plain exhausted to rev your engine under the sheets, the brakes on your sex life aren’t necessarily pressed by mere inability. But you can at least discover what may be triggering its absence in order to restore your sexual energy and overall vitality. Health recently compiled a list of 10 reasons you’re not having sex, and offers some good advice to help get your sexy back. 

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Herb of the Month: Turmeric

In this month’s issue of Better Nutrition (aka “The Medicine Hunter”) discusses the health benefits of turmeric. “A large body of science shows that curcumin, a compound in turmeric root, possesses significant healing properties and is chiefly responsible for the herb’s overall healing powers,” writes Kilham in the article. Turmeric has a long Ramuan tradition, so we thought it would be helpful to give you a breakdown of this mystical herb.

Basics: Turmeric or kunyit in Malay, is one of the oldest and most important herb-cum-spice species. Its ancient and modern usages include being an ingredient in folk medicine, food flavoring, dye and even religious and ritual ceremonies since 600 B.C., according to Herbs of Malaysia. A perennial herb native to Southeast Asia, turmeric is currently cultivated commercially in India, China, Indonesia and Indochina. The plant grows about one meter tall and has aromatic, light green leaves with sharp, pointed tips. Turmeric is extensively used throughout the world to flavor, color and increase the quality of preserved foods.

Uses: Turmeric can be applied to the body for an array of skin and eye conditions. The essential oil of turmeric is used in perfumes, and its resin is used as a flavoring and coloring ingredient in foods. In traditional medicine, turmeric is used for a variety of stomach and digestive system conditions. Turmeric is also the main spice used in many curry dishes.

Health benefits: Medicinally, its chemicals are known for maintaining healthy inflammatory response. For these reasons, it is traditionally used in treating immune health and kidney function. Turmeric also promotes normal bile secretion, helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels and addresses post partum discomfort. 

Turmeric, 3 Ways:

1. Boost your sexual energy. Ukup kering—or dry herbal steam—uses freshly pounded turmeric, black seed and lime juice for strengthening and toning up vaginal and cervical muscles. Mix fair parts of each to create your own mix.
2. Settle your stomach. According to WebMD, taking 500 mg of turmeric four times daily helps soothe upset stomach.
3. Spice up your meal. An important spice in Asian cuisine, turmeric is one of the most popular ingredients in curry dishes. Don’t be afraid to get creative, either—turmeric can also be sprinkled over pasta sauce and salad dressing, or sprinkled on meats such as roasted chicken. Try this recipe.

Have you ever used turmeric to spice up a dish or taken the herb as a dietary supplement? Do you know of other turmeric health benefits? Feel free to leave us a comment! 

Stress Fighting Foods – Ramuan Style

Now that fall is officially here, an onslaught of stresses may return as quickly as they disappeared on your summer vacay. If you’re someone who turns to food in times of stress, don’t worry. You can use this to your advantage for boosting your health, and not your waistline. 

According to David Zinczenko, author of Eat This, Not That, you should eat when you’re stressed – it’s our bodies’ “natural reaction to want to store calories to face whatever challenge is causing the stress in the first place.” Inspired by one of his recent Yahoo! Health articles, we’re going to provide you with some stress fighting foods – in true Ramuan fashion, of course.

1. Mangosteen

Mangosteen is a tropical “superfruit,” native to the Malay Peninsula. Mangosteen is revered in Southeast Asia for its rare flavor, which is a cross between a passion fruit and a peach; and it is often eaten as a dessert fruit or made into jams. According to Health and Beauty from the Rainforest, Mangosteen has been found to contain potent antioxidants known as xanthones, which help support the immune system.

2. Green tea

Made with steamed tea leaves, green tea contains EGCG and has been widely studied. Green tea’s natural compounds promotes cell health, supports cardiovascular health, supports caloric burning and combats oxidative stress. How’s that for stress relief?

3. Bananas

The Malays refer to it as, “Pisang.” This popular and simple fruit contains a wonderful combination of natural sugars, magnesium (a stress relieving mineral) and potassium that supports immune health. Serotonin is a powerful natural hormone that excites the brain and makes one feel great. The natural vitamins and minerals found in bananas—which include vitamins B6, K, C and iron—also help keep the nervous system in tip-top condition, plus support immune health, vitality and general health. So when taking on your next big task, why not stock up on a few bunches to help boost your mood? 

If you're feeling stressed, how do you keep yourself from reaching for that piece of pizza or can of diet soda? Do you have any go-to healthy foods besides the three we mentioned?  (There are plenty more!) 

75 Ways to Be Your Healthiest Ever

Source: WebMD and Good Housekeeping


From its first year of publication, Good Housekeeping has urged readers to live healthfully--to take "a walk before breakfast" (1885), "eat more fish" (1932), and get "at least eight hours of sleep" (1933). The tips here, whether from the early days or fresh from the latest journals, have one thing in common: they are based on the best expertise of their time. 

In collaboration with Good Housekeeping this month, WebMD offers its "75 Ways to Be Your Healthiest Ever," which covers everything from oral hygiene and burning calories to yoga, ginger and the importance of... sweat. It's an interesting mix of health tips...but that's what Living Ramuan is all about: intelligent blending for improved health and balance. [Read full article]

Many Women Have Low Libido, But Few Seek Help

Source: USA Today

She’s just not that into …doing it. Waning interest in sex is the most common sexual health issue among women, according to an article in USA Today over the weekend. The article cites a 2006 PRESIDE (Prevalence of Female Sexual Problems Associated with Distress and Determinants of Treatment Seeking) study, which found that low libido affects 38.7 percent of females. Yet surprisingly, few are actually reaching out to get help. While no FDA-approved medication can currently treat the condition, health experts say some promising drugs are on the horizon, and alternative therapies can prove effective. But to receive treatment, women need to be willing to take the first step and talk about it in the first place—something that the majority of them aren’t really doing. USA Today delves deeper into the issue. [Read full article]

Get Empowered About Your Health

The New York Times’ "Well" blog recently featured a Q&A with Elizabeth Cohen, a longtime CNN medical correspondent and patient who wrote a new book called, “The Empowered Patient.” In the Q&A, Cohen talks about her experiences with the health care system, and answers questions such as, “Do patients really have the power to take their health into their own hands?” Becoming an “empowered patient” might mean asking difficult questions or being “a bad patient,” according to Cohen. But it could also mean insisting on a second opinion or seeking out alternative therapies or holistic remedies.

Many patients today are turning to alternative treatments, which are typically defined as “any form of therapy not taught widely in medical schools” or that “have evolved apart from and earlier than the conventional medical approach used in the U.S.,” according to WebMD. In 2007, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, or CAM, reported that approximately 38 percent of adults used CAM. Last year, the American Medical Association  also reported that nearly 40 percent of adults and 12 percent of children in the U.S. use herbal supplements, meditation, chiropractic services or acupuncture. What these numbers seem to indicate is that 1) an increasing number of patients are more than willing to take charge of their health and become informed consumers of health products, and 2) people are looking for natural wellness solutions that have historical, cultural and scientific basis.

With so many alternative therapies and herbal solutions available today, how do you get empowered about your health? The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine offers several suggestions as a starting point, but there are other ways to take charge of your own healing. In what ways have you become an empowered patient this year?