A Quintessential Spring Food: Wild Ramps!
Wild ramps are the quintessential spring food. Found in moist, shady areas of deciduous forests, they literally pop up out of the ground soon after the first warmth of spring. Sometimes referred to as wild leeks, the entire plant, from the snow- white bulb to the rich green leaf, is full of health-promoting minerals and poly-phenols.
A Tale of Sustainably Harvested Ramps
My Dad, Dr. Cowan, always taught his kids that the key to growing good food is to farm the soil. Over the years and through a number of different experiments from creating a Hügelkultur, to broad-forking entire beds at the Napa Garden we have always paid attention to the soil. In our search for sustainability and it’s derivatives; flavor, smell, freshness, nutrition, and color we have come across some interesting vegetables and farmers. Wild Ramps have some incredible qualities that by virtue of aiding in sustainability and preventing soil erosion, have the added advantage of being highly sought after for culinary purposes.
Are Your Daily Multivitamins Really Beneficial to Your Health?
In the earlier part of the 20th Century, vital substances needed for human nutrition were being discovered and named. Vitamin A, or retinol, was the first vitamin discovered, hence, the name vitamin A. The name retinol came about because it was found that a deficiency of vitamin A caused blindness, connecting the substance to the retina. Soon after came the discoveries of the B vitamins, and then vitamin C.
What You Need To Know About Autoimmune Disease
As I put the finishing touches on my forthcoming book on autoimmune disease, I want to say a few words on the connection between autoimmune disease, diet and vegetable diversity.
Plant Growth Habits, Seasonal Eating and the Optimal Time to Eat Each Vegetable
Tomatoes are a heat- and sun-loving plant; they die if exposed to even a touch of frost, whereas kale not only survives a hard frost, it actually thrives in cold weather. This got me thinking about plant growth habits, seasonal eating and the optimal time to eat each vegetable.
End Food Fights Once and For All!
Family dinners, a tradition in most households, are a time when all the loving members of the family sit together and recount the adventures of the day. They’re full of light-hearted laughter, warmth and the joy of eating delicious, home-cooked food. At least, that is the Leave It to Beaver version. For many of us, including my three children and me, family dinners resembled more of a battleground than the peaceful event of TV fame.
Learn How Biodiversity Can Improve Your Microbiome!
A recent article dramatically demonstrates the value of diversity in the human diet. A professor from England, whose work entails studying the diversity of the microbiome (primarily the bacteria in the gut), traveled to Northern Tanzania in Africa to live with one of the last groups of hunter-gatherers, the Hadza, for three days. During this time, he ate only what they ate: such foods as baobob "porridge," wild berries, foraged tubers and porcupine organs and meat. Honey is an important food for them as well (above).
13 Vegetables before 8AM!
Dr. Cowan's approach to health has revolved around food since he was a medical student at Michigan State University, where he gave talks to other students on nutrition because they thought he knew more about food than the professors. Since then, he has read and lectured widely on food and counseled thousands of people with such health challenges as cancer, autoimmune disease, inflammatory bowel disease and heart disease on what to eat to heal and thrive.
Here's What You Should Know About Low-Oxalate Greens!
The importance of oxalates in food is a controversial topic. The conventional medical understanding is that oxalates in food are relevant only for people with calcium-oxalate kidney stones and are not a source of concern for anyone else. Other authors have pointed out the role of oxalates in contributing to inflammation, chronic pain and, in particular, fibromyalgia.
10 Easy Ways To Use Horseradish Powder - Dr. Cowan’s Garden
Horseradish is a bona fide super food. It's a particularly good idea to add it to your diet in the winter, as it's high in Vitamin C, which is a potent antioxidant; has antibiotic properties that can kill bacteria in the throat; and can help clear mucous in the sinuses and nose. It also contains glucosinolates, which help the liver detoxify and eliminate carcinogens. We hope you fortify yourself in these remaining winter months with this humble but powerful root, as it has been a nasty flu and cold season.
Sea Vegetables: Help Support Blood Flow
Although most people are aware of the presence of minerals like iodine, potassium, and calcium in most commonly eaten sea vegetables, it turns out that these important minerals are not the only reason to eat these nutritionally powerful vegetables. Most sea vegetables, such as the wakame, dulse, and kelp in our Sea-Vegetables Powder, are also loaded with polyphenols, some of which are unique to sea vegetables.
Follow
Thanks for visiting Dr. Cowan's Garden!
© 2019 Dr. Cowan's Garden.
