Now that the fall colours have passed their peak and most of the leaves have fallen, things are going to look a little barren until everything starts growing again in April. This is a time of rest for the plant people. But it is not yet a time of rest for herbalists. Harvesting season starts […]

Vitamin E is not a single nutrient but exists in nature as a family of eight different antioxidants.  Some vitamin E supplements sold in health food stores and pharmacies contain only alpha-tocopherol but, in nature, there are four tocopherols. These consist of alpha-, beta-, gamma- and delta-. There are also four tocotrienols (also alpha-, beta-, […]

June is an amazing month in Ontario. It tends to be the time of year when everything is incredibly lush and at its greenest. Life radiates intensely, no matter where we look. As an herbalist, this is when harvesting herbs goes into high gear. The year begins early to mid April with the appearance of […]

The knock on the door came at midnight. The old man got out of his hammock and opened the door to a woman with a nine-year-old boy, burning up with fever. The mother, in tears, was at her wits end. The old man, a Mayan h’men or healer, said the boy needed to be detoxified […]

From the Vitality Food Feature 'Golden Goblins'. This is a healthy alternative to the sweet yam and marshmallow side dish traditionally served at Thanksgiving. (Makes:  6 servings) Ingredients: 2 cups pumpkin cubes 2 Tbsp butter 1/2 onion, finely chopped 2 Tbsp brown rice syrup 1/4 cup dried cranberries 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg salt and pepper […]

From the Vitality Food Feature 'Golden Goblins'. Substitute sweet potatoes or squash for the pumpkin, if desired. Use any cooked legume: ­ chickpeas, soybeans, lentils, and beans ­ in this nutritious meat alternative dish. (Makes: 4 - 6 servings) Ingredients: 2 Tbsp olive oil 1 onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 red pepper, chopped […]

From the Vitality Food Feature 'Golden Goblins'. An easy way to keep pumpkin (or other squashes) ready to add to soups, stews, muffins, breads, sauces and casseroles, this method intensifies the flavour and sweetness of the flesh by roasting. Ingredients: 1 cooking pumpkin 2 Tbsp olive oil 1) Cut the pumpkin in half with a […]

We have pumpkin at morning and pumpkin at noon If it were not for pumpkins, we would be undone (old American pioneer folk song) As ambassadors of fall, pumpkins greet us at every country roadside stand, urban supermarket and farmer's field. They are late bloomers, radiating the warmth of summer sun even as nights turn […]

From the Vitality Food Feature 'Golden Goblins'. Two ounces, taken daily, of this spread provides a therapeutic dose of the amino acids alanine, glycine and glutamic acid. These substances were proven in one study to reduce the major symptoms of prostate enlargement. Ingredients: 1 cup hull-less pumpkin seeds 1/2 cup sesame seeds 1/4 cup almonds […]

From the Vitality Food Feature 'Lovely Lentils'. Here’s my favorite recipe for what my family fondly calls “mom’s meatless meat loaf.” It is delightful supper loaf that goes very nicely with steamed carrots and a poached egg, or a side salad and steamed broccoli. INGREDIENTS 1-1/2 cups of green or brown lentils, or dried split […]

From the Vitality Food Feature 'Cuisines of Our Cultures'. Debby Segura, a Los-Angeles-based designer and chef, created this gorgeous soup.Comforting as well as elegant, perfect for the first course of a Christmas meal. Serves 8-12 as an appetizer. Ingredients: 3 pounds butternut squash, peeled and cut into 2-inch chunks 2 golden delicious apples, peeled, cored […]

The following is an excerpt from Wenzel and Pataracchia's new book The Earth’s Gift To Medicine: Minerals in Health and Disease, translated from German by Claudia Rank. From a scientific standpoint, selenium has had an eventful history. Discovered in 1817, it was first used medicinally in the treatment of inoperable tumors, where it was surprisingly […]

Helps Heal Inflammation of Lungs, Eyes, and Bowels It’s late March and I’m in front of my computer working on an early draft of this article. Periodically my eyes get tired of staring at the screen and I look out the window to give them a rest. Outside, winter is starting to retreat. March has […]

From the Vitality Food Feature 'Healthy Holiday Munchies'. These tasty balls are sometimes called “oat candy.” They are good for the waistline, easy to make and pretty on the plate. They are fun to roll into balls so if you’ve got some little hands in your baking party, let them do the forming. Ingredients 2 […]

From the Vitality Food Feature 'Healthy Holiday Munchies'. Ingredients 2 cups dried whole chickpeas (or canned chickpeas) 2 tsp garlic powder 1/4 tsp cayenne 1) To cook chickpeas, soak 12 hours or overnight in water to cover. Drain and cover with fresh water. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer until just tender. Drain. 2) […]

From the Vitality Food Feature 'Healthy Holiday Munchies'. If holidays just aren’t holidays without peanuts, try this recipe to satisfy your nutty cravings. Ingredients 2 cups whole raw organic peanuts 2 Tbsp coarse salt (don’t fret — it will be discarded!) 1/2 Tbsp cornstarch 3 tsp wasabi powder 1 Tbsp wasabi paste 1 egg white […]