♥ Health Tip of the Day! – Eat Chocolate, Yum!

Seriously, eating chocolate can be healthy, if done right. Natural chocolate is high in anti-oxidant polyphenols (the same ones found in red wine) and other healthy flavanols and phytonutrients. Studies indicate the antioxidants in chocolate actually increase HDLs (the good cholesterol), reduce LDLs (the bad cholesterol) and help to keep platelets from sticking, reducing potential for blot clots, heart attack and strokes.

That said, you need to make sure you eat the “right” chocolate and don’t overdo it. Dr. Andrew Weil recommends 1 to 2 ounces of good quality dark chocolate a couple times per week. Raw and unprocessed organic cocoa is the healthiest, with organic dark chocolate coming in a close second. The higher the percentage of cocoa (70% or higher is recommended) and the lower the percentage of fats and sugars the better.

Dutch processing, treating with alkali, usually potassium carbonate, removes the natural acidity of the cocoa bean giving it a smoother milder flavor, but also destroys many of the healthy flavanols. Milk chocolate adds additional milk fats and solids, counter-acting the healthy benefits of natural chocolate. The mis-named “white” chocolate is’t chocolate at all and has none of the health benefits inherent in natural chocolate. Over-processed candy bars, high in processed sugars and fat will do you far more harm than good. Avoid these chocolate variations and stick to good pure dark chocolate, preferably organic and fair trade, to improve your health and fairly sustain chocolate farming communities.

♥ Health Tip of the Day! – Exercise your Mind

Mental fitness is as important as physical. Exercising the mind, learning new things, helps to keep us young and healthy. And here on Saba we have an incredible opportunity to do this every October, for free! Take advantage of Sea & Learn’s evening presentations and field projects to learn more about Saba, its history, ecology, geology, flora, fauna, and place in the world.

For more on what’s scheduled this year, stop by the Sea & Learn tent at Lambee’s Place in front of Sea Saba, or check out the calendar and Experts on their website.

♥ Health Tip of the Day! – Get a Massage!

Studies show that massage reduces levels of stress hormones while boosting those of the feel-good hormones serotonin and dopamine. These changes slow your heart rate, reduce blood pressure, and block your nervous system’s pain receptors. Massage also increases blood flow to the muscles, which may help them heal. Massage also seems to ease distress from migraine, labor pain, and even cancer, as well as the body tenderness seen with fibromyalgia. Plus, the benefits may last as long as a year after just a few treatments.

Massage increases delta waves — those linked with deep sleep — according to a study at the Touch Research Institute. That’s why it’s easy to drift off on the massage table.

Tests show that brain-wave activity stimulated by massage is linked to improved circulation to the brain and increased attention span.

Massage helps ward off illness by boosting your the immune system’s first line of defense. Massage even seems to boost immunity in those people with severely compromised immune systems, such as breast-cancer patients.

A small study of 24 women with severe PMS found that massage reduced symptoms such as pain, water retention, and mood swings.

All the above benefits can mean less stress, anxiety, and depression.  The well-being people feel after a massage is a big reason why some hospitals offer it to anxious patients preparing for surgery and cancer patients going through chemo.

For more on the health benefits of massage, see these respected medical websites:  MayoClinic.com, WebMD.com, and MedicineNet.com.

♥ Health Tip of the Day! – Pharmacopoeia on the Footpath – “Saba Spice Bush”

“Saba Spice Bush” (Foeniculum vulgare), commonly known as Fennel or Sweet Fennel, is the “signature” ingredient in most preparations of the local liqueur “Saba Spice”. It has also been used traditionally on Saba as a “bush tea” to aid in gastrointestinal disorders. More recent medical analysis indicates high levels of anti-oxidants throughout the plant and high plant estrogens can help reduce menstrual pain and cramping (NB – women are warned to avoid the Saba Spice bush during pregnancy, as the estrogen levels may increase risk of birth defects). Saba Spice bush can be found prominently in mid-elevation areas, like Windwardside, upper Hells Gate and the Crispeen track.

Thanks to Suzanna Neilsen and Peter Schnabel for compiling this information, along with a wealth of knowledge regarding the traditional uses of local plants in Folk Remedies on a Caribbean Island – The story of Bush Medicine on Saba.

♥ Health Tip of the Day! – Drink more Water!

Approximately 70% of the body is made up of water. It is essential for life. Drinking sufficient clean pure water (approximately 4 pints per day, throughout the day) helps distribute nutrients, prevent cancer, regulates body temperature and pH balance, relieves pain, removes toxins, assists metabolism, and keeps organs functioning smoothly.

♥ Health Tip of the Day! – Stay inside… yes, again

Maria is here. Everyone be safe.

♥ Health Tip of the Day! – Brush and Floss

Most everyone is aware that brushing twice a day will help prevent tooth decay. But recent studies implicate gum disease as a contributing factor to several serious health conditions. Regular brushing and flossing not only keeps your pearlies white, it can actually reduce your risk of diabetes, heart disease, dementia, arthritis, obesity and erectile disfunction. We’re not making this up. See The Hidden Benefits to Brushing your Teeth and 10 Health Benefits of Brushing to learn more.

♥ Health Tip of the Day! – Guava Guava Guava!

Possibly the healthiest fruit on the planet, Guava grows in abundance on Saba. The small roundish fruit is rich in beneficial nutrients, cancer-fighting anti-oxidants, Vitamins A and C, potassium, dietary fiber, Carotenoids, the list goes on. In addition to fighting cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure, guava can help with cough and cold symptoms, skin care, dental care, and scurvy. Amazingly, the properties in guava can help with weight loss, or conversely, help thin people gain weight. Other seemingly contrary benefits include easing diarrhea and dysentary, while also preventing constipation. Truly a miracle fruit, found right here on Saba.

For more information about the benefits of guava, see Organic Facts and 10 Health Benefits of Guava.

♥ Health Tip of the Day! – Eat more whole grains

Grains are naturally low in fat. Whole grains have been shown to decrease your risk of heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers. Whole wheat, brown rice, corn, millet, quinoa, rye, barley, kamut and spelt have not been overly processed and stripped of their nutrients and fiber like their refined, white counterparts..

2010 Dietary Guidelines recommend that at least half of all the grains you eat are whole grains. But if you’re like most people, you’re not getting enough whole grains in your diet.

Increasing your consumption of whole grains can even help you lose weight. With foods high in fiber and vitamins, your body doesn’t need as much to feel nourished and satisfied, so you’ll generally eat less.

♥ Health Tip of the Day! – Pharmacopoeia on the Footpath – “Cinnamon Bush”

“Cinnamon Bush” (Pimenta racemosa) also known as “Bay Rum” and “Saba Bay Leaf”, has been used in Saba medicinally, as a culinary spice, and of course, as an ingredient in the famous local Saba Spice drink.
An infusion of the leaves has been used to relieve gastrointestinal discomfort and cold and flu symptoms. Crushed leaves can be chewed to help heal mouth sores and relieve dental pain. And the berries, when eaten, have a slight narcotic effect, relieving anxiety. They are also used in preparing alcoholic beverages.

On Saba, Bay Rum can be found along trails and many roadsides, and particularly along the eastern coastal hillsides between Flat Point and Sulphur Mine.

Thanks to Suzanna Neilsen and Peter Schnabel for compiling this information, along with a wealth of knowledge regarding the traditional uses of local plants in Folk Remedies on a Caribbean Island – The story of Bush Medicine on Saba.

♥ Health Tip of the Day! – Support your Skin

The skin is the body’s largest organ of elimination. Accumulated toxins in our bodies are expelled by the skin through perspiration. The skin also presents a barrier, in many ways protecting the body from harmful substances. Help your skin help you by using natural, healthy skin care products for cleansing, exfoliating and moisturizing, rather than synthetic chemical concoctions that can compromise your skin’s ability to protect you and flush toxins.

♥ Health Tip of the Day! – Take care of your Feet

Take care of your feet! Its easy to take your feet for granted, but they are a very important part of your over-all health. Your feet are your point of contact, grounding you to the earth. They are your means of motion. From reflexology to acupressure points, the feet are connected, energetically and physically, to all important organ systems and the rest of your body.
Try a Reflexology massage. Or Treat your Feet with a Happy Feet Treat or Trekker’s Treat.

For more info on foot health, see:
Acupressure for Feet
What is Reflexology?

♥ Health Tip of the Day! – Say No to Soda

Soda is one of the most common and least healthy beverages available. Besides the familiar risks of tooth-decay and increased obesity, soda pop can leach calcium, magnesium and zinc from the body, weaken bones, increase risks of osteoporosis and diabetes, cause dehydration and exacerbate asthma, eczema and skin rashes. Diet soda isn’t any better, it may be worse. Next time you’re ready to pop a top, instead reach for water, pure natural juice, or herbal tea.

For more details on the evils lurking in a can of soda, see these revealing sites:

8 Ways Soda Fizzles your Health

Enough! Just Why Is Soda So Bad?!

The Truth about Soda: Is It Bad for You?

What Happens To Your Body Within An Hour Of Drinking A Coke