Myrrh medicinal herb will support the body's natural defense system.

Myrrh (Commiphora Myrrha ) medicinal herb mixed with sweet cinnamon, sweet calamus, cassia and olive oil were used to anoint the tabernacle of congregation and the anointing of the Priests.  This instruction was given by God according to Exodus 30:23 and this was referring to the pure herb.  

In the Book of Esther, it was used in the purification of women and it was one of the gifts, inclusive of gold and frankincense, brought by the wise men to worship Jesus.  In regards to 2,000 B.C., the Egyptian papyri made mention of its many uses.

This medicinal plant grows as a shrub in desert regions, particularly in northeastern Africa and the middle east and is also called Commiphora resin, Mo yoa, Guggal gum or resin, Balsamodendron and Heerabol.  It is from the Burseraceae family.
It is antiseptic and preserving and that was the reason why the Egyptians used it to make mummies. Therefore, it is seen as herbal preservation.
The medicinal properties are astringent, tonic, stimulant, carminative as well as expectorant.  The primary parts used are the essential oil and the gum resin.

Health benefits of myrrh

                       

It is used for various ailments, especially in Egypt. It is one of the best herbal liniments for sprains, arthritis, rheumatism, gout, skin diseases as well as circulatory conditions.
The tea is used as a mouthwash for gum and gum, irritated by dentures and also for any sores of the mouth and throat.  It is a good remedy for gum diseases, especially for pyorrhea.  It will leave an aromatic fragrance in the mouth that will last for hours. The resin obtained from the stems is used in medicinal preparations as herbal remedy for gingivitis.
In Greece it is simmered and the face is exposed to the steam as a skin treatment to heal and tighten the skin and eliminate wrinkles. It is used to make incense or burnt as incense in the temples of Isis.  Currently, the trend continues and it is also used to make perfume.  It is truly a rejuvenating herb.

Ancient Chinese Herbalists believed that women who suffer illness during menstruation and during childbirth, a regular rubbing of the essential oil on the body can be beneficial and preserving.
Mixing the powder with powdered charcoal is used to heal external ulcers and sores. It can also be applied to as a powder to the body to prevent bedsores and skin rashes.  Health benefits include the tea or tincture of this medicinal herb which is used to purify the intestines, the body, the lungs and the chest.

Preparation of herbal tincture

• one pint vegetable glycerine, or apple cider vinegar
• one pint of water
• one ounce of the powdered herb
• one teaspoon cayenne pepper
• combine, then let it sit for seven days
• shake regularly

Doses: one to three teaspoons to a cup of boiling water.

Sweeten myrrh tincture with honey if desired.

Foods to Eat for Anemia

Eat these food to combat anemia or a lack of iron in the blood.

Anemia is characterized by the deficiency of the quality and quantity of hemoglobin, a molecule found in the red blood cells. Hemoglobin is important as it carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissues in the human body. When the hemoglobin is unable to carry oxygen to the body’s tissues, the body develops anemia. An individual who has anemia may experience symptoms such as incessant fatigue, insomnia, dizziness, pale skin, shortness of breath, a loss of regular menstrual cycle and an unusually rapid heart beat.
It is important that if you are diagnosed with anemia, you and your doctor should figure out which iron rich health plan is best to treat your anemia. Anemia occurs in varying stages, so you should consume the exact amount of iron that your doctor prescribes to specifically tackle your anemia and avoid a fatal iron overdose.
So, once you have figured out how much iron you need per day to treat the anemia, here are a few food that are rich in iron and are quite effective at treating anemia.
Fruits

Fruits such as iron-rich apples and tomatoes are great to eat when treating anemia. You can either eat apples or tomatoes or drink 100% pure apple and tomato juice to treat anemia. Also fruits that effectively treat anemia are plums, bananas, lemons, grapes, raisins, oranges, figs, carrots and raisins when eaten in large quantities.
Honey

Honey is a potent source of iron, copper and manganese. When these elements are combined they aid in hemoglobin synthesis. Honey is therefore a powerful weapon against anemia. You can eat honey with slices of apples or bananas for iron and energy when treating anemia.
Meats

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Red meats such as kidney, heart and liver are effective at treating anemia. Red meat, as the name suggest, is the iron-rich meat that doctors suggest those suffering from anemia consume. Also poultry, fish and oyster are effective against anemia.
Vegetables

Vegetables such as spinach, lettuce, beet, broccoli, fenugreek, celery and kale are iron-rich, energy-filled vegetables that treat anemia effectively. These vegetables are not only rich in iron but also Vitamin B-12 and folic acid, energy-boosting nutrients that the body needs to heal from anemia. Beetroot juice is an iron-rich vegetable juice that those suffering from anemia can drink as a tonic against fatigue and lethargy.
Legumes and Nuts

Legumes and nuts such as pulses, almonds, whole grain cereals, dry dates, peanuts and walnuts are effective against the symptoms and causes of anemia.
Treating anemia is a matter of how much food we eat that aid in hemoglobin synthesis. In general, to treat anemia, focus should be placed on foods that are good sources of iron, copper, zinc, folic acid, Vitamin B-12 and protein. People suffering from anemia need energy as a lack of iron cheats the body of stored energy that the body always has.

Hormonal Imbalance: Treating It The Natural Way

Hormonal Imbalance is quite common among women, especially during present times, owing to many factots like stress, late marriages, early sexual copulation, lifestyle changes, environmental changes etc.

Hormonal Imbalance is  quite common among women, especially during present times, owing to many factots like stress, late marriages, early sexual copulation, lifestyle changes, environmental changes etc. When the hormone levels fluctuate, it causes a lot of mental and physical anxiety and disturbances in women leading to mood swings, menstrual problems, changes in sexual desire and reproductive cycle etc.
  

Hormonal imbalance in a woman’s body is mainly due to the increase or decrease in secretion of the two main hormones in a woman’s body, estrogen and progesterone. The other factors which affect the hormonal balance in a woman are; change in the function of the adrenal gland, which happens mainly due to stress, irregular and imbalanced diet, secretion or presence of higher male hormones in the body, after delivery of a child, usage of birth control pills etc.

A hormonal imbalance in the body is signified by many changes like increase or decrease in weight, mood swings, changes is sexual desire, changes in the menstrual cycle and flow, hypo or hyper thyroid etc. When these symptoms are seen a medical prognosis should immediately be done by a practiced physician.

 A change in the lifestyle and habits needs to be followed to effectively get the hormone levels into a balanced and corrective phase. Diet changes and stress levels should also be kept in check if there is evidence of hormonal imbalance in the body. Regular and a nutritious diet should be followed; some stress relievers like yoga and meditation should be introduced, omega rich diets especially omega-3 and 6 provides a lot of benefits for getting the hormone levels balanced.  There are various herbal remedies which have shown results in controlling the hormonal changes. There are mainly two types of herbs which are used in the control of hormone levels; these are called phytoestrogenic and non-estrogenic herbs. Both work in different ways to get the hormone levels under control. In addition to the herbal remedies, one can also go for therapeutic massages, hypnotic treatments, acupuncture etc. Treatment with non-estrogenic herbs is the best approach for getting the hormonal imbalance corrected and is widely getting popularity as a alternative treatment.

Lycopene in Tomato Turn Can Heal Cancer

The healthy life is everyone’s dream. Nutrition and eating habits play an important role for health and keep us from various diseases.

A symposium of Toronto conducted in early March 2000 to discuss specifically the role of nutrition in preventing cancer.
At the symposium’s simple example is taken, ie the habit of drinking two glasses of tomato juice every day will help prevent prostate cancer.

Several studies
Several studies have shown that foods made from processed tomatoes such as tomato sauce, tomato soup and juice play a role in reducing the risk of cancer, especially prostate cancer.
The survey results Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health, published by the Journal of the National Cancer Institute shows that eating tomatoes and dairy products will help reduce the risk of cancer. Why? Tomatoes contain lycopene, an anti-oxidant in large quantities which helps to reduce the risk of cancer. The study was conducted over 6 years to 47,000 men aged 40-75 years battery. The result is that when the consumption of processed tomato products increased, the amount of lycopene in the blood increased as well, and a decreased risk of prostate cancer.

Another study conducted by Dr. Omer Kucuk of the Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, also shows that high lycopene consumption helps reduce prostate cancer, a type of cancer that is commonly found in North Americans. There were 30 men with prostate cancer who were included in the study, most patients received 15 mglycopene 2x a day. After therapy lycopene for 3 weeks, the results showed that the tumors observed in patients who consumed lycopene smaller than patients who did not consume lycopene. This means that lycopene is not only to prevent, but very helpful treatment of cancer, especially prostate cancer. Research also shows that pemanasasn tomatoes and processed tomato products actually increase the ability of lycopene against free radicals.

Lycopene
Lycopene is a red pigment that naturally gives the red color in tomatoes. Chemically, lycopene is a carotenoid with a unique structure that is longer than the other carotenoids. Unique structure enables lycopene meindungi body from the effects of free radical damage, which means protecting us from a variety of degenerative diseases. Lycopene in the body, among others, are stored in the liver, lung, colon and skin. Tomatoes, tomato sauce and other processed tomato products are the major source of lycopene. Fruits and vegetables contain only small amounts of lycopene, but watermelon, guava.

10 Home Remedies With Oxygenated Water (Hydrogen Peroxide)

Antibacterial properties of hydrogen peroxide (hydrogen peroxide) material makes it very handy to have in the medicine cabinet. But the truth is that the hydrogen peroxide has many uses.

Antibacterial properties of hydrogen peroxide (hydrogen peroxide) material makes it very handy to have in the medicine cabinet. But the truth is that the hydrogen peroxide has many uses.

The formula for hydrogen peroxide is H2O2, which has more oxygen atoms normal water. Usually comes in a dark bottle as quickly degrade when exposed to sunlight. Even products that are sold in most pharmacies was 3% hydrogen peroxide and 97% water as the purest form can be dangerous if not used properly.

1.  Hydrogen peroxide for acne
Although we hear a lot of hydrogen peroxide as a treatment for acne is actually a very effective drug.
To apply the first face with a gentle cleanser washed properly. After the peroxide is applied to the acne. It is not advisable to apply it all over your face because it can cause irritation and drying.

2.  Hydrogen peroxide to heal wounds
Nearly all the hydrogen peroxide kit is because it is a popular drug to disinfect wounds. After I perform a cesarean section, which helped me to heal the wounds that included hydrogen peroxide. What I do is wet a cotton ball with peroxide and squeeze it over the wound.

3.  Hydrogen peroxide against athlete’s foot and nail fungus However, lately there has been some controversy regarding the use of this as a doctor at the MayoClinic and Dr. Oz famously said that hydrogen peroxide is not effective for healing as intended and in fact it can damage skin cells healthy and delay the healing process.
To make this medicine gets affected foot in hydrogen peroxide for a few minutes. If the skin is damaged, it burns a little. Should be repeated twice a day until the fungus completely dead.

4. Oxygenated water to relieve sore throat and prevent colds
Gargling oxygenated water is a home remedy to relieve sore throat. A quarter cup of warm water and a quarter cup of hydrogen peroxide mixed and used as a mouthwash. Spit. Mouthwash also prevents colds and flu for killing bacteria in the throat that can cause this disease.

5. Hydrogen peroxide to lighten hair
A way that is very popular and economical to lighten your hair get oxygenated water. This trick is not recommended for very dark hair because when used in black hair, leaves yellowish / orange. It is therefore recommended only in coffee or light brown hair. To implement this trick, half a cup of water and half a cup of hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle and sprayed with a broad cast of hair clarified.

6. Hydrogen peroxide to lighten hair
A way that is very popular and economical to lighten your hair get oxygenated water. This trick is not recommended for very dark hair because when used in black hair, leaves yellowish / orange. It is therefore recommended only in coffee or light brown hair. To implement this trick, half a cup of water and half a cup of hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle and sprayed with a broad cast of hair clarified….

7. Hydrogen peroxide to remove the cloth
Many women claim that hydrogen peroxide has helped reduce the appearance of the fabric. It is applied with a cotton ball on the affected area and leave for several hours. Rinsed and put moisturizer on the area. To keep the results should be used preventative measures such as wearing sunscreen.

8. Hydrogen peroxide for oral health
Hydrogen peroxide is a common homemade mouthwash. Antiseptic properties help kill the bacteria that cause bad breath and also believe that whiten teeth. Some people use it as a pure rinse but others think that is very strong and diluted in water. It should spit after rinsing.
Note that many experts do not suggest that hydrogen peroxide is used as a gargle for a long time. Conversely recommend only using temporarily while the injury heals mouth.

9. Hydrogen peroxide for cleaning ears
Some doctor’s office using a mixture of warm water and hydrogen peroxide to wash the earwax.

10 Hydrogen peroxide to disinfect the house
Antibacterial properties of hydrogen peroxide make a great natural disinfectant for use in both the kitchen and bathroom. It throws in a spray bottle and sprayed on the surface, allowed to act for a few minutes and clean with a towel. It can also be used to clean glass and mirrors.

List of medicinal herbs to treat and prevent cancer

Herbal cancer remedy is the answer to treat and cure cancer. Cancer is no respecter of persons. It affects from the youngest to the oldest of persons globally and has claimed millions of lives. Millions  of dollars are spent each year to treat and research cancer. There is no known cure for this dreaded disease, but herbal cancer treatment is the best answer to tackle this harmful and most times fatal disease.

Chemical drugs and radiation treatment, most times, incur very bad side effects that cause more emotional stress and sufferings for the sufferers. These procedures can be very expensive also, unlike herbal treatment which is less expensive. This disease attack every part of the body especially the breast, prostate, liver, lungs, cervix and the womb.
There are medicinal herbs that are quite effective and will help to aid and prevent the onslaught of this malady. There are individuals who have testified that herbs have helped them to overcome this sickness, especially from the benefits of burdock, hence natural cancer remedy.

Preventing cancer is necessary with herbal cancer remedy

I think that one of the reasons herbal remedies are not effective in some cancer treatment is that an individual will wait until he or she is diagnosed with this disease before utilizing these medicinal plants.  In most cases, this approach is just too late and so the individual suffers immensely.  Prevention is better than cure they say, so medicinal herbs should be taken for prevention.  However, in the case of a sufferer, it is still an excellent idea to utilize these natural remedies.

List of medicinal herbs to treat and prevent cancer 

Herbal remedies for cancer treatment involve the following herbs.  They can be termed anticancer medicinal herbs.
Garlic has the ability to block tumor nourishment and help starve them or stunt their growth. It is also a strong antibiotic that will stimulate the white blood cells effectiveness as well as the T cells.
Green tea has polyphenol content that can effectively fight cancer cells from developing. It can also prevent prostate cancer among men.

Other medicinal herbs that are effective as herbal cancer remedy are: gotu kola, Fo-Ti Tieng, mandrake, red clover blossoms which you can drink instead of water, violet leaves, agrimony, ground ivy, burdock root, yellow dock root, blue violet, goldenseal root, echinacea, aloes, blue flag, gravel root, bloodroot, dandelion root, chickweed, sassafras, sarsaparilla, and rock rose.
The guinea hen weed is now being researched and seen as one of the herbs that will treat cancer effectively. The guinea hen weed may be combined with soursop leaves and placed in boiling water to make herbal tea as a remedy for this disease.  Soursop leaves and mango leaves boiled together is also very effective according to some people I have spoken to.  The soursop juice is also very effective in preventing and fighting cancer.
Turmeric is another herb that is a good remedy for cancer.  It is of the belief that it can aid in preventing cancers such as breast, prostate, skin, colon, stomach, liver, lung, blood as well as mouth cancer.  Just add a dash of turmeric on vegetables or to whatever you will be cooking.
Some people even reported that the soursop juice which is a significant part of herbal cancer remedy, may even be more effective than chemotherapy which is associated with so many side effects.
Most people love berries and I love them also.  So the good news is that berries are good to prevent and treat cancer.  Cranberry juice, strawberries and blueberries are all excellent choices and they are a  part of herbal cancer remedy.

Other natural remedies to prevent cancer

There are so many natural remedies for cancer and these are oatmeal, legumes or peas, tomatoes, nuts and of course olive oil which is so popular.  Including these in your everyday meal along with herbal cancer remedy may very well save your life.

What Babies Learn In the Womb

                                                       

For years, doctors assumed that babies were born without any knowledge about the outside world. But recent research is questioning this assumption, offering clues to what babies comprehend in utero, what they remember after they’re born, and how that information prepares them for the world outside the womb. Today, doctors realize that babies begin to engage many of their senses and to learn about the world around them during the last trimester of pregnancy—and maybe even before. 

What’s that Noise?

The uterus isn’t exactly the quietest place to hang out. Not only can a baby hear the sounds of his mom’s body—her stomach growling, her heart beating, the occasional hiccup or burp—but he can also hear noises from beyond. If mom sits in a movie theater with state-of-the-art sound or walks by a noisy construction site, odds are the fetus will react to all the ruckus by kicking or shifting around.
Of course, not all sounds are the same. Perhaps the most significant one a baby hears in utero is his mother’s voice. Around the seventh and eighth month, a fetus’s heart rate slows down slightly whenever his mother is speaking, indicating that mom’s voice has a calming effect.
By the time they’re born, babies can actually recognize their mother’s voice. In one study, doctors gave day-old infants pacifiers that were connected to tape recorders. Depending on the babies’ sucking patterns, the pacifiers either turned on a tape of their mother’s voice or that of an unfamiliar woman’s voice. The amazing result: “Within 10 to 20 minutes, the babies learned to adjust their sucking rate on the pacifier to turn on their own mother’s voice,” says the study’s coauthor William Fifer, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons. “This not only points out a newborn’s innate love for his mother’s voice but also a baby’s unique ability to learn quickly.”
Interestingly, there is no evidence that newborns show a similar preference for their father’s or siblings’ voices, or for any other voices they may have heard frequently while in the uterus. “The difference could be that the maternal voice is communicated to the fetus in two ways: as ambient sound through the abdomen and internally through the vibration of vocal chords,” says Janet DiPietro, Ph.D., a developmental psychologist at Johns Hopkins University. “In contrast, external voices and other noises are only heard as ambient sounds.”
In fact, research has shown that if newborns are given a choice, they prefer the version of mom’s voice that sounds closest to what they heard in the womb. “In studies where we gave day-old babies a choice of hearing their mother’s voice filtered to sound as it did in utero—muffled and low—or as it does outside of the womb, they showed a distinct preference for the filtered voice,” says Fifer.

An Ear for Language

Muffled or not, unborn babies seem to develop a fine ear for certain sounds. Research reveals that babies had their first lessons in their native language while still in utero. They’ll suck more vigorously to turn on tape recordings of people speaking in the language of their mothers, rather than in a foreign tongue. Of course, it’s likely the babies are picking up on the rhythm and melody of the speech, rather than individual words.
This doesn’t mean that moms need to converse directly to their swelling belly to give their child a head start on language, however. A developing fetus gets all the information he needs just by listening in on his mother’s conversations with others. He also may be picking up something from any books she reads aloud. Besides being able to tell the difference between English and French, a study shows that babies in the womb may be able to recognize the specific rhythms and patterns of the stories they hear. Pregnant women read out loud one of two stories—The Cat in the Hat or The King, the Mice, and the Cheese—twice a day for six weeks before they delivered their babies. After birth, when the infants were three days old, they were played tape recordings of unfamiliar voices reading those stories: They consistently changed their sucking patterns on the pacifiers to hear the story they’d heard in utero.

Seeing the Light

Since there’s no such thing as a womb with a view, it’s no great loss that a baby’s eyes, which form in the first trimester, are sealed shut until about the seventh month. After they open, the fetus is able to see, but there’s little or no light to see anything by. Some doctors have reported, however, that if you shine a very bright light up inside the uterus, the fetus will turn away from it. Similarly, doctors suspect that the fetus may be able to detect a faint glow if a strong light is pointed right at mom’s belly. Ultrasound has also revealed that fetuses gradually open and close their eyes more and more as they near delivery, as if practicing for blinking and seeing in the outside world.

Discriminating Tastes

A pregnant woman really is eating for two, and the quality of what she eats matters as much as the quantity. Taste buds develop in a fetus around the seventh or eighth week and, by week 14, there is some evidence to suggest he can taste bitter, sweet, or sour flavors in the amniotic fluid. As with his other senses, he uses taste to explore the womb around him. Ultrasounds have even shown that fetuses lick the placenta and uterine wall.
Studies indicate that the flavors and aromas of the foods mom eats during pregnancy, which pass through to her amniotic fluid, may affect her baby’s taste preferences long after birth. “The more varied a mother’s diet during pregnancy and breastfeeding, the more likely that the infant will accept a new food,” says Julie Mennella, Ph.D., biopsychologist at the Monell Chemical Senses Center, in Philadelphia. Studies have also found that breastfed babies are more willing than those who were formula-fed to consume a new food when they get older. “This could be because they’ve learned to accept the many different flavors that have passed through the mother’s digestive system to her breast milk,” says Mennella.

A Nose for Mom

An unborn baby not only tastes foods, but can smell them as well. Doctors have noted that, at birth, amniotic fluid sometimes carries the scent of cumin, garlic, fennel, and other spices a mother has eaten while pregnant. Amniotic fluid, which babies swallow and breathe in during their time in utero, not only has the smells of the foods mom eats, but of mom herself.
That, in fact, may be how newborns recognize their mothers. “It’s possible that in the first few hours after birth, a baby’s sense of smell may be more important in helping him identify his mother than his vision is,” says Mennella. In fact, studies have shown that if a mother washes just one breast right after birth, the baby will prefer to nurse at the other, unwashed breast. (This is why some doctors advise new mothers not to shower until at least after the first feeding—to allow their natural aroma to help establish breastfeeding.)

Perchance, to Dream?

Through ultrasound tests, researchers have seen evidence that babies in utero experience rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which is associated with dreaming, at around 32 to 36 weeks. No one knows whether they’re actually dreaming, since their brain waves can’t yet be monitored, but doctors believe that it’s certainly possible.
In fact, the sleep patterns of fetuses in this stage of development closely resemble those of newborns: They spend a lot of their time in REM sleep, but also in a quiet, deep sleep where there is no eye movement. Researchers have also observed babies in utero in a state of quiet alertness, which suggests they may be concentrating on something—listening to mom talking, perhaps.

Ready for the Big World

Babies eagerly investigate whatever they can get their hands on—and the fun starts before birth. As early as 20 weeks, fetuses react to what’s around them. (Ultrasounds have shown that some try to grasp the amniocentesis needle when it’s inserted into the uterus.) But it isn’t until the third trimester that they really begin to grow curious about their intrauterine world. Though there isn’t a whole lot in there to play with, fetuses entertain themselves by sucking on their hands and fingers (especially their thumb, which they discover at about 18 weeks). They also ‘walk’ around by pushing on the uterine walls with their feet, and yank, pull, and swing their umbilical cord—they even practice breathing.
All this playing around helps them develop important reflexes they’ll need once they’re born. Sucking will not only be crucial to taking in food but will also be a source of comfort. And feeling things with their mouth is an important way for babies to explore things. Filling their lungs and moving the diaphragm up and down—albeit with fluid instead of oxygen—is also good practice; by the time the baby makes his entrance into the world, he will have learned to breathe on his own.
Doctors believe that pushing off the uterine wall probably helps the fetus develop the ability to reach his mother’s breast soon after birth. When a newborn baby is placed on his mother’s bare abdomen, his primal instinct starts to kick in: Within the first hour of life, he’ll push his way up toward his mother’s breast, guided mostly by scent, according to research by Marshall Klaus, M.D., author of Your Amazing Newborn.

So compelling is the research on this early dance between mother and baby that Dr. Klaus and other neonatal researchers are now urging hospitals to change their procedure for handling newborns: Instead of weighing and bathing the infant right after delivery, they suggest placing him between the mother’s breasts immediately after an initial examination and waiting at least an hour after birth to perform any necessary procedures.

All this goes to show that a baby isn’t just passively waiting to be born while in the womb. He’s already building important skills and developing a strong bond with one of the most important people in his life—his mother.

Broccoli Walnut Pasta Recipe

INGREDIENTS

• 8 oz. pasta shells, penne, or fusilli (whole wheat works nicely, if you like)
• 2 lbs. broccoli
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 cup walnuts
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil and/or butter
• 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1/2 cup freshly shredded pecorino, parmesan, or other hard grating cheese, plus more for garnish
• 1 Tbsp. salt for pasta water, 1/2 tsp. salt for sauce, plus more to taste

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes

• Total Time: 40 minutes

PREPARATION

1. Preheat an oven to 375°F. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add enough salt (probably about 1 Tbsp.) so the water tastes as salty as the ocean. Add the pasta and cook until tender to the bite. While the pasta cooks, scoop out about 1 cup of the cooking water and reserve it. Drain the pasta.
2. Meanwhile, trim the broccoli (peel the stalks and crunch on them while you cook, if you like) and separate the crowns into large florets. Cut the florets into smaller ones, about 1/2-inch across. Set aside. Peel and finely chop the garlic and set aside.
3. Roughly chop the walnuts and spread them on a baking sheet or piece of foil and bake until toasted, 5 to 10 minutes. Set a timer and check on them - walnuts go from toasted to burnt very quickly. Set the walnuts aside.
4. In a large frying pan or sauté pan over medium-high heat, add the oil and/or butter, the broccoli, and 1/2 tsp. of the salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the broccoli turns bright green, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and the red pepper flakes, if using, and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
5. Add about 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta-cooking water to the broccoli. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until the broccoli in tender to the bite, 3 to 5 minutes. Add more pasta-cooking water if the pan gets dry.
6. Add the drained pasta to the broccoli, toss to combine well. Add the walnuts and toss to combine. Add the cheese and toss to combine. Taste and add salt if you like. Serve hot, topped with more cheese.

5 Things to Know About Avocados

Guacamole is only the beginning.  Avocados are prized for their creamy, hearty mild deliciousness by omnivores and vegans alike.  Do you know enough about them?  Here are 5 things to know.

1. Avocados are seriously good for you. The health benefits of avocados are many.  Savvy eaters know that the fat in avocados is good fat (much more digestible than animal fat), and that their rich creaminess can help stave off cravings of dairy and other rich foods.  An average avocado also has 4 grams of valuable protein, which is much more than most other fruits. 
2. The best way to tell if an avocado is ripe is to hold it in the palm of your hand and gently squeeze it, or to press it very carefully near the stem tip.  If it gives a little, it’s perfectly ripe.  If it doesn’t yield to gentle pressure, it will ripen in a few days.  It’s best to buy avocados when they are still a little hard so that they ripen at home.   If an avocado yields to firm gentle pressure, it’s ripe and ready to eat.  If the avocado is firm and does not yield to pressure, it will ripen in a couple of days.  If the avocado feels soft or mushy when you press it, it is likely overripe.  Overripe avocados turn brown in the flesh, and the flavor changes (not for the better).
3. Store unripe avocados at room temperature (approximately 65-75F, out of direct sunlight).To speed up the ripening process, store in a brown paper bag with an apple or a banana.  Store cut ripe avocados in the refrigerator.  Sprinkle cut, mashed, or sliced avocado with lemon or lime juice and wrap tightly in clear plastic wrap and place in an airtight container.  The avocado will last up to a day.
4. Hass avocados account for 80% of cultivated avocados worldwide. The Hass avocado, a hybrid of the Mexican and Guatemalan avocados, patented by Rudolph Hass in California in 1935, is the most widely available commercial variety in the world.  Hass avocados do not ripen on the tree, but ripen or soften once they have been harvested.  Unlike some other varieties of avocados, Hass avocados turn color as they ripen in addition to softening.   When Hass avocados are not ripe, they have a bright or dark green color. This color changes from green to a deep purplish color when ripe.  Remember that color alone doesn’t tell the whole story (see #2).   
5. Avocado has been compared to butter for centuries.  Fun Fact:  In the 17th and 18th centuries, the avocado was commonly known as the “butter pear,” and is still known as “butter fruit” in parts of India. Hip Vegan Parlance:  Mashed or smeared avocado is known among enthusiasts as “avo butter.”  Some also use “avo butter” to describe compound butter using avocado.

How Do Black Women Get Soft Hair?

Get softer hair with the proper care

Many people of African descent have hair that is prone to dryness and breakage. The coily, curly or otherwise highly textured nature of black hair can sometimes make it look or feel coarser than other hair types. The key to getting smoother, softer black hair is to protect the hair strands and regularly drench them with moisture.

Moisturize

Making black hair softer and more manageable begins with regular moisturizing. Apply a moisturizing treatment after every shampoo and as needed throughout the day. Using conditioner in place of shampoo quickly softens black hair and keeps the hair moisturized longer. Apply a light coating of sesame or jojoba oil to the ends of black hair to keep it soft and conditioned.

Avoid Heat Damage

Heat damage can make black hair feel stiff, dry and wiry. Heat-damaged hair will look markedly different from healthier hair strands. Dullness, brittleness and snapping are the most common traits of heat-damaged black hair. To keep black hair softer and avoid heat damage, cut back on your use of heated styling appliances. If you do happen to use styling appliances such as blow dryers or flat irons, apply a commercial heat protectant serum prior to using them.

Strengthen

You need to maintain a proper balance between moisture and protein to keep black hair soft and healthy. If your hair is particularly prone to breakage, apply a reconstructive protein treatment. Protein can make black hair feel slightly dry, so always follow a strengthening treatment with deep conditioning to add shine and softness. This maintains the integrity of your hair strands while preventing breakage and brittle-feeling hair.

Remove Damaged Ends

Removing dry, damaged ends can greatly improve the softness and appearance of black hair. You may have to sacrifice some length in the quest for softer hair, but it's better to get rid of damaged ends as soon as possible. Trim damaged ends with a sharp pair of scissors. Condition black hair after trimming to help to moisturize and soften the ends.

Considerations

How you handle your hair affects how well it retains moisture and softness. Only use wide-tooth combs for detangling, because narrow-tooth combs destroy and roughen black hair. Cathy Howse, author of "Ultra Black Hair Growth II," recommends that you only use heated styling appliances that have a thermostat for temperature control. Appliances without a thermostat can overheat or heat unevenly and damage hair.