Category Archives: Mrs. Cog’s Corner

Mrs. Cog's Corner

Amazing Aloe

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From Mrs. Cog’s Corner

The content on this page is for discussion purposes relating to health and well being only and is not intended to be medical advice. Links and sources provided are for informational purposes and do not represent an endorsement of a person, product or treatment.

Aloe Vera (aloe barbadensis) is a known anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial.

As with many natural healing substances, aloe has an amazing history. Used to treat tuberculosis in ancient Egypt, by the Mesopotamians to ward off evil and even mentioned in the Bible to have been grown by King Solomon, the properties of aloe have been long acknowledged. Read much more here and here.

Keeping healthy aloe plants on hand can replace a plethora of items we buy at the drug store which usually include additional chemicals that are, in my opinion, often unnecessary. A snippet from the end of an aloe stalk will contain sticky juice to apply topically for many benefits.

The Cog household uses Aloe for the following purposes:

  1. For minor kitchen burns while cooking, including grease splatters.
  2. To soothe and help heal sunburns.
  3. For poison ivy, poison sumac reactions.
  4. To help heal most skin conditions including acne, eczema, dry skin, etc..
  5. Soothes blisters and helps healing.
  6. Relieves the itching and helps heal bug bites.
  7. Helps to minimize scarring from cuts and scrapes.
  8. Aids in the tissue repair from bruises.

For more information:

An entire website devoted to information about Aloe. http://www.aloeplant.info/

Would you be surprised if I told you aloe vera gel was clear? If not, why put a gel with green dye and perfumes on the largest organ you have?  Not only does it have dye, but that green Banana Boat goop has SD Alcohol 40, Glycerin, polysorbate 2, and more. Making your own homemade aloe vera gel could not be any easier. http://blog.allisonlehman.com/2012/07/homemade-aloe-vera-gel/

It doesn't hurt that aloe vera produces at least six natural antiseptics, which are able to kill mold, bacteria, funguses, and viruses. In fact, the plant is so powerful that researchers and scientists are looking into its potential as an AIDS and cancer-fighter. 40 Amazing uses for Aloe Vera! http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/natural-medicine/herbal-remedies/amazing-aloe-vera.htm

Aloe vera is one of the easiest houseplants to grow. It requires little in the way of care—simply an occasional watering, warm conditions, and (depending on who you ask) a bit of fertilization now and then. And with this easily grown plant in your home, you are opening yourself to a wealth of medicinal uses. For many, the path to herbalism at home begins with the aloe plant. http://naturalsociety.com/health-benefits-of-aloe-vera-grow-own-medicine/

Aloe demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties (9) and Aloe vera cream was shown to be superior to silver sulfadiazine creams for the treatment of second-degree burns (21).
Studies also suggest that constituents of aloe, such as acemannan, aloeride, and di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) have immunomodulating and anticancer effects (5) (7) (8). Emodin from Aloe vera inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in human liver cancer cell lines through p53- and p21-dependent pathways (4). http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/herb/aloe-vera

This living “first-aid kit” did so much for me — after nothing else had brought me relief — that I wanted to learn all I could about it. In order to get an expert opinion, I looked up a biochemist who was studying the plant. This researcher confessed that Aloe vera’s curative properties defy accurate scientific analysis. He had discovered, though, one reason why the spiny-leaved plants heal so effectively: They contain numerous cleansing agents and catalysts, as well as (apparently) “every compound essential to the formation and proper function of the human cell.” http://www.motherearthnews.com/natural-health/aloe-vera-medicinal-uses-zmaz79mjzraw.aspx#axzz2wQjLIppn

The 2011 2nd edition of Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects cites the extraordinarily long use of aloe vera for its therapeutic benefits, both internal and external. [1] Its use extends as far back as biblical times and was mentioned in the New Testament as an herb for embalming. http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/benefits-of-aloe-vera/ (Many excellent clinical studies referenced beneath this article.)

Rich in vitamins A, C, E, B1, B2, B12 and many more, the gel can effectively be used to help heal cuts and burns. Aloe has also been linked to assist with detoxification, alkalinity, digestion, the immune system, skin health and much more. It truly is a super plant that can even be easily grown in a small pot on a window sill. http://www.naturalblaze.com/2013/07/5-household-plants-for-purified-house.html

More information and uses for aloe: http://en.mr-ginseng.com/aloe-vera/

Mrs. Cog's Corner

Processed Foods

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 From Mrs. Cog's Corner

Every day more evidence comes to light that most aspects of "processed" food are unhealthy. From toxic packaging to manufactured ingredients that our bodies reject, there is no way to fully understand the potentially harmful effects of consuming artificial chemicals with and in our food. But it is not looking "good".

This article elaborates on 9 ways processed foods are slowly killing people. The citations for clinical studies within the piece are quite thorough. In addition, another recent publication on the worst ingredients in processed foods can be found here.

In my opinion the most alarming piece of information that relates to processed foods is that many people are starving themselves into obesity. It turns out that when you eat processed foods lacking in nutritional value, your body actually requires even more nutrition to metabolize what you just ate. The more you give it, the more it needs. (Sounds rather like quantitative easing, no?)

The solution, of course, is to eat real foods. There is a clever adage that advises us to stay away from the center isles of the grocery store. Along the edges you will find fresh produce, meats and dairy. Here is a handy guide to avoid eating processed foods.

Further reading:

A recently published list of foods banned in countries outside the U.S. has riled the plates of many in the food industry. http://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/Food/11-foods-banned-us/story?id=19457237

Processed foods are an illusion, often appearing to be healthy (with claims like low fat, low carb, vitamin fortified, no trans fat, contains omega-3s, etc.) when these foods are in fact the very thing making a lot of Americans unhealthy, sick, and fat.  http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/10-reasons-to-cut-out-processed-food/

Junk foods at fast food restaurants as well as processed foods at grocery retailers represent the largest sources of sodium intake from refined salts. The Canadian Medical Association Journal sent out an international team of researchers to compare the salt content of 2,124 items from fast food establishments such as Burger King, Domino’s Pizza, Kentucky Fried Chicken, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut and Subway. http://www.trueactivist.com/scientists-officially-link-processed-foods-to-autoimmune-disease/

Resisting the urge to drink that soda pop or eat those chips can be tough, especially if you have grown accustomed to eating these highly addictive foods as part of your normal diet. But once you understand a little bit more about how these and other processed foods affect your mind, body, and even your soul, it becomes easier to make healthier food choices that enrich your being rather than sap it. Here are nine motivating reasons why you should cut processed foods from your diet for good. http://www.naturalnews.com/039743_processed_foods_eating_reasons.html

Overweight people more often than not suffer from gross malnutrition because the nutritional values of the basic foods available to us have been steadily dropping for the last 50 years even as toxic exposures increase. Obese people tend to eat too many processed white foods with the fiber removed along with many of the vitamins and minerals. Not enough fiber is another common problem with the obese. http://www.naturalnews.com/033376_starvation_obesity.html

While there's no single definition of clean eating, the general principle behind the movement is to eat the purest, most natural foods possible. In other words, it's about eating unprocessed foods, which helps your body run more efficiently. http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/health/fitness/getmovingblog/2014/01/tips_to_clean_eating_in_an_over-processed_world_1.html

Processed food NOT fat is the real cause of heart disease, claims heart surgeon who says a diet of natural food can even reverse the illness. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2548066/Heart-surgeon-confesses-processed-food-slowly-killing-natural-food-answer.html

Eating too many processed foods with high sodium levels contributed to 2.3 million deaths from heart attacks, strokes and other heart-related diseases throughout the world in 2010, representing 15 percent of all deaths due to these causes, according to research presented at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention/Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism 2013 Scientific Sessions. http://www.trueactivist.com/processed-foods-cause-2-million-heart-related-deaths-worldwide/