A woman holds a handful of vitamin C. VO IMAGES / Getty Images
By Laura Beil
Consumers have long turned to vitamins and herbs to try to protect themselves from disease. This pandemic is no different — especially with headlines that scream "This supplement could save you from coronavirus."
<p>It also helps to have celebrity enthusiasts. When President Donald Trump was diagnosed with COVID-19, his pill arsenal included Vitamin D and zinc. And in an Instagram chat with actress Jennifer Garner in September, infectious diseases expert Anthony Fauci touted vitamins C and D as ways that might generally boost the immune system. "If you're deficient in vitamin D," he noted, "that does have an impact on your susceptibility to infection. I would not mind recommending, and I do it myself, taking vitamin D supplements."</p><p>But whether over-the-counter supplements can actually prevent, or even treat, COVID-19, is not clear. Since the disease is so new, researchers haven't had much time for the kind of large experiments that provide the best answers. Instead, scientists have mostly relied on fresh takes on old data. Some studies have looked at outcomes of patients who routinely take certain supplements — and found some promising hints. But so far there's little data from the kinds of scientifically rigorous experiments that give doctors confidence when recommending supplements.</p><p>Here's what we know today about three supplements getting plenty of attention around COVID-19.</p>
Vitamin D
<p><strong>What it is: </strong>Called "the sunshine vitamin" because the body makes it naturally in the presence of ultraviolet light, <a href="https://www.sciencenews.org/article/vitamin-d-supplements-lose-luster" target="_blank">Vitamin D is one of the most heavily studied</a> supplements (<em>SN: 1/27/19</em>). <a href="https://health.gov/our-work/food-nutrition/2015-2020-dietary-guidelines/guidelines/appendix-12/" target="_blank">Certain foods</a>, including fish and fortified milk products, are also high in the vitamin.</p><p><strong>Why it might help: </strong>Vitamin D is a hormone building block that helps strengthen the immune system.</p><p><strong>How it works for other infections:</strong> In 2017, the <em>British Medical Journal</em> published a meta-analysis that suggested a daily vitamin D supplement <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/356/bmj.i6583" target="_blank">might help prevent respiratory infections</a>, particularly in people who are deficient in the vitamin.</p><p>But one key word here is <em>deficient. </em>That risk is highest during dark winters at high latitudes and among people with more color in their skin (melanin, a pigment that's higher in darker skin, inhibits the production of vitamin D).</p><p>"If you have enough vitamin D in your body, the evidence doesn't stack up to say that giving you more will make a real difference," says Susan Lanham-New, head of the Nutritional Sciences Department at the University of Surrey in England.</p><p>And taking too much can create new health problems, stressing certain internal organs and leading to a dangerously high calcium buildup in the blood. The recommended daily allowance for adults is 600 to 800 International Units per day, and the upper limit is considered to be 4,000 IUs per day.</p><p><strong>What we know about Vitamin D and COVID-19:</strong> Few studies have looked directly at whether vitamin D makes a difference in COVID.</p><p>In May, in the <em>BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health</em>, Lanham-New and her colleagues published a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7246103/" target="_blank">summary of existing evidence </a>and concluded that there's only enough to recommend vitamin D to help with COVID-19 prevention for people who are deficient. That paper made inferences from how vitamin D works against other respiratory tract infections and immune health.</p><p>More than a dozen studies are now testing vitamin D directly for prevention and treatment, including a large one led by JoAnn Manson, a leading expert on vitamin D. An epidemiologist and preventive medicine physician at Harvard Medical School and Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston. That study will analyze if vitamin D can affect the course of a COVID-19 infection. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1551714420302548" target="_blank">The trial</a> aims to recruit 2,700 people across the United States with newly diagnosed infections, along with their close household contacts.</p><p>The goal is to determine whether newly diagnosed people given high doses of vitamin D — 3,200 IU per day — are less likely than people who get a placebo to experience severe symptoms and need hospitalization. "The biological plausibility for a benefit in COVID is compelling," she says, given the nutrient's theoretical ability to impede the severe inflammatory reaction that can follow coronavirus infection. "However the evidence is not conclusive at this time."</p>
Zinc
<p><strong>What it is: </strong>Zinc, a mineral found in cells all over the body, is found naturally in certain meats, beans and oysters.</p><p><strong>Why it might help: </strong>It plays several supportive roles in the immune system, which is why zinc lozenges are always hot sellers in cold and flu season. Zinc also helps with cell division and growth.</p><p><strong>How it works for other infections: </strong><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6457799/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Studies of using zinc for colds</a> — which are frequently caused by coronaviruses — suggest that using a supplement right after symptoms start might make them go away quicker. That said, a clinical trial from researchers in Finland and the United Kingdom, published in January in <em>BMJ Open</em> <a href="https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/1/e031662" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">did not find any value for zinc lozenges</a> for the treatment of colds. Some researchers have theorized that inconsistencies in data for colds may be explained by varying amounts of zinc released in different lozenges.</p><p><strong>What we know about zinc and COVID-19:</strong> The mineral is promising enough that it was added to some early studies of hydroxychloroquine, a drug tested early in the pandemic. (Studies have since shown that <a href="https://www.sciencenews.org/article/covid-19-coronavirus-hydroxychloroquine-no-evidence-treatment" target="_blank">hydroxychloroquine can't prevent or treat COVID-19</a> (<em>SN: 8/2/20</em>).)</p><p>In July, researchers from Aachen University in Germany wrote in <em>Frontiers of Immunology</em> that current evidence "strongly <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2020.01712/full" target="_blank">suggests great benefits of zinc</a> supplementation" based on looking at similar infections including SARS, another disease caused by a coronavirus. For example, studies suggest that giving zinc reduces the risk for death from a pneumonia infection. The researchers cite evidence that zinc might help prevent the virus from entering the body, and help slow the virus's replication when it does.</p><p>Another review — also based on indirect evidence — published August 1 in <em>Advances in Integrative Medicine</em> also concluded that <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7395818/" target="_blank">zinc might be helpful in people who are deficient</a>.</p><p>In September, researchers from Hospital Del Marin Barcelona <a href="https://www.univadis.co.uk/viewarticle/eccvid-2020-lower-plasma-zinc-levels-associated-with-increased-risk-of-death-in-covid-19-patients-729760" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported that among 249 patients studied</a>, those who survived COVID had higher zinc levels in their plasma (an average of 63.1 mcg/dl) than those who died (43mcg/dl).</p><p>Overall, though, the jury is still out, says Suma Thomas, a cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, who in June led a team that <a href="https://www.ccjm.org/content/early/2020/06/08/ccjm.87a.ccc046" target="_blank">reviewed the evidence for popular supplements</a> in the <em>Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine</em>. Given what's already known, zinc could possibly decrease the duration of infection but not the severity of symptoms, she said, particularly among people who are deficient. About a dozen studies are now looking at zinc for COVID treatment, often with other drugs or supplements.</p><p>Thomas and her colleagues are <a href="https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04342728?term=zinc&cond=covid-19&cntry=US&draw=2&rank=2" target="_blank">comparing symptom severity and future hospitalization</a> in COVID-19 patients who take zinc with and without high doses of vitamin C with those who receive ordinary care without the supplement. Results are expected soon, she says.</p>
Vitamin C
<p><strong>What it is: </strong>Also called L-ascorbic acid, vitamin C has a long list of roles in the body. It's found naturally in fruits and vegetables, especially citrus, peppers and tomatoes.</p><p><strong>Why it might help:</strong> It's a potent antioxidant that's important for a healthy immune system and preventing inflammation.</p><p><strong>How it works for other infections: </strong>Thomas cautions that the data on vitamin C are often contradictory. One review from Chinese researchers, published in February in the <em>Journal of Medical Virolog</em>y, looked at <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jmv.25707" target="_blank">what is already known about vitamin C</a> and other supplements that might have a role in COVID-19 treatment. Among other encouraging signs, human studies find a lower incidence of pneumonia among people taking vitamin C, "suggesting that vitamin C might prevent the susceptibility to lower respiratory tract infections under certain conditions."</p><p>But for preventing colds, a 2013 Cochrane review of 29 studies <a href="https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD000980.pub4/full" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">didn't support the idea</a> that vitamin C supplements could help in the general population. However, the authors wrote, given that vitamin C is cheap and safe, "it may be worthwhile for common cold patients to test on an individual basis whether therapeutic vitamin C is beneficial."</p><p><strong>What we know about Vitamin C and COVID-19: </strong>About a dozen studies are under way or planned to examine whether vitamin C added to coronavirus treatment helps with symptoms or survival, including Thomas' study at the Cleveland Clinic.</p><p>In a review published online in July in <em>Nutrition</em>, researchers from KU Leuven in Belgium concluded that the <a href="https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD000980.pub4/full" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">vitamin may help prevent infection</a> and tamp down the dangerous inflammatory reaction that can cause severe symptoms, based on what is known about how the nutrient works in the body.</p><p>Melissa Badowski, a pharmacist who specializes in viral infections at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy and colleague Sarah Michienzi published an extensive look at all supplements that might be useful in the coronavirus epidemic. There's <a href="https://www.drugsincontext.com/can-vitamins-and-or-supplements-provide-hope-against-coronavirus/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">still not enough evidence to know whether they are helpful</a>, the pair concluded in July in <em>Drugs in Context</em>. "It's not really clear if it's going to benefit patients," Badowski says.</p><p>And while supplements are generally safe, she adds that nothing is risk free. The best way to avoid infection, she says, is still to follow the advice of epidemiologists and public health experts: "Wash your hands, wear a mask, stay six feet apart."</p>From Your Site Articles
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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: When Double-Checking Becomes an Illness
06 September
Health + Wellness
Washing hands extremely often can be a sign of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Wikimedia Commons / CC by 3.0
By Gudrun Heise
"Although I hadn't used the stove at all, I touched every ring to check that it was off. Finally I had to keep telling myself: 'Off! Off! Off!'" Michaela says (her name has been changed by the editor).
Even when Michaela was a child, there were rituals that she always had to observe and from which her mind would not permit her to deviate. There were things that were simply not "allowed."
<p>Every evening, for example, the procedure was exactly the same: Her parents always got given four goodnight kisses on each side, no more and no fewer. This number was fixed, as if set in stone. "Two on the right, two on the left and then the other way around: two on the left, two on the right," Michaela says.</p><p>Today she is 48, but her compulsion for rituals and double-checking and symmetry has stayed with her. Everything still has to be exactly symmetrical for her. On her yoga mat, she lies exactly in the middle, with exactly the same distance to the right and left. "If I scratch myself on the right, I have to scratch myself on the left," says Michaela.</p><p>For many people, this may sound strange or exaggerated. But it is a serious mental illness that is not easy to diagnose. "There has to be an impairment in everyday life, either professionally or socially," says <a href="https://www.oberbergkliniken.de/fachkliniken/schwarzwald" target="_blank">Andreas Wahl-Kordon, medical director of the Oberberg Specialty Hospital in the Black Forest.</a> "An important criterion for diagnosis is the length of time consumed by the obsessive thought or the actions taken to deal with it. If you check once whether the coffee maker is really switched off, then that is fine. But if you do this 20 times or more, it is already compulsive."</p><p>For Michaela, compulsions are part of her everyday life. They are exhausting and demand a lot of strength and energy. But things have got much better now, she says. She owes this above all to her psychiatrist, Andreas Wahl-Kordon. He is a person she trusts and has treated her several times as an inpatient.</p>
OCD Is a Common Illness
<p>Checking compulsions often begin at a young age, but can also develop in adulthood. "It is a common mental illness, but it is usually not obvious because it is often made a taboo and concealed," says Wahl-Kordon.</p><p>Sometimes sufferers and the people around them do not really take the somewhat strange behavior seriously. People with this form of <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/are-obsessive-compulsive-disorders-amid-coronavirus-pandemic-on-the-rise/a-54567173" target="_blank">obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)</a> must first become aware that their behavior is not normal and be prepared to start treatment.</p>One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
<p>To find out whether someone has OCD, therapists usually work with various screening questions, such as: "Do you clean or wash extremely often? Are you often concerned with symmetries? Are there thoughts that do not let go of you?"</p><p>Wahl-Kordon says that "what is most significant is the intensity at which such actions are carried out and the time the sufferer actually spends on them or thinks about them," he says.</p><p>"With many sufferers, we can achieve very good results through behavioral therapy. Exposure and confrontation exercises are core elements here," Wahl-Kordon says.</p><p>Michaela has also been taking part in these kinds of therapies, which force her to permit situations that she fears and would otherwise try to avoid. They are meant to help her deal with her compulsions and fears, which often have their roots in the past.</p>'I Thought It Was My Fault'
<p>When Michaela was 16, her sister-in-law died at the age of just 28. For Michaela, this was a traumatic experience and one that triggered severe feelings of self-blame.</p><p>"About a week before my sister-in-law died, I told a friend of mine that there was nothing to look forward to and that I dreamed that my sister-in-law was in the cemetery behind the cemetery wall and could not get out. When my sister-in-law died, I blamed myself a lot. I thought it was because of me, because I had moaned so much for no reason," she says.</p><p>She still has these feelings of self-blame and fears some kind of punishment if she complains about something without there being an obvious reason. And it is just one of many fears that she has developed.</p>Trouble Leaving the Apartment
<p>Michaela studied law; during her time at university, her checking compulsion continued to accompany her and became a never-ending ordeal.</p><p>"My apartment had a kitchenette within sight of the bed. In the evening I always had to start checking from left to right to make sure that all appliances were turned off: stove, coffee maker and kettle. Had I pulled out all the plugs? Then check the fridge door again to see that it was really closed. Then I'd start all over again," she says.</p><p>Sometimes the whole procedure lasted several hours, she says, and on occasion she would go and sit outside the front door at 4 o'clock in the morning in desperation because she had not managed to go to bed.</p>Checking the Checks
<p>During her studies, Michaela met her husband. She immediately got him involved, asking him to help her with her checking. "My husband was my salvation back then. I asked him to do a very last follow-up check after my check-ups. This gave me the feeling that he had taken the responsibility from me in case something started to burn because I had forgotten to check everything thoroughly," she says.</p><p>For about 20 years, Michaela checked every evening whether her husband had checked everything properly — checking the checker, so to speak. Thanks to the therapy, this, too, has now improved.</p>'I Was Afraid of Doing Everything Wrong'
<p>Michaela was a specialist lawyer for criminal law and social law. She was on committees, gave lectures and received requests from various associations to join their boards of directors. She was a successful lawyer, at least on the outside. But her constant self-doubt and her checking compulsion made her life so difficult that she finally had to give up her profession.</p><p>"I was always just afraid of not doing anything right, of not being able to do anything, of being too stupid for everything, and thought that it was just a matter of chance that I had a particular position. In my work, I never felt as though I had done enough preparation," she says. "If, for example, I had an appointment at 2 p.m. on one day, it was not possible for me to do anything else that day. I always thought I had to prepare myself more and more and more for this one thing."</p><p> At some point, her fears increased so dramatically that she was no longer able to go in to work at the law firm at all.</p><p>"At some point, compulsions determine their entire lives," Wahl-Kordon says. "Some sufferers withdraw completely, no longer eat properly and lose weight. Those are the most serious cases — when everything revolves around the compulsions."</p>More Than One Compulsion
<p>In addition to her constant drive to check things, Michaela developed other compulsions. Compulsive hoarding is a particular problem for her. People with this form of OCD collect all sorts of things without any necessity or good reason: small notes, old receipts, papers that are no longer valid. Michaela even finds it difficult to part with daily newspapers.</p><p>After one three-week vacation, the newspapers piled up in the apartment, but throwing them away was impossible for her. After all, something important could be hidden somewhere among the countless pages, and then she wouldn't be able to find it again.</p><p>"It is incredibly difficult for me to throw something away. It takes me a very long time to put things in order. I never finish. There is simply no end. I always think that maybe I could use the things again sometime," Michaela says.</p><p>Your partner doing the cleaning and throwing things away does not work either, says Wahl-Kordon. "That can mean that the world collapses for the sufferer, so it doesn't work at all. Hoarding often has to do with objects that I associate with certain events or experiences and which I simply can't get rid of for that reason alone."</p><p>Disposing of those objects thus becomes a difficult and confronting task that the patient must tackle with the support of a psychotherapist. Often the compulsive need to hoard affects older people in particular. In severe cases, they literally become buried in clutter because they simply cannot bring themselves to throw things away.</p>'But First I Have to Clean Up'
<p>Michaela always tries to organize and prepare everything as perfectly as possible and have control over as many things as she can — even when she had suicidal thoughts because her condition was becoming too much for her.</p><p>"It was on a Sunday, and I had actually managed to organize replacements for my appointments for the entire coming week," she relates. After all, she was planning to not be alive the following week. But then, she says, her husband came home unexpectedly and thwarted her plans.</p><p>"Later, I always thought that I couldn't ever kill myself because I would have to clean up first. The thought of someone tampering with my things is simply unbearable for me!" she says.</p>New Perspectives
<p>Michaela has now taken up other forms of employment, including teaching social law to special education teachers. This is easier for her than her work as a lawyer. She can engage with it in a completely different way and sometimes even uses herself as an example.</p><p>After all, aspiring teachers must learn to deal with disabled people like her, she says. She says everyone in her environment knows about her obsessive-compulsive disorder — with the exception of her family.</p><p>In recent years, she has undergone trauma therapy, depression therapy and exposure therapy, which have helped. "I still check the stove and the refrigerator. I still have to do everything right. I'm still afraid that I am doing everything wrong. But compared to the way it used to be, everything is much, much better now."</p>
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Honey May Be the Best Medicine for Treating Coughs and Colds, Study Finds
19 August
Health + Wellness
Researchers recommend that honey should be tried first to treat upper respiratory tract infections. Marco Verch / Flickr / CC by 2.0
Worried about the overuse of antibiotics and the emerging trend of bacteria-resistant drugs, researchers recommend that honey should be tried first to treat upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), according to a new review published by Oxford doctors in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine.
<p>URTIs commonly include sore throat, congestion, coughing and a stuffy nose.</p><p>The researchers looked at 14 different studies and 1,761 study participants to analyze the efficacy of honey in treating URTIs. They found that honey's antimicrobial properties allowed it to outperform the standard of care when addressing symptoms and reducing a cough's severity.</p><p>Two of the studies revealed that honey shortened infections by one to two days.</p>
<p>"It provides a widely available and cheap alternative to antibiotics," the authors wrote in the study. "Honey could help efforts to slow the spread of antimicrobial resistance."</p><p>The healing properties of honey have been used for thousands of years. Honey is known to treat burns and prevent infection in wounds, <a href="https://news.sky.com/story/honey-better-for-coughs-and-sore-throats-than-conventional-medicine-says-study-12052085" target="_blank">Sky News</a> reported.</p><p>While honey has a deep tradition as a home remedy, medical professionals have also adopted it: It's now part of standard treatment for children's chest colds. Yet, honey's efficacy for treating adults with URTIs had not been thoroughly reviewed until now, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/aug/19/honey-better-treatment-for-coughs-and-colds-than-antibiotics-study-clams" target="_blank">The Guardian</a> reported.</p>
<p>The researchers noted that the overuse of antibiotics for treating URTIs is often due to doctors wrongly prescribing them to treat viral infections, which don't respond to antibiotics. On the other hand, honey is cheap, easily found and poses no side effects for most people, <a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/health/honey-sore-throat-cold-treatment-effective-a4528151.html" target="_blank">The Evening Standard</a> reported.</p><p>"Upper respiratory tract infections are the most frequent reason for antibiotic prescription," study authors Hibatullah Abuelgasim of the Oxford University Medical School and Charlotte Albury and Joseph Lee of the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences wrote. "Since the majority of URTIs are viral, antibiotic prescription is both ineffective and inappropriate," the Evening Standard reported.</p><p>However, researchers also said that more studies need to be conducted on honey since it's a complex substance.</p>
<p class=""><br/></p>From Your Site Articles
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Twitter Posts Show That People Are Profoundly Sad – and Visiting Parks to Feel Happy
07 August
Health + Wellness
Parks keep people happy in times of global crisis, economic shutdown and public anger. NPS
By Joe Roman and Taylor Ricketts
The COVID-19 pandemic in the United States is the deepest and longest period of malaise in a dozen years. Our colleagues at the University of Vermont have concluded this by analyzing posts on Twitter. The Vermont Complex Systems Center studies 50 million tweets a day, scoring the "happiness" of people's words to monitor the national mood. That mood today is at its lowest point since 2008 when they started this project.
<p>They call the tweet analysis the <a href="https://hedonometer.org/timeseries/en_all/" target="_blank">Hedonometer</a>. It relies on surveys of thousands of people who rate words indicating happiness. "Laughter" gets an 8.50 while "jail" gets a 1.76. They use these scores to measure the mood of Twitter traffic.</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzU0MDk2OC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2MjIzNzE0MH0.tQ0VbP7vwdjdZIEydSQfhGiy-5gije8sBW7JdtJPT7Y/img.png?width=980" id="081f7" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="76b7770b6cc9fd69f3e395f74864a776" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
The Hedonometer measures happiness through analysis of key words on Twitter, which is now used by one in five Americans. This chart covers 18 months from early 2019 to July 2020, showing major dips in 2020. hedonometer.org
<p>These same tweets also indicate a potential salve. Before pandemic lockdowns began, doctoral student <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=0P0ZYbIAAAAJ&hl=en" target="_blank">Aaron Schwartz</a> <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10045" target="_blank">compared tweets before, during, and after visits to 150 parks, playgrounds and plazas</a> in San Francisco. He found that park visits corresponded with a spike in happiness, followed by an afterglow lasting up to four hours.</p><p>Tweets from parks contained fewer negative words such as "no," "not" and "can't," and fewer first-person pronouns like "I" and "me." It seems that nature makes people more positive and less self-obsessed.</p><p>Parks keep people happy in times of global crisis, economic shutdown and public anger. Research has also shown that transmission rates for COVID-19 are <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Is-risk-of-coronavirus-transmission-lower-15287602.php" target="_blank">much lower outdoors than inside</a>. As scholars who study <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=yFzb2EUAAAAJ&hl=en" target="_blank">conservation</a> and how nature <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=CCnUeN8AAAAJ&hl=en" target="_blank">contributes to human well-being</a>, we see opening up parks and creating new ones as a straightforward remedy for Americans' current blues.</p>Park Visits Are Up During the Pandemic
<p>According to the Hedonometer, sentiments expressed online started trending lower in mid-March as the impacts of the pandemic became clear. As lockdowns continued, they registered the lowest sentiment scores on record. Then in late May, effects from George Floyd's death in police custody and the following protests and police response once again could be seen on Twitter. May 31, 2020 was the saddest day of the project.</p><p>Recent surveys of park visitors around the University of Vermont have shown people <a href="https://osf.io/preprints/socarxiv/sd3h6" target="_blank">using green spaces more</a> since COVID-19 lockdowns began. Many people reported that parks were highly important to their well-being during the pandemic.</p><div id="4c7e4" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="bc0ac146ab2a94228f32d973fc2ab272"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1289428912879964160" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">#Goldengatepark #sf #quarantinemood https://t.co/9l3ufnbkt6</div> — Suvd (@Suvd)<a href="https://twitter.com/Suvd19486406/statuses/1289428912879964160">1596258783.0</a></blockquote></div><p>The powerful effects of nature are strongest in large parks with more trees, but smaller neighborhood parks also provide a significant boost. Their impact on happiness is real, measurable and lasting.</p><p>Twitter records show that parks increase happiness to a level similar to the bounce at Christmas, which typically is the happiest day of the year. Schwartz has since expanded his <a href="https://arxiv.org/pdf/2006.10658.pdf" target="_blank">Twitter study</a> to the 25 largest cities in the U.S. and found this bounce everywhere.</p><p>Parks and public spaces won't cure COVID-19 or stop police brutality, but they are far more than playgrounds. There is growing evidence that parks contribute to mental and physical health in a range of communities.</p><p>In a 2015 study, for example, Stanford researchers sent people out for one of two walks: through a local park or on a busy street. Those who walked in nature showed <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2015.02.005" target="_blank">improved moods and better memory performance</a> compared to the urban group. And a team led by <a href="https://penniur.upenn.edu/people/eugenia-gina-south" target="_blank">Gina South</a> of the University of Pennsylvania showed in a 2018 study that greening and cleaning up blighted vacant lots in Philadelphia <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.0298" target="_blank">reduced local residents' feelings of depression, worthlessness and poor mental health</a>.</p>
Creative Strategies
<p>It isn't easy to create new parks on the scale of San Francisco's Golden Gate Park or the Washington Mall, but smaller projects can expand outdoor space. Options include greening vacant lots, closing streets and investing in existing parks to make them safer, greener and shadier and support wildlife.</p><p>These initiatives don't have to be capital-intensive. In the University of Pennsylvania study, for example, renovating a vacant lot by removing trash, planting grass and trees and installing a low fence cost only about US$1,600.</p><p>Urban green space is most needed in neighborhoods that have lacked funding for parks, especially given <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/08/nyregion/coronavirus-race-deaths.html" target="_blank">COVID-19's disproportionate impact on Black and Latinx people</a>.</p><p>Cities can also create parklike spaces by <a href="https://theconversation.com/with-fewer-cars-on-us-streets-now-is-the-time-to-reinvent-roadways-and-how-we-use-them-140408" target="_blank">closing streets to cars</a>. Many cities worldwide are currently retooling their transportation systems for the post-COVID-19 world in order to <a href="https://thecityfix.com/blog/bicycles-slower-speeds-livable-city-paris-mayor-anne-hidalgo-plans-ambitious-second-term-dario-hidalgo/" target="_blank">reallocate public space</a>, widen sidewalks and make more space for nature.</p><p>Urban designers, artists, ecologists and other citizens can play a direct role, too, creating pop-up parks and green spaces. Some advocates <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-15/a-brief-history-of-park-ing-day" target="_blank">transform parking spaces into mini-parks</a> with grass, potted trees and seating for just the time on the meter, to make a larger point about turning so much public space over to cars.</p><p>Or cities can invest a little more. Minneapolis, Cincinnati and Arlington, Virginia, have won <a href="https://www.tpl.org/parkscore" target="_blank">national recognition</a> for their ambitious investments in public park systems. These areas could serve as models for neighborhoods that lack access to parks.</p><div id="25fd0" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="383f0d2df0237e9359c30dcce6cd6c42"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1276558744835379201" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Looking to safely get outside? Check out the best parks for social distancing in this year's top ten ParkScore citi… https://t.co/HJjEtDsrTD</div> — The Trust for Public Land (@The Trust for Public Land)<a href="https://twitter.com/tpl_org/statuses/1276558744835379201">1593190296.0</a></blockquote></div>
A New Park Deal?
<p>The United States has historically driven economic recovery with major infrastructure investments, like the New Deal in the 1930s and the 2009 <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/american-recovery-and-reinvestment-act.asp" target="_blank">American Reinvestment and Recovery Act</a>. Such investments could easily include nature-positive spaces.</p><p>Parks are not panaceas, as evidenced by the widely publicized <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/06/nyregion/amy-cooper-false-report-charge.html" target="_blank">racist confrontation between a white woman and a Black birder</a> in New York's Central Park in early July. But Hedonometer data add to a <a href="https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/5/7/eaax0903?utm_source=miragenews&utm_medium=miragenews&utm_campaign=news" target="_blank">growing body of evidence</a> that they provide <a href="https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1807504116" target="_blank">clear mental health benefits</a>. Creating and expanding parks also <a href="https://www.nrpa.org/contentassets/f568e0ca499743a08148e3593c860fc5/economic-impact-study-summary.pdf" target="_blank">generates jobs and economic activity</a>, with much of the money spent locally.</p><p>We believe investments in nature are well worth it, offering both short-term solace in difficult times and long-term benefits to health, economies and communities.</p>From Your Site Articles
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Trending
These seven cookbooks by Black chefs have inspired the author's family. LightFieldStudios / Getty Images
By Zahida Sherman
Cooking has always intimidated me. As a child, I would anxiously peer into the kitchen as my mother prepared Christmas dinner for our family.
<p>My grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles would all pour into our home throughout the day, eagerly awaiting their favorite dish.</p><p>During those times, my mom transformed into executive chef and drill sergeant, sending my sister and me on grocery store runs for obscure ingredients or directing us to remove cobwebs from forgotten corners of the house.</p><p>The scents wafting from my mom's magic entrées and appetizers were intoxicating. They made all the toil worth it.</p><p>Our home burst with the scent of warm syrupy-sweet yams, smoked turkey necks drowning in collard greens, a countertop completely covered by her pound cake, and sweet potato pie whipped to perfection.</p><p>I always looked forward to those family dinners, my relatives' laughing faces, and their overflowing plates.</p><p>As much as I loved our quality family time, those dinners fueled my fear of cooking. I could never accept and conquer the mental preparation it required: the brainstorming, the grocery lists, the grocery store lines, the time management.</p><p>I couldn't bear the hefty expectations of cooking as a way to maintain our Black American cultural and family traditions, a mix of Southern roots with Pacific Northwest nuance.</p><p>I added cooking to the list of things that I knew were important, but that I probably would never really care about (kind of like backing up my devices regularly). I didn't want to spend the necessary energy to learn how to achieve those glorious family dinners — or even everyday meals.</p><p>Cooking required too much pressure and preparation. Cooking required too much of myself.</p>
Falling in Love With Food All Over Again
<p>Slowly, through my most intimate relationships with friends and partners, I began to see the beauty — and rewards — of cooking.</p><p>I got tired of giving in to defeat and always bringing chips or paper products to social gatherings. I started asking my mom to send me her Christmas and Thanksgiving recipes. I even volunteered to host Thanksgiving dinner at my place.</p><p>Each time I heard my loved ones sing the praises of the foods I prepared for them, I felt a tinge more confident that I could carry out our traditions my way.</p><p>In reaching out to other relatives for their favorite recipes, I learned that they had a little help of their own. They didn't rely solely on their ancestral cooking instincts. They turned to Black chefs for guidance.</p><p>These 7 cookbooks by Black chefs have inspired my family and fed us in nutrients, joy, and spiritual sustenance. They're also helping me overcome my personal fears of cooking.</p><h3><a href="https://amzn.to/2O6B7SG" target="_blank">Jubilee: Recipes from Two Centuries of African American Cooking</a></h3><p><em>by Toni Tipton-Martin</em></p><p>Who says a cookbook can't also be a history lesson?</p><p>Tipton-Martin draws on her nutritionist and food activist background to amass over 125 recipes that demonstrate the complexity and nuance of soul food.</p><p>"Jubilee" pushes beyond the trope of <a href="http://blackfoodie.co/the-humble-history-of-soul-food" target="_blank">soul food as survival</a> wherein enslaved and impoverished Africans created a new cuisine out of plantation scraps. The author showcases the culinary skills of Black chefs who were enslaved, entrepreneurs, upper class, and everything in between.</p><p>Whether it's the black-eyed pea fritters, okra gumbo, or braised lamb shanks with peanut sauce, you will be joyfully full.</p><h3><a href="https://amzn.to/2C9yxZv" target="_blank">The Red Rooster Cookbook: The Story of Food and Hustle in Harlem</a></h3><p><em>by Marcus Samuelsson</em></p><p>Many years ago, I had the pleasure of dining at Chef Samuelsson's Red Rooster restaurant in Harlem. It was undoubtedly my bougiest Black fantasy.</p><p>The food was simple but decadent, and the ambiance was Black, beautiful, and triumphant, much like the neighborhood. Samuelsson's cookbook leans into his Swedish-Ethiopian and Afropolitan experiences with recipes for chicken and waffles, cornbread and bird funk, wild wild wings, and donuts with sweet potato cream.</p><p><span></span>Interspersed with poignant photos of Harlem, this cookbook is Samuelson's tribute to this culturally iconic neighborhood.</p>
<h3><a href="https://amzn.to/2BOAsTl" target="_blank">Eat Yourself Sexy: Eat Your Way to Shiny Hair, Glowing Skin and Weight Loss</a></h3><p><em>by Lauren Von Der Pool</em></p><p>If she's a good enough chef for Stevie Wonder, Common, First Lady Michelle Obama, Dr. Sebi, and Venus and Serena Williams, she's good enough for me!</p><p>Celebrity chef Von Der Pool wrote "Eat Yourself Sexy" to empower female-identified readers on their inner journey toward sexiness through raw food and homemade beauty products.</p><p>If you're intimidated by a plant-based diet or DIY beauty, this is a must-read. Chef Von Der Pool's simple recipes, stunning photos, and comprehensive information about eating whole foods will inspire you to get started.</p><h3><a href="https://amzn.to/2Z67Aik" target="_blank">The Seasoned Life: Food, Family, Faith, and the Joy of Eating Well</a></h3><p><em>by Ayesha Curry</em></p><p>Outspoken and unapologetic <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/ayeshas-home-kitchen" target="_blank">Food Network</a> host, restaurateur, mom, and wife Ayesha Curry, gifts readers with 100 recipes that are perfect for your hectic work-life balance.</p><p>My older sister (also coincidentally named Aisha) has fed our family with Curry's recipes that range from mouthwatering brown sugar bacon, game day chili, and harvest sangria, to white chocolate bread pudding and butternut squash mash.</p><p>"The Seasoned Life" shows audiences why Ayesha is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjU7BYcJwIw" target="_blank">Chef Curry with the pot</a>.</p>
<h3><a href="https://amzn.to/3ebOUSy" target="_blank">Black Girl Baking: Wholesome Recipes Inspired by a Soulful Upbringing</a></h3><p><em>by Jerrelle Guy</em></p><p>Inspired by #blackgirlmagic, this cookbook is Guy's empowering journey of accepting her fullest self through cooking.</p><p>Perhaps what makes her cookbook so defining is her insistence that readers abandon the idea of baking perfection and fall in love with the process of baking instead.</p><p>The recipes don't disappoint, either. Strawberry balsamic cupcakes, sweet potato rice crispies, and peanut butter jelly bread? Yes, please!</p><h3><a href="https://amzn.to/2Cj16DG" target="_blank">Brown Sugar Kitchen: New-Style, Down-Home Recipes from Sweet West Oakland</a></h3><p><em>by Tanya Holland</em></p><p>Inspired by Chef Holland's <a href="http://www.brownsugarkitchen.com/" target="_blank">Brown Sugar Kitchen</a> restaurant in Oakland, California, her cookbook offers over 80 recipes that are simply delicious.</p><p>Her soul food entrées include everything from shrimp gumbo, black-eyed peas' salad, chili glazed salmon, to cornmeal waffles with apple cider syrup.</p><p>While Bryant doesn't shy away from popular favorites like fried chicken, she includes alternative options for eaters with dietary restrictions.</p><h3><a href="https://amzn.to/3faKPiL" target="_blank">Afro-Vegan: Farm-Fresh African, Caribbean, and Southern Flavors Remixed</a></h3><p><em>by Bryant Terry</em></p><p>Food activist and chef Bryant Terry offers perfectly seasoned vegan recipes from the African Diaspora that will impress even your most carnivorous dinner guests.</p><p>Terry combines ingredients from seemingly disparate regions like North Africa, the American South, and the Caribbean into delicious dishes like sweet potato and lima bean tagine, pomegranate peach BBQ sauce, and skillet cornbread with pecan dukkah.</p><p>"Afro-Vegan" even includes <a href="https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120816477" target="_blank">genre-diverse playlists</a> to accompany Terry's recipes. My aunt's personal favorite is the savory grits with slow-cooked collard greens. You can listen to the accompanying song, "The Funk," <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWeLT0TtCxg&list=PLtY2PDlMkxiujDaVlVBvl5spkvdzra8ZE" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
Get Cooking
Whether you're in recovery from cooking fears like me, or are just looking to expand your culinary confidence with dishes honoring Black heritage, these Black chefs are here to support you on your journey.Turn on some music, give yourself permission to make mistakes, and throw down for yourself or your loved ones. Glorious flavors await you.From Your Site Articles
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By Beth Ann Mayer
Since even moderate-intensity workouts offer a slew of benefits, walking is a good choice for people looking to stay healthy.
<p>Just like eating the same thing every day can get stale, so can doing one type of exercise. A few small tweaks can make a world of difference.</p><p>Regular walkers, or those avoiding the monotony of daily strolls altogether, can put a spring back in their step with some simple changes.</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from </em><a href="https://www.healthline.com/" target="_blank"><em>Healthline</em></a><em>. For detailed source information, please view the original article on </em><em><a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/fitness/8-ways-to-shake-up-your-walking-routine" target="_blank">Healthline</a></em><em>.</em></p>
How to Rock Your Walk
<p>Walking isn't just fun and healthy. It's accessible.</p><p>"Walking is cheap," says Dr. John Paul H. Rue, a sports medicine doctor at <a href="https://mdmercy.com/" target="_blank">Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore</a>. "You can do it anywhere at any time; [it] requires little to no special equipment and has many of the same cardio benefits as running or other more intense workouts."</p><p>Want to up your walking game? Try the tips below.</p>Use Hand Weights
<p>Cardio and strength training can go hand-in-hand when you add weights to your walk.</p><p>A <a href="https://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/Fulltext/2019/03000/Associations_of_Resistance_Exercise_with.14.aspx" target="_blank">2019 study</a> found that weight training is good for your heart, and <a href="https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(17)30167-2/abstract" target="_blank">research</a> shows it reduces the risk of developing a <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/nutrition-metabolism-disorders" target="_blank">metabolic disorder</a> by 17 percent. People with metabolic disorders have a higher chance of being diagnosed with high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes.</p><p>Rue suggests not carrying weights for your entire walk.</p><p>"Hand weights can give you an added level of energy burning, but you have to be careful with these because carrying [them] over a long period of time or while walking could actually lead to some overuse injuries," he says.</p>Make It a Circuit
<p>As another option, consider doing a circuit. First, put a pair of dumbbells on your lawn or somewhere in your home. Walk around the block once, then stop and do some bicep curls and tricep lifts before walking around the block again.</p><p>Rue recommends <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/exercise-fitness/running-with-weights" target="_blank">avoiding ankle weights</a> during cardio workouts, as they force you to use your quadriceps rather than hamstrings. They can also cause muscle imbalance, according to the <a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/wearable-weights-how-they-can-help-or-hurt" target="_blank">Harvard Health Letter</a>.</p>Find a Fitness Trail
<p>Strength training isn't limited to weights. You can get stronger by <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/bodyweight-workout" target="_blank">simply using your body</a>.</p><p>Often found at parks, fitness trails are obstacle courses with equipment for pullups, pushups, rowing, and stretches to build upper and lower body strength.</p><p>Try searching "fitness trails near me" online, checking out your local parks and recreation website, or calling the municipal office to <a href="https://calisthenics-parks.com/" target="_blank">find one</a>.</p>Recruit a Friend
<p>People who workout together stay healthy together.</p><p><a href="https://bmcgeriatr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12877-017-0584-3" target="_blank">One study</a> showed that older adults who exercised with a group improved or maintained their functional health and enjoyed their lives more.</p><p>Enlist the help of a walking buddy with a regimen you aspire to have. If you don't know anyone in your area, apps like <a href="https://www.strava.com/" target="_blank">Strava</a> have social networking features so you can get support from fellow exercisers.</p>Try Meditation
<p>According to the <a href="https://www.nccih.nih.gov/research/statistics/nhis/2017" target="_blank">2017 National Health Interview Survey</a>, published by the National Institutes of Health, meditation is on the rise, and for good reason.</p><p>Researchers <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29616846/" target="_blank">found</a> that mind-body relaxation practices can regulate inflammation, <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/biological-rhythms" target="_blank">circadian rhythms</a>, and <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/glucose" target="_blank">glucose</a> metabolism, as well as lower <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/high-blood-pressure-hypertension" target="_blank">blood pressure</a>.</p><p>"Any form of exercise can be turned into a meditation of some type, either by the surroundings you are walking in, like a park or trail, or by blocking out the outside world with music on your headphones," Rue says.</p><p>You can also play a podcast or download an app like <a href="https://www.headspace.com/headspace-meditation-app" target="_blank">Headspace</a> that has a library of guided meditations to practice while you walk.</p>Do Fartlek Walks
<p>Typically used in running, fartlek intervals alternate periods of increased and decreased speed. These are <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/benefits-of-hiit" target="_blank">high-intensity interval training (HIIT)</a> workouts, which allow exercisers to accomplish more in less time.</p><p><a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0154075" target="_blank">One study</a> showed that 10-minute interval training improved <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/metabolic-syndrome" target="_blank">cardiometabolic</a> health, or lowered the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, just as well as working out at a continuous pace for 50 minutes.</p><p><a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0111489" target="_blank">Research</a> also shows that HIIT workouts increase muscle <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/fast-twitch-muscles" target="_blank">oxidative</a> capacity, or the ability to use oxygen. To do a fartlek walk, try walking at an increased pace for 3 minutes, slow down for 2 minutes, and repeat.</p>Gradually Increase Pace
<p>A faster walking pace is associated with a lower risk of <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/copd" target="_blank">chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)</a> and respiratory diseases, according to a <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30303933/" target="_blank">2019 study</a>.</p><p>Still, it's best not to go from a stroll to an Olympic-worthy power walk in a day. Instead, increase your pace gradually to prevent injury.</p><p>"Start by walking at a brisk pace for about 10 minutes per day, 3 to 5 days per week," Rue says. "Once you've done this for a few weeks, increase your time by 5 to 10 minutes per day until you get to 30 minutes."</p>Add Stairs
<p>You've likely heard that taking the stairs instead of an elevator is a way to add more movement into your daily routine. It's also a way to step up your walking. Stair climbing has been shown to <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211335519301123?via%3Dihub" target="_blank">decrease the risk of mortality</a> and can easily add a bit more challenge to your walk.</p><p>If you don't have stairs in your home, you can often find them outside a local municipal building, train station, or at a high school stadium.</p>Is Your Walk a True Cardio Workout?
<p>Not all walks are equal. A walk that's too leisurely may not provide enough burn to qualify as cardio. To see if you're getting a good workout, try to <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-check-heart-rate" target="_blank">measure your heart rate</a> using a monitor.</p><p>"A target goal for a good walking workout heart rate is about 50 to 70 percent of your maximum heart rate," Rue says, adding that maximum heart rate is <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/fitness-exercise/fat-burning-heart-rate" target="_blank">typically calculated</a> by 220 beats per minute minus your age.</p><p>You can also monitor how easily you can carry on a conversation while you walk to gauge your heart rate.</p><p>"If you can walk and carry on a normal conversation, that's probably a lower intensity walk," says Rue. "If you are slightly breathless but can still have a conversation, that's probably a moderate workout. If you are out of breath and can't talk normally, that's a vigorous workout."</p>Takeaway
<p>By shaking up your routine, you can add excitement to your workout and reap even more rewards than a basic walk provides. Increasing the pace and intensity of a workout will make it more effective.</p><p>Simply pick your favorite variation to add some spice to your next walk.</p>From Your Site Articles
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Oregano oil is an extract that is not as strong as the essential oil, but appears to be useful both when consumed or applied to the skin. Peakpx / CC by 1.0
By Alexandra Rowles
Oregano is a fragrant herb that's best known as an ingredient in Italian food.
However, it can also be concentrated into an essential oil that's loaded with antioxidants and powerful compounds that have proven health benefits.
<p>Oregano oil is the extract and, although it's not as strong as the essential oil, it appears to be useful both when consumed or applied to the skin. Essential oils, on the other hand, are not meant to be consumed.</p><p>Interestingly, oregano oil is an effective natural antibiotic and antifungal agent, and it may help you lose weight and lower your cholesterol levels.</p>
<h2>What Is Oregano Oil?</h2><p>Botanically known as <em>Origanum vulgare</em>, oregano is a flowering plant from the same family as mint. It's often used as an herb to flavor food.</p><p>Although it's native to Europe, it now grows all over the world.</p><p>Oregano has been popular ever since the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations used it for medicinal purposes. In fact, the name oregano comes from the Greek words "oros," meaning mountain, and "ganos," meaning joy or delight.</p><p>The herb has also been used for centuries as a culinary spice.</p><p>Oregano essential oil is made by air-drying the leaves and shoots of the plant. Once they're dried, the oil is extracted and concentrated by steam distillation.</p><p>Oregano essential oil can be mixed with a carrier oil and applied topically. However, it should not be consumed orally.</p><p>Oregano oil extract, on the other hand, can be produced via several extraction methods using compounds like carbon dioxide or alcohol. It's widely available as a supplement and can often be found in pill or capsule form.</p><p>Oregano contains compounds called phenols, terpenes, and terpenoids. They have powerful antioxidant properties and are responsible for its fragrance:</p><ul><li><strong>Carvacrol.</strong> The most abundant phenol in oregano, it has been shown to stop the growth of several different types of bacteria.</li><li><strong>Thymol.</strong> This natural antifungal can also support the immune system and protect against toxins.</li><li><strong>Rosmarinic acid.</strong> This powerful antioxidant helps protect against damage caused by free radicals.</li></ul><p>These compounds are thought to underlie oregano's many health benefits.</p><p>Here are 9 potential benefits and uses of oregano oil.</p><h2>1. Natural Antibiotic<a target="_blank"><br></a></h2><p><a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/6-oregano-benefits" target="_blank">Oregano</a> and the carvacrol it contains may help fight bacteria.</p><p>The <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em> bacterium is one of the most common causes of infection, resulting in ailments like food poisoning and skin infections.</p><p>One particular study looked at whether oregano essential oil improved the survival of 14 mice infected with <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>.</p><p>It found that 43% of the mice given oregano essential oil lived past 30 days, a survival rate nearly as high as the 50% survival rate for mice that received regular antibiotics.</p><p>Research has also shown that oregano essential oil may be effective against some potentially antibiotic-resistant bacteria.</p><p>This includes <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em> and <em>E. coli</em>, both of which are common causes of <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/uti-home-remedies/" target="_blank">urinary</a> and respiratory tract infections.</p><p>Although more human studies on the effects of oregano oil extract are needed, it contains many of the same compounds as oregano essential oil and may offer similar health benefits when used as a supplement.</p><p><strong>SUMMARY</strong></p><p><strong></strong>One mouse study found oregano essential oil to be almost as effective as antibiotics against common bacteria, though much more research is needed.</p>
<h2>2. May Help Lower Cholesterol</h2><p>Studies have shown that oregano oil may help <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-to-lower-cholesterol" target="_blank">lower cholesterol</a>.</p><p>In one study, 48 people with mildly high cholesterol were given diet and lifestyle advice to help lower their cholesterol. Thirty-two participants were also given 0.85 ounces (25 mL) of oregano oil extract after each meal.</p><p>After 3 months, those given the oregano oil had lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and higher HDL (good) cholesterol, compared with those who were just given diet and lifestyle advice.</p><p>Carvacrol, the main compound in oregano oil, has also been shown to help lower cholesterol in mice that were fed a high fat diet over 10 weeks.</p><p>The mice given carvacrol alongside the high fat diet had significantly lower cholesterol at the end of the 10 weeks, compared with those that were just given a high fat diet.</p><p>The cholesterol-lowering effect of oregano oil is thought to be the result of the phenols carvacrol and thymol.</p><p><strong>SUMMARY</strong></p><p><strong></strong>Studies have shown that oregano may help lower cholesterol in people and mice with high cholesterol. This is thought to be the result of the compounds carvacrol and thymol.</p><h2>3. Powerful Antioxidant</h2><p><a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/antioxidants-explained" target="_blank">Antioxidants</a> help protect the body from damage caused by free radicals.</p><p>It's thought that free radical damage plays a role in aging and the development of some diseases, such as cancer and heart disease.</p><p>Free radicals are everywhere and a natural product of metabolism.</p><p>However, they can build up in the body through exposure to environmental factors, such as cigarette smoke and air pollutants.</p><p>One older test-tube study compared the antioxidant content of 39 commonly used herbs and found that oregano had the highest concentration of antioxidants.</p><p>It found that oregano contained 3–30 times the levels of antioxidants in the other herbs studied, which included thyme, marjoram, and <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/st-johns-wort/" target="_blank">St. John's wort</a>.</p><p>Gram per gram, oregano also has 42 times the antioxidant level of apples and 4 times that of blueberries. This is thought to be mostly due to its rosmarinic acid content.</p><p>Because oregano oil extract is very concentrated, you need much less oregano oil to reap the same antioxidant benefits as you would from fresh oregano.</p><p><strong>SUMMARY</strong></p><p><strong></strong>Fresh oregano has a very high antioxidant content. In fact, it's much higher than that of most fruits and vegetables, gram per gram. The antioxidant content is concentrated in oregano oil.</p>
<h2>4. Could Help Treat Yeast Infections</h2><p>Yeast is a type of fungus. It can be harmless, but overgrowth can result in gut problems and infections, such as thrush.</p><p>The most well-known yeast is <em><a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/candida-symptoms-treatment" target="_blank">Candida</a></em>, which is the most common cause of yeast infections worldwide.</p><p>In test-tube studies, oregano essential oil has been found to be effective against five different types of <em>Candida</em>, such as those that cause infections in the mouth and vagina. In fact, it was more effective than any other essential oil tested.</p><p>Test-tube studies have also found that carvacrol, one of the main compounds of oregano oil, is very effective against oral <em>Candida</em>.</p><p>High levels of the yeast <em>Candida</em> have also been associated with some gut conditions, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.</p><p>A test-tube study on the effectiveness of oregano essential oil on 16 different strains of <em>Candida</em> concluded that oregano oil may be a good <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/5-diet-tips-against-candida/" target="_blank">alternative treatment</a> for <em>Candida</em> yeast infections. However, more research is needed.</p><p><strong>SUMMARY</strong></p><p><strong></strong>Test-tube studies have shown that oregano essential oil is effective against <em>Candida</em>, the most common form of yeast.</p><h2>5. May Improve Gut Health</h2><p>Oregano may <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/improve-gut-bacteria/" target="_blank">benefit gut health</a> in a number of ways.</p><p>Gut symptoms like diarrhea, pain, and bloating are common and can be caused by gut parasites.</p><p>One older study gave 600 mg of oregano oil to 14 people who had gut symptoms as a result of a parasite. After daily treatment for 6 weeks, all participants experienced a reduction in parasites, and 77% were cured.</p><p>Participants also experienced a reduction in gut symptoms and tiredness associated with the symptoms.</p><p>Oregano may also help protect against another common gut complaint known as "<a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/is-leaky-gut-real/" target="_blank">leaky gut</a>." This happens when the gut wall becomes damaged, allowing bacteria and toxins to pass into the bloodstream.</p><p>In a study on pigs, oregano essential oil protected the gut wall from damage and prevented it from becoming "leaky." It also reduced the number of <em>E. coli</em> bacteria in the gut. </p><p><strong>SUMMARY</strong></p><p><strong></strong>Oregano oil may benefit gut health by killing gut parasites and protecting against leaky gut syndrome.</p>
<h2>6. May Have Anti-Inflammatory Properties</h2><p>Inflammation in the body is linked to a number of adverse health effects.</p><p>Research has shown that oregano oil may <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/anti-inflammatory-diet-101/" target="_blank">reduce inflammation</a>.</p><p>One mouse study found that oregano essential oil, along with thyme essential oil, reduced inflammatory markers in those that had artificially induced colitis.</p><p>Carvacrol, one of the key components in oregano oil, has also been shown to reduce inflammation.</p><p>One study directly applied different concentrations of carvacrol to the swollen paws or ears of mice. Carvacrol reduced paw and ear swelling by 35–61% and 33–43%, respectively.</p><p><strong>SUMMARY</strong></p><p><strong></strong>Oregano oil and its components may help reduce inflammation in mice, though human studies are needed.</p><h2>7. Could Help Relieve Pain</h2><p>Oregano oil has been investigated for its painkilling properties.</p><p>One older study in mice tested standard painkillers and <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/what-are-essential-oils/" target="_blank">essential oils</a>, including oregano essential oil, for their ability to relieve pain.</p><p>It found that oregano essential oil significantly reduced pain in mice, exerting effects similar to those of the commonly used painkillers fenoprofen and morphine.</p><p>The research proposed these results were likely due to the carvacrol content of oregano.</p><p>A similar study found that oregano extract reduced pain in rats, and that the response was dose-dependent, meaning the more oregano extract the rats consumed, the less pain they appeared to feel.</p><p><strong>SUMMARY</strong></p><p><strong></strong>Oregano oil may significantly reduce pain in mice and rats, exerting pain-relieving effects similar to those of some commonly used medications.</p>
<h2>8. May Have Cancer-Fighting Properties</h2><p>A few studies have indicated that carvacrol, one of the compounds of oregano oil, may have cancer-fighting properties.</p><p>In test-tube studies on cancer cells, carvacrol has demonstrated promising results against lung, liver, and breast cancer cells.</p><p>It has been found to inhibit cell growth and cause cancer cell death.</p><p>Although this is promising research, no studies have been carried out on people, so more research is needed.</p><p><strong>SUMMARY</strong></p><p><strong></strong>Preliminary studies have shown that carvacrol — the most abundant compound in oregano oil — inhibits cancer cell growth and causes cell death in lung, liver, and breast cancer cells.</p><h2>9. May Help You Lose Weight</h2><p>Thanks to oregano's carvacrol content, oregano oil may aid weight loss.</p><p>In one study, mice were fed either a normal diet, high fat diet, or high fat diet with carvacrol. Those given carvacrol alongside their high fat diet gained significantly less weight and body fat than those just given a high fat diet.</p><p>Furthermore, carvacrol appeared to reverse the chain of events that can lead to the formation of fat cells.</p><p>More research is needed to demonstrate that oregano oil has a role in weight loss, but it may be worth trying as part of a <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/healthy-eating-for-beginners/" target="_blank">healthy diet</a> and lifestyle.</p><p><strong>SUMMARY</strong></p><p><strong></strong>Oregano oil may be beneficial for weight loss through the action of carvacrol, though human studies are needed.</p>
<h2>How to Use Oregano Oil</h2><p>Oregano oil extract is widely available in capsule and tablet form. It can be bought from most health food shops or online.</p><p>Because the strength of oregano supplements can vary, it's important to read the directions on the individual packet for instructions on how to use the product.</p><p>Oregano essential oil is also available and can be diluted with a <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/carrier-oil" target="_blank">carrier oil</a> and applied topically. Note that no essential oil should be ingested.</p><p>There's no standard effective dose of oregano essential oil. However, it's often mixed with around 1 teaspoon (5 mL) of olive oil per drop of oregano essential oil and applied directly to the skin.</p><p>Like other essential oils, keep in mind that oregano essential oil should not be consumed orally.</p><p>If you're interested in taking oregano oil extract but currently taking prescription medications, make sure to consult your healthcare provider before adding it to your regimen.</p><p>In addition, oregano oil extract is not generally recommended for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.</p><p><strong>SUMMARY</strong></p><p><strong></strong>Oregano oil extract can be purchased in pill or capsule form and taken orally. Oregano essential oil is also available and can be diluted with a carrier oil and applied to the skin.</p><h2>The Bottom Line</h2><p>Oregano oil extract and oregano essential oil are both relatively cheap and readily available.</p><p>Oregano is higher in antioxidants than most fruits and vegetables, and it's packed full of powerful compounds called phenols.</p><p>Oregano also contains compounds that may be effective against bacterial and fungal infections, inflammation, and pain, among other conditions.</p><p>Overall, it appears to have several health benefits and may be useful as a natural treatment for some common health complaints.</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from<a href="https://www.healthline.com/" target="_blank"> Healthline</a>. For detailed source information, please view the original article on <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/9-oregano-oil-benefits-and-uses#The-bottom-line" target="_blank">Healthline</a>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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Oat milk is popping up at coffee shops and grocery stores alike, quickly becoming one of the trendiest plant-based milks. jacqueline / CC by 2.0
By Kelli McGrane
Oat milk is popping up at coffee shops and grocery stores alike, quickly becoming one of the trendiest plant-based milks.
<p>In its simplest form, it's made by soaking oats, blending them with water, and straining out the oats. Yet, many companies add ingredients like sweeteners, oils, thickeners, and stabilizers to alter the product's taste, texture, and shelf life.</p><p>Since many people prefer to avoid these additives, Healthline evaluated the healthiest oat milks based on the following criteria:</p><ul><li>quality of ingredients</li><li>few — if any — added ingredients, such as stabilizers, thickeners, gums, sugars, colors, and flavors</li><li>taste and texture</li></ul><p>Here are the 14 best oat milks of 2020.</p>
<h3>Pricing Guide</h3><p>General price ranges are indicated below with dollar signs ($ to $$). One dollar sign means the product is rather affordable, whereas three dollar signs indicate a higher cost.</p><p>Generally, prices range from $0.08–$0.56 per ounce (30 mL), or $3.99–$44.99 per package, though this may vary depending on where you shop.</p><p><strong>Pricing guide</strong></p><ul><li><strong>$</strong> = under $0.10 per ounce (30 mL)</li><li><strong>$</strong> = $0.10–$0.50 per ounce (30 mL)</li><li><strong>$$</strong> = over $0.50 per ounce (30 mL)</li></ul>
<h2>1. Best Overall: Oatly Original Oatmilk</h2><p><strong>Price:</strong> $</p><p>The Swedish company Oatly, considered the original oat milk manufacturer, has become increasingly popular in the United States.</p><p>Its thick, creamy texture, slight sweetness, and versatility for baking and drinking alike make it the best overall option on the market.</p><p>Its Original Oatmilk product owes its rich consistency to non-GMO, expeller-pressed <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/rapeseed-oil" target="_blank">rapeseed oil</a>, also known as canola oil in the United States.</p><p>As it's less processed than most seed oils, Oatly's rapeseed oil likely retains more of its beneficial nutrients, including vitamin E and omega-3 and -6 fatty acids.</p><p>Just 1 cup (240 mL) of Oatly Original Oatmilk provides:</p><ul><li><strong>Calories:</strong> 120</li><li><strong>Fat:</strong> 5 grams<ul><li><strong>Saturated fat: </strong>0.5 grams</li></ul></li><li><strong>Carbs: </strong>16 grams</li><li><strong>Fiber: </strong>2 grams</li><li><strong>Sugar: </strong>7 grams</li><li><strong>Protein: </strong>3 grams</li><li><strong>Calcium: </strong>20% of the Daily Value (DV)</li><li><strong>Vitamin B12:</strong> 50% of the DV</li><li><strong>Vitamin D: </strong>25% of the DV</li></ul><p>The vitamin B12 content is particularly notable, as this essential vitamin is sometimes lacking in vegan and vegetarian diets.</p><p>While Oatly doesn't add sugar to its products, oat milk contains small amounts of natural sugars from oat starches that are broken down during the manufacturing process.</p><p>This is true for many other oat milk products on this list.</p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Oatly-OATLY-Original-Oat-Milk/dp/B075QJ8M1K/ref=as_li_ss_tl?almBrandId=VUZHIFdob2xlIEZvb2Rz&dchild=1&fpw=alm&keywords=oatly&qid=1593003630&sr=8-6&linkCode=ll1&tag=nutrition-best-oat-milk-20&linkId=9e6913b70927d1cbf96d86b288ed9866" target="_blank">Shop for Oatly Original Oatmilk online.</a></p><h2>2. Best Budget Option: Silk Oat Yeah Oatmilk (Plain)</h2><p><strong>Price:</strong> $</p><p>Silk's Oat Yeah Oatmilk is one of the cheapest oat milk products that's widely available.</p><p>Its balanced flavor isn't overly sweet, and its smooth texture resembles that of <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/soy-good-or-bad" target="_blank">soy milk</a>. Thus, it's great for drinking on its own, as well as using in cooking and baking.</p><p>Just 1 cup (240 mL) of Silk's plain Oat Yeah Oatmilk offers:</p><ul><li><strong>Calories:</strong> 80</li><li><strong>Fat:</strong> 3 grams<ul><li><strong>Saturated fat: </strong>0 grams</li></ul></li><li><strong>Carbs: </strong>11 grams</li><li><strong>Fiber: </strong>1 gram</li><li><strong>Sugar: </strong>4 grams</li><li><strong>Protein: </strong>2 grams</li><li><strong>Calcium: </strong>35% of the DV</li><li><strong>Vitamin B12:</strong> 100% of the DV</li><li><strong>Vitamin D: </strong>20% of the DV</li></ul><p>As you can see, a single serving packs all of your daily vitamin B12 needs. What's more, its ratio of calcium and vitamin D is similar to what's found in fortified dairy milk.</p><p>While Silk Oat Yeah Oatmilk harbors more ingredients and additives than many other products on this list, it's still one of the best options for the price.</p><p><a href="https://go.skimresources.com/?id=41977X1601025&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.freshdirect.com%2Fpdp.jsp%3FproductId%3Ddai_pid_2004606" target="_blank">Shop for plain Silk Oat Yeah Oatmilk online.</a></p><h2>3. Best Gluten-Free: Oatly Low Fat Oatmilk</h2><p><strong>Price:</strong> $</p><p>While several oat milk companies claim to be gluten-free, Oatly is currently the only major brand in the United States that's been <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/gluten-in-oats" target="_blank">certified gluten-free</a> by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO).</p><p>What's more, their low fat oatmilk has a relatively short ingredient list that's free of added gums and thickeners. Unlike other Oatly products, it doesn't contain added oils.</p><p>One cup (240 mL) provides:</p><ul><li><strong>Calories:</strong> 91</li><li><strong>Fat:</strong> 1 gram<ul><li><strong>Saturated fat: </strong>0 grams</li></ul></li><li><strong>Carbs: </strong>16 grams</li><li><strong>Fiber: </strong>2 grams</li><li><strong>Sugar: </strong>7 grams</li><li><strong>Protein: </strong>3 grams</li><li><strong>Calcium: </strong>20–25% of the DV</li><li><strong>Phosphorus: </strong>20–25% of the DV</li><li><strong>Vitamin A: </strong>20–25% of the DV</li><li><strong>Vitamin B12:</strong> 50% of the DV</li><li><strong>Vitamin D: </strong>20–25% of the DV</li></ul><p>Unlike Oatly's Original product, their low fat option is thinner and closer in consistency to low fat dairy milk.</p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Oatly-Low-Fat-Oatmilk/dp/B07R18FLGD/ref=as_li_ss_tl?dchild=1&keywords=oatly+low+fat&qid=1593004495&sr=8-2&linkCode=ll1&tag=nutrition-best-oat-milk-20&linkId=0bac63a20a87e81292ced0926ead00ab" target="_blank">Shop for Oatly Low Fat Oatmilk online.</a></p><h2>4–5. Best Organic Oat Milks </h2><p>While all types of oats are nutritious, whole grain foods, some people are concerned about <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/pesticides-and-health" target="_blank">chemical pesticides</a> and fertilizers used on conventional oat crops.</p><p>Levels of chemical residues on oats regularly test below the safety limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Still, organic oats are less likely to contain high levels of these residues.</p><h3>4. Oatsome Oat Milk Original</h3><p><strong>Price:</strong> $</p><p>Oatsome Oat Milk Original is not only <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/what-is-organic-food" target="_blank">organic</a> but also free of gums, thickeners, and stabilizers.</p><p>Just 1 cup (240 mL) provides:</p><ul><li><strong>Calories:</strong> 130</li><li><strong>Fat:</strong> 3 grams<ul><li><strong>Saturated fat: </strong>0 grams</li></ul></li><li><strong>Carbs: </strong>21 grams</li><li><strong>Fiber: </strong>0 grams</li><li><strong>Sugar: </strong>13 grams</li><li><strong>Protein: </strong>2 grams</li><li><strong>Calcium: </strong>20% of the DV</li><li><strong>Riboflavin (vitamin B6): </strong>40% of the DV</li><li><strong>Vitamin B12:</strong> 40% of the DV</li><li><strong>Vitamin D: </strong>10% of the DV</li></ul><p>While lauded for its creamy texture, it's one of the more expensive options on the market.</p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Oatsome-Organic-Oat-Milk-Count/dp/B07W59VH6B/ref=as_li_ss_tl?th=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=nutrition-best-oat-milk-20&linkId=711ea76d751e1c49e1a2eb915dbca8e5" target="_blank">Shop for Oatsome Oat Milk Original online.</a></p><h3>5. Pacific Foods Original Oat Plant-Based Beverage, Reduced Sugar</h3><p><strong>Price:</strong> $</p><p>Pacific Foods is a respected food company that uses as many locally sourced and organic ingredients as possible.</p><p>Their organic, reduced sugar oat original plant-based beverage is certified organic and <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/gmos-pros-and-cons" target="_blank">non-GMO</a>. Additionally, it has a minimal ingredient list that's free of added sugars.</p><p>Just 1 cup (240 mL) provides:</p><ul><li><strong>Calories:</strong> 130</li><li><strong>Fat:</strong> 2.5 grams<ul><li><strong>Saturated fat: </strong>0.5 grams</li></ul></li><li><strong>Carbs: </strong>23 grams</li><li><strong>Fiber: </strong>less than 1 gram</li><li><strong>Sugar: </strong>3 grams</li><li><strong>Protein: </strong>4 grams</li></ul><p>This organic oat beverage also has a mild, slightly sweet flavor that's a bit thinner than other oat milk options. As a result, it's best enjoyed on its own as a beverage or used in cooking and baking.</p><p>While one of the lowest sugar options, some reviewers find the beverage to have a slightly gritty texture.</p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088NFG3P9/ref=as_li_ss_tl?psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzNkFUR09KWlpZM1I5JmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNDYyMTU1Mk9HMjRSNERMRjFGMiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwOTMyNDg0MzY4WEpCUFpNQlFBUSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2RldGFpbDImYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl&linkCode=ll1&tag=nutrition-best-oat-milk-20&linkId=2a551c8090f52755c45ea8639a0ce9d2" target="_blank">Shop for Pacific Foods Original Oat Plant-Based Beverage, Reduced Sugar online.</a></p>
<h2>6–7. Best Oat Milks for Drinking</h2><p>The best oat milks for drinking are creamy — but not too thick — and aren't overly sweet.</p><h3>6. Planet Oat Original</h3><p><strong>Price:</strong> $</p><p>If you like the consistency of 2% milk, Planet Oat Original is a great choice because it's free of added oils and quite low in natural sugars.</p><p>A single cup (240 mL) offers:</p><ul><li><strong>Calories:</strong> 90</li><li><strong>Fat:</strong> 1.5 grams<ul><li><strong>Saturated fat: </strong>0 grams</li></ul></li><li><strong>Carbs: </strong>19 grams</li><li><strong>Fiber: </strong>2 grams</li><li><strong>Sugar: </strong>4 grams</li><li><strong>Protein: </strong>2 grams</li><li><strong>Calcium: </strong>25% of the DV</li><li><strong>Vitamin D: </strong>20% of the DV</li></ul><p>Like Oatly, Planet Oat uses a stabilizer called dipotassium phosphate that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) deems safe.</p><p>However, frequent intake of foods containing this additive may <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods-to-avoid-with-kidney-disease" target="_blank">harm kidney health</a>, especially in people with pre-existing kidney disease.</p><p>While small amounts of dipotassium phosphate shouldn't be concerning, you may want to choose a different oat milk if you have kidney issues.</p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Planet-Oat-Original-Oatmilk-52/dp/B07KNKDBJ5/ref=as_li_ss_tl?almBrandId=QW1hem9uIEZyZXNo&dchild=1&fpw=alm&keywords=planet+oat&qid=1593013421&sr=8-6&linkCode=ll1&tag=nutrition-best-oat-milk-20&linkId=85eb6bd55fab2ae619cf692766408d34" target="_blank">Shop for Planet Oat original oatmilk online.</a></p><h3>7. Califia Farms Unsweetened Oatmilk</h3><p><strong>Price:</strong> $</p><p>Califia Farms Unsweetened Oatmilk isn't overly sweet and strikes the right balance between smooth and creamy.</p><p>As it tends to separate when added to coffee, it's best consumed on its own or with cereal.</p><p>Just 1 cup (240 mL) contains:</p><ul><li><strong>Calories:</strong> 130</li><li><strong>Fat:</strong> 7 grams<ul><li><strong>Saturated fat: </strong>1 gram</li></ul></li><li><strong>Carbs: </strong>15 grams</li><li><strong>Fiber: </strong>0 grams</li><li><strong>Sugar: </strong>4 grams</li><li><strong>Protein: </strong>2 grams</li><li><strong>Calcium: </strong>20% of the DV</li></ul><p>Although this oat milk is free of gums and stabilizers, it's higher in fat than many other products.</p><p>This fat comes from <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/is-sunflower-oil-healthy" target="_blank">sunflower oil</a>, which is high in omega-6 fatty acids.</p><p>Research suggests that diets high in omega-6s but low in omega-3s may increase chronic inflammation in your body. Over time, this may raise your risk of chronic ailments like heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes.</p><p>If you choose this oat milk, you may want to limit your intake of other vegetable oils high in omega-6s, such as soybean, safflower, cottonseed, and corn oil.</p><p><a href="https://www.instacart.com/products/19770971-califia-farms-oatmilk-unsweetened-48-oz" target="_blank">Shop for Califia Farms Unsweetened Oatmilk online.</a></p><h2>8–9. Best Oat Milks for Coffee</h2><p>Many oat milk brands offer barista blends designed to steam and froth for drinks like lattés and cappuccinos.</p><p>These products are often creamier than regular oat milks to provide a gourmet, coffee-shop quality.</p><h3>8. Califia Farms Oat Barista Blend</h3><p><strong>Price:</strong> $</p><p>While Califia Farms' unsweetened product isn't the best for <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/top-13-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-coffee" target="_blank">coffee</a>, its Barista Blend gets great reviews for its frothing ability and sweet, oaty flavor.</p><p>Notably, it's also free of gums and stabilizers.</p><p>One cup (240 mL) contains:</p><ul><li><strong>Calories:</strong> 130</li><li><strong>Fat:</strong> 7 grams<ul><li><strong>Saturated fat: </strong>0.5 grams</li></ul></li><li><strong>Carbs: </strong>14 grams</li><li><strong>Fiber: </strong>2 grams</li><li><strong>Sugar: </strong>3 grams</li><li><strong>Protein: </strong>1 gram</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Califia-Farms-Unsweetened-Oatmilk-Gluten-Free/dp/B07NW4GSSR/ref=as_li_ss_tl?almBrandId=QW1hem9uIEZyZXNo&dchild=1&fpw=alm&keywords=califia+farms&qid=1593014498&s=amazonfresh&sr=1-6&linkCode=ll1&tag=nutrition-best-oat-milk-20&linkId=e1843b99f63e6b6d066d482b061560bb" target="_blank">Shop for Califia Farms Oat Barista Blend online.</a></p><h3>9. Minor Figures Oat Milk Barista</h3><p><strong>Price: </strong>$</p><p>Created by baristas in London, Minor Figures Oat Milk Barista is designed to be great for foaming or steaming.</p><p>It works well for your morning latté but can also be used in baking and even poured over <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/are-breakfast-cereals-healthy" target="_blank">cereal</a>, as its texture isn't overly thick.</p><p>Additionally, it's free of gums, thickeners, and stabilizers.</p><p>Just 1 cup (240 mL) offers:</p><ul><li><strong>Calories:</strong> 116</li><li><strong>Fat:</strong> 5 grams<ul><li><strong>Saturated fat: </strong>0.5 grams</li></ul></li><li><strong>Carbs: </strong>23 grams</li><li><strong>Fiber: </strong>0 grams</li><li><strong>Sugar: </strong>11 grams</li><li><strong>Protein: </strong>0.5 grams</li></ul><p><a href="https://go.skimresources.com/?id=41977X1601025&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FMinor-Figures-Milk-Case-Liters%2Fdp%2FB07NRQ63K6" target="_blank">Shop for Minor Figures Organic Oat Milk Barista online.</a></p>
<h2>10–11. Best for Cooking and Baking</h2><p>While most oat milks can be used for cooking and baking, some are better than others due to their thickness and flavor.</p><h3>10. Elmhurst Unsweetened Milked Oats</h3><p><strong>Price:</strong> $</p><p>Elmhurst Unsweetened Milked Oats is a low sugar, mild oat milk that's made with just filtered water, oats, and <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/salt-good-or-bad" target="_blank">salt</a>.</p><p>It's not ideal for drinking or adding to coffee since it's thinner than many other oat milks. Keep in mind that some consumers mention a slight gritty texture.</p><p>Still, it's one of the best options if you're used to baking or cooking with skim or low fat dairy milk.</p><p>Only 1 cup (240 mL) contains:</p><ul><li><strong>Calories:</strong> 80</li><li><strong>Fat:</strong> 1.5 grams<ul><li><strong>Saturated fat: </strong>0 grams</li></ul></li><li><strong>Carbs: </strong>14 grams</li><li><strong>Fiber: </strong>2 grams</li><li><strong>Sugar: </strong>1 gram</li><li><strong>Protein: </strong>4 grams</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Elmhurst-1925-Unsweetened-Milk-Ounce/dp/B082WHZGKM/ref=as_li_ss_tl?dchild=1&keywords=Elmhurst+Unsweetened+Oat&qid=1590684321&s=grocery&sr=1-1-spons&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzQ0NUWkU1OFNNWjg0JmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMTIyMjY2MkE1NFk2M0c0TFRaTSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNDEyMzcxMURDWTVNQlUyNkJMTyZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU&th=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=nutrition-best-oat-milk-20&linkId=99dd8f796b34fed79ecce4d610586347" target="_blank">Shop for Elmhurst Unsweetened Milked Oats online.</a></p><h3>11. Chobani Plain Extra Creamy Oat Milk</h3><p><strong>Price:</strong> $</p><p>Unlike Elmhurst's product above, Chobani's Plain Extra Creamy Oat Milk has a consistency much closer to <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/whole-vs-skim-milk" target="_blank">whole milk</a>.</p><p>Its slightly sweet taste and thick, creamy texture add a rich mouthfeel and flavor to baked goods. It can also help thicken soups.</p><p>While it contains a small number of additives, it uses organic oats and doesn't have artificial flavors or preservatives.</p><p>One cup (240 mL) provides:</p><ul><li><strong>Calories:</strong> 120</li><li><strong>Fat:</strong> 9 grams<ul><li><strong>Saturated fat: </strong>0.5 grams</li></ul></li><li><strong>Carbs: </strong>11 grams</li><li><strong>Fiber: </strong>2 grams</li><li><strong>Sugar: </strong>8 grams</li><li><strong>Protein: </strong>2 grams</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Chobani-Drink-Extra-Creamy-Plain/dp/B07Z1DTG97/ref=as_li_ss_tl?almBrandId=QW1hem9uIEZyZXNo&dchild=1&fpw=alm&keywords=chobani+thick+oat+milk&qid=1590687183&s=grocery&sr=1-2&linkCode=ll1&tag=nutrition-best-oat-milk-20&linkId=0783ba2c67ebf97f7070cd3ea2e8a315" target="_blank">Shop for Chobani Plain Extra Creamy Oat Milk online.</a></p><h2>12–13. Best Flavored</h2><p>Flavored varieties like chocolate or vanilla oat milk can make nice treats or desserts, though you should keep in mind that they're often high in sugar.</p><p>These flavored options are lower in sugar than many of their competitors.</p><h3>12. Elmhurst Milked Oats Chocolate</h3><p><strong>Price:</strong> $</p><p>Elmhurst Milked Oats Chocolate is your best bet if you're looking for a plant-based chocolate milk.</p><p>One serving offers just 4 grams of sugar from natural cane sugar.</p><p>Elmhurst's chocolate product doesn't contain any added gums, thickeners, or stabilizers. Instead, it's made from just six basic ingredients — water, oats, cane sugar, <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/cocoa-powder-nutrition-benefits" target="_blank">cocoa powder</a>, natural flavors, and salt.</p><p>Just 1 cup (240 mL) provides:</p><ul><li><strong>Calories:</strong> 110</li><li><strong>Fat:</strong> 2 grams<ul><li><strong>Saturated fat: </strong>0.5 grams</li></ul></li><li><strong>Carbs: </strong>19 grams</li><li><strong>Fiber: </strong>3 grams</li><li><strong>Sugar: </strong>4 grams</li><li><strong>Protein: </strong>3 grams</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082WJZVVH/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=nutrition-best-oat-milk-20&linkId=57f0e62ed3831cec5272f46750b8bc32" target="_blank">Shop for Elmhurst Milked Oats Chocolate online.</a></p><h3>13. Planet Oat Vanilla Oatmilk</h3><p><strong>Price: </strong>$</p><p>Plant Oats Vanilla Oatmilk has a distinct vanilla flavor without any added sugars — just naturally occurring oat sugar.</p><p>One cup (240 mL) contains:</p><ul><li><strong>Calories:</strong> 90</li><li><strong>Fat:</strong> 1.5 grams<ul><li><strong>Saturated fat: </strong>0 grams</li></ul></li><li><strong>Carbs: </strong>19 grams</li><li><strong>Fiber: </strong>2 grams</li><li><strong>Sugar: </strong>4 grams</li><li><strong>Protein: </strong>2 grams</li></ul><p>Keep in mind that this product has a few additives, such as <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/gellan-gum" target="_blank">gellan gum</a> and dipotassium phosphate.</p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Planet-Oat-Oatmilk-Vanilla-Fluid/dp/B07KNKF3P9/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=nutrition-best-oat-milk-20&linkId=fadc37e6a5225a200216c3cfe0a2c4d4" target="_blank">Shop for Planet Oat Vanilla Oatmilk online.</a></p>
<h2>14. Best Blended Option: Mooala Organic Coconut Oat Milk</h2><p><strong>Price:</strong> $</p><p>Mooala is a Texas-based company with a line of dairy-free milk alternatives, including their Coconut Oat Milk.</p><p>Its consistency is similar to 2% milk, and its <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/coconut-nutrition" target="_blank">hint of coconut</a> differentiates it from most products on the market. It's also one of the only sugar-free options available.</p><p>Moreover, the product doesn't need any added oils to make it rich and smooth because it contains coconut cream.</p><p>Organic oats, organic cinnamon, sea salt, calcium carbonate, and gellan gum are also on the ingredient list.</p><p>One cup (240 mL) provides:</p><ul><li><strong>Calories:</strong> 50</li><li><strong>Fat:</strong> 3.5 grams<ul><li><strong>Saturated fat: </strong>3 grams</li></ul></li><li><strong>Carbs: </strong>5 grams</li><li><strong>Fiber: </strong>3 grams</li><li><strong>Sugar: </strong>0 grams</li><li><strong>Protein: </strong>1 gram</li><li><strong>Calcium: </strong>30% of the DV</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mooala-leche-avena-az%C3%BAcar-l%C3%ADquidas/dp/B07NRFRFYN/ref=as_li_ss_tl?almBrandId=VUZHIFdob2xlIEZvb2Rz&dchild=1&fpw=alm&keywords=mooala&qid=1590715180&sr=8-2&linkCode=ll1&tag=nutrition-best-oat-milk-20&linkId=9631f314ef6a06129b0d6729c582ee29" target="_blank">Shop for Mooala organic coconut oat milk online.</a></p><p><strong>A Note on Availability</strong></p><p>As of this article's publication, the product above is sold out. If you're interested in this oat milk, continue to check the link above for the latest availability information from the retailer.</p><h2>How to Choose a Healthy Oat Milk Product</h2><p>When looking for a healthy oat milk product, it's important to take a look at the ingredient list.</p><p>Ideally, opt for a product with a short ingredient list that's low in both <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/too-much-sugar" target="_blank">added sugar</a> and additives like thickeners, stabilizers, gums, and artificial flavorings and colors.</p><p>Keep in mind that many oat milks contain natural sugars because oats' starches are broken down by <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/natural-digestive-enzymes" target="_blank">enzymes</a> during the manufacturing process.</p><p>Finally, if you have a gluten allergy or intolerance, only choose products that are certified gluten-free. While oats are naturally gluten-free, there's still a risk of cross-contamination with other grains.</p><h2>The Bottom Line</h2><p>Oat milk is a popular plant-based beverage that's enjoyed for its slightly sweet, oaty flavor and creamy consistency.</p><p>While numerous options abound, the healthiest ones tend to be low in sugar and additives.</p><p>It's also surprisingly easy and inexpensive to <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/oat-milk" target="_blank">make oat milk at home</a>.</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <em><a href="https://www.healthline.com/" target="_blank">Healthline</a>.</em> For detailed source information, please view the original article on <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/best-oat-milk" target="_blank"><em>Healthline</em></a>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
- Is Oat Milk Gluten-Free? - EcoWatch ›
- What Nutritionists Think About Starbucks' Three New Plant-Based ... ›
- 6 Alternatives to Milk: Which Is the Healthiest? - EcoWatch ›
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Tips on How to Make Your House and Garden More Tranquil From an Acoustics Expert
29 June
Health + Wellness
Many of us have been spending more time at home than ever before, and chances are unless you live by yourself in the middle of nowhere, at some point unwanted noise will have infiltrated your lockdown. Oliver Rossi / Getty Images
By Greg Watts
Many of us have been spending more time at home than ever before, and chances are unless you live by yourself in the middle of nowhere, at some point unwanted noise will have infiltrated your lockdown.
<p>Whether it's cars passing nearby, a neighbor's blaring music or the constant drone of a lawnmower, the trouble with sound is that – unlike light – it can be hard to block out completely. This is because it's <a href="https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/sound/u11l1c.cfm" target="_blank">a pressure wave</a> in air that readily diffracts around objects and easily passes through porous obstacles such as trees and shrubs.</p><p>The wind and temperature gradient in the atmosphere also <a href="https://morgridge.org/blue-sky/how-do-temperature-and-wind-affect-traffic-noise/" target="_blank">affects transmission</a> of noise. This is why we may hear the noise from a distant highway if the wind is blowing from that direction – or think the highway has moved to the bottom of the garden on a cold still morning when there is a temperature inversion – this is when there are warmer layers of air above colder ones.</p><p>Another issue with sound is that people living in a quiet area may be more seriously disturbed by the odd passing vehicle than people living in an area where traffic noise is more constant.</p>
Creating Quiet
<p>Reducing noise at the source is usually the best course of action. Ideally, many of us would like to reduce the number of noisy vehicles passing our homes and gardens but unfortunately, we can't control this. In the case of road traffic, reducing the speed limit would help – as would a smoother road surface or, better still, a surface that absorbs sound such as porous asphalt. These are all jobs for the highway authority – but they may have more pressing claims on their budgets.</p><p>There are, however, things you can do around your house and garden to make things a little more peaceful. A barrier such as a close boarded fence, earth mound or wall close to the road should help – but they will have to be long enough and high enough to have much effect.</p><p>Much depends on where the house is in relation to the road. The aim would be to position any barrier so that the road is not in view from any exposed window or part of the garden.</p><img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzQyMzYyMy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxMjM0NzE2NX0.cxu3dld1VzcR0C_KLLkwg4MbJpT8bKTHzSmg9Tu7Fqg/img.jpg?width=980" id="b17b5" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f7cacd579d387bd27d326927b0496526" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
A high wall or substantial fence can reduce traffic noise if placed close to the road. Author provided
<p>If noise can't be controlled over the whole garden then consider making a tranquil zone in part of the garden where you can relax. This might involve building a wall or fence around part of the area to block the major sources of noise while not forgetting that the house itself can act as an effective barrier.</p><p><a href="https://bradscholars.brad.ac.uk/handle/10454/11576" target="_blank">A water feature</a> may also help to mask residual noise. The more natural sounding this is the better – but make sure it's not too noisy, as this may be disturbing to you or your neighbors.</p>
Natural Features
<p>Interestingly our <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-tranquil-spaces-can-help-people-feel-calm-and-relaxed-in-cities-82358" target="_blank">perception of tranquillity</a> is shaped not only by the sounds we hear but also what we see.</p><p>A study involving brain scans has shown that we process auditory information differently <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20600971/" target="_blank">depending on the scene in view</a>. The noise of a sandy beach and highway at distance are quite similar, but research has shown that if using the same sound recording while showing a beach scene (as opposed to a highway scene) to volunteers in an MRI scanner, the resulting brain patterns differ significantly. The rated tranquillity also differs significantly.</p><p>In fact, <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273366914_Tranquillity_and_soundscapes_in_urban_green_spaces-predicted_and_actual_assessments_from_a_questionnaire_survey" target="_blank">research on tranquility has shown</a> that the rated tranquillity of a place depends on both the percentage of natural features – such as greenery, rock, sand and water – in view and the level of man-made noise.</p><p>This means there is a trade-off in the sense that if you cannot control the noise, the perceived tranquillity improves if the amount of greenery or water in view increases. This is worth bearing in mind when creating a tranquil garden space.</p>Finding Tranquillity Indoors
<p>Inside the home, some of the same principles apply. Reduce sources of noise by installing double glazing to windows and doors and add a thicker insulation layer in the loft to control aircraft noise.</p><p>If it proves difficult to control noise in the bedroom then think about changing rooms so that you sleep on the non-traffic side of the house. Another thought is to include pictures of nature as wall art – the bigger the better – as <a href="https://core.ac.uk/display/76945458?source=2" target="_blank">research has shown</a> that installing pictures of nature scenes on the walls, as well as playing relaxing sea sounds as background music, can significantly improve people's experiences of tranquillity and anxiety in a doctor's waiting room.</p><p>Many of us have enjoyed listening to the birds more often with the reduced traffic levels of lockdown. It would be nice to think the "new normal" would include some of these gains. Hopefully people will realize that many of the journeys they make by car are not strictly necessary. And it's important not to forget that nature is around us all the time – if only we just take a moment to stop and listen.</p>From Your Site Articles
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There have never been more choices when it comes to organic, natural, or eco-friendly cleaning products. How do you know which ones can really get the job done? didecs / Getty Images
By Sara Lindberg
There have never been more choices when it comes to organic, natural, or eco-friendly cleaning products. Knowing which products are certified organic and which ones are just a safer alternative to traditional cleaners is often confusing. And how do you know which ones can really get the job done?
<p>That's where we come in. To help you choose the safest and most effective nontoxic cleaning products, we've put together recommendations of 13 products that fit the bill.</p><p>Because the market for USDA certified organic cleaning products is relatively small and some options can be on the pricier side, we've also included a few noncertified safer alternatives worthy of consideration.</p>
How We Chose
<p>To curate our list of top-rated cleaning products, we considered many criteria. Some key elements include:</p><ul><li><strong>The types of ingredients in a product. </strong>We took a careful look at the ingredients used in each product to make sure they were safe, nontoxic, and naturally derived. We avoided products with ingredients that have the potential to negatively impact the health of your family or the environment.</li><li><strong>Top choices from reputable environmental organizations.</strong> Groups like the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publish annual reports on organic and natural cleaning products with rankings from best to worst. We also considered cleaners certified with the Green Seal, which are greener and healthier products.</li><li><strong>A product's cleaning ability.</strong> The best organic cleaning products don't only need to be safer and less toxic to use. They also need to do a great job at cleaning. We considered how effectively different products cut through dirt, grease, soap scum, or grime.</li><li><strong>The opinion of cleaning experts.</strong> We spoke to cleaning experts who regularly use organic and all-natural products. We asked for their input on what ingredients to look for — and avoid — and which products they recommend.</li><li><strong>Awards, user reviews, and customer feedback.</strong> We considered feedback from websites that sell organic products and only considered products that had significantly more raves than complaints.</li></ul>About Organic Products
<p>"There are many cleaning products on the market that claim to be organic, but very few have the USDA certified organic label," says James Scott, co- founder of Dappir, a commercial and residential cleaning company.</p><p>"Usually, you'll see [labels] like natural, all-natural, or plant-based, but these do not necessarily mean organic," he explains.</p><p>While many of these cleaners are excellent options and are a lot safer than chemical-laden cleaning products, if they don't carry the USDA organic label, they can't be considered a certified organic cleaner.</p><p>If a product isn't USDA certified organic, we have called that out in our list.</p><h3>A Word About Price</h3><p>Organic cleaners often cost more than nonorganic products. Also, within the organic cleaning category, it's not uncommon to see a wide range of prices. With that in mind, here's how we indicate cost:</p><ul><li><strong>$</strong> = under $10</li><li><strong>$$</strong> = $10–$20</li><li><strong>$$$</strong> = over $20</li></ul><h3></h3><h2>Best All-Purpose Cleaners</h2><h3>Greenerways Organic All-Purpose Cleaner</h3><ul><li><strong>Price:</strong> $</li><li><strong>Key features: </strong>Greenerways Organic All-Purpose Cleaner is an excellent all-around, USDA certified organic cleaner you can use in your kitchen, bathroom, and any other place that needs a good scrub. It has the ability to cut through dirt, soap scum, and grease on many surfaces. It's quick-drying, doesn't leave a sticky residue, and is non-GMO verified.</li><li><strong>Considerations:</strong> This product has a strong scent, and the spray bottle can be prone to malfunctioning.</li></ul><p><a href="https://amzn.to/3fHZlyn" target="_blank"><strong>Shop for Greenerways Organic All-Purpose Cleaner online</strong>.</a></p><h3>FIT Organic Cleaner and Degreaser</h3><ul><li><strong>Price:</strong> $</li><li><strong>Key features:</strong> Made with organic plant oils — including sunflower oil and grapefruit oil — this affordable, all-natural, multi-surface cleaner is a USDA certified organic product. It contains no GMOs and comes in a concentrated formula that makes up to 4 gallons of cleaning solution.</li><li><strong>Considerations:</strong> It doesn't have a scent, and some users have found the spray mechanism breaks easily.</li></ul><p><strong><a href="https://go.skimresources.com/?id=41977X1601025&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fitorganic.com%2Fcollections%2Fhousehold-cleaners%2Fproducts%2Ffit-organic-32-oz-sprayer-cleaner-degreaser" target="_blank">Shop for FIT Organic Cleaner and Degreaser online</a></strong></p><h3>Go by Greenshield Organic Multi-Surface Cleaner</h3><ul><li><strong>Price:</strong> $</li><li><strong>Key features:</strong> Recommended for stainless steel, sealed countertops, tile, as well as painted or plastic surfaces, Go by Greenshield Organic gets the job done at an affordable price. Fragranced with essential oils, this USDA certified organic cleaning formula is also available in multi-surface wipes.</li><li><strong>Considerations:</strong> Some users report a strong, sometimes strange, scent after spraying.</li></ul><p><strong><a href="https://go.skimresources.com/?id=41977X1601025&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.luckyvitamin.com%2Fp-240169-go-by-greenshield-organic-multi-surface-cleaner-spray-citrus-grove-26-fl-oz" target="_blank">Shop for Go by Greenshield Organic Multi-Surface Cleaner online.</a></strong></p><h3>Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds Biodegradable Cleaner</h3><ul><li><strong>Price:</strong> $</li><li><strong>Key features:</strong> "Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds is a top multi-purpose cleaner pick for customers," says Diana Rodriguez-Zaba, president of <a href="https://www.servicemasterbyzaba.com/" target="_blank">ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba</a>, an IICRC certified cleaning company. Free of synthetic dyes and preservatives, it works especially well as a hard-surface all-purpose cleaner and comes in a concentrated solution so you can dilute it for your needs.</li><li><strong>Considerations:</strong> While not certified organic, this product is certified "green" and earned an "A" rating from the <a href="https://www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners/496-DrBronnersSalSudsLiquidCleaner/" target="_blank">EWG</a>.</li></ul><p><strong><a href="https://go.skimresources.com/?id=41977X1601025&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fshop.drbronner.com%2Fsal-suds-biodegradable-cleaner" target="_blank">Shop for Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds Biodegradable Cleaner online</a></strong>.</p>
<h3></h3><h2>Best Pet Stain and Odor Remover</h2><h3>FIT Organic Pet Stain & Odor Remover</h3><ul><li><strong>Price:</strong> $</li><li><strong>Key features:</strong> For pet stains and odors, Matt Clayton, founder of <a href="http://pethairpatrol.com/" target="_blank">PetHairPatrol.com</a>, recommends FIT Pet Stain & Odor Remover. "It's USDA certified organic and totally safe for your pets," he says. The product contains no artificial perfumes, GMOs, enzymes, dyes, or phosphates. Just spray the stain remover on the stained area and blot with a dry paper towel until the stain is lifted.</li><li><strong>Considerations:</strong> This product works best on fresh accidents and stains. It's also a more expensive option than many other pet stain removers.</li></ul><p><strong><a href="https://amzn.to/3eoShXi" target="_blank">Shop for FIT Pet Stain and Odor Remover online.</a></strong></p><h2>Best Dish Soaps</h2><h3>Better Life Grease-Kicking Dish Soap</h3><ul><li><strong>Price:</strong> $</li><li><strong>Key features:</strong> Better Life Grease-Kicking dish soap has the ability to cut through grease well while still being gentle on your body and the environment. This affordable product is free of sulfates and contains vitamin E and aloe to help protect your skin.</li><li><strong>Considerations:</strong> While not certified organic, this all-natural product did earn an "A" rating from the <a href="https://www.ewg.org/guides/brand/6696-BetterLife/" target="_blank">EWG</a>. This means it has few or no known health or environmental hazards, and the company has good ingredient disclosures.</li></ul><p><strong><a href="https://go.skimresources.com/?id=41977X1601025&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cleanhappens.com%2Fcollections%2Fdish%2Fproducts%2Fdish-it-out%3Fvariant%3D31791278587951" target="_blank">Shop for Better Life Grease-Kicking Dish Soap online.</a></strong></p><h3>Eco-Me Dish Soap</h3><ul><li><strong>Price:</strong> $</li><li><strong>Key features:</strong> Eco-Me Dish Soap is a plant-based natural dish soap that's free of sulfates, perfumes, and harsh preservatives. Gentle on your hands, this soap is safe to use on all dishes, baby bottles, glasses, and silverware.</li><li><strong>Considerations:</strong> This product isn't USDA certified organic, but is rated as a greener, healthier dish soap option on the <a href="https://www.greenseal.org/certified-products-services?s=Household+Cleaning+Products" target="_blank">Green Seal</a> website.</li></ul><p><strong><a href="https://go.skimresources.com/?id=41977X1601025&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Feco-me.com%2Fdish-soap.html" target="_blank">Shop for Eco-Me Dish Soap online.</a></strong></p>
<h3></h3><h2>Best Glass and Window Cleaners</h2><h3>Go by Greenshield Organic Glass Cleaner</h3><ul><li><strong>Price:</strong> $</li><li><strong>Key features:</strong> Unlike other glass cleaners that contain multiple ingredients, Go by Greenshield only has four ingredients: water, acetic acid (organic), ethyl alcohol (organic), and organic fragrance. The spray has a mild fragrance that comes from organic fresh mint. It's USDA certified organic and is safe to use around pets and children.</li><li><strong>Considerations:</strong> You may need to clean glass a few times to eliminate streaks.</li></ul><p><strong><a href="https://amzn.to/37Ot2uR" target="_blank">Shop for Go by Greenshield Organic Glass Cleaner online.</a></strong></p><h3>ECOS Window Cleaner</h3><ul><li><strong>Price:</strong> $</li><li><strong>Key features:</strong> This affordable, vinegar-based window cleaner does a great job on glass as well as on stainless steel, chrome, vinyl, and linoleum. ECOS Window Cleaner is 100-percent natural, plant-based, and is free of ammonia, phosphates, chlorine, dyes, and petroleum ingredients.</li><li><strong>Considerations:</strong> It has a slight vinegar scent and isn't USDA certified organic.</li></ul><p><strong><a href="https://amzn.to/3eiEH7K" target="_blank">Shop for ECOS Window Cleaner online.</a></strong></p><h2><a href="https://amzn.to/3eiEH7K" target="_blank"></a>Best Bathroom Cleaners</h2><h3>Better Life Tub and Tile Cleaner</h3><ul><li><strong>Price:</strong> $</li><li><strong>Key features:</strong> Better Life Tub and Tile Cleaner is an affordable plant-based foaming cleaner and a favorite among those who prefer natural, greener cleaning products. It effectively dissolves hard water stains, soap scum, and rust on a variety of bathroom surfaces, including tile, grout, porcelain, and fixtures.</li><li><strong>Considerations:</strong> It's not USDA certified organic and some people find the scent a little strong. It can't be used on marble.</li></ul><p><strong><a href="https://go.skimresources.com/?id=41977X1601025&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cleanhappens.com%2Fcollections%2Fall-products%2Fproducts%2F32-oz-tub-and-tile-cleaner%3Fvariant%3D31791278096431" target="_blank">Shop for Better Life Tub and Tile Cleaner online.</a></strong></p><h3>Go by Greenshield Organic Toilet Bowl Cleaner</h3><ul><li><strong>Price:</strong> $</li><li><strong>Key features:</strong> Go by Greenshield Organic Toilet Bowl Cleaner is a favorite among organic cleaning experts. Free of harsh chemicals like bleach and phosphates, this pine-scented toilet bowl cleaner is effective at removing limescale and mineral deposits. It's also USDA certified organic and is septic tank safe.</li><li><strong>Considerations:</strong> It has a strong smell and may need a few extra scrubs to get the toilet clean.</li></ul><p><strong><a href="https://amzn.to/2NgxPfe" target="_blank">Shop for Go by Greenshield Organic Toilet Bowl Cleaner online.</a></strong></p>
<h3></h3><h2>Best Floor Cleaner</h2><h3>Better Life Naturally Dirt-Destroying Floor Cleaner</h3><ul><li><strong>Price:</strong> $</li><li><strong>Key features:</strong> Better Life Naturally Dirt-Destroying Floor Cleaner is a plant-derived floor cleaner that's safe to use on hardwood, tile, marble, vinyl, laminate, and bamboo surfaces. The cleaner comes ready-to-use and has a pleasant minty-citrus scent. This formula is free of sodium lauryl sulfates, petroleum solvents, parabens, synthetic fragrances, and dyes.</li><li><strong>Considerations:</strong> It's not USDA certified organic and can be sudsy if you use too much of the product on the floor.</li></ul><p><strong><a href="https://go.skimresources.com/?id=41977X1601025&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cleanhappens.com%2Fcollections%2Fall-products%2Fproducts%2Fsimply-floored-natural-floor-cleaner%3Fvariant%3D31791279669295" target="_blank">Shop for Better Life Naturally Dirt-Destroying Floor Cleaner online.</a></strong></p><h2>Best Carpet Stain Remover</h2><h3>FIT Organic Laundry and Carpet Stain Remover</h3><ul><li><strong>Price:</strong> $</li><li><strong>Key features:</strong> The FIT Organic Laundry and Carpet Cleaner has the ability to effectively remove stains from carpets, curtains, and upholstery, and can also tackle stains on your clothes. It's USDA certified organic and is free of phosphates, dyes, artificial perfumes, and GMOs.</li><li><strong>Considerations:</strong> This product isn't meant for full carpet cleaning and works best in small areas.</li></ul><p><strong><a href="https://go.skimresources.com/?id=41977X1601025&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fitorganic.com%2Fproducts%2Ffit-organic-32-oz-laundry-carpet-stain-remover-spray" target="_blank">Shop for FIT Organic Laundry and Carpet Stain Remover online.</a></strong></p><h3>What to Look for When Choosing an Organic Product</h3><p>To choose the right organic cleaner for your needs, you'll want to consider factors such as ingredients, cost, how the products are tested, and consumer reviews.</p><p>"You'll want to choose a reputable brand that contains safe ingredients across the board," says Rodriguez-Zaba.</p><p>Before choosing a natural or organic cleaning product, be sure to carefully review the ingredients label. To find the safest, most natural products, cleaning experts recommend staying clear of the following types of ingredients:</p><ul><li>phthalates</li><li>phosphates</li><li>petroleum solvents</li><li>butyl glycol</li><li>ethylene glycol</li><li>monobutyl</li><li>ammonia</li><li>alkylphenol surfactants</li><li>synthetic fragrances</li><li>synthetic dyes</li><li>volatile organic compounds (VOCs)</li></ul><p>With regards to product testing, look for products that are labeled as cruelty-free or not tested on animals.</p><p>If you're not sure where to start, consider cross-referencing the <a href="https://www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners/" target="_blank">EWG Guide to Healthy Cleaning</a> to see if a particular brand meets its guidelines. The EPA also keeps a list of products that are part of their <a href="https://www.epa.gov/saferchoice" target="_blank">Safer Choice</a> standard.</p><h3>The Takeaway</h3><p>Using organic or eco-friendly cleaning products that are safer for your home, children, and pets is just one small step you can take to protect the health of your family.</p><p>The key to finding the best organic or all-natural products is to experiment with a few different brands or formulas until you find the ones that work best for your needs.</p><p>Carefully read the ingredients label of any cleaning product to be sure they don't include toxic chemicals or harsh ingredients. When possible, opt for products that are USDA certified organic, or that use 100-percent natural or plant-based ingredients.</p>
<p class=""><em><em><em>Reposted with permission from<a href="https://www.healthline.com/" target="_blank"> Healthline</a>. For detailed source information, please view the original article on <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/organic-cleaning-products" target="_blank">Healthline</a>.</em></em></em></p>From Your Site Articles
- How to Make Your Own Natural Cleaning Products - EcoWatch ›
- 10 Natural (And Vegan) Ways to Clean Your Home - EcoWatch ›
- 5 Green Cleaning Products for Tackling Messy Homes - EcoWatch ›
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Trending
Breathing in through the nose actually provides a powerful medical benefit that can help the body fight viral infections.
Kris Ubach and Quim Roser / Getty Images
Kris Ubach and Quim Roser / Getty Images
By Louis J. Ignarro
Inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth. It's not just something you do in yoga class – breathing this way actually provides a powerful medical benefit that can help the body fight viral infections.
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<strong><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/louis-j-ignarro-1062808" target="_blank"> </a></em></strong><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/louis-j-ignarro-1062808" target="_blank">Louis J. Ignarro</a> is a </em><em><em>Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Molecular & Medical Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles.</em></em>
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<em><em></em>Disclosure statement: </em><em>Louis J. Ignarro does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</em>
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<em><span></span>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-right-way-to-breathe-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic-140695" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.</em>
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<p>The reason is that your nasal cavities produce the molecule <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitric_oxide" target="_blank">nitric oxide</a>, which chemists abbreviate NO, that increases blood flow through the lungs and boosts oxygen levels in the blood. Breathing in through the nose delivers NO directly into the lungs, where it <a href="http://doi.org/10.1086/425357" target="_blank">helps fight coronavirus infection</a> by <a href="https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.79.3.1966-1969.2005" target="_blank">blocking the replication of the coronavirus in the lungs</a>. But many people who exercise or engage in yoga also receive the benefits of <a href="https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-201X.1996.557321000.x" target="_blank">inhaling through the nose</a> instead of the mouth. The higher oxygen saturation of the blood can make one feel more refreshed and provides greater endurance.</p><p><a href="https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/1998/ignarro/facts/" target="_blank">I am one of three pharmacologists who won the Nobel Prize in 1998</a> for discovering how nitric oxide is produced in the body and how it works.</p>
The Role of Nitric Oxide in the Body
<p>Nitric oxide is a widespread signaling molecule that triggers many different physiological effects. It is also used clinically as a gas to selectively dilate the pulmonary arteries in newborns with pulmonary hypertension. Unlike most signaling molecules, NO is a gas in its natural state.</p><p>NO is produced continuously by the 1 trillion cells that form the inner lining, or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endothelium" target="_blank">endothelium</a>, of the 100,000 miles of arteries and veins in our bodies, especially the lungs. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-201X.1996.557321000.x" target="_blank">Endothelium-derived NO</a> acts to relax the smooth muscle of the arteries to prevent high blood pressure and to promote blood flow to all organs. Another vital role of NO is to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1161/hh0801.089861" target="_blank">prevent blood clots in normal arteries</a>.</p><p>In addition to relaxing vascular smooth muscle, NO also <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_functions_of_nitric_oxide" target="_blank">relaxes smooth muscle in the airways</a> – trachea and bronchioles – making it easier to breathe. Another type of NO-mediated smooth muscle relaxation occurs in the erectile tissue (corpus cavernosum), which results in penile erection. In fact, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM199201093260203" target="_blank">NO is the principal mediator of penile erection and sexual arousal.</a> This discovery led to the development and marketing of <a href="https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/fda-approves-viagra" target="_blank">sildenafil</a>, trade name Viagra, which works by enhancing the action of NO.</p><p>Other types of cells in the body, including circulating white blood cells and tissue macrophages, produce nitric oxide for <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0199998" target="_blank">antimicrobial purposes</a>. The NO in these cells reacts with other molecules, also produced by the same cells, to form antimicrobial agents to destroy invading microorganisms including bacteria, parasites and viruses. As you can see, NO is quite an amazing molecule.</p>Nitric Oxide Gas as an Inhaled Therapy
<p>Since NO is a gas, it can be administered with the aid of specialized devices as a therapy to patients by inhalation. Inhaled NO is used to treat infants born with <a href="https://doi.org/10.1097/ALN.0000000000002579" target="_blank">persistent pulmonary hypertension</a>, a condition in which constricted pulmonary arteries limit blood flow and oxygen harvesting.</p><p>Inhaled NO dilates the constricted pulmonary arteries and increases blood flow in the lungs. As a result, the red blood cell hemoglobin can extract more lifesaving oxygen and move it into the general circulation. Inhaled NO has literally turned blue babies pink and allowed them to be cured and to go home with mom and dad. Before the advent of inhaled NO, most of these babies died.</p><p>Inhaled NO is <a href="https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04338828?term=nitric+oxide&cond=COVID&draw=2&rank=1" target="_blank">currently in clinical trials</a> for the treatment of patients with <a href="https://www.healio.com/news/primary-care/20200520/evidence-mounts-supporting-inhaled-nitric-oxide-as-covid19-treatment" target="_blank">COVID-19</a>. Researchers are hoping that three principal actions of NO may help fight covid: dilating the pulmonary arteries and increasing blood flow through the lungs, dilating the airways and increasing oxygen delivery to the lungs and blood, and directly killing and inhibiting the growth and spread of the coronavirus in the lungs.</p>How Nitric Oxide Kills Viruses
<p>In an in vitro study done in 2004 during the last SARS outbreak, experimental compounds that release NO increased the survival rate of nucleus-containing mammalian cells infected with SARS-CoV. This suggested <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2004.04.012" target="_blank">that NO had a direct antiviral effect</a>. In this study, NO significantly inhibited the replication cycle of SARS-CoV by blocking production of viral proteins and its genetic material, RNA.</p><p>In a small clinical study in 2004, inhaled NO <a href="https://doi.org/10.1086/425357" target="_blank">was effective</a> against SARS-CoV in severely ill patients with pneumonia.</p><p>The SARS CoV, which caused the 2003/2004 outbreak, shares most of its genome with SARS CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. This suggests that inhaled NO therapy may be effective for treating patients with COVID-19. Indeed, <a href="https://www.healio.com/news/primary-care/20200520/evidence-mounts-supporting-inhaled-nitric-oxide-as-covid19-treatment" target="_blank">several clinical trials of inhaled NO</a> in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19, who require ventilators, are currently ongoing in several institutions. The hope is that inhaled NO will prove to be an effective therapy and lessen the need for ventilators and beds in the ICU.</p><p>The <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.20782" target="_blank">sinuses in the nasal cavity</a>, but not the mouth, continuously produce NO. The NO produced in the nasal cavity is chemically identical to the NO that is used clinically by inhalation. So by inhaling through the nose, you are delivering NO directly into your lungs, where it increases both airflow and blood flow and keeps microorganisms and virus particles in check.</p><p>While anxiously awaiting the results of the clinical trials with inhaled NO, and the development of an effective <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health-news/heres-exactly-where-were-at-with-vaccines-and-treatments-for-covid-19" target="_blank">vaccine against COVID-19</a>, we should be on guard and practice breathing properly to maximize the inhalation of nitric oxide into our lungs. Remember to inhale through your nose; exhale through your mouth.</p>Related Articles Around the Web
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Can You Visit Your Dad Safely on Father’s Day? Review a Doctor's Checklist
18 June
Health + Wellness
This year, in the midst of a global pandemic and the need to continue to practice social distancing as states loosen stay-at-home guidelines, the decision is even more complex than usual. FG Trade / Getty Images
By Claudia Finkelstein
As a physician, daughter and socially responsible human, I'm finding Father's Day to be complicated for me this year, as it is for millions. Questions of whether and how to see my adult children and my own elderly father present medical and ethical quandaries. As an associate professor of family medicine with a focus on wellness, I'd like to share with you my thinking about this using some tools to aid discernment as Father's Day approaches.
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<p>Wouldn't it be great if choosing time with parents or offspring were ever an easy decision to make? However, the answer is rarely that simple. This year, in the midst of a global pandemic and the need to <a href="https://q13fox.com/2020/04/27/social-distancing-will-continue-through-the-summer-dr-deborah-birx-says/" target="_blank">continue to practice social distancing</a> as states loosen stay-at-home guidelines, the decision is even more complex than usual.</p><p>I have come up with a matrix to help you decide how to safely celebrate in a fact-based and safe manner. This matrix weighs the many factors to consider, specifically related to the pandemic.</p>
Personal Risk
<p>Assessing your personal risk is one aspect of the matrix. Are you or is your father in a high-risk group? Presence of chronic disease or age over 65 are two major risks. You can check this <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/groups-at-higher-risk.html" target="_blank">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention chart</a> for more specific details.</p><p>Besides your specific personal risks, are either of you in repeated contact with the public through your job? Did you participate in the protests or spend time in other crowded public events?</p><p>Are you <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html" target="_blank">symptomatic</a>?</p><p>Have you been exposed to a carrier? Are young children, who can be asymptomatic carriers, in the picture?</p><p>If any of these questions is answered with a yes, it is certainly wise to forgo any thought of an in-person visit. If all are no, you can proceed to the next part of the matrix.</p>Where You Live Matters
<p>Are you in a high-prevalence area for coronavirus or in a state with rising rates? If you are in a sparsely populated area with low regional prevalence, it makes more sense to consider an in-person visit than if you (or he) live in a place with a high number of cases or rising numbers of cases. Check your <a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/us-map" target="_blank">local prevalence here</a>.</p><p>If neither of you is at elevated risk and you are not in an extremely high-prevalence area, the next question is: Can you see each other in person without violating any orders? Consult <a href="https://web.csg.org/covid19/state-reopen-plans/" target="_blank">this link for reopening plans</a> affecting your state.</p><p>Remember that the U.S. borders with Canada and Mexico also have restrictions, including a <a href="https://www.cicnews.com/2020/06/how-to-enter-canada-from-the-u-s-during-coronavirus-0614666.html#gs.81blcp" target="_blank">self-quarantine for 14 days after arriving in Canada</a>. Obviously, any need to travel and ability to quarantine must enter the matrix calculation.</p><p><span></span>Finally, can your in-person visit follow social distancing recommendations? Can you be six feet apart – ideally, outdoors – wash hands frequently and avoid physical contact? Remember, it may be tough not to hug, especially if you do decide to bring children.</p><p>If so, finally, you need to examine your own and your father's risk tolerance. If either of you is extremely anxious, stick to virtual connection.</p><p>Love and gratitude, while ideally communicated in person, can still be expressed virtually or by phone. You may overtly acknowledge that the greater act of love for each other, as well as your community, is to stay home.</p><p>These days we have been asked to reexamine what "normal" looks like in so many ways. Perhaps the increased opportunity for reflection afforded by the pandemic, as well as the restrictions imposed, will teach us to honor our loved ones in many small ways throughout the year. The gift of attention – by phone, email or snail mail – is always possible.</p><p>And remember that another holiday – July 4 – is just around the corner, and you will need to think about safety then, too.</p>
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<em><span style="background-color: initial;"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/claudia-finkelstein-1055852" target="_blank">Claudia Finkelstein</a> is an </em></span><em>Associate Professor of Family Medicine at Michigan State University.</em></em>
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<em><em></em>Disclosure statement:</em> <em>Claudia Finkelstein does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</em>
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<em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://theconversation.com/can-you-visit-your-dad-safely-on-fathers-day-a-doctor-gives-you-a-checklist-140678" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.</em>
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A field of wild cloudberries in Norway. Littleisland lighthouse, Bjørn Tennøe / CC BY-SA 2.0
By Ryan Raman
Strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries are commonly available in grocery stores, but many equally delicious berries are abundant in the wild.
<p>Wild berries thrive in many climates, and they're packed with nutrients and powerful plant compounds. Though wild berries can be tart, they're quite versatile and can be enjoyed in a wide variety of ways.</p><p>However, some wild berries contain toxic compounds. If eaten in high amounts, they may cause uncomfortable symptoms or even be fatal.</p><p>Here are 10 delicious and safe wild berries you can eat — and 8 poisonous ones to avoid.</p>
1. Elderberries
<p>Elderberries are the fruit of various species of the <em>Sambucus</em> plant.</p><p>They thrive in mild to subtropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The fruit tends to grow in small clusters and is black, bluish-black, or purple.</p><p>Though the berries of most <em>Sambucus</em> varieties are edible, the <em>Sambucus nigra L. ssp. canadensis </em>variety is the most commonly consumed type.</p><p>It's important to note that elderberries need to be cooked to inactivate alkaloid compounds that can cause nausea if the berries are eaten raw (<a href="https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_sanic4.pdf" target="_blank">1</a>).</p><p>Elderberries have a tart, tangy taste, which is why they're typically cooked and sweetened to make juices, jams, chutneys, or elderberry wine.</p><p>These berries are a great source of vitamin C, with 1 cup (145 grams) providing 58% of your daily needs. Vitamin C plays many vital roles in your body but is particularly important for your immune system.</p><p><a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/elderberry" target="_blank">Elderberries</a> are also rich in vitamin B6, which supports immune function.</p><p>The nutrient composition of elderberries and elderberry products makes them particularly effective at boosting immune health.</p><p>For example, a study in 312 adults found that taking 300 mg of an elderberry extract supplement both before and after traveling significantly reduced the duration and severity of colds, compared with a placebo.</p><p><strong>Summary</strong></p><p>Elderberries have a tart, tangy taste when raw, so they're best enjoyed cooked. They're loaded with vitamin C and vitamin B6, both of which support immune health.</p>2. Cloudberries
<p>Cloudberries are berries of the plant <em>Rubus chamaemorus</em>, which grows in higher elevations in cool, boggy areas in the Northern Hemisphere.</p><p>The cloudberry plant has white flowers, and the yellow-to-orange fruit resembles a raspberry.</p><p>Fresh cloudberries are soft, juicy, and fairly tart. Their taste is best described as a mix between <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/raspberry-nutrition" target="_blank">raspberries</a> and red currants — with a hint of floral sweetness. They are safe to eat raw.</p><p>Cloudberries are high in vitamin C, providing 176% of your daily needs in 3.5 ounces (100 grams).</p><p>They're also high in ellagitannins, which are powerful antioxidants that can help protect your cells from free radical damage.</p><p>What's more, according to animal and test-tube studies, ellagitannins may have anticancer effects, boost your immune system, and fight inflammation.</p><p><strong>Summary</strong></p><p>Cloudberries have a slightly tart, sweet taste. They contain powerful antioxidants known as ellagitannins that may protect against free radical damage and offer other health benefits.</p>3. Huckleberry
<p>Huckleberry is the North American name for the berries of several plant species in the <em>Vaccinium </em>and <em>Gaylussacia </em>genera.</p><p>Wild huckleberries grow in mountainous regions, forests, bogs, and lake basins in Northwestern America and Western Canada. The berries are small and either red, blue, or black.</p><p>Ripe huckleberries are fairly sweet with a little tartness. Though they can be eaten fresh, they're often made into tasty beverages, jams, puddings, candies, syrups, and other foods.</p><p>Huckleberries are rich in powerful antioxidants, including anthocyanins and polyphenols. In fact, they contain more of these beneficial compounds than antioxidant-rich fruits like <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-proven-benefits-of-blueberries" target="_blank">blueberries</a>.</p><p>Diets rich in anthocyanins and polyphenols have been linked to impressive health benefits, including reduced inflammation, a lower risk of heart disease, and anticancer effects.</p><p><strong>Summary</strong></p><p>Huckleberries are fairly sweet with a little tartness and can be enjoyed fresh or cooked. They're rich in powerful antioxidants, including anthocyanins and polyphenols.</p>4. Gooseberries
<p><a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/gooseberries" target="_blank">Gooseberries</a> belong to two major groups — European gooseberries (<em>Ribes grossularia var. uva-crispa</em>) and American gooseberries (<em>Ribes hirtellum</em>).</p><p>They're native to Europe, Asia, and North America and grow on a bush approximately 3–6 feet (1–1.8 meters) high. The berries are small, round, and vary from green to red or purple in color.</p><p>Gooseberries can be very tart or very sweet. They're eaten fresh or used as an ingredient in pies, wines, jams, and syrups.</p><p>They're high in vitamin C, with 1 cup (150 grams) providing 46% of the Reference Daily Intake (RDI).</p><p>In addition, the same serving packs a whopping 6.5 grams of dietary fiber, which is 26% of the daily value. <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/why-is-fiber-good-for-you" target="_blank">Dietary fiber</a> is a type of indigestible carb that's essential for healthy digestion.</p><p>They also contain the antioxidant protocatechuic acid, which has been shown to have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects in animal and test-tube studies.</p><p>Although these results are promising, more human research is needed to confirm these potential benefits.</p><p><strong>Summary</strong></p><p>Gooseberries can be tart or sweet and enjoyed fresh or cooked. They're high in fiber, vitamin C, and the antioxidant protocatechuic acid.</p>5. Chokeberries
<p><a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/aronia-berries" target="_blank">Chokeberries</a> (<em>Aronia</em>) grow on a shrub that's native to eastern North America.</p><p>They have a semisweet yet tart taste and can be eaten fresh, although they're more commonly made into wines, jams, spreads, juices, teas, and ice cream.</p><p>Chokeberries typically grow in wet woods and swamps. There are three main species of chokeberry — the red chokeberry (<em>Aronia arbutifolia</em>), black chokeberry (<em>Aronia melanocarpa</em>), and purple chokeberry (<em>Aronia prunifolia</em>).</p><p>Chokeberries are particularly high in <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods-high-in-vitamin-k" target="_blank">vitamin K</a>, a nutrient that supports bone health and is needed for important bodily functions, such as proper blood clotting.</p><p>They're also high in antioxidants, such as phenolic acids, anthocyanins, flavonols, and proanthocyanidins. These powerful plant compounds give chokeberries one of the highest antioxidant capacities of all fruits.</p><p><strong>Summary</strong></p><p>Chokeberries have a semisweet yet tart taste and can be enjoyed fresh or cooked. They're high in vitamin K and numerous antioxidants.</p>6. Mulberries
<p>Mulberries (<em>Morus</em>) are a group of flowering plants that belong to the <em>Moraceae</em> family.</p><p>They grow in mild to subtropical regions in the Northern and Southern hemispheres. Mulberries are multiple fruits, which means they grow in clusters.</p><p>The berries are approximately 3/4 to 1 1/4 inches (2–3 cm) in length and typically dark purple to black in color. Some species can be red or white.</p><p>Mulberries are juicy and sweet and can be enjoyed fresh or in pies, cordials, and <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-herbal-teas" target="_blank">herbal teas</a>. They're packed with vitamin C and provide good amounts of B vitamins, magnesium, and potassium.</p><p>Additionally, 1 cup (140 grams) of mulberries offers an impressive 14% of your daily iron needs. This mineral is necessary for important processes in your body, such as growth, development, and blood cell production.</p><p>What's more, mulberries are packed with anthocyanins, which are plant pigments that are strong antioxidants.</p><p>Test-tube and animal studies show that mulberry extract may help lower <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/15-ways-to-lower-blood-sugar" target="_blank">blood sugar levels</a>, aid weight loss, fight cancer, and protect your brain from damage.</p><p>All of these benefits may be due to its high concentration of antioxidants, which include anthocyanins.</p><p><strong>Summary</strong></p><p>Mulberries are juicy, sweet berries that are delicious fresh or cooked. They're high in iron and anthocyanin antioxidants.</p>7. Salmonberry
<p>Salmonberries are the fruit of the <em>Rubus spectabilis</em> plant, which belongs to the rose family.</p><p>The plants are native to North America, where they can grow up to 6.6–13 feet (2–4 meters) tall in moist coastal forests and along shorelines.</p><p>Salmonberries are yellow to orange-red and look like blackberries. They're fairly tasteless and can be eaten raw.</p><p>However, they're commonly combined with other ingredients and made into jam, candy, jelly, and alcoholic drinks.</p><p>Salmonberries are a good source of <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/manganese-benefits" target="_blank">manganese</a>, providing 55% of the RDI in 3.5 ounces (100 grams). Manganese is essential for nutrient metabolism and bone health, and it has powerful antioxidant effects.</p><p>The berries also contain good amounts of vitamins K and C, offering 18% and 15% of the RDI in a 3.5-ounce (100-gram) serving, respectively.</p><p><strong>Summary</strong></p><p>Salmonberries are fairy tasteless when fresh, so they're commonly made into jams, wines, and other foods. They're a good source of manganese and vitamins C and K.</p>8. Saskatoon Berries
<p><em>Amelanchier alnifolia</em> is a shrub that's native to North America.</p><p>It grows 3–26 feet (1–8 meters) high and produces edible fruit known as saskatoon berries. These purple berries are approximately 1/4–1 inch (5–15 mm) in diameter.</p><p>They have a sweet, nutty flavor and can be eaten fresh or dried. They're used in pies, wines, jams, <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/beer-belly" target="_blank">beer</a>, cider, and sometimes cereals and trail mixes.</p><p>Saskatoon berries are one of the best sources of riboflavin (vitamin B2), containing nearly 3 times your daily needs in 3.5 ounces (100 grams).</p><p>Riboflavin — like other B vitamins — plays an essential role in energy production. It's needed to turn your food into energy and may protect your nervous system against disorders like Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis.</p><p><strong>Summary</strong></p><p>Saskatoon berries have a sweet, nutty flavor and can be enjoyed both fresh and dried. They're incredibly high in riboflavin, a very important nutrient.</p>9. Muscadine
<p>Muscadine (<em>Vitis rotundifolia</em>) is a grapevine species native to the United States.</p><p>Muscadines have a thick skin that ranges from bronze to dark purple to black. They have a very sweet yet musky taste, and their flesh's texture is similar to that of plums.</p><p>Muscadines are bursting with riboflavin (vitamin B2), with a 3.5-ounce (100-gram) serving providing 115% of the RDI. They're also high in dietary fiber — containing 4 grams per 3.5-ounce (100-gram) serving, or 16% of the daily value.</p><p>Dietary fiber may help <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-to-lower-cholesterol" target="_blank">reduce blood cholesterol</a> levels, promote healthy digestion, and increase weight loss and feelings of fullness.</p><p>These grape-like fruits are not only high in riboflavin and dietary fiber but also contain resveratrol.</p><p>This antioxidant is found in the skin of <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/benefits-of-grapes" target="_blank">grapes</a>. Human and animal studies show that resveratrol promotes healthy blood sugar levels and may protect against heart disease and certain cancers.</p><p><strong>Summary</strong></p><p>Muscadine berries have a sweet yet musky taste. They're high in fiber, riboflavin, and resveratrol, a powerful antioxidant.</p>10. Buffaloberries
<p>Buffaloberries (<em>Shepherdia</em>) are the fruit of small shrubs in the <em>Elaeagnaceae</em> family.</p><p>The plants are native to North America and 3–13 feet (1–4 meters) in height. Silver buffaloberry (<em>Shepherdia argentea</em>) is the most common species. It has green leaves covered with fine silvery hairs and pale-yellow flowers that lack petals.</p><p>Buffaloberries have a rough, dark red skin with little white dots. Fresh berries are quite bitter, so they're often cooked and made into delicious jams, jellies, and syrups. Eating too many of these berries in any form can cause diarrhea.</p><p>These berries are bursting with antioxidants, including <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/lycopene" target="_blank">lycopene</a>.</p><p>Lycopene is a powerful pigment that gives red, orange, and pink fruits their characteristic color. It has been linked to a number of health benefits.</p><p>For example, studies have associated lycopene with a reduced risk of heart disease, certain cancers, and eye conditions, such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (ARMD).</p><p><strong>Summary</strong></p><p>Buffaloberries are fairly bitter but can be made into delicious jams and syrups. They're high in lycopene, an antioxidant linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, eye conditions, and certain cancers.</p>8 Poisonous Wild Berries to Avoid
<p>While many wild berries are delicious and safe to eat, some you should avoid.</p><p>Certain berries contain toxic compounds that may cause uncomfortable or fatal side effects.</p><p>Here are 8 poisonous wild berries to avoid:</p><ol><li><strong>Holly berries. </strong>These tiny berries contain the toxic compound saponin, which may cause <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods-to-eat-when-nauseous" target="_blank">nausea</a>, vomiting, and stomach cramps.</li><li><strong>Mistletoe.</strong> This popular Christmas plant has white berries that contain the toxic compound phoratoxin. It can cause stomach issues and a slow heartbeat (bradycardia), as well as brain, kidney, and adrenal gland toxicity.</li><li><strong>Jerusalem cherries.</strong> Also known as Christmas orange, this plant has yellow-red berries that contain solanine, a compound that can cause gastrointestinal infections, stomach cramping, and an irregular heartbeat (tachycardia).</li><li><strong>Bittersweet.</strong> Also called woody <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/nightshade-vegetables" target="_blank">nightshade</a>, berries from this plant contain solanine. They're similar to Jerusalem cherries and can cause similar side effects.</li><li><strong>Pokeweed berries.</strong> These purple berries look like grapes but contain toxic compounds in the roots, leaves, stem, and fruit. This plant tends to get more toxic as it matures, and eating the berries is potentially fatal.</li><li><strong>Ivy berries.</strong> Purple-black to orange-yellow in color, these berries contain the toxin saponin. They may cause nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps.</li><li><strong>Yew berries.</strong> These bright red berries contain potentially toxic seeds. One study showed that eating too many yew seeds caused seizures.</li><li><strong>Virginia creeper berries. </strong>These climbing vine berries contain toxic amounts of calcium oxalate. Consuming too much of this compound can have toxic effects on your kidneys.</li></ol><p>This list is not exhaustive, and many other poisonous berries grow in the wild. Some toxic berries even look similar to edible ones.</p><p>For this reason, the utmost caution must be taken when harvesting wild berries. If you're ever unsure whether a wild berry is safe, it's best to avoid it.</p><p><strong>Summary</strong></p><p>Many wild berries contain toxic compounds. Be extremely cautious when picking wild berries for consumption.</p>Bottom Line
<p>Many wild <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-reasons-to-eat-berries" target="_blank">berries</a> are delicious and safe to eat.</p><p>They're often packed with nutrients and powerful antioxidants that can provide various health benefits, such as boosting immunity, protecting your brain and heart, and reducing cellular damage.</p><p>However, some wild berries are poisonous and potentially fatal. If you're unsure about a species of wild berry, it's best to avoid eating it, as it's not worth the risk.</p>
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