Entries by Michael Ravensthorpe

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Michael Ravensthorpe is an independent writer whose research interests include nutrition, alternative medicine, and bushcraft. He is the creator of the website, Spiritfoods, through which he promotes the world's healthiest foods.

The Health Benefits of Yacon Root

Yacon, also called the Peruvian ground apple, is a species of daisy native to the Andes mountain range of South America. With its bright yellow flowers and ability to grow to over two meters in height, yacon is certainly a… 0 Shares |

Watermelon: King of the Summer Fruits

The watermelon is one of the West’s most popular summer fruits. In fact, over four billion pounds of these large, round melons – which originated in Africa – are produced every year in the United States alone. Since watermelons are… 0 Shares |

Three Natural Foods That Are Proven to Reduce Anxiety

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting approximately 40 million adults aged 18 or older. Most of these disorders, which take on numerous forms but… 0 Shares |

Treat Anemia and Boost Your Blood with These Iron-Rich Superfoods

The important trace mineral, iron, performs a large number of roles in our bodies. It helps form hemoglobin in our red blood cells, boosts our immunity, maintains brain and endocrine function, and more. In fact, iron plays a small role… 0 Shares |

Iron: An Important Mineral That Performs Many Biological Functions

Iron is a chemical element that is silver-white in pure form, but rusts easily. It is found in all living organisms, and while it is perhaps best known for its role in hemoglobin formation, iron plays extremely important roles in… 0 Shares |

Treat Your Constipation Naturally with These Fiber-Rich Whole Foods

Dietary fiber is an essential nutrient that is best-known for helping our bodies to normalize bowel movements by sweeping the intestines of accumulated matter. However, fiber also has numerous other uses in the body. It binds itself to cancer-causing toxins… 0 Shares |

The Many Important Roles of Fiber in the Body

Dietary fiber, also called roughage, is the structural framework of plants and one of the most abundant compounds in nature. While “fiber” is often used as a blanket term, there are actually two types of fiber: soluble and insoluble. Soluble… 0 Shares |

The Best Natural Sources of Immune-Boosting Zinc

The essential trace mineral zinc performs a surprisingly large number of roles in our bodies. It promotes enzyme activity, helps manufacture immune-boosting T-cells in our bloodstreams, works as an antioxidant, and more. Despite being found in many foods, however, zinc… 0 Shares |

Vitamin K: How Much Do You Know About This Essential Nutrient?

Vitamin K is a group of fat-soluble vitamins that are primary found in leafy green vegetables. Within this group are three naturally-occurring forms of the vitamin: vitamin K1 and vitamin K2. In medicine, K1 (which is synthesized by plants) is… 0 Shares |

Black Sesame Seeds: Protein-Packed Powerhouses

Like the better-known white sesame seeds commonly used in Western cuisine, black sesame seeds are mineral-rich seeds from the sesame plant that originate in India. These black seeds tend to be more flavorful and aromatic than the white seeds, and… 0 Shares |