Category: Herbs and Nutrients

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Parmigiano Reggiano: The King of Cheeses

benefits of reggiano parmesan

by Donnie Yance

Parmigiano Reggiano, a cheese to which I am somewhat addicted, offers a delicious sharp, nutty, and slightly salty flavor that has earned it the nickname “King of Cheeses” among culinary enthusiasts worldwide.

The Health Paradox of Cheese

Cheese is a nutrient-dense fermented dairy product consumed worldwide, though its health effects remain controversial. It provides high-quality protein (mainly casein), essential minerals (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium), vitamins (A, K2, B2, B12, folate), and beneficial bioactive compounds including probiotics. However, cheese also contains significant amounts of saturated fat and sodium, which are generally considered unfavorable for cardiovascular health.

The molecular structure and nutritional profile of cheese varies substantially by type. While many varieties contain potentially problematic levels of fat and sodium with limited nutritional value, others like Parmigiano Reggiano offer exceptional health benefits despite being cheese.

Multiple meta-analysis studies provide comprehensive perspectives on cheese consumption research, identifying uncertainties, biases, and knowledge gaps in existing evidence.1 Parmigiano Reggiano is characterized by exceptional nutritional qualities, containing substances with specific biological actions. According to the definition established by the European Union, it can be fully classified as a ‘functional’ food.2

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The Benefits of Baking Soda For Cancer?

Baking soda for cancer

By Donnie Yance

Is baking soda for cancer a valid idea? Cancer (The Cancer Energy/Intelligence) alters the tumor microenvironment in several ways, and one of them is by creating an acidic zone around the tumor that promotes cancer progression and treatment resistance. Recent research suggests that sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) or potassium bicarbonate supplementation can offer significant benefits for prostate and other cancer patients by neutralizing this tumor acidity.

Sodium bicarbonate, commonly known as baking soda, serves multiple clinical purposes beyond its well-established role as an antacid for treating gastric hyperacidity. Recent research by Chao et al.1 has demonstrated promising applications in oncology through a novel approach targeting intratumor lactic acidosis during chemoembolization procedures. Chemoembolization is a treatment where chemotherapy drugs are delivered directly to a tumor, while simultaneously blocking the tumor’s blood supply to reduce side effects and maximize drug concentration at the tumor site. In their clinical trial, the researchers modified conventional chemoembolization by incorporating a 5% sodium bicarbonate solution alongside standard cytotoxic drugs, achieving remarkably high local tumor control rates. This use of baking soda for cancer by injecting it directly into the tumor has profound implications. The underlying mechanism for sodium bicarbonate’s antitumor efficacy appears to be its ability to neutralize the acidic tumor microenvironment, which typically promotes cancer cell proliferation and therapeutic resistance.2

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Kefir: A Potent Immune-Enhancing Fermented Food with Promising Cancer Prevention Properties

By Donnie Yance

Kefir is a fermented beverage, usually made from dairy, that has beneficial health effects due to its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties.1 Kefir originates from the Caucasus region (between the Black Sea and Caspian Sea), and from Tibet (between China and India). Research also suggests its probiotic content directly influences the immune system’s cancer surveillance capabilities.

Recent research has illuminated kefir’s remarkable immune modulating properties. The fermentation process creates bioactive peptides, exopolysaccharides, and diverse probiotic strains that work synergistically to enhance immune function. Studies have demonstrated that regular kefir consumption may increase natural killer cell activity, modulate inflammatory responses, and strengthen intestinal barrier function.2

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Healthy Carbs Can Help You Lose Weight

healthy carbs for weigth loss

By Donnie Yance

Contrary to popular belief, carbohydrates can be powerful allies in your weight loss journey when you understand how to use them properly. There are better carbs and worse carbs, and healthy carbs can actually help you lose weight.

For years, carbohydrates have been villainized in diet culture, portrayed as guaranteed weight-gain culprits. This misconception has been reinforced by the popularity and widely publicized success stories of low-carb approaches like the Atkins and ketogenic diets. However, this oversimplified advice lacks crucial nuance about how carbohydrates actually function in our bodies.

In reality, high-quality carbohydrates, for example from whole grains, play an essential role in fat-burning and metabolic health, and just might be the missing piece in your fitness puzzle.

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Why Americans Pay So Much for Health (Sick) Care

Healthcare costs

By Donnie Yance

“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” 

– Buckminster Fuller

The Evolution of Medicine: Why We Need a Paradigm Shift

The greatest challenge in advancing global health and well-being lies not in incremental improvements, but in recognizing the need for fundamental transformation. This transformation must extend beyond simply enhancing existing healthcare systems—it requires a comprehensive reimagining of multiple interconnected systems that influence human health. 

Research by the Whole Health Institute has identified thirteen distinct yet interrelated systems that significantly impact health and well-being, each requiring revolutionary change. From healthcare delivery and education to social services and environmental factors, these systems form a complex web that determines the overall health outcomes of populations worldwide. Understanding and addressing these systems holistically, rather than in isolation, is crucial for achieving meaningful and lasting improvements in global health.1

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COVID-19 Infection Triggers An Anti-Tumor Immune Response In Some Cancer Patients. Part 2: Traditional Herbal Medicine- The Immune System’s Secret Weapon

By Donnie Yance   

Traditional Herbal Medicine (THM) is very different from using isolated plant compounds. Using isolates to treat cancer is a more allopathic approach and not at all part of a holistic whole-systems model based in THM practice. 

THM is based on a concept of whole plants having synergy as well as intelligence (Plant Intelligence). Examples of plant intelligence include key features that involve the ability to problem-solve in a flexible manner, anticipate the future, store memory, learn, communicate, and ultimately, be goal-oriented.1

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