YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT: Let food be your medicine, too - Every food we eat contains a symphony of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals (plant compounds that may reduce the risk of disease) that interact to help fend off disease. One of the first confirmations of food as medicine came in the 1700s with the observation that sailors who ate citrus fruit were able to avoid scurvy. That connection led to the discovery of vitamin C (scurvy is caused by vitamin C deficiency) some 200 years later, ushering in an era of discovery about connections between nutrients and diseases. In the 4th Century BCE, the Greek physician Hippocrates authored the famous oath, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” We now know that foods like berries, green tea, and mushrooms are more than just a delicious source of energy; the nutrients inside can indeed be powerful medicine to help prevent and even manage disease. Unlike drugs, foods are not isolated substances. Every food we eat contains a symphony of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals (plant compounds that may reduce the risk of disease) that interact to help fend off disease. Without sufficient amounts of these nutrients, the body simply cannot operate at full capacity; our function is impaired and chronic disease can result. Sunflower seeds are an example of a food that may help protect against Alzheimer’s disease.

 

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You are what you eat: Let food be your medicine, too

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Every food we eat contains a symphony of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals (plant compounds that may reduce the risk of disease) that interact to help fend off disease. One of the first confirmations of food as medicine came in the 1700s with the observation that sailors who ate citrus fruit were able to avoid scurvy. That connection led to the discovery of vitamin C (scurvy is caused by vitamin C deficiency) some 200 years later, ushering in an era of discovery about connections between nutrients and diseases.

By Carrie Dennett, M.P.H., R.D.N.

Environmental Nutrition Newsletter

Chicago Health 

 

In the 4th Century BCE, the Greek physician Hippocrates authored the famous oath, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”

We now know that foods like berries, green tea, and mushrooms are more than just a delicious source of energy; the nutrients inside can indeed be powerful medicine to help prevent and even manage disease.

Synergy in foods

Unlike drugs, foods are not isolated substances.

Every food we eat contains a symphony of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals (plant compounds that may reduce the risk of disease) that interact to help fend off disease.

“Without sufficient amounts of these nutrients, the body simply cannot operate at full capacity; our function is impaired and chronic disease can result,” says Mary Purdy, M.S., R.D.N., a private practice dietitian and adjunct clinical faculty member at Bastyr University in Seattle, WA.

Kathie Madonna Swift, M.S., R.D.N., L.D.N., education director of the Food As Medicine training program at the Saybrook University Center for Mind-Body Medicine, Oakland, Calif., and author of “The Swift Diet,” says that sunflower seeds are an example of a food that may help protect against Alzheimer’s disease.

“They contain the family of vitamin E compounds that are important for brain health. Popping a vitamin E pill does not afford the same protection–the whole food does it best,” she notes.

The power of dietary patterns

Numerous studies have identified dietary patterns that consistently decrease our risk for chronic disease.

For example, diets high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and other plant foods – such as the Mediterranean diet – are associated with a reduced risk of inflammation, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers.

When the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee looked at dietary patterns that prevent disease, the evidence consistently showed that diets rich in vegetables and fruits, such as Mediterranean and vegetarian diet patterns, are linked to lower rates of chronic disease.

Foods with medicinal benefits

While many plant foods have been linked with health, here are some of the most promising disease-busting foods you should include in your diet:

1. Berries. Blackberries, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries are a rich source of numerous phytochemicals that research suggests have a variety of positive effects on human health, including reducing chronic inflammation and cancer risk.

2. Broccoli. Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables contain a number of phytonutrients that have been shown to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, which has benefits for cardiovascular health, healthy blood sugar and cancer prevention.

3. Cinnamon. Swift cites cinnamon for its blood sugar-balancing attributes, even with just 1/2 teaspoon a day.

4. Cranberries. Research suggests that cranberries may prevent urinary tract infections, possibly because they prevent bacteria from adhering to cells inside the bladder. Opt for pure cranberry juice, rather than juices adulterated with other juices and sweeteners.

5. Fish. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish have anti-inflammatory properties. The American Heart Association recommends eating at least two 3.5-ounce servings of fatty fish each week, such as salmon or black cod, to help prevent cardiovascular disease.

6. Fermented foods. Swift and Purdy are both fans of fermented and cultured foods (yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, tempeh, and miso) to support digestive function and a healthy immune system.

7. Garlic. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, there’s probable evidence that garlic and other members of the allium family (onions, leeks, shallots, scallions) reduce the risk of developing common cancers.

8. Ginger and turmeric. Swift likes these spice relatives for their anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain-relieving) properties. Ginger also can help ease nausea and vomiting.

9. Green tea. The phytochemical EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) in green tea has been shown to have some anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects, and may have heart health benefits. Swift points out that its antioxidant quality also may help protect the skin from sun damage.

10. Shiitake mushrooms. In human studies, shiitakes have demonstrated anti-cancer, immune boosting, and cholesterol-lowering properties.

11. Nuts. “Numerous studies have shown nuts to be helpful for cardiovascular function and healthy blood sugar and weight levels,” Purdy says. “Plus, they are super transportable and can be thrown into just about everything, from yogurt, smoothies, and cereals to salads, soups, and stir fries.”

Nutrients combat disease

One of the first confirmations of food as medicine came in the 1700s with the observation that sailors who ate citrus fruit were able to avoid scurvy.

That connection led to the discovery of vitamin C (scurvy is caused by vitamin C deficiency) some 200 years later, ushering in an era of discovery about connections between nutrients and diseases.

Gene-diet interactions

The mapping of the human genome has opened the door to personalized nutrition, which someday may move us from “you are what you eat” to “how to eat for who you are.”

The emerging field of nutrigenomics looks at the connection between our genes, the nutrients in the foods we eat, and our health.

“Food contains a unique portfolio of bioactive ingredients that inform our genes to express health,” says Swift.

In other words, if compounds in broccoli can stop a cancer-promoting gene from expressing itself, eating lots of broccoli may be truly “medicinal” for people with that gene.

Through local stories and informative features, Chicago Health provides the latest public health and medical news so readers can make informed decisions about the health issues that matter to them.

Chicago Health is published by Northwest Publishing, LLC, a Chicago based media company. Its first issue was published in the fall of 2010 and is now published semi-annually in March and September.

The company was founded in 1998 by Louis A. (Skip) Weiss, a lifelong Chicago resident. In 1953 Mr. Weiss’ family opened Louis A. Weiss Memorial Hospital, a community institution that continues to serve residents living on Chicago’s Northside. With Chicago Health, Mr. Weiss continues his family’s legacy of providing healthcare services in the Chicago metropolitan area.

https://chicagohealthonline.com/you-are-what-you-eat-let-food-be-your-medicine-too/

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https://puricarechronicles.blogspot.com/2021/01/you-are-what-you-eat-if-we-fill-our.html

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PERLITE AND SUSTAINABILITY - Environmental, Economic, and Social Benefits - Perlite is an amorphous mineral consisting of fused sodium potassium aluminum silicate. In its natural state, it’s a dense, glassy rock formed by volcanic rock. When crushed and organic acids at both low and high and treated under proper conditions, perlite pops like popcorn, expanding up to 20 times its original volume. It is revered for its light weight, insulative properties, water-retention value, and more. Perlite has a variety of uses across many industries including agricultural, industrial, construction, cryogenics, and even pet care. Perlite acts as a natural filter to clean stormwater runoff, helping to prevent the contamination of waterways which could, in turn, hurt natural flora and fauna. Perlite helps preserve the world’s topsoil by acting as a substitute for native mineral soil. Only three square-miles of perlite are actively mined at any time, which is a small fraction of the available perlite in the world. It is standard for studies to be conducted before mining to ensure the minimization of disturbance to local biology. Because of its unique closed-cell structure, perlite can drastically reduce heat transmission through masonry walls. Thermal performance tests show significant energy savings when perlite is used to fill cavities in concrete masonry structures. All parts of mined perlite can be used, so none of it goes to waste. Perlite is lightweight, making it more cost-efficient to ship than competitor products. Perlite reserves will remain available for generations, as only 1% has been used.

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Perlite and Sustainability

Environmental, Economic, and Social Benefits

Dicalite Management Group

 

We often take the time to look at the ways perlite can be used.

Besides its useful properties, there are many reasons it should be used.

Today, we’re taking a look at perlite and sustainability and how it impacts the environment, economy, and society.

What Is Perlite?

Perlite is an amorphous mineral consisting of fused sodium potassium aluminum silicate.

In its natural state, it’s a dense, glassy rock formed by volcanic rock.

When crushed and organic acids at both low and high and treated under proper conditions, perlite pops like popcorn, expanding up to 20 times its original volume.

It is revered for its light weight, insulative properties, water-retention value, and more.

Perlite has a variety of uses across many industries including agricultural, industrial, construction, cryogenics, and even pet care.

Perlite and Sustainability

Environmental

·      Storm runoff filtration. Perlite acts as a natural filter to clean stormwater runoff, helping to prevent the contamination of waterways which could, in turn, hurt natural flora and fauna.

·      Horticultural. Perlite helps preserve the world’s topsoil by acting as a substitute for native mineral soil.

·      Mining has little impact. Only three square-miles of perlite are actively mined at any time, which is a small fraction of the available perlite in the world. It is standard for studies to be conducted before mining to ensure the minimization of disturbance to local biology.

·      Decreases energy use. Because of its unique closed-cell structure, perlite can drastically reduce heat transmission through masonry walls. Thermal performance tests show significant energy savings when perlite is used to fill cavities in concrete masonry structures.

·      No by-products during processing. All parts of mined perlite can be used, so none of it goes to waste.

Economic

·         Cost-efficient to ship. Perlite is lightweight, making it more cost-efficient to ship than competitor products.

Social

·      Community development. Perlite mining and processing contribute to communities by providing stable employment and stimulating the economy. The known perlite reserves will remain available for multiple generations, as only 1% of the reserve base has been used.

·      Building safety. Perlite is a Class A, Class 1 building material with a temperature range for fusion of 2,300 to 2,450 degrees Fahrenheit. Underwriters Laboratories show that a fire rating of a 2-hour rated 8, 10, or 12-inch concrete block wall is improved to 4-hours when cores are filled with masonry fill Tests show that a two-hour rated 8”, 10”, or 12” concrete block wall is improved to four hours when cores are filled with perlite masonry fill insulation.

·      Personal safety. Because perlite is a lightweight product, it is easier and safer to carry than heavier counterparts, like when it is used in horticultural applications.

Visit the Perlite Institute, a worldwide association of perlite professionals, to learn even more about the benefits of perlite on the environment, economy, and community.

Dicalite Management Group’s Perlite Microspheres and Sustainability

Our Perlite

Dicaperl’s industry-leading perlite microspheres are available in a range of densities, degrees of whiteness, and strengths to suit most formulating requirements. Densities range from 4 lbs. per cubic foot up to about 15 lbs. per cubic foot. Proprietary coating microspheres end in product codes 10, 15, and 20.

This special subset of perlite fillers requires advanced manufacturing and classification techniques to produce. Dicaperl is one of the only perlite manufacturers in North America producing perlite microspheres for a variety of industries and applications, from construction and building materials to specialty pharmaceutical and healthcare products.

Our Socorro, New Mexico mine is considered to be one of the largest perlite deposits in the world. We have rail access right at the mine to provide economical transportation to our customers. And unlike most perlite companies, we own and operate perlite ore mining operations and processing and expansion facilities. This allows us to maintain a much higher level of quality and consistency control and ensures volume and supply for our perlite ore and expanded perlite customers.

Our Commitment to Perlite and Sustainability

Emissions: To protect our air quality and atmosphere, the air emissions from the processes are closely monitored and regulated. Several gases and particulates are controlled to ensure compliance with operating permitted levels. A baghouse is used to collect dust from the process air before the clean air is released into the atmosphere.

Rainfall-Runoff: Expanded OreRainfall-runoff in the plant and quarries is controlled in many ways. Abandoned areas are revegetated to promote water retention. Where rain runoff occurs, slopes are engineered to reduce erosion. As a final check, all runoff is collected in siltation ponds to collect any debris or suspended material. Runoff may be used for dust control as described above. From these ponds, the runoff water is treated, settled again, and discharged to the local water sources in strict accordance Water Quality Permit standards.

Dust Control: Dust is controlled in the quarries by water trucks and water wagons on a scheduled and recorded basis. Reclaimed water from mine runoff and stormwater is used whenever possible to reduce valuable water resources. Permanent roads are treated to further reduce dust.

Dicalite Management Group is an international industrial minerals company with a unique multi-mineral platform including perlite, vermiculite, and diatomaceous earth, represented across three brands: Dicalite, Dicaperl, and Specialty Vermiculite. These processed minerals are used in wide variety of applications, and people are often only a few feet from a product created, enhanced, or treated by one of them—whether or not they know it.

https://www.dicalite.com/2020/10/perlite-and-sustainability-environmental-economical-and-social-benefits/

GYPSUM - An important construction material that has been used for thousands of years - Gypsum is an evaporite mineral most commonly found in layered sedimentary deposits in association with halite, anhydrite, sulfur, calcite, and dolomite. Gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O) is very similar to Anhydrite (CaSO4). The chemical difference is that gypsum contains two waters and anhydrite is without water. Gypsum is the most common sulfate mineral. Gypsum uses include: manufacture of wallboard, cement, plaster of Paris, soil conditioning, a hardening retarder in portland cement. Varieties of gypsum known as "satin spar" and "alabaster" are used for a variety of ornamental purposes; however, their low hardness limits their durability. Physical Properties of Gypsum - Chemical Classification Sulfate - Color Clear, colorless, white, gray, yellow, red, brown - Streak White – Luster Vitreous, silky, sugary - Diaphaneity Transparent to translucent – Cleavage Perfect - Mohs Hardness 2 - Specific Gravity 2.3 - Diagnostic Properties Cleavage, specific gravity, low hardness - Chemical Composition Hydrous calcium sulfate, CaSO4.2H2O - Crystal System Monoclinic – Uses Used to manufacture dry wall, plaster, joint compound. An agricultural soil treatment. Gypsum wallboard and plaster: Wallboard and construction plaster are the primary industrial uses of gypsum in the United States.

 

Gypsum

An important construction material that has been used for thousands of years

Article by: Hobart M. King, PhD, RPG

 

What is Gypsum?

Gypsum is an evaporite mineral most commonly found in layered sedimentary deposits in association with halite, anhydrite, sulfur, calcite, and dolomite.

Gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O) is very similar to Anhydrite (CaSO4).

The chemical difference is that gypsum contains two waters and anhydrite is without water.

Gypsum is the most common sulfate mineral.

Uses of Gypsum

Gypsum uses include: manufacture of wallboard, cement, plaster of Paris, soil conditioning, a hardening retarder in portland cement.

Varieties of gypsum known as "satin spar" and "alabaster" are used for a variety of ornamental purposes; however, their low hardness limits their durability.

 

Physical Properties of Gypsum
Chemical Classification	Sulfate
Color	Clear, colorless, white, gray, yellow, red, brown
Streak	White
Luster	Vitreous, silky, sugary
Diaphaneity	Transparent to translucent
Cleavage	Perfect
Mohs Hardness	2
Specific Gravity	2.3
Diagnostic Properties	Cleavage, specific gravity, low hardness
Chemical Composition	Hydrous calcium sulfate, CaSO4.2H2O
Crystal System	Monoclinic
Uses	Used to manufacture dry wall, plaster, joint compound. An agricultural soil treatment.

 

Hobart M. King, Ph.D., GIA GG

Hobart M. King is the manager and publisher of Geology.com. He is a geologist with over 40 years of experience, has a Ph.D. in geology, and is a GIA graduate gemologist. Much of his work has focused on coal geology, industrial minerals, gemology, geologic hazards, and geoscience education.

He has authored many of the internet’s most popular articles about rocks, minerals and gems. He writes most of the content published on Geology.com and compiles its daily news. His writing is read by over a million people each month, making him one of the world’s most widely read geologists.

Dr. King earned a Ph.D. and an M.S. in geology from West Virginia University; a B.S. in geology from California University of Pennsylvania; and, a Graduate Gemologist Diploma from the Gemological Institute of America. He is a registered professional geologist in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

He has worked as a geologist in a variety of settings since 1975.

https://geology.com/minerals/gypsum.shtml

 

 

 

Gypsum: Satin spar, a fibrous variety of gypsum from Derbyshire, England. Specimen is approximately 4 inches (10 centimeters) across.

 

Gypsum wallboard and plaster: Wallboard and construction plaster are the primary industrial uses of gypsum in the United States. 

 

Alabaster Gypsum: Alabaster, a variety of gypsum, from Pomaia, Italy. Specimen is approximately 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) across.

 

Gypsum from Michigan: Gypsum from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Specimen is approximately 4 inches (10 centimeters) across.

 

Gypsum translucency: The translucent characteristic of alabaster, a variety of gypsum, from Pomaia, Italy. Specimen is approximately 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) across.

 

Alabaster gypsum jar: Jar made of beautiful translucent alabaster gypsum by David MacFarlane

 

Selenite Gypsum: Selenite, a variety of gypsum from Penfield, New York. Specimen is approximately 2-1/2 inches (6.4 centimeters) across.

 

Gypsum from New York: Selenite, a variety of gypsum from Penfield, New York. Specimen is approximately 2-1/2 inches (6.4 centimeters) across.

 

Gypsum from Virginia: Gypsum from North Holston, Virginia. Specimen is approximately 1-1/2 inches (3.8 centimeters) across.

 

Satin spar Gypsum: Satin spar, a fibrous variety of gypsum from Derbyshire, England. Specimen is approximately 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) across.

 

SHOWERING IN HARD WATER - When you bathe or shower in hard water, you may not be getting as clean as you should. Here’s why… Dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium are what make the water in your home hard. Those minerals also create an undesirable chemical reaction with your soap, shampoo, and body wash as well as shaving cream. What happens is the calcium and magnesium ions in hard water react with fatty acids in soap to form insoluble lime soaps, which are ineffective at cleaning. If you have hard water, the same disgusting soap scum you’re always scrubbing in the tub is on your body too. The best way to know if you’re dealing with hard water problems in the shower is to look at how well you’re lathering up. Hard water prevents you from getting a nice soapy lather in the shower. When you have soft water, it’s much easier to produce a foamy lather from your soap and shampoo. After installing a water softener in their home, some people notice their skin feels slick and even slippery after bathing. Part of this may be due to the fact you aren’t accustomed to how truly-clean skin feels. What you feel might simply be the real you. But you may also be in the habit of using too much soap. You won’t need to use as much with soft water.

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Showering in hard water

Are you really getting clean?

Water-Right

For many of us, taking a shower is priceless personal time. You’re alone with your thoughts getting ready for the day, winding down from a workout or hectic daily schedule.

You are supposed to get out feeling clean and refreshed. But if you’re showering in hard water, your showering experience could definitely be better.

In fact, when you bathe or shower in hard water, you may not be getting as clean as you should. Here’s why…

How Minerals in Hard Water Keep You from Getting Clean

Dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium are what make the water in your home hard.

Those minerals also create an undesirable chemical reaction with your soap, shampoo, and body wash as well as shaving cream.

What happens is the calcium and magnesium ions in hard water react with fatty acids in soap to form insoluble lime soaps, which are ineffective at cleaning.

If you were paying attention during Chemistry class, here’s the chemical equation:

2 C17H35COO−Na+ + Ca2+ → (C17H35COO)2Ca + 2 Na+

In this chemical reaction, positively-charged calcium ions replace sodium ions in your shampoo or soap leaving scum and lime scale deposits on your skin and in your hair.

That’s right. If you have hard water, the same disgusting soap scum you’re always scrubbing in the tub is on your body too.

The best way to know if you’re dealing with hard water problems in the shower is to look at how well you’re lathering up.

Hard water prevents you from getting a nice soapy lather in the shower. When you have soft water, it’s much easier to produce a foamy lather from your soap and shampoo.

After installing a water softener in their home, some people notice their skin feels slick and even slippery after bathing.

Part of this may be due to the fact you aren’t accustomed to how truly-clean skin feels. What you feel might simply be the real you.

But you may also be in the habit of using too much soap. You won’t need to use as much with soft water.

How Hard Water Affects Your Hair

Have you ever noticed how your hair can look and feel different when you shower in different places?

Your hair behaves one way after showering at the gym, turns out another way when you’re vacationing or staying in a hotel, and looks completely different when you wash your hair at home.

That’s most likely because the hardness of the water varies from location to location.

A writer for the beauty website xoVain experienced some hard water showering issues when she vacationed in rural Wisconsin.

She provides some great advice for showering in different types of water.

If you have hard water at home, your hair may feel dry all the time and become frizzy making it tangled and difficult to manage.

It may also have a dull, lifeless appearance. That’s because those minerals and deposits build up in your hair.

With a water softener in your home, those hard water issues are eliminated. You will find that your hair has a more-attractive shine when you shower in softened water.

And soft water will make your hair more manageable, so it’s easier for you to style it the way you want.

Sometimes people with finer hair complain that soft water can make their hair feel flat or even greasy.

This is probably because you’re using too much soap and not rinsing it out of the hair completely. Rinsing your hair in the shower for a little longer may solve that problem.

Of all the hard water hair issues, the scariest has to be hair loss. Calcium build up can form around the base of hair follicles causing hair to break off and potentially hindering growth of new hair.

How Hard Water Affects Your Skin

Hard water can give you skin troubles too. Let’s start with the scalp.

The calcium salts that build up in your scalp can cause dryness and flaking, AKA dandruff.

You might assume it’s the shampoo you buy causing dandruff. But hard water may be the real culprit.

Hard water can make the rest of your skin feel dry and itchy as well. That’s thanks to the soapy residue left on your body, which clogs pores.

Plus, the minerals in hard water can suck moisture right out of your skin leaving it even more dry and irritated.

In fact, certain studies indicate hard water may cause additional aggravation in people with skin conditions like eczema and dermatitis.

According to the dermatology site DermaHarmony.com:

“While hard water itself doesn’t cause dermatitis, it can irritate the condition or even initiate a flare-up. The combination of hard water with a co-existing dermatitis condition can lead to more frequent and severe outbreaks.”

Even washing clothes in hard water can be problematic to those with sensitive skin. Hard water leaves soap residue on your laundry too, and that residue is in contact with your skin all day long.

If you have sensitive skin, the soft water a high-quality water softener provides could help you avoid much of the dehydration that occurs.

As the American Cleaning Institute explains, soap’s “effectiveness is reduced when used in hard water.”

That means not only will you fail to get clean in the shower, it will be tougher to keep your house clean as well.

With hard water, you’ll end up using more soap to keep your body clean and more product to clean your home too. Softer water could mean you save significant money and time in the long run.

What Can You Do?

If you have a private well, you’re definitely dealing with hard water. But the majority of municipal water sources have levels of hardness as well.

According to the USGS, in the United States, 85% of the water is considered hard.

There are certainly little tips and tricks you can use to try and improve your showering experience. However, there’s really only one permanent solution… that’s a water softener.

Water softeners remove those dissolved minerals from the water in your home. They are an investment that will make life for you and your family more convenient and more enjoyable.

Want to learn more about water conditioning options and what kind of water softener would be ideal for your home? Water-Right’s product lines are among the best residential water treatment options in the industry.

Constant innovation and no shortcuts. Water-Right is first and foremost a company built on integrity. Since 1963, we’ve done things the right way. Our value set has driven the development of the finest water treatment systems, making it easy for industry professionals to satisfy today’s demand for the highest quality water.

Keeping water clean and safe is an increasingly difficult challenge. That’s why we push to make good products better, create industry-leading technology, and offer a state-certified, independent lab specializing in water testing. It’s about making life better as well as providing “The Right Water for Life.”

https://www.water-rightgroup.com/blog/showering-hard-water/