CFS or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: chronic and persistent fatigue and weakness in the absence of any other physical condition. This basically means that they don’t really know what it is, so it becomes “CFS” by default.

Symptoms aside from the fatigue include (and worsen upon physical or mental stress or exertion):

Sore throat
Loss of memory
Difficulty concentrating
Enlarged lymph nodes
Headache
Wandering joint pain

One problem with this is that these symptoms are also included in the list of certain types of infection, most notably Lyme disease.  They are also present in mood disorders like depression and also other psychological conditions.

So we had a flood recently of people emailing in, asking for more information on how and when to use ginger. The research study we looked at a few days ago seems to have hit a nerve.

Ginger is one of my all-time favorite foods, because it can be used in SO many ways. It is used in cuisine all over the world in almost every culture where it grows…which is all over the place since it’s so hearty.

So I thought in honor of Independence Day coning up, and to celebrate a staple of 4th of July picnics, we would look at a great recipe that combines both ginger and watermelon.

There are all kinds of beneficial bacteria that we should consume to aid our digestive health. Acidophilous is one that researchers have touted for many years as a great helper.

Found in yogurt, which is essentially fermented milk, acidophilus and several other cultures are used during the fermentation process. But there is another fermented product, this one made from soybeans, that might be doing double-duty in the body.

We always get a lot of response at Blue Heron whenever an article or research study comment is posted, and several recently had me wondering if newly diagnosed diabetics or those suffering metabolic syndrome are fully aware of what is good to eat, what should be avoided, and what can be eaten in moderation.

A reader wrote in recently asking this very thing because her husband’s physical turned up some disquieting results. His triglyceride levels are beginning to creep toward the high side and he is now in a borderline area, as his result was about 190 mg/dL.

It has been estimated that at least 65% of the people suffering from IBS are women.  It is also widely known that women are at much higher risk of developing osteoporosis later in life than male counterparts.

What’s the connection? One of the key symptoms for people suffering Irritable Bowel Syndrome is diarrhea. When this painful symptom occurs, it depletes the body of not just valuable fluids, but also critical minerals and vitamins, such as calcium.

Of the supplements that are on the list of recommended treatments for IBS sufferers, some form of calcium is always going to be on the list, as this crucial mineral is absolutely necessary for bone growth and strength, healthy teeth, optimum nerve function, and muscle function.

While gathering information and client comments to prepare for the upcoming launch of our Treating IBS Naturally program, I was quite unnerved by a common problem that I knew people had.  I just wasn’t fully appreciating the seriousness of it.

Constipation is one of the major symptoms of IBS and its severity can range from mild and unnoticeable to debilitating and severe.

A few people shared stories of having battled the constipation for years, and having suffered terribly as a result.

Constipation is quite simply an infrequent or halted bowel pattern.  The effects, however, are anything but simple.

My team receives several emails a week with this statement in it.  The way the emails typically end is with the writer asking for help or advice as to what else can be done.

On rare occasions I get a letter from someone who actually admits that he or she tries to watch their food intake but they really struggle with it.

This is one of the key elements that diet pill producers and surgeons try to capitalize on…the inability of people to be honest with themselves about what they are actually eating, and how much they are actually exercising.

A reader asked me recently about some unsettling assertions about milk that had been getting attention in the news.

Her question was in regard to whether or not milk is bad for you. As with a lot of these questions, the answer is frequently yes and no.

The benefits of including milk in your diet include: