Pounds of Wisdom

An Organic Conversation

One of my favorite podcasts is An Organic Conversation. The show is hosted by food advocate Helge Hellberg, produce expert Mark Mulcahy, and holistic chef Sitarani Palomar. They discuss a range of topics on health, food, ecology, and sustainability. They also feature an informative segment exploring “whats in season?” (They are based in California, but much of the information can be applied to New England produce as well).

Their most recent episode is entitled Pounds of Wisdom: How Nutritional Knowledge is Shaping Society. It delivers a great discussion on the roles of nutrition consultants in today’s society, most notably the increased prevalence of nutritionists and holistic chefs in the workplace. This positive trend creates greater well-being, increased productivity, and decreased health care costs among workers!

The episode also discusses certain herbs and their beneficial actions. For instance, Holy Basil (also known as Tulsi) is an adaptogenic herb that improves functioning of the nervous system. Best taken regularly over long periods of time, it can be energizing or calming depending on the needs of the individual. Also noted is the recent uprise of herbalism; many stigmas against herbal healing are now being cast away.

As I mentioned in a previous post, for the past 4 months I have been taking an herbal education course at Farmacy Herbs in Providence, RI. Many of my friends have taken interest in the knowledge I have gained from the course, particularly those wishing to conquer certain ailments in natural ways. A large part of the course revolves around each student creating their own herb chart or herb journal, which includes information on specific plant species, habitats, actions, body systems supported, as well as history of the herbs. As I work towards completing my herb journal, I have decided to begin posting an “Herb of the Day”! Tomorrow I will begin this process with some information on alfalfa- one of the most nutrient dense herbs around!

 

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