Radish

 “What is life if not laughter and love, caring and compassion, fresh bread and crisp radishes?”

— James Kavanaugh

Radish comes from the Latin word, radix, which means “root”, and is classified as Raphanus sativus.  Its genus name, Raphanus, is a Latinized form of the Greek expression raphanos – “easily reared”.

 The origins and history of radishes are a bit obscure. It is thought by some they originated in northern China, by others the eastern Mediterranean or near the Caspian Sea.  Some believe that radishes were cultivated in Egypt as early as 2700 BC, although the Greeks and again quite possibly the Chinese could have been the first to cultivate them.  Even with no consensus on the radish’s origin, it became a staple in many cultures throughout the world, and with the vast variety of types of radishes, each culture had its own “favorites”.  Black radishes were favorites in...

No, this is not a painting from Jackson Pollock on a day when he was tired. This is a work of art by Mother Nature's Mold species on a wall in someone's home!

The February 2021 winter storm of Texas made a big impact on thousands of homeowners who experienced water damage within their homes from burst water pipes. My husband and I were among this group. This brought the impact of mold on human health acutely to my attention. I would like to share some highlights of what I have learned in the hope that it will benefit the reader. 

What are molds? Molds are members of the kingdom Fungi, and they are some of the primary decomposers of natural materials within the natural world. They are an essential component of the biological balance within our natural environment. Some molds are useful to mankind, such as a strain of Penicillium mold from which the antibiotic Penicillin is derived. Another Penicillium mold creates Stilton, or Blue cheese (1).

Of the more than 100,000...

Leek and Fennel Soup!

by Health Coach Melanie Rathbun FMCA

It’s that time of year when leeks are springing up around us! If you’ve never tried leeks, this may be your time to adopt something new into your diet.  Leeks are similar in appearance (and nutrition) to green onions, just much larger so they are easy to spot at your local farmers market or grocery store.  They come from the same family as onions and garlic (allium family) with a distinct flavor, and they offer similar health benefits. The health benefits to eating leeks are plenty, one of them being that they are high in prebiotic inulin fiber (up to 16%).  Prebiotics are types of dietary fibre that feed the friendly bacteria in your gut and help in the breakdown of fat.   This helps the gut bacteria produce nutrients for your colon cells and leads to a healthier digestive system. They are high in flavonoids, which supports your body’s response to oxidative stress....

Idaho Horse Rescue

by Cate Cummings APRN FNP IFMCP ReCODE 2.0 Certified Practitioner

Rescuing, Rehabilitating & Protecting Victims of Equine Abuse.

I love learning how horse rescues have their beginning! In the case of Idaho Horse Rescue, it was a most fortunate circumstance for the future wellbeing of a Thoroughbred filly mare. A jockey at the Les Bois track told his friend Robert Bruno about a 2-year-old Thoroughbred filly mare named Wapello Road. She sustained severe ligamentous injuries that caused her owners to make the decision to euthanize her on the very day the jockey contacted Robert. But, thanks to Robert’s intervention, Wapello Road’s life was saved. Instead of being euthanized, she came under Robert’s care and he restored her back to health! Wapello Road flourished under Robert’s care, becoming completely sound, and she then became his personal riding horse for over 20 years! What a beautiful and true story!

WAPELLO ROAD

 ...

LEEKS

by Health Coach Deborah Cox FMCA, NBHWC

“poor man’s asparagus”

Throughout history leeks have been thought of as anything from an upscale to a lowly vegetable.  They may be one of the oldest vegetables cultivated by man.  They are a member of the Allium family related to onions, yet having a more herbal, subtle, sweet flavor than the onion.  Their origin is considered to be Central Asia and the Mediterranean, including areas of Egypt where archaeological digs have evidence that they were part of the Egyptian diet for at least the last 4000 years.  The Bible mentions leeks, in Numbers 11:5, as one of the foods the Israelites remembered they ate in Egypt as they wandered in the desert.  Leeks would later be consumed as part of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, in this manner;

Taste a little of the Karatei and say:

“May it be Your will, Lord our God and the God of our fathers and mothers, that our enemies and all those who seek...

IntellxxDNA Genomics Testing

helping you discover

'Your Book Of You'!

by

Cate Cummings APRN FNP IFMCP ReCODE 2.0 Certified Practitioner

I am excited to share with you a unique offering that we at BWC For Horse Lovers have added to our practice. We are now offering genomics testing using IntellxxDNA. Genomics is the science of small changes called variants in your DNA. IntellxxDNA genomics allows us to provide state of the art personalized medicine. Your DNA is ultimately 'Your Book of You' or your own personal 'User Manual'. Getting to know yourself down to the DNA level can truly help you optimize your health!

IntellxxDNA allows for me, as the clinician, to look at over 600 variants in your DNA that help make you unique. These variants can contribute to chronic diseases such as cognitive decline, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, gut issues and more. It also allows me to look at gene variants related to how various nutrients and hormones are transported...

SPRING CREEK HORSE RESCUE

Now that spring has officially sprung, I am excited to share with you what I have learned about this very special horse rescue in Durango which is located in beautiful southwest Colorado! The name of this horse rescue is SPRING CREEK HORSE RESCUE!

This dedicated equine rescue has been in existence for over 45 years! The lady in charge is Diane McCracken and she is the Executive Director of SCHR. That means this rescue has been helping save equines since 1976! They operate as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and serve La Plata County, Colorado, and surrounding areas as well. They take in any abused, unwanted, neglected, or outgrown equine of any breed. They are a 100% anti-slaughter rescue that strives to rehabilitate and rehome these deserving equines into loving, forever homes. Sometimes a horse they rescue is not a good candidate for adoption, due to some mental or physical problems they experienced prior to arriving at the rescue. For these special...

I am very excited to share with everyone the story of a historic, uncompromising, international award-winning, superlative olive oil company – Berkeley Olive Grove 1913!

Most people by now have heard of the Mediterranean Diet (MD) and how eating such a diet seems to be very beneficial for health. One of the most recognized healthy foods within the MD is high-quality olive oil. High-quality olive oil is now recognized as one of the essential cornerstones to good health for most people and is now known to help prevent many chronic degenerative diseases when used in conjunction with other healthy dietary and lifestyle factors (1).

I have been trying to learn more about what really is high-quality olive oil and where can I find it. My research over the last few months led me on an interesting journey through various Mediterranean countries, but in the end I discovered that one of the very BEST olive oils is actually grown and produced right here in the United States of America!...

By Health Coach Melanie Rathbun FMCHC

No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow ~ Proverb.

The first day of spring has come and we’re well on our way to longer days filled with sunshine, flowers, new hopes, and new beginnings! What is your favorite part about spring?

We’ve been busy in the Horse Lover’s Kitchen preparing some traditional selections, including vegetables, that celebrate the harvest this time of year.  With Easter just around the corner, we’ve included a few extra recipes this month that could make for a well-balanced meal to share with loved ones. There is a recipe for dill carrots, steamed asparagus as well as a lovely braised lamb shank (with some garlic of course!).

In moderation, lamb is an excellent source of protein along with nutrients like iron, zinc, selenium, and vitamin B12. When selecting your lamb meat, it would be wise to pay attention to how it has been raised.  Feeding animals a grass-fed diet means that...

By Health Coach Deborah Cox FMCHC, NBHWC

History of Garlic

The word garlic comes from the Old English word garleac meaning “spear leek”.  Garlic’s origin is Western and Central Asia, where it flourishes in the wild.  The progenitor of modern garlic, Allium sativum, most believe is Allium longicuspis, yet a few believe it could be A. tuncelianum, or A. macrochaetum.  Garlic has a truly diverse history from being worshiped and used as an offering to ancient gods to being rejected so much that its only usefulness was hog feed.  Throughout time, garlic has been used as food, money, medicine, an aphrodisiac, and an ingredient of potions of all sorts.  It may be the earliest documented plant to be used for the maintenance of health and treating disease, some of the earliest references of its use date back 5000 years or more.

Strength Builder

In ancient Egypt, garlic was used as a staple in the diet of the workers building the pyramids as it was...