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Lots of people know the Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria as the “scary staph” that is resistant to most forms of medications—and the bad news is that this dangerous bacteria infection is on the rise. According to the Center of Disease Control, thirty years ago only 2 percent of all staph infections in the US were MRSA, but by 2003 that number climbed to a whopping 64 percent. By 2005, 94,000 people developed life-threatening MRSA with nearly 19,000 dying from it.

However, a simple tree could be the key to fighting MRSA and stopping the threat in its tracks. Researchers have discovered a staph-fighting chemical compound in the needles of Red Cedar trees may provide a new solution. Initial tests have shown promise that this chemical compound can thwart the deadly MRSA bacterium.

What makes this more intriguing is that the Red Cedar tree has often been considered a “trash tree” and has been thought of as a nuisance because of the way it invades fertile farmlands. Also, the Red Cedar is available in large numbers year around so there is plenty of supply—an estimated 500 million grow in Missouri alone.

“I wanted to find a use for a tree species that is considered a nuisance,” said Chung-Ho Lin, research assistant professor in the MU Center for Agroforestry at the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. “This discovery could help people fight the bacteria as well as give farmers another cash crop.”

Read the University of Missouri brief about the study here.

Eating Raw Or Undercooked Beans Is Dangerous

By Sebrina Zerkus Smith | 56 Comments | Posted 10/18/2016

The nutritional value of beans is well known. What you may not know is that eating raw or undercooked beans is dangerous. It could even kill you. It’s estimated that up to 20% of annual food poisoning cases are attributed to
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Attract good luck with crystals and stones

By Chelsea Vurciaga | 19 Comments | Posted 10/17/2016

Have you ever wondered if it is possible to attract good luck with crystals and stones? Throughout time, many cultures including Egyptians, Chinese and Native Americans have utilized various stones and crystals to focus energy, bring good luck and to
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Tackle Inflammation with Turmeric + Tea Recipe

By Karen Shepard | 6 Comments | Posted 10/13/2016

The first thing that probably comes to mind when someone says “turmeric,” is India, or maybe Tandoori Chicken. You may have heard that curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric is an anti-inflammatory, but who would have thought it could fight
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An Avocado a Day has a Surprisingly Great Effect on Cholesterol!

By Dr. Daria | 0 Comments | Posted 10/10/2016

Avocados have a surprisingly great effect on cholesterol? You are probably thinking “How surprising could it be?” For integrative medicine docs like me, it falls into the category of “Wow, that’s amazing!” I’ll tell you about that in a minute.
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Is This the Most Powerful Food on the Planet?

By Chelsea Vurciaga | 0 Comments | Posted 10/04/2016

Did you know that flax has been considered to be so healthy that a king once ordered the people in his community to consume more of it on a regular basis? It’s true! Sometime in the 8th Century, King Charlemagne
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