Entries by Michael Ravensthorpe

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Michael Ravensthorpe is an independent writer whose research interests include nutrition, alternative medicine, and bushcraft. He is the creator of the website, Spiritfoods, through which he promotes the world's healthiest foods.

Four Sea Vegetables with Amazing Health Benefits

As the nutritional value of land vegetables continues to decline due to ongoing soil erosion and pollution, sea vegetables – whose nutritional compositions have remained intact for centuries – are coming to the fore as a much-needed source of minerals.… 0 Shares |

Ground Cherries: Sweet Little Fruits Bursting with Vitamins

Ground cherries (also called husk cherries and cape gooseberries) are small, orange fruits that grow inside thin, lantern-like husks. They belong to the nightshade family, and are native to temperate and subtropical regions throughout the world, including North America. Despite… 0 Shares |

The Roles of Calcium in the Body

Calcium is the most abundant element by mass in many animals, and the fifth most abundant element by mass in humans. Indeed, calcium forms two percent of a human adult’s body weight; most of this calcium is found in the… 0 Shares |

The Health Benefits of Aronia Berries (Chokeberries)

Aronia berries, also called chokeberries, are dark purple-colored fruits that are native to eastern North America. They grow on green-leaved deciduous shrubs that are commonly found in swamps and wet woods. Although aronia berries are not well-known, even in their… 0 Shares |

Five Reasons to Start Eating Raw Honey

The medicinal value of raw honey – honey that has been transferred from the hive to the honey jar without processing – has been known across the world for centuries. This sweet food, which some researchers have nicknamed “liquid gold,”… 0 Shares |

An Introduction to Organic Farming (And Why We Should Support It)

Organic farming is a method of farming that rejects the aggressive machinery and chemicals used by conventional farming in favor of gentle techniques that are in accord with nature. Whereas conventional farmers use mechanical plows to till the soil, for… 0 Shares |

The Roles of Magnesium in the Body

Magnesium is the eleventh most abundant element by mass in the human body, and the fourth most abundant mineral. In fact, researchers estimate that the average human body contains about 25 grams of magnesium, of which over 60 percent is… 0 Shares |

Custard Apples: Sweet, Vitamin-Rich Fruits from Central America

Custard apples are the green, heart-shaped fruits of the Annona reticulata, a small deciduous tree native to Central America. They are characterized by their custard-like flavor and texture, hence the name (though “custard apple” is a common nickname for many… 0 Shares |

Calcium Supplements Increase Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Men

Calcium supplements seem to be more popular than ever, with a growing number of people from all age groups taking them daily in the belief that they’re guarding themselves from osteoporosis and other bone diseases. According to researchers from the… 0 Shares |

The Health Benefits of Natto

Natto is a traditional Japanese food made from fermented soybeans, and is characterized by its strong taste, pungent smell, and gooey texture. Natto isn’t well-known outside of Japan, and its acquired taste and unpleasant appearance probably confines it to a… 0 Shares |