NurseKeith's Corner

For those who are lactose intolerant and do not care for soy milk, oat milk, hemp milk, rice milk, or other milk alternatives, goat milk is a healthy beverage which can have many benefits for health and wellness.

Goat milk is a complete protein which contains all of the essential amino acids without the heavy fat content of cow's milk. Goat milk is said to be the closest to human milk in terms of nutritional quality and make-up, and is generally completely digestible by those allergic to cow's milk.

Nutritionally, goat milk is said to contain more calcium, beneficial enzymes, electrolytes, minerals and vitamins than cow's milk, and is more readily digested by the human digestive system. Goat milk is also said to contain various middle-chain fatty acids that can be beneficial for some metabolic diseases, and contains fewer of the fatty acids that can contribute to the development of heart disease. When it comes to Vitamin A, calcium, enzymes, amino acids and protein, many scientists and nutritionists believe that goat milk is far superior to cow's milk in every respect.

Allergies to goat milk are extremely rare, and most people who switch from cow's milk to goat milk say that the difference in taste is one which is quite easy to become accustomed to. If you are lactose intolerant, goat milk may be a very nutritious choice for you, whether in the form of milk, cheese, fudge, or other popular goat products. And based on some scientific and anecdotal evidence, your overall health may very well improve when you choose to add goat milk products to your diet.

For decades, Vitamin C has been said to be an essential nutrient for human health, and this opinion has held true through study after scientific study.

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, cannot be manufactured by the body, so it must be obtained through the diet. Vitamin C performs many essential functions, including the manufacturing of collagen, a material essential to the building of blood vessels, ligaments, bones, and other tissues. It is also crucial in the development of some neurotransmitters which are essential to proper brain function.

When it comes to cancer prevention, Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, ridding the body of free radicals and other damaging invaders, may prevent heart disease and cancer, and it plays a vital role in many other molecular functions too numerous to repeat in a short blog post here on Black Doctor.

Dietary sources of Vitamin C include citrus fruits, Guava, sweet red peppers, kiwi, sweet green peppers, strawberries, brussels sprouts, cantaloupe, papaya, broccoli, sweet potato, tomatoes, cauliflower, pineapple, mango and kale, to name a few.

Vitamin C deficiency---also known as "scurvy"---can lead to gum disease, bleeding from mucous membranes, spots on the skin, paleness, fatigue, open sores, depression, and tooth loss. Sailors on long voyages without access to fresh fruits and vegetables once suffered greatly from scurvy before this deficiency was identified by science.

For healthy skin, bones, and cellular growth and function, Vitamin C is essential. There are many differing opinions about how much Vitamin C is truly healthy for the average adult, and some alternative practitioners recommend mega-doses of Vitamin C for the maintenance of hood health and longevity. Discuss your Vitamin C needs with your medical provider or alternative medical provider, or simply eat an abundance of Vitamin C rich foods daily. You can't go wrong eating the foods listed above, and your health and long life are dependent on your paying attention to the vital nutrient in your daily diet.

When I was a little boy, I first heard the saying, "an apple a day keeps the doctor away". I also remember being taught on a class trip to a local orchard that apples are "nature's toothbrush". Even now, apples are consistently reported to be excellent for health and a great addition to the daily diet.

Apples are high in antioxidants, naturally-occurring chemicals that help to rid your body of cancer-causing free radicals.Apples are also high in flavonoids, phytochemicals that have antiviral, antiallergic, antiinflammatory, antitumor and antioxidant properties.

Pectin, a substance found in large quantities in apples, acts as an antioxidant, decreases the risk of colon cancer, works well against acute diarrhea, reduces blood pressure, and can even help to reduce gallstones according to some evidence.

Quercetin, a lesser-known substance, is a member of a group of chemicals that also play a role in cancer prevention.

Additionally, the tannins in apples may also work to prevent tooth decay, hence the term "Nature's Toothbrush" that I learned on that schoolage field trip so many years ago.

Apples---and especially their skin---are also great sources of dietary fiber, and adding an apple to your diet can substantially improve your colon health.

Over all, apples are a wonder food provided for us by nature, and, as always, if you can afford to spend a little extra and buy organic, your apples will not only taste better but also provide you with better nutrition and fewer unnecessary chemicals added to your diet.

Whether you enjoy the raw, baked, in apple sauce, or in a pie, apples provide a nutritional profile that should not be overlooked, and perhaps an apple a day is just what the doctor---or nurse---ordered.