The New Superfood: Oat Straw

It seems there’s always an emerging superfood in the world of wellness. Whether it’s blueberries, blackberries, acai berries, or ginger root, many health-conscious individuals seek general well-being through a carefully monitored, antioxidant-heavy diet. This is certainly an effective way to boost immunity and maximize longevity, but it’s important to pay attention to the research rather than blindly following marketing claims.

Despite it's popularity, POM recently faced a catastrophic lawsuit which attacked the company for exaggerating health claims associated with POM's products.

Today, oat straw (Avena Sativa) is quickly gaining recognition for its wide range of wellness benefits. Those familiar with the herb tout it as the Next Big Thing for its role in improved sleep, mental acuity, cholesterol management, and anxiety reduction.

Though many are familiar with the benefits of oatmeal in relation to skin treatments, oat straw is the green oat grass in its "milky" stage before the oat matures.

Oat straw is high in calcium and minerals which can lead to strong teeth and bones. Some believe it to have cholesterol lowering properties. Studies show individuals demonstrate improved cognitive performance when they consume Avena Sativa prior to conducting mentally taxing tasks.

Finally, the herb contains Vitamin B, which research links to alertness, increased energy, and anti-anxiety properties.

Interested in learning more about this potential superfood? Check out Natural News for a thorough overview of oat straw's health benefits and tips for incorporating it into your diet. 

A Little Sesame Street Goes a Long Way Towards Wellness

6 years ago Sesame Street launched the Healthy Habits For Life Initiative to encourage childhood awareness of wellness. Research shows that food preferences are most often established in children between the ages of 2 and 4, so all experience with food in this age range can have a lasting impact on one's likes and dislikes. If a child has not learned healthy habits by the age of 5, he or she has a significantly greater chance of suffering from weight–related issues later in life. In order to help lower income families teach children healthy habits, Sesame Street increased educational messaging during their daily television programs.

Now, to further this wellness endeavor, Sesame Street is introducing 4 new muppets called “The Superfoods” on December 8th. These characters encourage healthy eating by showing children that nutritious choices can be fun! The upcoming episode features Elmo trying a new food more than once, as well as emphasizing the importance of healthy snacks, and the value of families dining together.

According to Healthy Habits leaders, The project succeeds because it offers children:

1. Sesame Street Muppets who model fun ways to move and play
2. Encouragement to explore and enjoy healthy foods
3. Opportunities to build self-confidence and feel good about themselves
4. Fun and age-appropriate ways to grow up healthy, strong, and happy

Way to go Sesame Street! Now maybe these new “Superfoods” can teach Cookie Monster a thing or two about healthy eating…