1. Study: Curcumin is as effective as Prozac in treating depression
A new study published in Phytotherapy Research reveals that curcumin, found in turmeric, is "at least as effective as fluoxetine (Prozac) in treating depression"—without any of the prescription drug's dangerous side effects, like blood pressure fluctuation, heart rate problems, weight gain, and suicidal thoughts. Read on.
2. A doctor’s top 4 reasons to eat organic
Sure, there are dozens of reasons to eat organic, but sometimes it helps to simplify: Dr. Amy Myers narrows down her top 4 reasons, and we agree with the importance she assigns them. (Although I'd add one more, recently proved in a new study: it tastes better!) Read on.
3. Study: Tart cherry juice increases sleep time in adults with insomnia
Researchers from Louisiana State University found that drinking Montmorency tart cherry juice twice a day for two weeks helped increase sleep time by nearly 90 minutes in older adults with insomnia. Their sleep tended to be "more efficient" as well. Montmorency cherries are not only rich in melatonin—a natural sleep-regulating hormone in the body—they also help prevent the degradation of tryptophan, the amino acid that helps produce melatonin. Read on.
4. We are what we eat, but that doesn't mean we can't change
Asking Americans to give up meat is a tall order. As Nathanael Johnson from Grist.org writes, it isn’t just about giving up the taste—“it’s giving up culture and tradition.” He suggests that the key to change in the American diet is not by telling people to stop eating something (and thereby implying “their culture isn’t up to snuff”), but providing them with new options, new recipes, and new ingredients. Read on.
5. Massachussetts to launch the most ambitious commercial food waste ban in the U.S.
Starting October 1, 2014, commercial institutions in Massachusetts that produce over a ton of food waste per week will be subject to a new law that requires them to donate the usable food, and then ship any remaining waste to: (a) a composting facility, (b) a plant that turns the scraps into energy, or (c) a farm that can use it as animal food. Read on.
Illustration: Katie Eberts
