In July 2002, preliminary data from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) were published in JAMA, showing that combined hormone therapy (estrogen and progestin) increased the risk of breast cancer, stroke, and pulmonary embolism. Major media outlets interpreted early signals from the study as definitive danger, and the announcement led to an instant and dramatic decline in the use of hormone therapy. On Nov. 10, the FDA announced that it is initiating the removal of broad “black box” warnings referencing risks of cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, and probable dementia from hormone replacement therapy products for menopause. When FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary spoke publicly about the shift, he didn’t mince words. He said the media had frightened women away from a potentially life-changing therapy, and he noted the difference between estrogen-only therapy and synthetic combination regimens. He acknowledged, openly, that the “fear machine” had begun long before the scientific data had been fully understood. He also said something that struck many women deeply: “After 23 years of dogma, the FDA is stopping the fear that has steered women away from this life-saving treatment.” The new FDA guidelines do not signal a new fad or a sudden reversal. They mark a return to evidence-based medicine—the kind that millions of women should have received all along. Hormone therapy is not appropriate for every woman, and it is not a cure-all. However, it is a powerful tool, and for the right woman at the right moment, it can restore a quality of life she thought she’d lost forever.

Be y'all blessed in this holiday season and that God gives you healing of your body, soul and mind and that God gives you the desires of your heart! Happy thanksgiving! 😇😎🎉

Cinnamon Cinnamon has been used to flavor foods and beverages for thousands of years. There are many types of cinnamon, but the most common varieties are Ceylon or "true" cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), grown primarily in Sri Lanka, and cassia cinnamon (Cinnamomum aromaticum), which is grown throughout southeast Asia. The bark is stripped and peeled to harvest spice-grade cinnamon, while the leaves, flowers and fruits of the plant are used in cooking as well as traditional herbal remedies. The type of cinnamon plant as well as the method of harvest are important factors in both taste and health effects. Rich in antioxidants, Cassia cinnamon has been used topically as an insect repellent, while Ceylon cinnamon is promoted as a dietary supplement for GI upset. While most people are unlikely to overconsume cinnamon, when taking supplemental quantities, it's important to ingest only the Ceylon variety, preferably organically grown. Cassia cinnamon contains a chemical called coumarin, which can be harmful to the liver. One of the most studied health conditions for which cinnamon has shown promise is Type 2 diabetes mellitus. A 2011 meta-analysis published in the Journal of Medicinal Food determined that cinnamon intake results in a statistically significant lowering of fasting blood glucose levels for people with Type 2 diabetes and/or prediabetes. Another benefit of cinnamon for diabetics and prediabetics is cinnamon's ability to lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Cinnamon also has clinically demonstrated antitumor and anti-inflammatory properties. Nutmeg Used in sweet and savory dishes around the world, nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) is a spice that has been valued for centuries. Closely related to mace, nutmeg is the seed of the plant and mace, the dried covering around the seed. Native to Indonesia and a fundamental commodity on the Silk Road spice trade, nutmeg is now widely grown across the tropics. Nutmeg has a unique flavor profile, mixing warm, exotic notes with an aromatic pungency; it's so potent, nutmeg was once thought to ward off the plague. Other purported health benefits have been substantiated in modern times, making this spice a truly valuable component of both your spice cabinet and your herbal apothecary. Some benefits of nutmeg that are backed by science include:

Despite no evidence of its effectiveness to prevent disease, public health agencies and the medical community insist that infants and children between the ages of 2 and 12 months require up to four shots of the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV). Now new research finds a substance in turmeric, curcumin, may outperform the vaccine in providing long lasting protection against potentially deadly lung damage in infants.