Arthritis Relief From Your Spice Drawer

By Jon Herring

A recent article in USA Today told the story of a woman named Darci Jayne who was suffering from persistent pain and swelling due to arthritis. In an effort to improve her eating habits, Jayne took an Indian cooking class and began to season her foods with curry spices several nights a week.

An interesting thing happened: She noticed that the pain and swelling from her arthritis would subside shortly after she consumed the spicy food.

She might have been surprised by these results, but I’m not.

Turmeric, one of the primary spices in curry, is known to relieve the symptoms of arthritis. In fact, recent research published in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism showed that injections of turmeric almost completely eliminated joint swelling in rats that were bred to develop rheumatoid arthritis. Numerous population and laboratory studies have also shown that the use of turmeric is related to lower rates of breast, prostate, and colon cancer.

Spices - especially turmeric - are some of the most healthful and bioactive foods available. Not only will they add flavor to your food, but, quite possibly, years to your life. So next time you are at the supermarket, pick up a bottle of curry powder or pure turmeric to complement a wide variety of dishes. You may also consider purchasing turmeric as a nutritional supplement. You can find it at any health food store.

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It’s Good to Know: First-Year Costs of New Pets

By Suzanne Richardson

Thinking of getting a pet? Just keep in mind that it could be more of a financial commitment than you bargained for.

Here’s how much, on average, it costs to take care of some popular pets for the first year. (Averages include food, medical care, grooming, toys, carriers, collars, and other accessories.)

• Small bird: $195
• Fish: $235
• Small mammal (like a mouse or hamster): $340
• Guinea pig: $645
• Cat: $715
• Small dog: $810
• Rabbit: $911
• Medium dog: $1,190
• Large dog: $1,580

(Source: American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals}

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Word to the Wise: McGuffin

The McGuffin is a plot device (named by Alfred Hitchcock and often associated with his films) that motivates the characters and advances the action. It’s something the entire story is built around - and seems to be about - yet has no real relevance.

Example (as used by Hap Erstein in a review of the play Monty Python’s Spamalot): "As in the film, God - or at least his legs and finger - urges King Arthur to go on a quest to find that ultimate McGuffin, the Holy Grail."

Michael Masterson
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These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise [Issue #1942, 01-18-07], the Internet's most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com/.

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