Summer is upon us. The plants are in full bloom, and the sun feels great on your skin. The longer days give you more energy. There are barbecues, beaches and pool parties with your name written all over them! Since you will be spending all that time soaking up the sun, there a few facts you may be happy to know about sunlight and the healing powers of Vitamin D. Vitamin D has gone on for years as the single most underrated nutrient and only recently did it begin to get it’s moment in the spotlight. Research is showing that Vitamin D is known to help prevent osteoporosis, depression, prostrate and breast cancer and even affects diabetes and obesity. If that is not enough to get you to throw your bikini on, maybe these facts from “The Healing Power of Sunlight and Vitamin D-an exclusive interview with Dr. Michael Holick”, by Mike Adams will help persuade you.
By Lucille Chi •
June 20, 2009
Organic red potatoes are in season and make a delightful accompaniment to any meal. Their bite size is great for all sorts of side dishes. These little lovelies taste good boiled and mashed, baked and browned, tossed in a summer salad or simply enjoyed on their own. Red potatoes are just as healthy as they are delectable. According to the World’s Healthiest Foods:
“Analysis of Red and Norkotah potatoes revealed that these spuds’ phenolic content rivals that of broccoli, spinach and Brussels sprouts, and includes flavonoids with protective activity against cardiovascular disease, respiratory problems and certain cancers.”
Women experiencing menopause and peri-menopause often wonder if there is anything they can do alleviate their symptoms naturally. Hot flashes, headaches, mood swings, weight gain, fatigue, sleepless nights and decreased libido are some common symptoms that can be reduced by some simple diet and lifestyle changes. With all the debates on hormone replacement, isn’t it nice to know you have the power to change how you feel naturally.
Eating fresh, locally grown fruit as opposed to imported fruits shipped from far-off places keeps you eating in season and more in harmony with your environment and climate. We all know a healthy lifestyle is key to optimum weight, longevity and abundant energy. Fruit, used as part of your healthy lifestyle, has many nutritional qualities for your body.
As the temperature rises, eating raw fruit in the summer months is cooling for the body and is great for those who are overstressed or overheated from hot climates or excessive mental strain. Using fruit to satisfy your sweet tooth can help you begin to leave behind chemically processed and refined sugars. Although fruit juice is very cleansing, the fiber content is lower then that in the whole fruit. Since fruit contains lots of natural sugar without the extra fiber, you should be cautious of energy or moods swings. In it’s whole form, fruit offers you more fiber which helps to balance the natural sugars that can cause dips in your blood sugar levels for some people.
Whether you have fresh fruit for a light breakfast, a midday snack or evening treat, enjoy nature’s sweetness instead of refined sugars and buy seasonal organic whenever possible.
Here are a few summer fruits and their health benefits.
By Lucille Chi •
May 2, 2009
Hop over to the beautiful San Francisco Clary Sage Organics boutique anytime you’re free between Sunday, May 3rd and Sunday, May 10th, and when you buy something they‘ll donate a portion of their proceeds to The Trust for Public Land. “The Trust conserves land for people to enjoy as parks, gardens and other natural places, ensuring livable communities for generations to come.”
So stop by with Mom in mind, becuse you’re invited to “take a peek at our Spring offerings at Clary Sage Organics. We’re sure you’ll find something for the mom, grandmother, wife, aunt, girlfriend, daughter or sister in your life!”
By Lucille Chi •
February 9, 2009
The olive tree contains great symbolism. We all know and love the beautiful branches depicted in art, the delicious olives, and olive oil naturally, but did you know that olive leaves are medicinal and healing? Olive leaf extract comes from the leaves of the olive tree, and the leaf contains antioxidants as well as antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory healing properties.
Recorded history of olive leaf’s medicinal use dates back thousands of years, as it was used by the ancient Egyptian and Mediterranean cultures as a medicine and health tonic. Olive leaf is the first botanical cited in the Bible as well. Now modern natural medicine has rediscovered the healing leaves of the olive tree.
These days, olive leaf is known in science worldwide to be anti-aging, and an immunostimulant, that can also act as a natural antibiotic. In fact it was recently proven that an extract made directly from fresh olive leaves was shown to have an antioxidant power almost double green tea extract and 400% higher than Vitamin C.
By Cate Nelson •
February 6, 2009
At age 5, Connah Broom faced aggressive childhood cancer called Neuroblastoma. Tumors stretched from his neck, through his torso, and down one leg. Chemo didn’t work. The doctors, afraid to operate so near vital organs, sent him home to enjoy his final months with his father and grandparents.
That was in 2007. Now, his grandparents claim going organic and other alternative treatments have saved Connah’s life.
By Jessica Gottlieb •
October 2, 2008
Ditch the prescription and pucker up!
This is going to be short, but it’s good and it matters. Balms with Benefits is the rockin-est thing to hit the shelves in ages. It’s a simple concept, you get a lip balm and add quality aromatherapy to it so that the loveliness on your lips cures what ails you.
I’m sure it’s been done before, but I doubt it’s been done like this. My kids and I got all eight flavors in the mail last week. They’re pretty. Don’t discount pretty, pretty matters. Alexander and Jane were immediately taken by the rainbow of colors, they removed each lid and sniffed.
And then the horrible happened. Alexander (age seven) said, “Mom, what’s PMS?”
*sigh*
So we had a little talk about why Mommy feels compelled to wash the windows every month while shrieking, “dont’ touch anything!”
Truth be told, I ditched the PMS tube, because without it I’d never clean up around here.
By Lucille Chi •
September 20, 2008
Massage has many important health benefits as it reduces tension and anxiety, increases blood circulation and helps with pain. Massage greatly reduces stress, which leads to most major diseases. When it is integrated into your wellness routine, massage can help you maintain physical, mental and emotional well being. Learn to treat yourself once in a while, just like you do when you go out to dinner, and remember to tip.
Major health benefits of massage include:
- Calms the nervous system and allows a sense of relaxation and well being to set in.
- Massage reduces held tension in the body and eliminates anxiety.
- It Improves blood circulation, and improves how oxygen and nutrients go to the cells, giving you enhanced immune function.
By Lucille Chi •
May 21, 2008
Only yesterday we talked about magical Source Naturals Wellness Formula. If you are looking for a great match for health support naturally try Wellness Elderberry Liquid Extract along with it. In fact, the entire Wellness line of products is designed to support the body’s defense system when under physical stress of any kind.
Featured here is Source Naturals Wellness Sambucus nigra Immune System Support Wellness Elderberry Liquid Extract and let me share that it works [...]
By Lucille Chi •
May 20, 2008
Wellness Formula is a blend of healing ingredients,
The immune system is our guardian angel if you will, it heals us with unconditional love, responds quickly to outside influences, and protects the body in microscopic, unconsciously controlled ways. When illness attacks hit, there is a way to consciously address these problems to support your natural healing system. The answer is Wellness Formula. It works very well when allergies or colds strike, and when we encounter extreme conditions and need a boost.
A key benefit of the daily wellness vitamins are increased and sustained antioxidant defense.
The maker Source Naturals provides a nice overview on how to befriend your immune system with this formula and explains the benefits of the blend:
