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Alternative Medicine – Is It a Good Choice for You?
I’m a big proponent of alternative medicine and have turned to it many times in my life. I especially like to investigate what might help with any health issues I’m having before I turn to a prescription drug. Sometimes, I’ve turned to alternative health practices after traditional ones have failed me as was the case with my battle with chronic depression. Today, I’d like to explore with you three topics around alternative medicine you may find helpful. What is Alternative Medicine Alternative medicine is a general term for various treatments and therapies that are not considered part of conventional medicine. It has become increasingly popular in recent years as…
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Is Organic Really Healthy?
We think of organic food as healthy, but is organic really healthy? It offers certain advantages for sure, but if we believe it to be universally “healthy”, we’re being a bit naive. Much of food labeled “organic” is still processed food, so here are several reasons why organic foods may not necessarily be a guaranteed healthy choice. First of all, what’s the definition of organic? Organic refers to the way agricultural products are grown and processed. It usually means the food or the ingredients in the food have been grown without synthetic pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge (yes really! gross, but true!!), genetically modified organisms (GMOs), or ionizing radiation. In…
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Are You Making Yourself Sick with Seed Oils?
Unveiling the Health Dangers of Seed Oils. Often promoted as healthy alternatives to traditional fats like butter and lard, seed oils are found everywhere in our modern diet. Extracted from various seeds, such as soybeans, sunflower seeds, canola, and corn, seed oils have gained popularity due to their high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and low levels of saturated fats. Recent research, however, is now shedding light on the potential health dangers of seed oils. Let’s look at the risks associated with these oils and explore alternative choices for a more balanced, health-conscious diet. The Composition of Seed Oils: Oils: …
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Cruciferous Vegetables
Cruciferous vegetables give you a ton of health benefits! Encompassing a broad variety of nutritious foods, the cruciferous family is recognized for its exceptional dietary and therapeutic qualities. You may be wondering which veggies are cruciferous. They include broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale, radish, rutabaga, turnip, arugula, bok choy, collard greens, watercress, mustard greens, and kohlrabi, to name just a few. Power Packed, They Have Tons of Benefits! These power-packed vegetables are rich in essential nutrients and provide a wide range of vitamins, such as Vitamin A, C, E, and K, and minerals like calcium, iron, selenium, and zinc. They are also excellent sources of dietary fiber, which aids…
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Fatty Liver Disease
Do you know what Fatty Liver Disease is? This past Friday, I went to see my nurse practioner, who is a great guy! Time for my yearly physical which I hadn’t had in 2 years! That comes under the heading of do as I say, not as I do. When I see David, we talk about a bunch of different things. He brought up the Blue Zones which he has recently discovered and told me he and his wife are going to Sardinia, one of the Blue Zones, for vacation. He’s a very cool guy. Part of our discussion was about fatty liver disease, how it’s becoming an epidemic and…
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Adopting a Healthier Diet
Embracing Persistence: Overcoming Challenges in Adopting a Healthier Diet Embarking upon a journey to adopting a healthier diet is a commendable decision as it promises long-term benefits for your overall well-being. However, your transformation will not be without its challenges. It requires persistence—a steadfast commitment to making positive dietary changes despite the hurdles that may arise along the way. In this article, I want to share with you the importance of persistence in changing to a healthier diet and to shed some light on common obstacles you may face on your journey. Understanding the Significance of Persistence When it comes to adopting a healthier diet, persistence will serve as the…
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Food and Mood
8 Foods That Can Help Improve Your Mood Your food doesn’t just impact your waistline, it can also affect your mood. Consider that everything you eat is broken down and absorbed by your body. Of course, it can certainly have an effect on your mood. The food you eat impacts how you feel, so let’s dig into food and mood. Just to give you an example, consider for a moment how eating a piece of chocolate impacts your mood differently than eating a plain baked potato. Pretty different, right? See how what you put into your body matters to your body and your mind: Fermented foods – Fermented foods are…
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5 Ways to Improve Hair and Nail Health
Concerned about your hair and nail health? Healthy hair and strong nails go hand-in-hand. Both your hair and nails contain the same tough protein “keratin” which is responsible for creating the fibers which make your nails and hair grow and stay strong and healthy. If you take steps to improve your hair health, there’s a good chance you’ll boost your nail strength too. If you’ve ever worried about losing your hair or have issues with thinning hair, committing to caring for it is a good idea. It’s a good idea to be particularly cautious about hair care if you chemically treat your hair in any way: coloring, straightening, etc. Healthy…
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Brain Health and Diet
The hallmark signs of Alzheimer’s are sticky beta-amyloid plaques and tau tangles in your brain, so let’s talk about Brain Health and Diet. How would you like to have “almost 40% lower odds” of having enough plaques and tangles in brain tissue to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s? How would you like to discover a delicious diet that can actually reduce your risk of Alzheimers Disease? It is possible, and ongoing research is supporting this. I don’t know about you, but the minute I can’t remember a name or a word, I get totally on myself about my brain health. Both my parents suffered with dementia. My Dad’s was with Parkinson’s…
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Eating Out Of Boredom
Have you ever gotten mid-way through a snack, only to realize you’re not actually hungry – just bored? Scientists have explored the concept of boredom eating for some time, suggesting it could stem from a range of factors, including the sense of pleasure we get when we eat. But, how do you stop eating out of boredom? When we’re bored, we may eat out of habit or in an effort to fill an emptiness we feel inside. It’s pretty common for most of us to reach for food when you don’t have anything else to do. While eating out of boredom from time to time isn’t necessarily something to worry…