Health | Wellness | Yoga

I want to exercise. Seriously, I do. I want to in the way that makes me get up and put on workout clothes every single morning because TODAY, if nothing else happens,there will beyoga or a hike in the woods. When the children come home, my daughter says with big smile on her face, You do yoga, mom? She (and just about everyone else Ive ever met) knows how much I long to do yoga and hike in the woods. She seems genuinely excited for me, until I say, Um no. I meant to but it seems I never did actually DO itStrangely, she shows no judgement of her pathetic mother.Clearly, the same cannot be saidfor me. I feel sort of pathetic okay, terribly so. At least, I did until today when I was hiking in the woods.Somewhere around 17 years old, I started to put on the weight. It seemed in my blurry memory that I went from little girl to an overweight young woman in one fell swoop, like when I stopped growing up I just kept growing out. But, it was not so.Afew years ago, I was looking at old picturesa...

written by Dr. Tina Marcantel, NMD Editors Note from Rebecca Snowden, All Things Healing Assistant-Editor of Naturopathy: Its great to see patients and consumers taking charge of their health; however, all too often their efforts to supplement their diets are in vain, which could result in side effects, interactions and wasted money. Dr. Marcantel offers us some perspective on a few of the issues that can present in cases like these. I recently had a new patient who came to see me with complaints that included headaches, nervousness, and irritabilityeven her co-workers were beginning to make comments about her short temper. As Alice and I talked I learned that she had seen another naturopathic doctor some time before who had recommended certain dietary food supplements for her. She also had done some online research on her own and was buying supplements from a couple of different Internet websites. I asked her to bring in everything she was taking so we could get a better idea of her d...

Something akin to what we now know as vodka first appeared in Poland in the 11th century. Called gorzalka, the vodka prototypes were used as medicines. By 1534, a treatise on herbs professed thatvodka could serve to increase fertility and awaken lust. Hot diggity!Although many still indulge in the medicinal benefits of a martini, vodka has a surprising array of alternative uses that can save money and be kinder to the planet than the harsh chemicals it can stand in for. And with so many uses, it makes sense to have one bottle of vodka rather than array of otherwise specific products.So just what can the versatile vodka do around the house? 1. Febreze without the guilt If you douse your clothes and home with Febreze to remove odor, you can do the same with vodkabut without the cyclodextrin, and without supporting a company that tests on animals. (Im talking to you, Proctor & Gamble.) The alcohol in vodka killsbacteria which cause odor, and vodka is basically odorless, as far as booz...

Have a taste for salty dishes? You may want to keep an eye on your level of potassium.An essential ally to diets high in salt, potassium encourages the kidneys to excrete sodium, keeping blood-pressure in check. Potassium also acts as a buffer to an overly-acidic pH level, which helps prevent bones and muscles from deteriorating.Experts suggest adults get 4,700 milligrams of dietary potassium per day. Whats the best way to get that? Whole foods are a safer and more natural source than supplements. The list below shows common foods with the highest levels of potassium. When eating fruits and vegetables, opt for raw, roasted, or lightly steamed, as boiling tends to deplete levels of potassium. 1,000 mg Beans, white (1 cup, canned) Baked potato (8 ounces with skin) Beet greens (3/4 cup, cooked) Edamame (1 cup shelled, cooked) Fish, halibut (1/2 fillet) Lima beans (1 cup, cooked) 750 mg Papaya (1 large) Plantains (1 cup, cooked) Sweet potato (1 cup, cooked) Tomato sauce (1 cup) 500 mg Avoc...

By Katherine Butler, Mother Nature Network The season for sneezin It starts with a tickle in your throat. Then your eyes start watering like a sprinkler system on a hot day. As you reach for a tissue, you notice birds singing from their nests as freshly bloomed flowers bob in the sunlight. Spring has sprung, and it has kicked your allergies into high gear.And it turns out, youre not alone. Americans are experiencing one of the worst allergy seasons in years. Dr. Clifford Bassett, an allergist in New York City, told the Wall Street Journal, If we tabulated our phone records and compared [allergy complaints] quantitatively to the previous eight or nine years, were seeing a volume of at least three to four times greater a day. So where are the worst spots for allergy sufferers? Here are the 12 worst U.S. cities out of 100 ranked bytheAsthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA)for allergy sufferers for the 2011 spring season. < 1 of 13 >

By Nikki Jong, Caring.comFor busy women of all ages, five foods boast high scores in essential nutrients iron, calcium, magnesium, vitamin K, folate, vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids, in particular. Best of all, these foods are easy to find at practically every grocery store, no matter where you live, and each of them takes less than 15 minutes to prepare. 1. Broccoli Broccoli is practically unrivaled among all foods when it comes to protecting against cancer. Its powerful phytonutrients not only help neutralize carcinogens, but they also stimulate detoxifying enzymes that help the body rid itself of cancer-causing and other harmful toxins. Indole-3-carbinol, another compound found in broccoli, is particularly healthy for women; its been shown to reduce the risk of breast and cervical cancers and helps suppress the spread of existing cancer. This green vegetable also happens to be one of the richest food sources of the flavonoid kaempferol, which has shown protective benefits agains...

The liver is arguably your bodys most important detoxification organ. It helps with the digestion and metabolism of fat, and detoxifies your body of harmful pollutants, food additives, and other toxins. Here are four herbs to help cleanse your liver: Milk Thistle (Silybum Marianum) The primary medicinal ingredient in milk thistle is called silymarin. This compound protects the liver by inhibiting damaging substances in the liver that cause liver cell damage. Silymarin also stimulates liver cell regeneration to help the liver rebuild after it has been damaged. Silymarin also helps to prevent the depletion of the nutrient glutathioneone of the most critical nutrients for liver detoxification.Silymarin in milk thistle seeds is not very water-soluble so does not extract well into tea. Instead, take a standardized extract containing about 140 mg of silymarin for liver cleansing and protection. Dandelion Root (Taraxacum Officinale) Nature grows a liver-cleansing pharmacy every spring. It is ...

You all know Im a big fan of vaginas. Vaginas and I are like peas and carrots. As the Girlfriend Gyno, author ofWhats Up Down There, founder of OwningPink.com, and a general lover of women, I think vaginas rock. Which is why I spoke at the BlogHer keynote aboutwhy we cant say vagina on national television. Its why I traveled around the country speaking to college women about how awesome vaginas are.And check this out! The top ten most trafficked posts on Owning Pink are about you guessed it VAGINAS. 10 Vagina Posts Youre Sure to Love 15 Crazy Things About Vaginas The Pretty Pink Pussy Tour Sperm Trumps Vagina, WTF? 20 Things Every Woman Should Know About Vaginas How Long Are Normal Labia? Part 1 of Dr. Lissa Rankins Love Your Labia Series Want a Raise? Wash Your Vagina Things You Dont Tell Your Doctor (But Should) What, We Cant Say Vagina? Questions You Should Ask Your Gynecologist Vaginal Rejuvenation Surgery So theres a reason my fans started calling me VaJesus (no irreverence inte...

ByJessie FanoQuestion: Whatsthe big deal about sex and orgasms?So, what is the big deal about sex and orgasms? I recently came across this question sent in to the WTF? Questions Youd Ask Your Sex Therapist If Only You Had One post.Of course, if youre trying to have a baby, the answer is pretty simple, but I didnt think the questioner was really asking about the procreative aspects of sex.My first personal reaction was because its fun! But then it occurred to me that I know people who feel guilty when they experience sexual fun, which makes it difficult for them to fully enjoy it, much less own their sexuality fully and freely. This struck me as too bad, and I got curious to see if there were other reasons to have sex reasons that might help them overcome the guilt. I poked around a little and came up with some good stuff.4 Tips for Tantric Sex Sex is Good For Your Body, Mind and Stress Levels Sex is basically a form of exercise. Even if youre not hanging from the chandeliers, your c...

By Marlo Sollitto, AgingCare.com EditorResearchers have proven what many caregivers have already figured out on their own: sometimes theres nothing like a good cry to make you feel better. Crying is cathartic.Neuroscientist and tear researcher Dr. William H. Frey II, PhD, director of the Alzheimers Disease Research Center at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota, studies the affects of crying. Hes spent over 15 years studying crying and tears.Research shows: 85% of women and 73% of men felt less sad and angry after crying On average, women cry 47 times a year, men cry 7 times a year Crying bouts last 6 minutes on average Tears are more often shed between 7 and 10 p.m. According to Frey, crying is not only a human response to sorrow and frustration, its a healthy one. Crying is a natural way to reduce emotional stress that, left unchecked, has negative physical affects on the body, including increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and other stress-related disorders.Here are f...

If youre having trouble catching some Zzzs, the solution could be as close as your kitchen. By Leah Zerbe Sleep restores us. And not getting enough of it can put us at greater risk of heart disease and cancer. Sleep even makes us smarter. Yet researchers are finding that more than 10 percent of the population is chronically sleep deprived. If youre having trouble slipping into and remaining in Dreamland, dont dart straight to prescription sleep drugs, which can be habit-forming, harmful if you live with certain conditions, and even downright bizarre! (Some people develop sleep-eating and sleep-driving habits when using prescription sleeping pills.) The good news is, science has found that many foods, drinks, herbs, and other natural sleep aids can help put you to sleepnaturally. In fact, just this summer, researchers made the connection between tart cherry juice and getting adequate shut-eye. Here are some natural food- and drink-based sleep aids. 10 Food and herb fixes for allergy rel...

A kiss can be a comma, a question mark or an exclamation point. Thats basic spelling that every woman ought to know. -Jeanne BourgeoisIf ever there was a communication mechanism that predicted the destiny and longevity of a romantic interlude, it is the kiss. What we say with our kisses, as well as how they are received and understood is the basis for all the sexual conversations that they initiate. The dynamics of a great kiss are multi-layered and complex, as the moment our lips meet a cascade of neural messages and chemicals are released in the brain that transmit multiple messages of intimate connection, sexual potential and even euphoria.Indeed, when we kiss deeply, our hearts beat faster and our breathing becomes deep and irregular, mimicking the response of intense exercise.Indeed, the human art form of kissing has developed over millennia and our ancestors believed that the kiss carried the power to unite their souls, as they presumed that the spirit was carried on the breath.T...

How to Desire More & Still Appreciate What You HaveOne of my Get Out Of Your Own Way students posted this in our private forum. With her permission, I wanted to share it because I think this is such a common way we prevent ourselves from dreaming big. InPart 1 of the Overcoming UnderDREAMing series, we tackled how to practice dreaming big so you exercise this skill like a muscle. In Part 2, well address how to be grateful and still live the mojo-full life we all deserve. I feel like I was just getting to a place where I was feeling content and loving what is in my life, and now I feel torn. Like, darn, I knew my life wasnt perfect. Thats why Im here [taking theGet Out Of Your Own Way e-course]. But now I feel really focused on whats NOT the way I want it to be and like that has really spiraled me downward into a place where it all feels so overwhelming where do I start? There are so many actions I could take, so many areas I could work on and it all feels terrifying. I feel scared...

Would you like a mouthful of pesticides with your peach? If youre eating non-organic peaches, thats what you may well be getting. According to the 2011 edition of Environmental Working Groups Shoppers Guide to Pesticides,the majority of conventional peaches contain two or more pesticide residues; in fact, peaches as a group rack up a combination of up to 57 separate pesticides.Pesticides can be extremely toxic to human health and the environment. Both U.S. and international government agencies have linked pesticides to nervous system toxicity, cancer, hormone system disruptionand IQ deficits among children.Each year Environmental Working Group analyzes nearly 100,000 produce pesticide reports from the USDA and the FDA to determine what fruits and vegetables contain the highest (the Dirty Dozen) and lowest (the Clean 15) amounts of chemical residue. The information is presented in a handy shoppers guide. I love this list, it is so practical and puts the ability to eat safely in everybo...

I recently contacted an ayurvedic day spa in America, hoping to get the owner to be my resource person for a magazine article I was writing.The pleasant, peppy-voiced owner of the spa spoke to me at length over the phone about how she had set up and built her business, despite the pressures of bringing up two children, keeping house, and adjusting to a different culture (she is from India).It was all wonderful to know, until she said, I added Ayurvedic to my spa name, and thats when the business really took off. People here are quite taken with that word, you know. Frankly, I didnt even know Ayurveda had all these deep principles!I listened in stunned silence as she went on to tell me how the Americans stumped her with their questions about the doshas and chakras and such, until she was forced to Google search, make notes and at least demonstrate some verbal knowledge of the subject. Based on her study of similar spas, she downloaded a Whats Your Dosha? form and now hands out the pop...

By Paula Spencer, Caring.com senior editorNobodys thinking about danger while relaxing in a warm shower. Yet potential danger, even the fatal kind, is all around you in a bathroom. According to a 2007 research report by the Home Safety Council, preventable home injuries are the fifth largest cause of death in the U.S. And safety researchers point to the bathroom, along with the kitchen and stairs, as the most dangerous zones in the house.Here are five threats that often trip up (sometimes literally) the unwary: 1. Water, water everywhere The most basic part of the water closet the water in the sink, tub, and shower is probably its number-one danger. More people are injured, even fatally, in bathroom falls than in any other room in the house. Trouble is, water doesnt always stay where it should. Poorly fitting shower curtains and simple wet feet are two of the biggest causes of water winding up on the bathroom floor. A better way: The ideal shower has a shatterproof glass door, rathe...

However you try to define meditation, its not that. Swami BrahmanandaThrough many years of being involved with meditation we have seen how easily people miss the point, mainly because they take the practice and themselves too seriously. Many try to meditate but their minds are so busy they get frustrated and quickly believe they are no good at it. Others turn into die-hard advocates of a particular method or technique and become like a salesperson trying to sell their product.Just like yoga, people want to own meditation and to believe that their technique is the best one. They give it a name: TM or Vipassana or Mindfulness and sometimes make outrageous claims of what can be achieved, but that is not the point. Meditation is not a technique being quiet happens by itself, not because of following the breath in and out, reciting a specific mantra or creating a visualization.Teachers, through their compassion, created the many methods and techniques in order to help their students to co...

Whether you read about Jennifer Aniston crediting yoga for her hotness (yes, that really happened) or you heard about all the fun yoga and musical festivals that are sprouting up this summer, theres no denying that yoga is becoming more and popular across America. So if youre thinking about walking into your first yoga class, here are a few tips. 1. Get familiar with the poses . Before you walk into your class, Id definitely recommend getting familiar with the different poses so you wont be constantly looking at the person in front of you or next to you as you move through class (which you might be doing anyway). Check out our yoga poses for beginners library so you become somewhat familiar with the different poses before you walk into class. Itll definitely make you feel a bit more comfortable. 2. Shop around. There are many different styles of yoga in some styles youll move more and in other styles youll hold poses for a longer period of time. But its pretty safe to say, that theres...

By Melanie Haiken, Caring.comEvery year, it seems, the needle on the scale is a little harder to budge. You cut back on portion size; you say, No, thank you, to dessert; you sign up for an aerobics class and yet your jeans size goes up and your energy level goes down. Whats going on?Starting in our early 40s, our bodies go through a series of changes that affect the very core of our being. Thanks to hormonal and other changes, the very growth rate of our cells slows down. Some of these changes are the result of the natural aging process. Its just something we have to learn to work around.Sometimes, though, somethings gotten off track, metabolically speaking, and theres an underlying medical issue that needs to be dealt with before the usual weight-loss measures will have any effect. Heres a ten-step plan for understanding the challenges that prevent weight loss over 40, and for learning how to overcome them. 1. Get to know your bodys new biological rhythms and adjust to them. In long...

Cant seem to get enough snooze time? If youre tossing and turning all night and restless during the day, you may be sabotaging your sleep without knowing it. Test your sleep IQ and find out our expert secrets for sleeping well, no sheep-counting necessary. < 1 of 15 >

One of my former coaching clients, a single woman who had made a personal commitment to a period of celibacy, reported a complication, so to speak, on her journey. She said that the ahem uh well you know the extra energy? has sort of become a challenge. Basically, without using sex as an outlet for the extra energy, she feels quite distracted by a feeling that we might call turned on. Perhaps it is best described as a high? Or a buzzing, sort of elevated feeling?I thought of stories about athletes refraining from intimacy before the big game, artists who were rumored to be celibate, but there was no time to Google it, so I went with my gut energy is energy, no matter how you spend it or where it comes from its just like cash if you dont blow it at one store, then you can take it with you to the next one. I told her that many of my other clients are frustrated because they dont have the energy (or time) to spend on all of the things that are important to them. We brainstormed about pos...

What if feeling depressed is actually a positive thing that makes you healthier? By Ginny Graves, Prevention Dina S.* had already been on antidepressants for a few months when she got the most devastating news of her life: Her beloved husband of 10 years had been killed on impact when the small plane hed been piloting crashed. The next days and weeks were a tearful, painful blur, but even as she grieved, the 50-year-old was dismayed by her own response to the tragedyit felt hollow somehow, as if she werent able to access the full depth of her anguish. So after 2 months, she made a decision that was squarely against her doctors advice: She gradually weaned herself off the antidepressants. 5 Solutions to help you thrive under stress. As the effects wore off, her emotional agony became profound. I was tortured by the fact that I did not get a chance to say good-bye to my husband, Dina says. She took a leave from work and let her raw emotions take over, aware that this meant she would have...

German scientists discovered that magnesium supplementation improves the bodys sensitivity to insulin and significantly reduces the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. In the study published in Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism , 52 overweight, insulin-resistant, non-diabetic men and women were given 345 mg of magnesium or a placebo every day for the length of the study, which was six months.They found that the people taking magnesium had better-balanced blood sugar levels and improved insulin sensitivity, as well as improved blood pressure. The researchers concluded that each 100 milligrams of magnesium supplemented with may lower a persons diabetes risk by 15 percent.Diabetes currently affects approximately 8 percent of the population, or 24 million Americans.Magnesium is found in pumpkin seeds, spinach, Swiss chard, soy beans, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, halibut, black beans, and navy beans. Copyright Michelle Schoffro Cook, PhD. Adapted from the free e-newsletter Worlds Healthie...

It may come as a surprise to learn that there are any reasons to love bacteria, but after poring through medical journals, I found that there are at least 20 reasons to love probiotic (health-supporting) bacteria. They include:1. Digestion and NutritionCertain types of bacteria help ensure that food is adequately broken down and that the nutrients are synthesized and absorbed by the body.2. Anti-Toxic EffectsProbiotic bacteria help to ensure that toxins are not absorbed into the blood and at the same time, help keep harmful bacteria in check. This aids gut and immune system health.3. AllergiesResearch by scientists at the Osaka University School of Medicine found that certain probiotics were effective in the treatment of nasal and sinus symptoms linked to allergies. Published in International Archives of Allergy and Immunology , the specific strains they found to be effective include: Lactobacilli casei, Lactobacillus paracasei, L. acidophilus, and Bifidobacterium longum. 4. Inflammat...

Yes. You read that title right. Its heartbreakingly true. According tothis article, 15 OB/GYN practices in South Florida have set a weight limit and will not accept obstetrics or gynecology patients who weigh more.People dont realize the risk were taking by taking care of these patients, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel quoted Dr. Albert Triana of South Miami as saying. Theres more risk of something going wrong and more risk of getting sued. Everything is more complicated with an obese patient in GYN surgeries and in [pregnancies]. Why You Should Be Pissed At These Docs My tweeps are already all a-Twitter about this news, and Im livid right along with them. Who are these doctors to determine who can and cant get care? And how dare they discriminate against a woman just because shes overweight? You can guarantee that the overweight woman probably beats herself enough for her obesity, and the last thing she needs is to be rejected by her doctor when shes pregnant or in need of gynecologic ...

Stress: 1. a force that strains or deforms 2. mental or physical tension Websters New World DictionaryDespite our best intentions for creating a lifestyle free of stress, we have only succeeded in creating more stress than our mind and bodies can really handle. The good news is there are practical ways to reduce stress in your life without having to spend a whole lot of money. It is important to note that there are both environmental and emotional factors that create stress in your home, workplace and outdoors in a city. You might feel the stress of a difficult job, or the emotional strain of a negative relationship, but toxic chemicals in your cleaning supplies or exposure to electro-magnetic frequencys from your computer and T.V. may not be so easy to detect. They can, however, cause stress to your immune system and eventually will need to be removed or reduced.For now lets take a look at some ideas for dealing with stress on a daily basis. By taking one-step-at-a-time you can at le...

Ayurveda gives ginger the status of a virtual medicine chest. Thats because this wonder spice has time-tested digestion-friendly properties, in addition to its numerous other health benefits.In India, we use ginger liberally in our daily life. Ginger-spiked chai is a household favorite, and its grandmas antidote of choice for battling cold and flu.On millions of dining tables in India, youll see matchsticks of fresh ginger that have turned a soft pink from being soaked in lemon juice and salt: a zingy accompaniment to our favorite dinner, dal-chawal.Lets give this knobbly root a closer look. Next: 10 Terrific Benefits of Ginger < 1 of 3 >

I seem to be on a body-care roll these days. Perhaps its the cold weather, keeping me inside and giving me time to think about all the ways in which my daily routine is still in need of an eco fine-tuning. I tend to live pretty low on the consumer scale, but I still buy commercial (all-natural) toothpaste; I still use shampoo in plastic bottles (though I buy as local, handmade, toxin-free as possible); I still buy commercially-made soap (Dr. Bronners but I could make my own, or buy more locally if I really tried). So the other day, when my friend sent me a link to a mom-blogger who posted her homemade, non-toxic, eco-friendly shampoo and conditioner routine to her site, I thought, okay, I should really try this. I was definitely (still am) thrown off a little by the caveat, You might have a transition period that lasts from a few weeks to a few months, where your hair reacts with excess oil to the lack of shampoo. Now, my hair is naturally fine, naturally prone to being oily, and natu...

By Melanie Haiken, Caring.com senior editorWe hear a lot about the risks of lung cancer but less about a lung condition thats just as common and debilitating, called COPD. This term, which stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , refers to a combination of two conditions, emphysema and chronic obstructive bronchitis, both of which are caused by lung damage from smoking or exposure to other lung irritants, such as asbestos. Whether youre a smoker, a former smoker, or just unlucky, you can develop COPD as a result of damage to your lungs that gradually limits their ability to take in oxygen.When your lungs arent functioning at full capacity, symptoms begin to appear that are sometimes so subtle that you may not recognize them as such. And because COPD is a progressive disease that cant be slowed without treatment and because its the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. its critical to catch it as soon as possible. Here, seven signs that your lungs are trying to tell you...

Yesterday, a friend messaged me to say that shed given someone information about my work as a Life Coach: I gave your info to one of my dearest friends. She is married and has two kids. She just this morning wrote the words for the first timeI am gayand I am terrified. And just like that I was naked again, folded up on the elegant tile floor of a walk-in shower that I had designed myself just months before. The remodel was needed, mostly, I think to save our marriage, the way some people have a baby because that will make them something that they suspect they are supposed to be. Remodeling the outdated space also gave the downstairs a half-bath, evicting the four children and their slew of friends from the bathroom that led directly into our bedroom. It was a major renovation, which turned the biggest bedroom in the house into a true master suite and when I left, the Master let the children use that bathroom anyway. He had a broken heart and filled it with whoever was around. First, th...

Unless you encase yourself in bubble wrap, youll never be bruise-proof. But you can lessen the likelihood of a small bruise turning into a large one and help the black-and-blue fade quickly. Heres how. By The Editors, Prevention 1. Ice it. If the skin isnt broken, put ice on any injury that might bruise, advises Monica Halem, M.D. Ice constricts the blood vessels and prevents more blood from seeping into the skin, she says. A cold pack also minimizes the swelling, numbs the area, and reduces pain. Wrap the ice pack in a thin cloth to protect your skin, put it on the bruise as quickly as possible, and keep it there for 15 minutes. If you suspect the bump will blossom into a severe bruise, continue this ice treatment every couple of hours for the first 24 hours. Allow your skin to warm naturally and dont apply heat between ice packs. Get more amazing and effective natural remedies here 2. Then add heat. After 24 hours, use heat to dilate the blood vessels and improve circulation in th...

By Natural SolutionsWhy most deodorants stinkand six alternatives that work. Of all our daily grooming habits, swiping a deodorant stick or squirting antiperspirant under our arms may be the one we dare not neglect. Hot yoga classes and subway etiquette practically demand it. But when it comes to choosing a BO buster, we should care just as much about how it affects us as it does othersand that means avoiding the harmful ingredients many deodorants contain.Why? Unlike soaps or shampoos, these cosmetics are not rinsed off, says Philippa Darbre, breast cancer researcher at the University of Reading in England. The entire application is left on the skin each time, allowing for the accumulation of chemicals in the underarm and upper breast area.The sensitive skin in these areas eventually absorbs this chemical overloadsome of which is toxicinto the underlying tissue, where it can wreak havoc in the body.Beware of these primary offenders : Aluminum compounds Found only in antiperspirants, a...

I recently received an interesting comment about my post Two New Eating Disorders. The commenter suggested that orthorexia should be considered a disorder because it deviates from a mere concern with healthy eating. It is not a healthy, beneficial way to relate to food.After considering what she said, I now feel very conflicted about the issue. On one hand, like I said in my previous post, the term disorder is merely a label and a somewhat arbitrary one. A persons style of eating simply is what it is. There is not one universal norm when it comes to our relationship with food. If ones relationship with food is not optimal or deviates from what we typically think of as an emotionally balanced way of relating to food, it simply means that the person is at a point in his or her spiritual, emotional, and psychological path where his or her way of thinking about eating may not be the healthiest. To label that a disorder only creates a stigma, which leads to feelings of guilt and low ...

Every evening, countless homemakers in India pour out a spoonful of ghee (clarified butter) into their pans. The ghee melts into a clear, fragrant pool. Cumin seeds crackle. Slowly, the air fills up with the irresistible aroma of asafoetida powder. A few quick manipulations later, there is dal: a beautiful shade of yellow, piping hot, and ready to pleasure the palate.Today, I invite you to share with me the delights of dal-chawal, the dinner millions in India love! It is amazingly simple to make, rich with health benefits, and absolutely delicious.First things first, the recipe:Split yellow lentils/pigeon peas/arhar dal, washed: 1 cup Ghee (clarified butter): 1 teaspoon Asafoetida powder/hing: a pinch Cumin seeds/zeera: tsp Turmeric powder/haldi: tsp Salt to taste Freshly washed and chopped cilantro leaves to garnish the dal Lemon juice ( optional)Boil the dal with salt and turmeric powder in enough water to get a nice, soupy consistencyas thick or thin as you like, as long as the d...

While I have used and loved Toms of Maine for years now, it was recently pointed out to me that Toms uses sodium lauryl sulfate in their toothpaste. It was also recently pointed out that sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) are either palm oil or coconut derivatives. If you missed my article on palm oil and the truly awful ramifications of this industry on the shrinking rain forests and on the helpless orangutans and other animals that call those forests home (orangutans are actually killed by hand if they dont die in the clear cutting and burning of rainforest to plant palm trees) check it out. All this pointing got me thinking I should find out which toothpastes I can feel good about buying.Other than the potential destruction to orangutans, SLS is considered to be toxic, and according to the NaturalHealthCentre.com, Although SLES is somewhat less irritating than Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, it cannot be metabolised by the liver and its effects are therefore ...

Just when you thought you knew everything there was to know about protecting yourself from damaging rays, we uncovered some sneaky sun-care truths. By Kimberly Goad , Womens Health Slathering on sunscreen is the best way to ward off evil rays, but dont put blind faith in its efficacy. The Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit research organization based in Washington, D.C., reviewed nearly 1,400 sunscreens in 2010 and found that only 8 percent made the grade in terms of preventing skin cancer and signs of aging. (Scary, right?) So choosing the right one is critical. These fascinating facts and tips will help keep your skin healthy this summer and beyond. 2011 Best beauty products 1. Some Dangers Lurk Within A form of vitamin A is added to some sunscreens to minimize the aging effects of the sun. Whats not to love about that? Potentially plenty: Researchers with the National Toxicology Program say retinyl palmitatea vitamin-A compound used in at least 40 percent of American sunscree...

Back in the mid-20th century, the act of balancing nutrition was in a state of arrested infancy. This was a time where processed foods, fast foods, and general foods of convenience were rapidly pushing out the square meals of yesterday. There arose a need, particularly for young America, to establish some sort of nutritional guideline and the ever-popular Four Basic Food Groups were created, and they were as follows:(1) Meats, poultry, fish, dry beans and peas, eggs, and nuts (2) Dairy products, such as milk, cheese, and yogurt; (3) Grains (4) Fruits and vegetables. Below is a graphic (circa 1956) that demonstrates this concept for otherwise clueless children: Then in 1992 the United States government realized some of the apparent limitations of these four basics, and erected the iconic Food Guide Pyramid (see graphic below): This pyramid was highly successful at relentlessly bewildering generations of children and is likely the cause of the current obesity epidemic (OK, that last part...

Tis the season for sunshine, barbecues, and mosquitoes.Before you grab that DEET-based mosquito repellent in an effort to keep the mosquitoes at bay, consider that research at Duke University links diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) use to brain damage no wonder the mosquitoes leave at the first scent of it. Perhaps wed be wise to follow their lead and stay clear of the stuff. Check out my article tomorrow on the dangers of DEET mosquitorepellents.Here are six natural options that mosquitoes hate and youll soon love. You dont have to worry about DEET-induced brain cell damage or scratching yourself to death. And, if you still think that natural means less effective, keep reading. Some of these mosquito repellents are MORE EFFECTIVE THAN DEET! 1. Citronella The old standby. Be sure youre using pure essential oil, not fragrance oil, which is ineffective and potentially dangerous. Most mosquito repellent products containing citronella are made with fragrance oil and should be avoided. If youre...

Weary, sore eyes after a couple of hours, not to mention a workday on the computer, are a common reality for many. Add to that the leisure hours spent online, engaging social media, or looking at a smart phone screen, and its no mystery why this is a growing condition, according to the American Optometric Association. This condition even has a medical name: Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). In addition to eye strain, people who suffer from CVS often also suffer from headaches, dry and irritated eyes, and fatigue.With so many professions being computer dependent, its nearly impossible for most folks to decrease the time they spend staring at a screen. So, what can you do to protect your vision? 1. Proper lighting: Whether reading a book or an illuminated digital screen, a desk lamp aimed at your workspace helps minimize eye strain. 2. Proper positioning: Setting your computer in a position so that you are looking downward several inches tends to be the most comfortable for the eyes. Also...

OK. I admit it. Im a little intense about the subject of sugar. As a child I was practically raised on white sugar and feel that it had a part in my many health problems which took me decades to overcome. You can read some of my story here: Dianas Story. It was a different time back then. There was not the awareness about nutrition that there is now.Im going to give you strategies to avoid sugar and the cravings, but first I must make a few points about why you would want to do such a thing. This was already dealt with briefly in my previous article on artificial sweeteners. 7 Reasons to Give Up Sugar: 1. Sugar is Not Food It is empty calories with little nutritional value and actually causes your body to steal vitamins from other vital organs in attempt to process the sugar, leaving you undernourished. 2. Sugar Makes You Fat It is filled with calories that are stored in your fat tissues. 3. Sugar Makes You Nervous There is a clear link between excess sugar and disorders like anx...

Things get left behind.No, I dont mean THAT kind of left behind. I am talking about how you are busy, and I am busy and some things just dont get done. It weighs on us. It leaves us feeling like inadequate losers. Okay, that is a little strong but only a little. Overflowing to-do lists that carry over, day after day, because we cant get it all done leave us feeling heavy, drained, and overwhelmed.Today, Im giving you a free pass. It is Guilt-Free-Catch-Up Day! Take some timeas much or as little time as you can spare, and dedicate it to wiping out the dread you feel around old, incomplete tasks. What to do? Anything old that feels heavy run errands, return calls, pay bills, clean out the email inbox whatever you need to do to lighten your load.For example, sometimes my inbox gets out of control. It is where I hold things I still need to act on and normally, I start to get sort of antsy when if it gets above 25. If Im not careful, it creeps up and this morning, I had 105 emails in my i...

What are whole foods? In this video from the Nourish Video Encyclopedia, pediatrician and healthy food advocate Dr. Nadine Burke discusses the difference between processed and whole foods. Whole vs. Processed Whole foods are ingredients in their raw, unprocessed, and unrefined state, in contrast to foods that have undergone processing and preservation methods like curing, cooking, drying, or canning. As Dr. Nadine Burke, of San Franciscos Bayview Child Health Center, says, whole foods are the kind of foods that dont need a label.Food processing extends the harvest through the seasons, prevents spoilage during storage and transport, and transforms raw ingredients into something new. Many of the foods we enjoy today, such as butter, cheese, pickles, jam, and ketchup, would not exist without food processing. Natural preservation techniques, such as fermentation, can even enhance the nutritional benefits of certain foods.Some modern processing methods, however, deplete raw foods of vital n...