Tired of Vet Bills?

Do you make a lot of trips to the vet’s office? Do you spend your hard-earned money on vet bills because your dog suffers from chronic ailments? Give your dog or cat the nutrition he needs, and chances are you can spend your money on other things rather than giving it to your veterinarian.

Nutritional deficiencies are often the cause of chronic ailments in pets. Most holistic vets believe that improving a pet’s diet will boost health and vitality and often restore chronically ill dogs to health.

Pets need to eat a variety of fresh, whole foods. A balanced, raw, home-made diet provides the nutrients pets need to heal from the inside out. Continue reading “Tired of Vet Bills?”

These Three Most Important Food Groups Are Key to Eating Healthy

The best most desirable diet for superior health should be made up primarily of three basic whole food groups. These foods are adaptable for everyone and will supply adequate amounts of all the nutrients required for the maintenance of optimum health, including high-quality proteins in sufficient amounts. It is important to eat healthy and create your daily menu from foods of these three key food groups that are indigenous to your area and grown locally (on organic farms whenever possible). Make sure that your diet is composed of a variety of fresh whole foods from these three food groups.

#1. Grains, Legumes, Beans, Seeds, and Nuts – This is the most important and potent health-building food group of all. The good nutrition of these foods is unsurpassed because they contain the secret of life itself – the germ! The germ is the reproductive power and spark of life in all seeds, and it is essential to life, health, and reproductive ability. This food group contains all of the essential nutrients for human growth and maintenance of health. Even though all grains and seeds are beneficial, it is best to predominantly eat those that your ancestors ate and those that are grown locally. Continue reading “These Three Most Important Food Groups Are Key to Eating Healthy”

Vitamin Water – A Health Drink That Enhances the Benefits of Drinking Water or Silly Sales Gimmick?

Many people drink vitamin water and believe they are consuming a health drink, but that’s like believing cotton candy is good, fat free food. Let’s look at the small print on a bottle of vitamin water. The flavor we’ll investigate for this article is kiwi-strawberry, which the label suggests will improve your “focus”.

The first thing we notice about the ingredients is that there is not one mention of kiwi or strawberry, only “natural flavor”, which could be anything from sugar to MSG. In fact, on a bottle of supposed kiwi-strawberry “nutrient enhanced water beverage” the label states that this health drink contains less than 1% fruit juice. What is really in this vitamin water and is it a health drink? Upon closer inspection we see that it is really a bottle filled with distilled, de-ionized water, sugar, isolated vitamins and minerals. Continue reading “Vitamin Water – A Health Drink That Enhances the Benefits of Drinking Water or Silly Sales Gimmick?”

Even With a Nutritious Diet, You May Be Deficient in These Supplements

Americans this year will spend over 40 billion dollars on supplements, meal replacements, and sport nutrition products, a number that will continue to rise. But do supplements really work? Studies are mixed, but supplements seem to be beneficial when there are deficiencies in one’s diet, and food quality is less than optimal. Head to any grocery store and you’ll see that it’s more difficult than ever to navigate your available choices and find the whole and wholesome foods buried among the processed, junk and fake food.

Even if you strictly follow a nutritious diet, most Americans are lacking in at least a few nutrients because we don’t eat the way our ancestors did (you know… the whole animal) and our soil is depleted of the nutrients it once had so the plants and animals we consume are less nutritious. Continue reading “Even With a Nutritious Diet, You May Be Deficient in These Supplements”

Boost Your Immune System, Naturally

Prolonged stress and tension during these difficult times may lead to a compromised immune system. It may also result in a general lack of energy, “run down” feelings, lethargy and a pattern of physical ailments. Colds, infections, fatigue and malaise may all be linked to compromised immunity system. Constant stress and anxiety are often large contributors to an overall physical vulnerability. These are signals, alerting you that it’s time to make a few simple changes in your life, leading to a stronger and healthier immune system, in a natural and healthful way. Continue reading “Boost Your Immune System, Naturally”

Are You Hooked on Junk Food?

Just as the nicotine content in cigarettes is increased to ensure addiction, processed foods are full of sugar (which is addictive in itself), high fructose corn syrup, MSG, synthetic flavors, chemicals and salt, in order to cause you to become addicted to them.

When rats were fed a high sugar diet, they showed all the signs of drug withdrawal when researchers attempted to remove the sugar. The study clearly showed a link between the brain’s pleasure chemicals (called opioids) and cravings for sweet, fatty and salty foods. The changes in the rats’ brain chemistry were the same as those of drug addicts! Continue reading “Are You Hooked on Junk Food?”

How Does Fibre Protect Your Heart?

What is Fibre?

There are two types of fibre- soluble and insoluble but most fibre-rich foods contain some of both. It is also considered either dietary or functional. The dietary kind of fibre is the indigestible part of plants that we eat, like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans and nuts. This is obtained naturally from whole foods. The functional kind of fibre is extracted or prepared in a lab. It’s the type of fibre that is found in supplements or fibre-enriched foods.

Experts say that it’s best to aim for a balanced diet rich with plenty of fibre-laden foods. According to them, it is the whole pattern that seems to have an effect so it is hard to pick out exact foods as food is a complex thing.
Heart-Health Perks

Continue reading “How Does Fibre Protect Your Heart?”

DIY Face Masks – Are They Worth Your Time?

You’ve probably seen it on Pinterest. You may have even tried one or two of the DIY face mask recipes you found online. Egg whites mixed with lemon juice promising to shrink pores and tighten skin. Banana masks promising glowing, clear skin based off of the ingredients it holds within its yellow peel.

But are these masks actually beneficial to your skin? The short answer to this is no. In fact, some of these ingredients may actually be causing harm to your skin. But don’t get me wrong, certain natural ingredients can have a moisturizing or exfoliating effect when used properly, but in order to gain any of the vitamins and nutrients you are trying to nourish your skin with, whole foods are not going to be how you achieve this. Continue reading “DIY Face Masks – Are They Worth Your Time?”

Akaline Vs Acidic Debacle

Alkaline diets have no science to support it at all. There is absolutely nothing to support any of the claims.

In fact, the only research done on blood pH is to help people avoid being too alkaline or acidic.

You see, the blood must remain in a very narrow range: 7.45 to 7.6. Individuals have their set pH and no food on the planet will change it.

Here’s how ridiculous some of the alkaline people are.

1: Eat alkaline foods – then they name the top couple: apple cider vinegar, cabbage, apples. Continue reading “Akaline Vs Acidic Debacle”

10 Commandments For Kitchen Safety

“Nonna, can I please wash the dishes?” pleaded Ally, my eight-year-old granddaughter. Ally is like most kids, she loves to help in the kitchen. Although she’s eager to wash dishes , I’ll guarantee, that in four or five years the sight of dirty dishes won’t be so exciting. Today, helping to wash dishes is fun, as she’s learning how things work. She’s learning to appreciate whole foods and what makes a nutritious meal by helping in the kitchen.

Involving kids with meal preparation gives them an opportunity to have multi-sensory experiences with various foods. This is especially valuable when introducing new food items or when changing the family’s diet from processed foods to whole foods. In fact, multi-sensory learning is foundational when transforming a picky eater to a healthy eater.

So how do you avoid common kitchen hazards, especially for children? As valuable as tactile experiences are for appreciation of nutritious foods, when children are helping you in the kitchen, it takes only one unguarded moment for an accident to occur. Injuries and potential food poisoning are less likely if you adhere to the following sage advice. Continue reading “10 Commandments For Kitchen Safety”