Think my family never eats junk food, only eats free-range organic everything, and that my kids have probably never heard of Oreos? Think again.
I’m asked all the time how I handle junk food situations with my family. The truth? It doesn’t bother me that my kids eat junk food sometimes. Youth gatherings, parties, Bible class rewards, extended family get-togethers, road trips – my kids are actually presented with not-so-healthy options pretty frequently. Freaking out about it would mean I’d have to freak out about it pretty frequently. Ain’t nobody got time for that.
We eat as many nutrition-packed foods at home as possible. We put loads of fruits and veggies on our table every day. We make most of our bread products from freshly ground organic wheat. I super-duper care about my family’s nourishment and emphasize the importance of good food to keep our bodies as healthy as possible.
I just recognize that this issue isn’t worth causing rebellion to rise up in my boys’ hearts, nor is it worth hurting relationships with people we love. This is not about making a compromise. I’ve simply decided not make a thing out of what I don’t believe needs to be a thing.
Do I love seeing my boys with a can of root beer in one hand and a Twizzler in the other? Well, I much prefer to watch them choose which kind of homemade dressing they want on their salads. But if in fact they have just burst through the door after a teen event with said junk food items in hand, and their deep man voices are rumbling with fun facts about the evening as they give me the run down of who was there and what the Bible study was about and who won the game they played afterward – I’m pretty sure it would be unwise of me to interrupt and launch into a lecture about red food dye.
And anyway. My kids already know that stuff isn’t good for them. I don’t need to say it again or give them the eyebrow of disapproval. They’re just having fun, being kids, and enjoying their friends and social events. If it means they love hanging out with their Christian friends then I say bring on the root beer.
The older my boys get, the more food choices they make on their own. If you can possibly imagine, they like some of that stuff that comes out of a package. It’s like they’re normal or something.
But they also really like healthy food. They each need more than the fingers on both hands to count all of the fruits and vegetables they love. They understand the dangers of margarine. They love (most of) my nourishing homemade food. They eat loads of great food every day without complaint.
I think it’s important to teach our kids all we can about good health and good decisions. I think it’s important that we provide our families with as much nourishing food as we can. Then, I think it’s important to smile and listen with excitement when talking to our kids about what they did while they were out and what they were offered to eat at a party – even if their tongues are blue and their finger-tips are orange.
What are your thoughts on this? How do you handle junk food situations with your family?
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Original article and pictures take heavenlyhomemakers.com site
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about aromatherapy certification.
In our last Skeptic’s Guide to Essential Oils post, we evaluated some of the current leading authorities in essential oils, namely the so-called “experts” and the essential oils MLM companies.
Today we’re taking a closer look at the truth about aromatherapy certification.
Find Out The Truth About Aromatherapy Certification
As I pointed out last time, every blog post and article seems to advise the reader to consult a certified aromatherapist, especially when speaking to essential oils safety.
Why do they do that? Is it because these certified aromatherapists have an advanced education that qualifies them to guide the average consumer through the jungle of essential oils information? Is it necessary to have aromatherapy certification?
*** Update: It’s been over a year since this was originally written and my tune has changed. I still believe experience is important and always recommend doing your own research before following someone’s recommendations. However, aromatherapy education can bring much balance and value for new and experienced essential oils users alike. Read on for more details. ***
“Consult a Certified Aromatherapist”
Certification Drop
I decided to follow the advice of all those articles and find some local aromatherapists. My main question for those with aromatherapy certification was this: what makes you an expert in this field? Once they answered that, I’d ask questions about safety, ingestion, etc.
I looked online, made inquiries through natural practitioners, asked my friends, and pursued several other avenues including education organizations. I was searching for certified aromatherapists who were not associated with MLMs or any other company in particular so that I could get an objective perspective, ideally someone locally.
I never really found what I was looking for. Several friendly aromatherapists came forward to chat with me about essential oils, but I did not find any kind of advanced training or new information in what they were telling me.
A Perspective on Aromatherapy Certification
After further digging, I found that people can get aromatherapy certification through different organizations. Often they do this as an add on to their positions as masseuse, naturopath, etc. They may also get their training through essential oils companies for purposes of personal use or, presumably, to help them sell product. There are some folks, however, who have a passion for natural living and want to grow in this area, as well as be a help and service to others.
People can earn aromatherapy certification in brick and mortar schools such as the American College of Healthcare Sciences in Oregon, or organizations where you can do online training such as The Aromahead Institute School of Essential Oils Studies. There are others, but those two seem to be popular and reputable.
An organization considered by many to be the top dog is the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA). Aromatherapists can apply to become a member of the NAHA if they pass their qualifications. Academic institutions can apply to be “approved” by the NAHA as well.
Often times people will see someone’s certification or reference to the NAHA and take that as a guarantee that their experience is vast and their recommendation is gold. As valuable as training can be, I would caution you to do your research anyway before following a recommendation. I found several articles (like this one from the University of Minnesota) stressing that entry-level training does not surpass extensive, hands-on experience.
Bottom Line on Certified Aromatherapists
Experience Drop
Learning and becoming educated in essential oils is a good thing, but I would suggest finding out what training a self-proclaimed certified aromatherapist actually received. I’m finding that some people claim or imply expert status when it’s not warranted, and I find that dangerous.
I think that it’s also important to note that there is no equivalent of a formally educated health professional in the essential oils industry.There is nothing similar to a doctor or medical professional in terms of hours or extent of training. That seems to be a possible misconception by consumers and not necessarily a view promoted by certified aromatherapists. I’m sure that if such a program did exists, many would enroll.
Bottom line: would you rather take advice and direction from someone whose sole claim to authority is a 200-ish hour certification program taken online (roughly half the hours required for associates degrees in other fields)? Or would you rather be guided by common sense and the advice of those with extensive experience?
I used to say I’d pick the latter. Nowadays, I’d say both are important. Someone relatively new in essential oils (1-3 years) would gain much by enrolling in an aromatherapy class, especially if they were planning on giving any kind of advice or recommendations to others. That’s why I’m taking one. But as with many such things, ongoing education and careful handling of essential oils is important as well. Finding a certified aromatherapists with years of experience and a passion for growing in knowledge is ideal!
How do You Find Someone with Extensive Experience?
If you dig around in the essential oils world long enough and intentionally push away the “fluff,” you’ll eventually come across those that have the training and experience you’re looking for. After a few years, I now know several reliable aromatherapists. But it did take a while and some persistent looking.
One suggestion is to ask around and see if those you know in the essential oils field can recommend a certified aromatherapist. Many organizations like those listed above have have alumni lists and some of those can be contacted via email. I do wish it was easier to find an aromatherapist, but most of the sites and databases I’ve found seem to be a little sparse or outdated. Let me know if you find something that is better for this task!
What About the Safety Issues?
Safety Drop
One of the biggest questions we have when it comes to essential oils is safety, right? Which oils, how much, what dilution rates, etc.
Well, as you can imagine I’ve been digging deeper into that as well and have come to what I believe is a reasonably educated stance on the issue. That’s what you can expect for the next post of the Skeptic’s Guide to Essential Oils.
Read more about Essential Oils:
Free Download: Mom’s Essential Oil Cheat Sheet
Would you like a resource to help you learn to use essential oils with your family? Download this free 3-page printable:
Basic guidelines for using essential oils around kids
A list of safe, kid-friendly oils essential oils
Helpful essential oil recipes
Click the link or image below to download the 3-page Mom’s Essential Oil Cheat Sheet. I’ll follow it up with more resources and free printables to help you on your essential oil journey. Grab your copy now!
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*FDA disclaimer: “These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.”
Original article and pictures take www.intoxicatedonlife.com site
Quick, think of 3 words used to describe you as a child. Even if all 3 are positive, they may have affected you more than you know.
HOW WE ARE
When we label our children, we’re telling them who we expect them to be. They may feel they don’t have permission to not meet those expectations. Have you ever said any of these things?
“You’re such a chatterbox, why so quiet today?”
“You sure are serious today. That’s not like you.”
“I know that’s not really your thing.”
You may be thinking to yourself “Okay, I may label my children, but I don’t actually say it out loud so it doesn’t count.”
But it does.
Can you honestly say that you’ve never avoided an activity because it might be too overwhelming for your “shy” child? It might have been something they would’ve enjoyed! Or told another they should be performing because they’re so “outgoing”? Perhaps they are extroverted in some situations, but not onstage.
Labels are limiting. We should recognize our children’s strengths and temperaments, but we must also recognize their ability to exhibit any behavior. For every label you can place on your child, there have been moments in their life when they have embodied a label that is completely opposed to it. Probably even more than you realize, because once we’ve put someone in a box we tend to keep them there despite evidence to the contrary.
So what’s a mother to do?
Any time you find yourself labeling your child, think of a time when they could not have been described that way. This will help you to recognize the temporary nature of labels and see your child for the multi-faceted being that they are. Then give them the freedom to be it!
To frame it another way, what if you were labeled as a “perfect” mother? You know, the one who is so “organized” and “together.” You’d probably feel pretty stressed out about having any less-than-perfect moments, right? Yikes. I’ll take seeing me for me over that impossible ideal any day.
WHAT WE DO
When I was younger, I loved to make art. Sure, tons of kids were better at it than I was, but I didn’t care because it was fun. Fast-forward to the 6th grade: there was a boy in my class named Connor, and he was “the artist.” Clearly I shouldn’t bother making art, because there can only be one, right? Not that it mattered anyway, because I was “the smart one.”
Of course everyone who praised my academic success by telling me I was smart was well-intentioned. But what I heard was that I needed to concentrate on what I was good at (academics), rather than on something I wasn’t so good at. No one was praising me for being creative, they were telling me I was smart.
So what could you say instead?
Instead of “You’re so smart!” say “Good job! I know you studied hard for that test.”
Instead of “Of course you made a nice painting, you’re naturally creative!” say “Wow, I bet it was really different working with paint since you usually draw. That looks great!”
Instead of “Great game, you’re so athletic!” say “You played great today! I bet you’ve been working hard at practice.”
The first statement implies that we have certain talents in life that come easy to us. The downside is when your child encounters something they don’t immediately excel in, they’re likely to give it up and go back to what’s comfortable to them. This is called a fixed mindset. By changing a just a few words you instead communicate to your child they’re capable of learning anything they wish to if they’re willing to put in the work (i.e. a growth mindset).
When we become mindful of how we’re labeling our children, we can stop. When we stop, they can begin to comprehend how unlimited their potential really is. They’ll recognize their ability to learn and pursue the things that interest them. Ditching labels won’t just expand their world, but yours as well!
Are you labeling your loved ones, or yourself? Have you had an experience where you’ve transcended labels others have given you? I want to hear about it in the comments below!
okay, maybe some labels are appropriate
Hate spam? ME TOO! I guarantee the privacy of your email address.
Original article and pictures take mostlymindfulmommy.com site
We have all been in the health foods store with a lot more on our natural health remedy wish list than cash in our pocket. It seems when you’re changing to a more natural lifestyle, there’s nearly 3,478 strange substances to research and purchase. And, let’s be honest; you can’t live without each and every one.
Here Are My Top 5 Items to Get You Started to a More Natural Medicine Cabinet Without Breaking the Bank.
You have surely heard the buzz about flax oils, fish oils, and fermented or raw cod liver oil (CLO). Oils which are high in omega 3’s, like cod liver oil, deliver loads of benefit to your body’s most crucial organs and systems, including high amounts of EHA and DHA, which are desperately needed in your brain and nervous system; vitamin D, which boosts immune function; cancer and autoimmune protection; bone health and more, and gobs of vitamin A, a fat soluble vitamin which supports the immune process, bone health, fertility, and eye health. Though CLO can be pretty pricey, only a very small amount is needed to supplement daily, about ¼ to ½ tsp. One hundred grams of cod liver oil contains on average 10,000 IU of vitamin D, and 100,000 IU of vitamin A, blowing the next sources of these vitamins out of the water. Recently, the gold standard of fermented cod liver oil’s safety was questioned, so you may want to opt for another, unrefined cod liver oil. Though you can get some of these benefits through plant oils, they are not as concentrated as their fishy counterpart.
Personally, I have seen the most benefit from unrefined cod liver than any other supplement in my child’s diet. Hands down.
Epsom Salts
Epsom salts, chemically magnesium sulfate, have long been used in baths to detox the body. It is said that they can relieve muscle pain, pull toxins out of the body, aid heart and circulatory systems, improve nerve function, and even lower blood pressure. Soaking in the salts also delivers a magnesium boost to our mineral-depleted bodies. Soak in ½ cup of salts 2-3 times per week. Epsom salts are easily found at any grocery store for under $5, but you can also order here. Adding in some essential oils or herbs never hurt either, and can prompt further detoxification. Some companies sell herbal Epsom salt blends.
Elderberries (sambucus) are known for their high antioxidant content and without-compare boost to the immune system; but also can improve tonsillitis, heart health, vision, lower cholesterol, and attack bacterial or viral infections alike. This go-to remedy for coughs, colds and the flu has been used in folk remedy for centuries in North America, Western Asia, North Africa, and Europe. They contain amino acids, tannin, carotenoids, flavonoids, and vitamins A, B and C. Not yet convinced of their magic? A study at the Bund.* (read entire name below if you’re German) Research Center in Karlsruhe, Germany, showed that the anthocyanins in elderberries work by boosting the production of cytokines, which regulate immune response. You can purchase dried berries, or purchase premade syrup if you do not want to make your own. If you purchase the berries, use this simple recipe (with your honey below!) to make a syrup even little tastes will enjoy.
Garlic
Another low cost option you can grab at any grocery, garlic. Garlic has antifungal and antibacterial properties, and has been used in ancient medicine for over 5,000 years. It can cure anything from prostate cancer, to hypertension, to even your common cold. I suggest having this little beauty around your home at all times for prevention and management of illness. Perhaps one of the most common childhood illnesses, the dreaded ear infection, has been shown to greatly improve with the use of garlic oil ear drops. Make your own, or purchase. For a simple preventative drink, smash a bulb of garlic and ingest, or mince a tiny bit and drink in a glass of warm water. For the colder months, or when a cold is ravaging your home, brew up some Fire Cider. In a bind, take advantage of garlic’s antibacterial properties and create a poultice of the herb for the wound.
Raw, Local Honey
Search the local farmer’s markets and ask the location of the hive, the season harvested, and if the honey is raw. Bee keepers may also be selling the propolis (which has its own health benefits) and beeswax (great for salves and balms), which you will want to sweep up. If you cannot find raw honey at your farmer’s market, check for another another local source here, you may also purchase online, but forego the benefits of allergy prevention and remedy that are created in your local honey (from your local allergens!).
Honey is one of the best all-natural sweeteners, but it also makes a knockout cough syrup, is a great salve for skin wounds, and is loaded with vitamin C and B vitamins. Honey has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, and you can’t beat the expiration date (never).Click here for more amazing ideas to make with your honey.
There are a bunch of natural remedies out there, and with time, you will find out what works on your family best.
Now, your only struggle is explaining to your husband why you need another bottle of elderberry syrup this week, scrounging up another $25 for your favorite essential oil, and “storing” all the main stream medicine in the garbage can.
What Natural Remedy Can You Not Go Without In Your Natural Medicine Cabinet?
* Bundesforschungsanstalt. How do you even pronounce that?!
Original article and pictures take modernalternativehealth.com site
The Top 10 Superfoods for Digestive Health Like this Post? Please Share the Love!
Today's post comes is shared here today with permission from Dr. Mercola. Some great info about common (and not so common) superfoods for gut health.
Before we dive in, I wanted to let you know about two amazing gut health summits that I highly recommend if people are interested in learning more about gut health, how to heal your gut, the role that gut health plays in our overall health, etc.
Sean Croxton's Digestion Sessions is an excellent resource. Sean continually puts together such amazing information in a high-quality, dynamic way. Such a vast amount of information all in an easy-to-use digital library. It is by far one of my favorite summits of all time. Learn more here.
The Heal Your Gut Summit was another favorite and featured some of my favorite speakers, as well as some new speakers that I have never heard of before. Another awesome digital library of both video and written content. Learn more here.
The digestive process seems simple on the surface. You put a food in your mouth, chew it up, and swallow. Then your body breaks down your food into components your body can utilize and absorb. Whatever’s left gets excreted as waste.
In reality, however, digestion is a complex process that can be easily sidelined by a number of factors, from not chewing your food enough to lacking enzymes, stomach acid, or the right balance of microbes to properly digest your food and absorb its nutrients.
The foods you eat can also make or break your digestive health, with heavily processed, genetically modified (GM), and sugar-rich foods among the worst offenders. If your diet is based on the latter, your gut is likely inflamed, possibly leaky, and putting you at risk of both chronic and acute health problems.
Cleaning up your diet with the digestive superfoods that follow can go a long way toward repairing the damage and healing your gut.1,2
10 Superfoods for Digestive Health
1. Aloe Vera
Fresh aloe vera gel is rich in enzymes and has antibacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral properties. It’s also a powerful anti-inflammatory, making it useful for soothing a number of digestive complaints.
Aloe vera juice can be helpful for acid reflux, for example, but ideally should be made from home-grown aloe with leaves that are 18 inches long before harvesting. Species that produce thick leaves are best.
Aloe also contains high amounts of an immune-stimulating polysaccharide, especially mannose, which has been shown to induce white blood cells to secrete interferon, tumor necrosis factor, and beneficial cytokines.
The benefits come from the inner gel of the plant, not the outer leaf. The inner gel can be combined with a lime or lemon and blended with a hand blender to make it more palatable when drinking. In addition, aloe vera has been found helpful for:3
Parasitic infections
Constipation
Crohn’s disease, colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
It forms the foundation because not only is it very easily digested, it also contains profound immune-optimizing components that are foundational building blocks for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. It is incredibly healing to your gut.
The GAPS diet is often used to treat children with autism and other disorders rooted in gut dysfunction, but just about anyone with allergies or less than optimal gut health can benefit from it, as it is designed to heal leaky gut. If your gut is leaky or permeable, partially undigested food, toxins, viruses, yeast, and bacteria have the opportunity to pass through your intestine and access your bloodstream; this is known as leaky gut.
When your intestinal lining is repeatedly damaged due to reoccurring leaky gut, damaged cells called microvilli become unable to do their job properly. They become unable to process and utilize the nutrients and enzymes that are vital to proper digestion.
Eventually, digestion is impaired and absorption of nutrients is negatively affected. As more exposure occurs, your body initiates an attack on these foreign invaders. It responds with inflammation, allergic reactions, and other symptoms we relate to a variety of diseases.
Leaky gut is the root of many allergies and autoimmune disorders, for example. When combined with toxic overload, you have a perfect storm that can lead to neurological disorders like autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities. Bone broth contains a variety of valuable nutrients of which many Americans are lacking, in a form your body can easily absorb and use.
This includes gelatin. The gelatin found in bone broth is a hydrophilic colloid. It attracts and holds liquids, including digestive juices, thereby supporting proper digestion. In addition, bone broth contains:
Calcium, phosphorus, and other minerals
Components of collagen and cartilage
Silicon and other trace minerals
Components of bone and bone marrow
Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate
The “conditionally essential” anti-inflammatory amino acids proline, glycine, and glutamine
3. Fermented Vegetables
Another key component of the GAPS program is the daily consumption of fermented foods, particularly fermented vegetables like sauerkraut and kimchi.
Fermented foods are potent chelators (detoxifiers) and contain much higher levels of beneficial bacteria than even probiotic supplements, making them ideal for optimizing your gut flora. Fermented veggies also contain high levels of antioxidants and fiber for optimal digestive health.
Just one-quarter to one-half cup of fermented veggies, eaten with one to three meals per day, can have a dramatically beneficial impact on your digestive health and your overall health.
If you ferment your own vegetables, consider using a special starter culture that has been optimized with bacterial strains that produce high levels of vitamin K2. This is an inexpensive way to optimize your K2 levels, which are also crucial for good health.
If you enjoy spicy foods, you might also want to give kimchi a try. Kimchi is a traditional Korean dish made from fermented vegetables and a spicy blend of chili peppers, garlic, scallions, and other spices.
It's common to find kimchi at almost every Korean meal, where it is served alone as a side dish, mixed with rice or noodles, or used as an ingredient in soups or stews. It's rich in vitamins A and C, and due to its fermentation process is also rich in beneficial gut-boosting lactobacilli bacteria.
4. Kefir and Coconut Kefir
Kefir (fermented milk) and coconut kefir (fermented coconut water) are two more options to add more fermented foods to your diet. Both are rich in probiotics and enzymes to promote healthy bacterial balance that is necessary for proper gut health.
Kefir is easy to make at home using organic, raw, grass-fed milk, or coconut water, and will contain far more probiotics than you can get in supplement form. In addition to beneficial probiotics, traditionally fermented kefir also contains:
Beneficial yeast
Minerals, such as magnesium
Essential amino acids (such as tryptophan, which is well-known for its relaxing effect on the nervous system)
Complete proteins
Calcium
Vitamins B1, B2, and biotin (B7)
Vitamin K
Phosphorus
If you don’t consume dairy or you’re looking for a different taste, coconut kefir is a nice alternative to support your gut health. As noted by the Epoch Times:5
“Coconut kefir will enhance hydration and recolonize your gut and mucous membranes with a wide variety of beneficial microflora. It also contains beneficial yeasts that seek out and destroy pathogenic yeasts in the body (like Candida) as well as helping clean, strengthen, and purify intestinal walls so it can become more resistant to dangerous pathogens like E. coli, salmonella, and parasites.
Coconut kefir also helps assimilate nutrients in the gut and enhances the usage of certain trace minerals and B-vitamins.”
5. Flax Seed Tea
Flax seed tea is simple to make by pouring 12 ounces of boiling water over one tablespoon of flax seeds, then letting it steep overnight (drain the seeds out prior to drinking). This simple beverage provides healing support to the colon due to its content of omega-3 fats, soluble fiber and lignans, which are anti-inflammatory and have a lubricating effect.6 If you have leaky gut syndrome or irritable bowel, give this tea a try.
6. Red Cabbage
Red cabbage is rich in the amino acid L-glutamine, which is known to help heal the soft tissue lining your intestines. It’s especially helpful for people with leaky gut, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, and irritable bowel syndrome. You can eat red cabbage steamed, juiced, or, perhaps best of all, fermented, which will add an abundance of gut-healthy enzymes and beneficial bacteria into the mix as well.
7. Chlorella
Chlorella, single-celled fresh water algae, is often referred to as a near-perfect food, with a wide range of health benefits. For starters, it promotes healthy pH levels in your gut, which in turn helps good bacteria to thrive. It’s also a potent detox agent for mercury and other heavy metals, which is useful since one of the symptoms of mercury build-up is digestive distress and reduced ability to properly assimilate and utilize fats. Chlorella is even rich in fiber, helping to tone the lining of your intestines and keep you “regular.”
8. Moringa
Moringa, sometimes described as the “miracle tree,” has small, rounded leaves that are packed with an incredible amount of nutrition: protein, calcium, beta carotene, vitamin C, potassium… you name it, moringa’s got it. No wonder it’s been used medicinally (and as a food source) for at least 4,000 years.7 From a digestive standpoint, moringa is high in fiber that, as the Epoch Times put it, “works like a mop in your intestines… to clean up any of that extra grunge left over from a greasy diet.”8
Also noteworthy are its isothiocyanates, which have anti-bacterial properties that may help to rid your body of H. pylori, a bacteria implicated in gastritis, ulcers, and gastric cancer.
9. Psyllium
The recommended daily amount of fiber is between 20 and 30 grams, but I believe about 32 grams per day is ideal. Unfortunately, most people get only half that or less. Your best source of dietary fiber comes from vegetables, and most people simply aren't eating enough veggies. One way to easily increase your fiber intake is to add psyllium to your diet.
Taking it three times a day could add as much as 18 grams of dietary fiber (soluble and insoluble) to your diet. In addition to supporting healthy digestion, soluble fibers such as psyllium are prebiotics that help nourish beneficial bacteria. These beneficial bacteria in turn assist with digestion and absorption of your food, and play a significant role in your immune function.
Please keep in mind that psyllium is a heavily sprayed crop, which means many sources are contaminated with pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. For this reason, be sure to ONLY use organic psyllium husk, and make sure it’s 100% pure. Many supplement brands use synthetic or semi-synthetic active ingredients that do not contain psyllium, such as methylcellulose and calcium polycarbophil. Some brands even add sweeteners and other additives, which you’re better off avoiding.
10. Chia Seeds
Chia seeds contain about 10 grams of fiber in just two tablespoons, and they’re rich in anti-inflammatory phytochemicals for soothing gastrointestinal distress. One of chia seeds’ greatest qualities is how easy they are to use. They have a mild flavor that makes them adaptable to a variety of recipes, and they’re gluten-free, which is perfect for those with celiac disease, gluten intolerance, or who are simply trying to avoid gluten. Chia seeds can be added to virtually any dish, from raw yogurt to applesauce to smoothies.
Keep in mind that chia seeds take on a gelatinous texture after they mix with a liquid, so if you prefer a crunch, sprinkle them on just before eating.
Avoid These Six Gut Health Disasters…
In addition to knowing what to add to your diet and lifestyle for digestive health, it's equally important to know what to avoid, and this includes the following. By avoiding the gut health disasters below and fortifying your diet with the superfoods mentioned above, you’ll be well on your way to optimal digestive health and wellness:
Antibiotics, unless absolutely necessary (and when you do, make sure to reseed your gut with fermented foods and/or a probiotic supplement)
Conventionally-raised meats and other animal products, as CAFO animals are routinely fed low-dose antibiotics, plus genetically engineered grains, which have also been implicated in the destruction of gut flora
Processed foods (as the excessive sugars, along with otherwise “dead” nutrients, feed pathogenic bacteria)
Chlorinated and/or fluoridated water
Antibacterial soap
Agricultural chemicals, glyphosate (Roundup) in particular
Original article and pictures take www.deliciousobsessions.com site
My grandma was famous for her angel food cakes. Also her coconut cream pies. And her chocolate chip cookies. She wasn’t allowed to show up to community or church potlucks without one of her signature desserts. You want to see the preacher get mad? Let Grandma come to a potluck without the angel food cake. She may as well have worn a pantsuit. Scandalous.
(Hey. There’s nothing wrong with wearing a pantsuit to church. Yeah, tell that to Grandma.)
Food during the time I was growing up was just…food. Sure, much of it was made with white flour and Crisco. Maybe my favorite song was the Oscar Mayer B-O-L-O-G-N-A song. Kool-aid was most certainly a regular part of our meals. But food wasn’t a thing like it is now. Now everywhere we turn we can find a person with severe, even life threatening, food allergies.
I am so mad and sad about this.
Food is such a great big issue now. I believe that through the past few decades we’ve destroyed what were once stable sources for food, added too many pesticides, tried too much genetic modification, gotten too used to opening boxes at dinnertime, and bought into lies that margarine and vegetable shortening are better than real butter and real lard. We were told to make bread the biggest part of our food pyramid and urged to drink skim instead of whole. Making money became more important than nourishment, so we began creating ingredients in factories (high fructose corn syrup, anyone?) as a way to cut costs.
Not only that, antibiotics have been given out like candy. Many of us have mercury fillings. The list goes on.
And now? Our guts are a great big mess.
Most of our digestive systems are so wacky, we can’t begin to digest food the way we were designed to, and it’s causing major problems for many of us. Maybe the problem for you and your family isn’t showing up in food allergies. Maybe instead it looks like ADD or other learning struggles. Maybe it looks like eczema. Maybe it looks like arthritis. Maybe it’s migraines. Maybe it’s depression. Maybe your hormones are out of whack. Maybe it’s an autoimmune disease.
Maybe so many things.
Now, before I get too mad and sad and verbal about it, I should resign myself to recognizing that yep, we live in a fallen world. Nothing will be perfect this side of heaven and that’s the truth.
But maybe I’m just sad that we can’t all go to a potluck and eat whatever yummy things we want off the potluck table.
I’ve been feeling all these feelings for years, but going grain free this summer really pushed me over to the sad and mad side of the mess we’ve made of our food. That’s the first I really had to experience depriving myself of some of the basics of life – like bread – and it suddenly made me want my grandma’s angel food cake. (This only makes sense if you can eat neither bread nor cake.)
Never before have I wanted to go back to when food was just food and we all ate and enjoyed and didn’t have to look up recipes on Pinterest that would tell us how to make a muffin without eggs, wheat, milk, bowl, spoon, air, or muffin tin.
So what do we do?
Well, being sad and mad sure hasn’t been helpful. Neither has feeling sorry for myself for not getting to eat a hot biscuit dripping with butter.
Is there anything we can even do? Does it even matter? Is this just life this side of heaven?
Hope for Wellness and Healing
I actually think there are some things we can do to help ourselves heal. I not only think so, I’ve experienced it. Healing can happen! No, it isn’t a fast fix. How can it be when it took us several decades to get here? But there really is hope for healing. After all, we don’t want to simply feel well. We want to be well.
1. Stop feeling guilty.
There are so many things I would like to go back and do differently in how I took care of myself during my younger years. I can’t tell you the emotional strife I’ve felt over my inability to take away my kids’ ailments, particularly when our youngest was suffering from chronic eczema for 7 very long years. During that time, I felt horrendous guilt over the fact that surely his sickness was my fault because of how I’d eaten poorly and taken antibiotics when I’d been pregnant with him. (Those alone are not the reason he had a chronic condition, by the way, but it sure was easy to blame myself while I watched my child suffer.)
I still sometimes feel the guilt when I see my oldest deal with environmental allergies. I feel it when I watch any of my kids struggle with lack of focus. When any of their weak spots rear their ugly heads. The guilt. It can overpower.
You guys, guilt helps nothing and only makes us sicker (more sick, whatever). Lay down any guilt you might feel over your imperfections, let God be God, and choose peace. I believe that’s one of the first steps toward both physical and emotional healing.
2. Stop being mad and sad.
Like guilt, anger and sadness over what can’t be changed helps nothing. Sure, we feel what we feel and we certainly don’t want to stuff our feelings. But taking a nice long soak in a bath of sadness certainly doesn’t find us in a place of being cleansed and whole. Choose to move forward with a positive attitude. Do all of this with prayer.
3. Drink water.
Prayer, water – they are practically on the same level of amazingness.
Just kidding, but not. Every time I’m struggling physically or emotionally my tangible go-to is to drink water. It’s amazing the help it offers, and I believe it’s because our bodies need water so much for good health. So…are ya struggling? Drink some sips of water – all day long. Breathe a prayer for healing while you drink. This simple practice can make a huge difference in our overall health.
4. Eat well.
If we don’t put nourishing foods in our bodies we can not even begin to help ourselves find healing. Don’t eat just to satisfy your hunger. Eat food that will offer your body something to work with – food filled with the nutrients you need so you can thrive. (Bologna doesn’t fit the nourishing criteria. Sorry, Oscar.)
5. Seek answers for overall healing.
I think steps 1-4 come first, because we need to focus on positive emotional health, hydrate ourselves, and give our bodies nourishment. But there’s so much more, beyond the surface, that we absolutely can do to achieve better health.
I’ve been learning so much during the past four years as I’ve been visiting my natural doctor and letting her help me detox my entire body, and as I’ve been researching all I can about wellness. Some of this detox journey hasn’t been fun. I’ve shared with you that I feel crummy sometimes as my body pulls out and flushes heavy metals and bad bacteria.
But do you know what I think? I think these temporary months of discomfort are a small price to pay (along with the kinda steep, albeit reasonable, monetary price) compared to the other more severe or life threatening health issues I might have faced down the road. I shouldn’t be amazed (seeing as God has created everything we need for wellness), but I truly am floored at the healing I’ve encountered through these years. My gut health is much, much better now. My lungs, my nervous system – everything has been showing huge strides of improvement.
So back to my feelings about food…
Well, the truth is that food is just more complicated than it used to be. This is where we are now. Thankfully, we know more than we used to about the dangers of Crisco and sugar. We know to make real food a priority instead. But beyond that, if we really want to be healthy and help our families to be healthy, we’re going to have to make some changes and get to work.
I’ve been living this for the past few years and truly, the work is worth it. I just heard this truth while listening to the Healing Your Gut summit and I love it: “We’re not trying to tell people to refrain from eating good foods. We’re trying to help people heal so that they caneat good food.”
Yes, yes, and so much yes!
We can all find healing and become healthy again so that we can all just eat. Food won’t have to be a thing. Food can just be…food.
Not that we should over-indulge in Grandma’s bread or angel food cake. This is a given.
Original article and pictures take heavenlyhomemakers.com site
Sometimes I feel all alone in this big old house full of men. It’s five-on-one here, with me being the only female in a house full of males. A husband, four sons, and me, the wife and mom, speaking a language all my own. How frequent it is that I speak sentences full of words no one understands.
Or so it seems.
Perhaps I do provide too many details when I share fun news. “Our friends had their baby!” I say, following up my announcement with the size, weight, details, details, details, and details that we all most certainly care about very much! I finally come up for air, and they all give an appreciative nod and a “cool” or a “nice” before zoning back into whatever it was they were doing before I started my speech.
Sometimes it seems like they aren’t listening. Sometimes it seems like they don’t care.
I know better though. They hear. And they definitely care. They just aren’t as interested as I am in the color of the darling bow the baby wore on her head on the way home from the hospital (multi-colored with flowers, thanks for asking).
My boys and I shop together, but I’m alone at the rack with cute sweaters and adorable tops. We have a blast anyway, meeting back up and high-fiving over the clearance deals we’ve all found. We laugh together about the weird shorts that are still on the rack for so many obvious reasons, but wonder together if we should actually buy them for Asa because if anyone could pull off such ridiculous looking apparel and make it look cool, it would be him.
The fun I have with my household of men truly takes my breath away, even while there are times I long for any one of them to get excited with me about how great it would be if we actually put all the shoes in the closet where they belong. The fact that no one but me can see the pile of books on the steps that needs to be carried upstairs blows my mind. How do they walk over and around them twelve times but never once see them and pick them up to take them to the place they need to go? I do not understand this.
But I’ve learned that the fact that they don’t always see doesn’t mean that they don’t care. And just because their faces don’t light up over the news of a new baby or the sight of a clean kitchen doesn’t mean they aren’t excited or appreciative.
As their mom, I will continue to share too many details, because I can’t help it and after all, someone needs to prepare them to hear all the details and words their wives will some day share with them every day, am I right? My arms will flail and my eyes will light up and my voice will show ridiculous inflection as I tell about the exciting deal I found on strawberries and a new recipe I’m excited to try as a result, even though they will only shrug after hearing my details and simply say, “Cool. Can we have some?”
But then there will be the day when the basket that holds the rolls of toilet paper in the bathroom becomes empty and I will look up to see my 15-year old son get a full package out of storage, open it, and fill the basket just like I have been doing for years. He wasn’t asked to do this chore. I didn’t even know he knew my system. But there he is. Filling baskets with toilet paper.
These are actual baskets in our actual bathroom,
filled with actual toilet paper by an actual teenage boy.
Apparently, they do see. They do notice. They do care.
My eyes light up over this! I gush with appreciation, using many words and flailing arms to express my thanks! He responds with a wordless shrug, because after all, it’s just toilet paper.
No, Son. It’s more than that. Here, let me tell you in detail why this is means so much to me…
Original article and pictures take heavenlyhomemakers.com site
The Simplest and Best Grilled Chicken (My Very Favorite Summer Food!)
You should know that there is much significance in me sharing that this Best Grilled Chicken is my favorite summer food. After all, do you know how many great summer foods there are to compete with this chicken?
There’s cold watermelon. There are strawberries, which can be made into this amazing Strawberry Cheesecake Parfait. There’s fresh corn on the cob (hello, I’m from Nebraska). There are peaches and nectarines. There’s asparagus and okra (sure I’m weird, but these actually are summer favorites of mine).
I guess the best news is that all of the above mentioned summer food choices can be served withThe Simplest and Best Grilled Chicken, creating the best meal on the planet, amen and amen. (By the way, remember how our grill was broken? My genius husband was able to fix it. I am so very thankful!)
What I love about grilling is that all I have to do is throw out some simple fruit and veggie side dishes to complete the meal. Anything goes with this chicken. Any veggie. Any salad. Any kind of potato, pasta, or rice. Any fruit.
And even better: You can make it with any sauce you like!
Great Sauce and Dressing Ideas to Marinate The Simplest and Best Grilled Chicken
I do read the labels (no high fructose corn syrup or other nasty ingredients allowed!). I am searching for good prices. But I’m appreciating the ease of opening a bottle and dumping it on chicken to marinate for our dinner. Sooooo simple!!!!
Do you see how easy it is to make real food for your family? And do you see how delicious real food tastes? (Wait. Can you see how food tastes? Who even wrote that sentence??)
Lemme just say this: If you’re afraid of real food and the word “healthy” makes you cringe and think of sprouted beans and tofu (I cringe at those too!), let go of the fear and make yourself some of this chicken with a slice of watermelon and some steamed green beans on the side. It’s as easy as that and you will learn that real food is the best thing you ever ate!
My Best Chicken Tip
I’ve shared this before, but let me share again that the secret to making perfect chicken on the grill is to use boneless chicken thighs instead of boneless chicken breasts. Breasts get dry quickly. Thighs retain juiciness and the flavor is unbeatable.
Bonus
Boneless chicken thighs are usually less expensive than chicken breasts. Who knew?
Lilla Rose is having a Summer Sale Thursday–Saturday – FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $50! (Must select “Free Shipping” at checkout.
This sale can also be combined with the monthly special for July. (One free bobby pin with a $40 purchase, and two free bobbies with a $50 purchase!) So yes, with just a $50 order, you can get both free shipping AND two free super-strong bobby pins that will NOT slip out of even super-fine hair.
So many lovely styles to choose from! Plus there are beautiful new natural hair sticks and cute new summery U-Pins, such a ladybugs, sand dollars, sea turtles, and flip flops!
The Simple Way to Make Veggies Actually Taste Good
Some of us don’t need to be convinced that veggies actually taste good. We already know. We love and crave many delicious veggies and can’t figure out what’s wrong with all the people who turn up their noses at green, orange, and red food that grows out of the ground.
For many of us, liking vegetables has come with age as our tastes change. It also helps when we actually try a new vegetable every once in a while. (I’m talking to all of you who say, “I don’t like that” before you’ve even actually tried it. You know who you are.)
Even with changing taste buds and willingness to try new veggies once in a while, I don’t know one person who likes every single vegetable on the planet. I love many different kinds, but I still really struggle with artichokes and beets. You?
But here’s what I’ve found to make a big difference in the world of vegetables. It’s the trick that can make a person turn around and actually like a vegetable he or she may not have liked before. It’s this:
Add a delicious, healthy fat to your veggie.
Not only does fat add flavor to the veggie and bring out its natural goodness, it adds necessary nutrients to fuel our bodies for energy and to feed our brains. I find it to be so very lovely when my brain actually works. You?
My favorite ways to add fat to veggies to create amazing flavor:
1. Butter
When I steam peas, broccoli, or carrots, I love to stir in some butter and sea salt. Oh my happy, happy veggies.
2. Bacon Grease
You guys. Cook your bacon, eat your bacon, then keep the grease it created and put it in a jar in your fridge. Stir a couple teaspoons into your steamed green beans along with some sea salt and see if your family doesn’t go back for seconds. Get over thinking that “bacon grease will give you a heart attack.” It’s good, natural fat. Don’t want a heart attack? Stop eating cookies and drinking pop. Love ya.
3. Stir Fry them in Olive Oil
Last week we had a few college students over for a meal. I stir fried yellow squash, zucchini, carrots, and broccoli to go with our Hawaiian Chicken and Rice. Upon cleaning her plate, one of the college girls stood up and said, “I’m getting more veggies. Those were really good. Hmm. I’ve never said that before.”
It made my day and it proves my point. Add good fat to the veggies. Enjoy them with non-processed sea salt (full of needed minerals).
And what about raw veggies?
Well, eat them plain if you enjoy them that way. But if dipping them in something delicious helps you get them down, go for it with healthy dips like Homemade Ranch Dip or this Easy Veggie Dip.
Tell me how you cook your veggies! What are your favorite fats to add? Have you found that healthy fats make veggies taste awesome?
Be on the look-out! Our Simple Meals program is about to launch and you’re going to love it! In the meantime, here are our latest new Simple Recipes that go with the Simple Veggies talked about above:
Original article and pictures take heavenlyhomemakers.com site
