By: Caitlin Grater Kapoor
We all have our reasons. We work too much. We simply can’t wake up early enough. We have too many other obligations to take care of. We’re not “in shape” enough to even start (believe me- most people fall into this category).
By: Jayda Siggers
Our school lunch and snack menu has been finalized!
Has yours?
By: Jayda Siggers
The count down to the first day of school is on! (If it’s not here already!) This will be my first year packing lunch for a full day. The lunch you pack your child provides the energy and nutrients he requires to learn and play at school. Without adequate nutrition he may feel tired and struggle to concentrate. That puts a lot of pressure on us, parents, who pack the lunch.
By: Caitlin Grater
It always saddens me to hear people say this, because the reality is…it’s expensive to be sick. The CDC reports that in America, 7 out of 10 deaths a year are from chronic diseases, with over 50% of all deaths from heart disease, stroke, and cancer.
By: Donna Haybarger
Most people want to be healthy and they want to eat healthy. The problem is they focus on the negatives, potential barriers and roadblocks that prevent them from succeeding. They think of reasons why it won’t work such as, healthy food doesn’t taste good, it takes too long to prepare or it’s too expensive.
By: Jess Pedersen
One of the most difficult things to do while struggling with infertility is to quiet your mind — that voice in our heads that chatters constantly about the desire to have a baby, the disappointment of the failed pregnancy test, the frustration of the parade of pregnant friends.
By: Leah Shannon Lizarondo Shannon
During the season, I tend to like my fruits with as little embellishment as possible. When I say embellishment, I mean sugar. They are so fresh and sparklingly pretty that its a pleasure enough to enjoy them unadorned. But of course, it helps that I absolutely hate to turn on my oven in the summer! So it all works out.
By: Leah Lizarondo Shannon
We’ve hit it. Summer Solstice. 93 degrees. Heat index 100. Cooking is a bad word. RAW is good.
By: Jess Pedersen
The application of castor oil to the skin has long been used in holistic medicine to relax muscles, heal tissues, and improve the function of organs beneath the skin. Most receptive to castor oil are the hollow organs, such as blood vessels, bowels, uterus, and fallopian tubes.
By: Jess Pedersen
Exercise and PCOS
Exercise is an excellent detoxifier.
If you have PCOS and want to improve your chances of conception, now is not the time to start training for a marathon or a long-distance road bike race.
By: Jess Pedersen
Last week, my BizChicks blog post discussed the importance of pH in the management of PCOS. Today’s post focuses on the benefits of detoxifying the liver. Most of us know that the liver plays a big role in digestion and acts as the body’s filter. But did you know that the liver is also the organ that helps to synthesize our hormones?
By: Jess Pedersen
It is estimated that nearly 10% of all women who experience infertility have a condition called Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), which leads to ovulation and menstruation irregularity. I was one of those women. Each time I saw a new fertility specialist, he would say, “You don’t fit the profile of someone with PCOS.” Once he took a look at ultrasound images of my ovaries, he knew immediately that my diagnosis was indeed true.
By: Mary Lee Gannon
You worry. You feel guilt. You blame. You agonize. You complain. All of these emotions conjure up stress regarding things you cannot control. But you know this. Yet you still stress over them. And worse yet, you lash out, withdraw or behave in a way that does not move you closer to your goals, costing you respect, relationships and peace.
By: Beth Elko
Feeling and conveying gratitude is an essential function on one’s journey to peace and happiness. This is not limited to our emotional realm, but also affects our physical realm. Repetitive positive thought/activity can literally, physically rewire your brain. This is known as neuroplasticity. A significant amount of people I meet or counsel who are depressed or unhappy are generally people who have lost touch with gratitude. Losing touch with gratitude puts one in jeopardy of developing a sense of entitlement.
By: Lindsey Smith
I admit it. I used to be a junk food addict. It all started with watermelon sour patch gummies at age 4. Eventually I found myself hooked on Twix bars, and the madness continued with other sugary treats.
By: Leah Lizarondo Shannon, Chief Veghacker, The Brazen Kitchen
Its that time of year! My oven starts to take a break and I get more and more into un-cooking. I also like to spend more time outdoors so “quick and easy” are paramount. And I would like to share with you one of my family’s favorite spring/summer dessert: Chocolate Chia Pudding! Chock-full of good fat, protein and yummy, creamy chocolate! My kids saw Giada DiLaurentiis on TV when we were in a waiting room somewhere and they wanted to do their own cooking show, so….here it is!
By: Leah Lizarondo Shannon, Chief Veghacker, The Brazen Kitchen
One of the most challenging things when you are transitioning to a more healthful and vibrant way of life is learning how to cook food that gives you satisfaction in many different ways. Here are five tricks that I have found to be tried and true — try these and and you’ll wonder why you need all the “other” stuff!
By: Jada Siggers
Reports state that Americans and Canadians, alike, are only consuming half (14g) of the recommend daily amount and some reports indicate consumption is as low as 4.5-11g per day.
By: Caitlin Grater
As a health coach, I get LOTS of questions from curious health-conscious people about what they should be eating. ”What’s the best thing to eat for breakfast?”; ”Is juice healthy or not?”; ”Is it bad to eat before bed?”
By: Sandra Wilkes
“I want balance in my life!”
How many moms are craving something that feels even remotely like balance? Almost all.
By: Caitlin Grater, CHHC
(Yes, what a woman actually found in her kids’ McNuggets)
By: Robyn Race
Fans of the show Seinfeld will undoubtedly remember the episode where George comes to the conclusion that every decision that he has ever made has been wrong, and that his life is the exact opposite of what it should be. George tells this to Jerry, who convinces him that “if every instinct you have is wrong, then the opposite would have to be right”.
by Leah Shannon, FullWell
In January, a lot of us want to go through “cleanse”. After almost a two-month spate of parties, we definitely feel it. So we look for ways to eat “clean” and “detoxify.” But recently, I discovered “Polarity Therapy” and it was a revelation. The best way I can describe it is an energy cleanse.
By: Leah Shannon, FullWell
…The other thing that this reminds me of is the fact that most people fail in their New Year’s resolutions in only a few short days or weeks. Why is that? There are many reasons but one of the prevailing thoughts is the “too much” or “too many.”
By: Leah Shannon, FullWell
But whatever it is, I know there’s enormous benefit to dancing. First, I move out of my comfort zone, challenging myself to do something I’m not good at. I’m learning a new skill. Second, I’m getting a fun cardio workout while I’m at it – this will only make me stronger – giving me power to do other physical things that I have not been able to do. Third, studies in Germany and New England have shown that dancing lowers levels of stress hormones and significantly lowers depression.
By: Jayda Siggers
The holidays are, for many of us, a
self-validated occasion to fall off our respective lifestyle
wagons. And for some, well, we swan dive or double back
flip off our wagon! This is a challenging time of the year, as
we eat and drink our way through the holidays.
By: Jayda Siggers
What does a nutritionist bake for the holidays? Is it all healthy? Sugar free?
By: Betsy Moore
Its Steelers season!! So fun but as you all know, sporting events can be a healthy eating disaster. On Sunday, we walked past an entire parking lot of tailgaters celebrating with endless burgers, chips, cookies and of course, beer. Last night, we walked past 35 or so stands for nachos with cheese sauce, fries, hotdogs… you name it. Damn, so many temptations.
By: Leah Lizarondo Shannon
ACCORDING TO CONGRESS, THERE ARE TWO VEGETABLES ON THIS PLATE.
I am pissed and you should be too.
By: Alexis Shaw
Why Holistic?
As natural healing and medicine are rising in popularity these days, you probably have heard the word “holistic” used many times. What does it mean exactly and what makes holistic healing different from other types of healing modalities?
By: Jayda Siggers
This plant is growing wild in my yard. I just had to investigate…
Perilla is the common name of the annual herb of the species Perilla fructescens of the mint family. It is also referred to as beefsteak plant, Chinese basil, wild basil, purple mint, rattlesnake weed, or summer coleus. There are both green-leafed and purple-leafed varieties. Essential oils provide a strong taste, often compared to that of mint, fennel, anise and licorice.
By: Kimberly Adams
Albert Einstein once said, “The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.” I couldn’t agree more! But, I also feel a shift taking place where we are honoring our intuition more and even admitting it!
By: Jayda Siggers
We went apple picking a few weekends ago, at a local apple orchard. What do I do with more than 10lbs of apples? Why not dehydrate the apples?! A friend came over and we peeled, cored and sliced (using a mandolin) 10 lbs of apples in about an hour. [Warning: you will get a hand cramp!] We dehydrated the apples for about 10 hours in an Excalibur dehydrator. Ten lbs (1/4 bushel, 1 peck apples) will fill a 9 tray dehydrator. Dehydrated apples can be stored for months in an airtight container or bag.
By: Alexis Shaw
Are there ever times when you feel restless and cannot relax? Your mind races, unable to hold onto a single thought, you may even want to start a project, but at the same time not want to do anything at all? What exactly is going on when this happens?
By: Leah Lizarondo Shannon
I was on vacation recently and while I am passionately in love with the beach, beach towns typically have only one oasis of a “health” food store (unless I’m somewhere in California!) and I was happy to find the one on this particular vacation. And I hit pay dirt because it also had an amazing café with the meanest green juice I’ve had since One Lucky Duck. (And the best salad! A mix of warm wilted spinach and cold crisp romaine! Must. Make.)
By: Kristie Lindblom, ERYT
Space. The final frontier…
One of the most profound and life changing effects of a regular yoga practice is that you actually create space. What does that mean? It sounds so simple, but for many, it is not that easy of a concept to grasp.
Recipe By: Jayda Siggers
Kimchi, kombucha, sauerkraut, tempeh, miso kefir and sour dough breads; what do these have in common? They are lacto-fermented foods. Fermentation is the conversion of sugars (plant carbohydrate, starches and fiber) into alcohol and organic acids by yeasts or bacteria, under anaerobic (no oxygen) conditions. Historically, fermentation was utilized as a preservation technique. During the growing season when foods were plentiful, they would be fermented and stored for consumption during the winter months.
By: Dr. Vonda Wright
Something is killing women in this country at an alarming rate! It is not bird flu, e.coli, swine flu or many of the other flashes you see everyday on news stands. The number one killer of vital women in this country is heart disease.
By: Jayda Siggers, PhD
It is estimated that 25% of Americans start the day without breakfast. The top two reasons (reported) for skipping breakfast are 1) lack of time and 2) fear of weight gain.
By: Emily Levenson
Feeling anxious? Meditation can help with that.
Feel down or depressed? You guessed it. Meditation.
Want to feel more balanced and centered? Meditate.
Want to loose weight? Meditate.
Want to get off that pesky medication for high blood pressure? MED-I-TATE.
Just want to do something good for yourself? Do I really have to say it again.
By: Julia Slovich
We all have days when we feel like our heads are going to explode. We feel tired, stressed, fatigued, as well as a range of other emotions. In order to keep your brain fresh and ready for any new challenges or situations, you need to keep it healthy. Here are some ways that you can keep your mind limber and fit.
By: Jill Miller
A Truck with a Boob on Top. Despite a soaring breastfeeding rate over the past decade, an ABC poll showed that 57% of Americans felt that a woman should not have the right to breastfeed in public and 72% said it was inappropriate to show a woman nursing on television. The Milk Truck aims to take that conversation to a new level.
By: Emily Bush
You have left your gym membership in your hometown and now you’re at the beach, in the big city, or traveling overseas. It is okay to let yourself slack off a little on vacation – but you should keep up some kind of routine.
By: Betsy Moore
Through the years, I have realized that being healthy is so much more than just the food we eat. Everything is connected. As a busy mama, life can be so chaotic. Sometimes it feels like a broken record. As soon as I get all the laundry done, the basket is full again. Sigh.
By: Kristie Lindblom
Last week, I shared the first 5 of the “10 Things Your Yoga Teacher Would Love You To Know” (Part 1 of 2). Here are the next 5!
By: Kristie Lindblom
Teaching yoga is one of the most rewarding careers I could dream of. Every time I go to work, I get to practice something I’m passionate about while I help others enjoy being in their body, heal themselves, discover something new within, and give themselves the gift of presence in their lives. Like any profession, there are challenges for yoga instructors.
By: Megan Schellenberger, Chelsey Hennemuth & Beth Slagle
Wedding season is here! Trying to juggle a busy schedule with wedding planning can be stress-inducing for the ordinary person, let alone if you’re a bride to be. Fitting relaxation and exercise into your schedule is a must as you want to look and feel sexy on your big day.
By: Kristie Orchard Lindblom, RYT
Queef. Vart. Hoochie Honk. Cooter Hooter. Yep, you know what I’m talking about: The Vagina Fart. It’s defined by Urban Dictionary as: “Air expelled from the vagina, sometimes mistaken from a fart.” It happens to the best of us…. Often during an activity that stretches us in to positions we aren’t typically in. No! Not sex! Get your mind out of the gutter!… ok, well, yes, it does happen during sex. However, it is completely common for it to happen during asana (the physical yoga poses) practice. There you are, going about your business… inhaling… exhaling… stretching… strengthening… and then BAM! You are coming out of an inversion and hear “Phllllphhhhhhhfffffffffftttt! Oh. My. Gosh. Was that me? What the hell was that? Did anyone hear? I’ll just kind of cough and pretend that didn’t happen.
By: Betsy Moore
I feel bad for tofu. Those who have never eaten it often laugh at it. Some people hesitate to try it because they fear that they may be ridiculed by their peers or simply do not know how to cook it. Some people believe it is highly nutritious. Some people believe that it is toxic. Tofu is made from soybeans, water and a coagulant, or curdling agent. There is a great debate out there about whether or not soybeans are good for you. My answer is “it depends.”
by Leah Shannon, FullWell
Psst. Here’s the skinny. You need fat.
I know we’ve been conditioned for 30 years to think that FAT is a four-letter word. Its not. (In case you didn’t notice.) Now LARD – that’s a four-letter word. But not all fats are created equal. Some of them are actually good for you!
By: Kimberly Adams
Antioxidants have become such a buzzword lately, haven’t they? They are touted as being in everything from berries to chocolate to my personal favorite – coffee! What exactly are “antioxidants” and what are their benefits?
By: Janifer Anderson
Daily yoga practice doesn’t have to take a long time – an investment of a few minutes a day will have a cumulative impact on your life that exceeds the time few minutes you spend each day.
By: Leah Lizarondo Shannon, FullWell
A co-op. How brilliant. Basically, the idea is to have a food exchange every week. There is a menu of categories that range from condiments to stews and every week people sign up for what they will bring. Whatever you sign up for you are responsible for making enough for yourself and to share with each of the members.
By: Kristie Lindblom, RYT
Spring: the time of year when the whole world starts to come alive and all of nature is creating new life. Procreating is part of the circle of life and while for many, making a baby happens quickly, for many women infertility becomes a struggle they didn’t expect. It can swiftly become stressful, clinical, and frustrating. While practicing yoga cannot guarantee results, many of the tools yoga offers can assist in increasing the odds of conception.
By: Leah Shannon, FullWell
This kind of “permission for pleasure” reinforces the absence of absolute restriction that pushes us to rebel against what would have been a healthful way of eating. That is, a treat from time to time is good for you. But take my word for it – the better you feel, the less these moments become and what gives you that burst of momentary pleasure changes to surprisingly more healthful choices. That is the beauty of it – once you feel great, the virtuous cycle begins….
By: Leah Shannon
Here’s something to try over the weekend. It takes 10 minutes and awakens your chakras. Whether you believe in chakras and the very interesting mythology of the rites or not – I can assure you of one thing. The ten minutes you spend will energize you. The rush is as addicting as caffeine.Try it. In a box, with a fox, with a mouse, in a house. Then thank me later.
By: Leah Shannon
I have been (and in some ways continue to be) one of those who find the practice of meditation “daunting.” Most probably because I have always had this perception that its such an esoteric practice, saved only for the most enlightened and most yogic. So I didn’t even *really* try. Until last year when I went through a particularly difficult time….
By: Leah Shannon
“Eating healthy” has major pejorative connotations to a lot of people. The noun “cardboard” becomes a simile used way too often — and unfortunately with quite good reason sometimes. There is also the impression that one’s diet has to undergo some sort of revolution. Not quite. Baby steps. A slow burn can be had. Here is where I would start.
By: Leah Shannon
“Count to 10 and think…when someone asks you a question, count to 10 and think before you say anything.” There are many variants to this that we have all heard before. “Take a deep breath” is one. “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” Don’t engage in knee-jerk reactions in heated conversations. Don’t say things you may later regret. And a piece of advice I give clients who have food cravings is to drink a glass of cold water, wait half an hour and see how you feel.
By: Kimberly Adams
Wellness used to be defined as the absence of disease. We now know that is not true since many diseases can be incubating for years in the body before actual symptoms appear.
by: Jayda Siggers, PhD
Are emotions and sugar related? Multiple manuscripts reviewing the neurochemical effect of intermittent sugar intake show that sugar consumption alters brain chemistry similarly to other drugs of abuse.
By: Patty Dietz
All too often, exercisers do not pay enough attention to their warm up and cool down. A safe and successful exercise session requires both.
By: Kristie Lindblom
With all this living comes a big four letter word: S-T-R-E-S-S!
By: Nancy Mramor, Ph.D.
Giving gratitude focuses you on the things that make you smile, not the ones that don’t and it is always a choice. So if we can choose happiness why don’t we?
By: Diana Fletcher
I would like to share some exercises and stretches that you can do throughout your day, even when you are working. (No, you don’t have to jog by another cubicle or worry about anyone hearing you breathing heavily in your office!)
By: Leah Shannon
We can take some cues from Macrobiotics. Macro-what? Is that the brown rice and seaweed diet?!? Is that the one Gwyneth is on? Or Madonna? Well, kind of.
By: Paula Franetti
You have a two-hour meeting at three and mid-afternoon brain fog is now rolling in.
By: Robyn Race
Happier You: 3 Simple Techniques to Knock Out Stress and Actually Spread Cheer!