Health

Health, Health & Beauty

What Does It Take For a Strong Immune System

What you and your kids need to know.

By Raluca SchachterBy Raluca Schachter

We should be rolling in the dirt, gardening, wrestling with some brambles and skinning animals for supper. These are important immune system builders. -Joel Salatin, author, organic and sustainable farmer of Polyface Farms, Virginia, USA

A strong immune system is not achieved through a syringe, pill, miracle plant or supplement. Nor does it come from the use of antibacterial soaps and the creation of a sterile environment without “microbes”. In fact, considering the poor health of many people in modern society, we can say that immunity can no longer be obtained exclusively from a healthy diet and a few natural remedies. It’s not enough anymore. The epidemic of allergies, obesity, gastrointestinal problems, chronic infections, malabsorption and many others have a direct connection to an immune system that has suffered profound dysfunctions. (more…)

Fitness, Health, Health & Beauty

Staying Healthy in the New Year

By Galite Shafer

2020 is behind us! Although, we have a few more challenging months ahead, there is a glimmery light at the end of the pandemic tunnel and now is a great time to make some healthy changes to improve your 2020 weight gain, immunity and whole body health. Here are some key suggestions but please note that if you have any underlying health conditions, please seek your doctor’s counsel before making dietary changes.

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Health

Got germs? Here’s your Rx for health and wellness.

Mom, pharmacist and healthy living expert Dr. Lisa Leslie-Williams explains how she helps her own family stay healthier this time of year.

By Dr. Lisa Leslie-Williams

Moms, you can’t supervise your kids 24/7. That includes monitoring what they swallow, touch and breathe. Because I’m juggling a busy career with being a homeschooling mom, I’ve been teaching my kids how to stay well. They are learning that it’s easier to be proactive rather than reactive.

Now that it’s cold and cough season and we’re all headed indoors, I’m sharing some tips for empowering other families to take control over their immune health. There are many things we can be doing year round to support our immune health, not just during winter.

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Health, Health & Beauty

Why Do “Treats” Have to be Unhealthy?

Food Monsters is a new game to teach your families how to make healthy food choices.

By Alex Trivas

Consider this list of pleas —
But, Dad, it’s the third grade winter performance.
It’s the third grade spring performance.
It’s Aunt Michelle’s anniversary dinner.
It’s the town parade and who can miss Freddie and his “famous” funnel cake.
It’s the first day of school ice cream sundae day.
It’s the last day of school ice cream sundae day.
It’s the 100th day of school. Blue -dyed cookies shaped like ones and zeroes. Why not?
It’s pancake day at school two days before Thanksgiving. (That makes sense. And by the way pancakes and muffins are just euphemisms for cake)
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Fitness, Health, Health & Beauty

How well are you clearing your body of toxic trash?

Your body detoxifies every second of every day. Functional Medicine expert Bryce Wylde reveals how you can support your body’s master antioxidant, glutathione.

The body continually makes toxins, called endogenous toxins, as part of the metabolic process. We’re also exposed to toxins as part of everyday life. “Our ability to efficiently dispose of all these toxins, also known as free radicals, can have a direct impact on our health,” explains Functional Medicine expert Bryce Wylde, BSC, DHMHS, Homeopath. “We can all use a little support, which is why most of us make a point of consuming antioxidants. But few people realize the body already makes the most powerful antioxidant of them all, the master antioxidant called glutathione.” (more…)

Fitness, Health, Health & Beauty

Chef reveals his three favorite things to eat when stressed

Comfort foods can be exciting and may even improve your mood.

By Chef Gerard Viverto

chef gerard

Raise your hand if you’ve ever eaten something unhealthy because you felt stressed. During trips to the supermarket, I have been shocked to see so many grocery carts overloaded with junk food. I understand that people are tired and seeking comfort. But tater tots and ice cream won’t help, I’ve turned to food to bring me solace. In hindsight, I learned that when you eat poorly, you feel worse so you eat poorly again. After two slices of pie, you might as well eat the whole thing, right? It’s a downward spiral!

Cleaning up your diet may help you feel better physically and emotionally. If that’s still not enough to motivate you, here are three favorite food categories that I reach for whenever I’m stressed. Comfort foods don’t have to be junk. And healthy foods don’t have to be boring.

Maybe one of these food categories will pique your interest:

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Fitness, Health, Health & Beauty

What’s new for breakfast? Break free of your rut with these tasty and nutritious alternatives.

By Lauren Harris-Pincus, MD, RDN

LaurenIt’s easy to fall into a home cooking rut. Many of us cycle through the same handful of recipes, made with the same ingredients, week after week. Here is something new to add to the rotation that your entire family will love: sorghum.

Sorghum needs to become a household ingredient. It’s filled with nutrients and user-friendly, even if you’ve never tried it before. And while it is versatile enough to use for any meal, most people are surprised to learn there are many ways to enjoy it at breakfast. These include my favorite Strawberry Vanilla Sorghum Parfait and another family favorite, Apple Cinnamon Raisin Sorghum Bake. Sorghum can also be used as a substitute for oatmeal or other cereals. Just add almond milk, cinnamon, vanilla and a little sweetener. (more…)

Health

What’s your exit plan after staying at home for months?

By Dr. Ara Suppiah, MD

araIf you’ve been cooped up eating comfort foods and binge watching TV for the last few months, chances are your body could use some TLC about now. Losing weight and getting back in shape can seem overwhelming. But emergency room and sports medicine physician Ara Suppiah reminds us, “The reason why people give up is because they focus on how far they have to go instead of how far they have come.” 

A map is useless without a starting point
In his book, “Lose Weight & Feel Great Forever, an insider’s prescription to turbocharge your life now,” Suppiah provides a self-assessment quiz to help set your personal health GPS on a path toward wellness. The questions cover everything from diet, sleep habits and stress levels to relationships, exercise habits and whether you suffer from such things as allergies, gastrointestinal problems or anxiety.  (more…)

Health, Health & Beauty

Permission to Say YES to Your Desires, Because it Makes You a Better Mom

By Gina DeVee

When mothers hear about my lifestyle of running my business while traveling the world, the thought arises: “Well Gina, YOU can do that because you don’t have kids.” Admittedly, the second part is true. However, the idea that my lack of children is the enabling factor for my fabulous lifestyle couldn’t be more false. I know because I’ve worked with hundreds of mama-preneurs who have proven the opposite: in the 21st century, a woman can truly have it all (including elite frequent flyer status), even with toddlers and teenagers in the house.

At the same time, I completely understand why most mothers are convinced their dreams must wait until retirement (or at least until pre-k starts). From the moment we give birth till long after the kiddos are dressing themselves, it’s expected that we put ourselves last. In fact, the average woman tends to fall near the bottom of her own priority list even if she’s never thought of getting pregnant. It’s simply how we’ve been conditioned to survive and stay “safe” in the world. In our male-dominated culture, we’ve been taught that we must give tirelessly to prove our worth. We’ve learned that taking care of ourselves or indulging our desires is “selfish.” And thanks to all these untrue stories, we’ve unnecessarily cut ourselves off from receiving what we really want in life. (more…)