A recent trip back to Wisconsin reminded me how much farmland and pasture-roaming cows affect my psyche. I grew up on a dairy farm, so these sights simply feel like home, and they bring a certain calm to me. I want to breathe as deep as possible and go for a walk across the ridge […]
09
Jun
Jun
Sometimes the usual foods we choose to keep our blood sugar stabilized are just that—“usual foods.” Take, for example, the common suggestion that we just eat a slice of cheese or drink a cup of coffee! Unfortunately, we forget, or simply don’t know, that for thousands of years many different herbs and foods have played […]
03
Jun
Jun
Are you one of the many worried people who would like to know how to best prevent the onset of an early bone disorder, or even stop the progression of one you suspect is already happening? Maybe, like me, you’re not too excited about exercise, beyond taking long, healthy walks, but warnings that you must […]
31
May
May
I hit the snooze button this morning. I’m not proud of it, but I had a later night than usual because of our son’s choir concert, and the thought of getting up at that moment seemed impossible. If I’m being honest here, I’ve become a snooze button hitter lately—and now something I’d never felt the […]
26
May
May
How many times has your doctor or holistic practitioner—or even just a concerned friend—handed you a carefully outlined list of recommendations on this or that “best of the best” weight-loss diet, BUT once you got home, the information went on top of the coffee table, never to be looked at again? How about tippy-toeing around […]
25
May
May
I’m a big believer in sustainability, and I always enjoy helping people grow their own vegetables and produce. This is something I have plenty of experience in because I love showing other people how to get the most from their garden. It’s often much easier than you think. In return for a little work, you […]
24
May
May
Push ups work your whole body—that is, when you do them properly and without modification. A well-executed push up uses the muscles in both your upper and lower body and engages your core. It’s an “old school” exercise that means business, and since it doesn’t require any special equipment, you can “drop and give me […]
20
May
May
What, exactly, is muscle testing? If you’re a practitioner, now is a great time to find out. Available as a 3-DVD set or as on-demand videos, Dr. Lowell Keppel’s “Muscle Response Analysis: Seminar & Workshop” walks you through the deceptively simple process that can greatly improve your level of communication and quality care. It costs […]
17
May
May
A favorite neighbor mentioned to me the other day that she’s bored with exercising on her own. Half an hour in, and she’s ready to walk away. This surprised me because she’s a very fit momma with two young kids. I always assumed this level of physical fitness was achieved by health nuts who exercised […]
12
May
May
When I was growing up, there was nothing like when my mom would bake her unbeatable chocolate cake. Each day, we’d only get one slice, along with a tall glass of really cold milk. Nirvana is the only way to describe each bite of this smooth, chocolaty treat. Oh so sweet and delicious. Yum! Although […]
11
May
May
All my life, every Easter my family—guided by three generations of matriarchs—would make a traditional specialty called Easter Wheat Pie (pastiera di Grano). One of the main ingredients is grano, Italian for wheat berries. You might have seen wheat berries in the bulk section at the health food store, but unless you grind or mill […]
10
May
May
With the school year winding down, the number of standardized testing days seems to be never-ending. And when our kids are taking tests, they aren’t moving their bodies. Rather, they’re sitting in front of a screen, plugging away at the questions in front of them—sometimes for hours on end. What effect does this have on […]
06
May
May
My mother-in-law, Sarah McSherry, was the first of my real food muses. She introduced me to a consciousness of healthy eating. A Southern belle who grew up on a plantation in the rich, fertile soils of the Louisiana Delta and raised her four children amidst farm crops (and cotton herbicides no doubt), she was a […]
05
May
May
“Essential substances, including healing fats, must be obtained in optimal quantities to maintain optimal health.” —Udo Eramus Have you perchance ever wondered why it is that even when you eat well and use affirmations, prayer, and meditations, you’re still, after so much effort, unable to resolve some persistent health issue? Could the practice of anointing […]
03
May
May
My hair has gone through all sorts of ups and downs over the years—and I’m not just talking about its varying lengths every time I leave the salon. No, what I’m referring to is the overall health of my hair. From thick and shiny to frizzy and lackluster, our hair weaves a tale about our […]
28
Apr
Apr
We’ve all had that occasional sick feeling of glancing into the mirror and finding we look like someone stuck a cushion under each eye! Often, eye bags are an alarming sign of a late night spent out on the town, but what if that’s not the case? What if you never stay out late or […]
27
Apr
Apr
In our modern life, have modern men and women lost touch with—or just forgotten—what our long-dead bipedaling ancestors inherently knew about the benefits of walking? When was the last time we were inspired to read books and essays with titles such as Reveries of the Solitary Walker, In Praise of Walking, or Foot Notes; or, […]
26
Apr
Apr
My tonsils were removed when I was in kindergarten, so I never had to put much thought into what my life would be like if I still had them. But after a recent “wee hours of the morning” visit to the ER with my hubby, Al, and his peritonsillar abscess, I became curious. What exactly […]
21
Apr
Apr
I ran and completed my first 50k trail race on January 9, 2016. The Frozen Gnome 10k/50k was held in Crystal Lake, IL, near Chicago. I found the race in the fall of 2015 while reading a Runner’s World magazine highlighted with peculiar race names—and I decided this was the 50k for me. I’m 38 […]
20
Apr
Apr
None of us like to hear that our pets are overweight—or that they may potentially develop a serious medical condition such as heart disease, diabetes, or osteoarthritis pain as a result. But the truth is, many of us don’t even realize it when our pet is overweight. For example, according to the Association for Pet […]