If you’ve been meaning to build more physical activity into your every day life but think it will take up too much time, you’re going about it all wrong. An all or nothing approach is quite foolish when it comes to your health. It simply allows you to put off what you know you need […]
Category Archives: Self-Health Survival Guides
25
Apr
Apr
Being raised on a dairy farm where everyone had to pitch in, it was my birthright to be an early bird. This trait has stuck with me so far in life. If you ask me to stay up late, I’d have to struggle to make it happen— but I rarely miss those early morning events. […]
18
Apr
Apr
At the time of this writing, we’re going on the fourteenth consecutive day of gray skies here in Iowa. The weather folks tell us we’ll hit seventeen before there’s even a chance the sun will rear its gorgeous head. When that day arrives, I envision all of us standing outside with our faces to the […]
11
Apr
Apr
I have great news, folks! According to my Celebrate Everything calendar, April 12 is National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day. Celebrating this classic sandwich, which doubles as a major comfort food, is some fun I can get behind. While I spent my childhood nibbling on the standard interpretation of the grilled cheese—bread, butter, and cheese—I’ve come […]
04
Apr
Apr
If you’re like me, you go through cycles of squirreling away food like, well, a squirrel. Maybe you buy ingredients for a new recipe you never try. Perhaps you get a great deal on that “super food” that no one liked. Or it could be that you’re just in a rut from cooking the same […]
29
Mar
Mar
Way back in 1939, Weston A. Price documented the link between diet and mental health in his groundbreaking book Nutrition and Physical Degeneration. His work still holds true to this day. When Dr. Price studied indigenous cultures around the globe in the 1930s, he found that eggs from pastured hens, deep yellow butter from grass-fed […]
28
Mar
Mar
Every year when the spring equinox rolls around I start craving the ultra-freshness of local fruits and vegetables. Aside from the vibrant flavors, local produce is also nutritionally superior to the stuff that’s trucked in from the other side of the country (and skipping the trucks altogether is better for the air we breathe too). […]
22
Mar
Mar
Did you know that dairy-free does not need to be a life sentence? Read on to learn why! People all over America are going dairy-free. Children, adults, teens, and even tweens have gone “DF” by adopting a dairy-free diet. Which means exactly what you think it means: eliminating dairy from the diet. Most people who […]
21
Mar
Mar
So often, we’re apprehensive about speaking up in the doctor’s office. Our doc is the expert, so we think: Don’t doubt his or her suggestions. Don’t look foolish by admitting you got lost in the conversation. Just be a good patient and go with the flow. I’m not saying this is the way it should […]
14
Mar
Mar
Wouldn’t it be great if leftover night were the most anticipated meal on your weekly menu? Unfortunately, this is rarely the case. Our boys only have to hear the word leftovers before they’re suddenly certain they can do without dinner. For some reason, simply warming up the same thing we had the night before last […]
08
Mar
Mar
Mayonnaise. Mayo. A favorite condiment in the U.S. of A. You’ll find some Hellman’s or Kraft in just about every sandwich shop, burger joint, and refrigerator. But unfortunately, mayo is no longer a healthy option for us. Read on to learn why. The Original Mayonnaise There are conflicting opinions on when and where mayonnaise (originally […]
07
Mar
Mar
We know things can change in the blink of an eye when it comes to the foods we should put in our shopping carts and the foods we should leave out—at least according to the powers that be. Only recently, we learned how the sugar industry funded research that falsely portrayed fat as the demon […]
01
Mar
Mar
Ever feel out of your head? Out of your body? Ever been called an airhead? Unable to concentrate? Unable to focus? Spacey? All of this is the opposite of being grounded. As the word suggests, to feel grounded is to feel stable in your body. Fully present. Able to focus and think clearly. Think of […]
28
Feb
Feb
Our bodies are amazing. Each part serves a specific purpose, but they also work together to give us signals when something isn’t quite right. Since February is all about the heart, here are some surprising things the rest of your body can tell you about your heart——and what you can do to diminish your risk […]
22
Feb
Feb
I love me some good beans! Don’t you? Beans, beans, good for your heart…the more you eat, the more you (should not) experience flatulence! Beans, when prepared well, are chock-full of nutrients. We have heard for years that the proper combination of beans and grains can provide an inexpensive protein option. They are also versatile […]
21
Feb
Feb
A content heart is one that you take care of on all levels. You recognize and deal with your emotions in a constructive way. You engage in physical activity to get your heart pumping so often that it’s a common occurrence. And last but absolutely not least, you give it all of the nutrients it […]
14
Feb
Feb
Was one of your resolutions this year to become more physically fit? It was for me. You haven’t fallen off your resolution wagon, have you? I know I haven’t, and we’ll assume you still have the drive and desire to achieve what you set out to do too. We’ve got this. As you get into […]
07
Feb
Feb
It’s February. The month we dedicate to the celebration love. What symbol pops into your head when you consider the word “love”? A heart, of course. While the human heart is only kinda sorta the same shape as the symbol we’re familiar with, thinking about it prompted me to revisit all the things I’d forgotten […]
31
Jan
Jan
This is the time of year that soup always sounds good. I mean, what’s not to love? Satisfaction, warmth, and deliciousness in every spoonful. Plus, all the necessary elements of a nutritious meal—protein, fats, and carbs—show up in one bowl with ease and speed. You can’t beat that. However, in order to get everything you […]
24
Jan
Jan
Peanuts have been on the list of food bad guys for some time now. With the severe (even life-threatening) allergies that so many kids deal with every moment of their lives, it’s no wonder schools have cracked down. These days, in some schools the once ubiquitous peanut butter and jelly sandwich can’t even make it […]