Where did the summer go?! With the new school year starting, the schedule usually becomes busier and more stressful for everyone. There’s the added stress on our bodies of the usual start-of-the-school-year germs running around. Wouldn’t we all like to have our minds and bodies hold up better during this time of year? Well, let’s talk about adaptogens. They aren’t …
All About Carbs
Carbohydrates are essential for health, but not all carbs are equal. Quoting from the Harvard T.H. Chang School of Public Health. Foods high in carbohydrates are an important part of a healthy diet. Carbohydrates provide the body with glucose, which is converted to energy used to support bodily functions and physical activity. But carbohydrate quality is important (read that again! …
Fighting Mosquitos
Summer in the Northwest is gorgeous. There are the trips to the beach or Gorge to take in the views or the camping with friends and family or the trips to pick up seasonal fruits and veggies. Then, there are the bothersome mosquitos that come out each evening to nosh on you and your family as the sun goes down. …
Why Electrolytes Are Important
We’ve all seen numerous sports drink commercials. “Guzzle this drink. Have more energy. Replace your electrolytes,” they tout. But what’s the idea behind these claims? First, we need to know what electrolytes are and why they are important to our bodies. Second, we can determine what’s the best way to maintain our “electrolyte balance.” Electrolytes are minerals that help with …
From Growing Space Potatoes to Improving the Body. What is Red Light Therapy?
Once upon a time, an engineer designed a system for growing plants in space. This engineer, named Ron Ignatius, received funning from NASA to tackle this problem in the 1980s. This system helped grow potatoes on a 1995 space shuttle, but something interesting happened during the development of this plant-growing red light system. Quoting from, NASA Research Illuminates Medical Uses …
What is IBS?
The cramping, the bloating, the pain and gas, the constipation and/or diarrhea: these are common symptoms that describe irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). As the Mayo Clinic describes, there is no specific test for diagnosing IBS; it is more of a collection of symptoms and previous health history, including ruling out any more serious conditions. This loose connection of symptoms (once …
How about spring with less screens?
The weather has continued to bring us a mix of rain and snow in Oregon. We had 5″ of snow this weekend! However, the weekend before we did have one lovely Saturday, and I thought, “Yes, spring is coming, and we can spend more time outdoors!” I do look forward to being able to get outside, sit on the porch, …
Looking for practical encouragement when you’re blue
It can be just plain tough this time of year. It’s post-holidays. The evenings get dark quickly. And, for many of us, rain or snow dominates the forecast. Doctors’ offices even see more seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Because it is understandable that we might be feeling blue this time of year, it is a perfect time to talk through practical …