Posts in healthy life
Kick Out Inflammation

You may have heard of an anti-inflammatory food plan or diet and wondered what exactly it entails. Does it work? What benefits might you gain from following this path? Also, why is it so popular?

In this blog, I will answer these questions plus provide you with a list of anti-inflammatory foods that may benefit your health.

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Dry Brushing 101

Perhaps you’ve heard of dry brushing - supermodels swear by it, Gwyneth Paltrow sells a dry brush on her GOOP branded website, and many luxury spas incorporate this treatment. Despite the recent popularity, dry brushing has been around for centuries as an ancient Ayurvedic healing technique. Keep reading to find out all about dry brushing, how to do it properly, and the benefits of this amazing modality. 

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10 Tips For Staying Calm, Healthy, & Sane During Trying Times

While it would be awesome if we all had all day to meditate, workout, read books, and take bubble baths while sipping herbal teas, most of our lives are filled with children, obligations and stress.

That’s why my motto is “something is better than nothing” - every little bit of self-care makes a big impact. Below I’ve listed 10 tips to help you feel good during this time. Find the tips that work for you and remember to be easy with yourself.

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The Best Non-Toxic Nail Polish Removers

On a scale of 1-to-lizard skin, how dry and cracked are your hands and cuticles this time of year? This dryness is especially exacerbated if you use acetone-based nail polish remover as it strips away your skin’s natural oil barrier leaving you with ragged, cracked, and dry cuticles. PLUS ingredients in traditional nail polish remover - such as acetone, ethyl acetate, and butyl acetate - can cause headaches, dizziness, irritates eyes, skin, and are considered UNSAFE during pregnancy!

But help is on the way! There are several all-natural nail polish removers that don’t contain a drop of acetone and are actually GOOD for your skin! Keep reading to see my top natural nail polish removers, plus a DIY nail polish remover recipe!

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Turmeric Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes are one of my favorite side dishes, especially when the weather cools down. Because we eat a lot of mashed potatoes at my house, I thought this dish would be the perfect vehicle for some extra-nutritious add-ins. Enter turmeric - the tasty spice that is an extremely powerful antioxidant.

In Chinese Medicine, turmeric (Jiāng Huáng) is warm, spicy and bitter, and enters the Spleen, Stomach, and Liver meridians. It breaks up blood stasis, moves Qi and eliminates pain, and expels wind and promotes the movement of blood. It is especially good for shoulder pain, abdominal pain, and menstrual pain.

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5 Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar

Humble apple cider vinegar (ACV) gets a lot of attention as a health tonic. It contains a wide range of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids as well as a relatively low acidity compared to other types of vinegar (around 5% acetic acid.) Unlike other kinds of vinegar, such as red wine and balsamic, ACV is made from apple cider that has been fermented with a bacteria that produces health-promoting probiotics and enzymes.

There are many claims about the health benefits of apple cider vinegar. These claims range from wild (ACV cures cancer!) to mild (ACV helps lower cholesterol as part of a healthy diet). Here are 5 benefits of ACV - including weight loss - that are backed by legitimate scientific research.

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What Element Are You?

Do you know which element governs you? Together with the concepts of Yin and Yang, the theory of Five Elements forms the basis of Classical Chinese medicine theory, diagnosis, and treatment. The five elements of Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, and Metal show us how our internal organs, personalities, and even body types are categorized and connected. Keep reading to find out which element governs you and what it means for your health and wellness!

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My First Aid Kit Essentials

What’s in your first aid kit? Mine includes all of the traditional things such as bandaids and gauze, but I also like to be prepared with some herbal support. There are many natural remedies that work wonders on everything from nausea to wounds - all without side effects! Here are my top 5 herbal remedies that are essential to my first aid kit (BONUS: all of these travel especially well - pack these on your next summer adventure!)

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Just Breathe

Just breathe. Easy enough, right? After all, breathing is something we do unconsciously about 23,000 per day. But why is breathing so powerful and why does it matter if we put some thought into it? 

If we put a little intention behind breathing and focus on taking deep breaths, we get much much more than just respiration. Here are 5 ways deep, intentional breathing can give you an extra physical and mental boost: 

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