How to enjoy running—and how acupuncture can help.
Total Body Yoga Routine. . in a really amazing location! xo
By Kelly Dorfman from huffingtonpost.com
Here is a short list of common, everyday nutrient deficiency symptoms. Of course, most symptoms have many causes so there could be other reasons, but if you or someone you know has one of these symptoms, a nutritional cause should be considered.
Symptoms of Nutrient Deficiencies
- Night blindness, poor light adaption — Vitamin A
- Keratosis Pilaris (chicken skin) — Essential fats
- Red, bleeding gums — Vitamin C
- Easy bruising, little red dots on skin — Vitamin C
- Decreased smell, taste — Zinc
- Deep fissures in tongue — B vitamins
- Rapid blinking eyes, muscle twitching — Magnesium
- Seasonal affective disorder — Vitamin D
Due to the limited nutrition training of most physicians, you might want to mention these symptoms to your doctor, but may also want to consider seeing a nutritionist or naturopath.
If you are familiar with holistic health care, chances are you are already familiar with yoga. The practice of yoga is becoming increasingly popular across the world, and often touted for its myriad of health benefits, from enhanced physical fitness to stress relief. What you may not know, however, is that yoga can also be a powerful tool for those battling mental illness. From depression to eating disorders, yoga’s focus on bridging the gap between mind and body has transformed the lives of many.
Eat the seasons - July.
(photo from here)
- Adzuki black bean burgers from The Simple Lens
- Double bean burgers with avocado basil cream from How Sweet It Is
- Cilantro-lime hummus with baked tortilla chips from Alaska From Scratch (pictured)
- Raw kale salad with garden vegetables and wild rice from Bev Cooks
- Whole grain, vegan “cosmic cookies” from Food Doodles
- Vegan red white and blue velvet cupcakes from The Sweet Life
Bilberry
Vaccinium myrtillus
Michael Tierra says..
Common Names: Whortleberry, Huckleberry, Blueberry, Hurtleberry
Family: Vaciniaceae
Parts Used: Leaf and berries
Energy and Flavors: The leaves are cool and astringent, while the berries are cool, nourishing and sweet
Systems Affected: Liver
Biochemical Constituents: The berries contain flavonoid compounds called anthocyanosides
Properties: Astringent, diuretic, refrigerant
Dose: The berries can be freely eaten
Used for: Strengthening vision, macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, adult-onset diabetes
Notes: Bilberries attracted heightened interest when World War II British Royal Air Force pilots reported improved visual acuity on nighttime raids after consuming them. Subsequent studies confirmed their effectiveness in improving nighttime vision, faster restoration of vision after a glare, as well as in the treatment of many other eye disorders, including diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, cataracts, and glaucoma, as well as of varios varicose veins. They are available in Planetary Formula’s Bilberry Eye Complex, which combines them with Chinese lycii berries, chrysanthemum flowers, and other herbs as a formula for the eyes.
The dried berries have a long traditional use in the treatment of diarrhea and dysentery. The leaves of the berry, as well as of the closely related huckelberry, are very effective as a tea for regulating blood sugar in the treatment of mild adult-onset diabetes.
Article excerpted from here. Written by Carrie Dennett from the Seattle Times.
Officially, there are three levels of preventive health: primary, secondary and tertiary.
- Primary prevention is when you are healthy and disease-free and want to stay that way. Your blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol are in the normal range, and you cultivate habits that will help keep them there. For example, eating nutritious food, exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight.
- Secondary prevention is where screening tests and exams come in. They help you catch problems early when they are generally easier to treat. They may even be treatable with healthy lifestyle changes alone. It’s better to learn you have high blood sugar when it’s still classified as “pre-diabetes.” It’s better to catch a mass of cancer cells when it’s small and has not spread to other parts of your body.
- Tertiary prevention is what happens next if your doctor tells you something you don’t want to hear. You have diabetes. You have hypertension. That chest pain you felt was a heart attack. At this point, you’re trying to treat an established health problem and prevent serious complications.
- Primary - It looks just like a healthy diet. High on the list would be lots of vegetables and fruit. It would feature whole grains instead of refined grains, and healthy fats from nuts, avocados, olives and olive oil. A few servings of fish a week, especially oily fish like salmon, would further bump up the healthy fats. Moderate amounts of lean meat, poultry and low-fat dairy products — or vegetarian alternatives. Moderate alcohol, if you choose to consume it. When we fill our plate with those good foods, we have less room for foods that don’t contribute to good health. A health-promoting diet minimizes heavily processed foods, which are major sources of sodium, sugar, refined grains, unhealthy fats and artificial colors and other chemicals.
- Secondary/Tertiary - The optimal diet would look pretty much the same. Even after a full-blown diagnosis, diet remains important for managing disease and preventing complications. Medication is not a magic bullet; it may treat the immediate problem, but diet and activity will improve your overall health. In other words, statin drugs are not a free pass to eat as many cheeseburgers and fries as you want.
