Will This Make Me Sick?

buy organic foodWhen it comes to healthy living, we all want to know what to eat to keep our bodies in mint condition. But more importantly, we want to know what NOT to eat. What foods will make us ill? Herbal supplements will help keep you healthy. So will taking the time to buy organic food. But if you are continuously eating foods that have been shown to make you sick, you might be doing more harm than an herbal supplement can remedy.

ABCnews.com has compiled a list of foods that are most likely to make you ill. Read on to learn about a few, and then read the article for more information. 

Surprising Foods Likely To Make You Sick: 

  1. Eggs: According to the FDA, more than 140,000 people are infected with Salmonella bacteria each year. Eggs are a leading culprit. 
  2. Veggies: Everyone knows they need to eat their veggies. But leafy greens do need to be washed thoroughly before consumption. Cooking your veggies will add another layer of safety for you and your meal.
  3. Fruits: The problem with fruit is that if one farm sends a batch of contaminated fruit all over the country, a huge outbreak of illness can result. Most fruit is absolutely safe, and the health benefits are beyond dispute, but be sure to wash thoroughly and not eat fruit that looks spoiled.

Organic 101: What Does It Actually Mean?

Learn how to make truly healthy snacks With so many people opting to buy organic food, knowing exactly what the term “organic” does and does not mean is vital. All of us want to be an educated consumer and when trends like this hit the nation, imposters will often flood the market claiming to help you on your journey.

Nowadays, supermarket aisles are filled with foods labeled as organic that are actually incredibly bad for your system. One of the biggest misconceptions people have about organic food is that all of it is incredibly healthy for you, just because of the label of “organic.” Turns out that this is not what it means. Organic chicken nuggets, for example, are still not a balanced meal. If you want to reap the benefits of healthy living, watch the video below, and learn what these labels mean before purchasing your next batch of healthy snack foods.

Epipheo TV offers up an amazingly helpful video outlining the labeling requirements. Watch and learn!

Spending Concerns and Organic Foods

Save money by buying organic food onlineOne of the most common concerns people express before committing to buy organic food is whether or not they can afford to spend more on groceries and whether it is actually worth it to do so. In these tough economic times, everyone is trying to cut costs wherever they can. Even superstars of the organic world like Whole Foods are starting to feel the financial concerns in their sales. Sales are starting to drop, and they are finding themselves scrambling to keep customers. While buying organic food online will certainly help the situation, it is important to remember that your health is priceless.

Learn about the organic world’s recent struggles with this New York Times article.

Organic Help for Depression

Treating depression with natural supplements. For sufferers of clinical depression, the world is little more than a veil of tears. Simple things like answering the phone or getting in the shower suddenly seem insurmountable. Human interaction feels like a form of torture, and every day can feel worse than the last. While no one is suggesting these tormented men and women forgo the medical and psychiatric help that can so greatly help them, there are a number of herbal dietary supplements and organic food choices people can try before flooding their systems with psychotropic medications. This week we will focus on herbal supplements, next week we will discuss diet.

Depression Relief with Herbal Supplements:

  1. Saint John’s Wort: Likely the most well-known herbal treatment for depression, this wort has been used for medicinal purposes in other parts of the world for thousands of years. Americans have recently discovered the mitigating effects this herb has had on depression and sleep problems.
  2. SAM-e: This chemical is found naturally in the human body and is believed to increase levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine. Despite the steep price tag, this has been shown to enact some real effects on sufferers.
  3. Vitamin B6: This powerhouse vitamin is needed to produce the mood-enhancing neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine. A deficiency in B6 has been shown to lead to depressed states. Again, worth a shot!

Before calling your doctor, give these herbal remedies a fair try!

Healthy Snack Foods

Recipes For Amazing Healthy Snack Foods In a perfectly healthy world, everyone would feel motivated to buy organic food for themselves and their families. Foods full of chemicals, sugars and artificial ingredients would simply fall by the wayside. In reality, many of us are unwilling to sacrifice the tastes we love for the health we crave. Thankfully, there are hundreds upon hundreds of healthy snack recipes that will satisfy your taste buds and keep your body healthy and happy. We have compiled a list of our favorites. Get excited!

Healthy Snack Foods:

  1. Nachos Done Right: Turn what is usually a health disaster into a snack that does your body good without losing any of the taste we all love. Layer organic tortilla rounds with cooked organic ground beef, melted organic cheese and organic blended black beans. Top the layering with sour cream and organic salsa.
  2. DIY Hummus: Turn hummus into a family affair with this simple DIY recipe. Blend two cans of organic garbanzo beans with garlic, lemon juice and tahini in a blender. Serve with organic cracked black pepper or blue corn chips to make it even more amazing.
  3. Smoothies For All: Gather all the frozen organic fruit you have (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, cherries, etc.) and combine them with yogurt, ice, sliced banana and a dash of 100% organic maple syrup (for extra sweetness). Serve immediately and enjoy!

Compliment Your Organic Lifestyle With Accupuncture

Natural Personal Care You have finally learned your way around organic food stores and have stocked up on a delicious, healthy and easy to make organic food. The lifestyle is starting to make more sense and everything is falling into place. Best of all, you are starting to feel the effects of an organic diet in your body. Congrats! You have discovered the beauty of living organically.

But perhaps you are looking for something to take your good feelings to the next level–something to compliment the amazing food and herbal dietary supplements you have grown to love. Try acupuncture! Not sure about the benefits of this age old practice? Here is a refresher course for you.

Benefits Of Acupuncture:

  1. Weight Loss: Acupuncture can help with weight management largely through the effect it has on stress and anxiety. By lowering your anxiety through acupuncture, your inclination to overeat declines steadily. Additionally, some studies show it can help with metabolic function.
  2. Smoking: There is increasing anecdotal evidence that acupuncture can help with the process of quitting smoking. There are many who swear by it. If you are struggling to put down the awful habit, this might be an avenue to try.
  3. Infertility: There is evidence that acupuncture can help increase the success of in vitro procedures and promote overall fertility. The reason behind this is largely based on the effects acupuncture has on hormonal levels.

Healthy Snack Foods for Bikers

organic food storesIt’s finally warm enough to start biking again, and if you’re just starting to bike, you probably haven’t thought about what healthy snack foods to bring along on your journeys. Brief commutes and lengthy bike trails alike burn quite a few calories, and it’s important to bring the right foods to recharge before and after your trip–and for the commuters, something to munch on at stoplights. Here are a few suggestions:

  • Nuts and granola: Carbs and sugar. You’ve probably heard repeatedly how you should cut down on both of these–but don’t forget that your body needs that energy. A granola mix with grains and nuts will provide carbs and protein to help you energize and recover. Raisins or other dried fruit will sweeten the deal. And making your own granola is easier than you think!
  • Bananas: The potassium in bananas helps the body metabolize water more efficiently, which is of utmost importance when you’re peddling away in the summer heat. Skip the morning coffee; natural fruit sugar is the perfect energizer and it won’t leave you dehydrated. Great on the go too!
  • Jerky: Whether it’s beef, turkey, or salmon, jerky is a great source of carbs and proteins that will keep you satisfied well beyond your bike ride. If you’re concerned about preservatives, fear not: there are, in fact, organic options for jerky lovers, which can be found easily at your local organic food store.

Essential Daily Vitamins

healthy snack foodsMost people do not get all the vitamins they need on a daily basis. But what vitamins is everyone talking about? Here is a list of essential daily vitamins you should consume for natural personal care.

  • Vitamin D: The consumption of vitamin D promotes boosting your immune system and regulating your metabolism. Also, studies have shown a reduced risk of various cancers, including skin and prostate-related diseases. Vitamin D can also improve bone development and cardiovascular health. You will find vitamin D in: salmon, eggs, shrimp, and certain mushrooms.
  • Vitamin E: An antioxidant, vitamin E may help protect against Alzheimer’s disease. It is one of the four fat-soluble vitamins that we require to function on a daily basis. You can find this vitamin in almonds, olive oil, spinach, fortified cereals, and certain fruits and vegetables.
  • Calcium: Along with vitamin D, calcium helps keeps our bones in tiptop shape. It also has a hand in regulating nerve functions and healthy blood pressure. It is recommended adults get 1,000 milligrams of calcium a day to reap the benefits. Low-fat dairy, salmon, nuts, and sardines are awesome sources for calcium.
  • Magnesium: This essential nutrient maintains proper blood circulation, nerve functions, and supports cardiovascular health. You can find magnesium in nuts, dark leafy greens, beans, and cereals.

The Switch to Organic Food

buy organic foodBuying organic foods means more than just buying another piece of fruit or vegetable; buying organic means positive trickle-down. Supporting organic farms allows farmers to work without being exposed to pesticides, less fossil fuels used to create fertilizers, and much healthier soil for future use. Being exposed to pesticides is easily the biggest reason why switching to organic produce is the way to go. Check out our lists of organic food to purchase:

  • Apples: Apples are one of the most consumed fruits in existence, and it is because of this that they are heavily harvested. This means a lot of apples being exposed to a ton of pesticides.
  • Celery: Typical celery can be exposed to dozens of different pesticides, increasing exposure to those who may eat it.
  • Potatoes: America’s favorite vegetable, potatoes are a prime culprit for pesticide contamination. Besides buying these organic, sweet potatoes are another option because these tend to have less chance of residue.
  • Strawberries: A particular favorite for many people due to its awesome flavor, you should do what you can to buy organic strawberries. But if you are unable and need an alternative, buy kiwis or pineapples.

For information on organic foods, visit Supreme Health.

Why Is Oatmeal So Wonderful?

healthy snack foodsWe always hear so much about oatmeal being a wonderful healthy snack food, one that everyone should eat. But what makes oatmeal so special?

  • Studies have tied the consumption of oatmeal with lowering one’s cholesterol and reducing the risk of heart disease. The fiber in oats helps rid the body of bad cholesterol.
  • The soluble fiber in oatmeal is able to absorb a lot of water, which can slow down your digestive process and help you feel full and control your weight.
  • Oatmeal has a slew of healthy nutrients like vitamins A and B, calcium, iron, and protein. It also has folate which lowers a person’s homocysteine levels,  reducing the risk of heart disease.
  • Recent studies have suggested oatmeal can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by controlling blood glucose levels.
  • Adding fruits or yogurts to oatmeal can turn it into a balanced breakfast. With so many vitamins and containing about 150 calories per serving, it has all you need for the morning. Oatmeal also contains a decent amount of carbs that will fuel you until you are able to grab lunch.
  • For those at risk of diabetes, oatmeal can regulate insulin levels and glucose.

So add a bowl of oatmeal natural personal care routine each morning!