The peppermint plant is a hybrid cross between watermint and it’s green cousin, spearmint. While indigenous to Europe and the Middle East, the peppermint plant is currently widespread in several regions of the world. It’s harvested wild (wildcrafted), organically (our recommendation), or treated with chemical pesticides to ward of plant destroying invaders.
Many of us have heard the terms ‘lymph,’ ‘lymph nodes,’ or lymphatic.’ However, few people actually know what these terms mean, or understand how they function within our bodies. The lymphatic system is a highly important part of your body’s overall immune system, and serves as a defense against toxins and waste that enter our bodies. As a subset of the circulatory system, it also plays an important role in nourishment as well.
Lips – one of the most expressive and telling features on our faces – can often make or break our natural look. Each pair of lips varies, with some people priding themselves on pillow-plush lips, and others speaking through full, but smaller lips. We use them to speak, to smile, to express ourselves in unique but universal ways. But did you know that your lips can kiss and tell you a thing or two about your health?
A lot of news buzz surrounds the labeling of organic and non-GMO products both on the market and in skin-care. Health bloggers, magazines, and other publications consistently highlight the importance of making careful selections of foodstuffs bearing the labels that signify the lack of GMOs and chemical pesticides. Amidst all the headlines, hashtags, and hot topics regarding organic and non-GMO foods, much confusion arises regarding the differences between the two labels from the USDA Organic Certification and the Non-GMO Project Verification.
Your momma always said “eat your veggies”. Healthy words of wisdom we should have obeyed. When you hear the word ‘malnutrition,’ what comes to mind? Third world countries with rail-thin people? Eating disorders like anorexia? Starvation? While all of these associations do coincide with malnutrition, the term extends beyond a lack of food and the poverty line. Believe it or not, the United States of America has a big problem with malnutrition – and by big we mean super-sized. However, thin, fragile-looking bodies do not accurately portray the bloated issue.
Organic tea tree essential oil started climbing the charts as a favorite for at-home skin treatment during the 1770s, when a British explorer braving the unknown in Australia saw aboriginal people brewing the plants’ leaves to make tea. It did not go out of style with the passing of time, gaining instead popularity when Arthur Penfold, an Australian chemist, first documented the many uses and benefits of tea tree oil in a collection of papers that circulated world-wide. Knowledge grew, as did usage, and organic tea tree essential oil became more popular and en vogue with the years.
A new kind of threat lurks the shelves lined with vitamins and supplements at pharmacies, grocery stores, and health stores. Many people, maybe even yourself among them, ingest or apply these indistinctive products to their skin, hoping for trustworthy improvement of health and appearance as a result. These mystery supplements often facade as vitamins, providing a mask of fake health as marketed by mainstream medical practices and pharmaceutics. Of course, we do believe it is highly important to take your vitamins. But there are some facts you may want to know before making a selection.
Sneezing, coughing, fatigue, and stuffy nose… You may have caught a simple head cold, or you may have to face off with influenza. Each year, a few different strains of flu virus begin a trail of infection that often leaves a wake of illness across the country. Each year, influenza continues to make headlines as the public and health officials attempt to keep track of its trail. Pharmacy lines grow with the elderly attempting to protect themselves with vaccinations, and schools take extra precautions to keep the germ level down.
Talk and buzz surrounding the controversial issue of vaccines grows daily as more and more evidence surfaces about the effects that they have on human health. Blogs, newspapers, magazines, and other forms of media offer new opinions and ideas regarding the subject of vaccinations. Some forums even exist to provide a common ground for conversation, allowing the general public to share opinions and thoughts about vaccinations.
Ever heard the old adage: ‘Looks can be deceiving?’ Well, it never applied more to our lives as American consumers until now. Many grocery stores have transformed their shelves and setups into a maze of strategic marketing ploys designed to get you to purchase certain products – and not the healthier ones! Many people have no clue that the sneaky strategies employed by the food industry are set so that consumers are more likely to select the unhealthy products.
Everyday, millions of people wake up to begin their daily routine, which often includes swiping on some deodorant or antiperspirant before they leave the house in order to ensure that they do not earn a large wet circle under their arms. Many individuals apply these products to their skin in the hope of avoiding the potential for irritation and embarrassment of excessive sweating and unpleasant odor.
The medicine of breathing in oceanic air: realistic remedy or fictional physician’s practice? The discussion revolving around this historical cure has finally made its way into the curiosities of modern doctors. Some even go so far as to perform experiments regarding the potential health benefits of salty sea air.
Genetically modified food stuffs has taken headlines by storm, with magazine articles, newspapers, and blogs disputing the results and effects of such widespread usage of these crops on American soil. Some writers argue that the foods are no different from their naturally growing counterparts, and thus need no special labeling. Other individuals beg to differ, stating that the labeling argument is as much an issue of ethics as nutrition. Everyone deserves to know how this fruit differs from that vegetable.
One of my patients, Bill, called to make an appointment at my general practice the other day. He called up the front desk, and when I answered, he seemed almost exasperated. “Hi, Bill,” I said. “A little early for your yearly check up, aren’t ya?”
More and more people want to go organic with their meals, using wholesome, all-natural ingredients to make tasty creations that nourish the body and mind. Many of those people have difficulty putting together dishes that deliver a dose of delicious nutrients and vitamins – or they simply do not have the time. You may struggle to manage daily life with kids, school, work, and a million other things, but you are in luck because some of the easiest organic meals have the highest nutritional value.
