4 Roots of Optimum Wellness

There are four essential parts to being healthy: Diet, Exercise, Sleep & Attitude.

Vitae Elixxir Healing Herbs

A proprietary combination of ten disease-fighting herbs used for more than 40 years and helping thousands of people with serious health issues.

Books by Author & Health Coach Chris Pedersen

In a world of adventure and imagination, kids’ books in print and digital that encourage a healthy lifestyle.

6 Tips to Lose Weight

Don’t count calories—take a serious look at the food you want to eat, then ask, ”Is this something that will give my body good health?”

Monday, October 31, 2011

Red Genius Juice Recipe

Here's a treat for your body. No tricks here. Just a simple healthy recipe for vegetable juice. The recipe comes from Sandy Halliday, detox specialist. I interviewed Sandy recently about her ebook The Definitive Detox Diet.

With a name like Red Genius, who doesn't want to get some of this nutrition in their bodies? Beets are rich in phytonutrients called betalains that provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and detoxification support for the body.

Friday, October 28, 2011

Interview with a Detox Expert

Today we’re chatting with Sandy Halliday, a former nurse, who now blogs about nutrition, natural remedies and how to detox to regain your health at www.thedetoxspecialist.com. Sandy wrote The Definitive Detox Diet ebook to help people regain their health and stay healthy in a toxic world.

Tell us about your background in the health industry?
I was very interested in human biology at school and fascinated (still am) by how the body works. I originally thought I would like to study medicine, but was put off by my teachers. In those days, it was difficult and unusual for women to get into medical school. So I decided to train to be a nurse instead.

Working in hospitals was a great eye opener for me. I was amazed to learn that the human body is such an incredible machine and so very complicated. I discovered there was still a lot not known about how it all worked.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Wisdom Wednesday

Tip:
Buy a vegetable you've never eaten before and try it. Try parsnips and make Blackeyed Pea Soup.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Serrano Garden Spaghetti

When the crisp, cool weather hits, our taste buds begin to crave wonderful dishes that fill our tummies at dinnertime—like Spaghetti. Last March I posted Portabella Mushroom Spaghetti. Serrano Garden Spaghetti is a twist on that dish. This recipe comes from my equally talented-in-the-kitchen husband. Like me, he's continually making up recipes for our meals. This one I made him write down because I knew you would love it!

Friday, October 21, 2011

"Eating Healthy Is Too Expensive"

That's what we always hear. But is it true? There have been several articles and bog posts this year on the subject and the consensus is..."No!" As reported in the New York Times by Mark Bittman, Is Junk Food Really Cheaper? a dinner at McDonald's for four will cost a family $28. Whereas a dinner of roasted chicken, vegetables, a simple salad and milk costs $14. If that's too much money, how about $9 for rice and beans with bacon, green peppers and onion, and milk?

The article shows a McDonald's vs healthy food comparison graphic complete with photos and nutritional information. It's definitely worth a view.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Wisdom Wednesday

Tip:
Walk around your block three times this week.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Green Coconut Smoothie Recipe

This delicious and healthy green smoothie will keep you going all afternoon. Besides the wealth of nutrients in the veggies, the 1/4 cup of raw unsweetened coconut flakes is packed with minerals and fiber. Coconut is also rich in medium-chain triglycerides, a type of dietary fat that encourages weight loss by boosting your metabolism and curbing your appetite. Other substances in raw coconut bolster your immune function and destroys pathogens.

Are you ready for a boost? Get out your Vita Mix and start blending.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Does Taking Supplements Hurt You?

This week a study released by the Archives of Internal Medicine reported that taking supplements offered little benefit and may in fact cause early death. Tracking nearly 39,000 women, 55 and older for 19 years, they found that those taking supplements experienced a slightly higher risk of death.

I hate these kinds of studies. They do a huge disservice to the public. I am highly suspect of the motivation behind this study. Plus, I want to know exactly what these women ate.

Here are my takes on why this study is flawed:

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Wisdom Wednesday

Tip:
Count to 50 as you chew your food—then swallow. Trains you to eat consciously and chew your food more, which helps digestion.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Stuffed Summer Squash Recipe

As fall replaces summer, the garden gives its last harvest. Here's a recipe for stuffed summer squash from Jennie Zraick. You may remember Jennie from an interview she gave in the post Dealing With Depression. She overcame her depression with a healthy diet and loves to discover delicious new recipes.

Jennie shares her recipe for Stuffed Summer Squash.

Friday, October 7, 2011

Are Your Teeth Making You Sick?

Recently I met a woman who told me she had severe fibromyalgia that kept her from performing many basic functions, like using a keyboard, due to extreme pain. I inquired about her teeth and she mentioned most of her silver/amalgams had been replaced a few years ago with composite fillings.

Poison in Your Mouth
Often called silver fillings, amalgams are the dark, metal fillings in your mouth. Amalgams are a metal alloy composed of approximately 50% mercury. Should durable, cheap and easy to use constitute a reason to put a poison in your mouth? Everywhere else, but in your mouth, mercury is considered a dangerous and toxic material. There is considerable controversy regarding the use of mercury fillings in repairing cavities.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Wisdom Wednesday

Tip:
When eating raw vegetables, cut them up into 1/2 inch cubes to make chewing easier.

Monday, October 3, 2011

Spicy Pumpkin Cashew-Cheese Dip Recipe

It's autumn—leaves change color and begin to fall. The air smells fresh and pumpkins appear on doorsteps and porches. Time to break out the fall recipes.

Spicy Pumpkin Cashew-Cheese Dip is a yummy appetizer you can take to your autumn gatherings and harvest events. I first got a taste of the appetizer when Leslie Cole brought this delicious pumpkin dip to a neighborhood wine event.

The recipe comes from Kathy Patalsky at Healthy Happy Life. Kathy is a vegan chef and in case you didn't know, cashews are used as cheese in many vegan recipes. Thus the cashew-cheese in the title.