Healthy Choices Matter: Let's Be Well

If you are a local friend of mine or follow on Facebook, you've probably heard me mention my association with IN.FORM through my work with The Herb Garden.  It is a weight-loss program put together by Nature's Sunshine that works and promotes health, not just a smaller waste.  If you are interested in more information about it, let me know.  That isn't the purpose of this post though.  I want to talk about how the choices we make with our body (and as parents our children's bodies) has a direct effect on their health, sometimes long-lasting, even if it feels like it shouldn't matter so much.

In the realm of health, medicine or science, there is a lot that I don't know and am never intending to diagnose or cure anyone.  Every circumstance is different and there is no way I could or should expect my thoughts to apply everywhere.  I have had a lot of experience and exposure through my own health, the health of my children and my work with The Herb Garden that has convicted me of some important things that the average American either does not know, acknowledge or put into practice.

Dinner time is one of our favorites!

With so much disease that often doesn't make sense, it behooves us to remedy the issues that clearly do make sense.  Let's do what we can!

Weight-gain is a health risk, not a body shaming opportunity.  At best, we all have different ideal weights.  Our genes decide how big our bones are, so we are never supposed to be the same size as whoever the chosen queen or king of culture is today.  How good or bad we look AND how much we care about that, is largely up to us.  Regardless of that, unhealthy weight-gain is a health risk.  That means it changes the way our body works.  From little things like shortness of breath and tiredness to a greater risk of diabetes, stroke, cancer and depression.  How you eat and how little you move can, in some cases be the deciding factors between developing these diseases or not.  If that applied to you or your family member, why wouldn't you make some changes?

What you eat directly effects how well your body works.  It is common in our culture to get cranky and rebellious about diets or some nut job trying to tell us how to live our lives.  It is common, but it doesn't benefit us or our families.  How many vegetables you eat in a day determines how many vitamins and minerals your body gets.  The levels of nutrients your body maintains impacts your immune system which often determines whether or not you get every cold in a 5 mile radius.  Or things like skipping breakfast and trying to work until lunch on nothing but a donut.  Protein is involved in EVERYTHING in your body, so not getting enough can lead to increased infections, irritability, weakness, loss of muscle and certainly hurts brain activity.  Not the best plan before a test or big meeting.  Now don't get me wrong, everyone is different and therefore effected differently by different foods, meal times, etc.  But, once you start paying attention, you can tell what foods helps you live a better life and what perpetuates health problems and bad habits.  And with your children, they are often even less equipped to understand the messages their body is sending them.  It's our job to teach them.

                                           

Where there is disease or a health issue, a change in diet or lifestyle has to be made to see great improvement.  From the big diseases like cancer and heart disease all the way down to allergies and respiratory conditions, if you are hoping for improvement, the very least you need to be doing is eating a colorful healthy diet and moving!  Especially children that struggle with asthma or crazy allergic reactions, in general a change in diet and lifestyle can go a long way in correcting struggles like this.  And in case you didn't know, sugar is in everything and in the doses we typically get, sugar makes everything worse.  Sad story, but undeniable fact.


We all have different struggles and different priorities, but feeling well enough to do the things we love is probably something we share.  I love the herbal remedies and nutritional education I've received through The Herb Garden and Nature's Sunshine, but even if you don't share that appreciation, cooking and eating at home, drinking more clean water, including more veggies and healthy fats, and making physical activity part of your life are simple straight-forward things that will change your life!  And just imagine if our children and grandchildren grew up understanding how valuable wise choices about their food and activity were!

It's easy to dismiss things like eating better and moving more as 'not that big of a deal' or 'not the most important thing'.  And I get that.  It is hard.  And making healthy choices doesn't always fit right away with your budget or schedule and it doesn't feel like it should matter so much.  But when there is hardly a person who doesn't have a major health complaint or major disruption to their life because they can't get out of bed or they are depressed or they are just in so much pain or they can't focus or breathe or cancer is continuing to show up everywhere - It is just becoming very clear that like it or not, it DOES matter.  Moderation, absolutely.  Enjoy your food - YES! But living like it doesn't matter and then wondering why our bodies seem to be against us, well that just isn't wise.  None of us can control the genes we were given or be master of all environments or circumstances, so health issues will come.  I just hope we can all understand more how our choices can benefit or hurt those issues.

The Balance of Herbs for May 18th - 24th

Herb talk is not the only thing I intend to blog about, but it has been the first on my list (of trying to be more consistent), so you'll have to bear with me! 

Specials

-Become a member this week through me and get your choice of a free bottle of Lemongrass (15 ml) essential oil or Valerian Root (100 caps).

-Buy $20 of product from me and you'll receive 2 free empty amber bottles that are great for storing your personal essential oil blends in.

Events

June 1st - Toxic Invaders & the Importance of Fighting Them Head On hosted by The Herb Garden

Herb Talk

One of our free items is Valerian Root and it is a powerful thing to have in your cabinet.  Here is a little bit about it from one of my favorite clinical herbalists, Steven H. Horne.

"Valerian is one of the herbal kingdom’s powerful nervines.  The root of this plant has been used since the 2nd century AD and continues to be one of the more popular modern herbal remedies for insomnia, stress and mild pain.  

Unfortunately, it’s not one of the more pleasant smelling herbs.  The smell of valerian has been described as something akin to “moldy cheese” or dirty socks.

Despite its putrescent odor, cats seem to love the smell of valerian.  It intoxicates them much the same as catnip does.  Valerian root has also been used in rat traps to attract the rats to the poison.  It is no wonder that the Pied Piper is purported to have used it, along with his flute, in his extermination efforts."

To read more about Valerian, go here.

Wondering why herbs and why NSP?  Go here.

The Balance of Herbs for May 11th - 17th

Did you know that plants (herbs) are the original medicine? Many prescription drugs have parts of plants at their core.  As science chugs along, there are of course changes made and synthetic components added.  One of the things I love about herbal supplements and formulas is how much of their original state is maintained or combined in a gentle and complimentary way, rather than forced for convenience or sheer experimentation.

Would you like to know more about gentler alternatives for any health issue you might have?  There is so much information I can share with you if you're interested.  Want to look around at what kinds of products are available? Go here.  This week, May 11th - 17th, if you decide to become an NSP member through me, you will receive your choice of a bag of Love & Peas, vegan protein powder OR a 32 oz bottle of Liquid Chlorophyll. 

In the coming weeks there are going to be a lot of opportunities for learning about healthy living and natural alternatives over at The Herb Garden.  June 1st there will be a free class, Toxic Invaders & the Importance of Fighting Them Head On where you will learn several remedies for fighting illnesses of all kinds that don't require prescriptions and can often eliminate the extra trips to the doctor.  

Questions? Wondering if there is an herb for that?  There probably is! :)  Just ask - I'd love to help!

Supporting My Herb Habit

I doubt it's news to you that herbs are a regular part of our lifestyle.  They're so versatile and nourishing that my kids have used them almost since birth.  I'm a true believer in their effectiveness when handled appropriately and am so grateful that herbs have always been an option for me.

That being said, it is not cheap to get quality supplements that you can trust.  And some argue that it doesn't really matter where you get your herbs and all that.  This is why I think it matters to some extent and why Nature's Sunshine Products are your best bet.

As my family grows, the quantity of herb consumption has a tendency to go up!  My poor herb budget has been in fits and it's time I did something about it.  So, in order to support my herb habit, I'd like to share with you my win-win solution!

For every amount of product I buy from NSP, I get a % of it back.  Similar to other direct-selling companies, if I sponsor you to become a member, whatever you order, I get a percentage of it as well.  Everyone has that same opportunity as a member.  No requirements on your membership, just specifications if you want to increase your rebate.  If you have any interest or curiosity about herbs or NSP, just ask.  If you'd like to explore on your own and decide to become a member, my member # is 1924968 (this would be your sponsor number).  If you would like to try some products (they sell over 500 products, including pure essential oils) but don't want to pay shipping for just a few things, I order twice a month and would be happy to order something for you (as long as you're local).

My little herb baby

My big herb baby!

I completely understand (and respect) that not everyone goes this route, but for me, I am so grateful for the wealth of options it provides, especially for my kids!  If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at any time.  

A Foggy Day Solution: Lymph Gland Cleanse-Hy

This past week here in Oklahoma City, it was foggy and misty - it felt like it was several days in a row. Since we live in the city, we certainly felt the smog-like conditions.  It seems silly that it should affect much of anything, but in our house it seemed to affect everything!  I really believe the culprit was in the air.  With recent allergy flair ups on top of usual city air pollution trapped by the fog and such, it makes it harder to breathe freer.  Anyway, it seemed to mess everything up from how we felt physically to our moods and mental clarity in general!

I didn't realize the correlation until it was mostly gone, but the effect seemed to be lingering.  And the reason I'm sharing any of this is because there is an herbal combination that I've used (for years) that helps so much with circumstances like this.  Once we started it, the symptoms began to diminish significantly!

What's in it: Parthenium root, yarrow aerial parts, myrrh gum and capsicum fruit.

Lymph Gland Cleanse-Hy

Why it's helpful: This herbal formula helps meet the nutritional needs of a stressed immune system and is particularly helpful to the circulatory system, which benefits the lymphatic system.  When the body encounters harmful contaminants (think lawn chemicals, car exhaust, pesticides, etc.) in any form, it can stress the immune system.  This combination is a great immune booster, giving the body what it needs to eliminate the problem with few physical effects.

I'm so thankful that I have such an arsenal of resources in herbs, vitamins, homeopathics, essential oils and home remedies to assist with the complicated landscape our bodies have to deal with.  As with anything you put in your body, it's important to remember that everyone is different, with different circumstances and needs.  I hope to share many of the things that work for my family, but please be be wise and knowledgeable just the same in determining what is best for yours.  What works for one, may not work for another.  

Information on this site is provided for educational purposes only.  Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Giveaway at The Herb Garden

I am a believer in healthy living and making natural choices whenever possible.  Throughout my pregnancy, birth and now J's life, I've used herbs and still work really hard to provide my household with a healthy real-food diet as often as I can.

The Herb Garden is a nutritional counseling and consulting business owned by my parents that seeks to educate and guide others in natural health alternatives.  This week they are giving away a bottle of Vitamin D3 to a lucky follower on facebook!  For a chance to win, like The Herb Garden on facebook and leave them a comment - you can enter daily!