Each month, we bring our readers tools and information to assist them on their path to personal wellness and healthy living...naturally! We feature articles by national authors as well as from local leaders in the fields of health, nutrition, fitness, organics, personal growth, sustainability and natural pet. Have something you'd like to read about? Contact us directly!
Upsetting Your Natural Balance
How Medications Can Impact Your Digestive Health
While all medications are created to perform a specific function, they can also have moderate to severe side effects, which can vary depending on how they are taken; the interaction with other medications, foods or supplements; the general health of the patient; the state of a patient's illness or disease; age; weight or even as...
Food as Medicine
The Healing Power of Nutrition
Eating is a basic need, but many Americans are not filling this need with healthful choices. Among the more than 700,000 Americans that die each year from heart disease, stroke or Type 2 diabetes, about 45 percent...
Sizzling on the Grill
Healthy, Sustainable Summer Fare
For most Americans, summer smells like fresh-cut grass and barbecue sizzling in the backyard. Approximately 64 percent of U.S. adults own a grill or smoker, but common practices are bad for the environment. Fortunately, many great chefs have the problem covered with delicious alternatives to...
Sweet Slumber
Natural Tips for Deep Sleep
A good night’s sleep is a challenge for a growing number of Americans. Even before the pandemic, 35 percent of adults reported sleeping less than the recommended seven hours a night, and in a new survey by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 56 percent said they were...
Growing Food Security
The Benefits of Urban Gardening
For a lot of Americans, healthy food is scarce. According to FeedingAmerica.org, more than 35 million Americans faced food insecurity in 2019. That number is expected to increase substantially due to the pandemic, which disrupted the food supply chain in ways that...
The Power of Playfulness
Mirth has been a memory for most of us this past year; something that we need now more than ever. White-knuckle survival and transition can drain neurotransmitters, those chemical messengers vital for strong immunity and good...
Pet Happy
How Animals Help Kids Thrive
As any parent whose child has begged long and hard for a puppy or kitty can testify, animals are close to children’s hearts. Up to 90 percent of kids are lucky enough to live with a pet at some point in their childhood, and studies show the effects can be profound for...
Doggy Delights
Healthy, Homemade Cookie Treats
One morning, Randy Roach awoke to a delicious aroma wafting from the kitchen of his Philadelphia home. Mouth watering, he peeked in the oven to find a dozen bone-shaped cookies—meant not for him, but for...
Traveling for the Planet
Sustainable Ways to Explore the World
After more than a year in social isolation, many of us are ready to hit the road, meet new people, fly to exotic locations and enjoy the sights and flavors of anywhere-but-here. Although the travel industry is raring to serve pent-up demand, this unprecedented respite can be an opportunity to reset priorities. When choosing hotels, modes of transportation, places to shop and dine, and other activities, consider their ...
Relaxed Kids
Simple Ways to Calm Anxious Children
It doesn’t take a full-on tantrum for children to experience or exhibit stress. According to licensed school psychologist and spiritual counselor Zemirah Jazwierska, anxiety is a child’s natural response to not having...
Simple Acts Can Change the World
We Can Make a Difference
It’s easy to feel small and helpless in a world full of big problems, but there are simple, daily actions we can take to change it for the better...
The Fit Gardener
Backyard Workouts Good for Mind and Body
Both gardeners and researchers know that tilling the soil can lower stress and uplift the mood, and gardening can also foster fitness, burn calories and support heart health. By offering an opportunity for moderate intensity exercise, it provides a challenging workout with aerobic benefits. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention...
Beat the Blues Naturally
Drug-Free Ways to Treat Depression
Lack of interest, low energy, changes in weight, difficulty concentrating and feelings of worthlessness are some of the symptoms that can occur in varying degrees with depression. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, an estimated 17.3 million adults in the U.S. experienced at least one major depressive...
Vegan Road-Tripping
Travel Tips for Plant-Based Eaters
To maximize health and minimize our impact on the planet, a whole-food, plant-based diet reigns supreme. Cooking at home ensures quality-controlled ingredients, but when traveling, extra measures are needed to enjoy healthy options while avoiding...
Integrative Health for Men
Natural Approaches for Robust Vitality
Statistically speaking, living long and well is an uphill battle for most American men. Compared to women, they eat worse, smoke more, drink harder, exercise less and suffer more injuries. They live on average five fewer years than women. At birth, they...
Create a Dog-Friendly Yard
Plants, Paths and Play Areas to Wag a Tail
Backyards can be sanctuaries, filled with gardens and landscaping. For homeowners with dogs, consider “dog-scaping”. It’s a term coined by landscape designer Maureen Gilmer of Palm Springs, California, who wrote the...
Baby Bites
Healthy Homemade Food for Tiny Tummies
For the first year of a baby’s life, breast milk and formula are the main sources of nutrition, but as early as 4 to 6 months, a little one may be suited to try solid foods. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, when a baby consistently holds their head up, has started to...