Do you like getting roses? I’m partial to yellow roses, but much too practical to encourage my husband to buy them for me.  But now I’ve discovered a better way to enjoy them – in rosehip seed oil!  If you didn’t already know it, rosehip seed oil has a long history in natural medicine and contains many health benefits. It’s  benefits are almost as varied as roses themselves, but this oil doesn’t get the credit it’s due.

It is extracted from the seeds of wild/native rose bushes, primarily in Chile. If  sustainability of this bush concerns you, don’t worry, there can be up to one million rosehip seeds on a single wild rose bush.

Some facts about rosehip oil you may not know:

• Rosehips are the red bud that replaces the rose bloom after it loses its petals
• They are a tart fruit and depending on the variety, they contain more vitamin C than an orange
• According to Livestrong.com, studies show it may reduce hyper pigmentation and stretch marks in pregnancy (see precautions below)
• Hydrates the skin
• It should always be used with a carrier oil such as jojoba, olive, or almond oil
• It has anti-inflammatory properties
• It may alleviate the symptoms of osteoarthritis and arthritis
• Contains healing properties for skin problems like rosacea  or eczema
• It can be made into a tea and used to fight urinary tract infections
• May help fight diabetes
• Rose hip may have preventive properties for heart disease and high blood pressure
• It has anti-aging properties and may help fight wrinkles and age spots
• Good for dry and damaged hair
• It may be used in massage oil

You can purchase rosehip seed oil as an essential oil, in a tablet or a powder. We carry all three! You can even purchase a rose oil spray to help relieve anxiety and lift your mood. Besides, it smells lovely!

As with any product you ingest or put on your skin, there are a few precautions you should know of when using rosehip seed oil:

• Always consult with your doctor if you are pregnant or nursing before using rosehip oil
• Always try a patch test first before using an essential oil – even natural products can cause allergic reactions
• It can interfere with birth control effectiveness
• It can interfere with drugs that thin the blood
• It may increase iron absorption in the body

Are you surprised by all the beneficial properties of rosehip oil? No wonder it’s gaining so much popularity. The next time you’re wondering about a good multi-purpose essential oil, consider rosehip seed oil – you’ll be glad you did!

If you’ve used rosehip seed oil, we’d like to hear about it! Post a comment below.

Resources and References:

http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/learn/oilprofile/rosehiporganic.php

http://www.livestrong.com/article/188614-how-to-make-rose-hip-oil/

http://www.examiner.com/article/rosehip-seed-oil-mother-nature-s-anti-aging-secret

http://www.ehow.com/about_5499637_rose-hips-side-effects.html

http://www.greenmedinfo.com/article/rose-hips-rosa-canina-have-significant-anti-inflammatory-and-antioxidant-activity

http://www.livestrong.com/article/414529-rose-hip-seed-oil-uses/

http://www.greenmedinfo.com/article/rose-hip-powder-significantly-alleviates-symptoms-osteoarthritis

http://altmedicine.about.com/od/herbsupplementguide/a/Rose-Hip.htm

http://nutrispire.wordpress.com/2013/04/23/health-benefits-of-rosehips/

Did you know May 13th-May 17th is National Bike to Work Week?

Bike to Work Week is sponsored by The League of American Bicyclists whose mission is:

To promote bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation and work through advocacy and education for a bicycle-friendly America.

Why Bike?

The benefits of biking are endless. According to People For Bikes, biking improves physical health, community health and environmental health.

• Biking is the second most popular outdoor activity in the U.S.
• 47% of Americans say they would like more bike facilities in their communities
• Just three hours of biking a week reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke by 50%
• Women who bike more than 30 minutes a day have a lower risk of breast cancer
• Adolescents who bike are 48% less likely to be overweight as adults
• On a round-trip commute of 10 miles, bicyclists save about $10 per day in gasoline costs

Improve your Health

Biking is one of the best activities you can do to improve your health.

• Biking improves cardiovascular health and fitness and can help decrease your risk of coronary heart disease.
• Biking improves your muscle tone; especially in the lower half of your body. Biking is also low-impact on your joints which makes it great for those with leg or hip problems.
• Biking can help keep your weight in check. Biking burns many calories and can also help boost your metabolism, even after you’ve finished your ride.
• Riding a bike has been linked to improved mental health and can help strengthen your immune system.

Rules of the Road

Make sure whether you are biking to work or biking for leisure that you always follow the “rules of the road.”

1. Follow the Law. Obey all traffic signals and stop signs. Ride with traffic and always use the rightmost lane.
   
2. Be Predictable. Make your intentions clear to those around you. Signal your turns and check around you before switching lanes.
3. Be Conspicuous. Ride where drivers can see you and wear bright or reflective clothing. If you’re riding at night or when visibility is poor, make sure you have a light and reflectors.
4. Think Ahead. Anticipate what those around you will do. Watch for debris, potholes and other potential hazards in the road.
5. Ride Ready. Check your tires, brakes, chains and all levers. Carry repair and emergency equipment and always wear a helmet.
6. Keep Your Cool. Road rage always makes a bad situation worse.

If you live in an area where it’s just not possible to bike to work, try biking instead of driving while doing errands.

Friday, May 17th is Bike to Work Day. Do you plan on participating?

References:

http://news.discovery.com/adventure/the-top-7-health-benefits-of-cycling.htm

http://www.peopleforbikes.org/pages/benefits_of_biking

http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/bicyclefriendlyamerica/index_about.php

http://www.bikeleague.org/resources/better/roadrules.php

Herbs are not only as great as spices, but many also help protect you against disease, cleanse your body and provide you with essential vitamins and minerals!

Some herbs are really remarkable – like fenugreek. Although this Mediterranean herb is probably best known as a culinary spice in Indian curries and other ethnic dishes, it also gets its recognition for its many health benefits.

Dating back to early ancient Egypt – nearly 6,000 years ago, fenugreek is one of the oldest medicinal herbs in recorded history. Originally, the early Egyptians used fenugreek plants as an additive to low quality horse feed, which often made it more appealing and appetizing for the horses.

The fenugreek seeds were of particular interest to humans. The early Egyptians primarily used fenugreek seeds to treat tuberculosis, bronchial infections, wounds, and other skin ailments. Through the centuries, fenugreek was also adopted for cosmetic purposes – often used as a skin moisturizer and facial serum.

So here we are today… Fenugreek is still around, and is still being used as a medicinal herb and cosmetic ingredient – so the early Egyptians must have been on to something.

What can fenugreek do for your health?

Here are 10 Ways to Spice Up Your Health With Fenugreek:

1. Increases Breast Milk Production in Lactating Women- For nursing mothers, fenugreek offers a safe and natural alternative to boost milk production. In fact, women have been using fenugreek to increase milk flow for centuries. According to BabyCenter.com, research has shown that fenugreek can increase milk production as much as 900 percent! Kathleen Huggins, a lactation consultant and registered nurse at San Luis Obispo General Hospital in California, recommends fenugreek to women who aren’t producing enough milk. However, she notes that fenugreek will not improve breast milk production if the “breasts are not being well drained.” To adequately increase production, she suggests women need to take two or three capsules (usually around 580-610 Mg) three times a day–rather than the suggested one capsule three times a day. Here’s another perspective–we recently interviewed a baby who’s mother was using fenugreek, and he replied, “Mmmmm.” So there’s that.
2. Support Menopause and Reduce Menstrual Cramps-  According to The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, fenugreek can also be used to support menopause and ease menstrual cramps. Since fenugreek is one of the richest food sources of phytoestrogens, it has been known to help support healthy estorgen levels, while reducing symptoms of menopause including hot flashes and anxiety. Dr. Mercola also recommends fenugreek for menstural cramps.
3. Helps Reduce Inflammation- In a recent article published in the Huffington Post,  Dr. Richarch Palmquist explains that because of its antioxidant properties, fenugreek can be used to reduce chronic inflammation and swelling.  Chronic inflammation is often associated with joint pain, heart disease, dementia and sometimes cancer. By reducing inflammation, fenugreek may reduce the risk of various chronic illnesses and cancers.
4. Helps Arthritis Symptoms- Several small studies on animals have found that glutathione, protein, and hemoglobin levels were restored in arthritic rats when supplemented with fenugreek.  According to LiveStrong.com, fenugreek’s estrogen boosting properties has also been shown to stall auto-immune disorders- specifically auto-immune arthritis.
5. Supports Cholesterol Health- Fenugreek seeds contain properties that inhibit  cholesterol absorption in the intestines and cholesterol production in the liver. Other research has shown that fenugreek can lower LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels in individuals with high lipid levels. In doing so, this may help to increase good HDL cholesterol levels.
6. Supports Digestive Problems- Ancient Egyptians and early Chinese herbalists often used fenugreek for digestive problems and constipation. WebMD explains that fenugreek is used for digestive problems such as loss of appetite, upset stomach,constipation, and inflammation of the stomach (gastritis). Traditionally, people consume fenugreek tea, or fenugreek mixed with organic honey and lemon to support digestive problems.
7. Helps Lower Blood Sugar Levels- Several small studies and clinical trials have found that fenugreek  may help lower blood sugar levels and improve glucose tolerance in people with type 1 and 2 diabetes. For those that care about the technical side, it’s the 4-hydroxyisoleucine component of the seeds that stimulate the secretion of insulin which lowers blood sugar, and reduces sugar absorption.
8. Supports Skin Health- Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, fenugreek has can also be used to reduce skin inflammation, including boils, burns and eczema.  Fenugreek’s anti-oxidant properties also make it great for protection against free-radical damage–which has been known to cause aging, wrinkles, and more! FoodFitness.com explains that “it can be used as a natural scrub and can exfoliate the skin, removing dead cells and making the skin healthy and shiny.  Grounded fenugreek seeds along with water can be directly applied on to the pimple and acne marks to heal and remove them.”
9. Stimulates Hair Growth- Because of its high levels of proteins and vitamins, fenugreek can also be used to stimulate hair growth, reduce baldness and prevent hair loss.  Fenugreek leaves when applied to your scalp helps reduce dandruff and acts as a conditioner.
10. Spice up the Bedroom- That’s right ladies- if your man is suffering from low libido, slip in some fenugreek in his dinner and whal-la! Well maybe it’s not that easy, but a new study conducted by Australia’s Centre for Integrative Clinical and Molecular Medicine found that “there was significant improvement in sexual function and performance following [the supplementation of] fenugreek extract.” Good news for guys, not only because it “spices up the bedroom,” but also because most men with good sexual health, live longer than those without. Eat up boys.

If you’re looking for some fenugreek products we offer a wide range that can help out with your health! Check some out here or below:

• Metagenics Fenugreek Plus Herbal Support for Healthy Blood Sugar- Fenugreek Plus provides herbal support for healthy glucose metabolism, featuring concentrates of fenugreek, gymnema, and bitter gourd– three highly valued herbs that support blood glucose homeostasis
• Gaia Herbs Fenugreek Seed Lactation Support- It’s name is what it does: lactation support for nursing mothers.
• NOW Foods Fenugreek & Thyme 500mg- this unique blend (and inexpensive) acts and a natural decongestant and support with respiratory issues.
• NOW Foods Zesty Sprouting Mix- a great mixture of clover seeds, fenugreek seeds, alfalfa seeds, and more!

Little Milo, my youngest, has had a mild case of eczema since he was a baby. Little did I know, before learning more about natural health, that this external skin condition actually stems from issues in your gut…

Eczema is skin inflammation. It’s technical name is atopic dermatitis, or atopic eczema. Thirty million Americans are suffering from this skin condition, and according to the an article from TheEczemaSpot.com, about 20% of infants born in the US develop eczema and some outgrow it by the age of 10.

If you’ve learned one thing about inflammation and natural health, you know that inflammation is an indicator that something’s not right internally.

Why then do we see advertisements for ointments and lotions to treat eczema?

Naturopathic Doctor’s Chris D. Meletis, ND, and Jason Barker, ND give it to us straight,

“The concept of treating eczema with hydrocortisone or other suppressive therapies is inherently foreign to the holistically minded physician….Clearly, suppressive therapies for eczema only serve to prolong actual treatment of the symptoms.”

My son’s doctor prescribed some sort of steroid cream. There was no way I was going to put steroid cream on my infant. Especially because the doc warned me not to use too much, too often, or it could burn his skin right off. Really? No thank you, Doc! I’m thankful I never used that cream because I investigated side effects and health problems from even low doses of steroids and it’s not good!

The “best” advice I’ve seen yet from US scientists is diluted bleach baths – are they serious!? I cringe at the fact that this terrible advice is published on the internet for parents to see. Please don’t bathe your baby in bleach unless you want them to have thyroid issues!

That’s the thing with most conventional methods… they’ll try something to solve one problem but it only causes more problems. I have one word for that – D U M B.

The Cause of Eczema

Studies show that food allergens are the main cause of eczema.  The most common food culprits are cow’s milk, eggs, gluten (wheat, barley, rye & oats), soy, peanuts, fish, beef, corn, citrus and even tomatoes. Stress and genetics do play a role in atopic dermatitis, and studies show antibiotics and toxic ingredients like heavy metals used to make vaccinations are also a cause. Read my article on Is Vaccination Really Necessary to find out more about this.

Also, using caustic and toxic detergents or fabric softeners can aggravate and worsen eczema symptoms.

And it makes sense that eating fast food and other processed foods only make matters worse.

A recent finding published in the journal, Thorax, claims that “kids who eat fast food three or more times a week are likely to have more severe allergic asthma, hay fever and eczema.” There’s little to no nutritional value in these sorts of foods, in fact they even shut off the immune system.

Furthermore, newer studies prove eczema flare-ups are brought about or worsen from exposure to other environmental allergens like dust, animal dander and pollen. In fact, many kids that have eczema may also develop asthma and hay fever.

Either way, topical treatments will not solve the problem of atopic dermatitis. To get to the root of the issue, you must start within the gastrointestinal system and immune function, and let natural topical treatments help relieve symptoms.

Meletis and Barker stress the importance of  keeping the gastrointestinal tract healthy in their article, Skin Health, Eczema, and Preventative Strategies,

“If the eyes and the skin are the portal through which we may observe the body’s internal health, the gut then is the door through which a majority of disease initiates its entrance into the body.” The Dr’s explain. “It goes without saying that many factors in today’s lifestyle compromise the meticulous integrity of the gut lining, namely food choices and antibiotic therapies. The first area of treatment then for the patient displaying eczema should be the gastrointestinal lining, without a doubt.”

Scientific research continues to prove what nature has known all along…That the best approach for treating eczema naturally – is a healthy gut and immune system. Let’s break it down…

5 Ways to Treat Eczema Naturally

I think it’s funny when you read articles with studies proving one specific treatment was ineffective for treating eczema.  Duh! Just taking Evening Primrose Oil everyday might not fix the problem for everyone, I could have told you that – what a waste of a study. Folks, we need to take a combination of steps to achieve our desired health and well-being. We have to stop thinking that simple quick fixes can solve our problems. We need to face the fact that no matter how hard we try, we’re not going to be able to do it right 100% of the time. Especially not with high rollers like Big Pharma and Big Food on one team working against us. But, I personally promise you that if you do a combination of these 5 things, you’ll see the difference as your bodies healing process starts to take over.

1. Healthy Diet & Nutrition

A healthy diet & proper nutrition is usually the key when it comes to our well being. Some people may be able to eliminate eczema all together by simply giving their body the nutrients it needs while avoiding the things that lead to inflammation and sickness.

• Eating Well:  Eat a raw food diet, with as much whole and organic foods as possible. Avoid processed foods, caffeine, dairy, gluten, meat, sugar and alcohol. It’s also smart to get food allergen testing done to know if there’s anything else you should avoid. Even some fruits or vegetables could be a culprit. Also, drink at least 64 ounces of water a day. Our bodies need it just like plants do. Here is a very helpful Natural Health & Nutrition Pyramid I created to give you a better idea of what to eat, keeping in mind that to clear eczema, avoid the top 3 sections. (Scroll to the bottom to view it.)

• Use Coconut Oil: Eat and use cold pressed, organic, extra virgin coconut oil for cooking! Don’t use vegetable oil, canola oil, peanut oil, etc. These oils are created by a man-made process that manipulates the oil into a thickened saturated fat known as trans-fat. The only thing these oils benefit is their shelf life and the profits of large food companies. For the rest of us, the amount we ingest only leads us to being fat, sick and dead. Coconut oil, on the other hand, contains lauric acid, a rare type of fat found only in coconut oil and mother’s breast milk. Our bodies convert lauric acid into monolaurin, a compound that is highly toxic to viruses, bacteria, fungus and other microorganisms. It also deeply penetrates and moisturizes the skin while protecting it from environmental and free radical damage. Learn more from our article/infographic on health benefits of Coconut Oil: The Hero For Your Health.

2. Healthy Gut & Immune System 

A healthy diet and nutrition is a key part in having a healthy gut flora and boosting your immune system. But, there are also a few ways you can take it a step further. By following #1 & #2, you or your child may be free of eczema within a short period of time. It took my son three days for his symptoms to disappear. But each person is unique, with some having a mild case and others having a more severe case. So – healing time will vary for everyone.

• Essential Fatty Acids: Whether you have any health issues or not, everyone should be getting essential fatty acids (EFA). At least 99% of our population is EFA deficient because our bodies don’t make them on our own, yet they are essential to human survival. We must look to healthy food sources and/or supplements to get the suggested 7-11 grams each week. Flax seed, Chia seeds, cod liver and fish oils are all great sources. But, take a look at my article/infographic on Essential Fatty Acid Deficiency – Effects, Symptoms & Sources of Omega 3′s. You’ll find everything you need to know there with a helpful list of foods that contain EFA’s.

• Vitamins & Minerals: Then there are other common nutrient deficiencies that many of us have. Vitamin D3, Vitamin B12, Magnesium and Zinc – to name a few. I’ve linked each one to an article/infographic that will explain each deficiency in more depth. Getting the proper amount of these essential nutrients helps keep your immune system healthy and strong. In regards to eczema, vitamins C and E help protect intestinal cells from oxidative and free radical stress, and C has anti-inflammatory effects, anti-oxidant activity and antibiotic qualities. You can get most of these vitamins and minerals from food especially when you’re eating an anti-inflammatory diet. But, if you eat junk, the nutrients will be depleted. That’s why I stress the importance of proper food and nutrition. Think veggies, fruits, nuts, seeds, fish and water…These foods are alive to keep you alive – with all sorts of needed phytonutrients, vitamins, antioxidants, minerals, etc. Many people still take supplements to ensure they are getting enough.

• Gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA): Evening Primrose Oil, Black Currant Seed Oil, Borage Oil and Hemp Oil are the four ways to get GLA, another essential fatty acid (Omega 6). There have been studies that point to the use of GLA supplements for helping to clear eczema symptoms. But, like I’ve mentioned previously, we can’t expect GLA alone to do the job for everyone, it depends on why you have ezcema. GLA’s alone may heal people who have atopic ezcema related to an inability to metabolize GLA’s. All together, an taking an GLA supplement will help fight inflammation, promote a healthy immune response, improve the barrier function of the skin and is vital for keeping skin cells moist and strong.

• Probiotics & Digestive Enzymes: A probiotic supplement will help re-build the friendly bacteria in your gut and fight against bad bacterial that causes inflammation and health issues. Naturopathic Doctor’s Chris D. Meletis, ND, and Jason Barker, ND tell us that probiotic supplementation in pregnant women even helps prevent their baby from developing eczema. You can also eat cultured probiotic foods like sauerkraut, kefir, natto, tempeh, kimchi and miso. Digestive enzymes also play a critical role in your gut health. They protect the gut lining by breaking down food, eliminating toxins and allowing you to better absorb nutrients from your food. Eczema may also be a symptom of something called Leaky Gut Syndrome – a condition that affects the lining of the intestines. Read our short article on Is Your Gut Leaking to learn a bit more about this.

3. Detox & Avoid Toxins as Much as Possible

We can never escape toxins. They are everywhere! In our food, water, air, products we use and we’re even born with an average of 200 toxins passed down from our mother’s womb. The only thing we can do is try our best to avoid them as much as we can and clean out our insides from time to time by detoxification. To help get rid of eczema – here’s what you can do…

• Detox Your Body: Simply eating the diet we discussed above will help cleanse your body. And sweating and massage are other ways to go about naturally detoxing. But, there are supplements that help eliminate the toxins from your intestines and other organs that can assist your healing process. Just remember to drink a lot of water and herbal tea! Some 5-star rated best-selling products from Natural Healthy Concepts include Clearvite, MediClear Powder, and ZeoForce Detoxify Daily. These are professional grade products that you’d most likely find in a healthcare practitioners office.

• Use Natural personal care products, laundry detergents: If you’re not aware already, conventional personal care products contain many harmful ingredients that your skin absorbs. By first understanding what the ingredients are and being a label inspector – you will eliminate many toxins from entering your body. The same holds true for laundry detergents and softeners. Here’s a better alternative for personal care products and laundry essentials you could try instead. Plus, stay away from the pesticides in your lawn or around your house! They are no good either.

4. Stress Management 

Unfortunately most of us carry around way too much stress in our lives, and stress may lead to health issues. Although stress is probably not the sole cause of eczema, it could be the cause of a bad flare-up or perhaps one of the reasons it’s a challenge to kick it. Here are a few things you can do to help keep your stress level under control.

• Sleep: Kids 3-12 years of age need at least 10 hours of sleep a day. Adults should get at least eight hours. During sleep, your body restores and repairs itself – it’s as simple as that.

• Breathe deep: Deep breathing exercises help your body relax. It’s a good way to reduce stress, anxiety and tension. Try it.

• Acupuncture: Acupuncture is based on a system of meridians, or paths of energy, that flow through the body. The belief is when points in this path are blocked or weakened, the body responds by producing symptoms of illness like eczema. To restore the flow, acupuncture uses insertion of fine needles at specific points along the meridians. Eastern medicine practitioners have used this therapy for centuries. Some people believe acupuncture treatments help with stress relief, and the less stress you carry, the healthier you’ll be.

• Exercise: You don’t need me to tell you that this is an integral part of being healthy and warding off diseases. Just do it!

• Stress support supplement: There’s nothing wrong with a stress support supplement to help keep your hormones in check. For some people who just might be a bit more high strung or tense and this just may help do the trick.

5. Topical Natural Treatments For Eczema Symptoms

There are many natural remedies to help ease the itching, redness, dry and flaky symptoms that go along with eczema. Though most of these are topical, whatever you put on your skin does penetrate through to your bloodstream so in a sense it works internally as well. That’s just another good reason why not to use cortisone or steroid cream! To make it simple, here’s a list of things that may work well for you or your child. I’ve linked them all so you can click to read the descriptions, ingredients and reviews.

• Grandma Lye’s Soap: Natural Healthy Concepts has many customers that love Grandma Lye’s Soap for eczema or Psoriasis symptoms. It may ease discomfort of dry, itchy skin, psoriasis, eczema, or acne with daily use.

• Essential Oils: Oils with skin cell rejuvenating properties like neroli, rose otto and lavender, chamomile and yarrow are the most effective for soothing and reducing skin inflammation. At least one should be included in your blend and only a small amount of chamomile or yarrow is needed. For example you could mix 2-drops of lavender, 1-drop of neroli, and 1-drop of chamomile or yarrow. Be sure to mix with a carrier oil like almond or jojaba.

• Trillium Organics Body Oil: Some people think the organic body oil from Trillium Organics is a big help to their  eczema symptoms. It’s a fast-absorbing, light, after bath oil for moisturizing. It contains many beneficial oils for your skin.

• Salt Baths: An article on bath salts published in the International Journal of Dermatology reports that ”Skin roughness and redness of the skin as a marker for inflammation were significantly reduced after bathing in the salt solution. This demonstrates that bathing in the salt solution was well tolerated, improved skin barrier function, enhanced stratum corneum hydration, and reduced skin roughness and inflammation.”

• Coconut Oil: Yes, the same organic cold pressed extra virgin coconut oil that you eat can be used for your hair and skin! Try whipping it to make it more like a cream and rub it right into your skin to reap all of it’s healthful benefits.

• Aloe Vera + Vitamin E: Pure Aloe Vera extracted from the leaf of certified organic plants is one of the most effective skin soothers in nature. It conditions and hydrates dry and rough skin on contact. Vitamin E’s  anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties may also help relieve eczema when applied topically.

• Calendula: The flowers of Calendula officinalis are believed to benefit eczema by reducing inflammation, eliminating bacteria, and promote healing of your skin. Boiron’s Homeopathic Calendula Ointment may be beneficial for you to try.

To top it off, here’s a great clip featuring diet and nutrition tips to treat eczema!

What are your natural remedies for eczema? Do you have a testimonial to share or questions to ask? Leave a comment below!

When I was a kid we always went asparagus hunting in the spring. I say hunting because asparagus could be found growing wild along the roadside in the country. Back then, it was a challenge among my siblings and I to find the most asparagus – not necessarily to eat the most asparagus! Back then, it was not on my favorite food list.

Now I consider asparagus a superfood. What makes asparagus so special?

4 Health Benefits of Asparagus

1. It contains glutathione, a potent antioxidant, well known for it’s detoxifying properties.
2. Is a good source of fiber, folate, iron, vitamins A, C, E and K.
3. Is a natural diuretic – a beneficial food for those with high blood pressure and other heart-related conditions.
4. It contains inulin – a prebiotic which helps support the beneficial bacteria in our gut.

Asparagus is also one of the foods on the List of 15 Foods You Don’t Need to Buy Organic. Since it is relatively clean, nutrient dense, and low carb, there isn’t much bad to say about it! Four ounces of asparagus is only 22 calories, 2 grams net carbs, and 2.5 grams of fiber. Since it is a non-starchy vegetable, it is low on the Glycemic Load Index too!

The only bad thing (kind of) about asparagus, is that it makes your pee smell. According to Carolyn O’Neil on Web MD, “Researchers believe that, during digestion, the vegetable’s sulfurous amino acids break down into smelly chemical components in all people.” Within 15 minutes of eating asparagus, the odor can be present. So if your urine smells after consuming, rest assured, you are normal!

However, scientists from the Monell Center used complex sensory testing in a study to show that about eight percent of the subjects tested did not have smelly urine, while six percent couldn’t smell the odor. One person did not produce the odor and was also unable to smell it.

The Monell Center found that “the inability to smell asparagus odor was linked to a genetic variation within a family of olfactory receptors.” The variation in gene is apparently the reason why about one-third of people can smell the sulphurous pee while the rest of the population can’t – are you one of the lucky ones that can’t?

If you love asparagus and want to grow it in your garden, The Cooperative Extension of New Hampshire offers tips on where to plant, how to grow it, pest control, how to harvest and store these succulent spears.

Choosing asparagus is easy; spears can be thick or thin as that doesn’t necessarily mean they are tender or tough.  In the store, choose firm bunches with the cut ends resting in water. In addition to green, you’ll find white or purple spears. Refrigerate and use within a couple days for the best taste and nutrition.

The key to preparing asparagus is starting at the opposite end of the spear, gently test the toughness of the spear with a paring knife. You’ll feel the give in the spear when you reach the tender part and that’s where you’ll trim the bottom off.

Trimming in this way will keep the tough part out of your delicious spears. Lightly steamed or oven-roasted asparagus are my preferred cooking methods.

To oven-roast it, preheat the oven to 450. Mix the trimmed asparagus with olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast in a single layer in the pan for 10 – 15 minutes. Voila – enjoy!

I also love to throw in other veggies into the roasting pan and roast them all together. This is a great way to use up small portions of fresh veggies.  A favorite veggie combination is asparagus, red pepper, portabella mushrooms, chunked onion and broccoli spears. After roasting, finish off with a smidge of balsamic vinegar sprinkled on top.

If you’ve got a fantastic recipe for asparagus, share it below! If we can all eat more of this superfood, there might be less disease in this world.

I read a quote by Uma Thurman this past week that said:

I never ever slept again after my first pregnancy.

As the mother of a 3 year old little girl who is not (and never has been) a good sleeper, this quote made me laugh. Boy, can I relate! I also never slept during my pregnancy; even then my daughter liked to keep me up at night.

All joking aside, pregnancy is an exciting yet stressful time for moms (and dads too).

Body changes, anxiousness about delivery and worrying about the health of their unborn child are all normal pregnancy concerns.

According to an article on the Parents Magazine website, the health of their baby is the top concern for women during pregnancy.

There are many things women can do to be healthy during pregnancy like:

• eat a balanced diet
• get enough sleep
• stay physically active

In addition to a healthy lifestyle, prenatal vitamins play a key role in having a healthy pregnancy.

Why Take Prenatal Vitamins?

Prenatal Vitamins are created especially for pregnant women who have different nutritional needs. They contain many essential vitamins and minerals including folic acid, iron and calcium.

Prenatal vitamins are an important part of pregnancy and are conveniently available as pills, capsules, chewable tablets and even liquids.

Folic Acid, Iron and Calcium

Folic acid has been proven to help prevent neural tube birth defects such as spina bifida. Neural tube defects like spina bifida can develop early after conception; often before women even know they are pregnant. Because of this, it is often recommended that all women of child bearing age take a prenatal vitamin.

Calcium found in prenatals can help prevent a pregnant woman from losing her bone density as her baby will also use calcium for its own growth.

Iron in prenatals is important because it helps both mom and baby carry oxygen throughout their bodies.

What Prenatals Should Contain

Your healthcare provider may want to give you a prescription for a specific prenatal or may have specific requirements for you based on your pregnancy.

At a minimum, look for a prenatal vitamin that contains the following:

• 400 mcg folic acid
• 400 IU vitamin D
• 200-300 mg calcium
• 70 mg vitamin C
• 3 mg thiamine
• 2 mg riboflavin
• 20 mg niacin
• 6 mcg vitamin B12
• 10 mg vitamin E
• 15 mg zinc
• 17 mg iron

Prenatal vitamins should be taken during the entire length of pregnancy. Your healthcare provider may recommend continuing to take prenatal vitamins after the baby is born, especially if you plan on breastfeeding. It’s also a good idea to take them if you’re planning or trying to have a baby.

Prenatal Side Effects

Women may experience nausea when taking a prenatal vitamin. Taking your vitamin with a snack or right before you go to bed can help reduce nausea.

Constipation can also be a problem when taking prenatal vitamins. To help prevent this make sure you are drinking plenty of fluids, including more fiber in your diet and staying physically active.

Prenatal Suggestions

Prenatal Forte by Integrative Therapeutics is one of our best selling prenatal vitamins. This contains a combination of vitamins and minerals designed to promote healthy pregnancy. Always check with your healthcare provider before you start taking any supplements, especially during pregnancy!

Resources:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/prenatal-vitamins/PR00160

http://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/prenatal-vitamins

http://www.fitpregnancy.com/pregnancy/health/stress-less

In news that will be greeted with a nod of quiet relief by many men across the land, the the American Urological Association (AUA) has raised the age for the start of prostate cancer screening to men aged 55 to 69.

Routine screening is no longer recommended for men 40 to 54 years old at average risk of getting prostate cancer.

The association had strongly defended screening younger men even after a government advisory committee, the United States Preventive Services Task Force, suggested in 2011 that healthy men should not be screened as more men would be harmed by unnecessary prostate cancer treatments than would be saved from death.

The new guidelines suggest screening might benefit men aged 55 to 69, as they have a greater risk of cancer, but even here testing does not have to be mandatory. Rather, the AUA suggest men should discuss the benefits and harms with their doctors. And if they opt for screening, every two years is enough.

I am sure many men, myself included, may be sort of relieved about delaying what can be a pretty intrusive procedure.

I don’t mean to diminish prostate cancer as a disease. I can only imagine how scary it will be for the 240,000 American men the American Cancer Society suggests will sit down with their doctors this year to be told they have prostate cancer. And 30,000 fathers, brothers, grandfathers and other close family members will die from this awful condition in 2013.

Yet, I still feel somewhat relieved that the day I face this procedure has been delayed.

The Walnut-Sized Gland that Can Keep on Growing

So, what is this organ that gets such attention? Technically, this walnut-sized gland is part of a man’s sex organs. It surrounds the urethra, a tube that takes urine from the bladder to the penis and carries semen during ejaculation.

This odd little gland grows quite a bit during puberty, stops, and then for some reason decides to grow again when we hit 40. It’s not clear at all why this resurgence happens, but hormonal changes often get the blame. Anyway, for some unfortunate men, when it starts to grow again, there does not seem to be an off switch.

So while, half of us are not bothered at all by this renewed growth, the rest will develop one of three conditions: enlarged prostate, prostate cancer, or prostatitis (inflammation). A really unlucky few may develop more than one of these conditions at the same time.

Let’s have a quick look at them:

• Prostatitis: Inflammation of the prostate, sometimes caused by infection
• Enlarged prostate, or benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), affects virtually all men over 50
• Prostate cancer: It comes in four stages and can be managed or treated with surgery or radiation

Enlarged Prostate

With an enlarged prostate, it suddenly becomes a lot more difficult to go to the toilet, and it only gets more difficult with age.

This, I fear, might explain why my grandfather spent so long in the bathroom making all sorts of noises during his visits from the city to our small coastal village. I can now imagine his struggle: His bladder muscle thickened, as he was forced to squeeze harder to push urine through a partially obstructed prostate gland. This thickening left less room to store urine, to go along with the reduced ability to expel urine. The poor man needed to use our bathroom more often and probably experienced a weak urinary stream, sudden urges to urinate, straining to get urine to pass, and he probably urinated more than once during the night.

The risk of sharing this fate increases by about 4% percent a year after men hit 55. By age 60, half of all men will suffer from BPH. That number jumps to 95 percent by age 85.

Prostate Cancer

And then, there is the dreaded: prostate cancer, which comes in four stages:

1. The cancer cannot be felt during a digital rectal exam (Dre) or seen with an imaging test. It is likely to grow slowly
2. The cancer can be felt during a Dre but has not spread beyond the prostate
3. The cancer has broken through the prostate
4. The cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the bladder, rectum, bone, liver, lungs or lymph nodes

According to the Mayo Clinic: Most prostate cancer grows slowly and initially stays within the prostate gland, but it can spread to local lymph nodes, bones or more distant areas. Some rare types of prostate cancer are more aggressive and can spread more quickly.”

Second only to skin cancer in men, prostate cancer will affect one in six of us in our lifetime, but only one in 35 will die from it, so it need not be all doom and gloom.

A 2012 Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) study suggested that men diagnosed with prostate cancer are more likely to be killed by such largely preventable conditions as heart disease than they ever are from the cancer.It also said healthy lifestyle changes should play a critical role in prostate cancer management.

Report author Mara Epstein said:

We hope this study will encourage physicians to use a prostate cancer diagnosis as a teachable moment to encourage a healthier lifestyle, which could improve the overall health of men with prostate cancer, increasing both the duration and quality of their life.

To Treat or to Manage

Management of prostate cancer is becoming increasingly important because America and the western world in general now finds itself in the odd position more men are being diagnosed with prostate cancer but fewer are dying from it.

The Harvard study also showed that while the risk of dying from prostate cancer has declined, the risk of death from heart disease and non-prostate cancer has actually remained the same.

Hans-Olov Adami, professor of epidemiology at Harvard, said:

Our study shows that lifestyle changes such as losing weight, increasing physical activity, and quitting smoking, may indeed have a greater impact on patients’ survival than the treatment they receive for their prostate cancer.

Basically, your cancer treatment options come down to radiation, surgery, or watching and waiting:

• Surgery, known as a prostatectomy, to remove the prostate
• Radiation, to kill prostate cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy cells
• Radioactive seed implants, planted into the prostate to kill cancer cells
• Cryotherapy, killing prostate cancer cells by freezing them
• Hormone therapy, to inhibit cancer cells growing in response to hormones
• Chemotherapy, to help reduce the spread of advanced cancer
• Watchful waiting, to see if the cancer is actually growing

I’m sure most of us would just want the cancer out as soon as we are diagnosed, but that may not be the best option or the one suggested by your doctor.
Prostate cancer can grow slowly, so men with small, symptom-free tumors can have their condition managed, using periodic checkups, PSA tests and ultrasounds. A course of treatment can be undertaken down the road when and if, needed.

This management versus treatment discussion is one you should also have with your doctor if you have an enlarged prostate.

Typically, if you have an enlarged prostate but are not bothered by it, and the level of urine left in your bladder after you use the bathroom is OK, treatment may not be necessary.
However, if it does trouble you, you have some treatment options.

For most that means medication. The medicines prescribed at this stage are usually alpha-blockers, which help relax the muscles around the urethra, or 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, which restrict testosterone and cause the prostate to shrink. The one, or mix, you will be given depends on your situation.

For around 75% of men, medications may do the job, at least initially. There are side effects, however, in around 5-8% of these men from the medication.

If medication is not suitable, you may be advised to undergo some minimally invasive procedures or surgical procedures to alleviate any obstruction.

Natural Support for Prostate Health

If you want to be a little more proactive about your prostate health there are a fair few positive steps you can take.

And pectin is a good place to start. Eating fruits and vegetables high in pactin may reduce your risk of getting prostate cancer. In some studies, prostate cancer cells died when combined with pectin, whereas non-cancerous non-cancerous cells didn’t die.

A natural thickening agent found in apples, pears and plums, pectin may reduce metastasis of some cancers and tumors.

The pectin may work by binding with a part of the formation and growth of tumors, known as galactin-3, and halting the growth of tumors.

Other fruit and vegetables with pectin are grapefruits, lemons, oranges, bananas, cherries, blackberries, apricots, raspberries, grapes, green beans, carrot, sweet potatoes, legumes, dried beans and squash.

Pomegranate, meanwhile, is known to have powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that may inhibit cell growth in aggressive prostate cancer.

There are several other natural steps that you can take that may benefit your prostate health.

• Switch to a low-fat diet comprising at least five or more servings of vegetables and cut back on the fried foods
• Start exercising, as high levels of physical activity, such as swimming, cycling, or jogging, may improve the health of your prostate.
• Take a zinc, saw palmetto, stinging nettle extract, green tea extract, pygeum, lycopene, selenium, rye grass extract or beta-sitosterol supplement, all of which are linked to prostate healthTips and Warnings
• Consume more vitamin C, which can reduce your risk of BPH

If you know of any other ways to naturally support prostate health, comment below — we would like to share them with our readers.

Oh, and three last things about prostate cancer

• Research suggests married men with prostate cancer are 40% less likely to die than single men with the disease.
• And drinking six cups of coffee a day seems to reduce the risk of localized prostate cancer, the slow growing kind that is generally confined to the gland, particularly among overweight and obese men.
• Two glasses of alcohol a day may lower your risk of BPH

And finally, I promise, but we have bills to pay here. So, I will just list some of our best-selling prostate supports, which include many of the natural ingredients mentioned above. They are all available with free domestic shipping within the US.

• Prosta DHT by Apex Energetics — a broad-spectrum nutritional formula designed to support healthy prostate function
• ProstaVen by Premier Research Labs — an herbal prostate supplement that provides nutrients for optimal prostate and urinary health
• Bio-Prostate by Biogenesis — this formula helps not only support a healthy prostate function but also promote a healthy testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), balance, as well as enhanced control of bladder function
• Pros-Forte by Integrative Therapeutics blends saw palmetto extract with stinging nettle extract to provide natural support for prostate and urinary tract health.
• Prostatrol Forte from Ortho Molecular supports prostate health with a blend of all natural ingredients, including saw palmetto, nettles root, and pygeum bark extracts.

Stay on trend with a healthier, toxin-free nail polish formula from Zoya Nail Polish, recently named the Best Eco-Friendly Nail Polish of 2013 by InStyle Magazine. Zoya Nail Polishes contain no formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, toluene, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), or camphor. Zoya Nail Care Products are made by the company Art of Beauty,  founded in 1986 by Zoya and Michael Reyzis, and are known for their long wear.

“5 Free”

Zoya Nail Polishes are considered ’5-Free’ and all-natural. Harsh substances commonly found in nail polishes are not in Zoya products:

• Formaldehyde (a known carcinogen)
• Formaldehyde resin (carcinogen)
• Toluene (eye, throat and lung irritant)
• Dibutyl phthalate (respiratory tract and eye irritant)
• Camphor (skin irritant)

Zoya Awards

Zoya Nail Care products have a long list of impressive awards. In addition to being named the Best Eco-Friendly Nail Polish of 2013 by InStyle Magazine, Zoya Nail Polish has also been named the longest wearing natural nail polish by Women’s Health magazine. Zoya Nail polish is featured in the April 2013 edition of People Magazine Country Special as a “must-have” nail polish for the summer. Allure featured Zoya Remove Plus Nail Polish Remover in their Best of Beauty editions in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Zoya Products

Zoya offers a variety of products. They release a fall, summer, winter and spring nail line each year. All Zoya polishes are durable and long lasting.

I have been wearing Zoya polishes for a few months now and have had no major problems with polishes chipping. Their 2013 Summer Sampler is a combination of six bright nail colors, perfect for warm summer days. Zoya also offers a line of PixieDust nail polishes. These polishes use the ’5-Free’ Zoya formula and add a bit of sparkle to make nails shine. The Godiva Pixie Dust Nail Polish is one of our best sellers.

Zoya’s products extend beyond nail polish alone. The Remove Plus Big Flipper Nail Polish Remover is a 3-in-one product that removes existing polish, cleans the nails and preps the nails. It was featured as an Editors Pick in the June 2005 issue of Cosmopolitan Magazine and has a mild formula that will not dry out your nails. The Armor Topcoat and UV Blocker is another popular product that protects nail color while keeping polish glossy and chip-free.

Zoya Colors

Not sure where to start? Our Zoya Color Chart has a complete list of all available nail polish colors. Some of our best selling colors include the Trixie Nail Lacquer, Adina Nail Lacquer, and Raven Nail Lacquer. My personal favorites are the Song Nail Lacquer and the Freja Nail Lacquer. With warmer weather approaching it’s the perfect time to try a new polish color.

Zoya Trade-In

On Saturday, May 11th only, bring in your old toxic and crusty nail polish to our retail store to receive $1.80 off a new safe & natural Zoya polish! For each bottle you bring in to exchange, you’ll get a new bottle for only $5.00. Normal price in the store is $6.80.

What are your favorite Zoya colors?

Resources:

http://zoyanailpolish.blogspot.com/2013/04/zoya-nail-polish-in-neely-featured-in.html

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/healthguidelines/dibutylphthalate/recognition.html

http://www.instyle.com/instyle/best-beauty-buys/product/0,,20360913_20591490,00.html

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Health/nail-polish-safety/story?id=16108721#.UXmR3aLvtPN

Holistic Health and Wellness Coach, Beth Karpinski, recently visited Natural Healthy Concepts to speak about disease prevention and reversal, weight management, and taking control of the future of your health. Her presentation was a step-by-step process of recognizing and addressing the toxins in our food, toxins in our life, as well as the emotional toxins that affect our health. She expects you to leave the conversation feeling inspired to prioritize your health, rather than feeling defeated that your health problems control you.

Here is some great insight from Beth about how to treat your body as a prized possession along with 7 ways to nurture your body and make it last…

I have a Vitamix blender. It is my prized possession. I bought it for myself for my 38^th birthday. It took me five months to pay off this blender, but it was worth it. It makes the best smoothies, chops onions, makes soups, nut butters, and grinds everything to a perfectly smooth consistency.

Anytime I use this blender, I wash it immediately so that nothing sticks or stains. Everyone in my family knows that they are not allowed to touch the blender, or they see my “dark side”. It never gets put away, staying on my counter top as a showpiece of culinary beauty!

What is your prized possession?

I bet that you clean your prized possession meticulously, treat it with care, follow all directions for it’s perfect use, and show it both love and respect. If it is not working properly, you might consult an expert that can have it working again like new.

What if we treated our body as our prized possession?

What if we loved and respected our body for all it does for us?

What if we took care of it, fed it what it needs, exercised it to keep it strong, and gave it special care when it wasn’t functioning correctly?

Instead, we feed it processed, sugary, and chemical-laden fuel.

We often over-load it with caffeine and artificial stimulants, make it work hard without giving it any down time, allow it to feel stress without a break, and don’t appreciate it for all it does for us each day.

We don’t even think about the fact that it continues to breathe… continues to pump blood to and from our heart… continues to perform countless functions each second without our knowledge. When our body does start to show age, wear and tear, extra weight, or signs of break down… we are disappointed. We often berate our body for not looking or feeling like we want it to.

Instead, we should be treating our body as our prized possession, nurturing it and handling it in a way that will make it last!

7 Ways to Nurture Your Body & Make it Last

Thankfully, our body’s owner’s manual is not long or confusing. It is really quite simple, and it goes something like this:

1. Provide body with clean, pure water daily
2. Feed body with real food that has not been processed… vegetables & fruits of every color, 100% whole grains, high quality proteins, & healthy fats
3. Exercise body regularly
4. Provide body with adequate sleep
5. Provide body with fresh air
6. Keep body clean
7. Keep body away from chemicals and toxins to the best of your ability

Keep it simple.

If we listen to our body and follow the 7 basic steps of it’s owner’s manual, our body can be our prized possession, looking and feeling exactly how we want it to!

Beth Karpinski is a Holistic Health and Wellness Coach.  Her passion is to prevent disease by empowering individuals to take control of their life and health through clean eating, clean living, and getting the toxins out.  With a background in Psychology and Nutrition, Beth understands the connection between emotional and physical health and well-being.  She coaches her clients to reach their health goals in a manner that puts them in control of their success.  Beth works with clients both individually and in group settings, as well as with corporations to provide wellness to their employees.

Visit Beth Karpinski’s Health and Wellness website for more good stuff!

Congratulations to the winners of our Mother’s Day Giveaway!

Watch for an e-mail by Friday, May 3rd if you participated – you’ll get a thank you coupon code. Thanks to all who participated! We enjoyed hearing from you!

We will also announce the winners on our contest page of our website.

Pick & Share a Mother’s Day Gift You Want to Win!

5 Winners, Plus a Grand Prize $75 Shopping Spree to Natural Healthy Concepts.

Starting April 30th through May 2nd – copy and paste a link in the comments section below - to a product on the Natural Healthy Concepts website that you’d like to have for yourself.

We will randomly select 5 winners to receive one of the products they share. Plus, there will be a grand prize winner who will get a $75 shopping spree to Natural Healthy Concepts!

3 Simple Steps to Enter:

1. Pick at least one & up to five items from NaturalHealthyConcepts.com that are each worth $35 or less.
2. Copy and paste the URL for the specific item into the comments section at the bottom of this post. 
3. Include your reason for choosing the item you did.

That’s it! A very quick and easy way to win a natural healthy gift in honor of yourself this Mother’s Day!

Here are a few ideas to get your started… Simply click on a category to browse the products…

Aromatherapy            Hair, Skin & Nails           Functional Foods         Natural Skin Care

Visit our contests page to view the official rules.