Sep 02 1 comments
Family

A successful week; Back to school, new site, & freelance writing info

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Back to school is in full swing, and my daughter was one of many school aged children that were whisked off to school. Initially, she was nervous about it, not having seen many of her classmates since last school year. However, she wasn’t as nervous as last year. She’d seen a few of her classmates in Soccer camp this summer, she visibly relaxed when she saw the many familiar faces in school on Monday.

Since my daughter is away, I’m able to get a lot more accomplished, which is truly a blessing. It can be challenging to juggle your business and an extremely active seven-year old that simply doesn’t understand that mom needs to work, in order to make money. The majority of my work was completed while she was sleeping.

Thanks to the extra time on my hands, I was finally able to crank out a new site that’s focused on natural health. It’s something that’s been nagging me to be released, but I simply didn’t have the time. Unlike Celebrate Life, a site where I can write miles of text without a break in my typing speed, the articles on that site are very short. I’m offering bite sized bits of information to those who happen to land on the page. It’s a great practice, doing something I normally don’t do.

calvinonwriting.06.18.10.jpg

Freelance Writing

Recently, I’ve been thinking about picking up a few more freelance writing assignments, for the most part I’ve been away from it for a little over two years, however, as odd as it may seem. During my break, I did write on a few gaming websites under a pseudonym. I love video games; I learned quickly that although I enjoy playing games, and writing about them on my personal gaming blogs. I didn’t like writing about gaming for others.

But back to the freelance writing…

I actually miss writing for other people/sites about health, nutrition, technology, and so I’m slowly getting my feet wet again. However, I do it on my own terms. During my quest, to interact with some new freelance writers, I stumbled across Felicia Williams website.

Felicia’s virtual corner is filled with wealth of information for the new or experienced freelance writer. I’d encourage anyone who’s interested in making some extra money to stop on by her home. Be prepared to stay for a while, Felicia’s site has a lot of informative articles focused on freelance writing.

Don’t forget to pick up her free eBook, titled So You Want to Be A Freelance Writer. This ebook is truly free, so you won’t have to sign up for her email list before you’re allowed to get the book. Click, on the link, download, read and enjoy! You can keep up with Felicia Williams by subscribing to her RSS feed. I was able to read through the ebook in a few hours, and I know I’ll be recommending this ebook to those who’re interested in freelance writing.

If this book had been around when I started freelance writing, it would have saved me numerous hours of searching for information. Not to mention my bookshelves would have been several pounds lighter too. However even with lighter bookshelves, I know I’d still add an Apple iPad to my must have tech gagets list


© 2010, Celebrate Life!. All rights reserved.

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Aug 31 7 comments
Vegan

Raw food pasta; What do I need to make raw vegetable pasta?

Raw food pasta: Squash noodles

I was never fond of the traditional pasta noodles; It was simply too much flour for my taste. Imagine my happiness when I stumbled upon real veggie pasta…

Now granted, I’d made my own veggie pasta over the years. I have a manual Atlas Pasta machine. Over the years, I’ve cranked out many sheets of traditional spaghetti and pasta noodles. To make it healthier, I would add real veggies to my ingredients. I enjoyed the taste, not to mention the added vegetables brightened up my pasta too.

I started researching raw foods a few years ago. I didn’t have any health related issues, and I didn’t need to lose weight. As a whole food vegan, I was very healthy. In fact, according to my health care provider I was in phenomenal health! However, I noticed when I upped my intake of raw foods even more, I felt even better, and I no longer needed to wear glasses.

Up until that time, I didn’t think feeling better than I already felt was possible. I thought I was at the top healthwise. During my quest to learn more about raw foods, and the creative ways things you could make with raw food dishes I stumbled upon pasta made from vegetables and the traditional methods I used to make pasta, was history.

Fresh from the garden

I’m truly blessed all the ingredients that went into  my above photo of my raw vegetable pasta came straight from our vegetable garden; yellow squash, yellow onions, garlic, red bell peppers, and the lemon balm and oregano that were added as a garnish (after I took this picture.)

 What kitchen appliance do I need to make the raw vegetable pasta?

Finding the right kitchen gadget to make the raw vegetable pasta wasn’t too difficult. I  bought the Saladacco,but didn’t like it at all. It only made angel hair pasta. I wanted more options. However, I did additional research and found a great raw pasta noodle maker that made the traditional pasta, angel hair pasta, and made the flat pasta too! That was perfect for raw lasagna! These days, the spiral vegetable slicer I use exclusively is the Plastic Spiral Vegetable Slicer. Thanks to this slicer, I can make vegetable pasta in minutes. The time is a lot shorter than cooking the pasta, and it tastes a lot like your “traditional pasta”. The only difference its made from vegetables. Compared to some of my other kitchen gadgets, the plastic spiral vegetable slicer is simplistic. However I do think it’s a must have tool for not only a raw food kitchen, but those who are looking for additional ways to spice up traditional pasta. If you’re trying to sneak in additional vegetables into your daily intake you might want to consider this approach.

Sharing raw foods with others

My daughter occasionally has play dates; a favorite food for her friends is spaghetti. I tend to make traditional homemade pastas when her friends come to visit. They love my homemade vegan pizzas, and vegan eggless eggrolls too but I think pasta has to be their favorite. It has everything to do with the amount of slurping they can do with the noodles. Her friends are so easy to please.  When I prepare pasta for my daughter and myself, the pasta is all raw, however, when serving it for the guest’s I’ll make traditional pasta. Their pasta is half and half; I serve 1/2 traditional pasta, and the other 1/2 veggie pasta. I combine the two and they gobble it up. I always tell their parents before I’m doing it, and they have been very happy since it’s a great way to sneak more veggies into their children’s diet. A few of their parents have purchased the spiralizer for themselves. Although they aren’t Vegan, let alone veggie, it’s a simple way they can include more vegetables into their dietary requirements, the added bonus is they all love it.

My daughter’s friends help me make the pasta. Since it’s  something they obviously enjoy I continue to include their help in our meal preparations. Naturally, their “help” can leave a lot of work for myself, but that’s ok. It’s great to get children involved in cooking, and it’s nice to see them eager about including healthy choices into their eating routine.

At times, they argue about whose turn it is to make the raw veggie pasta. I make them all take turns, but at times It’s hard for them to share. I tend to make extra. This way,  they can take some of the fresh veggie pasta home to share with their families too. The longest I’ve kept my veggie pasta was five days, it’s usually gone before that time. Regarding the pasta I’ve sent home with my daughter’s friends, I’ve received positive reviews from their families. I really enjoy that, since I know I’m not preaching to the choir. When it comes to my food habits, we’re in the minority. We’re Vegan, they’re not and that’s ok!  I don’t try to force my view onto others, however occasionally you’ll see me entice them with some healthy alternatives to processed foods. :)

Realizing the importance of nutrition, those times we spend in the kitchen always have a simple nutritional lesson too. Children are like sponges, and tend to absorb whatever they receive, so it makes sense to provide them with helpful information. Those discussions conducted in our home, has prodded their parents to ask me for additional information focused on health.

As I mentioned earlier, I tend to include my daughter in a lot of my vegan food adventures. It’s another way to bond with her, and it’s a great chance to educate her about the variety of foods available and the effects food can have on our health.  I’m raising her to be nutritionally smart. As my daughter gets older, I hope she continues to make sound nutritional choices and enjoys having fun in the kitchen. 

Raw food video: How to make raw pasta with Jennifer Cornbleet

If you’d like to see a how to tutorial for making raw pasta please check out the above. I really like Jennifer Cornbleet’s bubbly personality. You can learn more about her by visiting her raw food website. Eventually I’ll start adding food videos on my site. I definitely have the equipment, and I use the truly amazing Final Cut Studio for my video editing. I simply need to find the time to make videos for my personal sites.

Although the plastic spiral vegetable slicer didn’t cost much, it’s one of my favorite kitchen gadgets.

Question: What are some of your favorite kitchen gadgets?

 

 

© 2010, Celebrate Life!. All rights reserved.

Aug 27 10 comments
Family

My first cooking lesson; Five years old

I have fond memories of preparing meals for my family. I started at a very young age.  I recall being only five years old when I prepared my first meal on a

Bantam Rooster

wood stove. Initially I’d said I was four, the more I thought about it, I realized that we didn’t have a woodstove in the first house we lived. That cookstove was in the second home.

Creative cooking

Anyway I thought cooking was fun, and was cooking long before I cooked for real. The only difference was my cooking was part of my playtime. It’s one of the few “girly activities” I enjoyed doing, and my mother believing that girls should like “girly” things, held onto that.

During my cooking playtime, I got creative and made all sorts of food in the yard. Armed with one of my mother’s castoff mixing bowls, water, dirt, grass, leaves, damaged veggies, I made all sorts of interesting cuisines. Occasionally I would coax my brother into eating some of the imaginative meals I prepared. Of course now, he’d deny ever doing such a thing.

Being a child with an active imagination those meals were transformed from the simple ingredients that were into that bowl to a meal that could be displayed at an elaborate table setting. My mother made everything, and Sundays were an elaborate affair. My mother saw my interest in cooking (part of me thinks she just humored me since I constantly begged her about letting me cook for real) and finally decided that under her watchful eye, I’d be able to prepare my first meal. I still remember that first meal vividly. It was a simple meal. I made it exclusively for my father on our woodstove. I’m a daddy’s girl.

Some people swear up and down that food cooked on a woodstove tastes much better than food cooked on a gas or electric stove. They’re stubborn folks, and nothing you can do will convince them otherwise. I happen to be one of those people. During the winter time, you’ll see me preparing the majority of my our meals on the woodstove we have. It heats the entire house, which cuts the electric bill by more than half thank you very much! The bonus is, I’m able to prepare some amazing meals too.

Getting eggs from the hens…

The eggs had been gathered from our Bantam chickens a few hours earlier.  That’s right we had chickens. I’m very familiar with what goes into putting a meal made out of chicken, turkeys, and even pigs onto the dinner plate. I’ve seen many animals killed to eat as a child. I’m also very familiar with plucking the feathers, gutting, and making them clean for consumption. It’s truly a messy and smelly affair, and something I’m glad I don’t have to do again.

In our house, gathering eggs from our chickens was my responsibility. I didn’t mind, I loved animals and the Bantam rooster didn’t bother me. My brother was another story, as soon as the rooster saw him it went on full frontal attack, screaming and squawking and simply scaring the living daylights out of my brother. It was so funny! Well  for me, not for my brother. Bantams are smaller than your standard chicken, and seeing this teeny chicken fearlessly attack my brother made me laugh. The Bantam rooster looked a lot like the one I’ve posted above. He didn’t bother me though, and he didn’t mind my petting him or his little harem of hens either. My brother often asked me why the rooster didn’t bother me, I smugly told him that Mr. Rooster could smell fear. ;)

Cooking: Turning my fantasy into a reality

Eggs gathered I eagerly went back into our house and my mother showed me how to make scrambled eggs. Naturally it took longer than normal. I learned the most important lesson of washing my hands before I touched food. I learned the fine art of cracking an egg, without getting eggs into the bowl. My mother introduced me to seasons too. It was exciting cooking over that woodstove, and I eagerly thought about my fathers’ reaction once he ate my amazing meal. The fact that he had already eaten a full course dinner which mother made earlier ceased to dampen my spirits. I was his daughter after all, he’d eat anything I prepared. Regardless of how it tasted! Dad was cool like that.

Encouraging creativity

My father didn’t disappoint, and shortly after the eggs were prepared (looking a bit dry I might add) he wolfed them down quickly and declared them the best eggs he’d ever had. I’ve always been perceptive, and even at the age of five, I knew he was just saying that but it didn’t matter. That’s all the encouragement I needed to keep cooking, and learning how I could make improvements too. Initially my mother was my mentor for cooking, but as I got older  (around eight if I remember correctly) I started preparing meals on my own too. I remember making my first cake from scratch at eight years old. A few of my brothers and my school friends were over, and they eagerly wolfed down the food I prepared, declaring it a really good cake. I was so proud. It was probably one of the only girly things they knew I did, being a tomboy. I was always outside playing games with the boys.

Playing it forward, I’m doing the same thing with my daughter. Whatever she’s interested in, I encourage. She prepared her first meal at four years old. Instead of scrambled eggs, we made something I like to call Cali scramble.  Yes, I veganized it, Cali is simply Cauliflower crumbled, marinated, and combined with a few other vegetables, spices, to make a truly delicious meal.  After it’s prepared it does remind me of scrambled eggs, so the name has stuck. This is one of my daughters favorite breakfast dishes, so she asks for it often.

What I remember most about my childhood isn’t the amazing meals that my mother prepared, although they were great. I remember the constant encouragement I received, and even though my interests were different from my parents it didn’t stop them from being my #1 cheerleaders. Knowing the impact of positive encouragement, I do try to do the same with my daughter, and with those I interact with too.

Life’s too short for negativity, we need to quit tearing one another down. It’s easy to get along with those who think like you. How do you treat people who think differently than you politically, religiously, etc., If you can’t have a civil conversation with someone simply because their beliefs differ from yours, perhaps you need to rethink your approach?

What happened to the chickens?

Whatever happened to those Bantam chickens? Fortunately for them, they lived out their lives in peace and never made it to our dinner plate. After about five years, my parents stopped killing the animals they raised. My father was making more money (my mom was a stay at home mom) so we didn’t have to solely depend on the animals for food. I’m sure the pressure of myself and my brother’s unhappiness about killing our friends didn’t help either. I guess you could say those early lessons eventually put me onto the path of Veganism.  Since I viewed poultry as pets too. We refused to eat the food, and I would cry during mealtimes when they landed on our plate. It’s kind of funny; I didn’t cry too much. I’m still like that to this day, but when it came to pets (and people) I have always had a big heart.

That first cooking lesson, stands out in my mind, and I remember as if it was yesterday.

Question: Do you remember any “first lessons” from your childhood? If so share in the comments or blog about it and link to here. I’ll pop by to check it out.

© 2010, Celebrate Life!. All rights reserved.

Aug 26 8 comments
Natural Recipes & Remedies

How to make your own dream pillow; Sweet Dreams Pillow Recipe

Dalmatian puppies sleeping

Did you know that Dream pillows used to be called comfort pillows? I found that out in my second grade class. For the record, I had no clue what dream pillows were either. However thanks to my amazing second grade teacher, Mrs. Kyte,  she clued me in, and since then, I’ve always had them.

We loved Mrs. Kyte, she made our classes interesting; she brought in a lot of fun educational tools that stimulated us and made us want to learn more. We went on day trips in the woods near our school, where she pointed out vegetation, and talked about their scientific properties. We collected samples from a nearby stream, which we were able to view through the class microscope. Mrs. Kyte, made our daily subjects fun, and we eagerly lapped up the information.

Anyway back to those dream pillows…

Mrs. Kyte told us that dream pillows used to be called comfort pillows. As she passed around the tiny pillow, she talked about its history. We all impatiently waited our turn to get a sniff of the pillow. The smell was pleasant, with hints of lavender, valerian, and a few other dried herbs I couldn’t detect.

While our class was marvelling about the pillow and how delightful it smelled, Mrs. Kyte went on to say that these tiny pillows were used in sickrooms since it was believed that it could ease the anxiety, and the occasional nightmares that accompanied the medication administered. She named the herbs she used in her dream pillow; valerian, catnip, and lavender,  was all herbs I was very familiar with. Since we had them growing in our herbal garden, she also mentioned herbs that were new to me.

That day, I couldn’t wait to get home from school. Brimming with knowledge about those dream pillows and I attempted to make my own. Although it didn’t have the range of herbs that were in hers. I used what was in our herb garden; mint, lavender, and rose. I created my own pillow pattern, and before too long I had a sweet smelling dream pillow. I loved the smell of my dream pillow so much, I made more, and eventually started putting them in my clothes drawer. I discovered they lightly scented my clothes. I already knew the herbs worked as an insect repellent. Years later I discovered that mice hated mint.

As I became older, dream pillows became increasingly popular. I started seeing them crop up in the new age stores I frequented in my twenties, and I finally started seeing them in stores like Whole Foods market too. These days, I don’t use dream pillows too much in my pillow case however you’ll usually see some type of pillow in my clothes drawer, and if you look closely you’ll most likely see a pillow tucked away in my shoe closet too.

Sweet Dreams Pillow Recipe

  • 1 cup mugwort
  • 1/2 cup rose petals
  • 1/2 cup sweet hops
  • 1/3 cup lavender buds
  • 1/3 cup crushed catnip
  • 1/4 cup valerian
  • 1/4 cup peppermint
  • 10 drops lavendar essential oil
  • 5 drops myrrh essential oil

    •  

Directions

  1. Make cloth bags from 6 x 12″ piece of material
  2. In a bowl mix all ingredients together
  3. Add essential oils
  4. Mix until blended
  5. Using a funnel fill bags with your mixture
  6. Sew the bags shut or use velcro to seal (I prefer velcro since I can refresh the herbs.)

How To Increase Your Dream Pillows Life

Keep your dream pillow sealed in a storage container when not in use. I don’t use too much plastic in our house but I do store my herbs in Ball Mason Jars and my dream pillows are stored in Pyrex glass storage containers. When I converted to glass I initially was concerned about glass dishes around my then toddler. Seven years later, I still have the same storage containers, and have added a few more glass containers to the list too.

My daughter enjoys dream pillows and has quite a collection in her room. Over the years, I’ve sewn my daughter several dream pillows. She loves them and has a them tucked in various corners, and clothes drawers throughout her room.

Question: Have you ever used dream pillows? Let others know about your experience, leave a comment.

© 2010, Celebrate Life!. All rights reserved.

Aug 23 7 comments
Natural Recipes & Remedies

Natural Remedies: Minty fresh anti-fungal foot powder

 

herbs with mortar and pestle

If you’re looking for natural remedies for nail fungus or simply looking for  an all natural anti-fungal foot powder recipe. You’ve come to the right place. Over the past several days, I’ve been writing about nail fungus, and ways we can prevent it.

In part two of the series, I included recipes that might help eliminate the annoying nail fungus. The essential oils used in two recipes ae anti-fungal, anti-viral, and great for speeding up the healing process. Those natural ingredients can be effective in the treatment of fingernail or toenail fungus.

If you’re trying to eliminate nail fungus, Celebrate Life’s Minty fresh anti-fungal foot powder is another great natural homemade recipe to add to your arsenal. Not only is this foot powder anti-fungal, it eliminates odor too. The essential oils used; peppermint essential oil, lavender essential oil, and tea tree are all effective in keeping funky foot odor at bay. So even if you don’t have foot problems, you can use this recipe.

I created this recipe several years ago for my father. I knew that my dad occasionally suffered from the athlete’s foot (he still walks into the public showers without any shoes.) I told him he could potentially pick up all sorts of germs doing that, but he still refused to wear any shoes.  My dad was skeptical about natural remedies, but he used it anyway. I recall this was one of the gifts I’d prepared for him on Father’s Day. I honestly believe he mainly used it to please me, he requested more once the first batch ran out. The anti-fungal foot powder worked. I’m happy to report that years later, my father finally wears shoes when he’s taking a shower at the gym.

Celebrate Life’s Minty fresh anti-fungal foot powder

  • 3/4 cup baking soda
  • 1/4 cup corn starch
  • 15 drops peppermint essential oil
  • 15 drops of lavender essential oil
  • 10 drops of tea tree essential oil

Directions

  1. Add essential oils to the powder and mix thoroughly
  2. Store in a glass jar or shaker container.
  3. Keep in a cool dark place.
  4. Shake well before using.
  5. Dust on bare feet
  6. Put on socks and shoes as normal

You can double or triple the ingredients. The shelf life, for these ingredients are a year, although all of mine have lasted a lot longer.

I store my dry ingredients like herbs and clays in bulk. I purchase 24 ball mason glass jars. You can buy them in a variety of sizes.

Natural Ingredient information

  1. Baking Soda

    2. Baking soda is effective for eliminating foot odor. My shoes that recieve a lot of activity get a dusting of baking soda, or a recipe that includes it.

  2. Corn Starch

    3. If you thought corn starch was only for cooking you’re wrong, corn starch is extremely effective at absorbing moisture. Since, I dislike wearing sock or nylons. I always use a natural foot powder recipe, or plain corn starch in my shoes. The results are no sweat adding a few drops of essential oils to my workout shoes means no funky foot odor.

  3. Lavender Essential Oil

    4. Cuts down on the healing time, natural antiseptic, effective against burns, great for relaxation, etc., Lavender essential oil, comes in many varieties.

  4. Peppermint essential oil

    5. Peppermint essential oil has numerous benefits. It’s anti-viral, antifungal, its used as an insect repellent and it’s leaves your feet smelling nice.

  5. Tea Tree Essential Oil

    6. Is a natural antibiotic, antiseptic, and it also helps fight infection. This amazing essential oil has been used for centuries.

I hope you enjoy you’ve enjoyed part three in the nail fungus series. Remember you can use these natural anti-fungal nail recipes even if you don’t have a nail fungus.  The natural ingredients listed, are gentle but if you’ve never used the ingredients before, it might be a great idea to do a skin patch test.

If you were to visit my home, you’d notice that the majority of the products in my home are all natural. In some cases, the shelf life, is a lot shorter than their chemical counterparts, but the added bonus to the natural alternatives is that they don’t have the side effects associated with them, like many of the products that contain chemicals.

 

© 2010, Celebrate Life!. All rights reserved.

Aug 19 12 comments
Natural Recipes & Remedies

Natural Remedies For Nail Fungus

In the last article, I wrote about what nail fungus is, what causes it, and a few things you can do to prevent getting it. However if you already have nail fungus you might want to try these natural approaches to eliminating the nail fungal infection before using over the counter remedies.

As stated, the nail fungus recipes are natural, smell pleasant (depending on which essential oils you add) and  they have therapeutic benefits too. You might find a few of the items needed in your home. Others, such as the essential oils, you might not have. However, you can usually pick them up at a health food store or you can order the essentail oils needed online. Just make sure that you are getting the essential oil and not something simply called “lavender oil” or “lavender perfume oil.” There’s a huge difference.

Foot Bath Celebrate Life’s Aromatic Foot Bath For Nail Fungus Prevention

  • 6 cups warm water
  • 6 cups Apple Cider Vinegar (I use Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar)
  • 4 drops of lavender oil (optional)
  • 4 drops of tea tree oil (optional)

Directions

  1. Soak your feet in a basin for at least fifteen minutes.
  2. Remove your feet from the basin.
  3. Dry your feet thoroughly.

    4. Although I haven’t experienced toenail fungus. Occasionally I do pamper my feet with a foot bath. It feels great, and it’s yet another way I get that all  important “me time”. When drying off your feet, use an aborbent towel and make sure your feet are thoroughly dry. A quicker way is to use a hair dryer to thoroughly dry your feet. Don’t forget to dry between your toes! It’s important that your feet are completely dry! As mentioned in the prior article, nail fungus loves moist places, keep your feet dry!

Celebrate Life’s leave on solution for nail fungus prevention

  • 3 tbsp of Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 3 drops tea tree essential oil
  • 3 drops neem oil

    • -Neem oil smell is similar to garlic. It has a lot of amazing properties, one of the most noteable is that it’s antifungal. About five years ago, my grapevine had some type of fungus. It wasn’t bearing fruit. Knowing about the amazing antifungal properties of neem oil, the next season, armed with my neem oil solution I went out and sprayed my grapevine. The fungus was eliminated and it started bearing fruit. Did you know that neem oil also makes a great insect repellent? I used it on some of my garden plants.

Directions

  • Shake well and put into a bottle. I highly recommend glass. Store in a cool place.

    How To Use

    Dab a few drops of this solution onto a cotten ball or swab and apply around the affected nail two – three times daily.

    Book: Encyclopedia of Essential Oils Julia Lawless.jpg

    Book: Encyclopedia of Essential Oils written by Julia Lawless

    • Information about ingredients used in nail fungus recipes

    In our Westernized culture, many of us quickly reach for allopathic medication without researching the ingredients, or wondering what type of effect they might have on our bodies. The natural ingredients I’ve included in the recipes are gentle, and I’ve used extensively over the years. I’m not writing about items I’ve never used.

    I’ve always been a crunchy type of girl/woman. I questioned everything since I can remember. My father lovingly referred to me as his little question box, so naturally as I got older, those questions turned me into a natural researcher. The majority of my cleaning products, and remedies I used to combat physical ailments are made from natural ingredients. Since I’ve seen amazing results first hand, I’m happy to share them with others.

    1. Apple Cider Vinegar

      2. Apple Cider Vinegar can be a strong fighter against nail fungus. Apple cider vinegar works by acidifying the nail. It aggressively attacks the fungal infection at the place where it’s protected. The nail covering.

      Taking apple cider vinegar orally will supposedly speed up the healing process. I use Apple cider Vinegar. I normally take two tablespoons, three times daily. It’s one of the many nutritional tools I use to attack any “germs” that might want to infect my body. I have to warn you that Apple cider vinegar is fairly strong, and most people never get used to its taste. However, you can add apple cider vinegar to fruit juice, combine it in salads, or sprinkle over your meal. Due to its acid content, it’s important to brush your teeth thoroughly after using, since over time the acid can damage the tooth enamel.

    2. Tea Tree Essential Oil

      3. Is a natural antibiotic, antiseptic, and it also helps fight infection. This amazing essential oil has beenn used for centuries. I make a homemade cleaner that includes tea tree essentail oil. About four years ago, I effecitvely used it to treat my daughter of chest congestion.

    3. Lavender Essential Oil

      4. Cuts down on the healing time, natural antiseptic, effective against burns, great for relaxation, etc., Lavender essential oil, comes in many varieties, I tend to pick the ones that have a more floral scent.

    4. Neem Oil

      5. Is taken from the Neem tree. It smells strongly of garlic and is extremely effective in killing infection, fighting fungus. About three years ago, my grape vine suffered from some type of fungal infection. Creating a homemade solution that included neem oil was an extremely effective way to stop the fungus, and cause my grapevine to start producting grapes once again.

    Natural remedies for nail fungus: When will I see results?

    Natural treatments typically have fewer side effects than allopathic treatments. The same is true of nail fungus treatments. It’s usually recommended to continue the holistic treatment for three to four months before moving onto another approach. In some cases, I’ve read have taken about a year. So relax, be patient and perhaps look at this time as your “me time” a chance to unwind, even if it’s just for 15 – 20 minutes.

    That being said, If the natural remedies haven’t worked, you might want to seek the advice of a physician to look at other ways to eliminate the toenail fungus. It’s important to remember that our diet plays an important role jn our nail health. If you’re following an unhealthy eating lifestyle, your body will be more susceptible to  variety of health related conditions, including toenail fungus

    If you’re looking for additional information about essential oils, I highly recommend purchased The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils by Julia Lawless. Although I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Julia Lawless, I’ve purchased several of her books. Over the years, her name has been referenced in a few of the aromatherapy classes I’ve attended. The Encyclopedia of Essential oils have been reprinted at least once since I purchased it in the mid 90′s, and it’s still an excellent source for those wanting additional information about essential oils.

    © 2010, Celebrate Life!. All rights reserved.

    Aug 18 12 comments
    Natural Recipes & Remedies

    Nail fungus: What is it? Can I eliminate it using natural remedies?

    Toenail fungus

    A few years ago, one of my friends suffered from nail fungus. She wasn’t too happy since it meant she’d be hiding her feet behind closed shoes or attempting to mask the offending nail fungus with nail polish. Frustrated she asked me did I know of any holistic approach to treat her toenail fungus? I surely did.

    Instead of posting everything within one post, I’ve decided to break it up into a series. In the first part, we’ll learn what nail fungus is, some of its symptoms, and ways we can prevent nail fungus from starting. In the second part of the series we’ll check out a few natural approaches that might help with the ugly nail fungus.

    What is Nail Fungus?

    Nail fungus or onychomycosis is a tiny organism that can affect the nails of the finger and toes. It’s a common condition that many people suffer from. Did you know that More than 35 million people suffer from nail fungus?

    Feet are prime real estate for nail fungus

    Our nails are the perfect spot for fungus. The sensitive skin of our fingers and toes are protected by our nails. This hard covering can make it difficult to get to the fungus. Fungus thrives in warm, moist, and dark places which is why you mainly see fungus on the toenails. Many of us have our feet hidden  behind socks, nylons, and shoes for a good part of the day. Which can be the ultimate spot for nail fungus to hang out and party. Keeping our feet covered creates the perfect environment for nail fungus to thrive.

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    Naturally, some feet will be more attractive for fungus than others; I’ve decided to list a few things that might make your feet a high risk for toenail fungus.

    Factors that can contribute to nail fungus

    • Working in a humid or moist environment
    • Improper ventilation of feet
    • Walking barefoot in damp places (pools, gyms, & showers)
    • Smoking
    • Sweaty feet
    • Artificial nails
    • People with diabetes
    • Family history of nail fungus
    • Weak immune system (unhealthy eating habits)

    ugly-toenail-fungus.08.16.10.jpg Symptoms of Nail Fungus

    • Brittle nails
    • Thickened nails
    • Distorted appearance
    • Discolored nails

      • -Nails can turn brown, black, yellow, or green. This is caused by debris building up under the nail.

    Fungus Prevention

    • Antifungal Spray
    • Don’t go barefoot in public
    • Healthy diet
    • Don’t trim or pick at skin around the nails.
    • Choose your pedicure salon wisely. Make sure the salon sterilizes its instruments or bring your own.
    • Ditch the nail polish and artificial nails.

      • -If you have nail fungus it can be tempting to hide it under a coat of polish however this can prevent the fungus from healing and may increase the infection.

    • Wear appropriate socks and change socks daily.
    • If possible, take your shoes off during the day.
    • If you have nail fungus, wash your hands after touching the infected nail.

      • -Don’t forget germs can spread from nail to nail.

    Be proactive, use a few of the fungus preventions suggested. This can be an extremely effective in keeping your toenails free from fungus. Not to mention a nice aromatherapy based spray will have your feet smelling good too.Stay tuned for the next part of the series where we’ll look at some holistic remedies that can be used for nail fungus.

    What happened to my friend? The holistic remedies, combined with the tips I suggested for nail fungus prevention, was all that was needed to rid her toenail of the unsightly fungus. At times that’s not enough, in extreme cases surgery is needed.

    Next in Series: Natural Remedies for Nail Fungus

    © 2010, Celebrate Life!. All rights reserved.

    Aug 16 31 comments
    Health & Nutrition

    Diabetes: Can Type II Diabetes be reversed following a raw food lifestyle?

    Raw food

    About three years ago, I made a switch to an all raw diet. What got me started was a juice fast. I had already been eating a high amount of raw foods, but I had never consumed 100% raw foods for days at a time.

    After the raw juice cleanse ended I decided to ease back into consuming regular foods by following a raw food diet. I had my reservations about maintaining a raw food lifestyle for a week, but quickly realized the “I can’t” was all in my head, and I quickly turned that negative thinking into an “I can, and will.”

    Being the natural researcher, I did read about following an all raw lifestyle, the benefits, possible dangers, unhealthy choices, etc., I wasn’t doing it for weight loss, I didn’t need to lose weight. I was curious and wanted to check it out for myself, more important I wanted to be on top of my game so that’s why I did extensive research on the subject.

    That raw food for a week, turned into two weeks, and before I knew it months had passed.The reason was simple I really loved the effects I felt and could see. Yes, even as a person who mainly eats whole foods I noticed a change! My eyesight improved, confirmed when I went for my checkup, and I noticed other minor things; More energy than I had previously (I thought this was impossible), clear eyes, glowing skin, etc., These days I’m not 100% raw, however seeing the impacts it does have (even with the healthy whole foods lifestyle I follow) my raw food intake is still high.

    Over the years, I’ve read several books on the subject of raw foods, attended a few online and in person seminars, and pretty much learned as much as possible. I wanted to see what researchers (and “regular folks”) were saying about raw foods.

    Video trailer: Raw for 30 days

    During this quest, my virtual search led me to the Raw for 30 days trailer. The documentary focused on six people who had Diabetes. During their 30 day stay at the Tree of Life Wellness center they would only consume raw foods. The medical doctors involved, wanted to see whether following a raw whole foods liifestyles would have any effect on their diabetes. Naturally that peaked my interest, I have several family member that have diabetes. Additionally, I’d heard of a few of the Medical doctors involved with the study; Joel Furhman, Fred Bisci, and Gabriel Cousins. A few years before, I had purchased a few of Dr. Gabriel Cousins books.

    Check out the trailer, it’s fairly amazing. Is it possible to heal yourself naturally from Type II Diabetes? Raw For 30 Days, shows that this can be a possibility. Its pretty powerful stuff, and definitely shows the impact of the foods we eat and the effects (positive or negative) they can have on our overall well-being.

    Update: If you would like additional information about the Tree of Life diabetes program, log onto their site and fill out the 21 Day Reversing Diabetes contact form. Please note, that i’m not an affiliate of Tree of Life, so I don’t profit from you getting information or enrolling in any of their programs. I am passionate about health and always willing to share information I’ve heard about.

    I’m always fascinated by those who embrace a healthy lifestyle, and am always looking forward to sharing them with my readers. If your looking for raw food recipes, please stop by Evelyn Parham’s website. Evelyn site features a delightful mix of health related articles and posts focused on tips to build a better blog. If you’re a twitter user, be sure to keep up with Evelyn’s tweets. Her twitter name is @Evelyn_Parham. If you use an RSS feed aggregator, don’t forget to keep up with her latest posts. Subscribe now!

     

    © 2010, Celebrate Life!. All rights reserved.

    Aug 14 32 comments
    Natural Recipes & Remedies

    Ginger: Amazing health benefits of ginger

    Ginger root

    As a child, the few times I had an upset stomach my mother would always give me a “natural tonic” of homemade ginger tea. Occasionally she would add honey and lemon to sweeten it. I loved it. It soothed my stomach upsets quickly, and soon I was back to my old self, full of energy.

     

    My mother used a variety of natural remedies for my brother and me. She was a strong advocate of natural healing. Back then, I didn’t know why ginger worked so well. I was just happy it did. As I became older, I looked into the reasons why ginger was effective for a variety of ailments. What I found out was intriguing.

    Ginger is a rhizome (underground stem.) It is harvested year-round. The longer it stays underground, before it’s harvested, the hotter an spicier it gets which makes it even more effective.

    Health Benefits of Ginger

    For centuries, ginger (usually called “ginger root”) has been used as an extremely effective remedy to heal a variety of ailments; digestive disorders, diarrhea, the common cold, menstrual cramps, fungus, heart conditions. It’s also been used to loosen phlegm, relieve gas, and to soothe sore throats. Over the years, it’s natural healing powers has caught the attention of science. Researchers have used Ginger effectively in certain cancer prevention. The healing powers of ginger are amazing.

    Morning Sickness

    When I was pregnant I briefly experienced morning sickness. I say “briefly” because once I started drinking ginger tea on a daily basis, the nausea I had been experiencing vanished. Ginger tea, quickly became my “drink of choice.” I loved ginger so much, I started using it regularly in the various vegan dishes I’d prepare.

    Ginger reduces mentrual cramps

    I start drinking Ginger tea a few days before my menstrual cycle. If you’re experiencing cramping, this can be, an effective way to eliminate menstrual cramping naturally.

    Why is Ginger effective?

    Ginger contains volatile oils which is believed to contribute to the medicinal effects of ginger. My mother was definitely on to something with ginger tea! When my seven-year old daughter has had a mild stomach upset I’ve made her ginger root tea also.

    I’ve included a healthy recipe for ginger tea below. Occasionally I add the leaves of mint or lemon balm. Served hot or cold, it’s a delicious and soothing drink, with the added bonus of being great for the digestive system.

    Ginger root tea

    Ginger Root Tea

    • 4 cups of water
    • 2-3 inch piece of fresh ginger root
    • optional: agave nectar (natural sweetener), honey, or lemon

    Instructions

    1. Scrub the Ginger root and cut it into thin slices.
    2. Bring the water to a boil in the teapot
    3. Add Ginger
    4. Cover the teapot, reduce heat, and let simmer for about 20 minutes.

    Serve and Enjoy!

    Natural Ginger Soda

    If I want a fizzy drink, I’ll purchase naturally carbonated soda and add my ginger root tea. I sweeten it to taste to create my own “homemade ginger ale.” That’s the quick way I make Homemade ginger ale. The longer way, involves fermentation, stay tuned as I’ll be posing my fermented homemade ginger ale next week. I’ve already created the article, the only thing left for me to do is publish it.

    A little about me:

    A few years ago, I decided to go back to college to pursue another degree; Masters degree in Traditional Naturopathy. Being a natural health advocate, my focus is looking for natural ways to cure the variety of health related ailments. Of course, the natural approach isn’t always possible. I also believe if we take action before issues arise, by reclaiming our health, we can avoid many of the health related issues that are prevalent today.

    I do think, the foods we eat, the amount of exercise we do, and our emotional health is closely tied together. If we’re deficient in one or more areas, it can have a negative impact on our health.

     

    © 2010, Celebrate Life!. All rights reserved.

    Aug 14 15 comments
    Health & Nutrition

    Hypertension: Six ways you can lower high blood pressure naturally

    Several years ago, I used to work for a local university hospital. I worked in Research/Family Medicine department. Part of my job involved traveling with a group to various locations statewide. Extremely popular at these events, were the free health screenings that we conducted.  One of the most popular, were free blood pressure screenings.

    If there was a need, we offered follow up classes (also free) to increase the persons awareness and offer ways to reclaim their health.  Three classes were offered, smoking cessation, healthy eating, and weight loss. The clients were encouraged to take the classes appropriate for them. Quite a few were urged to take all three. I enjoyed my time there. It was a great learning experience, I met numerous people and had a chance to interact and give people valuable information on ways they could reclaim their health.

    The only thing required of them was to actually make those changes.  Of course, that isn’t always easy. Change can be extremely hard. Surrounding yourself with those who are supportive, and are willing to give you a firm, but loving push when needed can be helpful too.

    Over the years, I’ve had several people ask me if I could supply them with information on ways can improve their health. (People that are around me for any length of time, know I’m extremely passionate about health.) I always tell them to follow up with their health care provider, if they haven’t already done so, and I’ll try to include tips or at least point to a service that can assist them with their needs. Over the past few weeks, Celebrate Life has received a variety of health related questions. In time, I’ll be including a few of the questions asked (along with my answers) on this site.

    Below, I’ve included one of the questions I received regarding high blood pressure.

    Question: Help! My blood pressure is high, can you suggest any tips on lowering it naturally?

    What is High Blood Pressure?

    High Blood Pressure (or hypertension) is a serious medical condition in which the blood pressure remains unusually high. If it’s left untreated it can be a risk factor for cerebrovascular diseases as well as coronoary heart disease.

    Fact: Many people don’t know they have high blood pressure

    According to statistics, one in three adults has high blood pressure. Many of them don’t  know it. We saw this a lot during our free health screenings. This is why high blood pressure has often been called the silent killer. It’s important to get your blood pressure checked to make sure it falls within the normal range.  If it is left unchecked high blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart attack, or kidney failure.

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    Six ways you can naturally lower your blood pressure

    1. Lose the weight

      2. If you are overweight, change your eating habits. Almost everyone will see a reduction in their blood pressure if they shed a few pounds. The weight isn’t coming off overnight, it took a while to pack on those pounds so it’s going to take some time to melt them away too. Clean up your diet, start selecting healthier food options and exercise into your lifestyle, Be consistent you want healthy eating habits combined with exercise to become a habit.

      Despite what the media might portray, weight loss shouldn’t be just about vanity. You want to maintain an ideal weight to prevent some of the health related issues associated with being overweight. That said, even if you are at your ideal weight you can have high blood pressure, or other health related diseases too.

    2. Add DASH to your daily eating habits

      3. Dash stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. How are you going to do this?  Increase the fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and low fat or fat free dairy products in your eating lifestyle. You want to reduce the cholesterol causing foods, fat, red meat, and sodium.  Start reading labels, educate yourself on what you’re reading and making healthy changes to in your eating habits.

      Why does DASH work? This diet is packed with vitamins and minerals which our bodies crave.  The foods offered in DASH are naturally good for your body making them a powerful tool in getting lowering your blood pressure.  The DASH diet has proven to lower blood pressure in just fourteen days.

      The foods we eat play an important role on our health. In many cases we don’t see the results from our unhealthy eating habits until much later. If you’re not making healthy eating choices you are nutritionally starving your body.

    3. Reduce the sodium/salt

      4. In 1997 the Trials of Hypertension Prevention, Phase II (TOHP II) it was found that blood pressure was lowered by reducing the amount of sodium in the diet and losing weight. Reducing, or eliminating sodium can be extremely challenging.

      I’ve listed a few salt alternatives. Check them out.

      Salt free options

      • Garlic powder (not garlic salt)
      • lemon juice
      • lime juice
      • roasted garlic
      • Unsalted (and ground) sunflower seeds or sesame seeds

    4. Exercise

      5. You don’t have to go to the gym to have a good workout there are numerous exercises that you can do effectively at home.  Walking, gardening, push ups, jumping jacks, running in place, following a fitness video, etc., are just a few of the ways you can workout from the convenience of your home. You’ve got to move to exercise, so start doing it.

    5. Relax!

      6. Studies show that high stress may affect your blood pressure. Think of ways that you can eliminate the stressors in your life. Even better, don’t let issues you encounter take control of your life. I meditate, exercise, play with my daughter, read, listen to music, etc.,

    6. Reduce your alcohol consumption

      7. Drinking excessively or binge drinking can lead to a stroke.  Studies say that people who drink an excessive amount of alcohol (over two cups per day) increase their risk of high blood pressure. If you’re going to drink do so in moderation limit your intake to two glasses per day.

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    Moving Forward

    Stay focused and educating yourself, is a great way that you can start taking control of your health. Check out support groups either locally or online. Support is extremely helpful, and it can build a since of comraderie interacting with those experieincing similar issues. Change can be hard so don’t beat yourself up if you make slipups think about the reasons why you went back into old habits and try to come up with ways to avoid them happening again.

    If you don’t take action, your high blood pressure won’t go away. Continung to ignore your condition can lead to other conditions such as kidney failure, heart diseases, heart failure, stroke, and other health related issues.

    Although this article is focused on people suffering from High Blood Pressure, I believe we all can learn from it too. In the Westernized culture, statistics show that many people need to make changes in their health, and step up their exercise routine too. We have only one body; it makes sense to ensure that it is maintained correctly. If you’re not already, think of ways you can modify your lifestyle choices, so that you can eliminate the potential health related issues associated with bad habits.

    Question: What improvements do you want to make in your lifestyle? Have you made improvements already, if so leave us a comment.

     

     

     

     

     

    © 2010, Celebrate Life!. All rights reserved.

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