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Oil Pulling 101: What You Need to Know About Oil Pulling

March 14, 2014 by

Have you heard of oil pulling? This new holistic health craze, which is actually an ancient Ayurvedic detoxification remedy, is said to boost overall health simply by swishing oil around the mouth once daily. The oil emulsifies with saliva in the mouth, becoming a cleansing agent that removes harmful bacteria, toxins, and plaque from the teeth and gums. The practice is also said to ease sinus congestion. But does oil pulling actually work? That's for you to decide—after checking in with your doctor or dentist first, of course.

If you'd like to give oil pulling a test spin, here's a handy guide to get you started.

1. Choose your oil.
The oils recommended for oil pulling are coconut, sesame, olive, and sunflower. You'll only need one tablespoon per pulling. If you choose coconut oil, let it liquefy before beginning your session.

2. Swish—and then swish some more.
Swish the oil around your mouth, just as you would with mouthwash. "Pull" the oil through your teeth. Your goal is to swish the oil until it becomes viscous and white. It usually takes 10 to 20 minutes to achieve this consistency, although beginner pullers can work their way up to that time.

3. Spit and rinse.
Once you've reached your allotted time, spit the oil into a trash can—not the toilet or sink, as the oil can clog pipes. (Don't swallow the oil!) Rinse your mouth with warm water, then brush your teeth. How often you practice oil pulling is up to you, although optimal benefits are said to achieved when oil pulling is performed several times per week.

Oil Pulling With Coconut Oil to Transform Your Dental Health [Authority Nutrition]
Oil Pulling: The Habit That Can Transform Your Health [Food Matters]
Oil Pulling for Oral Health [Wellness Mama]
What is Oil Pulling? [Coconut Oil Pulling]

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Learn the Benefits of Strength Training

February 28, 2014 by

The CDC has found that strength training a few times a week can have a profound impact on a person’s emotional and physical health. Here are just a few reasons why:

Healthy Heart Tissue
When the body is leaner, a person’s risk of heart disease is drastically reduced. Lifting weights just three times per week can help to minimize the risk of heart disease and even act as rehabilitation for those with existing heart problems.

Healthy State of Mind
Strength training can even act as a natural alternative to anti-depressant medications in adults, as a person’s improved self-esteem has such a powerful impact on his or her self-worth. 

Visit the CDC's website to see more benefits of strength training!

Why Strength Training? [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]

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Try Your Hand at the Bridge and Torch Problem

February 21, 2014 by

There are a large number of “river crossing puzzles” in the world of logic puzzles, in which people must cross a river with a variety of constraints. One of the most popular of these puzzles is the Bridge and Torch Problem, which tests your logic skills and your rational thinking. Though it may seem like a simple enough question, the answer to this tricky word problem eludes many of the people who try to solve it. 

In the Bridge and Torch Problem, four people approach a riverbank at night. The narrow bridge nearby can only hold two people at a time. They only have one torch, but it has to be used when crossing the bridge. It takes Person A one minute to cross, Person B two minutes to cross, Person C five minutes, and Person D eight minutes. Two people crossing the bridge together must move at the slower person’s pace.

Can all of the people cross the bridge in 15 minutes or less? Once you reach an answer, check it here! 

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Easy Entertaining Idea: Charcuterie Plate

September 27, 2013 by

Don't stress the next time you have unexpected guests for lunch or dinner. You can put together a quick charcuterie plate, using staples you probably already have on hand. Here are some basic ingredients:

  • Keep a couple different types of cured meats in the fridge. Popular meats include prosciutto, salami, soppressata, and mortadella. Just about any thin, salty, dried meat will work.
  • Use a loaf of bread like ciabatta or focaccia bread. Breads that work best have a thicker crust and soft inside so they can complement the meat.
  • No plate would be complete without cheese. Add two different cheeses which can be easily sliced or cubed.
  • A few dips or spreads will finish off the tray. Even simple things like mustard or jam pair well with cheese, meat, and bread.
  • Have some olives? Put them on the tray. Small fruits or nuts work well too!

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Five Effective Anxiety-Management Techniques

April 30, 2013 by

Anxiety is a plague that affects millions of Americans. As today’s high-stress world makes things increasingly difficult, more people are looking for ways to self-soothe and release tension. Here are five techniques that you can do at home, prescribed by experts in the field.

Breathing is widely considered the most important thing you can do to manage the onset of anxiety symptoms. Anxiety generates real physical reactions in the body, but by performing controlled, even breathing you can mitigate many of those symptoms and prevent the attack from getting worse.

Mindful awareness is another common method used to deal with the early stages of an anxiety attack. Close your eyes and slow your breath, concentrating your focus on different parts of your body in turn. This will give you the understanding that you are in control of your attentions.

Try to avoid worrying. This is easier said than done, obviously, but most doctors agree that feelings of dread or concern for the future engender anxiety attacks. A simple cognitive therapy response is to note the worry and then reply to yourself silently “That’s just my brain worrying. I know I don’t have to worry.”

Avoid recursive or ruminant thoughts on negative experiences. Getting the brain caught in a thought loop can lead to serious anxiety, lost productivity and more. Being conscious of these loops and working to stop them with mental commands can give you increased control over your situation.

Most importantly, make sure your body is getting everything it needs to be healthy. Getting enough sleep and regular, nutritious meals will help your brain functionality as well.

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Spring Produce: Seasonal Fruit and Veggie Highlights to Add to Your Menu

April 26, 2013 by

As spring begins, gardens are alive with new shoots. The spring fruit and vegetable season adds tons of exciting new options to your cooking. Here are some of the best fresh fruits and vegetables to consider cooking with this season.

Asparagus is one of the most eagerly anticipated new crops every spring. When picked fresh, it’s fragrant and delicious. Cooking it is incredibly simple – steam it, roast it or grill it. All it needs is a little salt, pepper and olive oil for its natural flavor to shine.

Garlic shoots are an unusual but remarkable spring harvest. Before the white garlic bulb that you are familiar with forms, the plant grows a large, green shoot, also called a “scape.” This has a flavor similar to the bulb but milder. It’s great for soups.

Spring is also the best time to harvest new potatoes. Although potatoes can stay in the ground through the summer and into the late fall, harvesting them early keeps the skin from setting, making for sweet, tender spuds that cook quickly and burst with flavor.

In terms of fruit, one of the best bounties every spring is the cherry harvest. Cherry fruit starts growing in the middle of the season, and should be eaten quickly after harvesting for the best flavor.

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Do You Suffer From Dry Skin? Below Are Some Great Tips

April 5, 2013 by

If you suffer from dry, flaky skin, it can be both uncomfortable and embarrassing. If you're looking for some remedies for your dry skin, try these helpful tips below.

Eat Well
Did you know that hydrating your skin begins with your diet? Antioxidants and essential fatty acids are two essential things your skin needs to stay hydrated. So, to help your skin, fill up with foods such as spinach, broccoli, salmon, beans, and nuts.

Hit the Gym
Exercise promotes circulation and increases blood flow, and that results in healthy, rejuvenated skin. And, believe it or not, all that sweat is a natural moisturizer!

Hydrate
Drink a minimum of six glasses of water daily. If your home's air system contributes to your dry skin, invest in a humidifier to put some moisture back in the air.

Stay Dry
Shower just once a day, or even every other day. Water washes away your skin’s natural oils that keep your skin moisturized.

Prepare
After you shower, dry off well using an absorbent towel. After you're completely dry, use an alcohol-free moisturizer.

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Sushi Guide

January 16, 2013 by

Sushi is now a mainstream staple of many American diets. If you're new to sushi, it can still be a little intimidating, since it’s a complicated food with a great deal of cultural tradition behind it. Here’s a simple field guide:

1. Sushi does not mean "raw fish." Sushi is the product of combining a protein or vegetable with a special kind of rice, prepared with vinegar and sugar. Sticky, sushi rice is the real core of the meal, and it needs to be made fresh.

2. Nigiri is the most “pure” form of the food – a cut of the main ingredient – typically fish – on top of a small dollop of sushi rice. Nigiri is designed to communicate the essential flavors of the fish without any other tastes masking them, and is the best way to evaluate the freshness of a sushi bar.

3. Maki, also known as rolls, have become the most popular form of sushi from Americanized restaurants. Ingredients are wrapped in a layer of sushi rice, rolled into a cylinder and sliced. A number of other things can be added – traditionally, a sheet of seaweed is used to hold the roll together, but restaurants use tofu skin as well. Rice on the outside is called an “inside-out” roll. These rolls are often topped with sauces or other fish.

4. You don't have to eat raw fish to enjoy sushi. If eating raw fish isn't appealing to you, there are several cooked options such as crab, shrimp, or lobster. Or, you can always enjoy vegetarian rolls such as avocado and cucumber.

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Foot Care Tips for an Active Lifestyle

November 23, 2012 by

Your feet are one of the most important parts of your body, and you subject them to a lot of abuse every single day. Foot pain can be seriously debilitating, whether it be from strains, blisters or other issues. Here are some helpful tips for keeping your feet in good shape.

The most important thing you can do for your feet is wearing the right kind of shoe. Not only should they fit snugly, but they should also be appropriate for the kind of activity you are doing. Different kinds of shoes are designed for different things, so make sure your shoe offers the ideal combination of support and comfort.

Good sock selection is also very important. It’s important to wear socks that will wick moisture away from your feet as you exercise. Excess moisture left on the skin can result in blisters, fungal infections and more.

Toenail care is essential for healthy feet. You should always trim your toenails in straight lines perpendicular to your toes. This prevents ingrown nails and other issues. Make sure not to trim down the side of the nail.

If you feel anything unusual with your feet, you should consult a podiatrist immediately. Left undiagnosed, foot problems can lead to very significant health issues that can impact you greatly.

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Bird Is The Word: Five Quick Chicken Dinners

September 25, 2012 by

Chicken is one of the most versatile proteins available to the home cook, and it can be prepared in so many different, delectable ways. In this article, we’ll share five of our favorite recipes that come out of the kitchen in a hurry without skimping on flavor.

Stuff a chicken breast with onions caramelized in a pan until they are golden brown and soft Fontina cheese. Bake in an pan until the meat is cooked through and deglaze the pan with white wine and rosemary to make a sauce. Serve over rice pilaf or quinoa.

Lemon chicken is a classic dish that never fails to impress. Marinate chunks of chicken in soy sauce for a little bit, then dredge it in a batter made from egg yolk and cornstarch. Quickly fry in a skillet and mix with a simple sauce created from lemon juice, water, sugar and a little more cornstarch. Serve over white rice.

Cut a chicken breast into rectangles and bread them with panko, the Japanese-style bread crumbs. Cover with Romano cheese and quickly fry them until the outside is crispy, then serve with a tangy marinara sauce for an upscale take on chicken fingers.

For a simple, hearty meal that will make you think of campfire days, make tinfoil “hobo bundles” with chicken and sturdy vegetables that roast well – try small tomatoes, green beans, and sliced potatoes. Put a little butter or olive oil inside, some fragrant herbs, seal them up and put them in the oven until everything cooks. Unwrap and serve.

For a light, healthy chicken dish, batter chicken cutlets in flour and quickly fry but do not cook through. Then sautee chunks of onion and ginger in the pan drippings. Add chicken broth and bring it to a simmer, then add the chicken and slices of pear for a unique and tasty meal.

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