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Feeling Under the Weather? Try These All-Natural Cold and Flu Remedies

January 2, 2015 by

If you get a cold or the flu every winter like clockwork, you’re likely always on the hunt for natural ways to treat your illness at home. Before you drag yourself out of bed to go to the doctor, try these all-natural home remedies to help banish your sore throat, soothe that runny nose, and make your aching muscles feel as good as new. (But consult your doctor for professional medical advice first!)

  1. Drink as many fluids as possible. When you’re feeling all stuffed up and congested, one of the best ways to rid your nasal cavity of mucus is by drinking plenty of fluids. Aim for eight to ten glasses of water per day, and supplement them with herbal teas, sports drinks, and even broth-based soups.
  2. Inhale steam. Another way to clear your stuffy nose is by leaning over a pot of boiling water, placing a towel over your head, and breathing deeply through your nose—just be careful not to breathe too deeply and burn yourself.
  3. Adjust your diet. By incorporating things like lemons, garlic, and honey into your diet, you can absorb their vitamins and antimicrobial properties. Green tea or peppermint tea also help to rid your body of cold or flu symptoms.
  4. Gargle with salt water. If a sore throat is keeping you up at night, this old wives’ tale can help to decrease the swelling in the throat’s mucous membranes and ease your pain.

Home Remedies for Colds [WebMD]
Cold and Flu Home Remedies [Doctor Oz]
22 Natural Sore Throat Remedies to Help Soothe the Pain [Everyday Roots]

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How to Take the Stress Out of Home-Cooked Meals

December 2, 2014 by

For as long as you can remember, there’s always been a certain pressure to provide your loved ones with a nightly “home-cooked meal.” Although it may sometimes feel like it’s impossible to prepare an elaborate dinner on busy weeknights, these smart tips will show you how to take the stress out of the classic home-cooked meal.

  1. Start meal planning. Sure, making a home-cooked meal is difficult if you don’t have all the ingredients or don’t know what to make. By planning a week’s worth of meals on Sunday evening, you can get your cooking schedule under control.
  2. Make preparations. Many at-home chefs use their weekends as a time to prepare the bases for the week’s meals. You can cook a dozen chicken breasts, bake a casserole, or even begin to marinate a steak to save yourself time the night of.
  3. Choose basic recipes. If you don’t have time to experiment with fancy recipes from cooking magazines, choose recipes that you already know and love. Just because your favorite spaghetti and meatballs is pretty basic doesn’t mean that it’s not home-cooked.
  4. Make it from scratch, but not entirely from scratch. Don’t feel like you have to crush your garlic by hand or chop each vegetable individually for your meal to count as home-cooked. Buying frozen veggies or garlic powder works just as well.

10 Secrets of Home Cooks (And How You Can Become One, Too!) [Real Simple]
6 Tips for Stress-Free Family Meals [Right @ Home]
How to Plan Your Weekly Meals, Stress Free [Lifehacker]

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

October 17, 2014 by

Have you heard of oil pulling? This new holistic health trend, which is actually an ancient 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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Easy Ways to Sneak More Fiber Into Your Diet

October 7, 2014 by

Fiber helps to prevent chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, and it even aids in weight loss because it makes you feel more full after eating. If all of these things sound good to you, check out these common foods to help incorporate more fiber into your diet.

  1. Pears. One small pear packs an impressive five grams of fiber, and it’s tasty, too. Eat one whole for a handheld snack while you’re on the go, or slice one up and add it to a summery salad.
  2. Oatmeal. Your favorite healthy breakfast food is filled with soluble fiber. Eating fiber-packed oatmeal everyday can help you lose weight and lower your cholesterol.
  3. Raspberries. Seed-filled fruits, like raspberries, boast about eight grams of fiber per cup. Eat them alone or sprinkle some fresh on top of your favorite Greek yogurt.
  4. Artichokes. Although artichokes don’t seem like the likeliest source of fiber, they’re actually packed with a whopping 10 grams each. One artichoke also only contains 65 calories, so it makes a great way to lose weight and consume more fiber.
  5. Whole-wheat noodles. Instead of reaching for your usual spaghetti at the grocery store, opt for a whole-wheat pasta instead. One cup offers six grams of fiber, which is twice the amount of regular pasta.

11 Ways to Get More Fiber in Your Diet [Food Network]
Dietary fiber: Essential for a healthy diet [Mayo Clinic]
Five Painless Ways to Get Your Fiber On [ABC News]
5 Simple Ways to Eat More Fiber [Eating Well]

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Essential Beauty-Enhancing Products You Already Have at Home

September 26, 2014 by

The next time you want to try a new beauty product, you might want to start by browsing your kitchen cabinets instead of heading to the drugstore. Many common foods and oils can double as creams, scrubs, and skin treatments! Here are a few beneficial beauty products that you likely already own.

  1. Tea bags. Instead of investing in a pricey eye cream to get rid of those dark circles after a night out, use some tea bags instead. Soak two green tea bags in warm water and lay them on your eyelids. The caffeine will shrink the appearance of blood vessels, while the antioxidants reduce inflammation.
  2. Oatmeal. Make your own face treatment by using your favorite breakfast oats. Place a handful of whole oats inside of a washcloth and secure it closed with a rubber band. Soak the whole thing in a sink of warm water until the water turns cloudy, and then splash it onto your face. This will create a protective barrier on the skin that seals in moisture and provides anti-inflammatory properties.
  3. Oranges. Use oranges to get rid of pesky dry patches on the skin. Squeeze half of an orange into a bowl and mix in 1/4 cup of granulated sugar and 1/4 cup of olive oil. Rub the other half of the orange on dry knees or elbows to loosen the dead cells, and then rub on your homemade scrub to slough them away.

Have A Spa Day…At Home! 10 DIY Beauty Treatments! [Seventeen]
Our Favorite All-Natural Home Beauty Treatments [Fitness]
Crazy Beauty Tricks That Really Work [Whole Living]
6 All-Natural Beauty Fixes [Woman’s Day]

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Enjoy Doing Yoga? Check Out These Two Pinterest Boards!

September 3, 2014 by

Pinterest operates like an online bulletin board that can help you to discover new things and then save (or “pin”) them to your own personal boards. The social media site contains a wide assortment of yoga tips, apparel ideas, and workout videos submitted by Pinterest’s community of yogis, which makes it a wonderful resource to help you improve and organize your practice. Here are two of the best yoga-related Pinterest boards to follow.

Yoga
Pinterest’s main yoga board is filled with inspiring quotes, sequences, and asanas from yogis all around the web. From leg-sculpting sequences that will build strength in your lower body to early morning vinyasa flows that will help you to start your day off right, these yoga pins will help you to build your practice even when you’re not on your mat.

Mind Body Green
Mind Body Green’s yoga board contains all of the popular health website’s best yoga-related content, all organized in one easy-to-navigate space. Browse pins like "A Guide to Warrior 1," "4 Yoga Poses to Help Unlock Your Hidden Emotions," and "10 Things a Beginner Should Know Before Giving Up On Yoga" to help even the most novice yogis find their inner chi.

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How and What to Pack for a Sightseeing Trip

August 15, 2014 by

After months of saving, you finally booked that sightseeing trip that you’ve always dreamed of. Whether you’re backpacking across Europe or taking a car trip through South America, you’ll need to know what to pack before you go. Packing these four items will help you be prepared for your sightseeing adventure.

  1. A sturdy backpack. This is an essential for long days of sightseeing as it enables you to tote your belongings around without straining your arms. Choose one with a large main pocket for clothing and supplies and smaller inner pockets to stow away money, your passport, and other essential items.
  2. Maps and guides. Maps are important in areas where you don’t have reliable cell phone service, and they cut down on the time you spend asking for directions. If you’re traveling to an area where you don’t speak the language, it’s also smart to bring along a foreign language dictionary.
  3. Proper clothes. Bring a rain jacket if you’re traveling to rainy London, and wear layers that you can easily remove if you’re in steamy Vietnam. Be sure to look up the climate beforehand to avoid clothing discomfort.
  4. ​A camera. Although a camera isn’t exactly an essential item, you’ll surely want to remember your trip for years to come!

Travel Tips and Packing Lists [Eagle Creek]
15 Things to Pack for Sightseeing [Sue’s Travel Tips]
How to Pack for a Sightseeing Vacation [Independent Traveler]

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Move Over, Dairy! These Foods Are Surprisingly High in Calcium

August 8, 2014 by

You learn from an early age that calcium builds strong bones and teeth, but it has a number of other health benefits as well. This beneficial mineral also helps to regulate your blood pressure, maintains healthy blood vessels, and even aids in preventing Type 2 diabetes. Now that you know why you should eat calcium, here are a few lesser-known ways to get it.

  1. White beans. Beans get a good reputation because of their high levels of protein, but white beans are also very high in calcium as well. In fact, just one cup of canned white beans provides 191 milligrams of calcium, which is about 19% of your daily value. These creamy, mild legumes are great in a hearty chili or mashed as a chickpea substitute in homemade hummus.
  2. Sardines. While these tiny fish may have made you squeamish as a child, sardines are actually one of the healthiest fish that you can eat. Like a lot of seafood, they’re rich in omega 3s, but they also provide 321 milligrams of calcium in just seven sardine filets. Many people choose to eat them plain, but if you prefer to cut down on the fishy flavor, you can also add sardines to a salad.

18 Surprising Dairy-Free Sources of Calcium [Greatist]
18 Surprising Dairy-Free Sources of Calcium [HuffPost Healthy Living]

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Play It Safe: 5 Steps for Handling Eggs

May 23, 2014 by

You parents have probably warned you about food-borne illness since you were just a child, but how much do you really know about handling raw eggs? These simple steps will teach you how to safely prepare and serve eggs.

  1. Purchase eggs in good quality. Only buy eggs from a refrigerated case, and open the carton to make sure that none of the eggs are cracked. Refrigerate them as soon as you get home.
  2. Know their expiration date. As a general rule, eggs are only good for about three weeks. After that, you should throw them out and buy a new carton.
  3. Cook thoroughly. When cooking eggs, make sure that there are no runny parts before serving. Things like casseroles and baked goods should be cooked to at least 160° Fahrenheit to ensure that the eggs inside are safe to eat.
  4. Serve properly. All foods containing eggs should be eaten immediately after cooking. To serve a large party buffet-style, keep hot dishes hot by using a slow cooker or heated serving pan.
  5. Store safely. If you must refrigerate a dish with eggs, be sure to use it within three to four days and reheat to at least 160° before serving.

Playing It Safe with Eggs [FDA]
Eggs & Food Safety [Incredible!]
Tips to Reduce Your Risk of Salmonella from Eggs [CDC]

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Don’t Get Burned by These Common Sunscreen Application Mistakes

May 16, 2014 by

Nothing can quite put a damper on summer fun than a bad case of sunburn. If you've ever been afflicted by the telltale red skin and prickly heat of sunburn, it's likely you committed one of these four common sunscreen application mistakes:

1) You applied sunscreen immediately before sun exposure.
Sunscreen needs time to absorb into the skin. For maximum benefits, try to wait at least 15 minutes after application before venturing outside.

2) You applied too little sunscreen.
There's no such thing as too much sunscreen. Start with a golf ball sized amount, and apply the lotion systematically, massaging it into your arms, legs, face, back on the neck and ears—wherever your skin will be exposed to the sun.

3) You forgot to reapply.
Sunscreen is effective for a maximum of two hours, or about 40 to 80 minutes if you're sweating or swimming. Also remember that the sun can penetrate fog and cloud cover, so wear sunscreen even when the sun's not shining.

4) You used a lotion with a too-low SPF (Sun Protection Factor).
Choose a water-resistant sunscreen that's at least 30 SPF. Also ensure that your sunscreen provides protection from both UVA and UVB rays. Be advised, however, that sunscreens with a SPF higher than 30 won't necessarily buy you more time in the sun. A 30 SPF sunscreen will protect you from 96% of sunburn-causing rays, while SPF 50 provides only slightly more protection: 98%.

Sunscreen: Tips to Wear It Well [MD Anderson Cancer Center]
8 Sunscreen Mistakes You're Probably Making [Huffpost]
How to apply sunscreen (and how not to) [Well + Good]

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