Natural Health Tips
Read these 4 Natural Health Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Green Living tips and hundreds of other topics.
Raw Food Diet Benefits
A raw food diet is used by some to detox and by others to improve their health. A raw food diet is based on uncooked and unprocessed foods. Raw food diets have been proven to create major improvements in the health of some people. Raw food diet benefits include improved energy, reduced risk of heart disease, improved skin appearance and weight normalization. Raw food diets also benefit the digestive system. When eating a raw food diet, don't mix it with cooked foods. Adding cooked foods to a raw food diet is not a good idea because cooked foods create acid in the stomach which does not react well to raw foods. Some popular raw foods include fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, grains, beans, nuts, dried fruit and seaweed. When you purchase raw foods it is best to choose ones that are organic. Conventional raw foods have been found to be very high in pesticides and other toxins. When planning your raw food diet eat fruits in the morning and vegetables in the evening. Don't forget to add in some sprouts. While sprouts do take a little more work than just grabbing something and eating it, they are an essential part of a raw food diet. In addition to sprouting, raw foods can be processed by juicing, soaking to soften items like nuts or beans, blending and dehydrating. If you are used to a meat diet you may experience mild headaches, nausea and food cravings for the first few days of your raw food diet.
Alternative Medicine
Every available approach to healing that does not fall within the realm of conventional Western medicine is considered to be a form of alternative medicine. Some examples of alternative medicine are homeopathy, naturopathy, chiropractic and herbal medicine. While many alternative medicine ideas are untested, others are centuries old and have proven themselves. Herbal medicine is a great example of a form of alternative medicine that has been practiced for centuries but whose cures are not proven thus they are not used in mainstream traditional medicine. Interestingly enough many of our pharmaceuticals are made by synthetically replicating plants natural healing properties. Many alternative medicine beliefs incorporate spiritual, metaphysical or religious ideas. Alternative medicine is popular because it covers ideas that traditional western medicine may not cover, in addition to allowing the person to take their health care into their own hands. Health and fitness certainly go together. Yoga is a very poplar way to maintain health and fitness these days even though it has been around for over five thousand years. Yoga is one alternative method of dealing with stress. Yoga allows you to improve flexibility and obtain peacefulness in the mind and body. Yoga and alternative medicine work well together because they both help you maintain health. Alternative medicine is often used to maintain a healthy body so you can avoid illness. Yoga can help with certain medical problems such as depression. Because it can prevent disorders and ailments plus helps to maintain health and fitness, yoga is often considered to be the best health insurance you can have.
Organic Baby Care
Once you know that you are expecting a baby, creating a place for your new baby is one of the first things you will want to do. A natural baby nursery filled with eco friendly baby furniture, organic baby bedding and organic skin care products is a great way to begin. Before bringing your baby home be sure to load up on organic cloth diapers. Cloth diapers help keep disposable ones out of the landfill and can be better for baby's skin because they do not contain the chemicals disposable diapers do. Using organic cloth diapers helps save money as well because you are reusing them instead of tossing them in the trash. Organic baby care is something you will want to discuss with your ob-gyn during your pregnancy and with the baby's pediatrician. Ask if the hospital you will be delivering in offers an option between conventional products and organic products. If not, ask if you can bring your own organic baby skin care products for use on your baby. Also inquire about organic baby formula. If you want to start your baby on organic baby formula this may be something you will have to provide. As your baby begins to grow choosing organic baby food is going to be your next choice. Organic baby food is healthier and does not contain all the chemical toxins conventional baby food does. Parents who choose to use only organic baby products have the peace of mind that their baby is getting the very best products and none of the toxic chemicals found in traditional products that could harm their baby.
Natural Cold Remedies
Instead of rushing to the doctor or medicine cabinet as soon as you feel a cold coming on this year try some of these natural cold remedies. A good way to start is to get plenty of rest so your body can use its energy to fight off the cold. If you are having trouble getting sleep when you feel a cold coming on, try some natural sleep remedies such as making sure you are comfortable, use a relaxation technique and drink a warm herbal tea to help promote relaxation. If none of that works try an herbal remedy such as lavender or chamomile. You can take a warm bath filled with these herbs or essential oils. Another option is to have a sleep pillow filled with them. If you don't like baths, try a steamy shower. Making sure to blow your nose and not sniffle too often is another natural cold remedy. Sniffling simply causes the mucus to go back into your head. Try placing a finger on one side of your nose while blowing out the other side. This is the best way. And be sure to wash your hands after you blow your nose. Gargling with a teaspoon of salt in warm water four times a day can moisten a sore throat and bring temporary relief. Drink plenty of hot liquids, especially herbal teas made for colds. Choose a natural salve made with menthol, eucalyptus or camphor. Use this salve under your nose to help open your breathing passages and ease the pain of a raw nose. Finally use natural herbal warm or cold packs around congested areas.
| Guru Spotlight |
| Susan Sayour |
