Foods 
In this age, when many doctors are urging you to cut your salt consumption, you may find some of these reasons to eat more salt surprising. Granted, I'm not talking about just your ordinary table salt. Typical table salt and unprocessed sea salt differ quite a bit, not the least of which is there is corn sugar added to normal table salt. Switching to sea salt is your best bet. But consuming more salt? Really? Conventional wisdom has always told us that it's best to moderate salt consumption. If you have high blood pressure, doctors would most most certainly urge you to drastically decrease your salt. Research ...Read More
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Your Guide to Kefir: What Is It and Why You Should Use It
The first time I heard about "kefir," I thought someone was talking about the actor who played on the TV show 24. (Turns out, its a totally different spelling and has no relation to the drink I'm writing about now.) As I learned more, I found out it is not only delicious, but nutrition-packed drink that's super easy to make myself. What is Kefir? Kefir is a probiotic drink that is made using kefir grains—which are not really "grains," but a combination of yeast and bacteria in a symbiotic relationship. Sounds yummy, right? Stay with me! Two Types Making and maintaining kefir is quite easy. The grains can be ...Read More
Are Animal Fats Good for You? The Science is Clear
Lard. Butter. Tallow. Bacon Grease. Duck Fat. We know these are bad for us, right? Think again. When asked, "Are animal fats bad for you?" many of us grew up with the rather cartoonish answer: Of course—haven't you heard of cholesterol? The truth isn't nearly so simple. Why have animal fats been demonized? Long story short: Animal fats got a bad rap because they are high in saturated fats. And the reason why this was a problem was because of the now-debunked cholesterol hypothesis. The cholesterol hypothesis, in a nutshell, hypothesized that saturated fat and dietary cholesterol gunked up the arteries and ...Read More
4 Easy Steps to Add Fermented Foods to Your Diet
Fermented foods are a traditional food that have slowly been phased out of the American diet for convenience. This is a shame because fermented foods contain probiotics to nourish your gut. They help aid your digestion and absorption of vitamins and minerals. Fermentation also increases certain vitamins and nutrients in foods. Fermented foods are basically foods that have been preserved by a controlled exposure to bacteria or yeast. The bacteria breaks down sugars and carbohydrates and creates acids, gases, and/or alcohols that preserve the food for longer periods of time. Fermented dairy is usually referred to as ...Read More
Why is Wheat Bad for You? — 3 Good Reasons to Delete the Wheat
Is wheat bad for you? That's a complicated question. It's not as cut-and-dry as a quick trip to the doctor for a test for celiac disease. In fact, tests for celiac disease and gluten sensitivity are notoriously imprecise. I've challenged individuals to try giving up wheat for a few months to see if it helps with their... inflammation achey joints psoriasis PMS ...and the list goes on and on! Often what I hear in response is, "BUT I don't have any stomach problems." Friends, problems with wheat, especially modern wheat, goes further than tummy aches! So why should you consider deleting the ...Read More
3 Books for Spiritual Development and Inspiration (Wellness Wednesday)
Continuing on our theme of spiritual wellness this month, I'd like to hi-lite a few of my favorite books for spiritual development and inspiration. These are three devotional books that I've learned from, been inspired by, and have been used in conjunction with the Word of God to convict me of sin. Of course, the Bible is the ultimate authority and there is no replacement, but I've learned much from the godly teachers who wrote these books. My Utmost for His Highest Despite the fact that this small book has been around for over 80 years, this wisdom in the book is still just as relevant now as it was when it was first ...Read More
When God Stretches You: The Day My Husband Died
This month my co-hosts and I are focusing on Spiritual Wellness. Though it may seem to be a strange topic to some given what we typically talk about for Wellness Wednesdays, we decided we wanted to devote a month to this topic. Spiritual wellness truly is more vital than physical wellness. Our relationship with God is what determines our eternal destiny. This week, I want to talk about an event where God was able to stretch my faith. Anjanette at Raising the Barrs and Elsie at Richly Rooted also have posts on the same this week. Be sure to stop by to read about their story. In January 2005 my husband was killed ...Read More
Should I Try a Gluten-Free Diet?
Should I try a gluten-free diet? I've heard this question asked by many people. The short answer for me will always be a definitive YES. You should try a gluten-free diet. Looking for gluten-free resources? This Everything Gluten Free page is a library of everything gluten free we’ve worked on. Why? There are a number of problematic proteins in wheat. These are proteins that can cause problems for everyone. There are also some very specific overarching reasons that everyone should be wary of wheat. And to top it off, gluten sensitivity is associated with over 200 different diseases. Yes, you read that ...Read More
