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What You Should Know About Stomach Acid

Have you ever had heart burn? Reflux? Indigestion? Did you reach for an antacid? Are you on a PPI? Unfortunately, these popular remedies can have dire consequences on your health. Did you know that your reflux, heartburn, or indigestion was almost certainly the result...

Is Your Health Being Sabotaged by a Zinc Deficiency?

How often do you think about zinc and its effects on your health? If you are like most Americans, you probably don't think about it at all. Or maybe you think about it in terms of immunity, like when you are getting a cold. This mineral, however, is not just for...

Is Gluten-free Really Healthier?

So much of the nutrition information that the public is given is confusing, conflicting, and often misleading. There are numerous reasons for this and I will go into them later in the post. First, let's answer the question at hand: Is Gluten-free Really Healthier ?...

Supplements: Should you be taking them?

This is a question that I get asked a lot! The answer, of course, is not a simple one. In Nutritional Therapy, we like to use food first whenever possible. (See my post "10 Ways to Sneak Nutrients into Your Diet Without Taking a Pill" for ideas. I also have an ebook...

Charcoal Gummies: For Quick Tummy Relief!

These activated charcoal gummies are the perfect thing to have around in the case of food poisoning, stomach flu, or other tummy troubles! I make and freeze them so that they are on hand in case of one of these emergencies. They are tasty enough that most kids will...

Why Lard Should be Invited Back into Your Home

Okay, so maybe lard has never been granted an invitation into your home in the first place. Maybe it never even had a place in your mother or grandmother's homes. It almost certainly had a place in your great-grandmother's home, however. And this is for a good reason!...

Does Red Meat Cause Cancer?

Does red meat cause cancer? No doubt you have heard the various studies in the news, health magazines espousing the evils of red meat. Then on the other side, there is the grass-fed, pastured meat movements espousing the health benefits of red meat. There are diets...

Chamomile: Uses and Benefits (plus 10 recipes and why your garden needs it!)

Something awesome is happening in my yard right now! There is chamomile growing, and I didn't even plant it this year! This is year two of "back-to-Eden" gardening for me, or as I like to call it "busy-woman-gardening". If you have never heard of back to Eden...

Your Lymphatic System: Fountain of Youth?

Do you have dull skin, and thinning hair, PMS, aching knees, mood swings, forgetfulness, food sensitivities, or those hard-to-lose last 10 pounds? All of these symptoms can be caused or exacerbated by a sluggish lymphatic system. In Ayurvedic medicine, a medical...

Using Essential Oils for Cleaning

I am passionate about using essential oils for cleaning, so I am so excited to have my friend and fellow blogger, Kelly, here for a guest post this week to help convince you to make the switch. Her blog, The Oily life, is a great essential oil resource with...

Homemade Essential Oil Roll-ons

These essential oil roll-ons are some of our favorite tools we have around the house for keeping healthy or recovering from illness quickly. We also put essential oils in diffusers throughout the house, but the rollers are particularly when handy away from home and...

Protecting Your Microbiome

By now you have probably heard that you have have more bacterial cells than actual human cells! This collection of bacterial cells is called your microbiome, microbiota, or microflora depending upon who is speaking. For the sake of simplicity, I will refer to it as...

10 Ways to Sneak Nutrients into your Diet Without Taking a Pill

These days, with things to contend with such as soil depletion, food traveling great distances before it reaches your table, and processed foods that are stripped of nutrients, it can be hard to get the nutrients that your body needs in your daily diet. Although there...

Magnesium-rich Homemade Ranch Dip (or Dressing)

This Homemade Ranch Dip is loaded with magnesium and probiotics as well as other important nutrients. Since magnesium deficiencies are rampant in the U.S. it is helpful to have a tasty way to get your magnesium! Plus, there is no guilt when dipping your veggie (or...

Do You Have a Magnesium Deficiency?

It is estimated that 80-90% of Americans have a magnesium deficiency. Are you one of them? Let's find out..... Things that contribute to a magnesium Deficiency: Eating things containing refined sugar and/or corn syrup (both high fructose and regular) Eating refined...

Fermented Horseradish

Fermented horseradish is the perfect condiment to serve with your prime rib (or steaks) this Christmas or New Year's! The enzymes created during fermentation of this tasty condiment help your body digest the meat and the other rich items that will accompany your meal....

Buckwheat Sourdough Pumpkin Bread (Gluten-free)

This Buckwheat Sourdough Pumpkin Bread is delicious, gluten-free, and nutritious. It takes only 10 minutes to prepare (as long as you have your easy-to-make buckwheat sourdough starter ready and active.) It has a light airy texture straight out of the oven, but will...

Homemade Nourishing Face Cream

Post updated 10/31/19 with natural preservative information! Making your own homemade nourishing face cream is much easier than you think! If you have ever made homemade mayonnaise, you can make face cream. It is well worth the small amount of effort in both cases. In...

DIY Rose and Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum

This DIY Rose and Hyaluronic Face Serum is my new favorite, favorite thing! My skin loves this serum. It makes me wonder why I haven't made a hyaluronic acid face serum before. Actually, I know why. The first time I tried a hyaluronic face serum, I didn't like it!...

Buckwheat Sourdough Sugar Cookies (Gluten-free, Additive-free)

If you are looking for a gluten-free version of a cutout cookie that is a dead ringer for the wheat version yet has no questionable fillers or additives, this recipe for Buckwheat Sourdough Sugar Cookies is for you! ***Recipe updated 11/25/19***** I reformulated the...

Fermented Peppers: My favorite ferment!

These fermented peppers are right up with fermented herbs as one of my favorite ferments! With the herbs, I am finding a tasty way to preserve the fresh taste of the overflowing bounty that comes out of my garden, not so with the peppers. Sadly, I have never had luck...

Fermented Herbs: Preserve summer!

Fermented herbs are my favorite way to preserve the overflow of herbs that come out of the garden at this time of the year! Of course I like to dry some as well, but you can't beat the fresh flavor plus the probiotic punch of fermented herbs. Once fermented, I like to...

Watermelon-Mint Shrub: Improve your digestion with this tasty drink!

This watermelon-mint shrub is so refreshing and good for your body!! There are so many benefits to consuming raw apple cider vinegar, but if you have tried having a tablespoon of raw ACV in some water in the morning or before meals to encourage good digestion, balance...

Mojito Natural Soda: A Refreshing Way to Get Probiotics!

This Mojito Natural Soda is a refreshing blend of mint and lime, as you may have already guessed. There is no alcohol in it, but if you add rum, you have a tasty mojito-like drink with probiotics and no sugar! See my post on How to Brew Water Kefir (plus the benefits...

Blueberry-Raspberry Shrub (aka drinking vinegar)

I'm sure you have seen all the posts about the 101 uses for raw apple cider vinegar (ACV). Maybe those articles have even convinced you to try adding ACV to your routine. After a few mornings of choking down some vinegar and water before your breakfast, maybe you gave...

Kombucha-Champagne Cocktail: Imbibe while avoiding a hangover

I love to bring in the new year with a glass or two of bubbly. This year is no exception, but my champagne glass this year will also contain Kombucha in the form of this Kombucha-Champagne Cocktail. Not only is kombucha delicious, but it serves two important purposes....

Three Easy Ways to Add Fermented Foods to Your Daily Diet

You have probably heard that fermented foods like kraut (sauerkraut) are full of probiotics and that probiotics feed the good bacteria in your gut or microbiome. Now the question is how to get them into your daily routine so that they become a habit. You are much...

Fermented Radishes

Fermented Radishes are a tasty way to get your probiotics! Enjoy them in a salad, on a crudités plate, or solo as a snack. They have a delightful peppery pickle-like flavor. Radishes are packed with nutritional benefits as well. They live up to the "food as medicine"...

Fermented Jicama sticks with Grapefruit: Feed your Microbiome with Deliciousness

Let me tell you about my kids favorite ferment--Fermented Jicama Sticks with Grapefruit. First and foremost they are delicious! Second, jicama itself is packed with prebiotics. Prebiotics feed the good bacteria in your gut. They are just as important, if not more,...

Lemonade Water Kefir: A Delicious Fermented Beverage

Lemonade Water Kefir is one of my kids' favorites! It's a delicious lemonade made with water kefir that is filled with nutrients. Go here for a tutorial on brewing water kefir if you don't know how. This lemonade Water Kefir contains: Probiotics (beneficial bacteria)...

DIY Flower Oils for Healing Salves and Creams

Spring is finally in the air. Just around the corner, flowers will be popping up in my garden. One of my favorite uses for flowers like calendula, chamomile, and rose, is to make flower oils. Flower oils are a way to add amazing healing properties to the oils you use...

Homemade Gentle Eye Makeup Remover Pads

Eye makeup remover has been a tough one for me. My eyes are very sensitive! Actually, I think most people have sensitive eyes. My struggle has been to find an eye makeup remover that isn't too oily, but also isn't too soapy and drying. Over the years, I have purchased...

DIY Rose and Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum

Homemade Nourishing Face Cream

Marshmallow Rose Face Mask: Soothing and Hydrating

I am using this Marshmallow Rose Face Mask twice a day right now! We are having a dry spell here in the Seattle area. While it is lovely to see the sun in a season other than summer, my skin has not been happy about it. Enter this face mask. It is so hydrating,...

Sesame Oil: Bring Back Healthy, Youthful, Glowing Skin With This Deeply Nourishing Face and Body Moisturizer

I long ago ditched my mainstream fragrant moisturizer that was loaded with hormone disruptors and cancer causing chemicals (but smelled amazing, of course). If you haven't, read this post which discusses fragrances in general or this post which discusses...

Oil Cleansing Method (For Your Face)

If you haven't heard of this amazing method for cleaning your face, you might have various questions running through your mind. Cleaning my face with oil? Won't I break out? How the heck does that work? Well, let me tell you. How the Amazing Oil Cleansing Method...

DIY Customized Face Serum

This time of year, the end of winter, your face might start to feel a little dry and crackly, depending upon where you live. An easy fix for this is a face serum. Face serums are some of the easiest beauty products to make at home. Also, you can customize the beauty...

Buckwheat Sourdough Pancakes and Waffles (gluten-free, grain-free)

This buckwheat sourdough pancakes and waffles recipe is the closest to the "real deal" gluten-free, grain-free pancake/waffle recipe that I have ever tasted! I love to use Acadian Buckwheat by Bouchard Family Farms. It has a much lighter texture than other...

Buckwheat Sourdough Pumpkin Bread (Gluten-free)

How to Make and Maintain a Buckwheat Sourdough Starter (Gluten-free)

Want a gluten-free sourdough starter that tastes just as great as its wheat containing brethren? Look no further! Using a buckwheat sourdough starter gives you a nutritious as well as tasty way to make gluten-free (even grain-free breads) pancakes, waffles, tortillas,...

Buckwheat Sourdough Ebelskivers (aka Pancake Balls)

These Buckwheat Sourdough Ebelskivers harken back to my Norwegian roots. They are not a passed down family recipe, however. I had to discover them on my own. Converting ebelskivers to a gluten-free sourdough was high up on my to-do list after I learned I had a gluten...

Buckwheat Sourdough Crepes

These Buckwheat Sourdough Crepes are a breakfast staple in our house! Despite what you may think, crepes are just as easy to make as pancakes. These crepes are gluten-free, loaded with healthy fats and protein. A much better way to start your day than the toxic cereal...

Buckwheat Sourdough Sugar Cookies (Gluten-free, Additive-free)

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