Don't Worry, Be Happy: 10 Happy Foods for the Season

Tis the season of change... and with change can come fatigue and depression. Yes, even  perfect LLadies out there can suffer like the rest.

Utilizing food and supplements that aide in keeping you emotionally and physically energized are key this season. Here's a list of 10 foods you should be stocking up on as the weather gets cool (at least here in the Northern Hemisphere) because happy LLadies shine through even the darkest skies...

1. Omega 3 Fatty Acids - take supplements
2. Zinc - can be found in foods such as pumpkin seeds & wheat germ
3. Vitamin B-3 (niacin) - try dried beans and/or supplements
4. Water
5. Vitamin E - sunflower seeds, vegetable oil, turnip greens, peanut butter
6. Calcium - you don't have to only drink milk or eat cheese - calcium can be found in broccoli, tofu and kale
7. Folic Acid - load up on sweet potatoes, almonds, orange juice (fortified) and whole grain breads
8. Stevia - a natural sweetener and alternative to Splenda, mega popular, find it at Whole Foods.
9. Vitamin C - broccoli, oranges, papaya and get this - potatoes!
10. Iron - supplements, beans, peas and nuts

For more details please visit:

http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/10-happy-foods-fight-depression-fatigue-naturally-136750.html

Exercise Your Body and Spirit While Relieving Fall Allergies: Yoga Does A Runny Nose Good

I thought I'd beat allergies this season but today has proven the opposite. Sniffling, I googled fall allergies herbal remedies and came across Yoga for allergies. As a novice yogi (I received my certification through Integral Yoga last year), I do my fair share of breathing and asanas but honestly, have been slacking lately due to a significant increase in my workload. I've gone thru a box of tissues since noon, it's time to get the yoga practice back in full effect!

Here's a direct quote from Alternative Medicine Zone, see if these techniques help you out this allergy season.

Hay fever and other allergic reactions are widespread with fall in the air and ragweed pollen being rife. One answer to the coughs and runny noses and sniffles could be certain breathing exercises and yoga for allergies. While this is not an instant fix, regular practice could well offer relief –

Kapalbhati Pranayam: This consists of quick and forceful inhalations and passive exhalations. This can offer relief from a lot of allergy symptoms by clearing the nasal passage. But this breathing exercise is important to perform properly; otherwise you will end up not inhaling enough oxygen and become lightheaded.

Nadi Shodhna: If you are very congested you may not be able to perform this breathing exercise because it involves breathing in through one nostril and exhaling through the other and then switching and doing the opposite.

Yoga Asanas that may help with allergies include the Shoulder-stand or the salamba sarvangasana which can help to improve drainage of nasal passages and hence help to open them, because of the inverted pose adopted. The Bridge pose of the setu bandha sarvangasana uses the backbend to help expand the lungs and the chest improving and increasing the breathing capacity.

Detox Not Botox!

We hear a lot about detoxifying… its kind of a buzzword really, but do we know why and how we should detoxify?

Well for starters, toxins surround us in urban environments: the air we breathe (pollution, smoke), water we drink (lead from pipes, chemicals from water sources), and food we eat (pesticides, chemically enhanced). Add the toxic effects of stress (cortisol) and you have a recipe for disaster!

So in essence, detoxification is basically a cleansing routine to reduce the body’s toxic load. Instead of calling Tyrone to deal with all this toxic baggage we have a better approach to healing and riding our bodies of excess built up toxins.

If you have complaints such as fatigue that you notice is in excess of what you regularly feel, or skin rashes like eczema, or even excess weight, its your bodies way of saying, “Yo, clean me out!”.

Here is a basic chart that everyone can follow to keep the body clean throughout the year:

Daily use: - Detox tea I recommend Triple Leaf Tea (A traditional Chinese Medicinal tea blend) has burdock and dandelion to cleanse blood.

-Fiber (adheres to fat and carries it out of colon, lowers cholesterol, bowel health)

-Probiotics (displaces harmful microbes, regulates immunity, enhances digestion)

-Green Foods (Sea moss, spirulina, chlorella all have concentrated nutrients and promote purification and rejuvenation)

-Red Foods (antioxidants, also fights infection and inflammation)

Also, consider an annual fast to really cleanse and eliminate. This site has great information on detoxification on every level: http://www.womentowomen.com/detoxification/naturalbodydetoxification.aspx

Astragalus: Immune System Booster

It's that season - time for colds & the flu. Everywhere you turn you're scared shitless about catching it. You hear horror stories and spray antibacterial products on everything. You're afraid to kiss your mother because you heard one of her co-workers' sons had the flu. You get it. One of the key herbs in boosting immunity is called Astragalus. It's used in traditional Chinese Herbal medicine to also help with intestinal illnesses, night sweats, improving overall energy, cardiovascular disease and blood pressure issues. But it's mostly about improving immunity function as it has antibacterial properties that ward against illness. Might not be a bad supplement to invest in this season. More about Astralagus here.

Essential - Evening Primrose Oil

The oil from the Evening Primrose plant is used as a natural remedy for a wide variety of skin conditions (such as eczema), female reproductive health (PMS to breast pain) as well as stomach dysfunction, diabetes, MS, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and more.

The oil of evening primrose is very rich in polysaturated comega-6 fatty acids, which are necessary fatty acids that body needs to complete numerous functions including insulin absorption, regulating the heart, and regulating mood (via naturalherbsguide.com).

It usually comes in pill form and can be found at any health food and vitamin outlet.

Holy Basil!

Holy Basil, known as Tulsi, "The Incomparable One", "The Mother Medicine of Nature" and "The Queen of Herbs" in the Ayurvedic tradition, is native to India. Its has tremendous spiritual and medicinal significance. Benefits include stress relief, lowering of blood sugar, strenthening the immune system, digestion, headache relief, mood uplifter and more. Holy Basil can be taken in capsule or tea form. But if you're trying to get knocked up, don't take it as it lowers fertility levels.

Rescue Me!

Everyone needs a little emotional rescuing once in a while, so enter Bach's Rescue Remedy. It's like "yoga in a bottle" as their catch phrase claims. Put a few drops under your tongue and embrace its relaxing effects from the 5 essential flower essences within each bottle. Here's a list of the essences and what they alleviate.

• Rock Rose for terror and panic
• Impatiens for irritation and impatience
• Clematis for inattentiveness
• Star of Bethlehem for shock
• Cherry Plum for irrational thoughts

It also works on pets (but make sure to only use a few drops).

Gingerly Along the Way

Ginger. It's not a root! It's a rhizome, an underground stem that's been used in traditional medicine and as a spice in many cultures around the world. Now it's time for you to incorporate it on the daily...

It has 12 anti-oxidants and this funny little herb contains essential oils, protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin C, choline, folic acid, inositol, manganese, panthotenic acid, silicon, and a small amount of vitamin B3. Plus, it's an aphrodisiac!

This little herb has so many powerful benefits (like fighting colds, flatulence & menstruation issues to name a few) but I highly recommend slicing a small amount and dipping it in a little honey or agave nectar for a morning buzz. It will help get the senses going and keep you up all day!

Snipping It for Health

This morning on NPR, a rep from the Global Campaign for Microbicides, shared some cutting news (pun intended). Turns out that male circumcision is shown to significantly reduce HIV risk!

From the Global Campaign for Microbicides website: The Data Safety Monitoring Board overseeing the Kenyan and Ugandan male circumcision trials showed that circumcised men who practiced penile-vaginal intercourse had approximately 50% less chance of acquiring HIV than non-circumcised men.

Circumcision rituals vary across the globe. 8 days for little Jewish boys, 13 years for Muslims, The Xhosa in what is now South Africa hold the ritual at 16 years with a public ceremony consisting of all tribal members of the age, the most famous being Nelson Mandela.

So ladies, looks like the the extra somethin' somethin' may not be all its cracked up to be. But it's all individual. Just be safe and strap a jimmy hat on.

Chamomile: The Gentle Herb

For thousands of years, people all over the world have been brewing Chamomile into teas to aid digestion and calm jangled nerves. Gentle enough for both pregnancy nausea and infant colic, chamomile tea is a wonderful way to soothe.The active constituents of chamomile have anti-inflammatory properties, and ease spasm and discomfort in the digestive tract.

• Indigestion
  
• Anxiety
  
• Insomnia
  
• Canker sores
  
• Colic
  
• Conjunctivitis, eye irritations
  
• Crohn's disease
  
• Diarrhea
  
• Eczema
  
• Gingivitis
  
• Hemorrhoids
  
• Menstrual disorders
  
• Migraine
  
• Irritable bowel syndrome
  
• Peptic ulcer
  
• Skin irritations
  
• Ulcerative colitis
  
• Minor wounds

Feeling stuffed up and/or congested? Steam your head with chamomile water! It's a great way to open the sinuses and alleviate the chest.

In addition, chamomile has incredible beauty benefits! Try making a chamomile hair shampoo for shiny beautiful locks.

Warning: Chamomile contains coumarin, a naturally-occurring compound with anticoagulant or blood-thinning effects. It should not be combined with warfarin or other medications or supplements that have the same effect or be used by people with bleeding disorders. It shouldn't be used two weeks before or after surgery.

Natural Deodorant Sans Dancing Bear Tats

Searching for an alternative to deodorants containing alcohol & aluminum but don't want to smell like a dirty phish head with a dancing bear tattoo? Here's a little something for you - Lanvilin.

Lavilin deodorant was developed by scientists using Arnica and Calendula - herbal flowers known for centuries to be soothing, healing and anti-bacterial. This deodorant does not interfere with healthy bodily functions. It treats the problem of perspiration odor at the source - by killing the bacteria which cause perspiration odor, not by clogging pores with harsh chemicals or by masking unpleasant odors with heavy perfumes.

A single application of Lavilin, eliminates odor for up to 3-7 days and retails for about $23.99 but if you're lucky like I was, you can find it at a store like Marshall's for a discounted price of $11.99.

Super Blue Green Algae

Blue Green Algae is a perfect food for humans. With an excellent source of chlorophyll, high beta-carotene and other carotenoids, balanced amino acids, trace minerals and a good source of essential fatty acids. Benefits of Blue Green Algae include:

• Memory and learning
• Immune function
• Heart health and circulation
• Digestion
• More physical energy, stamina, endurance
• Better mental clarity, concentration and focus
• Circulation and heart function
• Rejuvenating energy-producing processes
• Positive impact on mood and attention
• Better ability to sleep easier, deeper and more soundly
• Weight control
• Decreased hunger during training or competition

Their are other positive effects such as easing life transitions and transformations, understanding and accepting life experience, listening to inner voices of guidance, rebuilding self-esteem as well as nourishing and creating joy in our live.

Black Seed: Nature's Benadryl

Black Seed Oil (Nigella Sativa) has been used in the Middle East for centuries. With its first use being noted in ancient Egypt and mentioned in the Hebrew Scriptures (Book of Isaiah), the plant has been used to treat a variety of ailments. Used in herb or pressed oil form, Black Seed is used to successfully treat conditions such as asthma* and other respiratory health issues; stomach and intestinal system; kidney and liver functions; circulatory and immune system support.

The plant is a natural anti-histamine and can also be used for skin conditions and a wide array of infections. Highly celebrated in the Islamic tradition as a means for curing all things but death, the herb has yet to be fully embraced by Western medicine.

You may purchase Black Seed Oil in traditional Muslim markets as well as online. FYI: you're going to be seeing a lot of the herb in the future as Western pharmaceutical companies catch wind of this amazing healing plant.

For a comprehensive list ailments that Black Seed Oil may play a beneficial healing role with, click here.

*I personally can attest to witness its healing impact with my boyfriend's asthma (a life long sufferer)

Go-Go-Goji Berries Go

Goji berries grow on an evergreen shrub found in temperate and subtropical regions in China, Mongolia and in the Himalayas in Tibet.

Goji berries are usually found dried. They are shriveled red berries that look like red raisins and contain over 18 antioxidants, a wide array of vitamin B and more iron than spinach (move over popeye).

Goji berries have been used for 6,000 years by herbalists in China, Tibet and India to:

• protect the liver
  
• help eyesight
  
• improve sexual function and fertility
  
• strengthen the legs

Goji extracts may prevent the growth of cancer cells, reduce blood glucose, and lower cholesterol levels. Source: Altmedicine.about.com

Goji berries can be found at your local health food store in bulk as well as pre-packaged and in Himalayan trail mix (all the rage at the moment). You may choose to use Goji berries in tea, smoothies, cooking, baking and a favorite - as an addition to your oatmeal.