Last week I covered the Dirty Dozen— the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) 12 recommended fruits and vegetables that should be organic whenever possible, due to the excessive pesticide use. This week, I’ll give you the list of the Clean Fifteen—those fruits and vegetables that are low in pesticides. You may...
With the arrival of June comes Indiana strawberries. It’s also the month to continue planting your vegetables, flowers, and enjoying life. Some fun, as well as traditional National holidays, are abundant. Here are some of them that you may choose to celebrate, or not: JUNE HOLIDAYS 2: National...
About a week ago, I walked into the kitchen and saw Mr. Non-Compliant (my dear hubby) eating breakfast. Up-close inspection revealed that he had a bowl of Greek yogurt, the plain unsweetened variety, with a bit of granola sprinkled in, and a sliced apple on the...
As warmer days make their appearance, we tend to trade our hearty soup recipes in for light, bursting-with-flavor salads. By increasing fruit and vegetable intake, and introducing a variety of produce, we can strengthen the immune system by diversifying the gut microbiome, or “good” bacteria. ...
Depending on where you live, it may be time to plant a garden. We are now frost free in Northwest Indiana. Allegedly. We’ll see… The rule of green thumbs around here is that it’s safe to plant after Mother’s Day. Grateful for the warm days of late and...
With all the conflicting information on what to eat, what not to eat, and how to eat it, this is what I know for sure. Foods that are healthy for you may not be so healthy for your friend. Or vice versa. The tricky part is figuring...
It happens. To everyone. You do well week after week. You have a regular exercise program, a meal and snack plan that provides good energy and sleep, and the stress level feels tolerable. Even your social scene is just right. Then, the bottom falls out. A loved one gets...
Last week I wrote about Forest Bathing—immersing yourself in nature and using all your senses to benefit your health in every way. This week, I’m heading outdoors to play in the dirt. Dirt is good. Keep reading to learn WHY. Your gut houses at least 70% of your immune...
For those of you who are doing some sort of Lenten fast, you are almost complete. We have much to celebrate this Easter Sunday! Whether you’ve given up sweets, alcohol, toxic people, television, Facebook, meat, or a multitude of other possibilities, you’ve had the fortitude (and...
(The following article was written for the November 2018 issue of Get Healthy magazine, a publication of The Northwest Indiana Times.) Alzheimer's disease. It's a subject that hits close to home. My mom died of it at age 86 after what was about 20 years of progressive...