Resembling the wheat berry in appearance, barley is a whole grain with a chewy texture and robust, nutty flavor. Originally from Ethiopia and Southeast Asia, barley has been cultivated for over 10,000 years. It is used as a source of food for people and animals, in the production of alcoholic beverages, and barley water is said to contain medicinal properties. Barley is a great source of EFAs (essential fatty acids) and amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein, and it is loaded with dietary fiber. It has been shown that a diet rich in propionic acid found
June 2011
Take Your Healthy Lifestyle With You On Vacation
by Allyson Dekker on June 22nd, 2011As summer draws to a close many of us are checking our calendars to see if we can squeeze in one more vacation travel adventure before the busy fall season sets in. Vacations are an important part of maintaining a healthy life balance because they allow us a chance to rest and recharge our batteries. The last thing you want when you are enjoying a trip to the beach or the mountains is a bout with gastric distress. Make sure you take proper care of yourself to keep your dream vacation from becoming a gastrointestinal nightmare. Our bodies follow
Seven Natural Nutrients for Healthy, Bright Eyes
by Holly Anderson on June 20th, 2011When your Mother told you to eat your carrots for better vision, she was absolutely right! Good eye health can be achieved naturally through proper diet. Here are seven nutrients for healthy, bright eyes that can be found in food sources and in the form of dietary supplements. LUTEIN: Naturally found in romaine lettuce, broccoli, kale, egg yolks and corn, lutein is an antioxidant that has been linked to the support of healthy eyes and skin, through the reduction of free radicals. Lutein is also said to help filter blue light, which is believed to cause oxidative stress and free
Keep Your Cool When The Heat Is On
by Sheila McCormick on June 20th, 2011Remember last winter when we were shivering in our boots and praying for warmer weather to arrive? Spring and summer should be seasons when we enjoy getting out in the fresh air and sunshine. But when a heat wave hits, our bodies may have precious little time for acclimation. When our bodies are suddenly thrust into high temperatures, the risk of heat-related illness is much greater. Heat stress is a burden that hot weather places on the heart and blood vessels, which comprise the backbone of the body’s cooling system. Heat-related deaths and illnesses are preventable yet thousands of people
Keep Your Furry Friends Safe And Comfortable When The Temps Soar
by Sheila McCormick on June 17th, 2011If you think you feel uncomfortable on those sizzling summer days just imagine how it would feel to wear a fur coat when the temperatures are in the 90s. Our fluffy four-footed friends need extra help to stay safe and comfortable when the weather is hot. Dogs and cats are prone to the same heat-related problems as humans including heat exhaustion, dehydration and even sunburn. Pets with dark coats, short muzzles and elderly pets are at increased risk for heat-related illnesses. Dogs aren’t as efficient at cooling down as we are because they release most of their body heat through
Maintain a Normal Healthy Blood Pressure
by Sheila McCormick on June 17th, 2011Sixty million Americans suffer from high blood pressure. High blood pressure has been called the “silent killer” because often there are no significant symptoms. Your blood pressure reading is determined by how much blood your heart pumps and how much resistance to the blood flow there is in your arteries. A person is diagnosed as having high blood pressure when the reading is higher than 140/90. A healthy reading is 120/80 or even a little lower. There are two types of high blood pressure. Primary high blood pressure is the description used to describe high blood pressure with no
Calcium And Exercise Are The Keys To Osteoporosis Prevention
by Sheila McCormick on June 13th, 2011As the baby boomers continue to age we will see an increase in many age-related conditions, including osteoporosis, a condition characterized by the loss of the normal density of bone, resulting in fragile bones that are easily fractured. While women are four times more likely than men to develop the disease, some men also suffer from osteoporosis. According to the National Institutes For Health, 8 million women and 2 million men suffer from osteoporosis each year. Bone density is greatly influenced by genetic factors, which in turn are sometimes modified by environmental factors and medications. Post menopausal women have an
Holistic Pet Care Gaining Popularity
by Sheila McCormick on June 8th, 2011The benefits of holistic health are so well documented that many people are extending their holistic health practices to their pets. During the last few years there has been a marked increase in natural healing for animals. Just as human holistic medicine focuses on the “whole” person, holistic animal medicine focuses on the “whole” pet, not just one specific issue or disease. Holistic veterinarians are focused on resolving the cause of the problem, not just alleviating symptoms. Holistic means being open-minded to what is in the best interest of the pet. Holistic practitioners are involved in a pet’s total health,
Natural Remedies Offer Hope For Autistic Children
by Sheila McCormick on June 1st, 2011Baffling. Exasperating. Overwhelming. Heartbreaking. All of those adjectives have been used to describe autism, a developmental disorder that affects as many as one out of every 150 children in this country. Autism is a lifelong disorder that causes abnormal neurological development and typically manifests itself by the age of 3. According to the Autism Society of America, autism is a complex developmental disorder that affects social interaction and communication. As early as infancy, a child with autism may be unresponsive to people and focus intently on one item to the exclusion of others for long periods of time. Many children