MAH March 2013 - Nettle- A Natural Antihistamine

Image by James Bowe

It's March already and with the changing calendar comes the changing weather. This year the temperatures have been all over the map in our area. We can go from a 70 degree sunny day to a forecast of 6 inches of snow in less than 4 days. With such fluctuations in temperatures and weather patterns, the plants and animals are clueless as to what is going on. Buds are forming in our yard. And allergies are starting to pop up all around.

I've Heard About Nettle

One of the herbs I've heard about in the past regarding allergies is Nettle. I've always been curious but just haven't taken the time to educate myself. With the impending arrival of another person in our home, I've been trying to broaden my knowledge of holistic and natural healing. I knew that there was nettle in my pregnancy tea blend, but I had no idea why.  So, I decided to dig further.

Read the rest of the article HERE!

Catching Up- Modern Alternative Health February 2013

Heart Healthy Kids

February 20, 2013 By   Malissa   |   /  |   Comments: 0

Miss Roo and Drew on a family hike.

February celebrates two major heart events -Valentine’s Day and American Heart Month. Signs are present on our outings encouraging us to wear red and make heart healthy decisions. As a parent, there are so many recommendations thrown at you regarding children’s health and nutrition that it becomes overwhelming. As I’ve educated myself about my girls and my health this pregnancy, I’ve looked at the Hearth Healthy recommendations (low calorie, low fat, etc.) with extremem caution. As a Real Food family, we have come to make our own decisions regarding children’s heart health. Here are the guidelines we follow.

Please, read the whole article by clicking HERE.

Forget Resolutions – Develop 5 Easy Habits – THIS MONTH! - MAH January 2013

Image by Creativity+ Timothy K Hamilton

Today’s Daily Tip: Start with just one or two goals; if you have too many, you will be less likely to keep up with them.

Every year the 1st of January looms in the distance and taunts me as it comes closer and closer.  Each year I have made resolutions to lose weight, or get it shape, or travel more, or NOT resolve to do anything. I begin the year with gusto and by the end of February I am right along with everyone else – back where I started from on January 1.  So, I’ve thrown resolutions OUT the window! This year I am not making resolutions but developing 5 healthy habits to improve my life and health. Today is January 3rd, and it takes 28 days to form a solid habit. So join me and be on your way by the end of the month!

Head on over to read the rest and see what other great health tips we have!

Stocking Stuffed with Care (And Fewer Toxins!) - Modern Alternative Heath December 2012

Image by dbtelford 

Each year as Christmas grows closer and closer, I dread a trip to search for one thing: Stocking Stuffers. While sometimes they can be inexpensive, stocking stuffers are generally plastic, unnecessary junk full of toxins that we are trying to remove from our home. This year I am attempting to make or purchase stocking stuffers that carry less chemicals, practical use, and maybe a little but of fun. The goal is for each to carry no more than 4-5 ingredients that I am completely aware of and use in my house.

To read what I'm sliding in those stockings, head on over to MAH!

Modern Alternative Health - October 2012

It’s Flu Season And We DON’T Hand Sanitize

October 17, 2012 By   Malissa   |   Uncategorized  |   Comments: 2

Image by iEatYanYans‘.

Prior to Miss Moo’s birth, I thoroughly stocked our then town house with hand sanitizer. She was born during the H1N1 flu season and the hospital attached to our birth center had managed to terrify us about that strain of flu beyond belief. As the flu season carried on and no one we knew got sick, I began to relax about the plastic bottles stationed around the house and pondered exactly what slathering my hands with their contents was doing to us.

So, What’s In The Stuff Anyway?

Most hand sanitizers are essentially hand soap diluted in a large amount of alcohol – somewhere between 60 and 90 percent depending on the brand and size of the bottle. An alcohol content that large can lead to serious health hazards, particularly for children; levels that high can easily cause alcohol poisoning. Small children are at greater risk due to their size and propensity to place toys and their hands in their mouths.

Having the bottles accessible to children also pose threats. Many are  brightly colored and scented to please the user and in turn, interested little hands grab them to use in play. Using hand sanitizers frequently with children may mean they have no fear of it as a chemical and feel they can responsibly use it in correct amounts. Amounts over the size of a pea could lead to alcohol poisoning  in young children. Symptoms of alcohol poisoning can include nausea, dizziness, and headaches. Alcohol poisoning is a serious condition that must be treated to immediately to avoid long term health effects.

 To read the rest, head on over!

Modern Alternative Health September 2012

Yesterday marked my first article at Modern Alternative Health.  Enjoy and Happy Thursday!!

Back To Stress Again – Simple And Natural Stress Relievers

Image courtesy of 55Laney69 via www.flickr.com.

Back to school (or homeschool) can also mean back to stress time for many. Schedules become hectic, sports are in full swing, and parents and children have a lot more on their mind than sprinklers, fireflies, and playing outside until dark. Stress can manifest itself in many ways. Often it leads to anxiety and panic for many people. Here are a few ways to treat and reduce stress and anxiety in your daily life, no matter what the cause.

Stress Relieving Sushi - This Mama's DREAM!!

This week marked the launch of another terrific site, Modern Alternative Health. As you  may know, I am a contributing writer at the orginial site Modern Alternative Mama and I  am honored to have a spot as a contributing writer at the new site.

My first post at MAH is scheduled to debut on September 26th. It deals with ways to reduce stress naturally  through diet, herbs, and relaxation activities. As a family, we are evolving towards a natural based heath system in our house. I've done quite a bit of research in the past 6 months on ways to help accommodate this shift in lifestyle.

One thing that I kept finding, unsurprisingly, is how great fish is for us. Fish is loaded with naturally good fat.  In particular, fish contain large amounts of  OMEGA 3 Fatty acids.   These fatty acids have been proven to help brain function, help lower risks of cancer and cardiovascular disease, and increase immune system functionality.  The oilier the fish, the more Omega 3's - salmon is an example. Omega 3's also help reduce inflammation in the body.  Fish contain a large amount of vitamins A and D which promote healthy mood and immune function, critical for everyone but particularly those of us staying home with little ones.

I carried on with my research and noticed that a lot of articles that mentioned fish as something we should all be eating also mentioned SUSHI. Anyone that knows me really well knows that I took this information and ran with it!!

An evening of sushi with Drew.

Sushi rolls, be they traditional rolls or handrolls, are curled up in a little sheet of seaweed deliciousness called Nori. Nori is made of dried, roasted seaweed that has been pressed into thin sheets. It is versatile, tasty, and full of wonderful, health boosting surprises. Nori is LOADED with protein and essential vitamins, like A, B, and C. So much vitamin C, in fact, that it has twice as much as an orange.  Nori also has a tremendous amount of iron and magnesium.

Now consider that when you order a salmon roll, it carries some veggie in it as well - cucumber, avocado, etc. Add the goodness of oily fish, loaded Nori, and fatty avocado and you have a health roll to rival most vitamins! I am STOKED!!!


So consider adding some sushi, or even just Nori, to your diet or pantry. It's a great way to lower your stress levels, build your immune system, and satisfy your palate in one easy step!

I wonder if Drew has been feeding me sushi all these years for these reasons?? ;)

Would you add Nori to your weekly diet? Why or why not?

Direct links to sources in this entry:

http://www.parenthlete.com/2012/03/05/nori-the-healthiest-edible-paper/

http://www.sushishrine.com/sushi_seaweed_nori.asp

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omega-3_fatty_acid