There is nothing sadder than a sick little baby, is there? Worse yet, is the feeling of powerlessness that comes from not having a lot of options at your disposal as a parent to help your little one. Thankfully there are a few things you can do that really work wonders to relieve baby’s cold symptoms and make them feel more comfortable.
Here are my favorites that I turn to whenever one of my babies is sick.
My early 20’s were characterized by a few things: opera, boys, NYC, and digestive issues. Though the origins of my digestive disorder were a medical mystery at the time, in retrospect, I can pretty confidently point the finger at the overuse of antibiotics (due to recurrent UTI’s thanks to.. boys) that completely wiped out my intestinal flora. My symptoms ranged from stomach aches, sudden extreme weight gain, and food cravings to depressed mood, fatigue, and headaches. I was miserable, and my doctor’s could do nothing to help me.
DID YOU KNOW?
Candida overgrowth can cause so much bodily and mental drama, including:
- gas, bloating and distention
- food sensitivities
- sugar and carb cravings
- alcohol cravings
- diarrhea and/or constipation
- indigestion
- brain fog
- chronic fatigue
- anxiety and panic attacks
- depression
- irritability
- migraines or headaches
- impaired focus and concentration
- attention deficit and/or hyperactivity
- mood swings
- oral thrush
- bad breath
- recurrent UTI’s
- persistent cough
- frequent ear infections
- recurring sinusitis
- frequent colds
- sore throat
- chronic pain
- joint pain
- muscle weakness
- vaginitis
- anal itching
- PMS
- low libido
- skin rashes
- acne
- toe or fingernail fungus
- eczema
- hypersensitivity to fragrances and/or other chemicals
This time of year, everyone seems to be complaining about their seasonal allergies. I just got back from 5 days in Minneapolis, where the pollen count was a daily subject of conversation.
Being married to a man that takes allergy medicine year round, lest he become a sneezing menace, and occasionally having suffered from seasonal allergies myself, I know how big of a nuisance they are. But thankfully, nature has our back here, as it usually does. There are 5 super potent natural remedies for seasonal allergies that actually work.
Follow them to a tee, and rid yourself of all that dreaded sneezing, sniffling, and crying (the allergic kind of crying). Do the opposite, and be a menace to those around you (and feel like crap). The choice is clear!
Without getting into TOO much detail, natural UTI treatment is an area in which I have become quite the expert over the years. UTI’s (urinary tract infections) suck, hard. And the worst part is, once you’ve had one, you are that much more likely to get them chronically. Unfortunately, chronic UTI’s aren’t just an inconvenience — they are one of the leading causes of over-prescription of antibiotics in women, and overuse of antibiotics can lead to even greater health problems: antibiotic resistance, digestive disorders, and candida, just to name a few. I myself was once hospitalized with a severe case of colitis after using antibiotics on and off for several months, upon my doctor’s urging.
After years of needing to take antibiotics several times a year for UTI’s, and even more years dealing with the long-term effects of overuse of antibiotics, I said enough is enough. I developed a protocol of natural treatment for UTI’s that works, and 98% of the time, eliminate the need for antibiotics. This is big news for those of you out there who are prone to this not-so-fun affliction. I’ve also perfected a strategy for preventing UTI’s to begin with, and am happy to say that I haven’t needed to take antibiotics for a UTI in several years!
By: Natasha Uspensky, CHHC
Getting beautiful, pearly whites does not have to mean filling your mouth with chemicals and all kinds of carcinogenic crap. Hopefully, by now you’re using a natural, fluoride and SLS-free toothpaste (see Get a Squeaky Clean, Organic Smile! for recommendations), but if you need a little more whitening action, there’s a natural route for you too! Increase consumption of great teeth-whitening foods, and try a natural home whitening paste or mouthwash for amazing results, without the risk!
STRAWBERRIES: These bright red babies are full of malic acid and vitamin c, which are naturally whitening for teeth. Cut a strawberry in half and rub it on your teeth. Leave the juice on your teeth for a minute or two, then rinse.
BAKING SODA: This is one of nature’s most potent teeth whiteners, and it is an ingredient in many toothpastes. For an added whitening boost, sprinkle some baking soda on top of your toothpaste, brush with straight baking soda twice a month, or mix with lemon juice to make the At-Home Whitening Paste below.Mix 1 tbsp baking soda with the juice from about 1/4 of a large lemon. The paste should bubble a bit. Use a cotton ball to remove saliva from your teeth before applying the paste with your toothbrush. Leave on for 1 minute, then rinse. Don’t leave on for more than a minute, as the acid can start to break down tooth enamel!
Mix 1 tbsp water with 1 tbsp hydrogen peroxide and swish around in your mouth for 1 minute. Leave on teeth for another minute before rinsing with water. This is great for whitening as well as
Seeing as we live in what CNN recently dubbed “Flu York,” where almost everyone we know is currently coming down with the flu virus, I thought I would share some natural flu prevention methods that will lower your risk of contracting this year’s rather severe flu bug.
There is currently a 35 minute wait at all our neighborhood pharmacies to get the flu shot, obviously due to the pretty severe outbreak we are experiencing. Now I know this is a bit controversial, but I am typically not a huge proponent of flu shots. Due to the natural mutation of the virus, each year’s flu shot gives you only partial, if any, protection. A review of 51 research studies involving 260,000 children ages 6 to 23 months found no evidence that the flu vaccine is any more effective than a placebo. Secondly, and perhaps even more importantly, the flu vaccine is chock full of harmful toxins like mercury, formaldehyde, and detergent. These toxins lower immunity (ironically making you more susceptible to illness), and have been linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. One report showed that people who received the flu vaccine each year for 3 to 5 years had a 10 times greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s than people who never received any flu shots.
As far as I’m concerned, this is reason enough to avoid the flu vaccine… the benefits just don’t outweigh the risks! My husband, my family, and I have rarely gotten a flu shot, and have only come down with the flu a handful of times in our lives. That said, the flu virus, especially particularly rough strains like 2013’s, can be really hazardous to people with already compromised immune systems. Pregnant women, the elderly, and anyone with an immunity-compromising illness should consider the flu shot. But again, make sure to weigh the risks for yourself and your family! As I stated above, the flu shot can actually lower your immune response, and could potentially be harmful to a developing fetus. Think carefully…
There are many ways to naturally decrease your risk of getting the flu, and whether or not you get the flu shot this year, I strongly recommend making the tips below a part of your everyday routine for the remainder of the flu season!
If you do get sick, STAY HOME!!! The biggest cause of the flue epidemic spreading so rapidly is sick people walking around infecting everyone! Don’t take the risk, and stay home to rest, which will also help you to recover as quickly as possible! Make sure to read my article, 5 Tips to Beat a Cold in Two Days Flat for some great self-care tips to help you get healthy fast!
Do you have any other natural flu prevention tactics or remedies that work for you? Share them in the comments below!
It seems like everyone is walking around hacking up their lungs these days, so I thought what better time to share my amazing, all-natural cough and sore throat remedies remedies! Unlike Robitussin and other over-the-counter cough medicines, these remedies are perfectly safe to take throughout the day, are safe (and healthy!) for kids, and are also super yummy. And they’re ridiculously easy to make! Below are my recipes for the cough syrup as well as sore throat tea.
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
¼ tsp raw, grated ginger
1 tbsp raw, organic apple cider vinegar (Bragg’s is my personal fave)
2 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice (for maximum potency) or filtered water for a mellower potency
1 tbsp raw honey (organic, if possible)
Dissolve cayenne and ginger in cider vinegar and lemon juice. Add honey and shake well. Take as needed for cough. Always shake or mix up before using. If you’d like, you can add more honey to make it palatable for the kiddies (over 1 year)!
Or, if you’d prefer a more warming version, which is also amazing for any cold or flu, try the tea!
Juice of 1/2 of an organic lemon
2 tsp fresh grated ginger (or about 3/4 inch of ginger thinly sliced)
1 tbsp raw organic honey
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
(optional) Add 1 tbsp of raw apple cider vinegar for even more healing!!
Combine ingredients in a teapot and pour boiling water over the mixture. Cover and let steep for 3-4 minutes. Strain, sip and enjoy! This recipe makes 2-3 cups.
Headaches and migraines are among those pesky and debilitating health concerns that are more often than not a sign of an imbalance in the body. A healthy body may get an occasional headache from stress or dehydration, but when it’s a regular, frequent complaint, action needs to be taken.
Try identifying which of these factors play a role in your headaches, and eliminate them for at least two weeks. Keep a symptom journal or tracker (I like Chart Myself) to help keep track of the factors that influence your headaches. The specific holistic treatment approach you’ll take will be dependent on what your triggers are. For example, if you primarily get headaches around your period, focusing on balancing your hormones through diet and supplementation will be key. Or if your headaches come on when you are stressed or overworked, you’ll want to focus on stress management, relaxation, and, of course, a diet that supports your adrenals and immune system.
That said, there is definitely a holistic headache treatment protocol that can help all sufferers…
I was home with a terrible virus for over a week not too long ago, which led to a lot of regrettable television choices. As I was making the rounds of afternoon infomercials, one in particular caught my eye, and honestly, revolutionized my kitchen! David Wolfe, raw food guru (and one of my instructors at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition) was speaking on behalf of Nutribullet — which, at first glance, seemed like a souped up MagicBullet (a tool I knew I didn’t need). I really respect David Wolfe’s take on food, and count him among my favorite nutrition experts, so I thought I would see what he had to say.
Mechanically, the Nutribullet isn’t that different from the MagicBullet. It’s a compact single or double serving blender that can smooth, chop, blend, or liquify pretty much anything. But that’s the key! It has a super powerful 600 watt motor that literally liquified fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds into an incredibly potent, concoction that is neither juice nor smoothie, but some magical hybrid. It’s basically a mini-Vitamix — which is pretty much my dream come true. (Though the Vitamix is a phenomenal kitchen tool, its bulk and generally unfashionable design–not to mention its hefty price tag–have been keeping me from investing in one)
Though I am an enormous fan of juicing (and base a lot of my cleanses on it), the amount of wasted food and fiber has always been a big issue for me. Plus, a juicer doesn’t allow me to add nuts and seeds, which are key to created a superfood, detoxifying health cocktail.
Smoothies have been my standby for a long time. I love making delicious morning creations out of fruit, greens, nuts, and almond milk, but am always annoyed when my smoothie comes out mealy, overly thick, or not completely blended. Especially when blending fibrous greens like kale or swiss chard, having those stringy pieces still in the smoothie really makes it less palatable even for me (who LIVES for greens!). And I never hear the end of it from some of my pickier clients, for whom eating greens is already a huge challenge. I end up adding cups and cups of liquid to my smoothies to get them even close to smooth enough, and still, I find whole, unmilled flax seeds and food particles at the bottom of my glass. Not ideal.
So you can imagine how pumped I was when I opened my Nutribullet, and made a delicious, super-potent, completely liquified drink, chock full of tons of greens, fruit, nuts and seeds… in under a minute. I knew mornings would never be the same! The benefit of a super powerful motor combined with a specialized extractor blade is that it completely breaks down the food for you, pulverizing stems, seeds, and skins of foods to maximize the amount of nutrients you can derive from it and make the whole process that much easier on your digestive system. We definitely don’t want to liquify all our meals — making our system break down fibers is a good thing! — but being able to efficiently deliver so much nutritious goodness into our bodies for one or two meals a day is amazing.
Everyday for the past two weeks, I have started each morning with a powerful, mega-nutrient drink that leaves me feeling full (but not weighed down after I do after a thick smoothie), energized, and just plain awesome. Since the blades are so powerful, I can throw whole fruit and veggies into my Nutribullet without having to chop anything up, which saves me tons of time, and with the super fast motor, the perfect consistency takes just a few seconds to achieve. My favorite part is coming up with new, delicious fruit and veggie combos to try… My new favorites are watermelon/cucumber/apple/lemon/flaxseed and pineapple/kiwi/spinach/sunflower seed. The recommended proportion is 50% fruit and 50% greens, with a good solid handful of nuts or seeds to top it all off. Though I’ve always rocked smoothies blended with almond milk, I use spring water with my Nutribullet, which gives the concoctions a consistency more like juice, and less like a heavy smoothie. Check out my favorite Nutribullet smoothie recipes!
This little gadget will also make doing my seasonal detox/cleanse that much easier! I’m going to recommend it to all my cleansing clients. Bottom line… I’m in love!
Benefits of drinking just one full size concoction made up of organic fruit and veggies a day include:
You can get your Nutribullet from nutribullet.com for about $120, or you can purchase it from BrandsMart for $99.98, complete with all the bells and whistles!
Check out our delicious and healthy Nutribullet Superfood Smoothie recipes, and please share your favorite recipes and amazing results below!
Winter really is the time to go a little extra distance in terms of self-care. But committing to take these few simple, holistic steps will cut down on those sick days, help cure winter blues, and get you through these cold, dark days in one, happy, healthy piece!
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I'm Natasha Uspensky, holistic nutritionist, Ayurvedic practitioner and healthy lifestyle expert. I created The Organic Beauty to be your resource to celebrate and learn about everything from healthy eating and living for your whole family, to natural beauty and sustainable style. I hope to inspire you to live beautifully and healthfully, in a life you love!
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xoxox
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