The trend in several organic and health conscious circles lately has been to apply coconut oil topically to relieve and alleviate a myriad of symptoms and complaints. From hydrating dry skin and nails to shaving, treating eczema, removing makeup, or firming skin, the list of topical uses for coconut oil seem to go on and on. While it makes sense to apply a natural oil to heal and beautify skin, there are just as many benefits to be had internally from this healthy oil. From the inside-out, young to old, take a look at how you can benefit from coconut oil. [Read more →]
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With winter that seems to last forever, as soon as summer shows up in Colorado I like to spend as much time outdoors as I can and that includes cooking and eating. Whether it’s an afternoon barbecue or a night out camping and cooking by a campfire, summer’s culinary delights for me generally include a flame and some great company. I find it too cold to cook outdoors year round but more than half of Americans say that they do. No matter the season you’re using a grill there are some basic steps you can follow to ensure you’re keeping yourself and your family safe from foodborne illnesses. 
If you’re a desk dweller Monday through Friday like I am then the opportunity to get out into fresh air in your spare time is just too good to pass up. If there’s outdoor seating available at a restaurant, I want it. If a friend is weeding a garden on the weekend and would like my help, I look forward to it all week. Go for a hike or bike ride? You bet! Each season has its own perks and while getting out and about and being active is a healthy choice, with the good comes the bad. We’re advancing as a world quickly and our advancements have created pollutants and a negative impact on our bodies. Spending time doing the things you love outside doesn’t have to stop altogether. While avoiding pollutants is nearly impossible, keeping our bodies healthy and our systems protected from exposure is not. Find out what Hanna recommended to keep your body clear of pollutants and your mind free from the worries of it, naturally. 
The list of healthy living choices seems to be longer than ever, and while it is easy enough to integrate a few of these items into your daily routine, keeping up with all of them can be time consuming. We all want to feel as young as possible for as long as we can, but it can be almost impossible to stick to healthy choices when you’re running from one appointment to another. A cup of coffee is the no-brainer answer to fatigued mornings, and the summer heat is begging you to go out for home churned ice cream, but both have their consequences. Are herbs the easiest way to boost your health?
Many of us remember playing in nearby parks, forests, and fields as kids. Our days of adventuring are remembered for the presence of friends, laughter, and new discoveries. Amongst those memories however, is the unpleasant reminder of poison ivy exposure. Our hikes through meadows and fields led us to some unfriendly plants that left us itchy for days. Hoping to prevent future rashes, our parents taught us the common mnemonic rhyme “leaflets three; let it be,” to aid in poison ivy identification. While the rhyme is a helpful reminder on what poison ivy looks like, it does not provide much relief when you find yourself already standing in a the middle of an ivy patch, skin burning. Poison ivy, or Toxicodendron radicans, produces urushiol, which it secretes through its sap. Urushiol is an oily organic compound that causes a blistering rash on the skin. The same chemical is found in Poison oak and Poison sumac. Poison Ivy blisters can last for three weeks, and are itchy and painful. Blisters that split open are prone to infection. 
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