kbarnes 
Most of us know that anti-oxidant vitamins like A, C and E are our best defenses against free radicals – the rogue oxygen molecules known to cause wrinkling, sagging, artery damage and even cancer. But where do these free radicals come from in the first place? They are like sparks thrown off from a fire … Read more
Note: This article by Kathleen was published in Natural Awakenings magazine (www.naturalawakeningsmagazine.com). Most of us would like to imagine ourselves as vibrant, energetic, smart and, yes, gorgeous, all the way to the end of our lives. This isn’t a fantasy or beyond our reach. Sadly, poor lifestyle choices have tarnished the Golden Years for many … Read more
If you’re as old as I am, you’ll remember “Laughter is the Best Medicine” was the name of the humor column in Reader’s Digest. It was good advice 50 years ago and it’s even better advice, backed by science, today. In today’s world, it’s probably the redeeming value of Facebook, where I can count on … Read more
We can live for weeks without food and days without water, but we can only live for a few minutes without air. Breath is the stuff of life. But the air we breathe goes far beyond the scientific composition of air, the nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide and other elements. The power of prana In the practice … Read more
As summer arrives, just a reminder that it’s always wise to limit your sun exposure. But who among us is always wise? Not me! Now’s the time to sing the praises of the kitchen plant — aloe vera. There’s nothing quite like the gel of this succulent plant to ease pain and speed the healing … Read more
“Home-grown tomatoes, home-grown tomatoes, what would life be without home-grown tomatoes? Only two things that money can’t buy, that’s true love and home-grown tomatoes…” I hummed this favorite John Denver song to myself throughout the spring when I planted my seeds indoors, tenderly transplanted those little plants into my garden in May after the danger … Read more
Recently, a friend was taken to the hospital. She had a headache and leg cramps. She felt dizzy, confused and weak. Her husband found her unconscious on the floor of their bathroom. Her diagnosis after a scary ambulance ride: Dehydration. Her symptoms were all classic signs of inadequate water intake. Now let me get this … Read more
You’ve no doubt heard how “evil” salt is. How it raises your blood pressure and over-consumption is the root of many health problems, right? How about if I told you the problem is not in eating salt, but in the kind of salt you’re eating? How about if I told you that most of us … Read more
Yes, I know, I live in the American South where it’s supposed to be hotter than blazes here all summer. But it’s not usually that hot at 3200 feet where we live and the climate is generally pretty mild. So we’re headed for our first 90-degree days of the summer this week and we’re already … Read more
Coconut oil a staple a staple in our household. We use it for everything from cooking to skin moisturizer to Alzheimer’s prevention and a dozen things in between. Coconut oil is a unique type of saturated fat, called a medium chain triglyceride (MFT) that are metabolized differently than other types of fat, transported directly to … Read more