Category: wellness

The Bitter Side of Sweetness: How We Came to Crave Overly Sweet Foods, and How to Find a Balance

It’s hard to view sugar as a vice. Consumption is legal and often encouraged by friends and family. It’s available everywhere. It’s enjoyed by young and old alike and sweet treats have been a pivotal part of our celebrations and get-togethers for generations. Simply put, sweetness provides a pleasurable experience. A few nibbles of a…


6 Things I’ve Learned From the Amish

My first novel about the Amish was published in 2010. Since then, I’ve published 28 additional books about the Plain people. I’ve also visited communities in Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Wisconsin. I began my own journey with minimalism two years ago when I took a Joshua Becker course. I’ve noticed many similarities between the…


When Prescriptions Harm You

It is a universal fact that prescriptions, by suppressing or enhancing certain biological pathways, induce unnatural effects in the body. Every single drug added to our regimen, increases the risk of an adverse effect by 7 to 10 percent. However, this thought rarely crosses our minds when we take a painkiller to numb a headache…


Financial Struggles Can Be Tough on Families, And Tough to Explain to Kids

Financial pressures may have made this a year when some families can’t afford pricy extras, such as after-school activities or summer camp. It’s OK to explain this to your kids, said an expert from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, who offered tips for the conversation, as well as low-cost alternatives for budget-friendly summer fun….


Too Little Sleep May Harm Young Kids’ Brains

For peak performance, school-age children need more than a healthy diet and exercise. They also need plenty of sleep. A new study finds that elementary school kids who get less than nine hours of sleep each night show significant differences in some brain regions responsible for memory, intelligence and well-being compared to those who get…


Common Mistakes We Make When It Comes to Drinking Water

Drinking water is an essential part of life, but drinking water in the “wrong” way may do more harm than good. Sometimes, it may even be life threatening. Mistake 1: Drinking An Excessive Amount of Water Some people think that the more water you drink a day, the better, and this is taken to an…


3 Ways to Enjoy Carbs Without Spiking Blood Sugar

Carbohydrates are an important source of energy for the human body, but they can also cause fluctuations in blood sugar, and excessive blood sugar fluctuations can be harmful to the body. This isn’t just a concern for diabetics. So how do we eat carbohydrates without worrying and reduce the impact on blood sugar at the…


Males and Females React Uniquely to the Same Pain

It’s no secret that there are discernible differences in how different people respond to the same stimuli, especially between men and women. For example, Diane Halpern, past president of the American Psychological Association, once wrote an academic text titled “Sex Differences in Cognitive Abilities.” Bruce Goldman, science writer at Stanford, reported in the preface to…


Sports Help Kids Gain a Quality Key to Adult Success

A quality called “grit” can help a person achieve their long-term goals, some experts say. And playing sports as a kid – or even as an adult – can help a person gain that passion and perseverance, according to new research that found adults who played sports as kids scored higher on a measurement of…


Got a Swimmer’s Ear? Here’s How to Treat it Naturally.

While you and your kids are enjoying yourselves in the pool, lake, or ocean this summer, remember to beware of a common problem: swimmer’s ear. Don’t let this malady plague your family. Here’s how to beat and treat swimmer’s ear.  What is Swimmer’s Ear? Swimmer’s ear, also known as otitis externa, is a condition in…