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[Video] Debunking the Biggest Healthy Diet Myths

3/13/2016

If you're interested in health (which I assume you are, since you're reading this blog) :-) you've probably looked into a variety of different diets and eating plans.

One of the most popular diets right now (and maybe even one you have tried) is the Vegan diet, and while it may work well for some people for a period of time, despite what "vegangelicals" will tell you, it's not necessarily the healthiest diet for everyone long-term.

How do you know when your diet isn't working for you? And if it's not, what changes should you make to ensure you are eating the healthiest foods for you?

I ran across this very interesting interview with author and blogger Kevin Gianni, who spent many years on a raw vegan diet. Here is his take on this type of eating, and how to find balance in your own diet and health journey - as well as how to listen to your body in order to determine what foods and types of eating really work best for you individually.

Watch the video below to learn what Kevin says about healthy eating myths, "cheat days," blood tests, health fads, balanced eating, and even the healthiest types of wine.

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3 Foods To Stop Eating Now

2/28/2016

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I bet you think I'm going to say "salt, sugar, and fat," right? In fact, that's not what I have in mind with the title of today's post. I'm also not going to say potato chips, french fries, and candy, although you wouldn't be quite as far off the mark there. If you guessed high-fructose corn syrup, processed vegetable oils, and bread, you would be even closer, but still not quite there.

In fact, I have in mind a more general list of the 3 top foods we consume in modern America. In fact, these foods make up a shocking 67% of the modern Western diet (based on calorie intake)! This is a huge change from the way our ancestors ate, when, on average, primitive man consumed over 3,000 different foods on a regular basis, and over the course of history, humankind has eaten approximately 80,000 different species of plants, animals, and edible fungi. With these numbers in mind, the fact that we now get 2/3 of our calories from just 3 foods should give us pause.

It should also make us wonder if this unprecedented lack of variety in our diet might not have a causal link to today's increased incidence of many modern diseases...

It's time to bring diversity back to our diet. But first, if you're ready to find out which 3 foods you're eating more of than anyone has ever before in human history, read on.

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Why I Don't (Usually) Promote Products

1/17/2016

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If you've been reading this blog for some time, you may have noticed something....

I don't promote products. At least not often. I will occasionally write a review of a book or video that I found especially helpful and thought my readers might benefit from the information it contains. But if I do promote something, it's usually just that: Information to help you live a healthier, happier life. Yes, we have some products listed on our "Recommended Products" page, and throughout the website as well. (You may notice that many of those are also information products.)

I also don't promote a lot of products in my daily life. I don't talk about the products I use all the time - even the ones that work really well for me. Maybe I should do more of this, but I just don't feel right about being a walking billboard for products - no matter how natural and effective.

Why? The reason is simple - at least in my opinion...

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6 Reasons You Get Sick More Often In The Winter (& How to Prevent It)

1/10/2016

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This time of year it's hard to miss those inevitable colds and flu that always seem to plague us as we head into the cold, dark days of mid-winter. If you're a parent, you may be particularly prone to picking up the germs the kids seem to bring home from school on a weekly basis.

But if you find yourself getting sick over and over, it's probably more than just simple exposure. We are all exposed to hundreds (if not thousands) of bacteria and viruses on a daily basis, but if your immune system is in good shape, your body should be able to fight most of them off before you ever come down with anything.

If it seems like you're sick practically all winter long, it's probably time to take a good look at your immune system and find out why this is happening, and what you can do about it.

Here are 6 reasons why you may be getting sick on a regular basis - and some tips for staying healthy!

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4 Simple Steps to Balance Your Gut Bacteria

11/29/2015

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As we discussed a couple of weeks ago, the health of your gut is important for many reasons - especially as it makes up the greater part of your immune system - and having the right balance of gut bacteria in your digestive tract is key for good health. While it may not be possible to know exactly which microorganisms are out of balance, by watching for the signs we mentioned in our previous post, you can at least determine if your digestive system needs some support.

If you do have any of the symptoms mentioned, you can take steps to correct the imbalance in your gut, and build a stronger, healthier immune system.

Here are 4 simple steps to balancing your gut bacteria:

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Is Your Gut Bacteria Out of Balance? Here Are 7 Signs To Watch For...

11/15/2015

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If you've done much reading in the natural health arena, you may have heard natural health experts talking about the importance of having a healthy balance of microflora in your digestive tract - or, in layman's terms - "good gut bacteria."

Since, as we mentioned a few weeks ago, your digestive system is one of the most important parts of your immune system, it stands to reason that the health of your gut has a lot to do with your overall health.

Unfortunately, our modern lifestyle is filled with unhealthy foods and habits, not to mention prescription drugs like antibiotics, which can really take a toll on the health of those ever-important bacteria whose job it is to help keep you alive and well.

In fact, there are more studies coming out all the time on the connection between your gut bacteria and just about every other aspect of your health.

While you may know that our motto here at New Holistic Living is "everything is connected," nowhere is this more true than in the digestive system. Just as an example, a recent study on mice tracked what happened when gut bacteria from depressed mice were transplanted into healthy, happy mice. The happy mice began showing signs of depression within hours! This just goes to show that changing your gut bacteria literally can change your life!

But how do you know if your gut bacteria are healthy or not? And if they aren't, what can you do about it?

Keep reading to find out.

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The #1 Problem With the #1 Drug In the World

11/8/2015

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FACT: The best-selling class of drugs in history rakes in billions of dollars every year for pharmaceutical companies, yet provides virtually no measurable benefit to over 95% of its users. In fact, the majority of users derive less of a benefit from this drug than the average placebo! Yet millions of Americans continue taking this drug every year - often to the detriment of their health.*

If you haven't guessed by now, the class of drugs I'm talking about is statins. I covered the considerable health risks posed by statin drugs, as well as detailed statistics (including sources and research studies) on their lack of effectiveness, in a previous post - feel free to check that out for more information.

However, none of these many concerns comprise my biggest problem with statin drugs.

My biggest problem with them is the same one that I have with most other drugs prescribed today, and for that matter, with the entire modern medicine machine...

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13 Tasty Tips For A Healthier Brain

10/18/2015

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Brain diseases and disorders are one of the fastest growing health issues of the modern world. And while there are a lot of different factors that can affect your brain health, diet is one of the most important.

That's right, you really are what you eat - and your brain is paying for the sins you are committing when you eat a modern diet high in processed foods.

In fact, your brain is arguably influenced more (or at least more visibly) by your diet than any other organ. This can easily be seen by watching how a small child's behavior changes drastically after eating or drinking something packed full of sugar! But it's affecting you just as much as an adult.

If you listen to your body after you eat, you may notice that what you eat can affect your mood dramatically, and even change your entire day. What you eat impacts the way you think, the way you feel, and the way your body and brain function.

We talk a lot here about the impact of food on our health, but what about your brain health? How can you eat to improve your brain's health, rather than diminishing it? Is there an optimal way to eat that will both create a healthier brain, and maximize your brain power?

Try these 13 tips, and I can promise you, not only will your brain be healthier, but your whole outlook on life will improve! (And perhaps best of all, eating this way is highly enjoyable and satisfying!)

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Is "Natural" Sugar Really Better for You?

10/4/2015

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You probably know by now that refined sugars are one of the worst things you can consume. Along with processed trans-fats and artificial ingredients, sugar is one of the major killers that we consume on a regular basis, and has been linked to numerous diseases, including diabetes, obesity, and cancer.

As more and more people are becoming aware of the dangers of sugar, it's not surprising that more and more sugar "replacements" are being marketed, but are they really all that much better for you than real sugar?

We now know that artificial sweeteners such as aspartame are possibly even worse for you than real sugar, but what about the "natural" sugars you hear about everywhere these days?

Today I'm going to reveal the truth with a quick rundown of the top 6 natural sugars on the market right now, and how they compare.

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Homemade Coconut Oil Toothpaste Recipe & More

9/27/2015

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You may know that most commercially available personal care products such as deodorant, lotions, shampoos, and even toothpaste are packed full of hundreds of chemicals. While most of these are "generally recognized as safe" by the FDA in small doses, what we don't really know for sure is what the impact of these chemicals may be on our health over time, with repeated use, and in combination with each other.

That's why, several years ago, after reading a truly eye-opening book, I started switching all of my personal care products to all-natural and organic versions. (You can find some of my favorites in our Recommended Products section.)

I am very happy to see so many of these types of products gaining market share, as it shows that people really are starting to wake up to what they're putting in their bodies, and making a choice to take back control of their health. As more people purchase these products, and more companies make them, the price has already started to come down, and many of these products are just as affordable as their chemical-laden counterparts - at least for the higher end stuff.

However, some of the better all-natural products still remain somewhat expensive, or at least they're perceived that way. That's why it's great that you can make many of your own products at home, yourself, for a very minimal cost. Plus, when you make it yourself, you know exactly what's in it!

This week, just to mix things up a little, I thought it would be fun to share a couple of all-natural recipes for common personal care items that you can actually make at home, using simple, inexpensive ingredients like coconut oil and essential oils. They're very affordable, easy to make, effective, and safe.

Let's start with toothpaste...

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