Up until about the beginning of the 20th century, most people cared for their own family's health at home. Sure, they may have consulted a doctor or herbal healer from time to time for more serious illnesses, but for common ailments or minor illnesses, many people relied on tried and tested home remedies passed down through families from generation to generation.

The advent of allopathic medicine and our modern medical system changed all that, and while there have certainly been some marvelous medical advances in the past century, our current medical system is generally overburdened and inefficient. Not only do we over-use our medical system for things we could easily treat at home (i.e. minor wounds, colds and flu, etc.), but we are now seeing an alarming rise in antibiotic resistance and hospital-transmitted diseases as a result - not to mention skyrocketing medical costs.

Unfortunately, with our over-reliance on modern medicine, and our abandonment of traditional medicinal preparations and techniques, much of the herbal wisdom that had been passed down for generations has now been lost. Most people don't even know how to prepare the most basic of home remedies, and would be unable to identify most medicinal herbs.

Are you ready to change that? Would you like to learn the 8 simple health preparations that everyone should know how to make at home?

If so, you won't want to miss this 30-minute training class from esteemed herbalist and self-proclaimed "Medicine Woman," Marjorie Wildcraft!  Click here to access the FREE training video now, or learn more below...

I was looking for some interesting content to post for you this week, and I stumbled across this video from one of my favorite functional medicine doctors. I thought it sounded interesting enough and thought I would watch just a few minutes of it to make sure it would be suitable to share on the blog... But when I started watching it, it was so fascinating I got totally sucked in and watched the whole thing! :-) 

We are learning so much lately about gut bacteria and how the health of your gut impacts your overall health, from physical to mental. As it turns out, gut bacteria may even be linked to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinsons, ALS, and more!  This is a breakthrough idea, and it will take some time before it becomes accepted in mainstream medicine, but it has the potential to revolutionize medicine and the treatment of brain disease as we know it.

Whether you suffer from one of these diseases yourself, you know someone who does, or you simply want to reduce your risk, you don't want to miss this eye-opening video - especially if you use antibiotics...

Welcome back! Sorry for the long absence - after a weekend of traveling, and then spending all day last weekend putting up siding on the house, I wasn't able to share the homestead update I meant to... However, I'm back with your September freebie this week, and hopefully this whirlwind of a summer will slow down soon so I can get back on track!

Weight loss is something that so many people struggle with in America today, and while it's not healthy to constantly berate yourself for not achieving some "ideal" of how you should look, the truth is that being overweight is linked to many different health problems that can shorten your lifespan and diminish your quality of life. Working out regularly and eating healthy is, of course, the way to achieve and maintain a healthy weight - but we all know this already, so why are so many of us still overweight?

There is quite a bit of evidence that how your view yourself and your body can contribute to weight gain (or weight loss), and there is no doubt that many of us are what we would call "emotional eaters." In fact, many doctors and psychologists now believe that the most important factor in maintaining a healthy weight is actually your mindset.

This is the reason why certain tools and habits that can help you achieve a more positive body image can actually help you lose weight without even really "trying".  This month's free gift is about just that. Not only is the book itself free, but implementing the technique described in the book won't cost you anything either - and it only takes a few minutes!

Just click here to grab yours now, OR learn more and download your copy below...

Besides air, of course, water is the most important element for human life. Water is critical for just about every single function our bodies perform. Did you know that you can live for 3 weeks without food, but only 3 days without water?

Sadly, many of us don't drink as much water as we should, which is especially dangerous during the hot days of summer. If you are already in the habit of drinking lots of water, your body will usually remind you when you need to drink more. But if you are used to ignoring your body's signals, you may become dehydrated very quickly when you are sweating more than usual. This is especially common among older people, who may lose their sense of thirst over time, which can be quite dangerous.

Personally, I am somewhat of a water fiend, and usually never go anywhere without a water bottle or tumbler. However, I know a number of people who seem to think drinking water is "boring" - an unfathomable concept for me, but it's surprisingly common. I know people who have actually passed out in hot weather due to dehydration, and it can be a scary thing. 

If you are working out or exercising hard in hot weather - or even just putzing around the the garden when it's hot out - be sure to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Add a few slices of fruit or vegetables if you want a bit of flavor.

But regardless of the time of year, you can also eat plenty of fresh fruits and veggies with high water content. Not only do they contain valuable vitamins, minerals, and fiber, but they will help you stay hydrated while reducing the amount of water you need to drink. (Keep in mind that even if you're eating plenty of these hydrating foods, you should still make sure to drink extra water in hot weather or whenever you are sweating a lot.)

Below are some delicious water-rich foods to eat more of in the summer and year-round to keep you healthy and hydrated (surprisingly, although you may think of fruits as being more "juicy," many veggies actually contain more water, as you will see in the graphic below):

With everything I've had going on personally over the last year, it has been a while since I've gotten really fired up about a health issue, but the recent suppression of health information on many online platforms is extremely troubling to me, and is worth taking an hour or two out of my busy schedule to share with you.

I'm sure by now you are probably aware of the uproar over the recent measles outbreaks in the U.S.. Until this topic came to the forefront of mainstream media coverage, so-called "anti-vaxers" (who have been around for decades) weren't much more than a joke occasionally mentioned on late-night TV, or pointed out as a "lesson" in medical drama shows. Now, vaccinations (or lack of them) have become a hotly debated topic seemingly overnight.

You've probably heard some of the buzz about "superfoods" over the past few years, but what actually makes a food a "superfood" anyway?

Obviously this isn't a scientific term, but "superfoods"have come to be known as foods that deliver an extra punch of nutrients. Most superfoods are fruits and vegetables, and while you might think of superfoods as something like acai berries or goji berries - something you probably can't find in your local supermarket - in fact, many superfoods are not exotic at all, and you can even grow them in your own garden!

In truth, homegrown foods are the most "super" foods of all when it comes to nutrients, as most fruits and vegetables begin to lose nutrients very quickly after harvesting. The closer you can consume your food to the time it was harvested, the more nutritious it will be. On the other hand, even the most nutrient-packed foods (like blueberries), become a lot less "super" after harvesting, shipping across the country, and sitting in the supermarket for several days.

It stands to reason that growing your own food is the best way to enjoy true superfoods in their healthiest form. And the good news is, it's actually not that hard to grow your own superfoods!

Being a fair-skinned redhead, I was taught from an early age to fear the sun. Sunburns were my nemesis (along with hives, fuzzy or prickly plants, bug bites, and anything else that could possibly irritate my skin - which was just about everything), and though I suffered many of them during my childhood, as I grew older, I learned to cover up, slather on the sunscreen, and pretty much avoid the sun whenever possible.

It wasn't until I got into my 30's and began to read and learn more about health that I started to become suspicious of the anti-sun propaganda that seemed to be cropping up everywhere.

How could the sun be so bad for us? The sun gives life and energy to just about everything on earth, so why were we all being told to avoid it at all costs? Are the sun's rays really "rays of death," as some media coverage would suggest, or is there something we are missing?

The truth, as with most truths when it comes to real health, is more complicated...

Toxins are almost literally everywhere these days. From your food, to your water, and even the air you breathe, from the sunscreen and lotions you put on your skin, to the mattress you sleep on, the toys your kids play with, and even your shower curtain.

How in the world can you keep yourself and your family safe from such an onslaught of chemicals?

While it may seem impossible, there are things you can do to reduce your exposure, and to protect your body (and your loved ones) from the ill effects of these toxins. The first step is to reduce your exposure in the first place by choosing healthier alternatives to skincare products (ones made with natural ingredients, rather than synthetic chemicals), organically grown foods, and safer alternatives to things like paint and household cleaners.

While these changes may involve a bit of  planning and thought to make the switch, it's well worth the effort. Reducing your toxic load reduces your odds of asthma, cancer, Alzheimer's and infertility. Plus, it can also help you lose weight, restore your energy levels and balance your hormones.

This free step-by-step guide can help you to remove harmful toxins from your body and restore your energy levels in just 5 days.

Summer weather has arrived, and with it, the season for outdoor activities, sunburns, and, of course bug bites! With all the rain that many parts of the country are experiencing this spring, mosquitoes are particularly pesky.

Personally, I seem to have grown more sensitive to mosquito bites as I have gotten older, although I suspect it is a particular type of mosquito that leaves the worst bites. The bad ones cause huge red welts that last for an entire week of itching and burning misery. Due to my sensitivity, I admit I have resorted to DEET products a few times over the past few years (notably on our visit to Minnesota last summer, where the mosquito is - only half-jokingly - referred to as "the state bird").

However, I am always on the lookout for natural products with safer ingredients that actually work. The recipe below is easy to make with just a few simple and natural ingredients, and you can customize it to your preferences, or experiment to find out which oils are most effective. I love the smell of citronella, but there are a number of other essential oils which have bug-repelling properties, which are listed below.

We've all either experienced or heard of someone who had the experience of going on a diet to lose weight, and promptly gaining all the weight back once the "diet" was over.

In fact, studies show that 95% of dieters gain their weight back after going off the diet. While the reason for this seems simple (if you go back to eating the same way that made you gain all the weight in the first place, it makes sense that you would gain it back again in a matter of time), in fact, there are some sneakier reasons why diets don't generally work. 

The truth is, most diets actually set you up for failure... 

During this month's special event, the Reclaim Your Body Summit, you will learn why most diets don't work, as well as what does work, and how you can achieve lasting results even if you have tried numerous diets and failed in the past. You will learn from a number of renowned health experts who will teach you how to stop yo-yo dieting, discover your answers and create healthy habits that work for your body.

Register to watch for free here, or read more below...