Episode 60- We’ve been talking about emotional eating and how bad it is for your health. Last week, I discussed how to take simple steps to stop emotional eating. But, what can you do to handle the stress instead of satisfying that urge to eat? In this episode, I talk about how to relieve stress naturally with some easy helps. These include natural remedies as well as some other things you can do in the moment without any prep work. Let’s get started!

How to Relieve Stress Naturally

Some of the best ways for how to relieve stress naturally don’t require any special tools or foods. Sometimes, it’s a matter of attitude, self-talk, breath exercises, and other quick and easy things you can do in the moment. Sometimes, it’s as easy as meditating on God’s Word. Here are some great ways you can de-stress and enjoy the holidays.

Focus on the positive

Very often, we focus on the hurtful, the frustrating, the overwhelming, and all the other negative stuff instead of the positive things. Every time you are tempted to dwell on the negative, find a way to turn it into a positive. For example, traffic and parking lot etiquette is terrible and frustrating. But, it also gives you more time in the car alone so you can praise Jesus and pray.

Express gratitude

This is directly related to focusing on the positive. Stress seems to bring out the grumbling complainer in all of us. We might complain about how Uncle Joe is late again or Mom embarrassed you with that same story as last year. Maybe it’s a child or spouse who won’t help clean or cook. Whatever it is, expressing gratitude and again, thinking positive, will help diffuse your rising anger, stress, and frustration.

Go outdoors and/or do something just for fun

Taking a walk outside or doing something for no other reason than to just have fun are great ways to diffuse stress. Laughing together, walking in the bright sunlight, getting cozy with hot cocoa and a movie, all of these things can instantly change the tension in the air.

Some other ideas…

How to Relieve Stress Naturally with Essential Oils

Or with Herbs…

The post How to Relieve Stress Naturally With These Easy Helps appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Episode 59–We’ve been talking about the roots and damaging effects of emotional eating. But, how can we escape this vicious cycle that drags us down into depression and obesity? What are some key steps that can help? After all, dieting usually doesn’t help. In fact, dieting can sometimes make it worse. This is because emotional eating is a psychological and spiritual issue, not strictly a food issue. Today on Crunchy Christian Podcast, we’re discussing how to stop emotional eating from a spiritual and psychological perspective.

Disclaimer: Remember, I am not a psychologist, pastor, or counselor. Trying the things I mention won’t hurt, but you may also need professional help from a counselor or pastor. The intent is not to substitute professional guidance, but rather to make you aware that there are simple and effective things you can do to overcome this issue. You don’t need to suffer in silence and shame. 

How to Stop Emotional Eating with Some Simple Steps

Now, I’m not going to lie. These steps for how to stop emotional eating are simple, but not necessarily easy. First, they will require you to gather your courage and your Bible.

Step 1: Renew Your Mind by Telling Yourself the Truth

One of the biggest issues with emotional eating is negative self talk. You need to change the tapes playing over and over in your head. Pay attention to the things you tell yourself inside your head and the lies you believe about others and yourself. You can begin to change the tapes by posting and reading Bible verses about your identity in Christ. Just because someone says something rude to you doesn’t mean they dislike you. And just because you forgot something doesn’t mean you are stupid. You may not even be aware that you are telling yourself the worst possible things every time something bad happens. And that’s where step 2 comes in.

Step 2 of How to Stop Emotional Eating:  Practice Mindfulness

Have you ever heard the adage that our thoughts determine our behaviors? Jesus said that out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 15:18). So, part of how to stop emotional eating is changing your heart, which means your thoughts and beliefs. That means taking every thought captive and the only way we can do that is by practicing mindfulness. Being mindful is slowing down and examining why you feel what you feel. What happened just before? It means examining your thoughts and feelings and asking three whys. Why do I feel/think that way? and then asking yourself Why? until you drill down to the very heart of what’s driving you.

Sometimes this can be painful, but it is key to how to stop emotional eating. You need to better understand yourself and then change your thoughts and beliefs. Essentially, you need to renew your mind by replacing the thought patterns that keep you prisoner with those that will set you free to be all that God intended.

Step 3: Use Simple Tools

Sometimes it helps to use a journal or affirmation coloring book. A journal can help you with practicing mindfulness and force you to slow down and reflect. It also gives you a way to track your progress as you renew your mind. If you prefer, you can write a letter to the person who triggers you to most. This is not a letter you would mail, but rather a way to get your feelings out. I have done this before and then put it through the paper shredder. Letting go of past hurts and practicing forgiveness doesn’t mean you forget about it. It means that you will let God deal with that person. It also means that you will not allow that situation to enslave you to all those negative feelings that make you want to eat.

Step 4: Confront Toxic Situations

The Bible tells us to go quickly to our brother who offends us and work it out. We are also encouraged to not let the sun go down on our anger lest we fall into sin. Therefore, it is Biblical to confront toxic situations that trigger your eating issue and try to resolve them. The best thing to do is to confront the person at the time that the offense happens, not days or months later. But, if the offense happened when you were a child, it may be best to give that situation over to the Lord and have peace with it.

Step 5: Involve Others Who Care

Sometimes, we need someone else to encourage us, keep us accountable, or talk us through temptation. There is no shame in asking for help. And, there’s no shame in going to a pastor or counselor if you don’t know how to stop emotional eating on your own, even with these steps. For some people, it is just too hard to do it alone and that’s okay. We need to stop shaming ourselves about this issue. Lots of women struggle with food addictions and eating disorders.

The post How to Stop Emotional Eating Right Now With These Simple Steps appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Episode 58-The holidays aren’t always cheery and joyful, right? Sometimes they stir up stress, hurt, and other negative feelings. We deal with these feelings in different ways, but one way is eating. Do you eat when you feel sad? Hurt? Disappointed? If you do this often, it may be a sign of something much bigger called emotional eating. In Episode 57, I talked about how emotional eating starts. In this episode, I share the detrimental health effects of emotional eating. One of the worst emotional eating effects is a shortened lifespan. That’s right! Let’s dig in and discover how emotional eating is not only bad for your waist line, but also bad for your emotional, mental, and spiritual health as well.

Emotional Eating Effects

Your mental and emotional health

One of the less obvious emotional eating effects but also one of the most devastating is what goes on in your mind. Emotional eating sets up a vicious cycle. First, you eat because you feel bad. You might feel sad, hurt, angry, depressed, frustrated, defeated. But, instead of evaluating why you feel that way, you eat. Instead of confronting the situation and resolving it, you eat. Then, you feel better for a little while. Eventually, though, the effect wears off and you feel the urge to eat again. After all, the thing that stirred up those feelings is still there. Meanwhile, inside your mind, you tell yourself things like, You are such a pig. There you go again. You deserve it, fatty. They’re probably right. You can’t control yourself, stuffing your face like that.This negative self-talk drives you to eat even more to stuff those feelings, too. And it just keeps going. You may even come to believe what you tell yourself.

Your physical health

Of course, another emotional eating effect is weight gain. In the podcast, I talk about some other factors in your body that compound the effects of this weight gain. One that you may not know about is sleep apnea. Excessive weight can impact your breathing at night and prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep. Because people tend to eat a lot carbs and sugars with emotional eating, diabetes is a serious emotional eating effect. We choose carbs rather than fats or proteins because the sweet taste is comforting. I talk more about this on the podcast as well.

Your spiritual health: the worst emotional eating effect of all

Emotional eating may start out as an occasional binge to drown your sorrows. But, it can also develop into a full-blown food addiction and idolatry. That’s why it’s such a hard habit to break and why some people can’t lose weight. Instead of seeking comfort from other people and especially from Jesus, you seek comfort from food. The cycle is powerful and triggers the rewards center in the brain, much like other types of addictions. The more you do it, the more the habit becomes ingrained, and the harder it is to reverse. But, it can be reversed! If drug addicts, alcoholics, and other types of addicts can be healed, so can you!

If you need help with conquering cravings and getting control of your sugar addiction, check out myDitch the Sugar Habit Challenge Bundle

The post Emotional eating effects that shorten your life! appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Episode 57–Around the holidays, we often engage in emotional eating. That’s because the holidays bring both joy and stress. Who makes all the food and often buys all the gifts? Mom. Who plans the parties and decorates? Mom. And, you guessed it, it’s mom who gathers all the craft supplies and situates all the guests who arrive. So, what does mom do to manage the stress and frustration? She eats. Let’s explore how this happen begins so we can better understand how to combat it. In the next few episodes, we will discuss it’s effects on the body, what to do about it, and how to get natural relaxation without gaining the extra pounds.

What is emotional eating?

Triggered by negative events

First, the basic idea of emotional eating is eating to suppress negative emotions. Essentially, it’s eating to feel better. But emotional hunger doesn’t just come out of nowhere. There’s always a trigger of sorts that causes you to start feeling hungry, even if it’s not clear at first. These triggers vary depending on the person and situation.

This tends to be a very straightforward cause and effect situation. Because of something in your life that caused distress, you then feel emotional hunger. For example, let’s say someone cut you off in traffic or your relative called and started yelling at you over the phone. You feel bad, of course, and a little while later, you grab the bag of chips to get your mind off of it and feel better. Your stomach doesn’t actually need food. But, your mind has learned to associate eating with alleviating negative feelings. So, you engage in emotional eating.

Like an addiction

It’s not uncommon for people to feel the urge to emotionally eat without fully understanding why. This is because they’ve blocked themselves off from their emotions. So, they don’t associate the day’s events with their eating habits. But, it’s important to do a bit of self-analysis to learn about your own triggers.

You can figure out your triggers by watching patterns in your own life. Then, you can see when certain things happen and how they drive you to eat during stressful times. You can discover your patterns by keeping a journal or practicing some mindfulness. It is important to notice what you do when something irritates you, someone upsets you, or you feel stressed out. Do you grab some chocolate every time you feel sad? Do you eat while cooking when you’re upset about something? Write these things down.

This knowledge of your own triggers is crucial to fixing your emotional eating habits. Because, if you don’t understand your motivations, you can’t fix it. You have to know your enemy, so to speak.

While many people think that you can simply will away emotional hunger, that’s not quite the case. It’s not as simple as just “stopping eating” for many people, because it’s almost like an addiction. And that’s why diet after diet fails. It’s an emotional hunger, a spiritual hunger, that is temporarily sated by food.

Emotional eating is a strong urge that they feel like they must fulfill because it is meeting a deeper need. This is what drives them to keep on doing it, even though they know it’s bad for them. Studies show that this is because a sugar addiction is just as powerful as a cocaine addiction. If you feel this might be you, I talk more about the dangers of sugar and offer a Ditch the Sugar Habit Bundle to help you.

How did the emotional eating start?

Emotional Eating Often Starts with childhood rewards

So, where did this correlation come from? How do we develop those triggers? Well, from our early years, food is treated as something other than a nutrition source. Think back to when you were a child – maybe even your toddler years. Remember hearing this–“You can have dessert when you finish your dinner.” That’s one form of turning food into something other than what it’s meant to be. You also may have been taken for a treat like ice cream if you got good grades. This is another way that parents turn food into a reward. It sets the stage for rewarding ourselves later in life when we need those “feel good” endorphins during stressful times.

Other situations

Another example is receiving a treat when we hurt ourselves or felt sad. For instance, if you fell off a bicycle, your mom or dad may have given you a popsicle or cookie to calm your tears. In this way, you grew up associating food as a form of solace and comfort.

You didn’t know it then, and neither did your parents, but you were being conditioned for a psychological link between eating and emotions. Even schools do this sometimes, such as handing out treats for those who followed a rule or got a certain grade.

(However, moms, giving kids food rewards doesn’t automatically lead to an emotional eating issue later on. But, it’s not a bad idea to switch it up with other rewards such as monetary rewards, toys, a special outing, or something else in place of food.)

Not everyone with these childhood experiences will develop an emotional eating issue, but for some people, they become predisposed. You start to see that unhealthy foods can be both convenient and comforting, eliminating some of your stress in certain moments. You may begin to think that in order to “make it through” a tough time, you need food to be on hand. 

Important role in social gatherings

Finally, food is an important part of social gatherings and happy times. Food isn’t just used for pain avoidance. Family dinners and events are filled with delicious meals, including birthdays, Christmas, Thanksgiving – even graduation celebrations, retirement parties and more.

We learn to associate specific foods or meals with feelings of happiness during these events, so they become woven into our lives with fondness. Later, when you encounter tumultuous times, you’ll seek out foods that may be unhealthy, simply because they take you back to a time when life was pleasant. So, I urge you to take some time to examine patterns of emotional eating, especially during the holiday season when we tend to put on extra weight. Food is only our medicine if it helps us attain health. It should never take the place of Jesus.

Learn more about how emotional eating and your emotions go hand in hand.

Check out Julie Naturally’s Healthy Mom Hacks for the Holidays series!

The post The Nasty Truth About Roots of Emotional Eating appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Episode 56-In the United States, about 12% of women aged 15-44 have difficulty getting pregnant and/or carrying a baby to term. That percentage increases as couples wait longer to have children and is in addition to the 6% who can’t get pregnant at all. That means that nearly 20% of women or 1 in 5 experience fertility issues. On top of this, male infertility has been increasing over the past four decades. That’s because average sperm counts are down by 52% compared to the early 1970’s. Maybe you and your husband are among these folks. So, it’s time we talk about the best fertility herbs and other natural helps we can try before turning to drugs and expensive fertility treatments.

Let’s Talk About Fertility

Most people take fertility for granted. But, many, many things have to go right in order to conceive a child. In women, several organs have to be working optimally. In men, the quality and quantity of sperm has to be high, in addition to an optimally functioning organ. Very often, we assume that if a woman is having her period, she is fertile. That is not necessarily true. We make similar assumptions about a man’s virility, but he may have low sperm, dead sperm,  or the pH of the vaginal tract could be killing the sperm. If there is low or dead sperm, there could be a physiological reason, such as having only one testicle.

But, if there is no physiological reason, many times, infertility can be reversed with the best fertility herbs and other natural helps. After all, sperm is produced in response to hormones and hormone production is influenced by diet, exercise, lifestyle factors, and other things.

Fertility in Women and Men

Hormonal Imbalance in Women

Hormone imbalances that lead to painful periods and PMS can also impact fertility. Low progesterone levels can lead to a short luteal phase. This is the phase right after ovulation that encourages thickening of the uterine lining. The progesterone also helps support the early weeks of pregnancy until the placenta forms. So, low progesterone means that the uterus doesn’t thicken to support the embryo and there is an early miscarriage.

On the other hand, low estrogen levels affect the release of an egg. Low estrogen doesn’t always mean there is a problem with the ovaries. It can indicate an issue with the pituitary gland instead. That’s because it’s the pituitary gland that releases follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) that then triggers the rise in estrogen levels in the ovaries. Usually, it’s diabetes that can cause problems with the “master gland.”

Some other things that have been linked to hormone imbalances are birth control pills, weight issues, a very low-fat diet, excessive exercise, stress, and exposure to estrogen mimicking chemicals (endocrine disruptors), such as pesticides and certain plastics. All of these things don’t just affect women, though.  Lack of exercise, low-fat diets, and exposure to endocrine disruptors can cause fertility issues in men as well.

Special Note About Male Hormones

Endocrine disruptors and phytoestrogens such as soybeans interfere with the production of testosterone. Boys exposed to these chemicals for any length of time, especially in the first three months of life and/or during puberty, are at risk. Please, for the sake of your son’s masculine development, do not use endocrine disrupting chemicals! 

Do not use them during pregnancy, either, and eliminate them as much as possible from your home. It is difficult to get rid of all of them, but severely reducing them helps. And, if you are breastfeeding, be careful about your own exposure as these chemicals do find their way into breast milk. If you are unable to breastfeed, do not give your son soy-based formula.

Also of note is that high performance male athletes tend to have a higher sperm count than their sedentary peers. So, exercise has a significant impact on testosterone and sperm production. Men need to be active, but stay away from tight underwear. Sperm are temperature sensitive and a overly warm environment kills them.

Best Fertility Herbs, Lifestyle Tips, and Natural Helps

Easy Fixes

As I’ve already mentioned, a very low-fat diet and either excessive or no exercise can have a significant effect on hormones. Remember that being too thin also can render a woman temporarily infertile. Some key nutrients to pay attention to include vitamin B6, choline, arginine, zinc, and vitamin C. If you are eating a whole foods diet with a good variety of veggies and quality meats and eggs (both you and hubby),  you should be getting enough of these nutrients.

Listen to the podcast for more easy fixes!

When the Reason is More Challenging

Sometimes, it’s not as easy as some curtains, cream, or eating more fat. Sometimes other health issues such as abnormal thyroid function, polycystic ovarian syndrome, or diabetes affects a woman’s fertility.  Prolonged use of birth control or an undetected sexually transmitted infection (STI) can leave a woman sterile. STIs can destroy the fallopian tubes. So, if you were promiscuous before you were a married Christian and you didn’t have symptoms so you never got tested, now is the time! If you suspect that a health issue might be the root of your difficulty, please consult a qualified medical professional and discuss your challenges and concerns.

Best Fertility Herbs

Well, there are a lot of things that you can do to improve fertility! So, while you try to eat better, sleep better, and balance exercise with relaxation, learn more about the best fertility herbs that have traditionally helped many women conceive.

For Men

Panax Ginsengis the male herbal tonic of choice in Chinese medicine, much like Dang Quai is for women.

Damianahas long been known as an aphrodisiac herb and appears in herbals as a help for both men and women.

Horny Goat Weed is a specific for erectile dysfunction and was shown in a small study using rats to be effective in improving the condition.

Listen to the podcast for more fertility herbs for men!

For Women

A lot of the same herbs that help with irregular periods, PMS, and painful periods also help with female fertility as they are general tonics for the female reproductive system. So, you won’t find any surprises here.

Chasteberry/Vitexis a tonic for the whole female reproductive system and balances hormones as well as improves fertility.

Dang Quaiis the female tonic favored by Chinese medicine to strengthen and vitalize women.

Raspberryis a delicious tea and overall tonic that includes vitamins and minerals needed for healthy fertility. It is traditionally advised for the length of pregnancy, but is just fine to add to a daily regimen.

Listen to the podcast to hear more fertility herbs for women!

Sign up to receive the FREE email series, 10 Herbs for Women’s Health, and learn more!

The post 9 Best Fertility Herbs for Happy New Parents appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Episode 55-Aside from menstrual issues, we women also regularly deal with breast health issues. Do your breasts feel tender, lumpy, or painful around your period? Maybe you’re dealing with breast cysts. In this episode, we’ll talk about natural remedies for breast cysts and the difference between cysts and tumors.

Thanks to NowProgams for sponsoring this episode.

Learning more about breast cysts

What causes breast cysts and who gets them?

Breast cysts seem to be correlated to the menstrual cycle. If you have premenstrual syndrome or irregular cycles, you are more likely to get cysts. They are related to hormonal imbalances, but are more common among women under age 50.

What is the difference between breast cysts and breast tumors?

The difference between a breast cyst and a possible breast tumor is that a cyst is a watery, grape-like sac, whereas a tumor is composed of connective and gland tissue. Cysts often show up suddenly and then dissolve after a menstrual cycle. You can usually move them around with your fingers and they also usually cause pain and tenderness. On the other hand, tumors persist, feel more like a mass than a grape, and grow over time. These also tend to feel firm, usually don’t move around easily, and often go unnoticed because they don’t cause much discomfort.

It is important that you understand the differences and if you aren’t sure, check with your medical professional. And of course, you should see a medical professional about any changes in breast tissue that persists or grows. Most of the time, these changes are benign, but you want to make sure you don’t have early signs of breast cancer.

Natural remedies for breast cysts

So, we have two things to focus on–balancing hormones and dissolving the cysts. We want to use diet and herbs to help prevent the cysts from appearing in the first place. And, we also want to use natural remedies for breast cysts that appear in the meantime.

Balancing hormones

First, if you are using birth control pills, understand that this could be the cause of your cysts. Birth control pills can also cause blood clots, vitamin deficiencies, headaches, depression, and increased risk for breast cancer. However, it is a personal choice and seems to offer benefits that outweigh the risks for some women. As a Christian, I do not endorse the use of birth control pills, but have used and recommend natural family planning methods.

Second, as you’ve heard me say many times on this show, diet plays a key role in hormonal health. A diet high in fruits and vegetables, quality fats and proteins, and moderate to low in grains and high carb foods is best. Eliminating sugar or reducing it helps a lot, too. Alfalfa and probiotics also help. Processed foods increase inflammation, overload the liver, and contribute to hormonal imbalance.

Now, let’s talk about herbs and oils specific to the breasts and dissolving cysts.

Natural remedies for breast cysts

Herbs

Herbs for breast cysts include herbs that dissolve cysts generally and those that address breast health overall. If you are lactating or are pregnant, use caution. In addition, herbs that help balance hormones–such as Black Cohosh or Vitex–will also help prevent cysts. Listen to my podcast about PMS to learn more about other herbs that balance hormones. These herbs should be made as teas. Then, soak a clean linen towel with the very warm tea and apply to the affected breast as a compress.

Recommended herbs: Evening Primrose oil, Burdock root, Hops, American Spikenard, Calendula, Bupleurum, Figwort, Chickweed, and Red Clover. I listed several because of availability issues. With Burdock and Red Clover, you can also take the herb internally.

Essential Oils

Geranium is the principle essential oil for breast cysts. Other oils can be added which help with the pain or stimulate drainage, such as Roman Chamomile, Lavender, or Peppermint. However, Geranium diluted in a carrier oil and then massaged into the affected breast in a circular motion helps get rid of the cysts.

Other helps

Other natural remedies for breast cysts help increase circulation to clear the cyst, but aren’t necessarily solutions in themselves. Getting mild exercise increases the flow of lymph and drainage. Couple it with breast massage, hot compresses (especially with teas from the herbs mentioned above), and drinking lots of water. Those cysts will be gone quickly!

Sign up to receive the FREE email series, 10 Herbs for Women’s Health, and learn more!

The post Natural Remedies for Breast Cysts You Need Now! appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Episode 54-Many, many women dread “that time of the month” because every month, they experience crippling painful periods. When I was a teenager, I became a frequent visitor to the nurse’s office every month because of this. Of course, the nurse couldn’t dispense any pain medications, so all I ever got was a hot water bottle. That didn’t really help all that much. It wasn’t until about ten years later that I learned how to banish painful periods forever. Let me share with you what I learned.

Helps for Painful Periods

At that time, I thought all women had painful periods. I mean, all the women in my family suffered. It wasn’t really something my friends and I talked about, but there were plenty of teen magazine articles about it. I thought it was inevitable, just like acne. Every month, I just took some pain medication and hoped it would go away. But, after a while, I needed more and more medication to dull the pain. My periods were very heavy, too, and at the time, I didn’t know the two things could be related. But, years later when I made this one change, everything else changed, too.

The first thing

The first thing I did was change my diet. I talked about this in the podcast on PMS symptoms, too. Diet is the foundation of any wellness regimen and my diet as a teen and young adult had been full of processed foods, sugar, and allergenic foods. Triggered by other health issues, I drastically changed what I ate and eliminated all allergens, processed food, and sugar. The transformation was amazing but it took three months! However, by eliminating those foods that caused a lot of inflammation and eating a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, I saw amazing things happen! The cramps weren’t just less intense, they were completely gone. That time of the month came along and I didn’t even know it. You can hear more about my story on the podcast!

Stress Relief and Exercise

Another major contributor to cramping and pain is stress. Sometimes it’s hard to escape or control stress, though. But, we can choose our attitude toward what’s going on around us and we can pray, leaving our burdens at the feet of Jesus. Other things we can do are meditate on God’s Word and exercise. Deep breathing, walking, running, dancing, biking, and other exercises all help us get rid of stress hormones. They also cause our bodies to release endorphins and increase serotonin levels. (Interestingly, a more whole foods diet also affects serotonin levels.)  Endorphins relieve pain and promote relaxation, while serotonin improves mood. So, exercise can be especially helpful if muscles are tight because of stress.

Herbal Helps for Painful Periods

There are times when, despite our best efforts, we still feel some tightness and cramping. A bath of Epsom salts can help as it soothes muscles and induces relaxation overall. Other herbal and essential oil helps include:

Get more herbs for women’s health with my FREE email series! Sign up!

These tips definitely helped me, but sometimes painful periods are due to endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, tumors, or another serious condition. It’s wise to consult a healthcare professional if you suspect one of these conditions is the culprit. You may need medical treatment.

A Special Thank You to Our Network Sponsor:  Courageous Movie

From the Kendrick Brothers, creators of the No. 1 box-office movie WAR ROOM and OVERCOMER, comes the remastered re-release of COURAGEOUS Legacy, in theaters September 24. Celebrating 10 years of impact on families and fathers, this updated version of the film includes new scenes and an enhanced look and sound.

Filled with action-packed drama, COURAGEOUS Legacy will once again have viewers laughing, crying, and cheering as they are challenged and inspired by everyday heroes who long to be the kinds of dads that make a lifelong impact on their children. Protecting the streets is second nature to these men. Raising their children in a God-honoring way? That’s courageous.

Check out the trailer here!

The post Banish Painful Periods Forever With These Tips appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Episode 53-If you are a woman in your 40’s, you are probably in the years known as perimenopause. It is during these years–especially in your late 40’s–that you may start experiencing hot flashes as well as other symptoms of declining hormone levels. Sometimes your doctor may suggest hormone replacement therapy to ease discomfort. But, hormone therapy can have unpleasant side effects. So, you may choose to try natural relief first. Learn more about these options in this episode of Crunchy Christian Podcast.

What Are Hot Flashes and Why Do You Get Them?

First, let’s talk about what’s going on in your body. Most women know that they will cease getting their period sometime around age 50 or so and this is called menopause. But, women’s bodies start winding down and preparing for that time anywhere from four to fourteen years before that. That means that you can start experiencing symptoms of declining hormone levels as early as your late 30’s. However, for most women, symptoms don’t appear until a decade later. The age at which menopause occurs is genetic, but is also influenced by surgeries, pregnancies, and some health conditions.

Your hormonal cycle

Progesterone

The menstrual cycle is a dance between two hormones, progesterone and estrogen. We hear a lot about estrogen, but not so much about progesterone. Progesterone is produced by the remains of the egg follicle, or corpus luteum, after the egg is released. This hormone stimulates the uterus to thicken to support an embryo. So, progesterone levels are high in the second half of your cycle. Then, the corpus luteum naturally breaks down after 13-14 days if there’s no embryo. Then, of course, progesterone levels fall and you have your period.

But if there is an embryo, the corpus luteum (and progesterone) plays an important role in nourishing and supporting the growing baby until the placenta can take over. Progesterone levels remain high throughout pregnancy. It is the hormone that gives us that baby glow and makes us feel happy.

During perimenopause, your ovaries aren’t reliably stimulated to release an egg each month. That means that some months, you don’t release an egg. No egg, no progesterone, although your adrenal glands do produce a very small amount. Less progesterone then results in unpleasant PMS symptoms such as heavy bleeding, weight gain, mood swings, irritability, and more.

Estrogen

Now let’s talk about estrogen. At the beginning of the menstrual cycle, both estrogen and progesterone levels are low. The low levels stimulate the pituitary gland to release follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and this, in turn, stimulates the ovaries to produce more estrogen. Estrogen stimulates the follicles to mature an egg for release and levels continue to rise until ovulation, then dip briefly, and then rise again until menses.

During perimenopause, the declining number and quality of follicles means that less estrogen and less progesterone is produced. Sometimes the pituitary gland will produce more FSH as an extra effort to nudge the ovaries, but of course, it’s in vain. This is the time when hormone levels become erratic and periods become very irregular both in timing and in heaviness. We also experience more and more menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes. Then finally, the ovaries aren’t producing any estrogen or progesterone. At that point, the little estrogen circulating comes from our adrenal glands and fat stores.

Natural Relief

Not every woman experiences hot flashes, but many do. Doctors are not sure what causes hot flashes since those who experience them have the same hormone levels as those who don’t. And even though menopause is a universal female experience, not all cultures experience it the same way. For example, women in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula do not report any menopausal symptoms at all. In addition, Japanese, Korean, Indian, and Southeast Asian women also enjoy far fewer symptoms. This leads us to believe that cultural traditions, diet and lifestyle factors can play a significant role in a woman’s menopausal experience. So let’s explore some natural relief for hot flashes.

Diet and Supplements

Essential Oils

Learn more about essential oils for women like you!

Herbs That May Provide Natural Relief for Hot Flashes

Learn more about these natural helps on the podcast!

You might be interested in other podcasts in this series! Check out thepodcast on yeast infections.

Want to know more about natural remedies for women? Grab the ten herbs for womens’ health email series!

A Special Thank You to Our Network Sponsor:  Show Me The Father Movie

The Kendrick Brothers, creators of WAR ROOM and FIREPROOF, have some exciting news to share: they have TWO films coming to theaters this fall—SHOW ME THE FATHER on September 10 and COURAGEOUS Legacy on September 24.

Featuring a variety of amazing, true stories, the Kendrick Brothers’ new feature film SHOW ME THE FATHER takes audiences on an inspiring and emotional cinematic journey. Their first documentary film has something for everyone and invites you to think differently about how you view your earthly father story and also how you personally relate to God.

Check out the trailer here!

The post How to Get Fast, Natural Relief for Hot Flashes appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Episode 52-Most women at some point in their lives get a yeast infection. Most of the time, we reach for an over-the-counter anti-fungal medication. But, sometimes we experience nasty side effects from those or we have an allergic reaction. So, it’s a good idea to know some natural yeast infection remedies to try. It’s also good to understand how to prevent those infections from occurring in the first place. Let’s explore how to help ourselves with this common issue.

First, prevent yeast infections!

A bit more about yeast

One key to understanding how to prevent yeast infections is to learn more about the yeast that naturally inhabits our bodies. Everyone has yeast and it has an important role in our internal ecosystem living in all of our potentially exposed areas: skin, mouth, intestines, and vagina. These areas are naturally acidic and keep yeast in check. That’s due in part to the Lactobacilli bacteria also living there that release a slightly acidic waste that helps maintain pH.

However, when there is an imbalance, a change in pH to more alkaline can encourage yeast to migrate and become a problem.  pH can also change because of douching. In addition, keep in mind that yeast eat sugar and decomposing organic matter. Undigested food in the intestines and a high sugar diet combined with a change in pH can spell disaster. Not only can it lead to yeast infections, but it can also lead to a systemic candida overgrowth that invades the rest of your body. We’ll talk more about how such imbalances occur in just a bit.

Symptoms of an infection

Most women are familiar with the intense itching, cottage cheese like discharge, and burning associated with yeast infections. But, it is important to distinguish yeast infections from bacterial infections which have different symptoms. If you’re not sure which one you have, it’s best to see a qualified health professional for a diagnosis. Bacterial infections require a different approach, so don’t overlook this.

Why you’re getting infections

So, why did you get the yeast infection in the first place? Remember that yeast migrates from the gut to the vagina because of pH changes and an absence of the bacteria that keep it in check. And, it reproduces rapidly when you eat a lot of sugar. That makes diabetics more vulnerable to yeast infections. But, diabetics are not the only ones. Women on birth control and women who take a lot of antibiotics are also prone to more yeast infections. Listen to the podcast to hear other causes of yeast infections.

So first line of defense is prevention! Eat a low-sugar, anti-inflammatory diet full of good fats and plenty of fruits and veggies. Be mindful of medications, including birth control and especially antibiotics. And consider switching your menstrual products. If you experience recurring yeast infections, maybe your husband has a yeast infection, too. Then, he should try some natural yeast infection remedies at the same time as you are to prevent this.

Natural Yeast Infection Remedies

Food and supplements as natural yeast infection remedies

Your first line of defense should be nutritional. While these types of natural yeast infection remedies don’t really kill the yeast, they serve other important purposes. First, they encourage good bacteria to grow which then changes the pH of your gut and vagina. These good bacteria also compete with yeast, creating the proper balance of both in your body. Second, these nutritional helps strengthen your immune system and make it harder for the yeast to grow and spread. So, make sure to incorporate them as part of your natural yeast infection remedies strategy.

Food and supplement helps:

Herbs and essential oils as natural yeast infection remedies

Now here’s where we get into anti-fungal natural yeast infection remedies from plants. These remedies are usually applied directly to the site in the form of a douche or bolus/suppository. Delicate body parts require a great deal of care when we’re talking about essential oils. So, keep that in mind.

Herbs and oils known to have anti-fungal properties:

Listen to the podcast to hear about additional herbal and essential oil helps.

You might be interested in other podcasts in this series! Check out thepodcast on PMS.

Want to know more about natural remedies for women? Grab the ten herbs for womens’ health email series!

The post 7+ simple natural yeast infection remedies for you to try appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Episode 51-Many women struggle with monthly cramps, cravings, irritability, and other symptoms. In this podcast, Julie kicks off a series on women’s health with some easy tips for how to help PMS symptoms improve. Try these tips if you want to feel better naturally and you’ve ruled out more serious issues such as PCOS or endometriosis.

First, let’s talk about hormones and estrogen.

What are hormones and what does estrogen do?

The simplest way to discuss hormones would be to liken them to a sort of telephone system that keeps your body up to date with information.  They help your body do things. These chemicals are made in specific organs in your body, which are then sent all over your body to tell your body what to do.

Estrogen is a female sex hormone, and the majority of it is created in your ovaries. Some of it is also produced by fat cells and extra fat can affect estrogen levels in your body.

Estrogen controls important processes in the body such as the menstrual cycle. Estrogen plays a role in many body processes besides the obvious ones such as puberty and pregnancy, too. For example, it can also influence your weight, cardiovascular health, cognitive function, and specific other body tissues. It can also protect you from some health issues, such as bone loss.

Estrogen’s Job Changes During Your Life

One of the most interesting things about estrogen, is how much it’s job changes through your life. When you are young and beginning to become and adult, a period of time called puberty, estrogen send signals to cause different parts of your body mature. As you reach complete adulthood, estrogen also activates the growth of adult characteristics. Estrogen also keeps your body from continuing to ovulate when you become pregnant.

How to Help PMS: Recognize the Signs of Hormonal Imbalance

Although unpleasant, the body provides you with signs that help you to be able to find answers for various conditions. Hormonal imbalances are no exception, so some of the basic symptoms could be tenderness in your breasts, changes in your menstrual cycle, or weight gain around your midsection and thighs. Other symptoms can include sudden decreases in your sex drive, mood swings, depression, difficult periods, problems in the gallbladder, and endometriosis. If you have been experiencing and of these symptoms, see your doctor to be sure you don’t have underlying serious conditions that need medical attention.

To learn about important factors that contribute to hormone imbalance, listen to the podcast!

Tips for Improving PMS Symptoms

Before I share some easy tips, I want to say that these tips are for women who have already ruled out serious health conditions.  You will find that the best ways of how to help PMS symptoms are also the best ways to help many other health issues.

Foods that Help

As you might imagine, a healthy balanced diet plays a significant role in managing PMS symptoms. Some hormones in the body are made of protein chains. But androgens such as testosterone and estrogen are made of lipids, which means they are made from cholesterol. That’s why athletes who over train and have very little body fat often don’t menstruate and also have hormone imbalances. It’s important to maintain a healthy weight with an appropriate amount of body fat. That means a balanced diet of whole foods. Cutting the sugar and the junky snacks can do a lot for PMS.

These foods can be especially helpful:

Another thing to consider is going gluten free. Just like sugar, for many people gluten can cause inflammation and gut issues. Gut imbalances have been linked to the mood swings and depression experienced during PMS. That’s because 95% of the feel good hormone serotonin is produced in the gut.

Lifestyle Helps

In the podcast, I discuss a few other ways to improve your symptoms through lifestyle changes. Listen in to learn about those!

To learn more natural tips for how to help PMS, grab the email series on 10 herbs for women.

Other information you might find helpful:

Five Favorite Essential Oils for Busy Moms You Need to Know

How to Stop Emotional Eating in 5 Simple Steps

How to Lift Mood Now! Feel Better Fast!

The post Easy Tips For How to Help PMS Symptoms Improve appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Sage is a wonderful garden plant with which you may not be familiar. Listen in as Julie discusses historic and modern sage uses.

Historic Sage Uses

Salvia officinalis comes from the Latin word “salvere,” meaning “to be saved.” Records of sage uses go as far back as ancient Egypt, where it was used to promote fertility in women. Perhaps it was clary sage that they used as other species aren’t used that way by any other culture. For example, the ancient Greeks used sage to treat snake bites. In addition, they thought that eating it made one wise and that its very garden presence brought long life.

How the Romans Used Sage

The Romans had sage uses in several areas of life. They revered it so much that just cutting it involved wearing special clothing, ceremonial foot washing, and the use of a special knife. Roman scientists had noticed that if they used iron, it changed the chemical composition of the plant. Women cooked with it because they believed it helped them better digest fatty meats. They also hung it on bedposts because they believed it promoted fidelity.  But, their most important sage uses were in medicinal use. It was considered by Dioscorides, Nero’s military physician, to be one of the most important herbs of the time, appearing in the official Roman pharmacopeia. The herb was used to heal ulcers, stop the bleeding of wounds, soothe a sore throat, and for ulcers.

Listen in on the podcast to hear more about Native American and Celtic uses of sage. It’s not what you think!

Sage in the Middle Ages

In the Middle Ages, the French became well-known for their crops of sage and traded it all over the known world, even as far as China. The Chinese loved sage tea so much, they traded four pounds of Chinese tea for every one pound of sage tea. Many people in China used sage to treat colds, joint pain, typhoid fever, and kidney and liver issues.

During the reign of Charlemagne, sage was planted widely by order of the king. And, in one of his schools, sage was one of 100 plants grown on the property. Even today, monasteries are required to grow it, it is such an important medicinal herb. In fact, sage was one of sixteen herbs used for therapies and played a key role in drug preparations of medieval times.

Learn more on the podcast!

Growing Sage and Sage Uses in Food

Sage is an integral part of making bread stuffing for turkey and pork. Another common sage use is in making sausage. It adds a nice flavor to cheeses, butters, and roasted root veggies, too. Due to its ability to kill harmful bacteria, it has also been used to keep meats fresh when there was limited or no refrigeration.

This pretty perennial garden plant has velvety grey-green leaves and square stems. Depending on the variety of sage you grow, the color of the flowers varies. It is a bit bushy and can be grown in pots. If you want to grow sage, remember it is a lot like other members of the mint family to which it belongs. It is native to the Mediterranean, just like thyme and oregano. So, plant in full sun in well-drained soil. Remember, these plants don’t like wet soil. Sage can take a while to sprout, so it may be better to grow it from a small plant. Watch out for mildew with sage.

Modern Uses and Discoveries

Sage essential oil contains salvene, pinene, and cineol; borneol, esters, and thujone. Some varieties also contain cedrene and salviol. Its actions are stimulant, antispasmodic, astringent, tonic, and carminative. It has been used as a mouthwash and gargle for oral complaints. It has also been used internally for fevers, blood cleanser, digestive complaints especially regarding the stomach, and also for nervous headache. Julie talks more about the essential oil on the podcast. Only one tablespoon of this herb provides 43% of RDI for vitamin K. It is also a significant source of vitamin A, B6, calcium, iron, magnesium, and manganese.

Do not use during pregnancy or lactation, do not use oil with children under age 10, and avoid prolonged use of the essential oil.

The post Amazing Sage Uses and Benefits Beyond the Crockpot appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

TaleDo you like to use rosemary in cooking? Well, rosemary is a delicious, aromatic herb, but it also has many historical uses beyond making food taste good. In this episode, join Julie as she discusses rosemary uses beyond cooking.

Rosemary Uses in History

Rosmarinus officinalis,but now calledSalvia rosmarinus. The scientific name, Rosmarinus, comes from the Greek ‘ros’ and ‘marinus’ (“dew of the sea”), named for its origins in the Mediterranean. This herb was known even to the Egyptians as dried sprigs were found in their tombs.

There are many legends around this woody herb. One holds that when Mary and Joseph fled Egypt to return to Israel, they stopped near a rosemary bush. When she threw her blue cape over the white flowers of the bush, the flowers turned blue. Another bit of Christian folklore claims that rosemary can live up to thirty-three years. That’s not far from the truth. However, the reason for the claim has to do with Jesus’ life and death, since the plant has that association with Christ and Mary.

Some other rosemary uses included warding off evil. For example, in Italy and Spain, it was used as a protection from witches and general evil. In England, it was burned in the homes of those who had died from illness and placed on coffins before the grave was filled with dirt. Sleeping with a sprig under one’s pillow supposedly would ward off bad dreams and hung outside, was supposed to ward off evil spirits.

Learn more historic rosemary uses on the podcast!

Medieval Rosemary Uses

Not all people of the Middle Ages used rosemary for superstitious purposes. After all, a list of rosemary uses can be found in the Zibaldone da Canal, an early 14th-century book by a Venetian merchant. It lists 23 uses and preparations of rosemary. These include the following: for all illnesses within the body, as a face and hair cleanser, to kill worms, to get rid of rheumatism, protect against nightmares, “prolong your youth and strengthen your limbs,” protect you from serpents and scorpions, get rid of diarrhea, treat gout, address mental issues, and repel insects from eating your clothes.

There are more rosemary uses on the podcast!

Growing Rosemary

Woody perennial with needle like leaves and small blue flowers. This shrubby herb is a slow grower at first. The seeds can take weeks to sprout, and the young plants grow slowly, not flowering until the second year. However, this plant can live 30 years, so careful gardening in the early years is well worth the effort. Rosemary likes full sun and dry, sandy soil. Wet winter soil will kill the plant, even though it is hardy in mild, 20F winters. Some varieties tolerate 10F winters. Make sure the soil drains well and you’ll keep your bushy rosemary plant happy.

Modern Research and Rosemary Uses

Today, people use both the herb and the essential oil. The herb is popular for meats and stews and people sometimes infuse it into olive oil as a nice aromatic drizzle for salads. The essential oil is frequently adulterated, so take care when trying to find a reputable source. There are three main chemotypes of rosemary essential oil. These are the camphor type—which contains terpene ketones, terpene oxides, and terpene hydrocarbons; the cineole type—which contains cineole and terpene hydrocarbons; and the verbenone type—which contains the ketone, verbenone, cineole, and terpene hydrocarbons.

Rosemary essential oil can help improve circulation and respiratory issues. It may also be helpful in cases of hair loss and acne. The traditional rosemary uses for memory and nervous tension continue, particularly as that tension affects digestion. The herb has astringent, diaphoretic, and stimulant properties. Nutritionally, it contains significant amounts of vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin A, folate, calcium, iron, manganese, and magnesium.

Warnings

Pregnant women and children under age 10 should not use this oil.

The post Do You Know These Rosemary Uses Beyond Cooking? appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

peoThose popular, pretty, yellow and orange (and sometimes white or pink) flowers pack a punch. You might know them better as the skin herb, Calendula. Discover Calendula uses for more than just skin on this podcast with Julie.

First, marigolds and calendula are not the same plant. They look similar and are both in the Asteraceae family, but they are different plants in several respects. It gets confusing because Calendula is often known as pot Marigold or common Marigold, and even some herbals will list Calendula as Marigold! But, this is a misnomer as Calendula and true Marigold are in different plant genuses. Calendula is found in northern Africa and south-central Europe, while Marigolds or Tagetes sp. are native to the tropical and hot parts of the Americas.

Most importantly, Calendula plants are edible while many Marigold species are not. Best to make sure you’ve got the right plant. And, because of their spicy, somewhat unpleasant aroma, Marigolds are the better choice for pest control in your garden. Calendula grows well in pots, but don’t try to transplant them into your garden from those pots. They don’t transplant well. Grows well in almost any soil. Prefers at least partial sun.

Historical Calendula Uses

Calendula officinalis, also known as Mary-Bud, Mary-Gold, Pot Marigold and Poor Man’s Saffron, has been cultivated at least since the 12th century, but was known and used for centuries before that. The Latin name, Calendae, means the first day of the month. The Romans observed that it flowered on the first day of each month, almost like clockwork, and thus the name. But, while ancient Egyptians used calendula for skin treatments, the Greeks and Romans primarily used it in cooking and in rituals. For rituals and weddings, they would string the flowers together into garlands.

Find out about its calendula uses in cooking on the podcast.

Myths and Superstitions

Marigold legends

Some old calendula uses were more superstitious and mythical. For example, there are several stories about how it came to be called Marigold (which is confusing, as I said earlier).

One tradition stems from church legends describing an event that they say happened to the Holy Family during their flight to Egypt. The legend says that robbers came and took Mary’s purse. However, when they opened it, all that they found were the golden flowers, so the calendula was ever after known as ‘Mary’s Gold’. And thus, the calendula uses in early Catholic events in some countries.

Another folk legend describes a beautiful, golden-haired child called Mary-Gold who spent all her time watching the sun until one day she disappeared and was never found. In the place where she used to sit, there grew a little sun-like flower. The child’s friends proclaimed that the little flower was really Mary-Gold and that she had been turned into a flower. And that is the country folk came to call calendula Marigold.

Other superstitious beliefs and stories

During the medieval era, there were many other superstitious beliefs about calendula uses. One held that strewing calendula under your bed offered you protection from robbers and thieves. And, if you had been robbed, calendula would help you find the robbers. Another common belief was that it was considered wise to carry a bit of calendula in your pocket when going to court to ensure a positive outcome. And another story is that women who walked barefoot across calendula petals were supposedly able to communicate with birds.

Learn how people thought calendula was a love charm and other superstitions on the podcast.

Calendula Comes to America

Calendulas came to the New World with the first European settlers. They believed the plant would protect them from native witchcraft in addition to physical ailments. They also brought it for cooking, just as they had used in soups and stews in their homelands.

By the 1800’s doctors had realized that the plant, used as a poultice, could stop bleeding. By the time of the Civil War most doctors carried dried calendula petals in their medical bags to stop bleeding and to promote the healing of wounds. And, during World War I in England, British garden designer Gertrude Jekyll led a campaign to grow and gather calendulas to get an adequate supply of calendulas to British military hospitals in France. Yes, they were using calendula for wound healing.

Modern Calendula Uses

Test tube research shows that it promotes collagen growth and influences the proteins involved in wound healing, resulting in faster healing times and less scarring. This ability to heal wounds affects internal wounds as well, making it effective at addressing stomach ulcers. Calendula also has antioxidants that fight inflammation, aging, and the formation of cancer cells. Other calendula uses include antifungal, antiviral, and antimicrobial actions, especially on the skin, and in the mouth. It is so gentle, calendula uses include diaper rash, mild burns, and inflamed eyes. People have also used Calendula to address varicose veins, bug bites, and delayed menses.

Contains triterpene saponins, triterpene alcohols, flavonoids, carotenoids, polysaccharides, and numerous other constituents and antioxidant groups.

Because it is an emmenagogue, do not take it internally during pregnancy. Safe for children, though. Used mostly as an ointment, salve, oil, or tea. Now sometimes also as an essential oil.

The post Surprising Calendula Uses for More than Skin appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Catnip is a popular herb for a bit of fun with our cats, but do you know catnip uses for humans? Join Julie on this episode of Crunchy Christian podcast to learn more about catnip.

Thanks to NOW Programs, this evidence-based program helps students learn differences.

Catnip Uses in History

Nepeta cataria is a native to Europe and Asia. The Greeks and Romans knew it and probably the Egyptians as well. After all, they revered cats. It is rumored that Nepeta is named after Nepete or Nepi in central Italy, where it grew prolifically. There aren’t many specific records of its use outside of medical texts. Sorry no mythology or weird historical stories. Old herbals speak of catnip uses to promote sweating, cure fevers, relieve congestion and phlegm, and help with coughs and colds. The English used it as a tea before the arrival of black tea.

While cats love it, rats, deer, and many insects hate it. While the tea made from the leaves is mildly sedating, the root has quite the opposite effect and has been rumored to make a gentle person quarrelsome.

People have long used catnip for childhood infections, fevers, aches and pains, bad-tempered moods, sleeplessness and digestive upsets. Once upon a time, it was even recommended as a front-line treatment against the dreaded fever of smallpox.

Growing Catnip

Catnip is a perennial that looks a lot like other members of the mint family with square stems and toothed somewhat heart-shaped leaves. It has small, purplish flowers. Catnip likes to grow in well-drained average soil in full sun but will tolerate some shade. It can become weedy like other members of the family, so manage the plants to prevent this. It doesn’t need fertilizer or other help and repels insects, so it’s pretty easy to grow.

Modern Catnip Uses

Modern research shows that the essential oil of catnip protects the liver from damage caused by acetaminophen use.

Research has also suggested catnip has antimicrobial activity against fungi and gram-positive bacteria. And other possible catnip uses could be as a possible natural food preservative as it is effective against common food-borne pathogens. In addition, a study published in Iran in 2013 showed that the essential oil of catnip was effective in killing oral microbial infections, especially candida.

Learn more about catnip on the podcast!

Warnings

Catnip does have possible emmenagogue and abortifacient effects, so it is best to avoid using it during pregnancy.

The post Fun Catnip Uses for Humans You Need to Know appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

You have probably heard of lavender essential oil. Lots of people are familiar with it for helping with sleep issues. But, there are many other lavender uses that make it the oil you can’t live without. Join Julie on Crunchy Christian Podcast as she talks about lavender.

Lavender Uses You Can’t Live Without

A long history

Ancient history

Lavandula sp. (47 varieties, all with some medicinal qualities) is part of the mint family. Documented use for 2500 years. Egyptians used it in mummification and perfume. Greeks used it to fight insomnia and to treat backaches. The Greek doctor for the Roman army, Dioscorides, probably had a hand in teaching the Romans about lavender uses. He wrote that it relieved indigestion, sore throats, headaches, and healed wounds. Evidence suggests that they took his advice and Romans burned lavender in rooms where there were sick people.

Listen in on the podcast to hear additional lavender uses, including Biblical references!

Medieval lavender uses

In Medieval and Renaissance France, people called women who took in washing “lavenders.” They washed clothes in lavender and laid to dry on lavender bushes. People also used lavender to scent drawers, perfume the air and ward off infection and heal wounds. In addition, medieval doctors used lavender as a remedy for the Great Plague in London in the 17th century. And, grave robbers who washed in lavender didn’t get sick. 16th century glove makers in France, who perfumed their gloves with lavender, escaped cholera.

Did you know two famous queens loved lavender? Listen to the podcast to learn more.

Foundation of aromatherapy

It must be noted that lavender pretty much founded the science of aromatherapy. In the 1930’s a French chemist, René-Maurice Gattefossé, burned his hand while working in his laboratory. Quickly, he reached for what was on hand, which happened to be lavender oil. The wound healed so quickly and completely, that he published a book, “Aromathérapie: Les Huiles Essentielles, Hormones Végétales,” (Aromatherapy: Essential Oils, Plant Hormones) and coined the word aromatherapy (the therapy of aromatic plants). As a result of his findings, doctors used lavender during WWII to heal wounds and more research on aromatic plants began in earnest. Today, Gattefosse’s book is considered an important founding work in the field of aromatherapy.

A garden favorite

Shrubby perennial plant native to mountains of Mediterranean countries, particularly France. But, people all over the world cultivate it wherever there’s rocky, dry soil and lots of sun. It grows best in this environment and can get to about 3 feet high, occasionally a bit taller. If you listened to the podcast about Thyme, you know that the two plants like to grow near each other. They both hate wet, humid climates and soil, so if you want to keep lavender happy, remember that it naturally grows in more arid, dry, rocky places. Lavender has long been a gardening favorite as it lends both fragrance and beauty to a landscape and is fairly easy to grow.

Listen to the podcast to hear how lavender uses turned the economy around in one American small town.

Modern research on lavender uses

The essential oil of lavender is sometimes adulterated to bring up the ester content of lesser species. Generally safe for use, even with children over age 2. Creates calm and lifts mood, relieves anxiety and induces sleep, can improve memory when under stress, reduces pain associated with arthritis, menses, headache, and lower back. Also good for skin healing, insecticidal, and bruises, burns, and wounds.

You can find lavender in nearly every natural food stores and even today, many folks add it to drinks, baked goods, baths, drawer sachets, wool laundry balls, pillows and linens, and simply diffused in the air. In the United States, culinary lavender flowers are added to the French herb combination Herbs de Provence. It remains a favorite herb and oil.

The post 10+ Important Lavender Uses You Can’t Live Without appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Thyme uses go far back in history, but today, it’s mostly known as a culinary herb. Discover how this humble herb not only makes your food taste better, but it also improves your health. Learn about thyme uses and benefits that you need to know about now!

Thyme Uses in History

Ancient Historical Uses

Thyme Uses in the Middle Ages

Growing Thyme

Modern Research

Warnings

The post Thyme Uses and Benefits to Your Health You Need appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

In this episode, Julie discusses common and not so common oregano uses. Join her to discover culinary and medicinal  uses along with some growing tips.

Historical Oregano Uses

Origanum vulgare, or Greek Oregano as we know it (although it’s sometimes called Wild Marjoram), has a long history. Since it is native to the Mediterranean area, the first recorded use is by the Greeks. They believed that the goddess Aphrodite created this herb as a symbol of joy growing in her garden.  In fact, the word “oregano” comes from the Greek words oros, for “mountain,” and ganos, for “joy” meaning “joy of the mountains”. And so, they thought it was a good omen if it grew on someone’s grave and among both Greeks and Romans, they crowned newlyweds with it as a symbol of joy and peace. In addition to using it symbolically, people also used it medicinally such as an antidote to narcotic poisons, stopping convulsions, and treating dropsy (what we call edema).

Discover some additional historic uses and beliefs about oregano on the podcast.

Culinary uses

Today, one of the most popular oregano uses is as a staple herb of Italian cuisine. Greek food and other Mediterranean cuisines frequently use it also. You can also find it in Latin American and Turkish dishes. People use it most in roasted, fried or grilled vegetable and meat dishes, including fish. Its popularity in the U.S. began when soldiers returning from World War II brought back with them a taste for the “pizza herb”, which people probably ate in southern Italy for centuries.

Gardening and Growing Tips

If you want to enjoy culinary or medicinal uses, take care that you are getting true oregano and not marjoram. True oregano is Greek oregano, wild oregano is often marjoram and plants grown from seed are also often adulterated with marjoram, so make sure you get a reliable source. Grow in full sun in hardiness zones up to about zone 5 (although that’s pushing it) Grow it in pots so you can overwinter it indoors. Needs well drained soil. To make sure that it keeps producing leaves for you, don’t allow it to flower. Leave about 4-6 pairs of leaves and pinch off the tips above that. That will make the plant bushy, too.

Modern Medicinal Oregano Uses

Oregano has antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, expectorant, and stimulant properties. The most common uses include bacterial infections of the GI tract and respiratory system. However, it is also a stimulating diaphoretic useful for colds and flu, antiseptic gargle/mouthwash for inflammations of mouth and throat, treats infected cuts and wounds and can help with pain such as tension headaches and rheumatism. Only use for acute issues. Long-term use can alter liver metabolism.

Nutritionally, oregano is a significant source of Vitamin B6, C, E, and K, folate, manganese, magnesium, calcium and iron. And it is full of antioxidants, more than any other herb in the mint family.

On the podcast, Julie talks about several modern scientific and medical studies that explore other possible uses. Listen in!

Warnings

Tisserand and Young warn that Oregano Essential Oil is contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding. In addition, oregano oil irritates mucus membranes and you should use caution when using it on the skin. There are additional warnings about uses on the podcast.

The post Oregano Uses: Do You Know Them All? appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Have you ever wondered what a health coach does and how she might be able to help you? Today on Crunchy Christian Podcast, Julie talks with health coach and holistic nutritionist, Tresa Rolando Salters of Live Well Blessed.

Tresa, tell our listeners a bit about what led you to become an integrative nutrition health coach.

Well, I had problems with reflux, and I went to the doctor, and he put me on medication. And, I actually felt worse on medication. So, I stopped it, and I did some research. I decided to try going gluten free to see if that would make a difference. I had an endoscope, and it didn’t look great. But, I got started on the gluten free diet and did it for about six months. And when I went back for another endoscope, the doctor said, “Whatever you’re doing, keep doing it.” And from there, I felt like I needed to help others. I had heard about this integrative nutrition program a few times in my research. So, I decided that becoming a health coach and getting a degree in holistic nutrition was the right path.

So, what is the difference? For example, what can a health coach do? How do they help?

Well, the way I see it is they’re just a guide for someone to live a healthier life. That may mean eating healthier or integrating really good healthy habits into their lifestyle. And when I work with somebody, I start by telling them to keep a journal of what they’re eating and what they’re doing every day. And we talk about all the different pieces such as, Are you moving your body? Are you drinking enough water? Tresa talks about other things she does for people and how she integrates her faith on the podcast.

That sounds great! A lot times people have great intentions and they just don’t know how to go about it. So, a health coach like you can come alongside them and encourage them and give them the steps to take. It sounds like an accountability partner or support person.

That’s exactly right. It’s really huge just have somebody to check in with and know that they care about you because new habits can be hard to get going.

You also have a background in essential oils from what I understand. So how do you integrate that with being a health coach?

I was always interested in any kind of natural solution and I’ve been with doTERRA for about four and a half years. They offer a lot of education and I have learned so much about the oils. So, I started experimenting and my family started eliminating medications and household products that were toxic. So, I really try to help my health coach clients understand that they have these other alternatives and I share the oils with them. I start with simple things like you know, add some lemon to your water. Hear more from Tresa about this on the podcast.

On another note, on your website, you do mention that you are a trained in Christian yoga. I’m curious about how you’ve been able to overcome its association with Hindu worship and make it truly part of your worship of the Lord. Can you share a bit about that.

It’s something that I even struggled with myself, because I love yoga. I’ve been doing it since I was a teenager. And I’ve always loved how it made me feel. And when I decided to become a yoga teacher, it was one of those things that I was really trying to balance. But I did some research on it. And it’s really interesting for you to know that, actually, yoga predates the Hindu religion by about 1000 years. So, yoga was around for a long, long time. And then the Hindus kind of took it and made it part of their religion. But yoga was already there. And you know, there’s only so many ways that you can move your body. Hear Tresa talk more about this on the podcast!

Listen to the podcast and hear some tips from Tresa!

You have a special offer for our listeners today. Can you talk about that?

I’m offering a free mini class of my Moving Through the Bible program for families. Get the link to a little video that I did that just shows a sample class. It’s a shorter version of the class so you can check it out. And try it out and see if it’s something that you might be interested in. We meet twice weekly online and it’s a monthly membership. We do Bible stories and I even share some health and wellness information for families. Try it and see what you think!

The post Can a Health Coach Help You Achieve Your Goals? appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Have you ever wondered about postpartum exercise and how to do it safely? Gentle exercise is an important part of the recovery process and integral to health. Today, Julie interviews Beth Learn of Fit2B Studios about her journey and about some easy postpartum exercise tips.

So, Beth, we were talking about how your interest in fitness started in high school. Can you tell our listeners a little bit about how that came about?

Yes, I randomly took a step aerobics class when I was a junior in high school and I did it kind of on a whim. I showed up to that first class in a dress, a long dress and tights. And I loved it!  I was totally lost the whole time and going the wrong direction, but I look back on that moment as a definite wake up to God’s calling in my life, just a love for movement to music and choreography.

Learn more about Beth’s journey on the podcast as she discusses her adventures in high school and college.

You continued to get training in different areas, right? Tell us about how you got into postpartum exercise and diastasis recti. First, can you tell us what that is?

Diastasis recti essentially means a thinning of the connective tissue that joins the two sides of your abdominal wall. That then allows the two sides of your abdominal wall to shift apart, which creates a gap between your abdominal muscles. For example, after pregnancy, those babies really stretch us out for a long time and sometimes in some people that gap doesn’t resolve and then they get pregnant again and it gets a little bit worse, or then they have some other type of trauma. Maybe they have a C-section, maybe they’re in a car accident. Maybe they suffer an abuse incident where their stomach is punched. There’s a lot of different variables that go into it that can cause further thinning and widening of that connective tissue.

I became aware of diastasis recti in college and really in my initial certification when I was 18, it got a mention, as in “women who are pregnant get diastasis and you should have them splint their tummy muscles with a towel while they’re doing crunches. After I had had two children, I was getting ready to launch Fit2B because I would be a stay-at-home mom and start a business. Then, I happened to meet up with a local physical therapist who specialized in core rehab. We talked for hours and in the end, I decided that Fit2B had to be diastasis aware as I created postpartum exercise videos.

On the podcast, Beth and Julie talk more about how diastasis recti impacts many aspects of life and health. Tune in to hear about it!

Can you share postpartum exercise tips for at home?

You know, I get asked this question a lot and I really try to tailor it to the conversation because the best postpartum exercise tips will vary from person to person. But one of the first things I will say is that number one, it doesn’t have to be hard. It does not have to be about your vanity. Assess your motivations. If your motivations are to be healthier, to be stronger, to have more energy, to get better sleep, to have better intimacy, to improve your heart health, go for it.

Studies show that 150 minutes a week of moderate to strenuous activities is all it takes.  That’s roughly 23 minutes per day. You don’t have to be a hot sweaty mess. My goal is not to be super ripped and scrawny. My goal is for when my 12-year-old son says, “Mom, let’s go jump on the trampoline,” I can say yes. I want to be purposeful and usable and I can accomplish that in 15 to 30 minutes a day and even take one day off a week to do nothing. So, first, it does not have to be hard.

Hear more tips on the podcast! And be sure to check out Beth’s podcast at Fit2B Radio.

The post Easy Postpartum Exercise Tips for New Moms appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Join Julie today as she talks with herbalist and naturalist, Karen Stephenson of Edible Wild Food about how to combat food shortage and gain better nutrition through edible wild foods. As we know, God gave us far more than just 25 plant species to eat. The planet is bursting with edible wild foods that are available for free. Listen to this interview to learn more about how you can take advantage of God’s abundance and secure your family against food shortages and nutrient depletion.  Karen is also one of the featured speakers at the upcoming Family Wellness Conference.

So, Karen, tell us a bit about how you became interested in wild edibles.

It goes back to my teenage years.  I grew up in a neighborhood in which there were maybe just a handful of Italian families. And it was common to see the Italian women collecting dandelions. When I asked my parents about that, they said, “Well, that’s just what the Italians do.” And my mom, she was like a typical British cook, you could say. And so, our meals growing up were not very exciting when it came to exploring new flavors and spices. So, when I moved out, that’s what I started to do. I started to get a little bit more adventurous in the kitchen.

Then, maybe after about a year or two, I was thinking about those Italian women and I started incorporating the dandelions. Then I thought, This is incredible! There has to be more.And I started examining all these different plants. And then it was just one plant led to another. But, I went into a holding pattern when I became a mother with three little kids, all close in age. But then one day, I was looking at the goldenrod one autumn. It was late, late August and I was looking at this sea of yellow thinking, OK, that’s the next one. You’ve got to be good for something. There wouldn’t be as many if there were no purpose. There has to be a purpose. Well, that opened the floodgates and I went from one plant to another again. That’s how it all started.

And how did you just segue that into teaching others about the wild edibles?

In 2009, I started coming across certain articles on the Internet. These articles talked about a food shortage in the future and that grocery store food prices would be through the roof. They talked a bit about food sustainability and it got me thinking about Scripture, too. I really struggled with it because no matter what you have or don’t have, with a little knowledge, you can have the most nutrient-dense meal to serve your family every day—for free. So, my husband helped me set up a website and then I spent an entire year doing photography research. Then, I realized that I needed some credentials since, you know, that’s the first question people often ask. And that’s what led me to become an herbalist and a naturalist.

So, tell us a bit about how edible wild food can protect you from food shortage and why people should eat wild foods.

Bottom line, there is no secret the soils are nutrient depleted. And this is not a new revelation. People have been warning us about this for some time and this is coming from the USDA’s website.

So bottom line is, if our vegetables are grown in nutrient depleted soils and we’re eating these nutrient depleted vegetables, we are now nutrient depleted.

Hear more about this by listening to the podcast! Karen also talks about simple ways to get started with wild foods, even if you live in an urban area.

Karen talks in greater detail about this topic at the Family Wellness Conference. Find her at her website, Edible Wild Food, and enjoy her extensive collection of recipes and articles.

The post Food Shortage? Not If You Eat Wild! appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Join Julie today as she talks with personal trainer, De Bolton of Faith Fueled Mom about honoring your body through fitness. As we know, our bodies are the temple of God and are an important part of how we honor our Lord. Listen to this interview to learn more about the role of fitness and diet in meeting our potential as servants of the Most High.  De is also one of the featured speakers at the upcoming Family Wellness Conference.

So. Dee, tell us a little bit about your background and what prompted you to go from direct sales to personal trainer? What could have prompted you to do that because I understand you were really good with the direct sales?

You are absolutely right. It was a literal life change when I went from direct sales to personal training, I was in direct sales and I was one of the top in my company. And honestly, I just got tired of partying.

I was in one of those companies that you hosted a bunch of parties, and it sounds crazy to get tired of partying, but I did. I also was a mom of three little girls at the time and it was a lot of work. At the time, though, I was physically unhealthy. I tell people I was underweight spiritually and I was overweight physically. So, I decided to go on my own weight loss journey. And through the journey I got a conviction to honor my temple, so I just literally transformed my life from the inside out.

Then, I went back to school and got a fitness and exercise science degree and certified as a personal trainer, corrective exercise specialist, fitness nutrition specialist, weight loss specialist and senior fitness specialist. Now, I get to serve women and help them reclaim their temple.

I love that you said, “underweight spiritually and overweight physically.” You told us about honoring your body. How did you address the underweight spiritually?

For sure. So like I said, when I started my journey, I was overweight and I went through a fast through another direct selling company. I literally prayed my way through the 30 day fast. I didn’t lose a lot of weight, but I did have a really intimate relationship with God.

Hear more from De about honoring your body and your temple on the podcast!

How did you address the weight loss after you were through with the fasting portion?

So I went to a trainer, an online trainer, actually, and I joined a community of Christian women. It was nice to be in a community of women and also be educated by somebody who knew how to lose weight. So that was one thing I did. I tell people, ask for help.

I also learned to focus on small wins and lifestyle changes rather than a number on the scale. I feel like celebrating those small things made the journey much more pleasurable. And I always say grace over guilt. So you’re celebrating all the good things that you’re doing and then when you do mess up, and you do have that donut, you don’t feel as bad.

Learn more about the balance of honoring your body versus putting too much emphasis on fitness and diet on the podcast. They also discuss a transformational program called Bible and Bootcamp.

Tell us about how moms can fit exercise and fitness into their busy day as moms?

I’m a mom of three, so I can definitely relate to that. My three are not so little anymore. But as far as fitness, your faith and life, I say move more and nourish your body. Keep it very simple. You don’t have to go to the gym. Dance parties are amazing. Kids love to dance for 15 minutes. Everybody’s sweating in the room. And you moved your body more than you did the day before. Get more tips on the podcast!.

De has a special promotion for all podcast listeners.

$10 off on her app,FaithfueledLife,with code CRUNCHY. Check it out! You get daily devotionals, fitness and meal plans, ability to set goals and track progress, and more!

Click here to learn more:FaithfueledLife,

The post Honoring Your Body Through Fitness (New Year Replay) appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Want to know about embracing an herbal lifestyle? Join Julie on today’s episode as she interviews Jamie Fivecoate Larrison of The Herbal Spoon. She is a trained herbalist and in addition to her own site, she is also the DIY and Natural Remedies Editor with Wellness Mama. She has trained with some notable herbalists such as James McDonald and Dr. Aviva Romm, among many others. And Julie is thrilled to have her on the show. Julie talks with her today about her background with plants, embracing an herbal lifestyle, and more. Jamie is one of the speakers at the upcoming Family Wellness Conference. Take a peek at the interview.

Embracing an Herbal Lifestyle: An Interview with Jamie Fivecoate Larrison

So, Jamie, you were telling me that you have always had an interest in plants since you were a young girl. How did that interest develop initially?

So, I grew up with my grandparents and my grandpa had been a farmer. I thought it was totally normal for everybody to have seven gardens and a small fruit orchard at their house. I can’t really pinpoint a moment in my life where I thought, now this is the moment I love plants. It just developed over time.

So, growing up, gardening with my mom, gardening with my grandpa, we did a lot of canning and preserving with my grandma. Plants were very much a part of our life. We were embracing an herbal lifestyle. And my grandma had a patch of mint growing in the yard that we would always get leaves from. I think all of that played a huge influence and I developed a love for nature at a young age.

Tell me a little bit more about those seven gardens. Did they have a garden for each type of vegetable?

Well, we had a fairly large property and my grandpa thought if it could be done, it should be done.

My grandpa decided if there’s space for a garden, we’ll put another garden here. So, yeah, he had his own system, but there was there was quite a bit to it.

Hear more about Jamie’s experiences growing up embracing an herbal lifestyle on the podcast. She shares additional stories and how to encourage kids to love nature.

Would you mind sharing with our listeners today some of your favorite recipes, or maybe your favorite story of some something that happened with one of your kids or with yourself where you were using your herbal knowledge?

I will start off by saying that one of my first memories of using herbs for medicine is when I was about 13 years old. And at the time my mom had been in a car accident and was not mentally able to really care for our family at that time. So, I really had to grow up fast. I was about 13, I was sick with the flu, and I thought, OK, I’ve got this. I’ve read about how to cure the flu and I’m going to go find some herbs in my yard and get this over with.

I had this book from Penelope Ody at the time, and it was one of those Dorling Kindersley books where it doesn’t really get into details and it’s probably not the best. I made a really, really strong mulberry leaf infusion and drank a whole quart of it and I thought I’d killed myself because I started sweating like crazy.

I thought, Oh, no, I’ve done myself in. Nobody even knew what I did. Then, I took a really long nap and I woke up feeling perfectly fine.

But that was one of my one of my first stories. Over the years, I’ve come up with different recipes that maybe aren’t such strong infusions and I have gained a little more knowledge.

Hear more stories from Jamie and about some other remedies and her adventures with her skin care products.

What do you think is the most important aspect of health to address first for somebody who’s just learning about embracing an herbal lifestyle?

Well, as an herbalist, of course, I love working with herbs, but I do feel like one of the most important things is nutrition. So many people I’ve seen are perfectly happy to take a whole pile of herbal supplements, but they don’t want to change their diet.

And if we don’t?

If we don’t give our body the building materials that it needs to be healthy, we’re going to continue to manifest these symptoms. And so I think the important thing is to try to get that mind set shift first, because if we get our mind set in the right place, then everything else can start to follow

Do you have any last comments, last tips that you want to share with people before we say goodbye?

Something Jim McDonald had shared with me regarding what we had been talking about with nutrition, with helping people make healthy choices, and have that mindset shift is this. Instead of thinking about What am I going to take away from my lifestyle and my diet? so much, think about positive things. For example, What am I going to add? Because if you focus on the positive, focus on what good things you’re adding, it’s going to automatically push out the bad habits.

Hear more from Jamie on the podcast and attend her workshops at theFamily Wellness Conferenceheld on March 4-5, 2021.

The post Embracing an Herbal Lifestyle: Some Insights appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Want to know how to control blood sugar naturally? Julie gives some tips in this week’s Crunchy Christian Podcast episode. First, she discusses the differences between simple and complex carbs. This is because controlling your intake of simple carbs is the heart of how to control blood sugar.

How to Control Blood Sugar Naturally

Understand the difference between simple and complex carbs.

You don’t just get hungry when your stomach is empty, you also get cravings when your body is running low on important nutrients. Carbohydrates are a nutrient and your body needs them, but there are two kinds of carbohydrates.

Complex Carbohydrates

Some carbohydrates, called “complex carbohydrates”, digest slowly. These are the carbs that come from sources like grains. This means that after you eat them, they gradually release sugar into your body, which your body can use as needed for several hours. Incidentally, because complex carbs take so long to digest, they also leave your stomach feeling fuller longer. This can also help to keep hunger at bay. These carbs generally come from seed-based foods—grains, nuts, and beans. Most of them also tend to have a lower glycemic index. The glycemic index (GI) tells us how quickly a carb is digested and how much it raises blood sugar levels. A lower GI means it digests more slowly and has less of an effect on blood sugar. A high GI means it digests quickly and can cause spikes in blood sugar levels.

Simple Carbohydrates

Other carbohydrates, namely sugars, are called “simple carbohydrates”. These are much easier for your body to break down. That means that instead of supplying your body with long-burning energy for a few hours like complex carbs do, it extracts and either burns or stores the sugars in a very short amount of time. These carbs flood your bloodstream, have a higher GI, and often provide few nutrients. The steep sugar spikes can cause your blood to carry too much sugar. The extra sugar can damage sensitive nerve tissue and blood vessels. Another problem is that these excess calories don’t provide nutrition, leaving your body asking for more food in order to address the deficit.

Fruit can be a healthy source of simple carbs, but you still don’t want to have too many simple carbs. So, put some fruit on the side of your plate and make sure low-carb vegetables, slow-burning carbs like whole grains, and plenty of protein make up the rest of it. Protein is another nutrient that your body can use for energy but that takes a while to break down. It also doesn’t change your blood sugar at all because the energy in protein doesn’t come from sugars.

How to Control Blood Sugar Naturally by Eliminating Added Sugars

When you are avoiding sugar to improve your health, you should understand the different names that manufacturers use for this sweet substance. Here is a list of the names used for the added sugar in foods and beverages:

• Fructose sweetener
• Evaporated cane juice
• Crystal dextrose
• Corn syrup (and the high fructose variety)
• Cane sugar
• Corn sweetener
• Brown sugar
• Fruit juice
• Maple syrup
• Honey
• Dextrose
• Maltose
• Agave nectar

This is a partial list of the names for sugar because manufacturers create new types of sweeteners occasionally. To determine if a product at the grocery store has any type of sugar, you must read the small print on the package’s label. Remember that the beverages and foods that are labeled as natural, organic, healthy or low-calorie can still have added sugar. In addition, some foods contain natural sugars, but these types of foods frequently have high levels of minerals, fiber and vitamins. You might notice that some natural sugars are on this list. These have nutritional value but can still be added sugars. This is because added sugar means any sugar that doesn’t occur naturally.

Listen to the podcast for additional information about healthy sugars and other ways for how to control blood sugar naturally.

Ready to tackle the sugar monster? Need some support and guidance for ditching the sugar habit? Julie has a Ditch the Sugar Habit Super Bundle. Check it out!

The post How to Control Blood Sugar Naturally appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Ever wonder if that donut is as harmless as it looks? An occasional treat won’t hurt you, but a daily habit might do more harm than just add a few pounds. Find out more about how sugar affects the body in this podcast.

How Sugar Affects the Body

Thanks to our sponsor! NowPrograms.com – visit the website for more information.

You May Gain Weight

One way of how sugar affects the body is by adding extra pounds. There are two ways that this happens. First, it triggers the reward center in your brain. Sweet things make us feel good, which then turns on our desire to want more so we continue to feel good. This cycle continues even when we’re full and not hungry anymore, causing us to eat more than we need. The second way that it causes us to gain weight is through the liver. When the liver processes excess sugar, the extra glucose is converted into fat molecules for storage. So, eating fat doesn’t make you fat. In fact, it is the extra unused sugar and carbohydrates that taste so good that make you fat.

It Can Increase Your Risk for Type 2 Diabetes

While sugar is not the only culprit for type 2 diabetes, it is certainly another way of how sugar affects the body.  High amounts of sugar that break down quickly flood the bloodstream with glucose. Your cells need insulin in order to use the glucose. But, if the cells are constantly stimulated by insulin, they develop a tolerance for it and become unaffected by it. Then, your body needs to release more and more insulin to move the glucose into the cells. This continues until you become so insulin resistant that you develop type 2 diabetes. In addition to insulin resistance throughout the body, there is another way of how sugar affects the body. The high sugar intake leads to insulin resistance in the brain as well, leading to cognitive decline. In fact, people with type 2 diabetes are twice as likely to develop dementia, which is why Alzheimer’s is now considered type 3 diabetes.

It Can Overload Your Liver (Fatty Liver)

As mentioned above, your liver processes all that excess glucose and converts it into fat. But, your liver can only metabolize so much of it at one time. The liver turns the excess glucose and fructose into fat that can accumulate not just in your midsection and thighs but in the liver, causing liver damage. Sometimes it can even lead to scarring and eventual cutting off of the liver’s blood supply, which means you need a transplant. It is important to note that the amount of fructose needed to overload your liver is only possible with an excessive amount of added sugar, so fructose found in fruit is likely not nearly enough to cause this.

How Sugar Affects the Body in Mind and Mood

If you are someone who suffers from mood swings or mental health issues, you might notice that they become worse when you consume a lot of sugar. Sugar causes a short-term boost of energy that leads to a much longer sugar crash. This in turn can make it harder when dealing with mental health issues like depression. This is because another way of how sugar affects the body is that it messes with your ability to produce serotonin by using up its vitamin pre-cursors and altering gut flora. In addition, too much sugar can also cause severe mood swings and irritability. Sugar also alters our ability to resist temptation, making it hard to control impulsive behavior and delay gratification. Research shows that a high sugar diet can impair memory function and cause inflammation in the brain.

Learn about more ways of how sugar can affect the body by listening to the podcast!

Tackle your sugar cravings and ditch the habit with Julie’s Ditch the Sugar Habit Super Bundle. Check it out! 

The post 5+ Ways of How Sugar Affects the Body appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Do you use artificial sweeteners in your morning coffee? How about diet soda or in baking? Find out more about what they are and what they do to your body in this episode about the low down on artificial sweeteners with Julie Polanco.

What are Artificial Sweeteners?

Artificial sweeteners are sweeteners that are manmade and not found in nature. They usually go by names such as aspartame, sucralose, maltodextrin, xylitol, and saccharin. Others that occur in nature but are super processed or, when added to foods, are manmade include erythritol, dextrose, maltose, fructose, glucose syrup, and high fructose corn syrup. We’re going to focus on the purely artificial ones, though. People often use artificial sweeteners because they are trying to curb their use of sugar. This may be because of diabetes, a desire to lose weight, or other reasons. Besides using it as an alternative to sugar in drinks and baked goods, people also choose prepared foods containing artificial sweeteners.

Occasional use of these fake sugars often poses no issues. However, research shows conflicted results for long-term use. In addition, people who use artificial sweeteners exclusively and frequently over longer time periods often experience negative side effects. Let’s dig in!

The Low Down on Artificial Sweeteners

First of all, artificial sweeteners can affect your body in a number of ways. Here are some possible negative side effects of using them.

Your Sense of Taste May Be Dulled

Have you noticed that your taste buds have changed, or the intensity of flavors have dulled over time? This might be the result of an over consumption of fake sugars. This is because many of these sweeteners are many times sweeter than naturally occurring sweeteners.

You become accustomed to the sweeter taste of fake, processed sweeteners, and over time, start losing the desire for naturally occurring sugars. But the good news is that if you start reducing how much is in your diet, and begin consuming natural sources of sweeteners, your normal tastes can return.

It Can Boost Craving Intensity

One of the most dangerous effects caused by sweeteners is that they stimulate pleasure centers in your brain. Under normal circumstances, these pleasure centers eventually reach a point where they become satiated and you stop eating or drinking.  But in this case, you may never feel satisfied. Instead, you feel intense cravings that cause you to overindulge in foods and drinks, and that is contrary to what you’ve been trying to achieve the entire time.

Gut Problems May Be in the Future

Some studies have shown that artificial sweeteners can also have negative effects on your gut health. For example, even though sweeteners are considered safe, you might develop a glucose intolerance form the sweeteners. They can also add to digestive distress like stomach cramps, nausea, and other issues with your digestive system. If you notice that you have a stomachache when you drink a Diet Coke, it might be from the sweeteners used, as opposed to the other ingredients.

To find out additional effects from artificial sweeteners, including neurological ones, listen to the podcast!

Warnings

Never give sugar-free, artificially sweetened beverages or foods to children! Even though these sweeteners are considered safe by the FDA, the reported side effects and conflicting research should give us pause. And, keep these foods away from pets.

Want to ditch artificial sweeteners and eating a lot of sugar? Check out Julie’s Ditch the Sugar Habit Super Bundle.

The post The Low Down on Artificial Sweeteners appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

We love our pumpkin spice, apple pies, snickerdoodle cookies, and other cinnamon flavored goodies during the holidays. But did you know that cinnamon benefits your health in many ways, too? Learn more in this podcast with Julie Polanco.

Cinnamon Through History

Cinnamomum zeylanicum, or Cinnamon has a long history of use, going back to the ancient Egyptians and Chinese. The Ceylon variety grown in Sri Lanka (which was once called Ceylon) appears in Chinese writings as far back as 2800 BC. The Egyptians used it in their embalming spices. In the first century AD, the Roman Pliny the Elder wrote that 350 grams of cinnamon was worth more than five kilograms of silver. This means that cinnamon was an expensive and highly valued spice that only the nobles could afford, much like frankincense and myrrh. Indeed, it is said that the Roman Emperor Nero ordered that a year’s supply of cinnamon be burnt as an atonement after he murdered his second wife.

In medieval times, they knew of cinnamon benefits. After all, the doctors of the day used it to treat coughs, sore throats, and hoarseness. The upper classes also used it to preserve meats. However, it was difficult to get. Only Arabs traded in cinnamon and they carefully guarded the secret of their source. Since they traveled over difficult land routes, they kept this monopoly for centuries. In addition, they loved to tell tall tales about cinnamon to deter others and to justify the high prices.

Hear some of the tall tales the Arabs would tell on the podcast!

Discovered by Explorers

As we all know, Columbus and other explorers set out to find water routes to the far East in the late 1400’s and into the early 1500’s. They were, of course, looking for safer and faster routes to get the spices that were in great demand but expensive to buy. So, in 1518, the Portuguese found the source of Cinnamon and enslaved the island until the Dutch overthrew them in 1638. Then, the Dutch held the cinnamon monopoly for another 150 years until the British took over the island in 1784 after the fourth Anglo-Dutch war. However, the price of cinnamon had dramatically decreased by then. Other countries had discovered that they could enjoy cinnamon benefits by growing it in other parts of the world such as Java, Sumatra, Guyana, the West Indies, and other places.

Today, much of the grocery store cinnamon is not true cinnamon, but a cousin called Cassia. It is cheaper and has a stronger flavor but is not as medicinal.

Modern Research on Cinnamon Benefits and Uses

One of the active constituents of cinnamon is cinnamaldehyde. This is what gives it its unique and delicious smell. It is also high in antioxidant polyphenols, which is why it can be used to preserve meat. Amazingly, it has more antioxidants than even garlic or oregano, according to research. Because of this, another one of the cinnamon benefits is that it is anti-inflammatory and can help lower cholesterol levels. It may also inhibit tumor cell growth and help prevent cancer.

In addition, cinnamon benefits those at risk for diabetes. According to studies, cinnamon oil can help prevent Type 2 diabetes by preventing insulin resistance. Another way that cinnamon benefits those at risk for diabetes is that it can interfere with digestive enzymes, slowing the breakdown of food into glucose.

Of course, it has also proven be effective against oral bacteria and respiratory fungal infections and maybe that’s why medieval doctors liked to use it for coughs and other respiratory issues. It has also traditionally been used for issues in the gastrointestinal tract, such as vomiting, flatulence, and diarrhea.

Warning

Cinnamon contains coumarins, which in large amounts can be problematic. The best type of cinnamon to use is the original Ceylon Cinnamon because it has less coumarins and tends to be higher in medicinal properties.

Ready to dig into cinnamon? Get your FREE cinnamon recipe coloring pages by clicking HERE.

The post Cinnamon Benefits and Uses (Holiday Replay) appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Ever wonder how peppermint came to be associated with Christmas? Learn the story and more about peppermint benefits and uses with Julie Polanco in this podcast episode.

Peppermint Benefits and Historic Uses

Mentha piperita,a natural hybrid of Mentha aquatica and Mentha spicata (water mint and spearmint), has a long history of use. It was used as a flavoring in sauces and wines, going as far back as the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. Egyptians used it as a remedy for indigestion and the Greeks and Romans used it to ease stomach issues. It is said that the Egyptians valued it so much that they used it as currency. By 1240, it appeared in the Icelandic Pharmacopoeia as an herbal remedy and indeed, the monks used it as tooth polisher among its other common uses. Cheesemakers saw that one of the peppermint benefits was that it kept the rats away.

By the 1700’s, Europeans expanded peppermint benefits to include other stomach ailments such as nausea, vomiting, morning sickness as well as respiratory and menstrual disorders. In modern times it appears in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia as a remedy for intestinal colic, gas, colds, morning sickness, and menstruation pain.

The cultivation of peppermint started in Europe but expanded to North America as settlers came. The American natives knew of mint and were already using it, but they used a different species. Today, the United States produces 75% of the world’s supply, with most coming from Michigan.

Peppermint and Christmas

The traditional legend is that a German church choirmaster in the late 1600’s gave candies in the shape of shepherd’s staffs to the children to keep them quiet. At that time, they were white and may not have even been peppermint flavored. But, that is the tale of the cane-shaped candy, although the peppermint flavor wouldn’t be added for another 200 years or so. Most candy was made by hand, so this tradition wouldn’t have spread far. Therefore, it is hard to verify whether this story is true or not.

Listen to the podcast to hear the remarkable story of how a Georgian candy maker started the candy cane tradition.

There are many legends about why they are striped, including that they represent Jesus’ blood. However, it’s more likely that they are striped just to be festive. After all, who wants a plain white cane?

Today, Bryan, Ohio is the candy cane capital of the world and 90% of candy canes are consumed by Americans.

Peppermint Benefits Come from Its Constituents

The whole plant is used for medicinal purposes and people prepare it as a tea and essential oil. The tea and essential oil contain the principal active ingredients of the plant: menthol, menthone, and menthyl acetate. Menthyl acetate is responsible for peppermint’s minty aroma and flavor. Menthol, peppermint’s main active ingredient, is found in the leaves and flowering tops of the plant. It provides the cool sensation of the herb. Peppermint also contains vitamins A and C, magnesium, potassium, inositol, niacin, copper, iodine, silicon, iron, and sulfur.

In addition to peppermint benefits to the digestive system, it also relieves headaches. A 1996 German study showed that a 10% solution of peppermint essential oil was just as effective as 1000mg of acetaminophen in relieving headaches. Another one of peppermint benefits that the German Commission E approves is temporary relief of nasal and sinus congestion.

Peppermint benefits the body in many other ways, too. One might begin to believe that peppermint is good for almost anything. It is generally safe for children and during pregnancy in moderation. It is also an easy herb to grow in any yard. However, the quality of the soil and the climate does affect the menthol levels.

The post Peppermint Benefits and Uses (Holiday Replay) appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Are you ready for Christmas yet? How about some historical fun with pine tree symbolism and uses? Check out the podcast with Julie and dig into lore from around the world.

Pine Tree Symbolism from History and Around the World

Europe

Did you know that the oldest living tree in the world is a Bristlecone Pine Tree living in the White Mountains of California? They call it Methuselah and carefully guard its location. Estimates put it at 5,000 years old!

The Pinus family of evergreen trees grows all over the world and thus, pine tree symbolism crosses cultures and continents. What binds them all together is the pine’s association with longevity and peace.

In ancient Greece, the pine was particularly sacred to Dionysus and his worshippers. In the ancient city of Corinth, the Corinthians were ordered by the Delphic Oracle to worship the pine along with Dionysus as a god. In the ancient Greek culture, the evergreen tree was the symbol of immortality.  And, its resin was used to purify, sterilize, and embalm things that one wanted to preserve over time, such as the dead.

The Romans also had a mythology around pine trees. The story goes that the goddess Cybele fell in love with a handsome young man, Attis. She took him to her temple to be a priest there, vowing chastity. But, another goddess, jealous of Cybele, seduced him and he broke his vow. Attis ran away and died under the branches of a pine tree. It is said that the Jupiter took pity on him and turned him into an immortal pine, with Saturn as his protector. At the spring equinox (March 22), the followers of Cybele would cut a pine tree down and bring it into her sanctuary in honor of Attis. In addition, during the Roman holiday of Saturnalia (Dec. 17-25th), the ancient Romans would decorate pine trees with ornaments such as oscilla, which were made in the image of Bacchus, and little clay dolls known as sigillaria.

And in the northern European countries, pine trees (or firs) were decorated to celebrate the birth of Frey, the Norse god of the sun and fertility, at the end of the year. The tops of the trees were lit because in winter as the days were getting shorter.  Northern people thought that doing so the light will attract the sun.

Asia

Pine tree symbolism in Asia shares some similarities to Europe. In Japan, Pine trees are associated with the New Year. Many Japanese hang a bundle of pine twigs and bamboo trunks known as a Kado matsu (“Gate pine” in English) on their doors to receive a blessing from the gods. Perhaps this is why, in the Japanese Middle Ages, pines were a common decoration for samurai. Pines are also used to mark the boundaries of the sacred ground of temples and shrines and are a popular tree of choice for the art of bonsai. Many of these bonsai trees live to be hundreds of years old!

In more recent times, Japan attributed pine tree symbolism to a pine tree that survived both the earthquake and tsunami in the March 2011 devastation of the city of Rikuzentakata. The surrounding forest of 70,000 pine trees was completely destroyed except for one lone pine tree. This tree became a national symbol of resilience and determination to stand tall and rebuild in the face of the massive destruction in northeast Japan. Sadly enough, seawater seeped into the roots of the Rikuzentakata tree, causing it to rot and die. In September 2012, the tree was cut down.

Native Americans’ Pine Tree Symbolism

In North America, the pine tree holds a sacred place among the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee, or Iroquois Confederacy (Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Mohawk, and Tuscarora). For them, the pine tree – and in particular the Eastern White Pine – is the Tree of Peace. This is because it is underneath the roots of the Tree of Peace that weapons were buried. And, among other native tribes, it holds a sacred place as well, making it a universal symbol. Native people didn’t just hold the tree as sacred, though. They also used the pine needles, sap, bark, and nuts for medicinal purposes, traditional handicrafts, and in recipes. Pine-needle baskets are still a popular Native handicraft to this very day.

Julie talks about pine tree symbolism in Christmas traditions and how it came to be the Christmas tree of choice on the podcast! Be sure to tune in.

Pine Tree Uses

We all know about the role of pine in housing and furniture construction. But, pine tar and pitch has long been used to protect surfaces such as boat hulls and as an embalming fluid. The resin, when distilled, also yields oil of turpentine, which is an important industrial solvent. Turpentine and tar water have been used in veterinary practice to get rid of worms, kill parasites, treat mange, and as an antiseptic and stimulant for rheumatic swelling, sprains, and bruises. For people, the resin been used externally for skin infections and joint inflammation. Internally, traditional uses of the needles include coughs, colds, allergies and kidney and bladder infections. Pine needles also make a nice winter tea, giving you a vitamin C boost.

There are many species of Pine and some are toxic to children and pregnant women. So, be careful!

Thank you to the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network Sponsor, Now Programs.

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Ever wondered why holly is associated with Christmas? What even is holly, really? Learn more about holly symbolism, its roots in pagan traditions and beliefs, and its beneficial uses on this episode on the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Holly Symbolism and Historic Roots

Ilex aquifolium, or the Holly tree, is a small evergreen tree with deeply lobed, waxy, prickled leaves native to Europe. Its leaves somewhat resemble oak leaves. It has light colored bark and deep red, toxic berries. It has long been considered sacred in Celtic mythology and ancient druidic beliefs. They believe holly symbolizes peace, goodwill, and good luck. Therefore, they also believed that holly protected them from evil spirits and bad luck. Chieftains wore a wreath of holly as a sort of good luck charm.  And, because it resists lightning, they would plant it near their homes to protect themselves from lightning strikes.

The ancient Romans believed holly was the sacred plant of Saturn, the Roman god of the harvest. They gave sprigs of holly as gifts during the Saturnalia festival, which led up to the winter solstice of December 25, the birth of the “Sun.” As Christianity spread, December 25 became a celebration of the Son of God instead, but the holly tradition remained. In addition, Christians adopted holly symbolism into their beliefs. They claimed that the thorny leaves of holly symbolize the crown of thorns of Christ’s crucifixion, the berries representing his blood. In addition, the evergreen nature of holly symbolizes eternal life.

Hear a few other stories about holly on the podcast. On a more practical note, the wood of this tree makes beautiful, artistic designs and people sometimes use it to make chess sets and tool handles. Carriage drivers also used horse whips made from holly, as holly seemed to have an interesting controlling effect on the horses.

Holly Benefits

Holly is not really used in modern herbalism. Historically, people used the leaves as a diaphoretic, febrifuge, and expectorant for things like fever, rheumatism, and bronchitis. One famous herbalist, Nicolas Culpepper said that the bark and leaves are good for broken bones and other members that are out of joint. The fresh juice has been recommended for jaundice. The ancients also used it for fevers and such, but the berries cause violent vomiting and should not be used, especially with children. Julie talks about some of the active constituents of holly on the podcast, so be sure to listen!

Discover weird facts about Christmas herbs and check out her Secret Spice book.

The post Holly Symbolism and Benefits (Holiday Replay) appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Ever wonder about mistletoe and why it’s part of Christmas lore and tradition? Join Julie on this week’s episode to learn about mistletoe secret history and uses. It’s been around a long time!

Mistletoe Secret History

Some of the mistletoe secret history starts with the ancient Norse, Greek, and Roman legends. In Norse mythology, the god Baldur the Beautiful—son of the goddess, Frigg—was killed by an arrow made from mistletoe. As Frigg wept over her son, her tears became the pearlescent berries. Afterward, she declared that mistletoe would be a symbol of peace and friendship. It is said that she gave the mistletoe to the goddess of love and that everyone who passed under it should receive a kiss in token of its new symbolic meaning.

In Greek and Roman legend, Aeneas of Aeneid fame needs a “golden bough” in order to see his dead father who gives him the vision to found Rome. This golden bough is traditionally thought to be European mistletoe. The ancient Druids thought that mistletoe held some special powers and revered it as a sacred plant. They thought that it warded off evil and they would send messengers around with branches of it to announce the new year.

The origin of the whole kissing tradition is unclear, but probably started among servants in a local village and spread from there. Because mistletoe is green and blooming even in winter, it has long been associated with fertility and life. The mistletoe secret to its winter growth is that it draws all the life from its deciduous host tree!

Mistletoe Secret Habits

Mistletoe, or Viscum album, is an evergreen parasitic shrub. They spread their seeds primarily through birds so when a bird drops one of the sticky berries on a tree branch, the berry sticks. Very soon, a little thread-like root comes from a seed in the berry and pierces the bark of the tree branch. It burrows through until it reaches the sap and then derives all of its sustenance from this host tree. The little root, of course, thickens and grows. Sometimes, the mistletoe bush ends up killing the host tree. Like many other evergreens, the yellow-green lobe shaped leaves are waxy and smooth, the flowers tiny. Mistletoe produces pearly white berries in December, which may be the reason why it has long been associated with the winter solstice and later, Christmas. They are considered toxic and some people have been poisoned by them, although birds don’t seem to be affected.

Historic and Modern Uses

Historically, mistletoe was used mostly for complaints associated with the nervous system. It was used to quiet epileptic convulsions in the 17th and 18th centuries, and even considered a specific for the condition. Herbalists at that time also used it for delirium, hysterical disorders, and urinary and heart complaints arising from a disordered nervous system. They also used it to open up circulation to areas constrained or damaged by nervous tension. However, it seemed to work best in smaller, rather than larger, amounts as higher doses tended to aggravate nervous conditions.

In more modern times, research confirms the mistletoe secret weapon for epilepsy and other central nervous system disorders, such as hysteria and headaches. It also shows promise against Alzheimer’s disease. In German speaking countries, mistletoe is often prescribed as part of a complementary approach to cancer and there have been several studies on this with mixed results. The chemical constituents of mistletoe do show anti-tumor and immune system regulating effects, but other factors come into play. And, herbal medicine often requires synergistic and wholistic interactions for the body to heal.

Warning

Mistletoe is not safe for children and the American variety is not the same as the European species, so don’t interchange them. Also, it is easy to overdose on Mistletoe and accidentally poison yourself. Do not eat the berries!

The post Mistletoe Secrets (Holiday Replay) appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Ever wondered about myrrh? What is it and what are the benefits of myrrh? Why was it one of the gifts of the magi? Listen to this week’s podcast as Julie discusses this ancient resin.

The History of Myrrh

Commiphora myrrha grows in the same areas as Frankincense, namely the Horn of Africa and parts of the Middle East. It is harvested in a similar way, too. Harvesters cut a wound in the trunk of the tree until it bleeds sap. The sap is allowed to harden and then it is scraped off the tree and collected. This hardened resin is then used in a variety of ways.

According to Herodotus (5th century BC): “Arabia is the only country which produces frankincense, myrrh, cassia and cinnamon…the trees bearing the frankincense are guarded by winged serpents of small size and various colors.”

Myrrh was often associated with death. The ancient Egyptians used it along with natron as part their embalming process. In addition, there are several Biblical references to myrrh. The first one, Genesis 37:25, mentioned it as part of a caravan on their way to Egypt. In Exodus 30:23-25, myrrh is stipulated as part of the anointing oil. And in Esther 2:12, we discover that it was one of the oils used to prepare women for presentation to the king. And of course, myrrh is mentioned in the New Testament at Jesus’ birth and at his crucifixion. So, it was a component of the sacred anointing oil, used as perfume, and used during burial. In other parts of the world, it was part of a purification ritual for new brides and a means of purifying one’s home.

The benefits of myrrh have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and in Ayurveda for centuries, even though the Chinese obviously had to import it from the Arabians. In Ayurveda, it has been used to treat mouth ulcers and gingivitis, female reproductive issues, infected wounds, and bronchial conditions. In TCM, it has been used to promote blood circulation and dissolve swellings and other stasis issues, such as rheumatic and arthritic complaints. A related species, guggul, is used similarly in Ayurveda.

Benefits of Myrrh

It’s interesting that myrrh was historically used in instances where bacterial growth needed to be inhibited or controlled. Modern research shows that it is highly effective at killing bacteria. Burning it in houses of worship helped control the spread of disease. And, using it in embalming the dead helped slow the decay of the body. Because myrrh has anti-bacterial properties, using it in mouthwash and toothpaste makes sense to kill oral bacteria that contribute to mouth sores and gingivitis. Researchers have also studied additional benefits of myrrh to help speed wound healing and prevent infection. Results are promising.

Myrrh oil shows promise in treating chronic headaches and certain parasitic infections. In addition, a few studies show that it may slow the growth of cancer cells in the liver, prostate, breast, and skin. Finally, test tube studies suggest that it may effectively kill some strains of mold as well as parasites and bacteria.

Note that the Lord himself told Moses to use myrrh in the sacred oil. Perhaps, just like ceremonial hand washing and not eating unclean animals, the Lord was giving him measures for staying healthy. Long before people knew about microbes, God gave them instructions for how to prevent the spread of disease. God truly provides us with instructions for all areas of life, not just spiritual and emotional issues.

Enjoy this highly prized resin from the Middle East this Christmas season!

The post Benefits of Myrrh (Holiday Replay) appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Welcome to the Holiday series on Crunchy Christian podcast! Join Julie today as she talks about the benefits of frankincense.

Frankincense was one of the gifts of the magi who visited Jesus after his birth. But, what is frankincense? We know that it played an important role in worship, offerings, and prayer in both the Jewish culture and in other ancient cultures. But, what is it exactly and what are the benefits of frankincense for today?

Historical background of frankincense

Boswellia carterii and other Boswelliaspecies produce the resin known as frankincense. These trees grow in the Middle East and in northern Africa. To get the sought-after resin, people cut a deep incision in the trunk of the tree. Then they peel off a narrow strip of bark just below it. Sap, of course, exudes from the cut and as it drips out, it hardens. The cut is deepened and more drips out and hardens. These “tears” are then scraped off and collected.

Spice trade

Ancient Babylonians, Assyrians, and Egyptians used Frankincense as far back as 3000 BC for religious ceremonies, including Egyptian embalming. They also used it as an ingredient in their kohl eyeliner. Many believed that the perfumes of incense carried their prayers up to the gods, regardless of their religious system. The trade of this resin made the countries of Arabia very wealthy as it fetched a price higher than gold at that time. And, they kept the true source of the spice secret so that ancient Greeks and Romans thought that it grew in Arabia. In fact, it came from the Horn of Africa. Many ancient empires tried to gain control over this incense trade and none succeeded due to the inability to master the harsh living conditions.

A kingly gift

Frankincense was one of the three gifts of the magi because it was a very costly gift that one would offer a king. These magi were a group of religious leaders from a northern part of Persia known as the Parthian empire. The Romans and the Parthians were intense rivals with many heated conflicts. So, when Parthian wise men appeared in a Roman occupied city looking for a king, of course Herod would be nervous. These magi had kingly gifts, had the power to select a new Parthian king, and here they were looking for the newborn king. Hmmm.

Fun fact: After Sarah, Abraham’s wife died, Abraham took a second wife named Ketura. Ketura means incense.

Benefits of frankincense

Today, frankincense is no longer used widely in religious ceremonies. However, researchers have uncovered some interesting facts about the benefits of frankincense essential oil. This oil is derived from the collected resin but extracted using carbon dioxide not water. In Chinese medicine, frankincense has long been used to promote blood circulation and to treat inflammation, swelling, and pain. Western research shows that frankincense is effective at lowering inflammation, especially in cases of arthritis, colitis, asthma, some forms of dermatitis. It also has antitumor activity, showing activity against prostate cancer, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer cells. Frankincense also shows antiulcer activity in studies with human gastric cells and skin cells and it protects the liver and slows aging. It also shows anti-depressive effects and, in tests with rats, it shows promise in protection against memory loss.

Frankincense is still an expensive product and is not readily available in health stores. However, many online essential oil companies carry high quality products. It is definitely worth looking into.

Don’t forget to check out The Secret Spice children’s book for a taste of Persian culture and a deeper look at another costly spice from the Middle East, saffron!

The post Benefits of Frankincense (Holiday Replay) appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Join Julie on Crunchy Christian Podcast as she talks about the benefits of cod liver oil, grandma’s super food for the cold weather months. Ever wondered why she traditionally gave each child a spoonful every day? Listen and find out!

Historical Uses of Cod Liver Oil

For centuries, the people of northern Europe knew the benefits of cod liver oil and used it in ointments and salves as well as in cooking. They’ve enjoyed robust health, even in the harshest conditions, long before other cultures started taking it internally.

Then, in the 1700’s, medical doctors in England began using it internally. They found it effective for chronic rheumatism and by the 1830’s, doctors used it to combat tuberculosis, rickets, malnourishment, osteomalacia (softening of the bones), and some eye conditions.

During World War II, the British government gave out cod liver oil for free to pregnant and nursing mothers, children under age 5, and those over age 40. Even after the war, Britain continued this program for another 30 years because it produced the healthiest generation of children England had ever seen.

Benefits of Cod Liver Oil

Over the last 100 years, research and observation have unraveled some of the mysteries hidden in food, including the health benefits of cod liver oil. While we don’t know everything, we know that this “liquid gold” contains vitamin A, vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids.

While many people don’t suffer from vitamin A deficiency, vitamin D is a different story.. In fact, an estimated 1 billion suffer from vitamin D deficiency worldwide. And, most people also don’t get enough EPA and DHA rich omega-3 fatty acids. Instead, they get too many omega-6’s. But, let’s back up a minute. You need essential fatty acids (EFAs) because your body needs them but can’t make them itself. They must come from your diet. These fats are used in every cell of your body, but especially in the eyes and nervous system. The retina and the brain’s gray matter are rich with omega-3 type EFAs.

Omega-3’s also play an important role in the immune system, either promoting or inhibiting inflammation, with omega-3’s generally inhibiting inflammation. Interestingly, EFAs play a role in turning genes on and off as well. Therefore, some of the possible health benefits of cod liver oil is reducing inflammation and turning off genes for disease.Learn more about the importance of Omega-3’s on the podcast!

Vitamin D or Die?

Yes, vitamin D deficiency is associated with a shorter lifespan. But, here’s a fun fact: vitamin D isn’t a vitamin. It is a group of chemicals often thought of as hormones. “Vitamin” D starts out in the skin as a form of cholesterol that, in the presence of ultraviolet light, is converted by an enzyme into pre-vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). (Dietary vitamin D is already in this form). Then it travels to the liver, where another enzyme converts it to calcifediol. The kidneys convert it further to the active form of vitamin D, calcitriol, which travels around in the bloodstream. All this is to say that it takes cholesterol (yes, cholesterol!) and sunlight for the body to produce enough vitamin D. You need vitamin D to be able to absorb calcium and phosphorus, both necessary for healthy bones. But, our bodies use calcium in other places, too, which is why most of our tissues and cells have receptors for vitamin D. Find out more on the podcast.

Another benefit of cod liver oil: Vitamin A

Most people have no trouble getting enough vitamin A from eggs, milk, liver, fish, and vegetables. Vitamin A comes in two major forms and the easiest for your body to use comes from animal sources. Vegetable sources need to be converted into a usable form. It makes sense that the form most easily used comes from animals because vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin. This means that, in order for the body to absorb it, it needs to be eaten with fat. That’s a good reason to eat vegetables with butter or oil. You probably already know that this vitamin is necessary for good eyesight. But, did you know that it also keeps your skin looking young and plays an important role in cell growth and differentiation? Find out more about vitamin A on the podcast.

Other resources

Echinacea versus Elderberry

How to Stock Your Winter Herbal Medicine Chest

And don’t forget to check out the new picture book,The Secret Spice. This is the first in a series of children’s books featuring plants and includes a special surprise inside. Check it out! Makes a great gift and can be used for homeschooling, too!

The post Benefits of Cod Liver Oil: Grandma’s Super Food appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Join Julie as she talks about mushroom benefits for a strong immune defense on Crunchy Christian Podcast. We don’t often think about fungi when we think about natural health, but mushrooms offer some awesome helps.

Some Facts About Mushrooms

Did you know that the plant and fungi kingdoms are so intertwined that one can’t really live without the other? Plants need mushrooms to help them absorb nutrients from the soil and mushrooms need the sugars and dead cells that plants leave in the soil. In fact, plants release sugars into the soil to attract mushrooms and other fungi.

In that same vein, it is important to know that all fungi—mushrooms or not—feed off other food sources, most often dead or decaying matter, but also sugars produced by living things, too. This is true no matter where they are living, including inside of other organisms. That means that yeast or candida (which is a fungus) in yourbody feeds on food sources youmake available. That’s why if you want to get rid of a yeast infection, you need to eliminate the food sources—sugar and mucus.

Just like plants, mushrooms play a major role in new drug development. Did you know that mushrooms are used in 40% of drugs available on the market? Plants are used in 25%. Interesting how dependent the pharmaceutical industry is on these natural sources of drugs. And, amazingly, one of the most remarkable mushroom benefits is that they can break down even the most toxic man-made chemicals. Imagine what that can do for the human body exposed to toxins!

Mushroom Benefits for a Strong Immune Defense

Adaptogenic

Let’s take a look at some specific actions that mushrooms have on the human body. First, they are adaptogens. That means that they can sense what is going on in the body and adapt to the situation. So, they help wherever is necessary. Sounds a bit weird, right? But, think about carrying a healthy drink into a party. When you arrive, everyone except one person is holding a healthy drink already. So, rather than pour drinks for everyone, you only need to pour out a glass of your healthy beverage for that one person. Mushroom benefits the body in much the same way.

Immunomodulators

A second of the mushroom benefits is they are all immunomodulators. This works a lot like adaptogens, but is specific to the immune system. Mushrooms contain chemicals that help your immune system fight illness when necessary. But, they also help keep it in check when it gets overstimulated, as we see in allergic responses and autoimmune diseases.

Find out two more mushroom benefits on the podcast. Julie discusses one of the best benefits yet.

The Mushrooms

Reishi

If you only try one mushroom, this one should be it. It’s use in China goes back at least 2000 years. It’s often called the “queen of mushrooms” because it revitalizes the whole body and for a long time, its use was reserved for only the Chinese royalty. This well-researched mushroom benefits the entire body as it increases longevity and supports the immune system in fighting pathogens. It protects your skin and DNA from free radical damage, making you look and feel younger. It also improves circulation and balances hormones, which helps you de-stress and sleep better. New research shows that a high fat diet coupled with reishi mushrooms may help with weight control. There are many other reishi mushroom benefits as well, but you get the idea. This is a superfood worth adding to your diet.

Chaga

You may have never heard of this mushroom, but it’s been used in Russia at least since the 17th century and probably longer. Chaga is one of nature’s richest sources of antioxidants, packing as much in one cup of strong chaga tea as you would find in 30 pounds of carrots. 30 pounds! Antioxidants are important for combatting cell damage that leads to cancer, aging, chronic illness and pain. One of the other chaga mushroom benefits is skin-protecting properties. This is due to the other nutrients it contains. In addition to the extremely high antioxidant levels, this mushroom has more zinc and melanin than any other single natural source. To enjoy the benefits of this mushroom, add this superfood as a daily tea.

Julie talks about one more mushroom on the podcast. These are not the only mushrooms with medicinal qualities, but I hope this sampling gives you an idea of just what superfoods mushrooms can be. They are definitely worth adding.

Warning

Be careful using medicinal mushrooms if you are on antibiotics, anticoagulants, or diabetic medications. Because these mushrooms can have similar effects on the body, you could end up with a “doubling up” response. Consult your health professional first.

The post Super Food Mushroom Benefits for a Strong Immune Defense appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Benefits of the 3 Super G’s: Green Tea, Garlic, and Guts

Check out the benefits of garlic, green tea, and guts on this episode of Crunchy Christian Podcast. Julie breaks down why these are great additions to your daily diet and a few ways to enjoy them.

Benefits of Garlic

Garlic, or Allium sativum,is a member of the onion family. It has numerous benefits, is low calorie, and is easy to find and grow. Nutritionally, it contains manganese, vitamin B6, vitamin C, selenium, and small amounts of numerous other nutrients. Research shows that garlic shortens the time a person has cold symptoms by up to 70%. And, even though many think that you have to eat it raw to enjoy its benefits, the researchers used aged garlic or a garlic extract, neither of which are raw garlic.

Find out more about the benefits of garlic on the podcast!

Benefits of Green Tea

Did you know that all tea (except herbal tea) comes from the same plant? Camellia sinensis produces all green, black, and white tea.  The reason why it takes different is because of where and how it is grown and processed. So, all tea offers the same benefits to some extent, but the benefits of green tea are a bit greater because it is the least processed. It retains the most nutrients and compounds from the plant. Black teas are oxidized after bruising, but green teas are mostly unoxidized and sometimes undergo a different method of bruising as well. So, artisanal green teas are often hand-picked, whole leaves that are withered only, leaving the tea leaves as close to the source as possible. This helps them retain their nutritional and medicinal value.

The benefits of green tea include a high amount of polyphenol antioxidants, which can reduce inflammation, slow aging, and protect against cancer. It also contains caffeine in combination with L-theanine, an amino acid that crosses the blood-brain barrier. This combination can improve brain function by increasing alertness while at the same time reducing anxiety. Drinking green tea may also have positive effects on bad breath and on Type 2 Diabetes.

Benefits of Eating Liver (and other animal products)

Now we get into the benefits of eating a super food you may never have heard of—animal organs. Because most organs are not commercially available, we’re going to focus on liver and heart. First, make sure all organ meats come from grass fed animals as God intended. Animals that eat the food God intended for them to eat are healthier and are healthier for us, too. So, why are organ meats superfoods?

Let’s consider liver as a representative. Liver is a powerhouse of nutrition! Just 3.5 ounces has all these benefits: vitamin B12 (3000+% of RDI), vitamin A (1000% RDI), riboflavin (200+% RDI), folate (65% RDI), iron (80% RDI), copper (1600+% RDI), and all the choline you need. The only vegetables that compare are the super greens we discussed in the last episode. And, a serving size is quite small, less than half a cup! It is also high in body building protein and low in calories. You may be concerned about cholesterol and toxins as liver is a high cholesterol food, just like nutrient dense pastured eggs.

Learn why you don’t need to be concerned as you listen to the podcast!

And how about bone broth…

Bone broth doesn’t offer the same benefits as liver, but it is an excellent source of minerals and collagen. It’s inexpensive and easy to make your own; you don’t need to buy expensive powders or aseptic boxes or bags of broth. If you have a slow cooker or InstaPot, you have all you need to make your own.

Remember, God provided us with super foods. We don’t need to buy expensive man-made powders, bars, or drinks to get optimal nutrition. In fact, some of the best super foods are also the cheapest. So, enjoy the benefits of garlic, green tea, and liver and save your chicken bones for broth. And be sure to check out the super greens episode so you know what to grow in your garden. Happy eating!

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Want to know more about the benefits of super greens? Join Julie Polanco on this episode of Crunchy Christian Podcast as she discusses green leafy vegetables, why you need them, and some sneaky ways to get more in your diet.

What are Super Greens?

All green vegetables are not super. That’s not to say that they aren’t nutritious, but they may not be super nutritious. Lettuce, for example, is green and has trace minerals, but it is not a super green. Super greens tend to have a lower water content and contain more vitamins and minerals by weight than other greens. Super greens include dandelion greens (which we covered in a previous episode), mustard greens, arugula, spinach, kale, collards, and chard. We will focus on the benefits of super greens spinach and kale as those are most eaten among all the super greens. They are also the most widely available, unless you forage.

Benefits of Super Greens

Nutritional content

Spinach is an excellent source of vitamins A, K, and Folate. It also contains a fair amount of Vitamin C. It is also a good source of Manganese, Potassium, Iron, Magnesium, and Omega 3 fatty acids. And while spinach is an excellent source, kale is an even better source of vitamins A, K, and Folate. It has much more vitamin C, even more than an orange. And, it also has a fair amount of B vitamins, copper, and calcium in addition to containing the same minerals that spinach does. In addition to a good amount of omega-3’s, it also contains a high amount of omega 6 fatty acids. Other greens have profiles similar to that of spinach. How do these nutritional benefits of super greens help your body? Let’s find out!

Greens Help Slow the Aging Process
There are so many amazing compounds found in wild greens that help slow aging, it’s hard to know where to begin. The high amounts of folate and vitamin K help the body thrive and replace cells. Superb antioxidant quantities, similar to those found in berries, are also present, helping prevent and heal damage to the cells. Fatty acids, in particular omega-3’s, round off the anti-aging benefits you can get by simply adding more greens into your diet.

Greens Are Great for Your Heart
Greens are such a powerful food group, they help prevent heart disease in myriad ways. The high fiber content helps keep the cholesterol levels in your body down, and greens naturally help regulate blood pressure, keeping the heart healthy. Greens also help regulate harmful hormones in the body that are known to cause thickening of the blood. By lowering this, greens help prevent blood clots.

To learn about additional benefits of super greens, listen in on the podcast!

Sneaky Ways to Get More Benefits of Super Greens in Your Diet

Juicing/smoothie

Spinach Green Smoothie

This smoothie is more of a classic recipe for a green smoothie, though there is a lot of room for customizing it according to your preferences. Spinach is used as the main greens for the smoothie, which are always a good superfood. However, if you want greens specifically in-season during the fall, kale is another great option. Add to that some ground flax seed, an apple or other sweet fruits that are in season during this time of year, and a frozen the banana. If you use a frozen banana, it can usually replace the ice. You may also need to add a little water.

Super Spinach Green Juice

Simply take about a cup of spinach and juice it with a sweet potato and a decent sized apple. This is another great morning drink that will not only energize you, but help you protect your blood sugar levels as well.

Green Salad

Take kale or spinach as your base, both known for being iron packed superfoods. Then you can add a fruit-based dressing made of blueberries or a green goddess dressing packed with even more green vegetables and oils. Avocado slices can add an even bigger kick to this type of salad, keeping with the green color theme and giving you a superfood that holds multiple benefits.

Discover a few more ideas on the podcast!

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Join Julie Polanco on this episode of Crunchy Christian Podcast as she discusses what are superfoods and why you should eat them.

What are superfoods?
Most of the time when we hear about superfoods, we automatically think of expensive powders and shakes. But, God gave us fruits, vegetables, and animal sources that are naturally packed with nutrition. We don’t need to wonder about what are superfoods, as if they were somehow special. Every region has some sort of super nutritious food that, if eaten regularly, offers us optimal health. Generally, superfoods are not grains, although there are exceptions such as chia seeds. And, they are not necessarily expensive, either. Some of the most nutritious food happens to be the cheapest! Let’s explore what are superfoods you might find at this time of year.

Sources of superfoods
On the podcast, Julie discusses what are superfoods that grown seasonally in the northern regions, with a few exceptions. She mentions some of the nutritional content and preparation methods, too. These include Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, carrots, apples, blueberries, butternut squash, and kale. Other superfoods sources include avocado, lemons, and matcha green tea.

What are superfoods benefits?
The major benefits of superfoods are the fact that they are loaded with more than one vitamin or mineral source. For example, a superfood would have benefits of anti-inflammatory components as well as being full of various vitamins. This means, if you have a busy schedule, or you need as much nutrient benefit from a food with as little calories, then superfoods are ideal. An example of this would be if you were eating five different fruits and vegetables as well as taking supplements to get everything you need in a day. A superfood, or a few superfoods, could replace all of these foods and supplements and give you a more concise diet plan with fewer calories.

Signs That You Need More Superfoods
How do you know if you need to get more superfoods in your diet? Listen to your body. Are you experiencing any of these symptoms? Try superfoods before turning to medication and see if your symptoms improve. If not, then you may need to seek medical attention. But, think of superfoods as a first line of defense. Check out what are superfoods that specifically help with those symptoms.
Bloating
Bloating is one of the first signs that something may not be right with your body. It is also a sign that you should turn to superfoods as a first resort to help reduce the bloat and the pain that it may be causing. There could be any number of reasons for this issue, but regardless of the core reason you can help it with the use of superfoods like yogurt, sauerkraut, and other fermented options. The fermentation of the foods acts as a probiotic that can break up toxins and other issues in the gut and help reduce the bloat.
Fatigue
A loss of energy is nothing new to most people. However, if that fatigue is chronic and ongoing you may be dealing with a sign that you need superfoods to boost your body and your system. Some of the superfoods that help with fatigue that is not caused by exercise or some other obvious source are pumpkin, pumpkin seeds, watermelon, and bananas. All of these deliver key ingredients that the body can use to transfer into energy making substances in the body and help with colon, intestine, and gut health.
Ongoing Upset Stomach
When you have an upset stomach, it could be because of something you ate or drank. It could also be the start of becoming sick or some other obvious reason. The problem comes in when your body starts to give you signs that the ongoing upset stomach is a real issue that is not going away. One of the first things you can do is try a gut health superfood. Ginger is at the top of the list because it not only helps purge toxins from your system, it can also help repair issues in your stomach such as ulcers and it can help you with digestion. You can also try Greek yogurt or regular yogurt for the probiotics to help ease your stomach and give it good enzymes as well.
Remember that this is not medical advice. If your symptoms continue even after you make dietary changes, seek advice from a licensed healthcare provider.

The post What Are Superfoods and Why You Should Eat Them appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Join Julie Polanco on this episode of Crunchy Christian Podcast as she discusses purslane uses and benefits. Find out how this common weed has been used for centuries as a nutritious vegetable and helpful plant.

Some Facts About Purslane

History

Purslane, or Portulaca oleraceae, is an incredibly old plant. Seeds found in the modern United States date as far back as 1000 BC. But, some argue that it originated in north Africa far earlier than that because of its succulent stems and leaves. After all, that’s where many other succulents originate from. It was certainly known to the ancients, for records show that the Greeks, Persians, Indians, and Romans ate it as a vegetable.

And, indeed the most common of purslane uses and benefits is adding it to salads. Or, gently blanching it and serving it up with some oil and vinegar. Some old recipes even give instructions for pickled purslane. Indeed, people grew it in cultivated gardens as early as the 1500’s in Great Britain as a garden green. It is also used in the French Soup, bonne femme (Good Woman), along with sorrel. And, due to its hardy nature, it is found all over the world, from Europe to Japan.

More than a salad green

But, historic purslane uses and benefits are not limited to salads. Ancient people used it for urinary complaints, dry coughs and shortness of breath, and for inflammation and sores. Dioscorides (40–90 AD) recommended the leaves for headache, heartburn, and kidney and bladder ailments; he noted the juice soothes the eyes. A couple of centuries later, Galen (129–216 AD) considered it nearly a heal-all plant. In the 16th century, famous German physician Leonard Fuchs also wrote of its uses for inflamed eyes and bladder and kidney ailments, but he added toothaches, and sunstroke as well. Hear about more uses on the podcast as well as some commentary about purslane from historical figures.

What does it look like?

This succulent low-growing plant has reddish stems and somewhat small, paddle-shaped, smooth succulent leaves. The leaves have rounded tips with no spines or toothing. The reddish stems branch everywhere. The small yellow flowers have four to six petals, but they only open on sunny mornings. When it goes to seed, it forms a little capsule that opens like a lid to reveal tiny black seeds that can still germinate up to 40 years later!

Purslane Uses and Benefits

Today, it is mostly used as a vegetable and as animal feed. It is high in vitamins C and E, iron magnesium, manganese, and potassium and so it naturally supports the immune system, heart, and circulation. It’s historical uses certainly inspire a desire to at least try this plant in salads and soups as many people around the world still do. Since it grows so freely, it’s pretty easy to gather some purslane, dandelion, and other weeds to make delicious raw meals. God provides exactly what we need!

Safety

Purslane has some poisonous look alikes, so be sure you have the real purslane if you choose to harvest it from your backyard. The real plant has watery sap, not milky. The real plant is generally safe for human consumption. Be aware, though, that some cattle grazing on large amounts of purslane have suffered oxalate and nitrate toxicity. The toxicity levels depend on the growing conditions of the purslane.

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Join Julie Polanco on this episode of Crunchy Christian Podcast as she discusses chicory’s purse uses and benefits. Find out how this common weed has been used for centuries to help with many health issues.

Some Facts About Chicory

History

Common chicory orCichorium intybusin Latin, is well-known in the United States as the key ingredient in that New Orleans favorite, chicory coffee from Café Du Monde. However, it is a very old plant, with records of its cultivation going as far back as ancient Egypt. The ancient Egyptians used it as a medicinal plant. They used it as a liver tonic, sedative, and appetite stimulant.  In addition, the writings of Virgil and Pliny mention it as a tasty vegetable and salad green. The ancient doctor, Galen, wrote that it was a “friend of the liver,” thus supporting its use as such by the Egyptians.

And, of course, if it’s good for humans to eat, it’s also good for animal fodder. As it grows well almost everywhere, one of chicory’s uses and benefits was as a cheap and easy way to feed grazing animals. It came to the United States with the colonists as a medicinal herb, just as many other weeds have. And, while many colonists grew it as such, some, like Thomas Jefferson, grew it mostly for his animals.

It is eaten as a traditional Passover bitter herb and a spring tonic in many cultures.

So, if chicory’s uses and benefits through history place it as a tasty medicinal herb also useful for animals, how did it come to be used in coffee? Listen to the podcast and find out!

What does it look like?

Chicory resembles dandelion in its deep taproot and rosette of toothed leaves. However, unlike dandelion, it puts up a stiff, hairy flower stalk with sparse little leaves. Stalks may grow 2 to 5 feet tall and branch several times. The blue flowers have a slight resemblance to daisies in their structure. They have the unique tendency to open early in the morning and close about five hours later. The herbalist Mrs. C.F. Leyel has observed that “the lovely blue color of the petals is changed into a brilliant red by the acid of ants, if placed on an ant-hill.”

Chicory has many cultivated species, such as radicchio and Belgian endive, specifically grown for their leafy tops.

Chicory Uses and Benefits

Chicory is a good source of folic acid, potassium, vitamin C, vitamin A, and pre-biotic inulin.

Modern research shows that most of the medicinal properties of the plant lie in the roots. More than 100 different active compounds have been identified in this plant! Chicory root has shown activity against strains of Strep, E. coli, Staph, Candida, Salmonella, and others. Animals who graze on it show a lower incidence of worm infestations. Research confirms its traditional use against malarial fevers in Afghanistan. It also confirms its long tradition of use as a liver tonic in India and other parts of the world. Experiments with rats confirmed other chicory uses and benefits in controlling diabetes, as an anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcerative, antioxidant, reducing tumors, and more!

Safety

Be careful if you have allergies! Generally safe, even for children. Do not consume in large amounts, though, as some people have experienced adverse effects.

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Join Julie Polanco on this episode of Crunchy Christian Podcast as she discusses shepherd’s purse uses and benefits. Find out how this common weed has been used for centuries to help with many health issues.

Some Facts About Shepherd’s Purse

History

Capsella bursa-pastoris,as shepherd’s purse is known in Latin, is native to Europe, but is also found in North America and India. It is a very old plant. Archeologists found shepherd’s purse seeds in the Catal Huyuk site in Turkey (circa 5950 B.C.) during excavation. And, we know the Greeks and Romans used it in their medicines as it was found in the stomach of the Tollund man, dated to that time period. The Tollund man was a bog body recovered from a Danish bog in 1950. Old herbals from the Middle Ages also mention it.

When the Puritans came to America, they obviously knew of shepherd’s purse uses and benefits because they brought it with them to cultivate. They used it as a peppery spice by grinding up the seeds. They also fed it to the chickens to improve their eggs. They didn’t like the dairy cows to eat it, however, because it made the milk taste bad. Shepherd’s purse was also eaten as a spring green, adding a mustard-like peppery taste to salads, much like arugula.

And, of course, Native Americans soon learned of shepherd’s purse uses and benefits. They would roast and grind the seeds to make a bread called pinole. Even up to modern times, natives from Mexico and further south make pinole with maize and mix it with cacao powder to make a “super food.” You can buy it at some ethnic grocery stores, too. Historically, North American natives also used shepherd’s purse for diarrhea, dysentery, stomach cramps, and worms. But, its most popular use was for hemorrhaging, especially in women. It was especially used to help reduce bleeding after giving birth.

Because of its astringent, anti-inflammatory effects, it was also used for nose bleeds, blood in the urine (kidney and bladder stones), hemorrhoids, wounds, and rheumatism. Listen to the podcast to hear some stories about how it was used.

What does it look like?

This is another very common, weedy plant that nearly everyone has seen, but may not even have known it. Like many other weedy plants, the deeply lobed leaves form a rosette close to the ground. Then, the central stalk bears smaller leaves with the characteristic seed pods. The seed pods are small, flat, triangular, and somewhat heart-shaped, like a little purse. The flowers are small and white. Smelling the plant and looking for the distinct seed pods helps greatly with accurate identification.

Shepherd’s Purse Uses and Benefits

Today, the leaves and stems of shepherd’s purse are used as an approved herb in Germany under the Commission E Monographs for use in nosebleeds, superficial skin wounds and bruising, heavy menstrual bleeding, and abnormal uterine bleeding. It is also used in Indian Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine in much the same way as in Germany. Researchers are investigating whether one of shepherd’s purse uses and benefits might be as a biomonitor for pollution and heavy metal contamination.

Nutritionally, it contains flavonoids, potassium, citric acid, and vitamins A and K. This is not surprising, given its traditional uses for bleeding issues.

Safety

This herb has a long history of use with adult women and is generally considered safe.  Use caution if you have a history of kidney stones and do not use during pregnancy.

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Join Julie Polanco on this episode of Crunchy Christian Podcast as she discusses plantain uses and benefits. Find out how this common weed has been used for centuries to help with many health issues.

Some Facts About Plantain

History

Plantago major (and its related species, Plantago lanceolata),as plantain is known in Latin, now grows in more than 50 countries worldwide. While first mentioned in English texts around 1265, it grew in England far earlier. Danish researchers found plantain pollen in the stomachs of mummified “bog people” dating from 200-400 A.D. Indeed, the Anglo-Saxons of 500 A.D. listed plantain as one of their sacred herbs. And, many old monasteries grew it for medicine and food as early Christians considered plantain a symbol for the well-trodden path of the many who follow Christ.

In other parts of the world, its use dates back even further. It is said that Alexander the Great knew of plantain uses and benefits and used plantain to cure his headaches. Pliny, the Roman, used it to save someone bitten by a mad dog. And, in ancient India, mongoose who fought with cobras and sustained a bite ate plantain leaves to neutralize the venom.

It also appears in many medieval nativity paintings, in Chaucer, and in several Shakespearean plays, most notably Romeo and Juliet. Desiderius Erasmus, a classic scholar of the 15th century, stated that plantain was effective against poisonous spider bites. Even King Henry VIII got in on the action, including it in his own collection of herbal recipes.

In the United States

Plantain came to the United States by way of the Puritans who brought it with them from England. They used it for deep cuts and sore feet. As people spread westward, so did plantain, and its hardiness soon made it a weed. In fact, the Native Americans called it “white man’s footsteps” because it seemed to grow wherever the white man went. They quickly learned of plantain uses and benefits, using it for wounds, bruises, boils, toothaches, diarrhea, and swelling. They also learned that plantain cured the bite of a rattlesnake.

What does it look like?

This plant is so common, nearly everyone has seen it but may not even have known it. Much like dandelion, the leaves form a rosette around a central stalk. The stalk arises about 6-8 inches from the rosette, with tiny, somewhat hairy, greenish purple flowers forming a cylinder at the top of the stalk. The leaves are oval shaped with parallel ribs, not webbed, and unevenly toothed on the edges. The part that is used is the leaf.

Plantain Uses and Benefits

Today, plantain seeds are often used for bird seed. But, historical uses continue to this day. Because of its long use for wounds, poisonous bites and stings, swelling, boils and indeed, many skin related issues, today’s herbal skin salves often include plantain. Listen to the podcast to hear how Julie used it to help her son when he suffered an insect bite.

Modern research supports plantain’s historic use for reducing inflammation, promoting wound healing, and supporting digestive health. Chemical constituents of plantain include flavonoids, terpenoids, glycosides, and tannins.

Safety

This herb has a long history of use with children and pregnant women among Native Americans. It can be eaten as a vegetable in salads, made into a tea, or used in a salve.

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Join Julie Polanco on this episode of Crunchy Christian Podcast as she discusses sassafras uses and benefits. Find out how this common, aggressive weedy tree has been used for centuries to help with many health issues.

Some Facts About Sassafras

History

Sassafras albidum is a distinctly North American weed tree and North America’s only spice. Native Americans used it for centuries before explorers and colonists arrived. The Cherokee people used sassafras tea to purify blood and for a large variety of ailments, including skin diseases, rheumatism, and malaria-type fevers, and heart trouble. The Cherokee would also make a poultice to cleanse wounds and sores, while they’d steep the root bark to treat diarrhea or for ‘over-fatness.’ Other tribes used sassafras in similar ways and also used it as a thickener in stews.

When the Europeans arrived, Native Americans in Virginia pointed out ‘wynauk‘ (literally sweet wood) to British settlers. And in 1603, a newly formed British lumber company sent two ships to America for the sole purpose of exporting sassafras trees. Thus, sassafras was one of the first, if not the first, forest products to be exported from what is now the mid-Atlantic states, starting in the early 1600’s. From then on, the demand for sassafras uses and benefits grew by leaps and bounds. Find out more about it on the podcast!

Eventually, the craze faded. Today, it is still used as a thickener in Creole dishes. In communities in the Appalachian Mountains, folks persist in drinking their traditional sassafras tea just as their ancestors did. And, artisan root beer still contains sassafras, but with the safrole removed. It is removed because the United States Food & Drug Administration banned it in 1976 after a few studies found it to be a weak carcinogen in experiments with rats.

What does it look like?

This tree is unusual because it has four different leaves on the same tree. They are commonly referred to as mitten left and right, football, and three-fingers. In early spring, little clusters of yellowish flowers appear and of course, produce blue-black berries in midsummer. Do not eat the fruit, even though animals and birds eat it!

White sassafras only grows to about 6 feet and is found along roadways and in city yards. But, red sassafras, found in mountainous areas, grows up to 100 feet in some areas. One way to tell the difference is by whether the bark changes color when damaged or not. Both have historically been used, but the red variety is most prized for lumber.

Sassafras Uses and Benefits

Historically, all parts of this tree except the berries have been used. The dried root bark was mixed with milk and sugar to make an English drink called saloop. And, it is still used as a thickener in Creole dishes. If you are lucky enough to find an artisan root beer company, you may find sassafras as an ingredient on their label. You can eat the young leaves in salads and add a nice slightly sweet touch to your meal.

Medicinal Uses and Constituents

The main active chemical constituents are: methyleugenol, safrole, and camphor. The highest concentrations of these chemicals are found in the bark.  The methyleugenol provides the sweet fragrance of sassafras and repels insects, which is why it was effective against chicken lice. The safrole and camphor account for the medicinal properties and traditional uses of sassafras.  The principle sassafras uses and benefits include: blood purifier, pain reliever, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory. Learn about more Sassafras uses and benefits on the podcast!

Warning

Isolated safrole is banned by the U.S. F.D.A. The highest concentrations are in the essential oil, which is what the FDA cited studies used. Safrole does have carcinogenic properties, but the amount contained in sassafras is almost the same as in nutmeg and nutmeg was not banned. Furthermore, Peterson’s Guide notes that “there is more carcinogenic substances in a can of beer than a can of traditional root beer with sassafras as the main ingredient.”

Traditionally, sassafras essential oil was not used, but rather the whole plant parts. However, long term use is not advised. Do not use the essential oil. Even the Native Americans advised against drinking the tea for more than a week at a time. Also, do not use if you are pregnant and do not give it to children. If you happen to have a sassafras tree growing in your yard, exercise caution and good judgement.

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Join Julie Polanco on this episode of Crunchy Christian Podcast as she discusses chickweed uses and benefits. Find out how this common plant has been used for centuries to help with many health issues.

Some Facts About Chickweed

History

Not much is written about Stellaria media, or chickweed. We know it originated in Europe because archeologists found it in pre-Neolithic dig sites in Great Britain. The ancient Greeks also wrote about it and it was commonly eaten in Ireland. From Europe, it spread throughout the world, including North America, where it’s mentioned a few times in Native American tales. Listen to the podcast to hear some interesting beliefs about chickweed from ancient times.

What does it look like?

Well, first of all, chickweed is very common all over yards and fields across Europe and North America. It seems to like cooler, temperate climates and you can find it at most times of the year. It is a low-growing, weedy plant with small white flowers in a star-like formation around the tiny center. The long pinkish stems can grow up to eighteen inches long and have a line of fine hairs along them. The small, pointed, oval-shaped leaves grow in pairs along the stem. It’s rather non-descript appearance gets confused with other plants sometimes.

But, chickweed has no milky sap. If you’re not sure if it’s chickweed, try pulling the stem apart. It not only lacks sap, but the inner stem is rather elastic. These features should help you distinguish chickweed from other similar looking plants. Don’t forget that it also has a line of hairs along the stem, too. Another interesting feature of chickweed is that it undergoes the “sleep of plants” each night. That is, it folds up its leaves over the tender buds and new shoots.

Chickweed Uses and Benefits

Like many other weedy plants, chickweed makes a great salad green. It’s also a favorite among foraging animals. However, it spoils easily, so always eat it fresh. Eating chickweed in salads can give you a boost of the following nutrients: Ascorbic-acid, Beta-carotene, Calcium, GLA (Gamma-linolenic-acid), Flavonoids, Magnesium, Niacin, Potassium, Riboflavin, Selenium, Thiamine, and Zinc. And even though, spinach is the most mineral rich green in grocery stores, chickweed boasts 12 times more calcium, 5 times more magnesium, 83 times more iron, and 6 times more vitamin C! But, you’ll never see chickweed in grocery stores. It wouldn’t survive the transit. And besides, you can probably find plenty of it in your backyard!

Chickweed has many uses and benefits. Traditionally, chickweed uses and benefits have mostly been associated with skin afflictions like acne, eczema, psoriasis, rashes, minor burns, boils, cuts, insect bites, and even splinters. It’s also good as a compress for soothing hemorrhoids and varicose veins. But, it’s steroidal saponin content – compounds that foam when water is present—accounts for its use in other applications. It acts like a type of soap and increases the permeability of many membranes in the body through partially dissolving them. That’s why it’s been used for digestive and intestinal support and to relieve inflammation. This helps us understand chickweed’s traditional uses in dissolving congested tissue including cysts, tumors, swollen glands, and thickened mucus membranes.  Because of this, chickweed also increases our ability to absorb nutrients across our intestines. Listen to the podcast to hear how saponins add to chickweed uses and benefits.

This herb has traditionally been prepared as a tea or salve. It can be eaten in salads every day if you wish, as long as you aren’t allergic.

Warning

Generally considered safe. Be careful of possible allergies, although this is uncommon.

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Join Julie Polanco on this episode of Crunchy Christian Podcast as she discusses red clover uses and benefits. Find out how this common plant has been used for centuries to help with many health issues.

Some Facts About Red Clover

History

Red clover, whose scientific name is Trifolium praetense, was first grown in Europe and has been used for at least 400 years. Ancients called it Triphyllon, meaning “three leaves”.   This term also relates to the common name, Clover, which stems from “clava”, meaning “three-leaved”.  While pagans have associated the three leaves with their goddess mythology, Christians have associated the three-lobed leaves with the Trinity. They associate the less common four-leafed clover with the four points of the cross. The Irish, as commonly portrayed, associate the rare four-leaf clover with luck. An old Irish rhyme dating back to the Middle Ages says a four-leafed clover has “one leaf for fame, one leaf for wealth, one for a faithful lover, one leaf for glorious health.”

As Europeans spread throughout the world to trade and conquer, red clover traveled with them. As new peoples in North Africa, central Asia, and North America encountered the pretty little herb, they quickly learned about red clover uses and benefits. And so, red clover was adopted by Russian herbalists, practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine, and indigenous North American healers for its ability to support healthy skin.

Additional Modern Background

Today, these pretty, little red blossoms dot the landscape everywhere from backyards and vacant lots to prairies and fields. Julie has many fond memories of red clover and shares about them in her podcast. In addition, farmers recognize red clover’s uses and benefits and plant it as fodder for their animals and to fix nitrogen in the soil. That means that it helps enrich the soil for other crops. When farming or gardening, using clover as a cover crop in fallow fields can in effect, provide natural fertilizer for the crops grown the following year. Like soy, it contains isoflavones, a phytoestrogen. And, like other legumes, can make animals who graze on it too much sterile.

Red Clover Uses and Benefits

Eating young red clover sprouts in salads can give you a boost of Vitamins A, B-Complex, C, and antioxidants. Red Clover also contains the minerals Iron, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Calcium, Copper, Selenium, Molybdenum and Tin.

In addition to red clover uses and benefits to the skin as noted by the Native Americans, it also was one of the ingredients of the famous Hoxsey anti-cancer formula of the 1920’s and 30’s. Harry Hoxsey, ND who started the first cancer clinic in Mexico, used Red Clover in his treatments.   He wasn’t the only one, though. Thompsonian herbalists also use Red Clover in their anti-cancer formulas.    The fact that Red clover thins the blood and improves circulation are reasons why it is such a great cancer fighter.

In addition to helping the body with skin conditions and issues and cancer, other Red clover uses and benefits include the lungs.  It can be used to treat lung congestion, bronchitis and whooping cough, weak chest and wheezing.    This herb also has antibiotic qualities and can also be used as a gargle for throat soreness, swelling and infections.

Warning

May be contraindicated for estrogen dominant cancers, hormone replacement therapy, and birth control because it contains phytoestrogens. Because of its activity in cleansing and purifying the blood, it may interfere with the drug Tamoxifen and anti-coagulants.  Generally safe otherwise.

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Join Julie Polanco on this episode of Crunchy Christian Podcast as she discusses dandelion uses and benefits. Find out how this common weed has been used for centuries to help with many health issues.

Some Facts About Dandelion

Pretty much everyone knows what a dandelion looks like, with its toothed leaves gathered around the round, almost furry yellow flowers. What looks like one flower is actually hundreds of tiny, single petal flowers arranged in a Fibonacci spiral. These flowers are an important source of nectar for bees during most of the year. In fact, more than 93 different insects have been known to visit dandelion blooms.

The dandelion is pretty abundant in all the northern climates. Some say that it came to North America with the pilgrims and new settlers, but that’s hard to prove. The first recorded use as a medicine is by Arabian physicians in the 10th century. It is so abundant that most people consider it a weed and use all sorts of herbicides to rid their lawns of it. But, one of the dandelion uses and benefits is that it is an important food source. The young greens make a delicious and nutritious salad, providing good amounts of vitamin C, A, folate, and K and also the minerals calcium, iron, magnesium, and potassium.

Aside from the leaves, you can also make dandelion wine from the flowers and dandelion coffee from the roots. Listen in to hear Julie talk about how you can make these drinks.

Dandelion Uses and Benefits

Dandelion is usually prepared as a tea or tincture and used internally, taking care to use 2-year-old roots in making the tincture. Dandelion uses and benefits include mostly kidney and liver conditions. It clears obstructions in the kidneys and gall bladder and helps the liver get rid of toxins in the body. It is also useful in urinary tract infections and jaundice. Dandelion acts as a powerful diuretic without flushing potassium out of the body because it is a rich source of potassium itself. However, these folk uses are not the only dandelion uses and benefits. Some recent research shows promise for using dandelion root extract in helping patients with certain forms of cancer. Additional studies show dandelion’s effectiveness against viruses.

Warning

Dandelion root extract can cause allergic reactions in some individuals. Also, some people with type 2 diabetes may experience negative side effects from using dandelion root extract. However, eating the greens in a salad poses no risks to anyone and can form an important part of your daily diet.

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Join Julie Polanco on this episode of Crunchy Christian Podcast as she discusses natural summer foot care. Learn how to use natural remedies for warts and athlete’s foot.

Natural Summer Foot Care

Summertime seems to be fraught with foot challenges. After spending some time walking around barefoot at a pool, we often contract warts. If we do a lot of hiking or running, we may develop athlete’s foot. Over the counter conventional remedies are usually effective treatments, but sometimes we have an especially resistant case. That’s happened to me. Listen on the podcast as I tell about these challenging cases and what finally worked.

Natural Summer Foot Care for Warts

People often think that a fungus causes warts. Not true. It’s actually viral. That means that warts can reappear even after you get rid of them. Keeping your immune system strong helps keep the virus that causes warts dormant. Another thing that helps is keeping your skin clean and dry. Always wear flip flops in shared showers (such as dorms, locker rooms, and pools) and wash and dry your feet well. Now, most people have had warts on their feet at some time or other. I encountered a particularly hard case with my son one year. While his warts were all over his hand, they could just as easily have been all over his feet. And, the treatment is the same. I used an essential blend of thuja, ravintsara, tea tree, geranium, and niaouli. After applying after every handwashing over the course of about 36 hours, the warts started falling off!

Helps for Athlete’s Foot

Athlete’s foot is caused by a fungus that grows in warm, moist environments, just like other fungi, such as mushrooms. Keeping your feet dry and increasing air circulation around your toes are the first natural summer foot care tips you should follow. You can also help yourself by taking a pro-biotic on a regular basis. This will help your natural flora defend you. It will also complement any other remedies you try.

Apple Cider Vinegar

One summer I contracted a weird foot infection that didn’t look like athlete’s foot, but it sure itched! It wasn’t scaly like the usual fungal infection. Instead, it had these hard, red spots almost like warts. But, I knew my issue wasn’t caused by warts. Anyway, I had tried tea tree oil first. That seemed to keep it from spreading, but the hard, red spots were still there. So, for my natural summer foot care, I decided to soak my feet in apple cider vinegar. I sat there for a while, maybe 20 minutes, with my feet in the vinegar. My feet started to feel tingly and I noticed that there was something different about those hard spots. I repeated this treatment a few more times and the spots dried up and scaled off, leaving my skin smooth.

Essential Oils for Athlete’s Foot

Essential oils effective against athlete’s foot are: tea tree, lavender, oregano, and thyme oils. I mentioned that tea tree oil only kept it from spreading, but that could have been because I waited so long to begin using it. And, I didn’t apply it often enough. I only applied it once or twice a day. If you choose to use essential oils, begin using them as soon as you see symptoms. And, make sure you apply them at least three times and up to five times daily. You can use lavender or tea tree without dilution, but if you choose to use a “hot” oil like oregano or thyme, dilute it in some olive oil or almond oil before applying. You can also add a few drops of one of these oils to some corn starch and use as a medicated foot powder.

Don’t have essential oils? What about herbal treatments? Listen to the podcast to find out about herbal salves you can use as natural summer foot care for athlete’s foot.

 Additional Resources

Alternative Treatments for Warts: A blog post about my adventures with wart treatments.

A Story About Bacterial Infection at the Beach: Don’t expect the lifeguard station to have bandaids, as I discovered. Read more about this adventure by clicking the link.

Dr. Axe talks about Black Walnut: read a super in-depth article about Black Walnut and its properties.

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Join Julie Polanco on this episode of Crunchy Christian Podcast as she discusses natural hydration drinks. Ditch those sugary electrolyte sports beverages and learn how to properly re-hydrate after hiking, biking, running, swimming, and the like. Nourish your body right!

Natural Hydration Drinks Perfect for Summer

Now that we’re all more active, we run the risk of dehydration and heat exhaustion. Our first instinct is to reach for those grocery store sports drinks. But, those are full of sugar, not to mention synthetically produced electrolytes. What can we do instead? What natural hydration drinks did our ancestors drink, especially since farm labor kept them in the fields for long hours in the hot sun?  They didn’t have those colorful sports drinks we have.

These drinks are recommended by hikers (buy ar-15 pistols), sports enthusiasts and others, who desperately require drinks for hydration.

A word about water

Before we talk about natural hydration drinks, we need to talk about your water needs. If your diet is high in fats and fruits and vegetables, you are getting some hydration from the food you eat. A high protein diet may cause you to get dehydrated faster. That’s why the best snack to take on a hike is trail mix. Too much water taxes the kidneys, just like too much protein also taxes the kidneys. How much is recommended? The rule of thumb is men should drink 13-15 cups and women, 9-11 cups, but there are actually no real scientific studies to support that. Each person’s need depends on age, gender, weight, and activity level. Remember what I said about fruit and vegetable intake, which usually accounts for about 20% of your water need. Other sources of water include tea, coffee, milk, juice, and soda.

Signs of dehydration and heat exhaustion

So how do you know if you’re dehydrated? Let’s briefly discuss the signs of dehydration and heat exhaustion. The easiest and most obvious sign of dehydration is dark urine and excreting less urine. If you are also feeling sluggish and tired and craving sugar, you need to get hydrated. If you experience dizziness, fainting, confusion, or heart palpitations, get medical attention immediately. Severe dehydration is an emergency. Don’t let it get that bad!

Heat exhaustion often occurs along with dehydration since it happens because of not getting enough fluids. If the body can’t cool itself in the extreme heat, you may experience many of the severe dehydration symptoms. But with heat exhaustion, you will also experience muscle cramps, headache, lots of sweating and cold clammy skin, and feeling tired. It is very important that you get to a cool place and help the body cool down. Get hydrated, too. Otherwise, it may progress to heat stroke. However, plain water is often not enough. Try these natural hydration drinks instead.

Fruits and Vegetables for Natural Hydration Drinks

On the show, Julie talks about how to use lemon, cucumber, celery, and watermelon to help address hydration needs. She also discusses how to make tasty natural hydration drinks from ginger and oranges. Her family has used traditional fermentation techniques to create healthy inexpensive alternatives to sports drinks.

Other drinks

Julie also briefly discusses kombucha and water kefir as health drinks that can help with keeping hydrated on a hot day. Listen and find out more!

 Additional Resources

Weston Price Foundation: Lots of information about the health benefits of lacto-fermented foods and beverages.

Nourished Kitchen: a post about different types of fermented drinks and needed supplies.

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Join Julie Polanco on this episode of Crunchy Christian Podcast as she discusses herbal first aid. She talks about what you need to keep in your cupboard or take with you on your outdoor adventures. Ready to stock your medicine cabinet with natural helps for scrapes, bruises, and other emergencies? Let’s dig in!

Herbal First Aid Essentials

Before we dig into the herbal first aid and what to stock, let’s talk a bit about first aid. What do we need our remedies to do? We need herbs and essential oils that will soothe and heal burns and scrapes while also keeping infection away. If they can help stop bleeding, that’s great, too. What about muscle sprains and bruising? Headaches? Nausea? Stomach aches? Let’s see what we can keep on hand to address these occasional needs. (If you are experiencing muscle aches, bruising, headaches, nausea, or stomach aches frequently, something more serious may be going on. You need more than herbal first aid).

You can get a FREE PDF, Putting Together a Natural First Aid Kit, by clicking HERE.

Natural Items

These items are not herbs or essential oils, but they are natural items that are very useful in a variety of ways.

Apple Cider Vinegar

As I mentioned in the last episode, apple cider vinegar helps repel mosquitoes. It can also be used for soothing sunburn if diluted and for soothing bug bites. It can also help with poison ivy exposure and minor indigestion. It’s inexpensive and great to have around.

Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is safer than rubbing alcohol and you may choose to include it for minor wound cleaning, not deep wounds. Use diluted or sparingly, though. It can also be used for sanitizing, too, since it effectively kills yeast and other fungi, bacteria, and viruses, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Bring it along in a small bottle on hikes and it effectively cleans any wildcrafted food you collect. It will also keep your toothbrush and dishes clean on those summer camping trips.

Hear about some additional natural items to include in your herbal first aid kit on the podcast.

Herbal First Aid Kit Essentials

Cayenne Pepper

Believe it or not, sprinkling dried and powdered cayenne pepper directly into bleeding wounds stops the bleeding. It doesn’t sting, either. Cayenne causes the blood to redistribute throughout the body and coagulate at the wound site.

Witch Hazel

This astringent, anti-inflammatory herb helps ward off infection, soothe sore throats, and help with irritated inflamed skin.

Arnica

This herb is essential for muscle aches and pains and helping heal bruises faster. It usually comes in a cream or gel.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is an absolute must. It is antimicrobial and antiviral and gentle enough to be used on children’s skin. It’s very good at warding off infections and soothing burns and scrapes. Also helpful with warts and other skin issues.

Julie talks about additional herbal helps on the podcast. Tune in and stock up!

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Join Julie Polanco on this episode of Crunchy Christian Podcast as she discusses natural remedies for bug bites. She talks about natural repellents, mosquito bites, and bee stings.

Natural Remedies for Bug Bites

Natural Bug Repellent

First, you can minimize your exposure by wearing long, light colored clothing and sealing all “entrances” whenever you are in an environment where there are lots of bugs. That means a white, long-sleeved shirt, white neck kerchief, and tan or other light-colored pants tucked inside your socks or boots. You can also help protect yourself by staying indoors at dusk, the time when most mosquitos come out. Bees are easier to spot and so they are easier to avoid most of the time. Ticks can be more difficult, but if your body is covered (even your head), you reduce the risk of getting bitten by a tick.

In addition to wearing long clothes and a hat, you can use a natural bug repellent that won’t irritate your skin and will keep insects at bay. It doesn’t kill bugs, it only keeps them away because they find the smell unpleasant.

DIY Bug Spray

To make your own bug spray, combine the following essential oils in equal amounts: Citronella,

Clove, Eucalyptus, Rosemary, Mint, Lavender, and Cedar. It’s fine to add about 3-4 drops of each in a 4 oz. spray bottle and add water. Don’t just spray your skin, but your clothes, too. Remember, essential oils are produced by plants to protect themselves from disease and pests. That’s why they can protect you, too. And, just like any other bug repellent, you need to re-spray at least every two hours. The alternative to natural repellents is DEET based sprays. On the show, Julie talks a bit about DEET and how it was developed.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Another natural option to repel mosquitoes from your skin and keep them from biting you is with apple cider vinegar. This is all natural and won’t harm your skin, though you should test it on a small area first to make sure you don’t get an allergic reaction. You can rub it directly on your skin, but if you don’t like  the smell, you can also dilute it with some water first. If you start adding apple cider vinegar to your foods or your water, you can actually build up an odor in your skin that mosquitoes and flies hate and they will eventually leave you alone. In addition to apple cider vinegar, eating lots of garlic and avoiding sugar can also help repel mosquitoes.

Bee Stings

First, of course, is to try to avoid getting stung. If a bee is near you, do not agitate the bee by waving your arms around. Try moving to another area. If they see you as a threat, bees release chemicals into the air that alert other bees. You don’t want that! Since sweet smells attract them, as well as certain types of patterns on clothes, keep that in mind. If a bee stings you, don’t panic. Try one of these natural remedies for bug bites. And, if your affected body part starts swelling abnormally, seek immediate medical attention! You are allergic.

Plantain

This weed is found almost everywhere and in a pinch, can be chewed and applied directly to the site. In fact, my son was stung by a bee on a hike once. We didn’t have anything with us, but plantain grew everywhere. I pulled up some leaves, chewed them, and applied the poultice to the site. Don’t you just love how plants are always there to help us?

Meat tenderizer

When I was a child, this was my mom’s home remedy. She made a paste with it and applied it directly to the sting site. After about 20 minutes or so, the sting went away and the swelling went down.

On the podcast, Julie talks about a few other natural ways to deal with the itching and swelling. Tune in and get relief!

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Join Julie Polanco on this episode of Crunchy Christian Podcast as she discusses natural remedies for sunburn. She talks about both protecting your skin and helping your skin heal.

Natural Remedies for Sunburn

Conditioning the Skin

There are ways to prevent sunburn besides avoiding the sun. In fact, we shouldn’t avoid sunlight altogether since we need it so much for good health. However, we don’t want to burn the skin. Sunburn is linked to skin cancer and premature aging.  So, the best way to get enough sun without burning the skin is to spend only 20 minutes at a time out in bright sunlight. If you want to be able to spend more time in the sun, start with 20 minutes a day and gradually add more time each day.

It’s best if you start doing this in late spring. This gradual conditioning will help prevent burning as your skin gets used to more sun exposure. It will release more melanin, causing you to tan instead. If you are very light skinned, you might want to start with only 10 minutes a day and add 5 minutes daily starting in mid-spring. This can be a tedious process, but it will help you avoid sun burn and it gets you outside! It will not help you avoid pre-mature aging, though.

Get thefree reportfor this episode for some ideas on how to pretreat skin to counter aging. You can also wear a wide brimmed hat and loose, thin, white clothing to both stay cool and cover your skin. In addition, stay indoors in the hottest hours of the day, usually 12pm-2pm. But, what are some natural remedies for sunburn when you stay a bit too long out there enjoying the summer sun?

Essential Oils That Are Natural Remedies for Sunburn

Lavender

Lavender essential oil is one of the most popular oils because it is so versatile and gentle. Most of the time we use it to help calm down and sleep. But, it’s also good for calming the skin and helping sunburn to heal. It can be used in dilution with children.

Moroccan Chamomile

Chamomile is another favorite with families because it, too, is gentle enough for children and also has a calming, healing effect. Just make sure you have the right chamomile. Not all of them work the same.

Geranium

Geranium essential oil has long been used in natural skincare formulas and helps rejuvenate skin and protect against aging. It nourishes, heals, and promotes healthy, radiant skin.

Everlasting

Helichrysum, or everlasting, oil is the premier oil for growing new skin. Adding it to a sunburn formula will help the skin heal faster and look younger.

Herbs/Plants

Aloe vera Gel

Everyone knows about aloe vera gel for burns. It cools and moisturizes the skin as it brings down inflammation. Best used immediately after burning and check the label for added ingredients. Sometimes, store bought aloe products include other ingredients.

Calendula Ointment with Carrot Seed Oil

Did you know that Calendula is the scientific name for marigolds? That means that you can make this ointment yourself at home without any special equipment. This combination works great for household burns, too. On the podcast, Julie tells a story of incredible healing using this formula.

St. John’s Wort Oil

Did you know that St. John’s Wort not only helps with emotional and mental health, but can also help with burns and viral infections as well?

Other Natural Remedies for Sunburn

On the podcast, Julie also talks about using cucumber, vitamin A and E, shea butter, coconut oil to help heal burned skin.

Get your short report, Natural Sunscreen and Sunburn Protection, byclicking HERE. Once you put in your email and get to the downloads page, just scroll down to episode 10 and grab your freebie.

Don’t forget to subscribe! Check out thenew gardening e-book collectionin the Julie Naturally shop.

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Join Julie Polanco on this episode of Crunchy Christian Podcast as she discusses natural ways to fight inflammation that makes our noses, ears, and throats all itchy during allergy season.

Natural Ways to Fight Inflammation

A bit about histamines

Since the sneezing and itching associated with seasonal allergies are caused by histamines, this episode is about reducing histamines. When your body releases histamines, a chain reaction occurs. Histamine affects your heart and blood vessels, lungs, eyes and nose, and digestive system.   It also increases swelling and inflammation (which can cause headaches, sleep issues, and other problems) and causes an adrenaline rush. Normally, your immune system releases histamines in response to an invader to mobilize the body to get rid of it. In the case of seasonal allergies, the body sees the allergens as invaders. So, the body ends up chronically inflamed and revved up.

Eliminate or reduce foods high in histamines

Did you know that one of the natural ways to fight inflammation is to reduce your intake of foods containing histamines? On the podcast, Julie talks about these foods. To reduce the histamine load in your body, you will need try to eat less of these foods. In addition, it helps to eat more of the foods that fight inflammation, particularly those high in B vitamins and vitamin C. Julie talks about those, too, in the podcast.

Eliminate other inflammatory foods

Besides foods high in histamines, it also helps to reduce or eliminate foods that promote inflammation in your body. These foods work against your efforts to reduce seasonal allergies symptoms. In the podcast, Julie discusses these problematic foods, one of the biggest culprits being white sugar. If you want to use natural ways to fight inflammation, reducing sugar intake needs to be near the top of the list.

Is it histamine intolerance?

There is no known test for histamine intolerance, but it is a genetic condition. Doctors think that people with this condition produce low amounts of the enzymes that break down histamines. So, to prevent flare-ups, people who suffer with histamine intolerance need to eliminate high histamine foods from their diets. Check out the link below for more information on that.

Other natural ways to fight inflammation

Histamine release is not just associated with invaders or pseudo-invaders, like allergens. It is also associated with certain medications, such as antibiotics, and with stress. Reducing stress can help with lowering inflammation. Try some of the suggestions Julie makes on the podcast. Another way to reduce histamine levels is through increasing your Omega-3 fatty acid intake by eating more grass-fed butter, wild caught salmon, avocados, olive oil, and pastured chicken. It also helps to eat foods high in calcium, phosphorus, zinc, magnesium, B12, and iron. For some examples of these, listen to the podcast!

Don’t forget to subscribe! And, don’t forget to hop on over to Julie Naturally and get your Healthy Habits Tracker!

Additional Resources

The post Natural Ways to Fight Inflammation appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Join Julie Polanco on this episode of Crunchy Christian Podcast as she discusses how to fight allergies naturally with herbs and essential oils.

Fight Allergies Naturally!

Before talking about herbs and essential oils, please remember that all information shared is for educational purposes only. This discussion about the historical and personal uses of herbs and essential oils does not constitute medical advice. Herbs and oils don’t cure anything. They simply provide the raw materials for your body to heal itself the way God intended it to do. So, if you choose to fight allergies naturally, keep this in mind.

Fight Allergies Naturally with Herbs

As mentioned in previous episodes, herbs and oils work best as part of a wholistic approach to wellness. Diet, habits, and herbs/oils work together to heal your body. In the podcast, Julie covers a few herbs and oils, but they aren’t the only ones that help! The ones discussed are safer and more readily available than some other plants.

A note about children: rarely do children under age 5 show signs of seasonal allergies unless they have severe allergies to other things as well. Julie’s sons showed seasonal allergy symptoms at age 4, but they also tested positive for more than fifteen total allergens. These other allergens included foods and animals. It is imperative that the food allergens are addressed even while using herbal remedies. The sooner, the better. Otherwise, they could face a lifetime of misery and eventually, autoimmune conditions as well!

Nettles

Nettles can be found all over the world and tends to live in wooded areas. The leaves are most often used even though they have stinging hairs all along the edges of them. If you trigger any of these hairs, you will develop the characteristic red, itchy, inflamed rash. In the podcast, Julie tells about the antidote to the venom and some unusual historical uses of this plant.

Nettles can be prepared as an extract or as an infusion. It is the most frequently used herb to fight allergies naturally because of its astringent and anti-asthmatic properties. It tends to dry up mucus and improve air flow. It is also widely available compared to some other herbs and in many places, can be wild-harvested or grown in your yard.

Horseradish

Yes, this is that pungent vegetable root from the grocery store! Grate it and inhale the aroma of it or eat it. The strong antiseptic and stimulant properties clear mucus in the sinuses and nasal passages in a hurry. But, don’t use too often or with children. The effect is too strong.

Reishi Mushroom

This mushroom, found primarily in China, is sometimes called the “queen of mushrooms.” It has many effects on the body, but when we fight allergies naturally, reishi works by boosting and stabilizing the immune system to work at its best. And, it inhibits histamine response which helps the allergy sufferer.

Astragalus

This root is well known to the Chinese and can be prepared as a decoction. It is often paired with others because of its tonic effects on the immune system and vital organs. It has shown anti-inflammatory, soothing, and repairing properties. A study published in the journal Phytotherapy Research in 2010 showed that an herbal mineral supplement containing Astragalus root significantly decreased seasonal allergy symptoms compared to placebo.

Marshmallow

Marshmallow is found in most parts of Europe and the U.S. along marshes and banks. It is said that its use goes as far back as the Romans. While most parts of the plant can be used, the root is most often used in a decoction. It has demulcent and emollient properties that soothe inflammation and irritation of the urinary and respiratory tracts. Paired with Astragalus, it helps soothe the irritated nose and throat of the allergy sufferer.

Fight Allergies Naturally with Essential Oils

On the podcast, Julie also talks about three oils that help reduce or eliminate seasonal allergy symptoms—Peppermint, Chamomile, and Niaouli. Want to know more? Discover more herbs and oils that can help you fight allergies naturally. Click HERE to get access to a short e-book on Essential Oils for Allergies when you scroll down to episode 8.

Don’t forget to subscribe! And, don’t forget to hop on over to Julie Naturally and get your Healthy Habits Tracker!

Additional Resources

Julie has several blog posts about this. Check these out:

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Join Julie Polanco on this episode of Crunchy Christian Podcast as she discusses help with seasonal allergies using non-medicinal methods.

Help with Seasonal Allergies

Last week, Julie discussed the importance of addressing food allergies to recover from seasonal allergies. In addition to dietary changes, you can reduce seasonal allergy symptoms with some other simple strategies.

Home environment

Air filters

The first thing that Julie mentions is the positive effect that using room air filters can have. Also, keeping the windows closed or at most, cracked, also goes a long way toward reducing exposure. That’s the key. Reduce exposure to pollen, mold, and other allergens. In addition to room air filters, using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter is a must.

Furniture and cleaners

Furniture with lots of cushions (such as couches) and rooms with wall-to-wall carpeting harbor more allergens. Stuffed animals also contribute. They are harder to clean thoroughly and it’s easy for allergens to get trapped. If you have many of these in your home, you will need to vacuum very thoroughly more often. You may also need to consider deep cleaning with a shampoo carpet cleaner (these can be used on couches) more often, too.

Be careful with the cleaners you choose so they are sanitizing, but non-irritating and safe for children and pets.

Steam inhalation

Neti pot

This was Julie’s best friend for a while! If you are not familiar with the neti pot, it looks like a small genie lamp. You fill it with a warm saltwater solution, tip your head, and slowly pour the solution into one nostril. The solution should come running out the other nostril. If not, you need to adjust the tilt of your head. You don’t want it running down your throat. The neti pot helps wash away inhaled allergens. It tends to be very calming and soothing to the nose and sinuses. This can be safely used when you have a cold, too.

Salt inhaler

For children, it’s hard to use a neti pot. Many adults also have a hard time using it. It can be uncomfortable. An Easi Breathe inhaler is much easier to use, but each person needs to have their own. The idea is to breathe in the salt air through your mouth. Then, breathe out through your nose. After doing this for about ten to fifteen minutes, it clears the nasal passages and the lungs. It, too, can be helpful during times of illness and is safe for children.

Other Help with Seasonal Allergies

Honey and bee pollen

Eating locally grown honey or bee pollen before the allergy season starts can be helpful in teaching the body not to react to the local allergens. Some people swear by honey, but Julie has not found it to be effective on it’s own.

Quercitin

Another help with seasonal allergies is quercitin. Quercitin is a natural supplement that acts as an anti-histamine in the body. It is usually included in herbal remedies and is quite effective when coupled with one or more of the above helps. Julie used this in conjunction with other natural remedies that she will discuss next week!

Probiotics

Many people with seasonal allergies also have candida and gut issues. These gut issues are often caused by diet, as discussed in the last episode. They also stem from candida overgrowth and bacterial imbalances in the gut flora. Probiotics can be helpful in restoring the correct balance of good bacteria in the gut. I t can also keep candida (which is a fungus, just like mold is a fungus) in check. Again, it is best used as part of a complete program, not alone.

Julie will discuss using herbs and essential oils for seasonal allergies next week. So, don’t forget to subscribe! And, don’t forget to hop on over to Julie Naturally and get your Healthy Habits Tracker!

Additional Resources

Julie has several blog posts about this. Check these out:

How to Treat Children’s Allergies Naturally

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Join Julie Polanco on this episode of Crunchy Christian Podcast as she shares her personal story and lessons about the link between diet and seasonal allergies.

The Link Between Diet and Seasonal Allergies

Julie’s Personal Story

First, Julie shares her long struggle to overcome allergies, including seasonal ones. Julie’s journey began with undiagnosed food allergies when she was a little girl. As she got older, she suffered from seasonal allergies as well. Eventually, she became allergic to more 50 different foods and environmental allergens, and she also developed chemical sensitivities. In her mid-20’s she learned of the link between diet and seasonal allergies. Once she discovered this, her journey to health began.

Diet and Seasonal Allergies: What’s food got to do with it?

As Julie discusses on the podcast, certain foods irritate the gut lining, causing damage. For some people, this microscopic damage heals quickly and for others, it doesn’t. When it doesn’t heal quickly, food proteins can get into the blood stream. The immune system sees these proteins as foreign invaders and attacks them. This eventually leads the immune system to become hypersensitive and react to other, similar proteins. That’s how one allergy can become many allergies. If this goes on for too long, the body may even come to see itself as an invader. That’s where autoimmune conditions come from. Sounds crazy, but it’s true.

How Do You Heal?

For Julie, the answers came as she avoided certain foods and detoxified her body of all the allergens and other toxins. It wasn’t easy or quick, but took many months. As her body healed, she regained health and her symptoms faded. Some important steps:

Julie did beat seasonal allergies and even now doesn’t suffer from them, even in the worst years. It was simple, but it wasn’t easy.

To get a seasonal allergies report, clickHERE. Once you’re in, click on the link for episode 6. This report will help you decide if your symptoms are allergies or an ongoing cold. It will also give you more information about causes and possible treatment options, including non-drug ones.

And, don’t forget to hop on over to Julie Naturally and get your Healthy Habits Tracker!

Additional Resources

Julie has several blog posts about this. Check these out:

The post The Link Between Diet and Seasonal Allergies appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Today, on Crunchy Christian Podcast, Julie talks about four ways for food to grow indoors. Maybe you live in an apartment, have a small yard or patio, or your region allows for only a short growing season. Here are some ways to maximize your ability to grow your own food. You may not be able to grow squash indoors, but you can still grow many other plants, including lettuces; kale, spinach, and other greens; strawberries; peas and green beans; onions, garlic, and herbs; and others. Check out these methods and see if one of them might work for you.

Four Ways for Food to Grow Indoors

Thank you to our sponsor, CTC Math.

Grow Herbs

Growing herbs indoors in a greenhouse window in your kitchen or in small pots. Herbs are a great way to get started growing your own food. They smell good, add flavor and variety to cooking, and can be dried for year-round use. On the podcast, Julie shares the best herbs to grow indoors. And, don’t forget that culinary herbs are not the only herbs you can grow!

Grow sprouts and microgreens

Microgreens are the young plants of wheat, barley, broccoli, radish, watercress, beans, and a few others. The plants are generally less than 3 inches tall when eaten, thus the name “micro.” There are special trays for growing microgreens or you can use a sprouting jar. These are easy and quick to grow and are super nutritious! Listen in to find out more about the benefits of growing and eating them, as well as some tips for using a sprouting jar.

Try hydroponics for food to grow indoors

This system uses a special water solution and no soil. It often the water solution with a clear lid to capture the plants’ respiration and to create a greenhouse effect. This is best for smaller garden plants, like lettuces and other greens. It also requires a bit more work and special equipment.

A vertical garden works well indoors

Though there is a constant debate about aquaponics vs hydroponics – a vertical garden uses some hydroponics technology and some composting to grow food vertically indoors in controlled environments. You can purchase a ready-made one or build your own using old gutters, PVC pipe, or other materials. This is probably the most involved, expensive way of growing food indoors, but it also produces the highest yields. It is possible to provide a small family with fresh vegetables year-round with a vertical farm system. Cities all over the world have converted old warehouses into vertical farms to help meet growing food needs.

Resources

All You Ever Wanted to Know About Microgreens

What is hydroponics? Learn the six types of hydroponics

How to Build Your Own DIY Vertical Farm: This offers a supplies list and step-by-step instructions. The finished vertical garden can live indoors or outdoors. An alternative to building your own is a product called Tower Garden (no affiliation).

The post Four Ways for Food to Grow Indoors appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Join Julie Polanco on this episode of Crunchy Christian Podcast as she shares how to start composting. Composting is a great way to recycle the way that God recycles!

How to start composting

What is compost? What are the types?

Compost is basically decomposed waste matter from animals or plants. It is a major component of soil and returns nutrients to the earth so that new life can grow. Insects, earthworms, microbes, and fungi all feed on compost. Through their activities, they fix nitrogen, produce vitamins, and make minerals available to plants, who in turn, provide things that these organisms need. We usually think of compost as animal compost from rabbits, chickens, or cows. But, there’s also worm compost (also known as vermicomposting) and vegetable compost.

Why you should try it over fertilizers

Briefly, fertilizers only feed the plantand only for one season. Fertilizers also tend to promote above ground growth while the roots remain shallow and underdeveloped. In contrast, compost offers long-term benefits for plants and the soil. It is cheap, anyone with a yard can do it, and by enriching the soil, compost insures healthy plants for years. Julie discusses additional reasons on the podcast.

Worm composting versus vegetable composting

If you need compost right away, worm composting is the way to go. But, make sure you have the right worms and the right equipment! On the podcast, Julie shares her story of what happens when you try to cut corners. Don’t do what she did. If you want to know how to start composting this year in preparation for next year’s garden, then vegetable composting is for you. Vegetable composting is easy! Let Julie tell you how easy it is.

When you start composting, what do you put in the bin?

On the podcast, Julie talks about the two types of vegetable matter you can add to your bin—browns and greens. Never add animal products to your bin, except eggshells! But, even though you only add vegetable waste, a few things should be excluded from your bin. Those include weeds, diseased plants, seeds, and tough flower stalks. You don’t want to contaminate your garden or have unwanted plants growing in your bin!

To get a handy printable to keep the browns and greens straight, clickHERE. Once you’re in, click on the link for episode 4. Post it up on your corkboard or refrigerator to help you remember how to properly compost.

Listen to Crunchy Christian Podcast to get the scoop on how start composting.

And, don’t forget to hop on over to Julie Naturally and get your Healthy Habits Tracker!

Additional Resources

The post How to Start Composting appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Join Julie Polanco on this episode of Crunchy Christian Podcast as she shares how to get started with square foot gardening. This method is one of the most popular ways for beginning gardeners to grow food successfully. Square foot gardening can be customized to suit any size yard and any type of plant.

How to get started with square foot gardening: the basics

What is square foot gardening? How is it different from other types?

Instead of planting in rows, seeds are planted in square foot mini-plots. These one foot by one foot squares lie side by side, creating larger squares or a grid arrangement. Julie discusses some advantages of this arrangement in the show.

Why you should try it

On the show, Julie discusses several reasons why she feels square foot gardening is superior to other methods. Overall, it is the most organized way to garden that reduces waste and takes less work to maintain. When you get started with square foot gardening, you set yourself up for an enjoyable gardening experience for years to come. And, if you couple this method with raised beds, it allows you to continue to garden even as you age.

How much space do you want to devote to growing food?

Do you have eight square feet to work with or sixteen square feet? This method is for an outdoor garden only, but it doesn’t matter how small or large your yard is. Any size will work. And, you can split up the squares. Maybe you have a two foot by sixteen-foot space along the side of your house. But, you also have an eight foot by eight foot space next to your garage. You can use both spaces. As you get started with square foot gardening, you can get creative with your garden!

How you set up your square foot garden

Once you’ve decided how much space you have, it’s time to start marking off your squares, getting the soil ready, and planting your seeds. On the show, Julie discusses a couple of ways to set up your squares. Once you have that done, get the download she mentions by clickingHERE. The printable you receive through this link will help you decide what to grow in your squares. Some vegetables need more space than others or will require a trellis.

Listen to Crunchy Christian Podcast to get the scoop on how get started with square foot gardening.

And, don’t forget to hop on over to Julie Naturally and get your Healthy Habits Tracker!

Additional Resources

The post Get Started on Square Foot Gardening appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Join Julie Polanco on this episode of Crunchy Christian Podcast as she shares how to start a garden in a small space. Growing food in a small space brings special challenges that owners of larger pieces of land don’t have to deal with. What if you live in an apartment, townhouse, or condo? What if you own a small city lot, like Julie does? How can you still enjoy the benefits of growing your own food?

And most of all, what if you’ve never grown anything in your life?

Now’s the time to get started!

 How to start a garden in a small space: 5 considerations

How much space do you want to devote to growing food?

The first thing to think about is where you will grow your food. Do you have space outdoors or will you grow food in pots on your apartment balcony? The amount of space you have will determine what you will grow and how much.

What vegetables does your family enjoy and which ones will you grow?

Julie offers a few ideas on how to decide which vegetables to grow.

Get the download she mentions by clickingHERE. The printable you receive through this link will help you decide what to grow in your small space. Some vegetables need more space than others or will require a trellis and others grow well in smaller spaces or in pots.

Where do you get quality seeds?

In this episode, Julie mentions a few different ways to get quality seeds for your garden. If you cannot get them from a local source, here are a few mail order sources:

Seed Savers Exchange

Harvesting History

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

Grow Organic

Gardens Alive!

Julie has no affiliation with any of these companies and does not endorse one over the other. These sites are provided for your convenience.

How do you prepare the plot/pots where you will plant your garden?

Offer your vegetables and herbs the best chance of sprouting by optimizing the soil in your plot or pot. You do not want to use tons of compost or fertilizer. But, you also don’t want to just throw some seeds on your unprepared backyard soil. Julie gives some simple tips for getting your area ready before you plant any seeds.

What are the indoor/outdoor requirements for starting your seeds?

Some seeds need to be started indoors and some are direct seed. Some vegetables need lots of water in order to sprout and some need cold weather. When you receive your seed packets, pay special attention to this. Generally, delicate leafy vegetables do not do as well in direct, hot sun (think lettuce and spinach). Brassicas (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussel sprouts, kale, kohlrabi, and collards) like cooler weather also. However, tomatoes and peppers do best in the hot summer sun. Another example is carrots. Carrots need consistently moist soil to sprout, but other vegetable seeds drown with too much water. So, it’s important to check on the specific recommendations for the vegetables you’re growing.

Listen to Crunchy Christian Podcast to get the full scoop on how to start your garden in a small space.

And, don’t forget to hop on over to Julie Naturally and get your Healthy Habits Tracker!

The post How to Start Your Garden in a Small Space: 5 Easy Tips appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Join Julie Polanco as she shares what Crunchy Christian Podcast is all about. It all started in a vacant lot down the street where common weeds became her sanctuary. Find out how the Vine of the Gospel of John beautifully wove plants into Julie’s story and what you can expect each week on the new Crunchy Christian Podcast.

Special thanks to our sponsor, Julie Naturally. You can receive a FREE Healthy Living Tracker by clicking on this link: Click HERE

Welcome to Crunchy Christian Podcast with Julie Polanco, MH!

Every Friday, Master Herbalist and veteran Christian unschooler, Julie Polanco, shares hope, how-to’s, and a bit of humor from her unschooling family’s adventures as city homesteaders pursuing God’s best naturally.

Become more self-reliant as you listen to Julie share lessons from her years of growing and preserving all things green.

Learn historic uses and preparations of roots, seeds, stems, bark, leaves, and flowers from across God’s Creation.

Laugh with Julie as she remembers mistakes and mishaps her family experienced over the past two decades seeking the natural, crunchy Christian life.

Listen to more Crunchy Christian Podcasts here!

The post What is Crunchy Christian Podcast About? appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.