Living Naturally
January 20, 2021
It’s been grey and cold outside. I feel washing down hot cocoa smothered in whipped cream, sinking back into my recliner, and waking up in April. But let’s touch on the simple joys, the short naps, the comforts of winter—and bolster our resolve to bolster our mental, physical, and emotional health!
Whoa!
Forget New Year’s resolutions. About mid-January is we’ve recovered from the holidays and the dormant winter months set in. How do we maintain or even improve our mental, emotional, and... more
December 18, 2020
As an alternative to New Year resolutions, try a little self-trickery for your own self-care and health. It works for me! Here are ideas to take better care of yourself in the year 2021!
Here’s the dilemma: I know that I need to change something. I’m also aware that I don’t want to do the work that seems to be required, or I would have changed already. Escaping an established habit or routine feels uncomfortable, and I’m likely to slip back into the comfortable, wellworn grooves of habit.
We... more
December 17, 2020
How do you get cozy? As we move into wintertime and the nights get colder, I begin to crave coziness, that feeling of body, mind, and spirit enveloped in warmth and comfort. Hunkered down, snug, safe, secure. Here are some new ideas for finding comfort—from connecting with others to warming up a living space.
Reflecting on the idea of coziness, I see people creating it in different, though interconnected, spheres of daily life.
How to Connect With Others
Connecting with loved ones, friends, and... more
December 14, 2020
There’s a lot to love about a good, old-fashioned blizzard. But first, let me dispense with the caveats: There’s a lot to love if you don’t have to travel by car or plane and if you have a safe, secure home with emergency provisions! So now, a few blizzard joys …
As I write this, we’re in the final hours of a storm that dropped more than a foot of snow in a 24-hour period, during which the temperature didn’t rise much above zero and often dipped way below. We’d half-filled the bathtub, readied... more
December 8, 2020
Ever heard the old advice that wearing socks can help you fall asleep? Now there is evidence that there is some truth to this advice. Warm feet lead to better (and faster) sleep!
Many Americans need all the help available to get a good night’s sleep. One recent Consumer Reports study found 68 percent of us had sleeping difficulties at least once a week, and an estimated 27 percent of Americans suffered chronic sleeping problems.
Experts offer many possible reasons for this phenomenon: We’re... more
December 3, 2020
Do I have COVID, a bad cold, or the flu? It’s winter and the traditional flu season, so it’s common to be experiencing symptoms. We find ourselves in the same position. Learn how to tell the difference and see a helpful symptom checker.
Let’s start with the flu and COVID. Both are contagious respiratory illness and affect the lungs. Both spread in similar ways. However, they are caused by different viruses. Human influenza A and B viruses cause seasonal epidemics of disease (known as the flu... more
November 23, 2020
Why do onions make you cry when you cut them? How do you slice onions without tears? Are leftover onions toxic? Enjoy these onion facts—and some folklore.
Why DO Onions Make You Cry?
To put it simply, fumes from onions trigger a reaction in your eyes’ glands that starts the flow of tears. When you cut the onions, you are damaging their cell walls and causing naturally occurring amino acid sulfoxides to get released, mix with other compounds in the onion, and turn into a gas that wafts into your... more
November 23, 2020
Seriously, it’s not that hard to grow salad all winter long. Enjoy fresh, tender, delicious salad greens indoors in recycled plastic containers under a couple of inexpensive fluorescent shop lights. It’s fun to grow edible plants—plus, no weeds or pests! Here’s how to use grow lights for salad in winter.
Growing Lettuce Under Lights
Last year, I purchased grow lights to start seedings in early spring. They’ve never been used in winter so growing salad in winter is a perfect match!
If you don’t... more
November 18, 2020
Every year, food poisoning is a health issue around the holidays. With new cooks in the kitchen, lots of turkey being cooked, and more people indoors, it’s prudent to take practical steps to avoid food-borne illness. Here’s what new about food safety—and also some helpful tips on freezing food.
In the past few months, at the behest of public health officials, we’ve gotten accustomed to wearing masks when we go out, washing our hands often, and decontaminating surfaces to help prevent... more
October 30, 2020
Do you have trouble sleeping at night due to restless legs? Here is a helpful overview of restless legs syndrome (RLS), including symptoms, causes, home remedies and treatments, and information to learn more.
What Is Restless Legs Syndrome?
They arrive soon after you lie down to sleep: strange sensations creeping through your legs. People variously describe the sensations as tugging, pulling, tingling, stinging, throbbing, itching, or aching; others say it feels as if something is crawling or... more
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"Living Naturally" is all about living a naturally healthy lifestyle. Margaret Boyles covers health tips, ways to avoid illness, natural remedies, food that's good for body and soul, recipes for homemade beauty products, ideas to make your home a healthy and safe haven, and the latest news on health. Our goal is also to encourage self-sufficiency, whether it's relearning some age-old skills or getting informed on modern improvements that help us live better, healthier lives.
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