Living Naturally
June 1, 2020
Do you crave sweet foods to the point where once you start, you can’t stop? Or, do you feel satisfied with a single cookie or a small piece of pie? If you fall into the first category, you have a lot of company. And a lot of you are trying to quit or cut down on sweet foods and drinks.
To be clear, we’re not talking about naturally-found sugar found in fruit and vegetables; this actually has little effect on your blood sugar and you’re consuming lots of healthy vitamins and minerals.
The danger... more
May 28, 2020
Not fond of veggies? Or, just looking for creative ideas to add more vegetables to your menu to get to that five times a day recommendation? We have 10 creative, fresh ideas on eating more vegetables!
I’m always on the lookout for ways to add veggies to our meals. This works out well with my growing passion for vegetable gardening (despite being in a two–person household).
A few years back, my adult daughter moved to a toney Virginia suburb, where she found it challenging to live on her modest... more
May 26, 2020
I’ll admit to a lifelong coffee addiction. Fortunately, coffee grounds and leftover coffee have so many household uses—plus, why waste daily grounds? From the garden to house to health, discover the great uses around the house and garden. Here are 15 uses for coffee to get you started.
I love my coffee strong and black. The beans come from our local food co-op—fair-trade, organic French Roast—and we grind it fresh for every pot. That leaves a lot of coffee ground.
Sometimes I feel coffee... more
May 13, 2020
Take a break and try one of these 10-minute workouts at home. A growing body of research suggests that sneaking in one or several 10-minute bouts of exercise can deliver impressive health and fitness benefits.
That’s good to know, especially in poor weather or stressful times when—face it—low or no motivation encourage us to move less and just get cozy with some banana bread.
Most guidelines—such as those of the American Heart Association—call for at least 30 minutes of exercise. So, if you... more
May 7, 2020
Often thought of as weeds, the stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) is actually the plant of a thousand uses—nutritious food, medicine, tea herb, cheese-flavoring agent, beer, herbal fiber for weaving, fertilizer, dyestuff, ladybug attractant, important food source for butterfly larvae—and more. See the benefits of nettles plus how to make nettle tea and soup.
One of the first wild plants to thrive early in the year is the nettle. You’ll know if you accidentally run into a wild patch of stinging... more
May 7, 2020
Ever heard of “slow walking”? It may sound too good to be true, but simply walking slowly and consciously is good for your health. Not only does it burn a surprising number of calories and decrease joint stress, but also it adds an element of meditation and mental well-being to our lives.
You’ve probably heard about Slow Food. The whole slow movement is about downshifting to invite more meaning, connection, and calmness to our everyday lives. It can apply to any activity.
Slow walking as a form... more
May 5, 2020
How is your dreamworld? After being quarantined at home for a few weeks, some folks have been reporting “quarantine dreams” and nightmares. What are nightmares, anyway? Let’s check in with our “night life” and 10 tips for a restful night’s sleep.
I’ve had nightmares occasionally wake me at night—usually just before awakening for the day. They rarely feature any narrative content, such as an event or sequence of events with real people in real landscapes. They would just come on as a frenetic... more
April 27, 2020
Most of us are used to thinking of “exercise” as something to do in a gym, but we’re overlooking common ways to get our hearts and lungs pumping, strengthen our muscles, and stretch everything out in the ordinary activities of everyday life (especially relevant now!).
Ironically, a lot of these opportunities fall under the heading of tasks, often ones we dread or put off doing!
Why should you care? Almost daily, some new study reveals another health benefit of regular exercise. Many experts... more
April 17, 2020
Most Americans equate “health” with professional health care, especially now, but I’d go so far as to say that self-care and family-based caregiving are the foundations of both good health and happiness.
Aside from COVID-19 practices, there are self-health practices learned from living (and backed by scientific research). None of them takes much in the way of cash.
The hard truth—at least in my experience—is that they never become habits. Each one requires daily recommitment (remembering) and... more
April 16, 2020
Baking has become such a popular pastime during this quarantine that some stores have run out of flour. With that in mind, let’s consider (1) some simple baking ideas that use less flour, (2) low-flour recipes, and (3) no-flour recipes. We’ve added new flourless recipes that are truly some of our most delicious and don’t use a teaspoon of flour!
With tens of millions of Americans practicing physical distancing by self-quarantining at home—alone, with spouses, partners, siblings, parents, and/or... more
Pages
"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.
FREE BEGINNER'S GARDEN GUIDE!
BONUS: You’ll also receive our Almanac Companion newsletter!
