Living Naturally
July 17, 2020
Sure, we all know that what we eat is important for our physical health. But can what we eat also affect how we feel? Let’s explore better eating can help us feel better—less anxiety, stress, and depression.
Interestingly, there’s a whole new field dedicated to this question: “Nutritional psychiatrists” counsel patients on how better eating may help lead to better mental health.
Specifically, Nutritional Psychiatry aims to provide “a comprehensive, cohesive, and scientifically rigorous evidence... more
July 9, 2020
Ready to de-stress? Release tension with this deep breathing technique. It really works! As with fitness, deep breathing exercises can actually promote health and relaxation. Learn more—plus, find two simple breathing exercises. See how it works.
From the moment we take that first breath, we keep breathing until we stop for good. Breathing happens automatically and most of us rarely think about it, until we come down with a respiratory ailment or find ourselves puffing with exertion.
Practice... more
June 23, 2020
For centuries, people have been using fruits, vegetables and other natural products to nourish their skin and hair. Here are four easy DIY recipes: for a cucumber face mask, honey yogurt face mask, banana hair mask, and lip color. All use products straight from your kitchen! Have fun!
History of Natural Beauty
Avocado, cornmeal, cabbage, honey, milk, eggs, potatoes, cucumbers, apple cider, yogurt, lemons, cottage cheese, wine, oils, lard, ground spices, herbs, salt, bananas, tomato pulp,... more
June 22, 2020
What is the town dump? In my town, it’s the endearing name for the “transfer station” where all the residents deposit their trash. Maybe there’s a transfer station in your town? Sure, it sounds like a place to be avoided, but with a “swap shop” and even a secondhand bookshop, it’s actually a place to recycle, reuse, and socialize!
In my town and many nearby towns, we still call it “the dump,” even though it’s no longer a final resting place for trash, but a “transfer station,” where residents... more
June 18, 2020
Bad breath? Stinky feet? Sweaty armpits? Learn about natural ways to tame body odors. Scientists have determined that each of us has a unique “odor-print,” as distinctive as our fingerprints!
Nope, this odor-print isn’t altered by your recent garlic-laden meal or by perfumes, aftershaves, or deodorants. Your individual odor-print is created by different amounts of 120 chemical compounds.
When there is disease, your body produces different odors, some of which dogs can identify! Some day,... more
June 8, 2020
The family dogs and cats seem to enjoy the outdoors as much as we do. But the warm months bring special challenges to pet owners—fleas, ticks, skunk encounters, and more! Here are some common summer pest problems—from ticks to fleas—and solutions.
Dogs roll in smelly things. If they aren’t fenced in, cats that go outside sometimes bring in small animals they’ve killed or just want to play with. Both dogs and cats on the loose may be attacked by wildlife or run off chasing wild creatures, have a... more
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 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
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
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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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