As a mother of three daughters, I saw my fair share of the effects of menstrual cramping. Severe cramping most commonly occurs in teenagers and women in the childbearing years. In my daughters' cases, the pain became so intense that it caused vomiting, shakiness and passing out. Period cramping is an unpleasant interruption in any woman's life. Luckily, there are plenty of natural remedies for alleviating and preventing the pain of menstrual cramps. Here are some of the remedies that my daughters utilized through the years to lessen the pain. First, lets chat about what causes menstrual cramps and how lifestyle and diet can make a difference for those who suffer from them. Menstrual cramps are the sensation that some women feel when...
There are two common childhood ailments that make even the most experienced parents shudder with disgust: pinkeye and lice. Recently, two of Vickie's young grandchildren contracted pinkeye, and we thought it was a great opportunity to discuss treatment and prevention so that hopefully you don't end up at an important work meeting looking like you haven't slept in three weeks because your kindergartener didn't wash his hands after playing on the monkey bars at school. Conjunctivitis, aka pinkeye, is a highly contagious condition that causes redness, swelling, and discharge in the eyes. Most cases of pinkeye will go away on their own in a week or two, but you can hopefully speed recovery time and reduce discomfort by using these tips:...
Now that January is here, the gyms are full and the produce shelves at the grocery stores are empty. Here at Nature Works, we love the idea of a fresh start and a good health-related goal, but we are also fiercely anti-diet culture. We believe that restricting entire food groups or making drastic changes to your diet is unsustainable and unhealthy. There are so many small changes that you can make that will lead to better health (and, yes, sometimes weight loss) that you can maintain while enjoying MORE... let's talk about them! MORE PRODUCE: We've all heard that "an apple a day keeps the doctor away", and there's so much truth to this statement! Adding more produce to your diet (organic whenever...
It's that magical time of year, when we gather together with friends and family, to give and receive gifts and celebrate the season with those we love. After the past few years, health is at the top of everyone's wish list, or at least at the forefront of their minds. Giving someone a gift that will help them prioritize their well-being lets them know that you care. And since wellness can take so many forms, there’s no shortage of gifts out there to give to the people on your list who love to (or need to) to invest in self-care. As an added bonus, most of these gifts can be locally sourced, creating a smaller environmental impact and supporting small...
What a magical time of year it is! I have always loved the spirit of Christmas. I am especially fond of spending time with family, sitting by the fireplace as snow falls, and watching children’s eyes sparkle with excitement. As wonderful as the Christmas season is, we all know it can sometimes be stressful. The to-do list grows each day with more shopping, wrapping, cooking, and so forth. In addition to all the gifts made or purchased for those we love, many people give their neighbors, kids' teachers and coworkers gifts, adding even more to their to-do lists. Luckily, you can give your neighbors and friends something special that doesn’t involve spending hours in the kitchen. Instead of making time-consuming,...
