Feeling Depressed? Get Your D!

People who know me often describe me a being a sunny personality. I agree! I tend to look on the bright side of life, and consider myself to be an eternal optimist.

But come the winter months, I find myself a little less sunshiny - and even a little down. I can be quite pooped out, achy, without energy, and moody - which is totally not normal for me! Thankfully, after a particularly slow, slightly SAD winter last year, I learned that my symptoms were related to a Vitamin D deficiency.

This deficiency is commonly seasonal: most Vitamin D is made when skin is exposed to sunlight, and since during the darker months our planet moves away from the sun - colder weather means most of us don't spend time outdoors. So instead of a healthy store of Vitamin D, we end up with an unhealthy store of Vitamin Depression - the winter blues! It is so common, in fact, that researchers have classified winter depression as a seasonal mood disorder, often referred to as "seasonal affective disorder, or SAD".

For people suffering from SAD-like symptoms: difficulty waking up in the morning, tendency to oversleep as well as to overeat, and especially a craving for carbohydrates - which leads to weight gain - treatment can be simple. Supplementing with Vitamin D and eating D-rich foods like salmon, sardines, shrimp, milk, cod and eggs, can significantly enhance Vitamin D stores. We need the sun, too! I'm not saying go get a tan, of course - a 15 minute walk per day, exposing the hands, face, or legs to sunlight, is perfectly enough. And the added exercise benefit gives us all a boost!

Recently I purchased a light-box, which I use between 30 - 60 minutes every morning. I just run it on, and go about my business - it's just like being outside! While there are many light-boxes available on-line, I found mine HERE. I have found that coupled with my diet and walks, the light-box has also helped me have way more energy this season - and I have upped my thrill-ness to normal!

On another note, while winter blues can signal deficient d's, a deficiency in Vitamin D can often be more serious than just a case of the blahs. Without this vitamin, children can develop bone deformities or growth retardation, and as adults we can suffer from bone fractures, bone pain and soft bones. Back in my Grandmama's day, a spoonful of cod liver oil - rich in D - was given to all children to avoid rickets, a childhood disease characterized by improper bone development. In fact, I remember my own Momma giving me a daily dose (usually cut with peppermint or cherry, which did nothing to disguise the taste). Today, eating Vitamin D-rich foods and supplementing when necessary, coupled with 10 - 15 minutes of sun exposure daily, protects us from a range of physical and mental ailments.

As we move towards the dead of winter and into a new year, I wish you a report card full of D's! The most healthy, happy kind, of course.

Love and happiness, Sage

Photo Credit: mysza

As I sit with my warm mug of soy nog, I think of you, dear readers!

Wishing you all a very merry, happy, peaceful holiday season.

May you all be blessed with abundant health in the year to come!

Much love, Sage

Immune Boosting Double Duty - Echinacea and Goldenseal

So I have boasted non-stop about how healthy I am, and how I hardly ever sniffles... And this week my visiting family (excepting my immediate loves et moi) was hit with a cold of the pre-schooler kind (the hardest)! Luckily, I've been boosting my family's immunity with a duo of herbs, daily. I've been fortifying us all winter, and so far so good!

Echinacea and Goldenseal are two amazingly immune boosting herbs. I wanted to write about them together, because they work so well in tandem! Both grow indigenously in North America - in fact I just noticed that my mom has a ton growing in her front yard! - and have been used for centuries by the natives.

Echinacea is also known as purple cornflower, and works to support the body's own defence mechanism. Scientists know that Echinacea is able to render an enzyme produced by bacteria ineffective, which stops it from multiplying. Translation: stops ailments from getting worse! Known in native medicine as a sacred plant, this tall pink-purple flowered plant was taken by the Sioux before cold weather, to build up resistance to infectious diseases. Additionally it effectively treated blood poisoning, counteracting the infection and aiding in eliminating inflammation. In those days the leaves and roots were chewed and the juices swallowed, but today we can take a capsule, tea or tincture. I love it in a tea, blended with soft, gentle herbs like chamomile and peppermint.

Goldenseal is also known as yellow root or Wild curcuma. It is a bitter herb that stimulates the secretion and flow of bile, and can also be used as an expectorant. It also has strong activity against a variety of bacteria, yeast, and fungi, such as E. Coli and Candida. Traditionally used by Native Americans to treat skin disorders, digestive problems, liver conditions, diarrhea, and eye irritations, it gained widespread popularity in the early 1800s due to its promotion by the charismatic founder of Thompsonian Medicine: Samuel Thompson (would I have loved to have dinner with that guy!). It aids in fighting infection by activating white blood cells, and is most effective in aiding places where mucus is produced: the mouth, sinuses, throat, the intestines, stomach, urinary tract and vagina.

We take these herbs for two weeks at a time, and then take a break. My relatives will probably be sniffling their way through our holiday festivities, but Sage's crew will be fine through New Years! Good thing too, since we've scheduled a Swedish Roll In The Snow. Ahem.

Blowing kisses, Sage

Photo Credit: zanastardust

Get Gorgeously Festive! My Personal Fave Products For You

Yesterday I wrote about my yen for zenned-out skin. While I wholeheartedly believe that minimal stress = gorgeousness all around, I also am a firm-skinned believer that there are other important contributors!

Getting gorgeous for the holidays does mean eating, drinking, and supplementing well. I have posted a few articles about battling winter dryness and eating our way to immortal beauty, but I think we can all also appreciate some great grooming tips! Yes, even an eco-glamour-puss like me likes to make it up, and I have some tried and true sexy-natural products to share with you:

A sleek 'do: Guys and dolls appreciate having a well-to-do `do. With the right product, it's so easy! Hamadi Beauty has an amazing shea-based hair pomade, perfect for short styles. It also pulls double-duty as a shaving cream, cuticle treatment and leave-in conditioner! Translation: no matter what length your hair, this pomade will leave it shiny and sleek. Tested on actresses, never on animals, I love this stuff.

Get sprayed!: Here, kitty kitty! Mood-enhancing fragrances are the fastest way for us cats to feel festive. Tsi-La Organics perfumes leave me so sweet smelling that I want to eat myself (I'm not saying which one, as a lady never admits her signature scent!). They create fragrances for men and women, in delicious concoctions using 100% renewable energy and organic ingredients.

Glowball: As I have divulged, I am a sucker for anything anti-aging in a seductively packaged bottle. My absolute favorite all-around beauty product is John Masters Organics Green Tea and Rose Hydrating Facial Serum. I mix this anti-aging elixir with my mineral powder to create a foundation, and dab it around my eyes as a treatment. It really is heaven in a bottle.

A smoky eye: Nothing says "I'm going to a party" like a smoldering eye. Rimming the eyes in a dark liner and shadow combination is ageless, sophisticated and sexy. Any dark hue will do: dark brown, charcoal, even eggplant, and looks great whether applied with a light or heavy hand. I love ZUZU Luxe eyeliner pencils, which come in a variety of colors. Long lasting, chemical-free and vegan, they appeal to all of my senses!

Hair Essentials: I must wax poetic about my favorite NaturalWellbeing product. Not only does Hair Essentials help grow back hair that has been dormant, but it keeps my skin clean and clear. I believe it has even eradicated my PMS! With a powerful blend of Chinese herbs, and silica, white tea, and borage oil, it delivers antioxidants and essential fatty acids directly to my skin, hair and nails. I swear by it.

And there we are, my favorite products for getting glory-be gorgeous - naturally. Natch! I hope you'll find them glow-inducing, too.

Your organic babe, Sage

Photo Credit: jenny-pics

Get Lustrous - Bust Stress!

Every holiday season I find my skin incredibly reactive, sensitive, and just generally irritated. Much like many of the folks rushing around me, filled with holiday madness (pun intended)!
Getting gorgeous for the holiday season can sometimes be as stressful as shopping for it, and it's no surprise that stress is one of the leading causes of hormonal imbalances: which can result in a less than lustrous physical appearance.

I love to feel and look lustrous. Who doesn't? And so I take it upon myself during this period to give myself some pretty fantastic holiday gifts, the most important one being: relaxation! When I'm relaxed, my skin glows, my hair shines, and I feel great (aka lustrous).

There are many fantastic things one can do to promote relaxation. My favorite - though a little time consuming - is a bath. After a long, cold day of running around, immersing myself in a hot bath filled with salts and precious oils brings me back. I begin with a gentle but invigorating body polish, to remove dead skin cells and stimulate circulation - I am in love with Deep Steep's polish in Lavender Chamomile.

After the great slough, a bath with salts aids to naturally draw toxins from my body, and promote a sweat, and the molecules from essential oils enter through my skin and into my nervous system. I am instantly transported to Planet Peace. Bonus: I glow from top to bottom! One of my favorite bath salts on the market are the Ginger Bath Salts from Pharmacopia, filled with epsom salt; powdered ginger and mustard; and essential oils of lemongrass, tangerine and cinnamon. Absolute heaven - and makes my whole house smell delicious!

When I'm feeling particularly bustling, I skip the coffee and head straight for my garden - a tea of fresh herbs does wonders! Try sipping tea in an oversized cup, inhaling the fragrance as you drink. Herbs like mint, especially spearmint and peppermint, add a mild sedative action to herbal teas. They are especially soothing to an upset stomach. Chamomile has a light, gentle taste, and naturally soothes jittery nerves as a result of stress. It also can help to ease stomach cramps caused due to overeating. Some homeopathic physicians recommend the use of tea made from chamomile three times a day to help a person recover from addictions to medications and other drugs, citing the tea's ability to help flush out toxins from the system. I think of a bad mood as a toxin, and inhaling and drinking such sedating herbs are great ways to flush it away!

And speaking of inhaling, the molecules in essential oils can have profound effects on our nervous systems. Lavender, chamomile, and rose are all fragrant ways to induce a calm state - especially in kids and pets! Aromatherapy burners and diffusers can be found almost anywhere (and make great gifts btw), and can make lovely bathroom or counter top accessories- just don't ever leave unattended!

And finally, my number one stress-busting tip for the holiday season: smile! Everyone looks more attractive when they smile. A smile is contagious, and lights up any room. What better way to de-stress than that?

Love, Your Lady Luster, Sage

Photo Credit: denniswong

Cranberries - A Berry Way To Be Well

We all know that we are what we eat, and diet plays such an important part of our wellness. And that's why I love, love, love the holiday season - the food is incredibly tasty, and so good for the body beautiful!

Last month I shared with you my love of yams. SO yummy. This month, our ubiquitous holiday meal would be incomplete without my famous cranberry sauce - delish, delectable, and de-great for us!

Cranberries are of the evergreen family, and can be found growing in acidic bogs all over the Northern Hemisphere - maybe that's why they're so mouth-puckeringly sour!
Cranberries are low shrubs or vines with slender, wiry stems and small evergreen leaves. They have lovely little dark pink flowers that domestic honeybees just love (love the bees by the way, people. They are the reason we have this fabulous food all over the place. Ahem.)! Cranberries grow white, but turns a deep red when ready for the picking in fall.

Cranberries are rich in Vitamin C and polyphenol antioxidants. Eating and drinking these berries can fill us with potent anti-aging, cancer-preventing, and cardiovascular support. The tannins in cranberries (the substance that makes them tart and rather sticky-dry in the mouth) gives these berries anti-clotting properties and can help flush out urinary tract bacteria (read my post about that HERE) and can reduce the amount of dental plaque-causing bacteria - in other words, sweeten your breath!

Cranberries are blended with sweeteners and can be found commercially as juice, sauce, and sweetened dried cranberries. You can find canned or frozen cranberries in grocery stores, but I prefer mine fresh. I make my own sauce, throw the berries in to pies and baked goods, and simmer them in teas and wines!

Speaking of making my own sauce, here it is:

Ingredients

• 1 cup (200 g) organic honey


• 1 cup (250 mL) water


• 4 cups (1 12-oz package) fresh organic cranberries


• organic pecans, organic orange zest, organic currants, organic cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.

Add in your other ingredients to taste! So simple.

Remove from heat and cool before serving. The sauce will thicken as it cools.

This makes just over 2 cups.

To a berry, berry holiday season!

Warm, spicy love, Sage

Photo Credit: vieuxbandit

Congratulations Dptdawg, You've Won Testimonial Of The Month!

Dear readers, I am often so busy telling you my stories, that when I sit down to read yours I become overwhelmed with joy. I am consistently amazed by how your lives have changed for the better! Each month, your testimonials are entered into a random draw and a prize winner is hand-drawn. The winning testimonial is posted here, by me, and the writer receives via email an online Gift Certificate for use on NaturalWellbeing's site!

A big thank-you to this month's winner, Dptdawg from Jackson, MI!

Dptdawg writes:

"I used to get cold sores every 2-3 months on average, until I started taking Trilex about 8 months ago. The first time I felt a sore starting I took 3 capsules 3 times that day, and the sore completely went away without even as much as a blemish. The 2nd time was about 2 months later and again I took 3 capsules 3 times and no sore breakout. The 3rd time I had a sore develop so fast that when i woke up in the morning I had a small blister already started, I was very concerned that it would be too late to stop this one. I actually took 3 capsules the normal 3 times that day and the sore din't get any larger so I took the same dosage the next day and the sore slowly dried up and went away without any noticeable marks or abrasions. I am the most skeptical person you will ever see when it comes to medical products actually working but Trilex actually does exactly what it says it does and even more.. I was a believer the first and second time taking it, but to have it reverse the blister effect without any abrasions was absolutely a godsend. Thank you Trilex for helping get my life back to normal."

Congratulations, Dptdawg! And happy holiday shopping!

Love, Sage

Would you like a chance to win a NaturalWellbeing Gift Certificate? Send your testimonial to , and I'll enter you! Monthly winner will be posted here by me, and contacted by email.

Photo Credit: mysza

Mulled Wine - The Festive Way To Enjoy Antioxidants

I love the holiday season. It can't be coincidence that we celebrate nature through food and drink - many of our holiday favorites are loaded with potent, life-enhancing ingredients! One of my favorite holiday recipes to share, for exactly that reason, is Mulled Wine. With red wine, spices, honey and citrus, this is one punch that's packing some serious anti-agers.

The origin of Mulled Wine is a little mysterious, but seems to have ancient roots globally - from Russia to Chile. Wines today can be kept for ages, but long ago wines had a much shorter shelf-life. It's possible that by mixing wine with spices and sweetness, its enjoyment could continue long after it spoilt - and heating it during the cold season only enhanced its pleasantness. No matter how it originated, once the cold kicks in a little warm wine really hits the longevity spot! Mulled Wine - or Gluhwein, or Glogg (my I-love-Ikea fave) - is terrifically easy to make. But before I share my recipe with you, I want to tell you why I love it so much!

Let's start with the main ingredient: wine. Now y'all know that I'm no big drinker (but I have admitted to my waist-line threatening addiction to licorice), though I make an exception when it comes to a quality red. Red wine is rich with resveratrol, a polyphenol found in the skin of and seeds of red grapes. High concentrations are also found in cranberry and blueberry juice - but really, the festive spirit is so much more present in wine. Reasons obvious.

Research has shown that resveratrol contains anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, blood-sugar-lowering and other beneficial cardiovascular enhancing properties. It can help reduce plaque formation around the heart and brain, and help with weight maintenance. Ladies take note: it has also been shown to improve the function of estrogen, making hormonal hiccups calm down. Resveratrol is this effective, primarily because it activates sirtuins, longevity genes that reduce cellular decay and help cells to repair themselves. Similar activity is prompted by calorie restriction, or rather, eating and drinking less. But that's no fun. If we can have the same effects by eating normally and enjoying a glass of red wine, then pour me one!

There's more to the happy-power of Mulled Wine than just the resveratrol in red wine. Spices, like cinnamon and cloves, are super high in antioxidants, antiseptics and antimicrobials - perfect for fighting cold weather ailments. Oranges and lemons are filled with Vitamin C, and honey is rich in tradition: one of the five elixirs of immortality, it is a symbol of the new year and healing - as well as a term of endearment, my little honey-buns.

So here we have it, Sage's famous Organic Mulled Wine Recipe of Love (drum roll please):

3 cinnamon sticks

5 cardamom pods (try saying that after 2 glasses!)

4 black peppercorns (yes, peppercorns)

6 cloves

1 1/2 cups honey (or a whole honey bear, if you can find honey in a bear)

2 bottles red wine - I LOVE the Sky Saddle Syrah, it's organic and local! Well for me, anyhow.

2 vanilla beans, sliced in half

2 small oranges, sliced thinly

1 small lemon sliced thinly

Toss everything into a pot, and simmer for 5 minutes. Enjoy!

Mulled Wine is no ordinary holiday drink. It is truly life enhancing, and steeped in affection and lore. Who wouldn't want to raise a glass to that?

Loving life, Sage

Photo Credit: ldcross

Allergic To The Holidays?

Most of us can't resist getting into the holiday spirit as fast as we can. Who can blame us? By the time we've wolfed down our second helping of Thanksgiving turkey, our local retailers have their holiday lights blazing and jingly-jingles blasting. I must admit that this year, the second I heard the first few bars of Charlie Brown's Christmas (Nov. 30th, 10:49 am), I was hauling an organic tree through our front door. Couple that with a serious case of matzah-ball mayhem in my kitchen (a personal fave soup), and my ranch has now become High Holiday House.

The holiday season is packed with honest-to-goodness goodness. And do you know what ingredients go into making honest-to-goodness goodness? Many good things, and a whole lotta allergens. After seasons and seasons of fighting a cold, feeling bloated and uncomfortable, and just downright irritated, I learned that I had been having a reaction to sugar and spice and everything nice. After consulting my naturopath, I learned how to avoid feeling crappy for Christmas. And now, all is merry and bright!

Here are a few not-always-so-obvious things to look out for:

Trees: Lit of so beautifully, a tree of light can almost take your breath away. Especially if it's triggering an upper respiratory reaction! Allergic symptoms can surface when the tree goes up, and can include: a simple runny nose to asthma attacks, bronchitis or pneumonia.

Many trees are treated to kill pests, and arrive coated in pesticides; fake trees can be filled harsh chemicals due to manufacturing, and coated with plastic snow - or worse, synthetic fragrance of pine!

Another trigger: mold. Researchers in Connecticut found that after 2 weeks of being indoors, a live Christmas tree emitted significant amounts of mold spores into the air. In fact, the amount of mold spores found in a home with a Christmas tree was nearly 10 times the amount of mold normally found inside! Note: Resist putting up that tree until about 2 weeks before X-day!

Gasp!

Treats: Gluten, artificial flavors and colors, refined sugars can all bring on the bloat. And as far as I'm concerned the holidays are for dressing up and feeling fab - not flab!
Food intolerances can ruin one's festive spirit. Symptoms can include vomiting, bloating, cramps, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, colic, and other digestive disorders. If you know you have an intolerance, don't eat the cookie! Have a glass of soy nog, instead.

Wool: Enter the cold air, put on the woolens. But if cold-weather wear has you worse for wear - as in itchy-scratchy - then you might have a wool allergy!

Try layering something soft underneath, like cotton or silk. Another alternative is to choose finely woven wool, such as cashmere or merino - totally divine.

In-Laws: Sorry folks, not much I can do about this one. Except to say pour on the love, and smother that allergy with sweetness.

Without completely avoiding the above, there are a few things one can do to temper the triggers. Take probiotics to help settle your stomachs, and digestive enzymes to help you enjoy a few cookies. Indulge in a super-soft bamboo/cotton blended t-shirt, and layer it under your sweaters. And let Aunt Eliza have her way with the cranberries. You'll be feeling the giving spirit in no time!

Going for gingerbread, Sage

Oil of Oregano

By now you all know that I consider myself to exemplify perfect health: I am happy and healthy in mind, body and soul. Alright, alright, nobody's perfect... I have my sometimes unhealthy moments (licorice addiction admitted). Still, I am devoted to transmuting my holiest of all healthy living tips to you, dear readers!

Now that the cold and flu season is upon us, I feel it time to impress upon you one of the most important supplements to stock in our medicine chests: Oil of oregano. Whenever I feel the slightest bit less than my normal 110%, I take a dose - and within a few hours I am back to center!

Oil of oregano is one of Mother Nature's most powerful weapons in the fight against illness. Most of us know the herb oregano, most famous in its culinary use by the Mediterranean cultures. Its taste can be described as hearty and assertive with a peppery bite and a zing (kind of like my favorite man! But I digress), and blends well with garlic and sauces in dips. Sun exposure intensifies its flavor, and varieties can be found from Greece (more moderate) to Mexico (ole!).

Oregano, a member of the mint family, has special uses in plant medicine. Its name means "joy of the mountains", and for centuries it has been found growing on mountain-sides under the sun. The ancient Greeks used to crown newlyweds with wreaths of the herb, and adorn graves with sprigs. Oregano has 42 times more antioxidant activity than apples, 30 times more than potatoes, 12 times more than oranges and 4 times more than blueberries (as stated in research published in as issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry). No wonder Greek gods and goddesses were immortal!

To my point, the oil extracted from oregano has now proven to be effective in treating some of the most anti-biotic resistant diseases. At Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., physiology professor Harry Preuss conducted a 2001 study on behalf of an herbal remedy company that showed that oil of oregano protected against certain fungi and the potentially deadly staphylococcus bacteria in tests on a small sample of mice. He also said that oil of oregano can kill some strains of tuberculosis in the petri dish, as well as the bacteria that cause stomach ulcers.

Most people I know take a drop or two under the tongue, or in water. Holy oil of oregan-ow! Does that stuff burn! I prefer oil of oregano in capsules, which are so much easier to take.

And use it in the environment around you: I put it into my aromatherapy burner, and add it to my household cleaners - doorknobs, light switches and telephones all get a weekly wipe!

*A few notes: oil of oregano is incredibly antibacterial, which means it kills all bacteria - bad AND good. Don't wipe your store of healthy bacteria out - supplement with probiotics (read my article HERE). Consult a physician or naturopath for more information! And keep out of reach of kids - it is way too strong for children under 5.

Hearts, Sage

MY GIFT GUIDE FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

It's that time of year again! Many of us are looking for the perfect seasonal gift, and have no idea where to turn. Allow me to turn you on! For me, nothing tops a gift inspired to maintain our health and happiness. And so, I've created a gift guide to help inspire you, dear readers!

My Top Five Gifts For Her:

1. The Go-Go-Grrl: For the lady that never sleeps, a natural option to relax and rest the body. Natural Sleeping Essentials
2. The Teen Queen: She needs a treat that'll keep her feeling sweet!
Biolee Facial Treatment Mask
3. The Favorite Friend: She's the best, and deserves the most luxurious, hair growth formula! FAST Shampoo & Conditioner
4. The Social Butterfly: She's doing an awful lot of flitting around this season, so help her skip a grooming step to save time!
Epilady Duet
5. The Fitness Guru: For the sister on the run, even in the snow! A natural energy supplement.
Maca

My Top Five Gifts For Him:

1.The Outdoorsman: When he's done chopping that wood, give him a supplement that will help keep him chopping!
Wicked Willy
2. The Do Gooder: To keep him focused on his good deeds!
Concentration Essentials
3. The Sports Enthusiast: He's on the field or watching it - and either way, he needs a timeout. Joint Relief 2HD
4. The Chill Bill: Even when he's traveling, he's calm cool and collected - without the chills! Echinacea Goldenseal
5. The Sensitive Man: For when he wakes up and needs a little warm fuzzy! Help him keep his best face forward.
Kalo Ingrown Hair Treatment

And finally: Nothing says happy holidays like... a Gift Card! Treat yourself to a natural, holiday-inspired gift of your choice with a $10 Gift Card! Just enter "HOLIDAY" into the coupon section when you check out. *Valid until January 2nd with a minimum $35 purchase. Code: HOLIDAY!

Happy shopping, Sage

Photo Credit: pagedooley

Don't Worry, Be Maca

I tend to think of myself as a super-happy go lucky gal. Even my self-perspective is optimistic! I find myself singing in the middle of my days, I skip down the street, I laugh all the way home. I genuinely love and enjoy my life.

And I am human.

I am not immune to occasional fits of the blues, or the grey, or even - gasp - sometimes the blacks. These cooler periods don't last long, but they do appear now and again. Since I don't have a forecaster for my emotional weather channel, I can't plan a vacation for when the mood swing approaches. Instead I have a tool kit filled with management tools, which get me through. Personal philosophy aside, though, I have a few other universal tricks: love, sex, chocolate, and maca!

According to Mental Health America, clinical depression is one of the most common mental illnesses in America. It affects up to 19 million people! Depression is not an illness to be taken lightly - it can cause sufferers to lose pleasure from daily life, cause and complicate other medical conditions, and even lead to death. All people are susceptible at any age - including tiny children!

Symptoms can include:

- sad, anxious, sense of impending doom, self-worthless feeling
- change in sleeping patterns, inability or over-ability to sleep
- change in eating habits
- change in sexual habits
- loss of interest in normal activities
- restlessness
- chronic pain, digestive disorders
- thoughts of suicide or death

Apparently, approximately 80% of all depressive cases can be treated and cured. Most common prescriptions include anti-depressant medication and psychotherapy. I suggest chocolate-covered maca and some love self-talk!

Maca is a plant root, with origins high in the Andes mountains. It has been used for centuries since the Inca, mostly to increase energy, sex drive and stamina (its effects have been compared to Viagra!). Unlike many stimulants, though, it has no caffeine and therefore no buzz. It's nutritional content has been found to stimulate adrenal function, regulate the hypothalamus-pituitary gland, and balance female and male hormones. Hence, it has a unique ability to decrease depression. If you can't find a chocolate-covered version, a capsule formula will do!

The very fact that it is called a "mental illness" encourages me to believe that our minds are such powerful instruments - we CAN change our minds and help treat ailments. Again: love yourself!

A cute little inspirational video never hurt anyone, either:


(Click here if you can't see it)

In Happiness, Sage

Want To Fit Into Your Jeans? Get More Fiber!

I have a very close friend - let's call her Gloria - who is absolutely anal about maintaining a low carb diet. She is so painstakingly diligent when it comes to counting carbohydrates, that she won't eat an apple without peeling off the skin, and abhors my favorite sweet potatoes. She can go days without feasting her eyes on even a grain of brown rice.

And she can go days without pooping.

That's right people, Gloria is one pent up pal! She looks hot in her jeans, but feels ridiculously uncomfortable. If only she introduced the recommended 14 grams of fiber per 1,000 calories consumed, she would feel so, so much better.

Most of us, especially those of us on low-carb diets, aren't getting near the recommended amount of daily dietary fiber. And contrary to much popular belief, plant food carbohydrates are not the same as refined carbohydrates, and do not add into our daily calorie count the same way. Therefore, a bagel doesn't hold the same carb weight as, say, some fresh raw fruit. And dietary fiber is not digested by the body - so out it comes, fast!

Restricting refined carbs is a great way to slim down AND avoid spiking blood sugar - I approve. Restricting dietary fiber is one fast way to back up our digestive systems and bloat out - I disapprove!

Dietary fiber is so important to include in our diets, daily. It regulates and improves:

- Digestion Health: adding bulk to stool and drawing water into the digestive track. The nerves in the intestinal tract are stimulated, causing contractions in the colon (that "I gotta go!" feeling) and moving waste through quickly.

- Heart Health: Certain foods help to lower blood cholesterol and pressure, which decreases the risk of heart attack and stroke.

- Cancer: Moving things along down there keeps everything flowing. This may help to prevent colon and rectal cancers.

- Weight Loss: GLORIA! Women with high-fiber diets have lower body mass. Fiber helps us to fill up, so that we eat less. And it can also help prevent fat absorption.

- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): Women especially suffer from this ailment. An increase in dietary fiber can drastically improve symptoms, and is a main prescription for treatment.

What's the best way to add the bulk of dietary fiber to your diet? Eat it, folks. It's so easy. I love this site, which offers tons of info on dietary fiber.

And of course as you know, I am a huge proponent of fresh fruits and veggies in their most natural states. Raw or dried, they happen to be some of the best sources of dietary fiber! My Raw Goddess Guru Shazzie has some amazing recipes to share. Oh my yumminess.

At the very least, supplement your diet with psyllium husks! It's such an easy way to add the right kind of bulk.

Get moving!

Love, Sage

Photo Credit: dandeluca

Holiday Hangover Remedy - Milk Thistle

Good morning, Sugarplums! Er, good afternoon. Which ever it is, this morning I woke up with a severe case of the worst holiday hangover: sugar shock! Oy.

As you must know by now, I am one naturally sweet babe. I am chemical, additive, preservative-free. If I allow myself indulgences of any kind, they must be as close to their source as possible: organic potato vodka martini with raw cerignola olives (dirty), sprouted chick pea hummus with sundried tomato chips.

You must also know by now that I am mother to Jake, an almost-vegan preschooler whose first food love was broccoli.

Yet somehow, last night our fruit-sourced sugar shack became the land of conventional holiday candy - courtesy of Auntie Lilly's annual gingerbread house decorating. She brought the house, we chose the deco.

At my local health food store I did my best to pick the most natural candies: organic chocolate covered sunflower seeds, fruit juice gummies, natural peppermints. We couldn't choose between the chocolate rocks and the haystacks, so we bought them both. Having sequestered ourselves in the bulk section, we ended up bagging 11 candied items (not including the candied ginger, which I thought would be my sweet alternative to the others. It wasn't). We hauled our trove home.

After a speedy ride back, breezing through the front door and barely removing one arm from my coat sleeve, I casually but swiftly ripped open the bag of choco-sun seeds.

They had been cut with conventional mini-M&M's. I lost no time in sampling the rogue invaders, and, finding them much to my organic liking, I inhaled half of the bag.

And so began a lustful evening of me falling off of my sugar-free raw-organic-vegan wagon.

Later, with a migraine weighing me down like a 35 pound bag of candy, I dragged my sorry sugar-shot butt into bed. There I lapsed into my candy coma, though not before downing the recommended dosage of milk thistle (I had proofed my puppy Buster's post on the herb, and was well versed in its virtues).

8 hours later, I woke to inform you dear readers that my hangover was not nearly as painful as I had anticipated. All thanks to the amazing milk thistle! An herb native to the Mediterranean, Middle East and North Africa, humans have been using it for over 2,000 years to cure and treat ailments of the liver. Effective to combat everything from acne to cirrhosis of the liver, milk thistle contains the active ingredient silymarin. It acts to remove and block toxins, safely allowing the body to release them - and it has even shown in research to stimulate cell regeneration!

Sounds like the perfect hangover herb! Even though I wasn`t hung over per se, my system is so darn clean that even the slightest no-no (read: refined sugar, artificial colors and flavors) sends me into over done. Milk thistle helped my system detoxify at warp speed, helping me move that stuff so I would suffer far less than I coulda-shoulda-woulda. Milk DOES do a body good!

Take note, holiday party people: this is one kind of milk that you should be stocking at the bar!

Hanging Ten, Sage