| | When it comes to sunburn, prevention really is your best. If you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of having been out in the sun a bit too long, it's time to go inside and see what you can do to ease the pain. The following are natural remedies that can be very helpful in easing the pain and/or aiding the healing process of sunburns:  Take a bath. Soaking in a tub of warm water will actually help a great deal. Avoid using any soap as they can irritate the burn. Carefully pat burns dry, do not rub them with a towel. You can also add vinegar or baking soda to the bath.
Apply soothing salves. Aloe gel straight from the plant is a very popular choice. Milk of Magnesia also makes a nice lotion to protect the skin and soothe burns. Alternately, you can make a paste of baking soda and water to apply to skin as often as needed. Avoid sun exposure as much as possible while sunburned. If a layer of clothing between you and the sun isn't possible, apply sunscreen generously and often. |
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| |  In the hectic turmoil that so many of us call our "daily lives" it can be essential to our well-being to step back and live more simply, even if only for the weekend. Ideally, we'd all be able to have the peace and quiet as a normal part of our daily life. What we can do, in lieu of an easier-going society, is define time for ourselves and find rituals within our schedule to ground us.
One great way to experience a simpler, slower pace of life is to have a day that is un-plugged. Turn off the phone, unplug the computer and the television and spend some time away from communication devices that don't involve human-to-human interaction. Spend some time in nature, catch up on your reading, converse with loved ones, play with your kids, etc. Cook meals together in the kitchen (kitchen appliances being exceptions to the unplugged rule) and do as much from scratch as you can. Grounding rituals can be very helpful in keeping centered and focused, so that you aren't affected or overwhelmed by the busy pace of life. A weekly trip to a tailgate or farmer's market would certainly be one such ritual. Others might include having time in your day set aside for personal "you" time in which you do something for yourself that takes you out of your normal head space. Morning meditations or evening contemplative times can also help. Don't be afraid to say no when people ask you to take on more than you can really handle. By defining and maintaining boundaries, you can keep the demands of the wider world at bay. Carving out a simple life is a lot harder than it sounds these days, but it is absolutely doable! |
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The Cause of High Cholesterol |
| | Cholesterol is, simply put, excess fat in the body. There are two kinds of fat that we humans consume: HDL and LDL. HDL fat is good for our body, while LDL is not. Cholesterol is produced by the body's attempt to process the LDL fats, which can then build up on the walls of blood vessels, leading to strokes and heart attacks.  Eating foods high in saturated fats is one of the most obvious ways in which LDL cholesterol can build up in the body, as is a lack of exercise to help the body burn off fat. However, cholesterol can also be a genetic issue. Diabetes is another factor, due to high triglyceride levels that are to be found in diabetics' bloodstream. Untreated thyroid conditions can raise cholesterol levels as well.
Ultimately, the best things to do are monitor cholesterol and live a healthy lifestyle. Eating healthy meals with lots of fruits and vegetables and very few servings of red meat is key, as is getting plenty of exercise. For those whose cholesterol levels are genetic or severe, there are also treatments available to help lower cholesterol. There is also evidence that the HDL/LDL balance in the body is important, and that increasing the amount of HDL in your diet can effectively help balance out your LDL levels. |
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Healthy Homes, Healthy Bodies |
| | Whether you are working with an existing home, in the process of looking for a home or building your own home, it is important that you look at the health of the home, as it will affect your own health. You have a great deal of control over the health of your surroundings, like whether you fill your refrigerator with organic food or conventionally grown foods. This same control exists for your home as well. Two healthy home considerations should be indoor air quality and building materials.  Indoor Air Quality. Indoor air quality is important to consider for a number of reasons, including: allergy issues, moisture and mold issues, and potential radon or carbon monoxide issues. EPA studies have shown that air pollution is sometimes 2-5% higher in homes than what is outside. Improper ventilation and an unsealed crawlspace are two examples of where one might look to solve indoor air quality issues.
Building Materials. Nobody wants a home full of formaldehyde, VOCs (volatile organic compounds), toxic gases, and surfaces that attract mold. This means that everything from flooring, sub-flooring, insulation, drywall, paint, counter-tops, cabinets and adhesives all need to be considered. There are many ways to avoid toxic building materials in your home, as long as you are educated about your options. If you are building a home, you can work healthy from the ground up; existing homes can often benefit from material upgrades and there are a number of fixes that allow you to make your home safer and healthier without having to rebuild it! |
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| |  | | The Way Up 946 N. Avenida Palos Verdes Palm Springs, CA 92262 
800-289-8487 http://www.thewayup.com ALTERNATIVE HEALTH PRODUCTS AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE PRISCILLA SLAGLE M.D. or Cathy Jones, Assistant Phone: 760 322-7797 or 800 289-8487 FAX : 760 322-7608  ">Website |
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| Need to grab something quick on the go? Rather than reaching for something processed or overly sweet, why not aim for something healthy, easy and low-maintenance. Dried fruits: apricots, mango, cherries, blueberries, cranberries, apples, bananas and more! Reach for some dried fruits to conquer a craving for something sweet or as a little pick-me up during the day. Nuts: walnuts, almonds, cashews, and more are all great snacks that are full of protein. Looking for something a little more dynamic than plain old nuts? Check the bulk section of a natural food store to find even more flavor options, from sweet to spicy and everything in between. 
Trail mix combines dried fruit and nuts as well as other tasty little tidbits. Try making different versions with your favorites! Oatmeal bars: oats are a nerve tonic and will help to fill a hungry belly easily. You can make your own oatmeal squares or look for minimally processed versions at the grocery store. |
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Exercise is a good thing, but too much can tax your body and wear you down. It is important to know the differences between excuses and just being lazy, of course, so listen closely to your body. It will tell you when it needs a break. Signs that you are working out too frequently or heavily include experiences such as the following: – You begin to have difficulty sleeping – Muscle fatigue becomes constant – You experience rapid weight loss – Your heart rate spikes and stays high during your workouts – You experience a lengthy training plateau – You lose all motivation to continue your workout |
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