Good morning! Monday again? The weekends sure do fly by! If you are a mom, I sure hope you had an awesome Mother’s Day. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to spend the day with my mom, but according to my mom, “any day with my kids makes me happy, not just Mother’s Day.” Hopefully, she wasn’t just telling me that to make me feel better about not being with her yesterday.

Any who, the one thing I hope to always bring you through this blog is the feeling that you learned something new each time that you visit. I hope that every time you stop by you take away something that a.) you can apply in you life, b.) that you can share with someone else that may need it or c.) you just find it interesting and enjoy reading along. And today my friends, the same goes.

Last week, I talked a little bit about natural ways to detox, using foods to help the body. To go along with that topic, today I want to introduce you to another natural remedy to help detox the body. Yes, “food” is involved, however, this time your not going to be eating a thing.

According to many experts, our oral health is actually a picture of our overall health. Our mouths are one of the first lines of defense when it comes to fending off harmful bacteria. By not only brushing but also flossing our teeth, we can prevent harmful bacteria from developing and growing inside our mouths and entering our bodies via the bloodstream. Did you know that poor oral health has been linked to cardiovascular disease,  premature birth and low-birth weight pregnancies, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s among many other complications? Makes that toothbrush a little more precious, doesn’t it?

Other research has also linked diet and oral health, which you might have already realized. Healthy diet = healthy mouth. Poor diet = poor oral health. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, by decreasing the amount of sugary beverages, sticky foods, candies and starchy snacks (like cookies and cakes) and increasing fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein sources and whole-grains we can help promote our oral health. In combination with these good nutrition choices, another way to do so is through oil pulling.

Rewind. Oil what?

Oil pulling. An old Ayurvedic treatment used for many different remedies. Ayurvedic Medicine is an ancient Indian holistic healthcare system in which a balance between the mind, body, and spirit is strived for. My kind of medicine. Oil pulling is a very simple and harmless technique that has been used for over 5,000 years to help whiten the teeth, brighten the gums and freshen breath. It is also claimed to trap and remove toxins from with in the teeth and gums thus preventing them from entering the bloodstream.

So, how do you do it?

After waking, first thing in the morning, I rinse my mouth out with water and then place about 1/2 a tablespoon of coconut oil in my mouth (either still hard – remember, coconut oil melts at about 75 degrees, a few seconds after entering your mouth or if you don’t like the texture of the hard oil you can always zap it in the microwave for a few seconds to liquify it). Then, I swish it around in my mouth just like I would mouth wash, through my teeth and around my gums, for fifteen to twenty minutes (this may seem like a long time but multitasking while doing so makes the time fly by – make breakfast, hop in the shower or put on your makeup). After the time has passed spit (never swallow, remember the point is to remove toxins) it in the toilet (never in the sink, remember oil and the drains don’t mix well) and rinse your mouth out again and then brush your pearly whites.

And voila! Oil pulling.

I’ve also read that other kinds of high-quality oil work well too: olive oil, grapeseed oil, flaxseed oil, walnut oil, sesame oil, etc. so certainly use what you have on hand if you want to give it a try!

I’ve been doing this for about a week now, but according to the “Ayurveda oil pulling experts” this takes about a month or so to see any benefits, however some research out of India suggests that benefits can be seen as early as after two weeks of oil pulling.

While there is very little scientific research behind the Ayurveda concept of oil pulling, there is also very little risk involved. I am going to give it a try and will report back with my findings! Let me know if you do the same!

Good health!

The post Natural Detox II: Oil Pulling appeared first on The Gypsy Dietitian.

This picture was the header of the lululemon website a few weeks ago and I just love it.

I’m sure that most of you would agree, really, everyday should be Mother’s Day. Moms are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Moms make life go round. They turn a house into a home and food into a meal. The know what to say and when to say it. They even told us when we were little to eat our apples and drink our water, even if we didn’t listen. Moms have some sort of super power to keep going when everyone else gives up.

I have been blessed with not only an incredible mom but an awesome mother-in-law too.

If you’re anything like me, you think of the best gift to give your mom… ummm usually about June 1. A few weeks after Mother’s Day. This year, I started thinking a little bit earlier and hope to help you out too. Without our moms, most likely, we wouldn’t be where we are today. This Mother’s Day help your mom get or stay healthy with any of the following gift ideas. No matter if your mom  is 30 or 99, show her your love her by encouraging her to live a long, healthy life. Depending on her style and your price range, here are a few ideas sure to please all moms. (*Please note, I have no ties with any of the companies listed below. I just like the products and hope to help spark an idea for your Mother’s Day gift.)

Healthy Gifts for Mom

• Fitness gear

I actually recently purchased this Under Armor top and really love it. It is light weight and loose fitting, perfect for walking, running or just running the house!

Another lulu favorite. Again light weight and lose fitting.

• An herb garden. Throw in her favorite herbs and add a splash of color

• Bamboo cutting board set
• A superfoods basket including a mixture of health foods that she might not ever buy for herself such as, coconut oil, flax meal, chia seeds, spirulina, etc. Maybe even include a recipe or a beauty tip with the product.

• Tennis shoesSo she might not be a fan of the Neon, but these Nike Frees come in many colors and are super comfortable too.

• A magazine subscription, a few of my favorites include…

• A tea assortment including her favorite teas such as green, black, chamomile, etc.

(Photo Source)

• Natural beauty products such as this Glamazon Pure Performance lipstick from Tarte
• A bath set including something like this Lavender Bath Salt from Whole Foods
• A yoga mat and DVD
• A spa gift certificate

• Or simply some beautiful flowers, a fail proof gift!

I hope that helps you, or at least sparks an idea! Also, thank you all so much for the birthday wishes over on Facebook. I’m off to enjoy this day and celebrate another year! Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Good Health!

The post Help Your Mom Get Healthy This Mother’s Day appeared first on The Gypsy Dietitian.

Well, hello there! It’s almost the weekend yet again! And more importantly, it’s the LAST DAY OF SCHOOL! Two more finals and I am finished! Yippeeee! Ready to let the summer roll!

In honor of Mother’s Day quickly approaching, I have some great news to share with you today.

As most of you know or have read, about two years ago my mother was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis (inflammation and swelling of the joints).  This was especially hard because of the immediate effects that this crippling disease had on my more than active mother.  She’s always been unstoppable, that was until this disease entered her life…but only for a short while.  The fall after my mother’s summer diagnosis is when I returned to school in order to become an RD. God’s plans and timing are always perfect.

To me, nutrition is involved in nearly every disease, and should 100% be included in almost every care plan.  On the other hand, apparently the RA doctors have split down the middle regarding the effects nutrition has on the disease.  I don’t quite understand those on the other side other than the fact that little money will be made when someone uses nutrition to cure or lessen the effects disease rather than expensive medications.  It’s sad if that’s where this country really stands: allowing our people to die from a disease that could be stopped a because of the dollar bill.  But, unfortunately I wouldn’t doubt it looking at the food that our own UDSA/FDA encourage us to eat (dairy, processed foods, antibiotic treated meat, etc).

My mom sided with me and a few other doctors, leaning on nutrition to pull her through this disease.  While she does take her prescribed medication, my mom eats a mostly vegan, gluten-free diet too (both pro-inflammatories in the body).  Is this easy for her? Absolutely not but in order to prevent the disease from progressing and to subside some of the pain, this lifestyle is more than worth it.

On to the good news…

Guess what friends!? My mom had her biannual doctors appointment yesterday to go over her lab values and review the state of the disease and found out that the progression has stopped! She was given the 12-biomarker test of RA Disease Activity and scored a 96 out of 100 points! Showing that there has been very little activity among the disease. Although the disease is still prevalent, it isn’t worsening. That is such awesome news! Because of her proactive choices and discipline, she is showing RA who is boss rather than letting it defeat her.

My mom cooks the most beautiful vegan meals for my family every night and rather than thinking about the foods that she can’t have, she has added so many new, highly nutritious things that she might not have tried before.

If that’s not inspiration, I don’t know what is!  By taking care of our health and taking preventive action, we can choose our destiny rather than disease.

Happy almost Mother’s Day to my amazing mother! I am beyond blessed to have such a driven woman to look up to everyday.

Have a wonderful day!

Good health!

The post Happy Mother’s Day! appeared first on The Gypsy Dietitian.

You are amazing, God.

Yesterday, Dustin and I listened to our church service from home rather than going to church, for no excuse better than to simply catch up on our rest (weak, I know, but I guess that’s what a birthday will do to ya!). However, we still got the same message sitting right in the den: thanksgiving.

I took the message two ways, first and foremost, we must be thankful to Jesus and for the things that He does and has done for us. “Always be thankful for the one who packs your parachute,” David, our pastor said. This is so true and really got me thinking. ‘The One,’ being Jesus but I’d also say my mom has packed my parachute a time or two as well. Not only did this message make me realize how much more thankful I need to be to God for giving me such a wonderful mother but also to her for the daily things she does in my life.

My mom is truly an amazing woman. All of the things I know, I’ve learned from her. And just when I think I’ve learned something apart from her, I call her, and most likely she already knows.

I recently started an herb garden, simply because I don’t have the space to start a true garden. As most of you know, I love fresh foods. One day, I hope to look out my kitchen window and see a row of zucchini, squash, tomatoes, etc., but for now my herb garden will suffice. I called my mom the other day (this is how neat my mom is) and she told me she was off to Lowe’s to start her ‘upside down tomato plants?’ Yeah, I had never had heard of them either, but I already liked it. This is exactly where I get my knack for things like this. The older I get, the more I realize how similar we are.

My mom has always cherished memories and fun times over materials. She would rather spend her money creating a warm home for us to all come home to, rather than on materials hanging in her closet. If you’ve ever been to my house at dinner time you know exactly what I’m talking about. Don’t get me wrong, my mom ALWAYS looks great, but she has truly taught me that people will always remember how you made them feel and the experience you create rather than how you looked or what you wore.

Right now, I am reading a book called, “French Women Don’t Get Fat.” It day by day, page by page reminds me of my mom: she loves both France and good food…exactly what the book is about. She can speak a little French, understand a lot, and by reading this book I see that my mom lives the life of a French woman, even if she may not know it. One day, I dream of taking a trip to France with my mom to enjoy all that the country has to offer, especially the wine . Author, Mireille Guiliano, adds French quirky, yet meaningful sayings throughout the book that always remind me of my mom.

I would never put the word ‘diet’ and ‘Debby’ (my mom) in the same sentence, yet she has an amazing, womanly figure. “You can have ‘de tout un peu et de peu pas beaucoup,’ meaning you can have a little of everything, but in small portions.” According to Guiliano, that is the French woman’s philosophy and frankly, my mom’s as well. If my mom wants a chocolate chip cookie, she’d have it, probably half, however. A glass of wine with lunch? Of course! She would never refuse something she wanted, yet she would never over indulge.

My mom would never spend an hour a day ‘working-out’ in a gym but she would also never sit on her ‘arce’ and do nothing. She gets her exercise by hard work at home: picking weeds, cleaning rooms, making beds, cooking, gardening, etc. (I’d also like to mention she can still do splits (at 40-something) and touch her nose to her knees when stretching. Now that’s impressive!) To me, this is the best example any mother could give her daughters. One day, I hope to do the same in my family .

So thank you God for my amazing, wonderful, talented, loving mother, yesterday, today, and all days!

The post Mother’s Day appeared first on The Gypsy Dietitian.