All Hallows Eve is nearly upon us and you know what that means don’t you? Your streets will be filled with mini goblins, fairy princess and superheroes of all sorts! Your pillowcases and reusable shopping bags will be converted into carrying cases for your children’s Trick-or-Treating adventures and in turn, your house will be overflowing with refined sugars, packets of chips and a seemingly endless supply of mini chocolate bars in every variety. 

It’s the highlight of the year for anyone under the age of 15 (as well as some parents with an overactive sweet tooth) and is the day dreaded by parents who fear to deal with the sugar highs and the sugar lows of their offspring. It is, however, all in good fun and that’s exactly the attitude we should all be going into it with! There’s no need to be spooked out by sugary treats entering your home and fear, not the effects they may have on your mini monsters! Like all else in life, it’s all about moderation..and a tad bit of harmless conniving. Here are a few helpful tips to ensure everyone in your family has a happy and healthy Halloween!

Health professionals, yogis, and green eating enthusiasts alike have long hailed the humble avocado for being a superstar when it comes to benefiting your health. Its benefits read like a rap sheet of antioxidants, nutrient rich vitamins and minerals, all aiding in the overall health of your skin and body. Health and Natural Beauty Guru David ’Avocado’ Wolfe has even self-named himself after the ruggedly wrapped fruit. We’ve all heard through the grapevine that fat is back and that avocados are one of the good guys but do you really know why?

Read on to understand just how powerful this rough and sometimes misunderstood fruit really is. One can only say that its exterior is so rough so as to keep all of its luscious, mineral and vitamin rich benefits safely wrapped up just for you.

1. Say it with me, Fat is GOOD! Or should I say good fats are good. Let me explain...

Avocados alias as ‘Nature's Butter’ has turned it into a slightly misunderstood little fruit. Unlike vegetable fats (think canola), avocados are rich in monosaturated fats, which are great for heart health, and in aiding in the absorption of antioxidants. So contrary to fatty beliefs, this fat is a great one to have as part of a balanced diet, especially for those with high cholesterol or those looking to shed a couple pounds. 

Coffee has a cult following worldwide, photos of lattes fill Instagram every Sunday morning, and coffee dates are the basis of most friendly catch-ups — but it is time to get real about the effect caffeine has on your health. 

Many clients sit down and tell me that they absolutely can not get out of the door in the morning unless they have had a coffee, or that there is no way that they can stay awake in their mid-morning meeting unless they have had their daily triple shot. Then there are others that tell me they don't drink any coffee but have two diet energy drinks and a bar of dark chocolate each day, they tell me that because it’s a diet drink or dark chocolate it must be healthy, right? 

Wrong. 

Too many people are surviving on caffeine, rather than thriving with out it. Caffeine is a stimulant, it is found in coffee, energy drinks, tea, soft drinks and chocolate, it is the most commonly used drug in the world. One of the main concerns of consuming coffee regularly is the effect it has on sleep. Caffeine binds to the adenosine receptors in the brain, this prevents adenosine from causing the chemical cascade that tells the brain to initiate sleep or rest. It takes the body 5-6 hours to process caffeine and excrete it from the body; however, trans-fats, the contraceptive pill, medication, and poor liver healthy can increase this clearance time — extending the time caffeine circulates int he blood stream for.

Man-kind... We have become amazing food scientist, creating products that 100 years ago we would have never dreamed about. But have we taken it too far by messing with Mother Nature and joining together ingredients, chemical cocktails and additives that are not made for our bodies.

Have you ever been mind blown by your lunch, shocked by your smoothie or bewildered by your paleo snack bar? No, us neither, but you're about to be shocked by these food facts we have discovered. 

Warning: May cause you to make healthier choices. 

1. Pringles once had a lawsuit, trying to prove they WEREN’T really potato chips. Wait what? That’s right. Even though the labelling clearly states ‘potato crisps’ - Procter and Gamble tried to argue that Pringles were not really made out of potato (rather a cocktail of chemicals) to try an be exempt from taxes. It worked for a while, until they finally got stung with $160 million in taxes to be paid. 

Composition of Coconut Oil

More than 90% of coconut oil consists of saturated fats (Don’t panic! It’s not as bad as it sounds, read to the end of this review and your opinion may change), along with traces of a few unsaturated fatty acids, such as monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Virgin coconut oil is no different from this.

Saturated fatty acids: Most of them are medium chain triglycerides, which are supposed to assimilate well in the body’s systems.

• Lauric acid is the chief contributor, representing more than 40% of the total, followed by capric acid, caprylic acid, myristic acid and palmitic. The human body converts lauric acid into monolaurin. Lauric acid is helpful in dealing with viruses and diseases.
• Capric acid reacts with certain enzymes secreted by other bacteria, which subsequently convert it into a powerful antimicrobial agent, monocaprin.
• Caprylic acid, caproic acid and myristic acid are rich in antimicrobial and antifungal properties

Unsaturated fatty acids: Polyunsaturated fatty acids- linoleic acid, monounsaturated fatty acids- Oleic acid

Some of the best tips for keeping your eyes healthy include regularly seeing an eye doctor, exercise regularly, protect your eyes from UV radiation, use saline when necessary, reduce your computer time, quit smoking, and alter your diet to include kale, oranges, spinach, fish, nuts, and oysters.

Eye Health

One of the most important and fragile parts of our existence rests squarely in the middle of our face – the eyes! Not only do the vast majority of people rely on their eyes as their primary sense, but the eyes themselves are far more vulnerable to damage than other sense organs. The human eye is one of the most complex evolutionary advancements of our species, but it is far less protected than the eyes of other creatures. Composed of the cornea and the sclera, connected by the limbus, these tissues are directly exposed to the elements whenever our eyes are open, and even small injuries to the eye can cause irreparable damage and permanent alteration of your vision.

Despite knowing all of that, people are careless with their eyes, assuming that an occasional check-up or a new prescription is all they need to protect this vital sense. Furthermore, the eye can easily become infected by outside pathogens, due to its exposed nature, so you must be vigilant in washing your hands and ensuring that your eyes don’t come in contact with foreign materials. Finally, to cap everything off, the eye naturally degrades over time, like most of our other organs, resulting in cataracts and macular degeneration, among other symptoms that make vision a struggle. Fortunately, by following proper behavioral guidelines and shaping your diet properly, you can protect your eyes every day! Now, let’s take a closer look at these 15 tips for healthy eyes.

Some of the most interesting health benefits of red clover include its ability to treat estrogen imbalances, lower cholesterol, stimulate urination, boost circulation, strengthen bones, protect the immune system, reduce hypertension, and aid the cardiovascular system.

Red Clover

Bearing the scientific name Trifolium pratense, red clover is a small, short-lived perennial herbaceous plant that flowers in across Europe and western Asia, as well as some parts of Africa. The flowers are small and pinkish-purple, and due to their rapid growth rate and high nutritional value, they are often used as fodder for animals. However, it has been traditionally been used in parts of Europe and Asia for the treatment of many health conditions. It has typically been consumed in the form of a tea, and has grown in popularity in recent years once the many health benefits connected to the herb were discovered.

Between the phytoesterols, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory compounds found in the leaves and flowers, a very powerful extract can be prepared from red clover. Medicinal amounts of red clover are considered safe, but it is important not to consume too much, as it can be toxic. You can use the dried leaves to brew a delicious, sweet tea, and can have a number of powerful effects on the body. The raw greens of the plant can also be consumed, and are packed with nutritious elements. However you choose to consume red clover, it can affect many parts of the body. Speaking of, let’s take a closer look at the many health benefits of red clover.

Some of the most impressive health benefits of calendula include its ability to speed healing, protect oral health, improve the appearance of the skin, boost vision, lower inflammation, reduce the risk of certain cancers, and eliminate cramps.

Calendula

You may not recognize the name calendula, but perhaps you have heard of marigolds, which is the broad classification of the flowering plants found within this genus. Calendula officianalis is the most common species within the genus, but all possess certain compounds and substances that make them a valuable part of herbal health in certain parts of the world. You may hear the name marigold in reference to a different genus, but Calendula specifically refers to 15-20 different species of pot marigold found throughout Western Europe, the Mediterranean region, and parts of southern Asia.

In terms of the parts of these small, yellow-flowered plants that are consumed, the petals are edible and have traditionally been used in soups and stews and salads, while a powerful chemical extract can be removed from the stems and leaves of calendula plants. This extract is rich in a variety of organic compounds, including glycosides, saponins, and other powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds. Now, let’s take a closer peek at the diverse health benefits of calendula.

Some of the most useful health benefits of willow bark include its ability to reduce fevers, eliminate pain, lower inflammation, treat migraines, soothe the stomach, heal the skin, help with weight loss, and protect oral health.

Willow Bark

Willow bark, as the name implies, is the bark of a willow tree, and is most commonly derived from the bark of the white willow tree, which has the scientific name Salix alba. This tree is native to Europe and Central Asia, and has been in use as a medicinal element for nearly 5,000 years. The benefits of willow bark are numerous, and well studied, which is why it remains such a popular and trusted alternative medicine for a variety of afflictions. White willow trees have an inner and outer bark, which have different concentrations of compounds, making them better for certain ailments. For this reason, always trust a trained herbalist or alternative medical practitioner for willow bark supplements or powder.

Willow trees are a very hardy and successful species in most of its growth regions, and while the demand is high for willow bark, the small amount required hasn’t resulted in any dangerous overharvesting. You can consume willow bark in the form of a tea by steeping chopped bark, but not the powdered form. You can also take capsules of willow bark, as well as topical tinctures and decoctions. The high concentration of unique chemicals, such as various tannins and salicin, have a strong impact on the body and result in significant health benefits if prepared and administered properly. Now, let’s take a closer look at the many impressive health benefits of willow bark.

Some of the most important health benefits of lovage include its ability to improve the health of the skin, boost immune health, improve respiration, protect the kidneys, soothes digestion, prevents allergic reactions, lower inflammation, and help with menstruation.

Lovage

Lovage may be the only member of the Levisticum genus, but this leafy perennial plant is extremely valuable in cultures around the world. There is even a bit of mystery involved in this plant, which has the scientific nameLevisticum officinale, as scholars and botanists still debate hotly over its origins, between the Mediterranean region and southwest Asia. It has long been used in Europe and is highly sought after for its leaves, roots, and seeds.

Depending on the intended use, various parts of lovage can be used in salads, soups and broths, as a spice, or even as a flavoring ingredient in beverages and alcohol. Thehigh concentration of coumarins, limonene, camphor, and eugenols contribute to the impressive health benefits associated with this herb, and while it is not widely used around the world, it is particularly favored in Europe and Asia. Now, let’s take a closer look at some of the health benefits of lovage.