Electrolytes 101

You’ve heard about Electrolytes, but do you know what they are and why you need them? We have answered some of your biggest questions when it comes to electrolytes!

What are Electrolytes?

Electrolytes are essential minerals that can be found as a solid, liquid, or gas that contain electrically conducting ions that your body needs to function properly.

Here’s a list of the essential minerals that are considered electrolytes:

• Calcium

• Chloride

• Magnesium

• Potassium

• Sodium

Why you Need Electrolytes

Any time that you sweat, your body loses electrolytes and you need to replenish your body with electrolytes. You can normally replenish your electrolyte levels through the foods you eat, but sometimes you will need more. The more you exert yourself (and sweat), the more you need to replenish your body with electrolytes.

If you exercise for more than one hour at a time, it would be a good idea to drink more than just water and quench your thirst with an electrolyte drink or eat a food that is rich in electrolytes. Of course, you want to make sure that you are getting the best sources of electrolytes and find out which ones to avoid.

Healthy Sources of Electrolytes

• If you want to find healthy sources of calcium, look no further than blackstrap molasses, dark green leafy vegetables, yogurt, raw milk, sardines (canned with bones), tofu, bok choy, bean sprouts, and spinach.

• You will find healthy sources of chloride (aka Sodium Chloride) from seaweed, lettuce, tomatoes, olives, celery, and rye.

• Find plenty of magnesium in spinach, halibut, almonds, quinoa, raw pumpkin, sunflower, and sesame seeds.

• There is plenty of potassium in dried apricots, lima beans, avocado, winter squash, swiss chard, potato, lentils, yogurt, and bananas.

• You can find healthy sources of sodium in raw milk, eggs, and rice. Sodium is probably one of the easiest electrolytes to find, even something to try to limit in one’s diet! When it comes to having a healthy amount of sodium, just remember that the less processed foods you eat, the better.

Electrolyte Sources to Avoid

The first thing people think of when they hear “electrolyte” is a sports drink, since they have been marketed as an “electrolyte drink” for years, and marketed to athletes and anyone who breaks a sweat. Yes, these popular sports drinks contain electrolytes, but they are also loaded with processed sugars or artificial sweeteners, which are extremely bad for your health. There are just too many healthy sources of electrolytes to justify drinking a sports drink when you consider the negative side effects of sugar!

There are plenty of healthy sources for you to get all of the electrolytes your body needs!

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Tags: calcium, Chloride, Electrolytes, essential minerals, Magnesium, potassium, sodium

Tarragon

If you haven’t tried this herb out, you are missing out! Tarragon is a popular herb in Europe and is commonly used as an herb for cooking and has a long history of medicinal uses.

Benefits

• High in vitamin A, calcium, iron, and manganese

•Treats stomach cramps

•Increases appetite to help treat anorexia

•Helps aide digestion

•You can chew tarragon leaves to stop hiccups

•Helps reduce body oder

•Can be used to help with insomnia (tea)

Intake

Dried – Used for culinary purposes and teas.

Essential Oil – When tarragon is in an oil form, there is eugenol in the herb that has been used in dentistry as a local anesthetic and antiseptic for toothache complaints.

Precautions

Some people may have a slight risk of having an allergic reaction to tarragon. When tarragon is used as an essential oil, it can be poisonous and should not be used by small children or pregnant women.

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Tags: beneficial herb, calcium, culinary, dried, essential oil, herb, hiccups, iron, Manganese, medicinal, Tarragon, vitamin A

Health Benefits of Honey

Honey is very good for you, but you must know that not all Honey is created equal. Before I go into the many Health Benefits of Honey, I want to first share with you several different types of Honey, so you can be sure you are only getting the best out there.

Different Types of Honey

Honey

Just because you are buying “Honey”, doesn’t mean it is truly “All Natural”. Most honey on today’s market is processed, leaving out all of the good stuff, which is the reason why you would want honey in the first place!

Commercial Honey (the typical Honey bear you see on store shelves) is treated with an intensive heating process that destroys the nutrients of Honey. Don’t always trust your Local Honey either, since many of them will use very little local honey, and then they will mix it with other commercial or off-shore (cheaper) brands of Honey- and yes, they can call it “Local”.

Raw Honey

Raw honey isn’t processed, but is minimally filtered. In it’s pure and raw state still in tact, you will be able to enjoy the maximum amount of honey’s natural antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and vital phytonutrients, where all the nutrients are still preserved.

With Raw Honey, you won’t get that perfect golden glow look of Honey, but you will get the enzymes that help you digest honey, which is something your body needs.

Raw Creamed Honey

If you want to buy Raw Creamed Honey (my favorite), just be sure that is is un-filtered and you will receive the same health benefits of regular Raw Honey.

Certified Organic Raw Honey

For Honey to be Certified Organic, the beehives must be miles away from dense population, industry, traffic congestion, and farm fieldstreated with chemicals and/or landfills. Bees have a natural 4 mile flying radius, so finding the land that can meet the strict requirements  for Certified Organic Raw Honey can prove to be quite difficult. Yet,  the Honey from the wild vegetation can create some of the best tasting Honey on the market.

Nutritional Benefits

Raw Honey is a source of simple carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. Depending on which flowers the honeybees went to, the Honey itself may include…

Vitamins: Niacin, Riboflavin and Pantothenic Acid

Minerals: Calcium, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc

Raw Honey has a polyphenols, which act as an antioxidant.

Healing properties of Honey

Raw Honey is an oral antibacterial (polyphenols). Raw Honey has been used as a natural treatment for many things, including coughs, sore throats, and even healing infections and burns.

Children with diarrhea are usually given some kind of sugar solution to help rehydrate them, but others have found that if you use Raw Honey instead, the Honey kills the bacteria in the intenstines, and stops the diarrhea altogether.

There is a Raw Honey that is indigenous to New Zealand, and people have found that the Raw Honey taken daily (4 tablespoons) was able to reduce the symptoms of the stomach Ulcer. The Honey helps because it is able to kill the bacteria that causes the stomach ulcers in the first place.

Now that you see the Many Health and Healing Benefits of Honey, you now have plenty of reason to replace your Sugar with it in no time!

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Mini Whole Grain Sandwich Cookies by Late July

These cookies have it all –Better Nutrition, a Worthy Cause, and Great Taste!

Nutrition

What I like about these cookies, is that they are a good source of whole grains (8 grams per serving), calcium (10% of Daily Value), and they are USDA Organic. This product does not have Trans Fats or Cholesterol,  they are low in sodium,  made without any artificial sweeteners, and they do not have any High Fructose Corn Syrup.

Yes, there is sugar in this cookie. Remember, it is supposed to be a treat, not a meal.  Keep in mind, this treat is not “healthy”, but considered a much healthier alternative when compared to other cookies on the market.

Worthy Cause

The Mini Whole Grain Cookies have the “Good For All” Seal, which is Dr. Jane Goodall’s seal for ethically produced products.  Ten Percent of Profits from these Mini Cookies are being donated to the Jane Goodall Institute, which raises awareness for Endangered Animals such as the Leatherback Sea Turtle, Red Wolf, Chimpanzee, Sumatran Rhino, Pygmy Rabbit, Black-Footed Ferret, and the Giant Panda. Know when you are buying these cookies, not only are you getting a great treat, but you are also supporting a wonderful cause.

Taste

From Late July’s products, expect nothing but the best. Not only is health and nutritional value important, they don’t sacrifice taste in any of their products. Mini Whole Grain Cookies are no exception to the rule, and they taste great! There are two flavors to choose from, which is “White Chocolate” and “Milk Chocolate”. I can’t decide which one is my favorite- both taste great!

Serving: 10 cookies

Calories: 140

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