crystalchester

5 Principles of Amazing Health

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Ever wanted to have your dessert and eat it too? Yeah, me too! Truth, is you can achieve amazing health, reach your goals and it can actually involve dessert. 🙂 First know…. Good health is all encompassing – it includes your mind, body & soul. Take these 5 principles into practice to achieve amazing health! You can … Read more

3 Weight-loss Tips You’ve Never Heard

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  Losing weight is complex. There is no magic potion, pill or shake, nor will there ever be. But for some reason people still think that their sedentary lifestyles, drive-thru meal habits & sweet tooth will all be fixed by some mystical brew that HAS to be out there somewhere. Wrong. The only way to … Read more

Should You Stop Eating Peanut Butter?

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You’ve probably heard that peanuts should be avoided because they contain carcinogens – cancer causing substance. What this is referring to is aflatoxins – a natural toxin produced by certain strains of the mold Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus that grow on peanuts when they are grown in warm, humid soils. Peanuts aren’t the only affected crops. Aflatoxins have … Read more

The Link Between Dairy and the Autism Spectrum

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To date, dairy is the #1 allergenic food.  Why? The issues are linked to two main reasons. The 1st: A1 cows – 90% of the dairy cows in America are a newer breed of cattle, classified as A1 cows. Approximately 5,000 years ago these cows encountered a natural mutation that changed the beta-casein (protein) they … Read more

Top 3 Simplest Ways to Avoid Holiday Weight-gain

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  Everyone loves the holidays. But if you’re health conscious or watching your weight, the holiday’s can be a bit stressful. The good news is – they don’t have to be! Get this – You can totally enjoy the holidays, plus your favorite foods, AND not gain a pound! Here are the top 3 simplest … Read more

Real Food Sample Menu for 9-12 month olds

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We all want to give our little ones the best start and the best foods to nourish their little bodies. Here is a 1-day sample menu of real food for babies 9-12 months old.

Breakfast
Breast milk or formula
Scrambled egg(s) – plain
Diced soft fresh fruit – if baby is ready for solids

Snack
Breast milk or formula
Avocado and banana mix (~1/3 avocado and ½ banana ratio) 

Lunch
Breast milk or formula
Sprouted grain bread (torn into bite sizes if baby is ready for solids)
Hummus
Steamed beets (Careful! Beets stain.)

Snack
Breast milk or formula
Peas and carrots (soft)

Dinner
Breast milk or formula
Refried or mashed beans
Homemade soups – such as chicken soup: brown rice, carrots, onions, celery & bone broth
Diced soft fruit of choice

If your baby is breastfed, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, it is recommended that babies be breastfed up to 1 year of age. Thereafter, babies should continue to breastfeed for as long as is mutually desired by mama and baby.

What are your baby’s favorite foods? 

 

References: 
American Academy of Pediatrics

 

 

Is buying organic meat worth the expense?

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  You may have asked yourself – is buying organic meat worth the expense? Technically, it’s up to you, but there are important factors about our meat industry you can’t afford not to know! Why it’s important to buy organic meat? Organic meat products such as beef and other meats, poultry, eggs, and dairy products … Read more

The Truth about Stevia

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  Stevia is an herb naturally derived from South America. The sweetness comes from the plant’s leaves which contain two glycosides: stevioside and rebaudioside. Steviocide is to blame for the mild bitter aftertaste but research has shown it to have the most health benefits. Rebaudioside is the sweetest part and less bitter. There are not … Read more

Homemade Baby Formula Recipes (with a Vegetarian option)

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  Hands-down breast milk is the best for babies. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends babies should be exclusively breast-fed up for the first 6 months, followed by breastfeeding in combination with the introduction of complementary foods until at least 12 months of age. Breast milk is fantastic for brain development and intelligence, reducing allergies, … Read more

Vitamin D – What you need to know

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Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that’s stored in your liver and fatty tissues that helps your body balance hormones. So, essentially it’s a pro-hormone or steroid hormone in the way it acts in the body. Vitamin D has been studied for decades but evidence is showing more and more benefits of vitamin D … Read more