What Is Valerian Root?
Valereiana officinalis, or Valerian, is a plant from the Valerianaceae family. It is perennial and native to Asia and Europe.
Valerian root extract is derived from the stems and roots of the Valerian plant.
One of valerian’s most distinctive characteristics is its pungent smell. When the plant’s roots are exposed, they release a powerful aroma.
This is a trait common to most plants in the Valerianaceae family. The smell is generally described as extremely unpleasant.
Valerian Root's Interesting History
Legend has it that the Pied Piper of Hamilton used valerian to lure plague-ridden rats out of Hamelin ...
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Your Journey to a Gluten Free Diet
Whether you're a newbie to a gluten-free diet or you're an old pro, it's kind of funny how everyone's journey is somewhat similar.
I'm not going to lie - when you first choose to go gluten-free, it can be insanely overwhelming. You've heard so much about it. You've seen the gluten-free foods on the shelf at the grocery store. You've probably heard your friends or co-workers talk about it.
But choosing where to start and taking that first step can be intimidating. (Side note - that's why we wrote the Ultimate Guide to a Gluten Free Lifestyle. Be sure to read it.)
But once you finally jump in, the benefits can hit you quickly. And you ...
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What Is Bentonite Clay? How Do I Use It?
What is Bentonite Clay?
Clay is a substance that occurs naturally in nature, made up of soil or rock particles. Before we cover bentonite clay, let’s explore what clay is and what it is used for.
There are a wide range of different clays. They can be formed from materials ranging from glacial debris to ceramic, shales, and mudstones. Each type of clay contains clay minerals, or hydrous aluminium phyllosilicates. This compound usually contains other essential minerals, for example iron or magnesium. (Source)
The majority of clays are formed by a process known as weathering. The natural components that make up clay are broken down ...
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All About Activated Charcoal
What is Activated Charcoal?
Activated charcoal is a compound that is made from selected raw materials. Also known as activated carbon, it can be made from any carbonaceous raw material.
These consist of any materials that contain carbon, such as coconut shells, wood, or coal.
To “activate” the selected material, it is subjected to a specialized treatment process. The activation itself involves innate chemical and physical changes.
First, the carbonaceous substance is burnt without any oxygen at high temperatures.
Any heat-sensitive (volatile) compounds are stripped away, leaving a carbon skeleton – or “char”.
This char is then ...
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5 Tips to Live an 80/20 Paleo Lifestyle
If you’ve been around Ultimate Paleo Guide much, you’ve probably heard of the term 80/20 paleo.
80% paleo. 20% everything else.
The idea is that you can eat paleo and still live life. Most people go on diets and feel “restricted.” Paleo is the opposite - the goal is to expand your life - not limit it.
Every now and then, if you want to go out, hang out with friends, get a drink or have pizza - you can - but make sure it’s only every now & then - not EVERY DAY.
What gets most people into trouble is that the 20% turns into 30% which turns into 40% which turns into 50%, etc. Suddenly, eating paleo & staying healthy is the ...
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Ketosis Breath: How You Got It And How To Avoid It
Bad breath – or halitosis - is never a good thing. Halitosis may not be harmful, but it is still unpleasant to deal with in daily life.
Bad oral habits are the most common of cause of halitosis. Certain chronic diseases can also cause bad breath.
You know what else can cause halitosis? You guessed it. Certain foods and diets can be the culprit.
A low carbohydrate diet has a range of beneficial effects. Reducing carbohydrate intake can improve weight loss and boost energy.
Unfortunately, one of the potential trademarks of a low carbohydrate diet is halitosis.
But before we go any further, let us delve deeper into what happens in ...
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A Beginner’s Guide on Histamines
What are histamines?
Histamines are a biologically active compound that is found within the majority of living organisms, from human beings and other mammals to plants, bacteria, and insects.
Histamines are classified as being an amine, which is an organic molecule based on ammonia’s chemical structure.
Scientists Henry Dale and George Barger were responsible for isolating histamine from ergot, a deadly plant fungus, in the early 19th century. Shortly after that, the two English scientists managed to isolate histamine from animal tissues.
Histamines can be found within plants such as stinging nettles. The delicate hairs on the ...
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An Introduction to Adaptogens
What Are Adaptogens?
An adaptogen is a form of nutritional, non-chemical supplement that is intended to assist the body to adapt to common external stressors ranging from anxiety to certain hormonal disorders.
Adaptogens consist of any form of supplement that is part of a family of natural substances, such as herbs like ginseng. To put it simply – adaptogens consist of all forms of herbal medicines! (Source)
The Rich History of Adaptogens
Herbal medicine has a rich history spanning over thousands of years, used by ancient societies in countries across the globe, such as Russia, Japan, Korea, and eventually Europe and the United ...
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5 Natural Ways to Beat the Winter Blues
Winter has plenty of positive associations holiday-wise: there’s Thanksgiving turkey to look forward to, Christmas celebrations with family, and New Year’s Eve. But what after the festive season ends?
Harsh weather combined with late sunrises and early sunsets can result in seasonal affective disorder, aptly abbreviated as SAD. The condition is also known as the winter blues, winter depression, or seasonal funk.
Most individuals with SAD will feel their symptoms begin in autumn and continue throughout the winter months. Although rare, SAD can strike in the brightermonths of spring and summer too.
Symptoms of the winter blues ...
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What a Nutritionist Eats in a Day
This is what a nutritionist eats in a day...
Sometimes the most overwhelming part of eating healthy is choosing what to eat. I get it. One thing the readers of this blog alway want to know is “what should I eat?”
And, in a very anti-climactic fashion, my answer is that there is no “right” answer. Nutrition is highly individualized, and there is not one correct formula.
One of the most fun parts of the Paleo journey, in my opinion, is that you get to know your body really well. You start to understand what foods affect it negatively and what foods make it feel like a sparkly, magical, fine-tuned machine that’s radiating from the ...
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