Anti-Inflammatory Turmeric Tea I was introduced to Ayurvedic health principles and medicine when I read Perfect health for Kids book by Dr. John Douillard. Reading the uses and benefits of turmeric, both fresh as well as powdered, it became one of the main staples in my home remedy cabinet. I have been using various different recipes with … [Read more...]
DIY: Homemade bath bomb recipe kids can make with video
Our school's fundraising organization organizes a fundraiser called "WinterFest" featuring a craft fair and a cookie walk every holiday season. This year the organizers decided to invite students instead of adult crafters to sell their wares at WinterFest. My daughter immediately wanted to register even though she didn't know exactly what she would … [Read more...]
How does stored fat leave your body when you burn it off?
When you are losing weight and getting slimmer, the goal is to lose more fat mass than muscle mass. There are lots of myths around how the fat leaves the body that drives people to use various unhealthy and useless methods to lose weight. A lot of people will spend their day sitting in sweat-suits or use laxatives with the hopes of losing fat. The … [Read more...]
Tips for Hot Chocolate 5k Run – Chicago
This Sunday morning, I'll run at Hot Chocolate 5k Run in Chicago. This is my 2nd year and I wanted to list my tips for the new runners this year. Bear in mind that I am just a recreational runner as you read my list. Last year, I ran at Hot Chocolate despite the overwhelming negative reviews about how bad the organization was in the last two … [Read more...]
Why I’m sticking with gluten-free diet for life
I started following gluten-free diet at the end of 2011 to help relieve my symptoms with Hashimoto's disease. However, for about 3 months in 2013 I cheated myself. My body didn't like what I was doing it to her much. After that experience, I am back to following a gluten-free diet, for life.From 2011 until late Spring 2013, I was faithfully … [Read more...]
Reasons why my AutoImmune disease is a blessing in disguise
I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Disease 6 years ago this month. For the last 6 years, I have had my ups and downs with various symptoms, related to my digestion, memory, energy, activity levels, mood and emotions. I have been working hard to keep myself up from falling back into the black hole where if I let go of myself, I'll suffer from major … [Read more...]
Easy way to curl your hair overnight
I have as straight hairs as corn silk, as my grandmother say it. On the bright side, it usually doesn't even require hair strengthener. However, few hours after I wash my hair and blow dry, it loses its volume. Sometimes, I like to make my hair wavy with the diffuser, after applying mousse to damp hair. The waves made with diffuser are uneven most … [Read more...]
Gluten-free diet: Living Gluten-free – Part II
When I mention, I follow gluten-free diet for my auto-immune problem, sometimes people say, they also have a condition, which they think gluten-free diet might help improve. However, they are very reluctant to give up their pasta, bread, pizza etc.Being on a gluten free diet might be a little harder not so much though for those who say they … [Read more...]
Gluten-free diet: Living gluten-free
Gluten-free diet is not as hard as people think it is. Gluten is a kind of protein found in three main grains. These grains are:Wheat Barley RyeTherefore, you don't eat breads, pasta, noodles, cracked wheat know as bulgur, couscous, cake, pies, cookies, bagels, flatbreads made with these three grains. You don’t consume things that … [Read more...]
Hashimoto’s Disease and Gluten Sensitivity
After being diagnosed with Hashimoto after delivering my second baby, starting with the very rapid weight gain, no matter how hard I tried, my inability to lose weight had started to infuriate me. I was also working an 8-hour desk job which wasn't helping. At the beginning of summer of 2010, I decided I needed to make a change and do something … [Read more...]
Book review: Omnivore’s Dilemma
This week’s book is not a children’s book. The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals is a non-fiction book about nutrition and health, which I highly recommend everyone, who wants to figure out how to eat healthy in the age of industrialization, to read.Definition of Omnivore in the dictionary is “an animal or person that eats … [Read more...]
Stop dieting, start eating healthy
In my posts about my transformation story, I wanted to share my excitement about conquering my struggles, and moving beyond the ups and downs of my long lost weight loss adventure at almost 35, by starting to eat healthy and staying active. The most important thing I've have learned during this revelation was that “eating healthy and living an … [Read more...]
Best indoor plants for air quality
Forests and plants are our source of life on this Earth. They provide us with oxygen and food. What's even nicer is that they aren’t necessarily have to be outdoors. There are many indoor plants for air quality which help decorate your house at the same time.As a matter of fact, I grew up in a household where there was always a corner or a room … [Read more...]
How to do a waterfall braid
Pinterest is a really bad influence for mere mortals who already have major ADHD issues, like me. This hair styling model, you see the picture above is one of those things I found on Pinterest. It is called the "Waterfall braid". It took me few tries to be able to do it on myself, but I was able to pull it off. It was rather easier to do it on my … [Read more...]
I am “beautiful” enough
Just when I was finishing up my series on my transformation story and getting ready to start a new year, I came around a children's book called "I am beautiful". I had just returned from my vacation at a resort where there were lots of gorgeous Russian women, quite rested but with declined self-esteem, despite the fact that I went there in the … [Read more...]
Supplementing Vitamin D in winter months
Vitamin D is a vitamin that is fat-soluble and not found widely in foods we consume. It is very crucial for adults and kids. It is required for bone health and immune system. It helps our body to absorb calcium and promote bone health.The very basic source of vitamin D is through the absorption sunlight through out skin. Our body produces … [Read more...]
10 tips to get most of your workouts
In addition to eating healthy, I wanted to share some of the important factors and tips I have learned to get the most out of your workouts.A question that I get a lot with exercising is what workout to do? This one, that one? My answer is, pick something that will keep you motivated to move at least 6 days for 30 minutes or more. I do … [Read more...]
Why is eating healthy so hard?
It is great to be raised in the Mediterranean region and yet sometimes it is not good completely either. I don’t think there is any other kitchen in the world that serves so many varieties of veggies and legumes. I feel really lucky in this sense. Western part of Turkey is source of good quality olive. Therefore, olive oil is staple of our cuisine. … [Read more...]
Book holder for exercise equipment
Two of my daily goals are to workout and to read every day. Sometimes 24-day is not enough to squeeze these two tasks into. If I can get them both done, then I feel lie I've accomplished a major goal. If I run outside, then I listen to audio boos. If I workout with DVDs then I have to read another time. If I cannot workout another way, I get on my … [Read more...]
Product Review: Nail buffing block
I assume, I am not the first person to come accross this great product. And if I am not, why the heck no one told me about it before?This is the perfect nail care product for people who likes to do their own manicure at home, like me. I like my manicure short, round and I do not like to hassle with putting on and taking out nail polish - even … [Read more...]