Healthy Changes- The Practical Side

When we decided to change our diet by eliminating meat and dairy and eating healthy, plant based foods, my first thought was, "This is going to blow our budget and take FOREVER to learn how to cook this way!"  (Click here to read more about our diet change.) However, I am so glad to say that I was wrong. Shopping for our meals and learning to cook with beans and veggies was challenging at first, but it didn't take long at all to find many foods that we love and that I can easily prepare.

Healthy Changes

Believe it or not, this blog is still active! "Missing In Action," has definitely been my status lately, but I am still here and I do still intend to write. It's hard to believe that I haven't written anything since the spring, but summer has been active and (crazy as it seems) even busier than last winter!  I'm back now and excited to share some of what I have been learning these last few months!

Bee Healthy

At the beginning of every winter I always began searching for a product or vitamin that would steel me and my family against the barrage of germs that the cold season brought. Last winter a few friends introduced me to the health benefits of bee products, specifically propolis and bee pollen. After taking these natural products for a year, even my husband, who was skeptical at first, believes in their health benefits. In fact, after staying healthy through the last horrible cold that came through our home, he insisted that I write and tell you, "This stuff really does work"!

Bee Pollen

Bee pollen is the pollen that bees harvest from flowers to use as food. Bee pollen contains protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. It has been claimed that if bee pollen is taken on a regular basis it can relieve seasonal allergies. Because of the high levels of carbohydrates and protein found in bee pollen, it has also been used by athletes as a sort of "super food" to provide energy and endurance. We mix one tablespoon of bee pollen in a small amount of water and drink it down once a day. Our son is too young to take much so I started him with just a few granules (to make sure he wasn't allergic) and slowly increased the amount. I sprinkle a small amount on his peanut butter toast and he eats it up! Because people can be allergic to bee products, be careful to start with a small amount and slowly increase to the the appropriate dosage.

Propolis Tincture

Propolis is a dark resin like substance that bees use to seal and protect their hives. Because of its antibacterial properties, bees use propolis to keep their hives free of bacteria and fungus. Medicinally people have been known to use propolis on surface wounds, mouth sores, and for preventing illness. My husband and I take a propolis tincture with water at the first symptom of a cold, or whenever our little guy gets a runny nose. We continue to take propolis until all signs of any illness are gone. The tincture we take contains alcohol, so I am not able to give it to my son but I have read that there is a propolis tincture made with water that would be better for children to take. 

Bee Jelly

Another product that we love is a jelly made with honey, royal  jelly (the honey reserved for the queen bee), propolis and bee pollen. If your ready for an energy boost, this will do it. Before I go for a long run I usually will consume a large spoonful of bee jelly or I will pack some to take later on my run. This tastes so much better than the gel packs that athletes are sold and I feel like it works better and lasts longer!
Once I started researching bee products I was surprised to find how many businesses make and sell a large variety of bee based merchandise. There are creams, soaps, jellies and yes, even  a product that uses ground up, dead bees (personally, I'm not ready to consume dead bees quite yet!)
Not only am I convinced that bee products are beneficial to boosting your immune system and killing germs, I love that they are a natural way to heal your body. I am looking forward to not having to scour the stores for vitamins this year!
Have you used natural products to aid in healthy living? Tell me about it... I'd love to know!
God bless!
Joy

Deciding to Learn

Recently I have discovered that I love to learn! No, I'm not talking about math and science (I highly doubt that I will ever develop a love for math. This girl and math will always be at odds). What I am excited about are things that I can learn that would be useful to my life as a mom and as a wife. Ideas that I stumble upon that help me become more organized, thrifty, creative or healthy are just a few things that are on my list to learn and accomplish. I've decided to intentionally learn and to improve upon what I already know. My goal with this blog is to pass on what I find so that you can also learn from my successes and, more likely, my many mistakes.

For now, this is all. I will be back soon with a new discovery to share!

God bless!

Joy