For all of those out there who are wary of dairy, HealthCastle.com posted a list of foods and info that can help you keep your bones healthy and strong. You’ll find that milk is not the only food that “does a body good.”

Non-Dairy Calcium: Vegan-Friendly Ways to Build Healthy Bones

If you have the time, I would recommend navigating HealthCastle.com. They have tons of great info about eating right and staying healthy!

Happy Trails!

For more great information on vegan sources of calcium visit my friend’s blog: SimplyVegan

Another GREAT resource for those living with diabetes is DiabetesActNow.

On this website you can watch short, entertaining, and highly informative videos, called Easy Actions, which contain easy suggestions for you to better improve your health.  You can also sign up for a free account and receive emails that help you track your progress.  The truth is that anyone can benefit from the Easy Actions recommended on this website!

It looks like everyone is trying to play a roll in getting America healthy. The YMCA has declared this week (September 20-27) America on the Move Week.  Their goal is to help communities add small but meaningful changes to their lives and incorporate activities in schools, the workplace and their homes. 

60% of Americans are still not getting the recommended 30 daily minutes of activity and 25% aren’t active at all. The average annual weight gain per adult is 1-2 pounds a year.

Start moving America! The change starts today and it starts with those first few steps. Try to add extra steps to your day by taking the stairs instead of the elevator or parking in further spots in parking lots. And try to eat better by cutting calories. Bring bottled water to work everyday and say “no” to sugary beverages, pack a lunch of grilled chicken with salsa and some cut veggies and avoid that snack machine. Click the link below for more helpful ideas on how you can start living healthier today and everyday.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has declared September National Fruits & Veggies—More Matters® Month.  It is clear that although we are reminded time and time again about the importance of adding more fruits and vegetables to our diets, a large percentage of the American population have still not effectively adopted a healthier way of eating.  For more information on how fruits and vegetables can improve your health, visit their website.

I began my journey on the path of wellness as a young child. I always had an inner sense that there was more to my health than doctor visits and prescription pads. As I grew, I learned to listen to my body. If I felt sick, I knew that there was a greater reason than just, “I have a cold.” My symptoms were my body trying to tell me something. Maybe I needed more rest or wasn’t eating right. Perhaps there was too much dust in my room or I was stressed about something. By learning to listen and understand my body’s cries for change, I was able to prevent and overcome my minor maladies without ever stepping foot in a doctor’s office. Of course there was the occasional case of strep throat that required an antibiotic, but most of the time it was just a clear cut case of the body being “run down.”

In order to better educate myself in the art of health and wellness, I obtained an M.S. in Oriental Medicine from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego, CA. There, with the help of 3000 year old traditions, I learned that the body is a garden and I must constantly tend to this garden if I want it to flourish. Today I have chosen to dedicate much of my time each day, not only to the cultivation of my own “body-garden” but to the education of others so that we may all live happier and healthier lives.

The intent of this blog is to share with you in the insight and tools that I have obtained along my journey. Please feel free to contribute your knowledge and to challenge anything you may disagree with. Visit often and contact me with any questions you may have. I am constantly expanding my knowledge and looking for new stories to share with you as we travel together on the path of wellness.

Be Well and Namaste,

Laura Metzdorff, L.Ac