Wellness Mama®
Simple Answers for Healthier Families
Mushrooms are delicious of course (like in this homemade cream of mushroom soup recipe), but they can also be incredibly healing. Reishi mushrooms are particularly special as they are one of the oldest mushrooms used medicinally and were once reserved for only royalty! What Are Reishi Mushrooms? Reishi mushrooms are a group of mushrooms that …
We eat a lot of salads at our house since it’s an easy way to get healthy greens into our diet. I’m really loving this roasted beet and arugula salad lately, especially since both are growing in our garden right now. If you’re afraid of beets, don’t be… when roasted they are sweet and tender …
I will never forget the feeling of digging up our first crop of sweet potatoes at our first home when we were finally able to have a good size garden. I had ordered 100 slips (baby sweet potato plants) to plant that year, but didn’t really know what I was doing and didn’t have high …
For years, my own health journey to finally getting a diagnosis of autoimmune thyroid disease came to a screeching halt because I couldn’t find a doctor in my area who understood thyroid disease and I couldn’t get a referral to a specialist unless I went through a doctor. I also couldn’t get lab tests without a …
Pins and needles, itchy, creepy-crawly… these are all terms used to describe the symptoms of restless legs syndrome, or RLS. It can be hard to put this condition into words, but for those who have experienced it, the symptoms are unmistakable. Magnesium is one natural remedy that can help, but there’s so much more to …
You know those mini-quizzes on social media that ask if you could have one service for free for the rest of your life? The options usually include a gourmet chef, live-in housecleaner, or massage therapy daily. It’s hard to choose (even in fantasy world), but personally I’d always pick the massage! We often have a …
Imagine for a second a scenario in which you were simultaneously: caring for a newborn that needed constant care building a house with your own hands having to fight off people trying to break into your home still responsible for normal cooking and cleaning Stressful… right? Yet this is what a honey bee colony does every …
Summer is by far the most popular season for grilling, but the grill isn’t only for meat. This grilled vegetables recipe is one of my favorites. Grilling brings out the natural sweetness of the onions and provides a nice change from sauteed zucchini. I love how this super simple “recipe” lets the natural goodness of …
From room deodorizers to cleaning products, perfumes and fragrances are everywhere. They may be pleasant smelling, but they often contain harmful chemicals that may cause irritation or even more serious health problems over the long term. Luckily, there are some natural alternatives that smell great and don’t pollute the air. History of Perfume Mentioned in …
I’ve been a big fan of gelatin since our family went on the GAPS diet and it helped my son be able to tolerate dairy again. I’ve also seen huge benefits with my skin, hair, and nails since I started incorporating more gelatin and collagen into my diet. What Is Collagen? In short, collagen is an insoluble protein …
You all probably know by now that we homeschool (yes, I’m one of those) and I’m often asked about my favorite homeschooling resources. Our homeschooling set-up evolves year to year as the kids get older, and now that I have kids ranging from toddlers to middle schoolers, I’ve been using several online tools that my …
August is hot where we live. We may be wilting, but the heat-loving plants in the garden love it! This Cucumber Melon Mint Smoothie is the perfect way to use seasonal produce while cooling down. In-season produce is so worth it, both for its incredible flavor and price. If you don’t have a garden, find a …
Before I share these healthy school lunch ideas, I have a confession to make… Since we homeschool, this isn’t an area that I have daily experience with as I don’t need to pack lunches every single day (but much respect to all of you parents who do!). Most of us grew up on turkey sandwiches (crusts on …
The minty sweet flavor of chewing gum is a low calorie way to replace desserts, combat cravings, or deal with stress. These days “healthy” chewing gums are even available in health food stores, either sugar-free or with some beneficial ingredients. Of course, simply because something is calorie-free or sugar-free doesn’t mean it’s healthy. As with …
Do you struggle with weight and have trouble sticking to a diet? Crave (junk) foods, especially at night? Eat and never feel full? A little something called leptin resistance may be to blame! These are all indications that you could have some leptin issues. Leptin is a master hormone in the body that controls hunger and …
As a mom of 6 I’ve had a lot of experience removing stains over the years, but red wine stain removal is especially tough (and is one stain I can only blame on myself). I even lost a few good tablecloths to red wine stains since my DIY stain remover didn’t successfully remove it. I’m not about …
If you tend your own garden, chances are you’ve had your share of zucchini. This flourishing little veggie has an almost magic ability to thrive in nearly any condition, leading to an abundance that can be rather overwhelming. So what should you do with the excess? Enter this gluten-free zucchini bread! Why Zucchini? But first, …
I’ve been experimenting a lot with castor oil lately as a natural beauty remedy. I already use it in my oil cleansing blend each day, and I’m enjoying the results from using castor oil packs on my skin. Years ago, a friend mentioned that she loved castor oil for hair and eyelashes. I was really …
As you probably know, I’m a big fan of creating a wellness lifestyle based on research and personal trial and error. Blue Zones are fascinating because the people in them all have diverse diets and habits as well as different environments, but seem to live longer and be happier. Researchers have continued to study what Blue Zone …
Nothing is more relaxing than a warm bath… except perhaps a relaxing warm detox bath that also helps cleanse the body… Seriously — these detox baths will help remove toxins from the body and they also tend to make you tired so I suggest doing them before bed! If you struggle with toxins or skin …
Fingernails are more than just a carrier for nail polish, they say a lot about our health. Knowing how to have healthy nails is easier said than done sometimes. Nutrients like collagen, biotin, and zinc help make nails their strongest, but there’s a lot more to the story. What Do Your Nails Say About Your …
