Wellness Mama®
Simple Answers for Healthier Families
Cellulite seems to be one of those problems that plagues many women these days. Based on the number of times cellulite remedies appear in women’s magazines, websites, and blogs, I’m guessing that this is a problem we still haven’t solved. Most sources agree that the dimpled appearance of cellulite occurs due to problems/imbalance in the …
That back-to-school feeling may be in the air, but I insist… summer is not over. I repeat. It is not over! To prove it, we’re doing all of the grilling and entertaining we can at our house. Summertime wouldn’t be the same without ice cream, cobblers, and other classic warm-weather treats so I’ve been on …
The general advice for decades has been to eat small meals and snacks throughout the day to keep blood sugar in balance and energy up. But it turns out this advice may not actually be best for everyone. Along with intermittent fasting, time-restricted eating has lots of health benefits supported by research. What Is Time-Restricted …
While you can certainly find an array of delicious grain-free alternatives to regular flour, it can be difficult to make the transition to grain-free baking. Not to mention that nut-based baked goods are often a problem with an increasing number of kids with nut allergies. Sunflower seed flour is a nut-free way to make healthier …
I love lavender for being so mild, but oregano is the opposite… it’s incredibly powerful and strong! This wonderful herb has many benefits and health-promoting uses around the house. Oregano: The Delight of the Mountain Oregano (Origanum vulgare) is an aromatic and slightly bitter herb in the mint family. The name is derived from Greek …
You may have seen my video on how to whiten your teeth with charcoal, but did you know that its great for your skin too? With only a few simple ingredients, this charcoal face mask is quick and easy. You can get clearer skin, detox, and soften your skin with this simple DIY recipe. How …
I like to feed my family as few processed foods as possible, so concession-stand nachos topped with canned cheese product is not something I care to serve. But I’m a firm believer that almost any crowd favorite can be a really fun and healthy meal when made with real food ingredients. So… let the nacho …
You may have noticed that WellnessMama.com recently got a slight website redesign this past week. I seriously dislike updating and redesigning, as the process always takes longer, costs more, and is even more mentally exhausting than expected. One of the things I’ve learned since 2006 (when I first started blogging) is that I’d almost rather …
I have been fascinated by dental health for a very long time, so you can imagine my excitement when I had the chance to interview the legendary holistic dentist Dr. Steven Lin on the podcast. He specializes in root causes and solutions for common dental problems… even crooked teeth! Dr. Lin confirmed many of the …
One of the hardest adjustments for me when adapting to our grain-free lifestyle was finding substitutes for the classic foods my Italian husband loves. Pasta was, of course, at the top of his list, so after much trial and error, I was finally able to make some healthy alternatives that taste even better. Basil Pesto …
Periods can be a big problem. But not for the reasons TV commercials try to convince us they are. Sure, some women have uncomfortable and painful periods (see info on that at the bottom of this post), but there are some other big problems with the “norm” when it comes to periods. Mainly: Risks of …
I’m a big fan of the oil cleansing method, and I’ve even been known to rub raw honey on my face. For those who are looking for a more traditional soap-based way to cleanse skin, I’ve been experimenting with this foaming face wash recipe. It has a rich lather and benefits every skin type. This …
A delicious (and reliable) pie crust recipe is essential in every kitchen. Even better if it’s grain free and paleo! I often go crustless for recipes like my bacon and broccoli quiche, but for some recipes, a pie crust is important. I recently realized that I although I have several pie recipes with crust, I hadn’t shared …
A gentle detox bath is a great way to relax and remove some toxins in the body. But if you want to get serious about detoxing, autophagy is the way to go. This natural cleansing process is an amazing way to improve health and support cellular homeostasis. What Is Autophagy? Autophagy is a body process that …
Beetroot powder is one of my favorite ways to add beautiful color to homemade beauty products. But beets are amazing for reasons beyond their gorgeous color. Beetroots and beet greens are amazing powerhouses of nutrition and can help the body in multiple ways when included in a healthy diet. What’s in a Beet? Beetroots are …
My family loves Indian food (coconut curry chicken… mmm)! So I’m always looking for new, healthy recipes. Luckily, Indian food is generally healthy. I can also easily tweak it to include the ingredients I prefer to use. This Indian tandoori chicken recipe is a great example. It is a grain-free recipe that uses spices for …
I remember when one of the kids broke her leg while playing outside. Thankfully, kids bounce back quickly and she was back on her feet in about four weeks. During that time we made lots of gelatin-rich foods and gave her some extra nutrients to help her recover quickly. This was our first experience with a broken …
Garlic is an herb that I always have on hand, usually in several different forms. From powder, salt, and minced for cooking to fresh for both cooking and wellness — this herb has a plethora of uses besides being tasty! Garlic: Revered or Feared? Garlic is one of the oldest cultivated herbs dating back to …
Who doesn’t love ice cream on a hot summer day? Umm… those of us that don’t eat dairy! I first learned to make homemade ice cream when we were avoiding dairy for my son years ago. It was so good we still make it today! This ice cream gets its creaminess from coconut milk and …
My favorite cream blush and many of the items in my natural makeup routine apply best with a brush. Keeping clean makeup brushes is almost as important to me as choosing non-toxic makeup. Cleaning makeup brushes isn’t usually the first thing on our to-do lists… if it’s ever on there at all. But it’s undeniable that …
We can all agree that sunburn is harmful. While I may not use most sunscreen, this is the reason I’m careful to cover up or go inside when the sun gets too hot. Unfortunately, the best-laid plans don’t always turn out for the best and sometimes overexposure happens. When it does, I turn to: DIY …
I’ve been known to make my own sunscreen, but it’s not the main thing I do for natural sun protection. There are a lot of drawbacks to using sunscreen exclusively to protect the skin from sun damage, and a lot of other ways to approach it. Is Sun Exposure Always Bad? Mainstream medical advice says …
This summer has been a delicate blend of heat wave and monsoon. I’ve had to come up with some creative family activities to keep the children (and us grownups!) from going stir crazy. Thankfully, while the summer heat and humidity has not been good for my desire to leave the comfort of air conditioning, it has …
This post is a departure from my normal posts about topics like balancing hormones or why magnesium is so important, but I thought it was worth sharing as it was one of the most fun family activities we’ve ever done. So You Want to Build a Sandcastle? Building a sandcastle wasn’t an activity I’d thought much about …
