Non-dairy milk alternatives are some of the most popular beverages on the market. With increasing dairy sensitivities and a greater interest in plant-based diets, people turn to dairy-free milks. Macadamia nut milk, almond milk, oat milk, hemp seed milk, and more plant-based milks are available at grocery stores, coffee shops, and smoothie shops across the country.

One report claims that sales of non-dairy milks experienced a 60% increase since 2012. Roughly one in five Americans claims that they consume less dairy for health reasons. Out of all the non-dairy milk alternatives, almond milk reigns supreme. A 2020 report found that almond milk sales grossed $1.5 billion. Just because it is the most popular, does that mean it is the healthiest non-dairy milk? Continue reading to find out.

What Is Almond Milk?

Pure almond milk contains two ingredients: almonds and water. To make almond milk, blend almonds and water together, pour this mixture through a cheesecloth or nut milk bag, and strain the liquid. You can add sweeteners or flavorings as you please. Store bought almond milks can contain more chemicals, gums, emulsifiers, preservatives, or sweeteners to extend shelf life. Some varieties are also fortified with vitamins and minerals. 

A Nutritional Breakdown Of Almond Milk

The nutritional profile of almond milk will vary depending on the formulation. Vanilla almond milk that contains sugar is unhealthier than unsweetened almond milk. That isn’t to say that unsweetened almond milk is super healthy. Many unsweetened varieties contain gums, thickeners, and preservatives to remain shelf stable. Homemade almond milk, however, is much healthier for you. The difference is that homemade almond milk goes bad in about three days. On average, though, one cup of unsweetened almond milk contains:

• Calories: 39
• Fat: 3 grams
• Protein: 1 gram
• Carbohydrations: 3.5 grams
• Fiber: 0.5 grams
• Calcium: 24% of the recommended daily intake (RDI)
• Potassium: 4% of the RDI
• Vitamin E: 110% of the RDI
• Vitamin D: 18% of the RDI

Almond Milk Vs. Dairy Milk

Some people refuse to accept plant-based milks. They are steadfast in their belief that cow’s milk is the best liquid for healthy bones. Despite scientific reports claiming this as false, people are familiar with cow’s milk and less familiar with almond milk. Almond milk is much lower in calories and it is naturally lactose-free. About 65% of the human population has a reduced ability to digest lactose, meaning they are lactose intolerant. This can lead to digestive issues, mucus accumulation, and inflammation. On the other hand, some people cannot digest almond milk because it contains carrageenan. Others are simply allergic to tree nuts. Cow’s milk is also high in fat and there are many ethical concerns about modern dairy farming practices. The hope is that dairy lovers come around to experiment with plant-based dairy alternatives like almond milk.

How Healthy Is Almond Milk?

As we discussed earlier, not all almond milks are created equal. Sugary, chocolate, or vanilla almond milks will have excess sugar and preservatives. One cup of these varieties can contain up to 12 grams of added sugar, which is about three teaspoons. That’s half of the RDI for adult women, according to the American Heart Association. Almond milk can be healthy, though, especially if you make your own. There are also varieties that only contain almonds, water, and sea salt. One of those brands is MALK, which is excellent!

If you make your own almond milk (click here for the recipe), you’ll be better off. All you need are almonds, a blender, water, vanilla extract (optional), sea salt, raw agave syrup (optional) and a nut milk bag or cheesecloth. Making almond milk is a very easy process that takes ten minutes or less. You know what’s going into your beverage and it won’t contain any added gums, thickeners, emulsifiers, or sweeteners that can make it unhealthy. 

Conclusion

Almond milk has the potential to contain unwanted, harmful ingredients to your health. Think of almond milk like reusable bottles: some are cheap and made from plastic, while others have better insulation and are stainless steel. If you want to purchase almond milk in the store, make sure to purchase varieties with simple, recognizable ingredients. Otherwise, it’s better to make your own. And finally, drinking almond milk helps to cut down on your consumption of dairy, which will only benefit your health in the long run.

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Depending on who you listen to, which new emerging health study you see, or which diet you follow, dairy is either good or bad for you. Dairy doesn’t fall under the healthy food umbrella, but many people grew up with the notion that drinking milk was the only way to have strong bones. This theory has been debunked, but people still feel the need to include dairy in their diet, despite what it does to their bodies. 

Millions of Americans are lactose intolerant, but they consume dairy without a care. The fact of the matter is that 50 million Americans are lactose intolerant and even more are sensitive to dairy products. Most people are unaware of the fact that their bodies can’t properly digest lactose, which is a sugar that occurs in cow’s milk. Humans have lactase, which is an enzyme that breaks down and digests lactose. The production of the lactase enzyme actually lessens or stops as you age into adulthood. When the body doesn’t product lactase and you eat dairy, it’s easy to experience bloating, stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, and other digestive issues. 

Unfortunately, the side effects of dairy consumption go beyond stomachaches or bloating. Over a long period of time, lactose has the potential to cause the following side effects on the body. 

Unhealthy Skin

What you put in your body influences the appearance and overall health of your skin. It’s the largest organ in the body, so it tries to get rid of whatever your internal organs cannot do on their own. If you cannot digest and eliminate dairy products, the skin will try to get rid of them. This can lead to dry skin, acne, splotchy skin, or areas of redness. Studies have shown that eliminating dairy from your diet helps to improve the overall appearance of the skin. 

An Increased Risk Of Cancer

Depending on the dairy products you consume, you may suffer from long-term consequences. Some studies have linked high dairy consumption to an increased risk of prostate and breast cancers. It should be noted that these studies were conducted by epidemiologists, meaning they looked at trends in dairy consumption in populated areas over time. Other studies found that dairy consumption was linked to higher rates of colon and testicular cancers. 

Digestive Troubles

As we’ve detailed in this article, lactose can cause bloating, gas, and stomach pain, all of which are minor stomach troubles. When you eat a lot of dairy, it’s possible that it will damage or inflame the gut lining, which can lead to leaky gut syndrome. Once the gut lining is damaged, the body has an increased risk of developing chronic inflammation and autoimmune disorders. Some studies found that people who eliminated dairy from their diet had a much easier time digesting food. This is primarily because about 75% of adults around the world are intolerant to lactose. 

Inflammation

Inflammation is the immune system’s natural response to an irritant in the body. This is a healthy response, but it becomes unhealthy when the response lingers, leaving the body in a state of constant alert, or chronically inflamed. Dairy is very acidic and consuming it regularly can make it hard for the body to remain in an alkaline state. The natural acids in milk, for example, can cause calcium deposits to accumulate in joints, increasing the risk of arthritis and inflammation. The body has an easier time absorbing the calcium from plant-based foods, most of which are alkaline and fight inflammation.

Excess Mucus Production

Dairy contains casein, which is a protein that promotes the formation of mucus in the body. People who are more sensitive to dairy commonly experience congestion after consuming dairy products. This is even more detrimental to your health if you are sick. Casein will make it more difficult for the body to expel mucus. 

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Babies all around the world experience diaper rash. It’s nerve-wracking for parents and painful or irritating for the baby. As a parent, you don’t want to see your child in pain, so you try to remedy the rash with healing lotions and ointments. Since many of those lotions contain harmful chemicals, it is better to use natural ingredients to soothe irritation and get rid of the rash.

Understanding Why Diaper Rash Occurs

You have to understand the causes of diaper rash if you want to prevent it. The most common cause of diaper rash is the containment of moisture, warmth, and growth of organisms within the diaper. Candida or yeast, which is present in stool, is typically the growth. This is not always the cause of the rash, though. Some children have food sensitivities or allergies to certain materials. Chronic diaper rash, for instance, is most commonly attributed to a food allergen. Finding the allergen can take time, but there are ingredients that can remedy the situation in the meantime.

Beeswax For Diaper Rash

Beeswax has numerous benefits, one of the primary ones being that it nourishes the skin. Loaded with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and germicidal properties, beeswax can help fight diaper rash and soothe the skin. While there are dozens of lotions that contain beeswax, go straight to the source and incorporate it into a homemade salve.

Calendula For Diaper Rash

The recipe for this DIY diaper rash salve calls for infused calendula oil. Traditionally, calendula flowers have been used in herbal remedies for their medicinal properties. The antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties are especially beneficial for wounds, burns, rashes, infection, and inflammation. Research suggests that calendula is better for diaper rash than aloe vera gel, but some children may be more sensitive to it.

DIY Diaper Rash Salve

Ingredients For The Calendula Infused Oil:

• ½ cup dried calendula flowers
• 1 cup sweet almond oil

Ingredients For The Salve:

• 1 cup calendula infused oil
• ¼ cup beeswax
• 1 tablespoon marshmallow root
• 1 tablespoon chickweed
• 1 tablespoon comfrey rot
• 1 teaspoon barberry root powder

Instructions For The Calendula Infused Oil:

• Add the calendula flowers and sweet almond oil to a pint-sized mason jar.
• Make sure that the flowers are completely submerged in the oil.
• Cover the jar and allow it to sit in a sunny windowsill for one month.
• Strain the flowers and reserve the oil in a jar for your diaper salve.

Instructions For The Salve:

• Add the infused oil, marshmallow root, chickweed, comfrey root, and barberry root powder to a small saucepan over low heat. You do not want to cook the herbs, so make sure that it is very low heat.
• Let the herbs infuse for 10 minutes and then add the beeswax. Stir the beeswax occasionally until it is completely melted.
• Strain the herbs through a cheesecloth into a glass measuring cup with a pour spout.
• Quickly pour the mixture into jars or small tins for storage. Allow the mixture to harden in the tins before screwing the tops on. Store in a cool dry place and use as needed.

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Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that affects about 2.6% of the American population. Yes, psoriasis is an annoying autoimmune skin disease that results in inflamed and scaly patches of skin, but it can worsen. In fact, about 30% of people with psoriasis experience psoriatic arthritis, which is characterized by joint inflammation. People explore conventional treatment options to “bandage the condition,” so to speak, but rarely do they address the real problem.

What Causes Psoriasis?

Dermatologists believe that psoriasis beings with an immune abnormality, involving a white blood cell known as T-cell. The reason that inflamed, red, itchy patches occur on the body is because people with psoriasis have skin cells that rise to the skin’s surface too quickly. Normally, healthy skin experiences cell turnover once a month. When underlying cells reach the skin’s surface and die, the volume of cells causes the raised, itchy plaques that characterize the condition.

How The Foods You Eat Affect Psoriasis

Many studies have found that diet plays a significant role in the development and treatment of psoriasis. A small 200-person study concluded that the people with psoriasis had high levels of oxidative stress and reduced levels of antioxidants. Because antioxidants work to reduce oxidative stress, the researchers conducting the study determined that antioxidant-rich foods may play a role in combating the condition.

Another study with 1,206 psoriasis patients showed that different dietary changes improved symptoms in most people. Eliminating nightshades, reducing alcohol and gluten intake, supplementing with vitamin D, and eating more vegetables proved effective. Some diet modifications worked for some, while others experienced no improvement. An elimination diet, however, did seem to work for most people in the study.

The Benefits Of Cleansing To Reduce Psoriasis Symptoms

Cleansing is a great way to rid the body of built-up toxins and waste, especially any pollutants that reside in the liver or kidneys. In the modern world of chemicals, environmental pollutants, and processed ingredients, the body easily becomes overwhelmed. According to research studies, psoriasis can be caused by toxemia, which results in cellular breakdown. This occurs when too many toxins accumulate in the body.

How Does A Cleanse Remove Toxins?

When you consider the Dherbs Full Body Cleanse, for example, the herbs in the different supplements help to cleanse and nourish the various organs and systems in the body. The raw vegan diet supplies the body with essential nutrients and aids with the cleansing process. While cleansing, people drink more water than they usually do and eliminate all the foods that are common sensitivities. Dairy products, meats, poultry, processed foods, gluten, alcohol, and fried foods contain ingredients that cause mild reactions, or worsen symptoms of psoriasis. Removing these foods and cleansing the body can not only contribute to healthier skin, but also improve digestion, energy levels, and mental clarity.

Choose Foods That Fight Inflammation

During your cleanse, it is wise to consume foods that contain anti-inflammatory properties. By eliminating trigger foods, inflammation naturally reduces, but you can enhance this step by consuming inflammation-fighting foods. Click here to learn about anti-inflammatory alkaline foods. As mentioned earlier in the article, antioxidant-rich foods may positively influence the condition. Vitamin C, beta-carotene, selenium, and vitamin E are excellent antioxidants to focus on. You can find them in olive oil, nuts, seeds, herbs and spices, berries, cherries, leafy greens, and fruits.

While there is no cure for psoriasis, there are things that you can do to improve your condition. A cleanse won’t work for everyone, but ridding the body of built-up toxins may help clear up your skin.

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Most of us have the annual thought, typically around the New Year or spring, that we need to eat healthier foods. That can mean swapping your daily soda with lemon water or eating carrots and hummus instead of chips. The intention is there, but the follow through is not. The majority of Americans have become accustomed to a diet rich in processed foods, sweets, refined grains, fried foods, and saturated fats, all of which negatively affect your intentions to eat healthier foods.

It’s easy to read that and say, “Well, then it’s not my fault.” No, it is your fault if you make the decision to eat those foods, which have trained your taste buds to crave them. That being said, you can retrain your taste buds to crave healthier foods the same way you influenced your taste buds to crave unhealthy foods. According to several brain imaging studies, sugar and fat are addictive substances that are comparable to substances like morphine or heroin. Hyper-palatable foods establish a neuro-chemical addiction, meaning that you may be chemically dependent on the very foods that you are trying to eliminate from your diet.

Taste buds have an average lifespan of ten days, meaning that your body is constantly producing new ones throughout adulthood. If this is the case, then it is possible to retrain them to crave fewer refined foods and enjoy refreshing, nutrient-dense plant-based foods instead. When you eliminate dairy products, gluten, refined sugars, and other processed foods from your diet, you’ll notice that they taste different, perhaps sweeter or saltier, than they did before. Use the following tips to get started on developing taste buds that crave healthier foods.

To Start The Retraining Process

Eliminate Sweet & Salty Foods

In order to eliminate your dependence on these foods, you have to remove them from your diet. For optimal results, eliminate them from your diet for about two to three weeks to help you establish a new baseline for flavors. During this time, you should introduce umami, bitter, or sour flavors into your diet. These foods include mushrooms, miso, pickled or fermented foods, and leafy greens. This helps to condition your taste buds to crave those healthier foods, which possess similar salty and sweet flavors.

Practice Mindful Eating

Mindful eating is the practice of being present and in the moment when you sit down to eat a meal. Don’t watch TV or scroll through social media; rather, just be there with your food. You’ll find that this practice helps you enjoy wholesome foods and reduce stress. Eventually, you will be able to reintroduce certain salty or sweet foods to your diet. A few mindful bites of some chips or a piece of cake will satisfy your craving and you won’t need to indulge any further.

To Overcome Fat Cravings

When it comes to eliminating cravings for fatty foods, it’s all about the substitution game. If you like to bake, use organic unsweetened applesauce in place of butter, because they both add the same rich consistency. You really need to pay attention to the oils you use, though. Vegetable, soybean, corn, and safflower oils contain too many omega-6 fatty acids, whereas olive, avocado, and coconut oils are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Too many omega-6 fatty acids in the body can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Processed foods are also rich in safflower, soybean, or corn oils, so avoid them as well. Focus on omega-3s to avoid cravings for fatty foods.

To Overcome Salty Cravings

First thing’s first: get your butt in the kitchen and start cooking from scratch. A high percentage of people regularly eat out or purchase pre-made frozen meals, and these dishes are often packed with sodium or added flavors. When you cook at home, you are in control of how much salt you consume, and there won’t be added preservatives. Additionally, and we can’t stress this enough, eliminate deli meats and frozen meals from your diet because they worsen your salt addiction. Finally, try to find substitute seasonings for salt. Himalayan pink salt and sea salt are healthier options, but you can also use other spices and dulse flakes to avoid using salt.

To Overcome Sugar Cravings

When it comes to reducing sugar cravings, most people don’t look for the right foods to eliminate. They may stop consuming baked goods and processed foods, but some of the biggest sugar sources are soft drinks and alcohol. These greatly affect blood sugar levels, causing spikes and crashes that can make you crave sugary foods even when you aren’t hungry. Swap your cup of coffee with herbal tea, your soda with water, and try to avoid the sugary mixed alcoholic drinks. A glass of red wine here and there won’t be the worst thing for your health.

Ultimately, eating healthy is all about rhythm. Once you find your groove, you’ll be able to keep repeating your steps and advance to the next level. Set weekly goals to build confidence and you’ll be eating healthy foods without thinking about it in not time.

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Dairy products have been under fire lately, due to the controversy about whether or not they are necessary for healthy bones. Many health experts claim that people should avoid dairy products and obtain calcium from other plant-based sources, but this is easier said than done. As it turns out, many people are hooked, addicted even, to dairy products.

Advertising campaigns and government suggested food pyramids have encouraged Americans to make milk an essential component of a healthy diet. When you take into account that the consumption of dairy products has been linked to skin conditions, joint inflammation, and digestive problems, the advice to consume dairy has been quite misleading, to say the least. Harvard scientists have even ridiculed the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics for encouraging people to consume up to three cups of milk per day. Additionally, federal laws have mandated that public schools provide children with milk at each meal to avoid losing federal funding.

Is Dairy Natural To Consume?

Humans are the only species that consumes milk into adulthood, and they are the only species to drink the milk of other animals. Cow’s milk is intended for growing calves, and as you have astutely realized, humans are not calves. Research has shown that dairy is not necessary for optimal health, especially when you look at it from an evolutionary perspective. Additionally, 75% of the world’s adult population is lactose intolerant, due to the fact that the body stops producing the lactase enzyme, which breaks down lactose, as you age into adulthood. Despite knowing this, people consume dairy and even deal with symptoms of lactose intolerance.

Are You Addicted To Dairy?

The definitive food that prevents a vegetarian from becoming a vegan is dairy, not eggs like people think. The aroma of cheese, the way it melts, or the sharp flavor hooks you into becoming an addict, chasing that cheese high forever and always. The reason that people crave cheese is because it contains casein fragments called casomorphins, which is a morphine-like compound. To put it simply, dairy protein contains opiate molecules, triggering the same brain receptors, to which narcotics attach. A cup of milk contains 7.7 grams of protein, 80% of which is casein, but when that same cup that gets converted to cheddar, it multiplies to 56 grams, becoming the most concentrated form of casein. Think of it like this: milk is the cocaine to the crack that is cheese. Companies that sell cheese are aware of this, leveraging the addiction by adding cheese or dairy to enhancers, sauces, dressings, and other condiments.

The Problems With Dairy

Gut Leakage

The proteins in dairy have been linked to inappropriate immune reactions after they are absorbed by inflamed intestinal mucosa, commonly known as gut leakage. People who are sensitive or intolerant to dairy products can develop a variety of inflammatory responses that can impair digestion.

Bacterial Contamination

Did you know that dairy products are some of the most common food products that are recalled by the FDA? The reason for this is due to bacterial contamination with strains of listeria, E. coli, salmonella, staphylococci, and mycobacterium paratuberculosis. Pasteurization is designed to kill most of the bacteria in milk, but this process creates viral fragments that can also compromise human health.

Hormones

Dairy cows are injected with recombinant bovine growth hormone to help maximize milk production. While this makes cows produce more milk, it also increases insulin-like growth factor-1, which has been linked to cancer cell growth in humans.

The long and short of it is that you can get all the calcium you need without ever sipping a glass of milk. If you are worried about satisfying your recommended daily intake of calcium, consider incorporating more of the following foods into your diet.

• Agar seaweed
• Raw Almonds
• Spinach
• Sesame Seeds
• Arugula
• Dried Figs (free of sulfur)
• White Beans
• Mustard Greens
• Collards
• Rhubarb

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You just finished the Full Body Cleanse. You haven’t weighed yourself during the cleansing process because you wanted to surprise yourself with how much weight you released. You haven’t felt this energized, youthful, and healthy in a long time, so you dust off the scale, take your shoes off, remove everything out of your pockets…you might even get naked because every ounce counts. After stepping on the scale, you realize that you are not far from your pre-cleansing weight. We are talking about zero to five pounds of weight loss. Perhaps you stuck to the raw foods diet, took the capsules as directed, and those efforts did not yield 10-30 pounds of weight loss. While it is easy to blame the cleansing program, it is important to look at the body during this time to make sure that everything is functioning optimally.

When it comes to losing weight, it is important to eat healthily and incorporate exercise into your daily routine. While the two work hand in hand, you have to continually alter what you are eating and change up the exercises in your workout routine to yield progress. The body can become accustomed to repetitive exercises and meals; therefore, new routines are necessary to avoid complacency and increase your chances of weight loss.

How Was Your Exercise?

What constitutes a solid workout? While everyone has a different definition of exercise, an agreeable definition is a workout program that leaves you tired, sweaty, and a little sore. You don’t want to be immobile or in pain, but you should feel like you gave it your all, especially during a cardiovascular workout. Cardio is integral, but one should also practice strength training and balance exercises to hit all of the pillars of exercise. Additionally, heading to the sauna after a workout promotes more sweating (one great way to release toxins), but it also helps to lubricate the joints to reduce inflammation and tension. If you have access to an ice bath, jumping into the freezing water works to burn calories (the body burns calories to maintain its internal core temperature), decrease inflammation, and improve recovery time. Being able to get in the sauna and then the ice bath is the ultimate way to continue the workout.

What if you ate different foods, changed your exercises, and still only experienced minimal weight loss? While we can’t give you an exact answer, we can give you a few probable causes, the first of which relates to the thyroid gland. Keep in mind that you should not take this as medical advice. They are merely suggestions for you to research and become more in tune with the inner workings of your body.

Thyroid Issues

There are 20 million Americans living with a thyroid disorder.Of those 20 million people, only about 30-40% are aware of their thyroid disorder. An undiagnosed thyroid condition can increase a person’s risk of osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and can make it difficult to lose weight. Theses common disorders include hypo- and hyperthyroidism, Graves’ disease, and Hashimoto’s disease.

Hormonal Imbalance

While this can be linked to a malfunctioning thyroid or adrenal problems, hormonal imbalance can often be linked to lifestyle or the foods you eat. If you aren’t getting enough fiber, for example, estrogen levels can climb because fiber helps to excrete estrogen from the body. Too much estrogen can lead to bloating, water retention, or gas. This typically tends to be an issue for menopausal or pre-menopausal women.

Cortisol, the stress hormone, is another hormone that can interfere with weight loss. An overabundance of stress hormones can cause you to store fat (specifically in the abdominal area), and can be linked to sugar cravings, food addiction, or depression. You may want to consider taking a break from caffeine after cleansing or consider yoga, meditation, breathing exercises, or other stress-relieving techniques.

Don’t Lie About What You Ate

If you cheated during the cleanse, that is completely acceptable, but don’t say that the cleansing process failed you. Eating raw for a couple days and then eating some bread or chicken with a soda or two does not mean that you ate raw. Don’t feel bad about cheating; rather, let it go and try to do the best you can the next day.

Food Intolerances

An estimated 15 million adults suffer from food allergies, but that doesn’t account for all the people who have food intolerances or sensitivities. Doing a food allergy test may be illuminating for some people, but the rest can greatly benefit from an elimination diet or a food sensitivity test. The elimination diet is a short-term program that forces you to eliminate certain foods, which may be causing allergic or digestive reactions, from your diet. After about a month without the foods in your diet, you can slowly reintroduce them in order to identify which foods the body does not agree with

We hope this information helps and we wish you the best of luck with your weight loss goals.

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Some of the most common health problems are diet-related. Just as food can serve as medicine, it can also cause your health to decline. Rather than feeding disease, isn’t it more advantageous to eat to encourage a healthy immune system, gut microbiome, and well-functioning organs?

A high percentage of people live with undiagnosed food sensitivities. It’s actually estimated that about 20% of the world’s population is sensitive to certain foods. You may not even suspect that your body is sensitive to certain foods because they have become commonplace in your diet. You may be thinking that you need to cut junk food or sugar, and while these foods are not healthy, they may not be causing your symptoms.

Common Food Intolerance Symptoms

• Brain fog
• Fatigue
• Inflammation (in muscles and joints)
• Digestive troubles
• Bloating
• Runny nose
• Flushing of skin
• Reflux
• Rashes

Difference Between Food Allergies And Sensitivities

While food allergies involve the immune system and result in an immediate response like a swelling or hives, food sensitivities will have a more delayed reaction. When a person, who is sensitive to dairy products, consumes milk, for example, he or she may experience poor digestion, migraines, or some sort of inflammation. Food sensitivities are harder to diagnose because of the delayed immune response, meaning that you could eat an assortment of foods and not know which food caused the symptom.

To help you discover whether or not you are sensitive to certain foods, we are going to detail the most common food sensitivities below.

Dairy Products

A lot of people are lactose intolerant, while others are sensitive to casein, a protein in dairy products. In addition to lactose and casein, the hormones, synthetic vitamins, and antibiotics in cows, in addition to the corn diet and unhealthy living conditions, also cause indigestion, bloating, and gas. A healthier option is a fermented dairy product like grass-fed kefir, which doesn’t really affect people who are sensitive to casein.

Nightshades

The severity of a nightshade sensitivity will determine the reaction a person has after consuming nightshades. This plant group consists of peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, goji berries, potatoes, and certain spices that contain alkaloids. Nightshade sensitivity commonly causes inflammatory responses.

Caffeine

While this is a sensitivity that people wish they never knew about, caffeine sensitivity is a real thing. The average adult can safely consume up to 400mg of caffeine a day without experiencing side effects, but some people, however, are hypersensitive to the slightest amount of caffeine because they tend to have difficulty metabolizing it. People who are hypersensitive to caffeine can experience insomnia, jitters, restlessness, anxiety, and nervousness after consuming the slightest amount.

Legumes

Legumes have played an integral role in many people’s diets, but everyone cannot properly digest the lectins and phytate proteins in legumes. Let us not forget that peanuts are also legumes, which is why many people struggle to digest them. Out of all the legumes, soy and peanuts typically cause the most gastrointestinal stress.

FODMAPS

Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols, referred to as FODMAPS or fermentable sugars, are not fully digested in the gut. Because of this, they begin to ferment, releasing hydrogen that can cause distention to the intestines, which can lead to IBS, gas, constipation, or diarrhea. FODMAP foods are often healthy, but remember that everyone reacts to foods differently, even natural foods. If you have a FODMAP sensitivity, you may need to avoid certain nuts, grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, and grains.

Sulfites

Found in certain foods like aged cheeses and grapes, sulfites are chemicals that are typically used to preserve drinks, some medications, and foods. They are commonly found in dried fruit to prevent browning and in wine to prevent spoiling. People with sulfite sensitivity usually have asthma, but people who don’t have asthma can also be sensitive to sulfites. Common signs of sulfite sensitivity include hives, wheezing, flushing, diarrhea, or stuffy nose.

Nuts & Seeds

The lectins, phytates, and roughage of nuts can cause digestive irritation. Most nuts that people purchase are commonly coated in inflammatory oils, like soybean or canola, or hydrogenated trans fats that can cause digestive problems as well. If you have a nut sensitivity, you may want to consider purchasing raw nuts because they are void of seasonings, oils, and added flavors. Sometimes people are sensitive to salicylates, which are naturally produced by plants for protection against insects. When people ingest them, however, they can have adverse reactions.

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An estimated 15 million adults suffer from food allergies, but that doesn’t account for all the people who have food intolerances or sensitivities. These sensitivities don’t show up on allergy tests; rather, they cause certain reactions or symptoms, which people may pass off as “something that just happens,” so to speak.

Let us explain something: Things don’t “just happen.” Skin flare-ups, inflammation, motility issues, microbial imbalance, or digestive issues are common symptoms of food intolerances or sensitivities. The foods that cause these symptoms can be difficult to identify, especially if you eat a wide variety of foods. Doing a food allergy test may be illuminating for some people, but the rest can greatly benefit from an elimination diet.

The elimination diet is a short-term program that forces you to eliminate certain foods, which may be causing allergic or digestive reactions, from your diet. After about a month without the foods in your diet, you can reintroduce them in order to identify which foods the body does not agree with. People do elimination diets to figure out what is causing certain symptoms or health-related issues, such as acne, diarrhea, constipation, eczema, or bloating.

Eliminate The Usual Suspects

Roughly 90% of all food-allergy reactions are caused by eight foods: eggs, nuts, wheat/gluten, soy, fish, shellfish, and dairy products. Elimination diets typically cut out all of the following foods:

• Peanuts
• Soy
• Refined/added sugars
• Alcohol
• Shellfish
• Meat
• Eggs
• Corn
• Dairy
• Gluten
• Certain nightshades (tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, or potatoes)
• All processed, packaged, or fast foods

Elimination diets last for about three to six weeks because it is believed that the antibodies, which your immune system makes upon disagreeing with certain foods, take about three weeks to go away. This allows the person time to heal from sensitivities and notice any improvements without certain foods in his/her diet.

When the body doesn’t agree with something, it constantly sends out inflammatory responses, which can cause harm to the entire body, especially if they are continually being sent. Before you start eliminating foods, take stock on certain things you experience, such as digestive issues, allergies, energy levels, skin issues, or brain fog.

What Do You Eat?

Your diet should be comprised of fresh vegetables, fruits, legumes (like beans and lentils), seaweeds, and gluten-free items like quinoa. You are essentially consuming a vegetarian diet, but make sure that you avoid processed, packaged, or fast food, even if it is vegetarian. Keep this diet for at least one month before reintroducing old foods back into your diet.

How To Reintroduce Food The Right Way

After about a month, pick one food item, which you eliminated, and eat it. Only introduce one eliminated item at a time. You can’t introduce multiple items at once because you won’t know which food gives you a reaction, provided you get a reaction. See how you feel for the next 48 hours. If you don’t experience a reaction, it’s up to you which food you decide to introduce next. Follow the same steps and hopefully nothing happens. If you do notice a reaction, perhaps it is time to stop consuming that specific food or beverage.

Remember that not every blood test can tell you what you are allergic to. By doing an elimination diet, you may discover how to have a healthier body.

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What is a headache? Mosby’s Medical Dictionary defines a headache as a pain in the head from any cause. Kinds of headaches include Functional headache, Migraine headache, Organic headache, Sinus headache, and Tension headache.

It continues to define Migraine headache as a recurring vascular headache characterized by a prodromal aura, unilateral onset, and severe pain, photophobia, and autonomic disturbances during the acute phase, which may last for hours or days. The disorder occurs more frequently in women than in men, and predisposition for the disorder is not known, but the head pain is related to dilation of extracranial blood vessels, which may be the result of chemical changes that cause spasms of intracranial vessels. A greatly increased amount of a vasodilating polypeptide related to bradykinin is found in tissue fluid of patients during migraine attacks. Allergic reactions, excess carbohydrates, iodine-rich foods, alcohol, bright lights, or loud noises may trigger attacks, which often occur during a period of relaxation after physical and psychic stress.

By far, most headaches people suffer from are due to TENSION and STRESS. Stress can lead to stomach upsets, constipation, headaches, tension, frigidity and a host of other diseases.

Causes and Risk Factors

Today, there are many causative factors for headaches, which include but are not limited to:

• Tension
• Stress
• anxiety/worry
• allergies
• sinus pressure
• constipation
• muscle tension
• disturbance in the blood circulation
• lack of chi (energy)
• nutritional deficiencies
• food sensitivities
• use of alcohol, drugs, and cigarettes/tobacco
• exposure to irritants such as colognes and perfume
• environmental pollutants
• hormonal imbalance (PMS or menstrual cycle-related)
• fever
• acute toxicity (acidosis)
• eyestrain
• Sixth Chakra (Ajna) imbalance.

Headaches are also a common ailment associated with the Sixth Chakra (Ajna). Many Sixth Chakraic individuals are prone to headaches. Headaches serve as an indicator of some kind of imbalance in highly sixth chakraic individuals. When they learn to let go-to no longer resist-and convert negative thoughts into positive ones, headaches happen less often.

Symptoms

Headaches may present these symptoms:

• Pain on one side or area of the head
• Pulsating pain
• Light sensitivity
• Sensitivity to sound
• Disrupted daily activity
• Nausea, vomiting or both
• Tightening of the head and neck muscles
• Tearing or redness of the eye on the affected side of the head

The side of the head (temple) the headache is on means something on a much deeper level:

• The left side denotes the feminine, the past, magnetism, receptivity, passivity, and the logical/rational.
• The right side denotes the masculine, energetic, active, dominant, the future, and creativity (artistic).

Healing Options

There are many options available to help reduce pain associated with headache, ranging from herbs and crystals, essential oils to magnets, to yoga, deep breathing and visualization, pressure points, enema, colonics, acupuncture, massage, positive thinking, ear coning, bentonite clay and ice packs.

HERBS

General herbs that are great for remedying headaches include White Willow Bark, Red Willow Bark, Black Willow Bark, Meadowsweet, Feverfew, Balm of Gilead (Poplar); Wood Betony, Woodruff, Peppermint, Wintergreen, Lavender Flower, Spearmint, Gotu Kola, Ginkgo Biloba, Kola Nut, Buckbean Leaves, Birch Bark, and Rosemary Leaves.

Herbs good for nervous tension headaches include the general herbs supra in addition to the following herbs: Blue Vervain, Lady’s Slipper, Valerian Root, Wild Lettuce, Chamomile, Lily of the Valley, and Jatamansi.

Herbs good for menstrual-related headaches include the general herbs supra in addition to the following hers: Wild Yam Root, Dong Quai, Valerian Root, Angelica, and Pennyroyal. Herbs good for bilious headaches include the general herbs supra in addition to the following herbs: Goldenseal, Barberry, Boldo, Cascara Sagrada, and Oregon Grape.

Herbs good for constipation-related headaches include the general herbs supra in addition to the following herbs: Cascara Sagrada, Senna Leaves, Buckthorn, Buckbean Leaves, Aloe Vera Resin, and Rhubarb.

CRYSTALS

Headaches are associated with the Sixth Chakra, which means that all purple and indigo colored crystals and stones are good for healing. Indigo and purple-colored crystals and stones include Amethyst, Charoite, Purple Lepidolite, and Sugilite.

Quartz crystals are highly effective in relieving headache pain. Because they are great absorbers of energy, a quartz crystal can be programmed to extract pain.

ESSENTIAL OILS

Great essential oils that help remedy headaches include Lavender, Rosemary, Birch, Peppermint, Wintergreen, and Spearmint. However, migraine headache sufferers might want to abstain from essential oils as they are very sensitive to smell (all smells) during a migraine episode.

MAGNETS

Magnet therapy can give great relief for headaches because they enhance circulation where there is constriction and when there is headache there is constriction. Magnets can be placed directly over the temples and worn for hours. However, magnets should never be worn to bed, especially magnets exceeding 800 gauss.

YOGA/DEEP BREATHING

Deep breathing and yoga for headache prevention and remedy enhance circulation of chi throughout the body, and can be channeled directly to the head area. Deep breathing is a great method to release stagnant, stale, and negative energy from the body. It’s also compatible and complimentary with visualization (imaginative) therapy.

VISUALIZATION TECHNIQUES

The mind is the greatest tool in healing and always has been and will be. All sickness/disease and healing starts in the mind. The mind is a laboratory whereby we concoct our thoughts, good or bad, pure or polluted, constructive or destructive.

ENEMA

The coffee enema can be quite effective for remedying a headache. Organic coffee (via the rectum) causes the liver to dump off toxins. Alcohol is acidic and this causes the gallbladder to produce excess amounts of bile to counteract the acidity of the alcohol in the stomach and intestinal tract. This is what generally happens in the case of a bilious headache.

COLONICS

Some headaches can be related to a clogged colon or constipation, so when you start addressing the colon by cleansing it, you are helping to lessen and eventually eradicate your headaches that are due to having a taxed, polluted, and clogged colon. Dherbs.com is PRO colonics (and enemas).

ACUPUNCTURE

Acupuncture can help remove blocked and stagnant chi (energy). Remember, where there is headache, there is constriction and where there is constriction there is blocked energy and blood flow. Acupuncture does the same thing as magnet therapy; however, the difference is magnet therapy is noninvasive whereas acupuncture is invasive.

MASSAGE

Massage works great wonders in relieving headaches, especially tension headaches. Massage loosens up tight muscles in the shoulders and neck that constrict due to tension, worry, and stress. Massage helps these negative things to melt and dissolve, especially if you are working with a great massage therapist.

EAR CONING

Ear coning is a great tool in remedying sinus headaches. Ear coning removes debris that can cause compression against ear nerves, which can lead to headache.

POSITIVE THINKING

Positive thinking is visualization and imaginative therapy. Your body functions optimally when you are happy and feeling positive. The blood flows freely, acidity gives way to alkalinity, toxins find their way out of the body quickly via the eliminative channels; hormonal secretions secrete in abundant amounts, the cells communicate clearly, the skin radiates, the eyes shine and sparkle, and old age (degeneration) gives way to rejuvenation.

BENTONITE CLAY

Apply bentonite clay to the temple where the headache stems from. The tightening action of the clay from drying helps to draw out negative energy. Where there is heavy metal toxicity there is emotional toxicity.

ICE PACK

Ice packs or bags work well by simply numbing the pain. Clearly this is symptomatic but is highly helpful and palliative.

Dietary Intervention

Headache may be triggered by food sensitivity or allergy. There are some foods that are more likely to be associated with headache than others, including:

• Food additives such as coloring or flavor
• MSG
• Artificial sweeteners such as aspartame (NutraSweet and Equal), saccharine (Sweet-n-Low) or sugar derivatives (Splenda)
• Cured meats
• Chocolate
• Red wine
• Aged cheeses
• Nuts
• Alcohol
• Ice cream
• Sulfites
• Nitrates

Reduce or eliminate these types of foods or ingredients from your diet to reduce the occurrence and frequency of headache.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids, the kind found in flaxseeds and walnuts, are thought to help prevent or minimize headache, especially migraines.

Dherbs Solutions

Dherbs.com products beneficial in treating and healing headaches include:

• Full Body Cleanse
• Bowel Motion
• Colon & Digestive Tract
• Brain Booster
• MSM Sulfur

Thank you for reading !

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