Kidneys are necessary for removing waste from the body, and they also work to balance bodily fluids and create urine. If you are serious about improving your health, the kidneys require cleansing and maintenance. The ingredients in the juice work to cleanse your kidneys and supply them with nutrients.

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We have computers in our pockets! While some people use smartphones to play music in the gym, others delay their workout by browsing the web, looking at the latest social media posts, checking emails, texting, or even wasting time by playing a game. You might be on an exercise bike in the gym reading this article on your phone right now! What’s your target heart rate? How fast are you pedaling? We need answers!

Psychologists and personal trainers have discovered a serious epidemic amongst gym goers. Smartphones are ruining your workouts. You may think that they aren’t, but they are and we are here to tell you why.

Distraction Is Not Good For Your Workout:

There are people in the gym who seem to just live at machines, benches, or squat racks. Whether they are socializing, texting up a storm, taking videos, or snapping gym selfies, they are distracted from their workouts, and that makes them take longer. Additionally, the increased rest time between is not conducive to workout efforts, especially if you are trying to gain muscle mass.

Screen Time Is Killing Your Posture:

According to Angelo Grinceri, once deemed the “Sexiest Trainer Alive,” hunching forward to look at your phone impairs your posture. In fact, the “texting hunch” flattens the lumbar curve when your head hangs forward. This can lead to neck pain and lower back pain, which can ultimately inhibit your ability to lift correctly. Transitioning from texting to lifting, for example, can even incite the person to replicate that same hunched posture in the exercise. This means that you may not be working out your desired, targeted muscle group.

Next time you workout, try to avoid texting or browsing social media. Another option is to use your smartphone to your advantage. A fitness app can help you stay on a timed, regimented workout, which helps you get the most out of your time in the gym. Don’t let your smartphone get between you and your exercise goals.

Source:

https://www.bodybuilding.com/content/is-your-cellphone-ruining-your-workout.html

http://time.com/4637895/exercise-smartphone-workout/

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The Dherbs social media team attended the Earth Day event at Grand Park in Los Angeles, CA this past Thursday, April 11^th, 2019. Upon arriving at the event, we noticed a yoga class happening in the center of the park and children running amok playing tag. Crowds of schoolchildren, who ambled from booth to booth, held note pads and pencils to jot down notes about the informational speakers. We must admit that we also went from booth to booth with notepads of our own.

While we appreciate those who volunteered their efforts for the event, we must be honest and say that the event had a lack of informational, when compared to the multitude of interactive and educational activities at last year’s event. There were, however, new booths this year that informed us about recycling old materials and how much water is actually used to make the things we purchase.

You Can Recycle Old Paint:

For most homeowners or renters, the garage is a place to store items that rarely get used. Some things are even forgotten about until the day you move out! Rather than leaving old paint behind for the new renters or buyers to deal with, recycle the paint by contacting PaintCare, a California-based company. Whether you’ve had paint, stain, or varnish for 20 days or 20 years, you can recycle all of it at one of the many PaintCare sites in California. PaintCare is a nonprofit that works with paint companies to make it easier to recycle paint in states with pain stewardship laws.

Buy A Bracelet, Help The Rainforest:

If you could buy stylish jewelry that helps support the preservation of the rainforests of the world, would you? Rainforests provide over 20% of the world’s oxygen and fresh water, contain over half of the known plant and animal species, are home to millions of indigenous people, and provide many natural remedies to modern day ailments. One Million Acres (OMA) sells jewelry and other accessories, and they have a Buy One Save An Acre program. For every item sold, OMA donates enough to protect one acre of the rainforest through Rainforest Trust, an organization dedicated to protecting tropical ecosystems around the world.

Recycle Old Mattresses:

If you can’t sell your old mattress at a garage sale or on the Internet, the go-to move is to just dump it on the street for trash pickup. If you live in the Greater Los Angeles area, there are sites where you can recycle old mattresses. Bye Bye Mattress is a program that works to recycle each part of the mattress, including the foam, steel, fiber, and wood.

We enjoyed learning about these businesses because they help to make the world a cleaner and more sustainable place.

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Whether you work in an office and stare at a computer all day, regularly scroll through social media on a phone, or binge-watch shows on a laptop or TV, the average person in today’s society is heavily exposed to blue light. The eyes are constantly exposed to stimulation and information, working hard to process everything without us even thinking about it. With more exposure to screens every day, however, the human eye becomes stressed by blue light.

What Is Blue Light?

If you dig deep into your memories from physics class, you’ll recall that visible light is defined by how long wavelengths are and the amount of energy that is produced. Longer wavelengths produce less energy, meaning that they are safer for the human eye. Shorter wavelengths produce more energy and may cause damage to the eye’s ability to function correctly. Blue light from computers, screens, phones, or TVs has the shortest wavelengths. This means that the highest energy is being produced, ultimately damaging the eyes by directly penetrating the light-sensitive retina.

The eye can tolerate the small amount of blue light from the sun during the day, but increased screen time has exposed the human eyes to excess amounts of blue light. Staring at screens can cause eyestrain, headaches, irregular sleep schedule, dry eyes, and blurred vision. One study, conducted by Harvard Medical School, found that exposing the eye to blue light at night suppressed the production of melatonin and shifted circadian rhythms. You can protect the eyes from blue light by using the following tips.

Eat Foods For Eye Health:

Just as there are foods that nourish other organs and systems in the body, there are fruits and vegetables that provide carotenoids to help protect the eyes from blue light. The best three carotenoids for your eyes include lutein, zeaxanthin, and astaxanthin. These carotenoids have the ability to pass through the blood-retinal barrier to bring protection and nutrients to the eyes.

Lutein & Zeaxanthin: These potent antioxidants are found in the inner parts of the eye and work to reduce the risk of light-induced macular degeneration. Lutein and zeaxanthin can be found in green vegetables like broccoli, spinach, kale, and collards, or in yellow or orange fruits and vegetables like carrots, peppers, and tomatoes.

Astaxanthin: Working to help the eyes recover from eye fatigue, astaxanthin helps to reduce the risk of dryness, blurred vision, and eye soreness. Astaxanthin is the red pigment that is found typically found in algae, which is what gives crab, crawfish, krill oil, salmon and lobster the pink or red colors.

Good Phone And Computer Habits:

How long do you think you spend looking at screens each day? The real answer most likely exceeds whatever number you thought. According to a small study in England, British psychologists found that the average adult spent about five hours per day on his or her phone. Add the additional time of looking at computers for work or watching TV shows later in the evening. Rather than going on your phone for your 10-15 minute break, take a quick stroll outside or simply sit outside and absorb the fresh air. Take action and limit the time you spend looking at screens. Be diligent and don’t resort to screens because of laziness. There are also blue filters, which can be installed on smartphones, to help reduce eye damage.

Lifestyle Habits:

Making small changes to your daily routine can drastically relieve your eyes of stress. Some small changes you can implement in your daily life can include:

Wear Sunglasses: Since most people are going to have a hard time giving up screen time, protect your eyes other ways by wearing sunglasses during the day. It is optimal to purchase polarized lenses, especially those with an amber tint to provide 100% UVA and UVB protection.

Stop Smoking: When you smoke cigarettes, you produce cyanide, which can negatively affect eye health. In fact, consistently smoking cigarettes can increase the risk of macular degeneration and dry eye syndrome.

Keep Your Eyes Moist: Take time to blink throughout the day in order to help keep your eyes moist. For those who live in dryer climates, it may be beneficial to use a humidifier or homeopathic eye drops to avoid dry eyes.

Sources:

https://www.preventblindness.org/blue-light-and-your-eyes

https://www.nutrex-hawaii.com/blogs/learn/staring-at-a-screen-all-day-protect-your-eyes-from-blue-light

https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/should-you-be-worried-about-blue-light

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There’s no shame in treating yourself to a little dessert while you are cleansing, especially when you are consuming a dessert as delectable as this one. The refreshing, tart strawberry is the perfect vessel for the nutty sweetness of the raw cheesecake filling. We hope you like it!

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When it comes to starting a new diet, people are always worried about the cost. Will it cost me more money to eat healthy? Unless you are only buying the rarest fruits and vegetables known to man, you won’t break the bank when you become a vegan or vegetarian. Let’s say that it costs the same as your regular diet, or slightly more. Would you spend a few extra dollars on groceries to ensure a healthier body and future? Would you rather spend a little less on unhealthy groceries and more on hospital expenses later in life? That is the real question when it comes to dietary changes.

The recommended daily intake (RDI) of nutrients you are supposed to have is based on a 2,000-calorie per day diet. This model suggests 2 cups of fruit, 2.5 cups of vegetables, and at least 3 ounces of whole grains every day. On average, Americans consume about half or less than half of those servings. Most Americans are focused on getting too much protein and often leave healthy foods by the wayside. The kicker is that animal products like meat, eggs, and dairy can cost a lot more than fresh fruits and vegetables!

Here are some statistics about the Standard American Diet (SAD):

• The SAD has led to increased rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and premature death.
• Calories consumed have increased, not decreased.
• Complex carbohydrates in plants have been replaced by refined flours and simple sugars.
• Healthy fats in plant-based foods have been replaced with trans fats and oils.
• The percentage that you reduce your risk of heart disease by eliminating eggs, meat, and dairy products from your diet is over 90%.
• Women who eat meat are 4 times more likely to develop breast cancer than women who don’t eat meat.
• The average risk of heart attack for American vegetarians is less than 4%.

Is Going Plant-Based Expensive?

If you buy faux meat, produce, or packaged food that traveled half way across the globe to get to your local supermarket, chances are it’ll cost you a pretty penny. Instead, it serves you better to buy produce that is in season. Buying seasonal produce not only means that it will be less expensive, but it also means that it is the freshest produce. For example, peaches are in season during the summer months. If you try to buy them in the winter, they will be much more expensive, as they are not readily available.

Food Waste:

Americans are experts at wasting food. One of the best ways to save money and waste less food is to actually eat the food you buy. When you buy fresh produce, you have to learn how to store it so that it can last long. For example, a bunch of kale will last longer if you wrap it in damp paper towels, as opposed to suffocating it in a plastic bag in a drawer in your fridge. Additionally, you may buy a bag of spinach and it starts to wilt before you use it all. Try blending it in your smoothies, sautéing it with veggies, adding it to pasta sauces, or using it as a salad base to ensure that you eat the entire bag.

When you go plant-based, you can also save on the cost of medication, provided you are taking it. We aren’t saying that vegetarians get deals on medication. No, no, no. We are saying that eating a healthy plant-based diet can help get you off medication, which means you won’t need to spend money on it anymore. There are all kinds of ways to save on a plant-based diet, so try it out, or start small by doing meatless Mondays.

Sources:

http://myplantbasedfamily.com/2013/04/16/faqs-is-eating-a-plant-based-diet-more-expensive/

http://www.fundamentalsofhealth.com/sad1.htm

http://preventivenutrition.com/2015/08/25/the-standard-american-diet-how-did-it-get-this-bad-post/

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Known as National Gardening Month, April is the most optimal time of year to start gardening because the days are longer and the soil is warmer. Not only is gardening a great excuse to beautify your yard and grow your own produce, but it is also a great excuse to venture outside and absorb some much-needed vitamin D.

When it comes to gardening, most people are unsure how to begin planting flowers or produce. How do you know if the soil is healthy? What do you plant? Where do you even start? Because today, April 14^th, is National Gardening Day, we are providing you with a few helpful tips that can increase your gardening confidence.

Before we continue, it is integral to invest in a few essential gardening tools to make gardening easier. The minute that gardening becomes a chore is when most people tend to give up. Don’t get your butter knife out of the silverware drawer to dig a hole to plant your seeds. Basic gardening tools include a hand shovel, a rake, gardening gloves, and a trowel. You will greatly benefit from a hoe and a shovel if you plan on gardening in a large area.

#1: Decide What You Want To Grow

The rule that you need to abide by is, “If you won’t eat it, don’t grow it.” There is an exception if you are growing flowers, of course. Try to focus on the herbs, vegetables, and fruits that you enjoy eating. When you pick your produce, make sure that it can grow in your area. You can browse information about your gardening zone and microclimate online.

#2: Choosing A Location

Plants require sun exposure, and if you want fruiting to happen then five hours of direct sunlight per day are necessary. Greens, herbs, and root vegetables can grow in partial shade with minimal sunlight. Pick a location for your garden that is exposed to sunlight, but make sure that it is easily accessible and easy to water. If you have to work hard to get to your garden, you won’t have the desire to maintain it.

#3: Test Your Soil

If you plan on using garden boxes, you can purchase soil that is healthy with a neutral pH balance. If you have rough soil that is contaminated, rocky, or soil that is a mixture of silt and clay, you may need to purchase a simple at home soil test kit for about ten dollars. You can also improve your soil by composting, meaning that you bury kitchen scraps in the dirt to enrich it with nutrients.

#4: Nurture Your Garden

After planting your seeds, you have to dedicate a little time out of every day to nurture your growing plants. If you aren’t going to take time out of your day to water your plants, weed your garden, and search for pests, your garden may not turn out the way you want it to.

A final rule of thumb for gardening is that plants require about one inch of water per week during growing season (during the spring). Watering too much does as much harm as under watering, so feel the soil prior to watering to see if the plants really need a lot of water.

Sources:

https://nationaltoday.com/national-garden-month/

https://commonsensehome.com/start-a-garden/

https://www.ufseeds.com/learning/what-to-plant-in-april/

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The inherent sweetness of the butternuts squash beautifully complements the smoky seasonings and nuttiness of the cashews and nutritional yeast. It’s imperative that you do not cook the arugula, because you won’t get that added, peppery freshness if it is cooked. There’s always room for spice, which is why we encourage you to add some chili oil or red pepper flakes.

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The Full Body Cleanse is a challenge. It is not impossible and making it through the full twenty days is not out of your reach. Don’t ever say that you can’t do it, because you can. All you need is commitment and a will to succeed. Commit to this twenty-day regimen and you’ll emerge a healthier, newer version of yourself.

Thousands and thousands of people, who have completed the Full Body Cleanse, have changed their health for the better. Some people have amazing, transformative experiences, losing anywhere from 10-30 pounds, while others eliminate cravings, improve sleep, boost energy levels, and feel healthier overall. All of us here at Dherbs have completed the Full Body Cleanse, so we know that it can be difficult at times. This is why we are providing you with a preparatory tips that you can do leading up to your cleanse.

Step 1: Find Great Recipes

If you eat the same salad every day during the Full Body Cleanse, you will either get bored, lose interest in raw foods, or worse, give up entirely. Making it through the cleanse requires you to step out of your comfort zone and get a little creative with raw foods. Collect your raw food recipes prior to cleansing so that you have them in your arsenal when you start.

A great resource for raw recipes is our Full Body Cleanse Approved recipe section. All of these recipes are acceptable to eat while you are cleansing, and we continually post recipes in that section every week. You also may want to see if there are any raw food restaurants in your area or near your workplace. This saves you the hassle of meal preparation and allows you to treat yourself to a prepared raw meal.

Step 2: Stock Up On Essential Ingredients

There are a lot of foods that you cannot eat while you are cleansing, but there are plenty of raw alternatives. Stock up on some of the following pantry items so that you are good to go.

• Bragg Raw Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar
• Raw Coconut Aminos to replace soy sauce
• Raw Almond Butter to replace peanut butter
• Raw Agave Nectar or Stevia to replace honey, sugar, or sweeteners
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil to replace vegetable or canola oils
• Herbal Teas to replace coffee
• Sea salt to replace regular table salt

Step 3: Track Down a Blender

We feel that having a blender while you are cleansing is absolutely essential. Whether you are making smoothies in the morning, dressings for salads, raw soups, or various raw dips, the blender is something you will find yourself using a great deal. Track one down and you will be able to make a ton of recipes to keep you satiated. Blenders range in price and there are many affordable options that work fantastically.

Step 4: Be Prepared for Unexpected Challenges

There is going to come a time, or several times, when you are at work and you are suddenly starving. You might show up at a neighbor’s potluck party and there are only hotdogs and burgers. Succeeding on the Full Body Cleanse is all about planning. Make sure you always have some raw nuts or seeds, dried fruit (without preservatives or added sugars), or raw homemade energy bars at the ready. These things can help you avoid falling off the wagon or cheating while cleansing.

Step 5: Get Your Family’s Support

Before starting with the cleanse, sit down with your household and make sure they’re going to help you succeed. This might mean asking your spouse to make regular dinners for the kids or just for his/herself. It may mean asking your family to not purchase snacks that will tempt you during your cleanse. Lay your cards on the table so that you can succeed.

Step 6: Find a Friend

When you do the Full Body Cleanse with a friend or group of friends, you all can help each other stay on track. Cleansing with a partner or group can help you overcome obstacles and you can even trade recipes. You might even have a raw food party night!

Step 7: Switch to Decaf

Caffeine is not allowed on the Full Body Cleanse! You can’t drink coffee, soda, energy drinks, or caffeinated teas. If you rely on caffeine on a daily basis, we recommend switching to decaf coffee or drinking a cup of green tea in the mornings prior to the start of your cleanse. This will help you avoid caffeine withdrawal headaches.

Step 8: DO NOT Binge on Junk the Night Before

One of the worst things you can do to your body the day before the cleanse is to pig out on junk food. Don’t go out and get drunk, eat a pint of ice cream, or shovel down a double cheeseburger with fries and a milkshake. Your body will pay for it the next day because the cleanse is going to work to get all of those impurities out of your body.

Bonus: Trust the Process 

Like we said, the Full Body Cleanse isn’t easy. It requires you to rethink how you eat and be diligent about what you put in your body, which, of course, takes time and effort. Some days will be easier than others. Sometimes you’ll find yourself in a raw food groove and other times you’ll be craving chips or steak. Never tell yourself that you are unable to finish the cleanse. Use the tips we have provided to help you through the cleanse, or give us a call to help you through a tough time. We are here to help. You may even want to put us on speed dial.

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A sign of both aging and stress, gray hair can be a sore subject. Some people don’t mind it and embrace the salt and pepper look, while others do everything they can to keep the color alive. If you want to help your graying hair regain its natural color, we have the plant for you. You won’t have to resort to chemical dyes and other hair products.

Sage is an ancient healing herb that has been used for thousands of years. People traditionally used sage to help relieve gastric pain, but it has also been used to stop bleeding or as a natural disinfectant. Like the saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” there is a saying about sage that goes, “Who has sage in the garden does not need a doctor.” A sage plant in your garden works as a natural insect repellent, keeping your carrots, cabbage, strawberries, tomatoes, and marjoram fresh.

Dried sage leaves are fairly common and easy to obtain at. Purchase an entire dried sage bundle and keep it in your closet to keep it insect free. You can also use sage essential oil to make DIY cosmetic products. Sage leaves are commonly used in cooking and burning the dried leaves is a great way to make your house smell amazing.

To keep the gray away, you have to make a natural solution that you’ll rinse through your hair. First, put 3-4 tablespoons of crushed, soaked sage in a half liter of water. Let that sit for 8 hours and then strain the liquid into a large pitcher. Don’t throw that crushed sage away because you are going to boil it in another half liter of water. Leave it boiling for five minutes and then remove from the heat and allow the mixture to cool. Strain the liquid into the pitcher with the other sage water.

How To Use:

After washing your hair with a natural shampoo, rinse it with two cups of the sage solution. This will help restore your hair’s original color. If you have very dark or black hair, prepare the same solution, but use equal parts sage and black tea for best results. You can consume 1 cup of this mixture a day, or use 2 cups as a natural rinse.

To whiten your teeth, you can rub fresh sage leaves on your teeth. You can also rinse your mouth with lukewarm sage tea to help prevent cavities. Rinsing with sage tea also helps to naturally freshen your breath!

Source:

https://www.hairbuddha.net/sage-tea-to-darken-grey-hair/

https://www.healthbeckon.com/sage-herb-benefits/

http://goldenhealthylife.com/index.php/2017/05/24/sage-gray-hair-regains-color-teeth-become-whiter-discover-beauty-recipes-behind-plant/

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