Dear HLife: I’m a college student at Sonoma State University California, I only get about $200 a month for food, and it is hard to budget and eat healthy. Do you have any suggestions for healthy eating on a small budget?
Dear HLifer: First of all, we want to congratulate you on your desire as a college student to take responsibility for your health and well-being. You’re way ahead of the pack already. Now, to the point. The best way to eat healthy on a budget is to cook. And this comes with a reward, which is the fun that you can have getting creative in the kitchen and really satisfying your taste buds because nobody can make what you like as well as you. Also, you will make a lot of friends by being the one guy who cooks both tasty and healthy food!
So, here are some suggestions to eat healthy on a budget: Read More…
Dear HLife: What should I feed my dog?
Dear HLifer,
In the United States, most people treat their pet as if it were their very own child, yet south of the border, where dogs do not have this kind of treatment, they are actually fed as well as the rest of the family. When it comes to feeding your beloved dog, why should he get the canned and dehydrated (aka cardboard) processed stuff? My rule is, if I wouldn’t eat it, I won’t feed it to my dog. Read More…
Dear HLife: What are the different diets or plant-based food styles?
Dear HLifer: There are many plant-based food styles, with various health benefits. Some of them indicate what you should eat, others what you shouldn’t, others when to eat what, and even others what to eat with what. Let’s explore some of the most popular ones. Read More…
Dear HLife: What are the Benefits of a Plant-Based Diet?
Dear HLifer,
This is a question that many have asked. Although we have written about parts of this in different articles/posts, here’s a brief list to address that all in one, for you to keep or share with those who ask you about why you have chosen to eat a plant-based diet. Read More…
Healthy Whole Foods Plant-Based Diet
Dear HLife: What is the Deal with Candida?
Dear HLifer,
Candida sounds like the name of a hot girl who lives next door right? And that’s not far from reality. It lives closer to us than we know it, but it is not a human being. Candida Albicans is a yeast, a type of fungus that lives naturally in all human bodies of all ages from birth on. Here is the ‘big deal’ with candida and health:
If you live in a healthy body: It lives symbiotically in a balanced environment as a yeast in the gastrointestinal tract, on the mucus membranes and on the skin, causing no problems for the body. Living in a healthy body implies that you have a strong immune system via a nutrient-dense, conscious diet and high-frequency thought patterns.
If you live in an unhealthy body: This harmless ‘yeast’ (single-celled organism) can overgrow, turning into an extremely dangerous pathogenic fungus with roots that can attack any organs or systems in your body. This fungus uses its roots to dig and create holes into the intestinal lining, where it and its by products can then infiltrate the blood stream. Read More…
Dear HLife: If all illnesses start in the mind, what does a fibroid mean?
Dear HLifer:
You’re on the right track asking this question, because the minute something happens to your body, you need to focus on one thing: What is my body trying to tell me?
The physical body is a map to the mental “body”. Your physical body has many jobs and one of them is telling you exactly what is going on in your mind, which is something that you may not be able to see. The point of connection between the mind and the body are the emotions. There are healers who say that all problems are emotional, and that’s not untrue. A holistic approach to health looks at all bodies – physical, mental, emotional and spiritual – to get a whole picture of what is causing the imbalance. Read More…
Dear HLife: What’s the Recipe for Romance in a Long-term Relationship?
Dear HLifer,
People have a tendency to think that, in a beginning relationship, or one that has lasted only a few months, it is easier to be romantic because everything is so new and undiscovered. This is the kind of thinking that sets people up for failure and disappointment. Here is the problem: In general, many people’s view of romance is limited, probably due to ideas from TV and film. Some think romance is sex; some seem to think that if there are no candles or food involved, romance is non-existent; others think that romance can only be experienced away from your everyday life (like during a trip or while taking a vacation). To keep the romance alive in a long-term relationship, this old mentality needs an update. Read More…
Photo via berkhamstedhalfmarathon.co.uk
Dear HLife: What Should I Eat When Training for a Marathon?
Dear HLifer:
As we always say here at HLife, we don’t processed-sugarcoat ANYTHING. The answer, straight up and simple, is: A whole food plant-based diet is the best nutrition all around for the human machine, especially when you are training for a race. Just check out my two fave athletes, amazing guys, and whole food, plant-based diet enthusiasts: Running Raw’s Tim Van Orden and professional Ironman triathlete Branden Brazier. Those guys are a great example of dramatically enhancing athletic performance by going raw and vegan. Now, if what you follow now is a Western diet, don’t freak out and attempt to switch over in one sweep to vegan or raw (or both) with no knowledge of what you are doing (I know you want to!) Make the change gradually by increasing the whole food, plant-based portion of your meals and decreasing your animal food intake. The more you increase your plant-based foods, the more your body will naturally start to reject acidic and hard-to-digest animal foods. Read More…
“Dear HLife” is a new HLife section, where readers can send in their questions and we will answer them. Feel free to email us!
Dear HLife: How Do I Transition Into A Plant-Based Diet?
Dear HLifer,
The act of choosing what to eat expresses a level of consciousness in a being. A plant-based diet is founded on Love, compassion and respect for our planet, as well as for all sentient beings. It is a step towards a realistic spiritual life (see Spirituality: What A Concept post), taking responsibility for the future of our planet and the continuance of the human race. First, we must understand that everyone is its own unique being, living his or her own evolutionary process. Transitioning to a plant-based diet is a process, but a conscious processes of which your mind and body will determine the speed. For example, some people take away red meat, then gradually stop eating chicken and fish. Others go vegan-raw in one day and never go back. Whichever the case may be for you, you need to do it with Knowledge of what you are doing: Know what your body needs and make sure you provide the right nourishment in order to feel balanced and energized. Read More…
“Dear HLife” is a new HLife section, where readers can send in their questions and we will answer them. Feel free to email us!
Dear HLife: I’m trying to detox my whole body. What would be my first step to do, without going to the extreme of the Master Cleanse?
Dear HLifer,
There is a misconception that detoxing is a quick-fix for a bad lifestyle. Detoxing is a temporary relief, and when you are to the point of considering a detox, what you should really be considering is overall healthier lifestyle habits. Health is a lifestyle, not a quick fix. Read More…
