Next IN.FORM Session Begins in January

Are you ready to change the direction of your health? Too much of our 'modern' society leads to disease and a poor quality of life.  We would love to help you navigate the sometimes murky waters toward a healthier, happier life.

Beginning in January, the next IN.FORM session starts up and you are invited to join us!  The ways this class can benefit you and your family are endless if you are ready for a better way.  Get registered today and you have several discounts possible.  If you bring a spouse or family member, your fees are discounted.  For every friend of yours that registers for this session as well, you'll get $25 off of your fee.  Changing a lifestyle is so much easier and long lasting when we do it as a community.  Bring your community and come be a part of ours!

The Details:

IN.FORM is a new, breakthrough weight-management and healthy lifestyle program from Nature’s Sunshine.  Imagine a 13-week journey that features: 

• Health Education. Gain knowledge and life skills to achieve lasting health. 
• Social Support. Get an instant social network! Friends with similar goals help you achieve success. 
• Weekly Accountability Sessions. Our unique BioTracker measures weight, body fat percentage, hydration levels, lean muscle mass, metabolic age, bone mass and more! 
• Personalized, Flexible Programs. Eat what you want, and we’ll customize a Nature’s Sunshine products supplement program to meet your individual needs.    No pre-packaged meals!

The most exciting tool IN.FORM has to offer is the unique BioTracker.  Metabolic age, Hydration levels, bone mass - this is information for overall health, not just a weight-loss program!

The cost is $250 for the first 13 week session and every session you attend after is only $25.  Throughout each 13 weeks there are free smoothies, regular giveaways, and weekly prizes for the most successful participant! Not to mention access to a wealth of resources, techniques and a variety of natural health information.  Don't forget there are family discounts and bring a friend discounts!
We are so excited about this program and its long term effectiveness for healthy change! Give us a call at (405) 634-HERB to register!  Follow us on facebook to keep informed of specials, dates and news.

IN.FORM Registration - Get 10% OFF

The Herb Garden proudly invites you to reshape your lifestyle, to burn fat, and be fit for life!  Another IN.FORM session is beginning soon and you want to be a part of it!  We are in the middle of our Fall session with a great group who are changing their health, size and life!  Starting November 17th, we are accepting registration for our next session starting after the new year.  And, if you register with full payment by December 1st, you'll get 10% OFF! Getting healthy and changing your life is absolutely worth one night a week!

IN.FORM is a new, breakthrough weight-management and healthy lifestyle program from Nature’s Sunshine.  Imagine a 13-week journey that features: 

• Health Education. Gain knowledge and life skills to achieve lasting health. 
• Social Support. Get an instant social network! Friends with similar goals help you achieve success. 
• Weekly Accountability Sessions. Our unique BioTracker measures weight, body fat percentage, hydration levels, lean muscle mass, metabolic age, bone mass and more! 
• Personalized, Flexible Programs. Eat what you want, and we’ll customize a Nature’s Sunshine products supplement program to meet your individual needs.    No pre-packaged meals!

The most exciting tool IN.FORM has to offer is the unique BioTracker.  Metabolic age, Hydration levels, bone mass - this is information for overall health, not just a weight-loss program!

We are so excited about this program and its long term effectiveness for healthy change! Give us a call at (405) 634-HERB for more information!  Follow us on facebook to keep informed of specials, dates and news.

Tips for Healthy Traveling

Do you have plans to travel sometime this fall/winter season?  The strong threat of sickness has been weighing on all of our minds, I'm sure.  Some things in this life are completely out of our control, but here are a few things that we've found to be helpful in the task of boosting immunity.

1) Vitamins, Vitamins, Vitamins! It may sound redundant, but Vitamin C and Vitamin D are super important for optimal health, especially when fighting off invaders!  These should be a part of our daily routine in the cold season, but especially the week before your traveling plans and all throughout a trip.  NSP's Chewable Vitamin C is easy to digest, delicious and great for adults and kids alike. Vitamin D is best consumed by going outside every day, but especially as it gets colder that's not always possible.  In those cases, here are a couple of options.  For kids, consider Calcium Plus D3.  For adults (or kids who can swallow pills), there's also a Calcium Plus D, but for extra protection Vitamin D3 is highly recommended.

2) Don't forget to SLEEP! When preparing for a trip and certainly on a trip, adequate sleep often gets the boot.  If you're trying to avoid illness, losing sleep is the worst thing you can do!  Sleeping helps the body fight infections and can determine how fast you recover if you do get sick. If you struggle with sleep or expect some stress surrounding your trip that might affect your sleep, here are a few supplements to consider:

• Valerian Root - This single herb helps with relaxation and supports sleep.
• STRESS-J - This herbal formula promotes feelings of calm and helps with occasional stress. A racing brain or overstimulated body can certainly prevent sleep.  STRESS-J can help with that!
• 5-HTP Power - Drinking a lot of caffeine? Caffeine wipes out serotonin and can definitely disrupt sleep patterns.  Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is an important neurotransmitter that is converted into serotonin in the body. Improve your appetite, mood and sleep!
• Melatonin Extra - Melatonin encourages restful sleep and helps fight jet lag by promoting the body's natural sleep rhythm.

3) Elderberry - The health benefits of elderberries are powerful! Anytime you expect to be or fear you were exposed to something contagious (cold, virus, flu, etc.) we recommend Elderberry D3fense or Elderberry Immune (chewables for the kids).  It's a power punch to whatever is lurking in the air!  

4) Silver Shield Liquid/Gel - NSP's Silver Shield is a wonderful safe and effective product that reduces exposure to disease-causing agents while leaving the good bacteria in tact.  Taken internally before and after a plane ride would be a smart line of defense.  The Silver Shield Gel takes immune boosting to another level! This gel can be safely place in any opening of the body so in or around the nose would be great protection from airborne invaders.  It also works as a great hand sanitizer! Both are great for kids too.

Also, Essential Shield  is a terrific topical essential oil blend that contains pure essential oils of clove, cinnamon, thyme, eucalyptus, grapefruit, lavender, rosemary, lemon, pine and peppermint that could be used to keep the air around you (in a car, hotel room, or even an airplane!) boosted with proactive forces!

5) Clean, Colorful Eating.  Whatever goes into your body either adds or takes away from the health of your immune system.  The cleaner and more colorful your diet is, the better position you are in to fight off colds and viruses. Plan ahead.  Just because you're on/going on vacation doesn't mean you have to eat junk!

Most trips aren't worth getting sick over so do yourself some favors as travel season starts to pick up!

Children's Flu Season Guide

5 Salad Dressings Made Healthier

Salad dressings are stuffed full of chemicals and unfriendly ingredients these days!  Here are 5 great dressing recipes that we use at our dinner table regularly!

Basic Ranch Dressing Recipe

INGREDIENTS

1 cup well-shaken buttermilk

1/4 cup mayonnaise

3 tablespoons sour cream

3 tablespoons finely chopped Italian parsley

2 tablespoons finely chopped chives

4 teaspoons white wine vinegar or lemon juice

1 medium garlic clove, finely chopped

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more as needed

INSTRUCTIONS

Place all of the ingredients in a 2-cup Mason jar or other container with a tight-fitting lid. Seal tightly and shake to evenly distribute all the ingredients. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper as desired. Refrigerate until chilled and the flavors have melded, about 1 hour. The dressing will last up to 3 days in the refrigerator.

Honey mustard dressing

1 cup - plain yogurt

1/2 cup - raw honey

1/2 cup - Dijon mustard

1/4 cup - mayonnaise

1 Tbsp white wine vinegar

1 Tbsp tarragon, dried and crushed

Mix and serve. 

Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing

Ingredients:

2 small garlic cloves, minced

1 teaspoon anchovy paste (found near the tuna fish in the supermarket)

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, from one lemon

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (I like the brand Maille)

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 cup mayonnaise, best quality such as Hellmann's Real

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions:

In a medium bowl, whisk together the garlic, anchovy paste, lemon juice, Dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Add the mayonnaise, Parmigiano-Reggiano, salt and pepper and whisk until well combined. Taste and adjust to your liking.

I add a little water to make it the consistency I want.

Avocado dressing

1 large avocado

2 tsp lemon juice

1/2 cup greek yogurt

1/4 cup olive oil

2 cloves garlic

3/4 tsp salt

Dash of chili flakes

Blend in food processor.  Add water for right consistency. 

Poppyseed dressing

1/3 cup xylitol

1/2 cup white vinegar

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground dry mustard

1 teaspoon grated onion

1 cup vegetable oil

1 tablespoon poppy seeds

Directions:

In a blender or food processor, combine sugar, vinegar, salt, mustard and onion and process for 20 seconds. With blender or food processor on high, gradually add oil in a slow, steady stream. Stir in poppy seeds.

IN.FORM: Fall Session Kick-Off

The Herb Garden proudly invites you to reshape your lifestyle, to burn fat, and be fit for life!  IN.FORM is beginning soon and you want to be a part of it!  We just finished up our summer session with some really great results.  Now, we're gearing up for the Fall 2014 session, beginning September 15th. Getting healthy and changing your life is absolutely worth one night a week!

IN.FORM is a new, breakthrough weight-management and healthy lifestyle program from Nature’s Sunshine.  Imagine a 13-week journey that features: 
• Health Education. Gain knowledge and life skills to achieve lasting health. 
• Social Support. Get an instant social network! Friends with similar goals    help you achieve success. 
• Weekly Accountability Sessions. Our unique BioTracker measures weight, body fat percentage, hydration levels, lean muscle mass, metabolic age, bone mass and more! 
• Personalized, Flexible Programs. Eat what you want, and we’ll customize a    Nature’s Sunshine products supplement program to meet your individual needs.    No pre-packaged meals!

The most exciting tool IN.FORM has to offer is the unique BioTracker.  Metabolic age, Hydration levels, bone mass - this is information for overall health, not just a weight-loss program!

We are so excited about this program and its long term effectiveness for healthy change! Give us a call at (405) 634-HERB for more information!

Kidney Infections: Stop the Madness!

If you've ever struggled with kidney infections, you understand what a pain they can be.  Back pain, stomach pain, fever, nausea, physical and mental exhaustion can all be symptoms of a kidney infection.  No fun at all.  It's common that when you have one, whatever issue that caused it might not be addressed and the infections continue to occur.  Stress, lack of water, contaminations and other illnesses may leave your body vulnerable to a build-up of the bacteria that causes these infections, which begins a crazy cycle that is miserable!

Stop the Madness!

There are some wonderful herbs and remedies for feeding and healing the kidneys.  There's no reason why you can't stop the maddening cycle today!

Prevention
If you find yourself predisposed to kidney problems and infections, here are some things you should consider:

• Always, always, always drink plenty of water.
• Chronic infections often come an overgrowth of candida (from medications, antibiotics, etc.) and Probiotics are vital to restoring that balance.  
• Make cleansing a regular part of your health regimen.
• Take Cranberry & Buchu daily to promote healthy digestion and to feed and maintain a healthy urinary tract.
• If you struggle with repeat infections, Urinary Maintenance might be just what you need to maintain fluid and mineral balance.
• Get plenty of rest! Yes, there's always more to do, but you won't have a choice if you're doubled over in pain.

Remedies

Once the madness has begun, relief is all you care about.  Here are some remedies that have worked really well for us.

• JP-X is the absolute best herbal combination for handling kidney infections.  It is designed to support the detoxifying functions of the body and strengthens kidneys and bladder.
• IF-C is a Chinese combination that nourishes the structural and immune systems by stimulating blood flow and helping to eliminate toxins.  Whatever kind of infection you may be treating, this combination will work to eliminate it.  When combined with the JP-X, this will usually do the trick.
• Cranberry & Buchu is great for prevention, but also if a kidney infection is especially rough, the cranberry builds up the urinary tract to ensure it's proper function.
• Olive Leaf Extract helps protect from and eliminate the unwanted invaders (bacteria) that often cause the infection to begin with. It also promotes great circulatory health and supports the urinary system.

There are so many great herbal alternatives that gently correct damages in the body by nourishing the systems.  If you haven't found relief yet for your urinary and kidney health OR you have another hard to address health issue, we'd love to help you find herbal alternatives!  Give us a call at (405) 634-HERB.

IN.FORM & Transform Your Life

The Herb Garden proudly invites you to reshape your lifestyle, to burn fat, and be fit for life!  IN.FORM is beginning soon and you want to be a part of it!

IN.FORM is a new, breakthrough weight-management and healthy lifestyle program from Nature’s Sunshine.  Imagine a 13-week journey that features: 
• Health Education. Gain knowledge and life skills to achieve lasting health. 
• Social Support. Get an instant social network! Friends with similar goals    help you achieve success. 
• Weekly Accountability Sessions. Our unique BioTracker measures weight, body fat percentage, hydration levels, lean muscle mass, metabolic age, bone mass and more! 
• Personalized, Flexible Programs. Eat what you want, and we’ll customize a    Nature’s Sunshine products supplement program to meet your individual needs.    No pre-packaged meals!

The most exciting tool IN.FORM has to offer is the unique BioTracker.  Metabolic age, Hydration levels, bone mass - this is information for overall health, not just a weight-loss program! Would you like a free evaluation on this awesome asset?  Join us Monday, May 5th at our informational meeting, IN.FORM & Transform where you'll receive a free evaluation with the BioTracker, a free meal replacement smoothie, chances to receive free product and LOADS of information.  

We are so excited about this program and its long term effectiveness for healthy change! Give us a call at (405) 634-HERB for more information!

Are You Feeding Your Brain? Supplements for Brain Health

Our brains are often a key to our success in life.  Effectiveness, comprehension, attention to detail can all make or break a job, an event or a relationship.  Thinking clearly is important, but sometimes we don't act like it.  Two of the main areas we can feed our brain is usually where we abuse it the most: Exercise and Sleep. These are usually the first thing to go when we're crunched for time or stressed, but they should be the first place we go to for a boost!  Don't forget brain boosting foods like avocado, blueberries, dark, leafy greens, nuts and fish.

In addition to exercise, sleep, and a diet full of good fats, fresh fruits and vegetables, there are some great herbal supplements that can feed the brain for optimum performance.

Got a big test or important meeting coming up?  Focus Attention combines powerful nutrients that encourage a quiet, balanced mental activity.  This combination also helps protect the body from undesirable side effects of drugs or exposure to toxic chemicals, food additives, pesticides, etc. It's also a great choice for kids having trouble in school!  Mind Max supports brain function, memory and concentration with the help of a highly absorbable magnesium l-threonate, along with gotu kola aerial parts, bacopa leaf and ginkgo leaf—herbs well-known to benefit circulation and brain health—for a powerful brain boost.

 Work in a stressful or toxic environment? Brain Protex is designed to give the brain protection against free radical damage. It is especially helpful for those who desire extra support for brain health, nerve function and alertness.   Gaba Plus  supports brain and nerve metabolism, normalizes the nervous system and promotes a great sense of relaxation and peace.  GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is an amino acid that plays a role in neurotransmitter and brain activity. It affects the central nervous system by reducing the number of neurons firing in the brain, thus calming brain activity. This can benefit people with overstimulated nervous systems who find it difficult to relax or who have trouble focusing on one task.

Feeling a little off? Hard to keep your mood swings in check?  Adding some EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids can go a long way in stabilizing your brain function. DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) is a fatty acid that is absorbed into the fatty perimeter of cells. It is required for brain development and important in maintaining and protecting the neural tissues,  Super Omega-3 or Sunshine Heroes Omega-3 (for kids) contains both EPA and DHA fatty acids, supporting the cardiovascular system, structural system, as well as the skin. The body uses omega-3 fatty acids as one of the primary components of cell membranes.  Through feeding the cells with an adequate ratio of fatty acids, many have seen a relief of symptoms in mild depression or mood disorders. With our western diet, healthy fatty acids should be a large part of everyone's health regimen.  

Stomach Bugs Gotcha Down?

Appetite issues, gas, mental fogginess, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, exhaustion.  When the stomach bugs come to town, there's just no telling what manner of misery you may find yourself in.  Whether it's a contagious virus or some food-borne bacteria, getting rid of it is always a #1 priority!

We often hear that there is just nothing you can take/do in these cases, except let them run their course.  We feel differently.  In some cases, these are prolonged and can stay and settle in the body causing inflammation and leading to disease when not effectively addressed and cleansed out of the system. There are several remedies that can help in getting over and getting rid of these stomach invaders.  If you want more information on any of the herbs and combinations below, just click on the name for details.

Silver Shield or Olive Leaf Extract  are the place to start above all else.  In most cases, either remedy will do the trick in eliminating the virus or bacteria from your system.  Since Silver is liquid though, it can be more useful with children and periods when it's difficult to keep anything down.

Ginger - If you struggle with gas or stomach pains anytime, but especially as the result of stomach bugs, ginger is an excellent source of relief.

Red Raspberry (or the liquid) - Women's health, digestion and nausea relief are just a few of the areas Raspberry is good for. The capsules are an excellent addition to help with nausea and the liquid is especially helpful for kids!  Making some raspberry tea and sipping it at a cool temperature has also been effective in calming the system when it's refusing to keep anything down.

FV, Slippery Elm or Intestinal, Soothe & Build - If diarrhea is a problem, be sure to include FV and then one of the other supplements to help calm the system down.  FV nourishes the digestive system and settles the stomach.  Slippery Elm works to maintain normal elimination.  Intestinal, Soothe & Build works to restore the bowel to a healthier, cleaner state.

Solstic Revive - Since the electrolyte balance is disrupted through vomiting and diarrhea, Solstic Revive is a pleasant tasting powder that can be mixed with water and consumed to help restore those energy and balance to the body.  This is a great help in recovering from illnesses as well as excessive exercise and overall preventing dehydration.

Chinese Trigger Immune - Recovery is often a big issue, especially when high fevers are involved.  This Chinese formula builds up the circulatory system and fights against nutrient depletion - which is common in illness, especially with vomiting and diarrhea.

Not sure what is best for your body?  Give us a call (405)-634-HERB or send us an email theherbgarden@cox.net and we would LOVE to help you!

Your Health: Get Involved!

Are you taking an active role in your health this year?  Do you pay attention to your body's needs?  There are few things in life that we are more responsible for than our own personal bodies.  Yet, it's so easy to expect others - like experts, like the media, like the majority - to inform us what to do about our health.  Sometimes, as with some majorities, the message we get is to do NOTHING about our health. Often, the other extreme is just as loud telling us to do everything imaginable to keep our bodies healthy.

The truth is we can learn from everyone and at the same time everyone is human and fallible.  We are all going to get it wrong every once in a while - at least!  The most important thing you can do for your health - as well as your family's - is to GET INVOLVED!

1) Ask Questions.  No matter the issue or the person you're consulting with, determine to understand completely what the problem is and all of the options available to correct it.

2) Eat. Sleep. Play.  A lot of our ailments can be improved with simple changes to how we eat, sleep and play (or exercise).  Before you try to mask a problem with pills or procedures, see if you can make some positive changes in a one of these areas.  Clean eating, plenty of water, adequate sleep and plenty of exercise does amazing things for your body.  Don't believe it?  Try it.

3) Research.  What do you know about the varying treatments available?  Look into the pros and cons of different areas, like herbal remedies, homeopathy, essential oils, physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractors, medications, injections, surgeries, etc.

Your instincts and personal involvement are so important when it comes to your own health.  This year, determine to take action with your healthcare options.  In whatever way we can, we hope to support you in being the best and healthiest you in 2014!

Colon Health: That's Where the Party's At!

As we approach the new year, it's likely you've mistreated your body a bit in the past few weeks (maybe months?) and some detoxing or cleansing is in order.  We are diligent to regularly clean everything else in our life - hands, bodies, homes, clothes, etc. - so it makes sense to do the same for the inside of your body.  Just like the grime and muck of daily living can build up sometimes before we realize, the toxicity of our environments takes its toll on our bodies.  Here are just a few of the possible benefits you could experience with some internal cleansing:

-Improved digestion and elimination

-Better mental clarity 

-Energy levels usually improve

-Removal of waste/debris and toxic chemicals (like preservatives, artificial colors, pesticides, etc.)

-Increased nutrient absorption

And the best and most important place to start is the colon.  It might be an uncomfortable topic for discussion, but if your colon isn't healthy, you're uncomfortable on a whole new level.  When things are working like they should, especially when they have haven't been, suddenly there's all kinds of rejoicing!

Did you know that during active weight loss is an ideal time to cleanse and detoxify?  As your body burns up fat, it releases more stored toxins, which need to be removed before they get back into your bloodstream.  So, as you prepare to start that new exercise routine and healthy eating habit, throw in some intentional cleansing while you're at it for optimum benefits.

Cleansing Essentials
Every person's body has unique needs and conditions and there are dozens of herbal supplements and combinations that can aid intestinal health.  But for a basic understanding, here is a summary of the most commonly used products to aid a short term cleanse.  For more information about which is best for you, give us a call!

Probiotics - Our intestinal tract includes both good and bad bacteria.  Many things like diet, environmental factors and medications wipe out all of the good.  To build it back up, consider probiotics like Bifidophilus Flora Force, Probiotic Eleven, and Acidophilus

Fiber - Insoluble and soluble fiber are both critical to a properly functioning intestinal system.  Products like Nature's Three, Loclo, Psyllium Hulls Combination and Everybody's Fiber help to keep the movement regular.

Enzymes - Enzymes break down toxins and undigested food which helps your intestinal track stay healthy. Products like Food Enzymes, Proactazyme, and Hi-Lipase are great options.

Cleansers - In addition to fiber, a cleanser is needed to act as a stimulant to rid the bowel of toxic waste.  For a typical detox, LBS II, Intestinal Soothe & Build, All Cell Detox and Bowel Detox are popular combinations.

13 Super Brain Foods - by Nature's Sunshine


And finally, make sure you're drinking water, water and more water! Herbal supplements especially are more effective in the body with plenty of water AND extra water helps the toxins you are trying to clean out to move through faster.  Whether at the beginning of a new year or just some time in the next 3 or 4 months, do something to detox! Your bowels will thank you!