Spring time is usually the most popular time for people to consider and make the decision to do a detox program. Most of these brave and committed soldiers are forced to choose between dozens of media popularized detoxes, most of which are expensive, abusive to the colon or too low in calories. Beneficial detoxes should help the body eliminate and neutralizing toxins from the liver, gallbladder, kidneys, lungs, lymphatic system and skin, and also help to rebuild damaged tissues through the detoxification process (done only by replenishing the body of phytochemicals, macronutrients and the right amount of calories). Because there are so many programs out there, and picking the exact detox program right for your own body and life situation can be overwhelming, below is a list of top detoxing foods that will help in the day to day elimination of accumulated body toxins.

“Now that I am in my 30′s I am thinking about wrinkles. AHHH! Wrinkles. Wrinkles. Wrinkles. I don’t have that many, but they emerge from time to time, especially around my eyes. I know I need to nourish my skin more. What to buy? Lately I have no clue, even organic skincare can have ingredients that are sketchy and hard to pronounce (bad sign). Hence, my search began for a homemade anti-wrinkle cream. I started researching and experimenting. The first thing I had to order was beeswax, everything else I could buy at my local health food store. And then, finally….

Guest blogger Kaley Wirthlin is creator of GreenBootLiving.com, a website dedicated to improving health through real food, farming, natural remedies, outdoor adventures, and non-toxic living. Below is a great article on making your own, effective sunscreen!

There is a popular Chinese saying that if one eats a plentiful amount of seaweed and sea vegetables, the hair grows stronger, thicker and blacker (which is always heavily sought after for Asians, as black voluminous and thick hair was a sign of beauty and youth). Though sea vegetables do wonders for the body and hair, there is another mineral Mother nature created that is often overlooked and not talked about as much—silica. Silica is a trace mineral that strengthens the body’s connective tissues – muscles, tendons, hair, ligaments, nails, cartilage, and bone – and is vital for healthy skin and bones.

Though the younger generations of our modern times (those around the age of 35 and younger) would strongly argue that body art and tattoos are a popular trend and well accepted style to sport on the surfaces of the skin, there are definite more traditional, religious and conservative minds that frown at the thought of anything creating permanent marks on the body. As what some would say is  “becoming a fast mark of the 21st century” and “more than 30 percent of people under the age of 30 has one permanent body art tattooed onto the skin,” it is no wonder personal expression and free spirits can be confused with rebellious youth of new generations gone awry.

A healthy immune system can defeat invading pathogens, but it is exactly that: an entire synergistic and working system, not a single entity. In order for people to optimize immune function, balance and harmony from a holistic viewpoint and approach is required.

The most obvious part of the immune system is what you can see. For example, the largest and first basic defense system to our immunity is our skin, since it acts as the primary boundary between germs and your body. Skin is tough and generally impermeable to bacteria and viruses.

Most people know of the common household staple, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) as something that deodorizes the fridge, is added to baked goods and makes those 5^th grade volcano science projects super neat to watch when combined with vinegar, but decades of continued studies are revealing baking soda’s amazing natural abilities to fight infectious diseases, increase athletic performance, diminish acne, shrink cancer, clear the complexion, prevents foot odor and athletes feet, relieve heartburn and indigestion, kill off colds, influenza, and acid reflux (just to list a few).

Live happier and healthier: A study in the Archives of Internal Medicine notes that, “People who tend to think positively may reduce their risk of dying from heart related conditions and stroke by over 55%!”

Better skin? A study from Colorado State University at Fort Collins found that eating an excess of food that spike insulin levels (cake, soda and white bread) as well as refined carbs and fried foods may stimulate hormones responsible for oil overproduction and clogged pores. Cut back on the junk foods for a zit and wrinkle free face.

Get more zinc and possibly more love: oysters are packed with zinc, a mineral that enhances the immune system. One large oyster supplies a day’s worth of zinc, which also repairs and maintains muscle tissue. Many people do not get enough zinc in their diets and may leave themselves at risk for lowered immune system. Oysters are also a classic aphrodisiac for both men and women. Eat organic and fresh oysters a few times a month!

As the largest eliminatory organ on the human body and helps to detox the toxins away from the body, it is no wonder people obsess over the tone, tightness, color, age and health of the skin. From the forhead to the back of the lower legs, everything from expensive cremes, body butters, lasers, skin wraps and saunas are used religiously by people of all ages, in hopes that we obtain our perfect idea of outer, ageless beauty: Beautiful and glowing, cellulite and vein free skin.

One of the most amazing sources of anti-inflammatory properties on the planet, coconut oil is being hailed for its many healing capabilities. Not only is it anti-aging for the outside skin, hair and nails, it is repairing for the internal body as well. Read the infograph below to understand an overview the many ways coconut oil is what I consider a superfood: