So I had finally booked all of my Australia trip and was printing out confirmations and attachments when I noticed something shocking: The spa I had booked for two days and really, really wanted to go to listed caffeine as “contraband” and not allowed. WHAT??!! I really had to question myself at that moment. Was I really willing to give up coffee for the first time in 25 years just for a two-day spa visit? Oh, the headaches!
Love & Family

Why I Gave Up Coffee for a Bit

What’s Behind the Secret Epidemic of Hypothyroidism
by guest blogger Isaac Eliaz, MD. Most of us don’t ever think about our thyroid. This gland is located in the neck and produces hormones that regulate energy metabolism, control protein synthesis, and adjust the body’s sensitivity to other hormones. The thyroid is also involved in detoxification, growth functions, immunity, and more. Given all of these critical actions, it makes sense to take care of such a precious and sensitive area of health.

Secret Scents: The Hidden
Chemicals in Fragrance
by guest blogger Alexandra Scranton. If you are diagnosed with a skin allergy to fragrance, or want to avoid fragrances for precautionary health reasons, how can you avoid them? It’s a lot tougher than you might think, but there are steps you can take to stay fragrance free. Here’s what you need to know…

Australia: First Impressions
Australia is so big and diverse that a first impression from landing in Brisbane is like a first impression of America from landing in Atlanta. But first impressions are also inevitable and often right. They contain the seeds that grow into more lasting impressions. I’ve only been here 24 hours, so you are going to get my first impression!

Slow Knowledge
by guest blogger Tim Mountz. rowing things takes time and patience—some seeds can take years to germinate, some soils take years to build up. Compost does not happen in a day. This is why I like the company of gardeners and farmers, not just for the humility that dirty fingernails brings, but also because they are just about the last people on earth who have patience in this ever-faster spinning world.

Yoga to Still the Head
and Open the Heart
by guest blogger Holly Walck. This yoga sequence is designed to cultivate a profound stillness in the body and the mind and open the doorway to the heart. Go on, walk inside; it’s a very nice place to visit and you can stay as long as you desire. As my husband says regularly, “Every day with yoga is like a vacation.”

How to Make Your Own Kimchi
by guest blogger Robyn Jasko. Kimchi, the fiery Korean cousin of sauerkraut, is all the rage these days, showing up at your favorite health food stores and supermarkets, with jars of bright red fermented cabbage lining the shelves. This Korean superfood has been a cultural staple for generations—and for good reason: Kimchi is packed with healthy probiotics, enzymes, vitamins, and beneficial bacteria.

Why Australia?
It all started in 1979 with an Australian movie my dad said reminded him of me. THAT piqued my interest and started a life-long admiration for the land down under. I’ve felt a strange familiarity with Australia, from the movies, books, music, and the people, and I’ve been wanting to visit for a long time, but never had the chance. Well, I’m about to get my chance…
Scratch
Raised on America’s first organic farm, Scratch author Maria Rodale learned how to make everyday favorites from, yes, scratch — the way you remember them; the way they turn out best.
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Organic Manifesto
Drawing on findings from leading health researchers as well as conversations with both chemical and organic farmers from coast to coast, Maria Rodale irrefutably outlines the unacceptably high cost of chemical farming on our health and our environment.
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