Message from Bernadette Wulf

Greetings!

I really appreciate all the positive feedback people have given me on this newsletter. It is always nice to know that people are reading and enjoying it!

Somehow life seems way too busy these days. Didn't I just send out a newsletter a few days ago? It's hard to believe it is July and Summer Solstice has already passed. Nature is starting to slow down ever so slightly as the days get shorter and we head into the harvest season. The summer frenzy will soon give way to the season of feasts and celebrations.

With our modern supermarkets, we barely notice harvest season, except that prices come down on fruits and more local produce is available. It wasn't always so. Our ancestors worked hard for many months to be able to enjoy the fruits of their labor in late Summer and Autumn. It was a time for feasting, celebrating the abundance of nature, and enjoying the great outdoors.

Though most of us no longer grow our own food, it is still a good idea to take this time to really celebrate and appreciate the amazing abundance we have. We tend to take it for granted, since we've always had a great variety of foods to choose from, but this level of abundance is unique in history.

Even with our year-round selection of fruits and vegetables from all over the world, there are many that never taste as good as they do in their own local season. Watermelon is one of them, and it is surprisingly high in nutritional value, as you will read below. Corn, tomatoes, and stone fruits are also much better at this time of year. Get 'em while they're fresh!

To Your Health!
Bernadette Wulf

Boost Immunity with Astragalus

When I lived in Mt. Shasta a few years ago, I worked for an herbalist making herbal tinctures. That's when I first learned about astragalus. It was one of the ingredients in our Immune Formula tincture. Though it has been used for thousands of years in Chinese medicine, astragalus is relatively unknown in the West. There are other excellent immune-boosting herbs available to us, but some of them (like golden seal) can only be used for a week or two at a time. Astragalus can be used indefinitely, with no known side effects.

Usually combined with other immune-boosting herbs (such as echinacia, ginseng, garlic, cat's claw), astragalus has been found helpful in treating: Common cold/sore throat, Heart attack, Hepatitis, Immune function, Infection, and Systemic lupus.

Look for an immune support tincture containing astragalus at your local natural food store. Take 3–5 ml. of tincture three times per day, or as recommended by your health-care provider. Astragalus root can also be boiled and taken as tea.

Wonders of Watermelon

What says summer better than juicy, ripe watermelon? It is certainly in the top ten of my favorite fruits. I can hardly imagine a summer picnic without it! In addition to its refreshing and delicious taste, watermelon is packed with potassium, phytonutrients, vitamins A, C, and a few B vitamins -- everything except fat, sodium and calories. That's my kind of fruit!

According to "beauty eats" by Real Age:
"Watermelon has lots of lycopene, a key plant antioxidant that is famous for fighting heart disease and prostate cancer. Tomatoes are usually considered the lycopene all-stars, but you have to cook them in a little oil to release it. Watermelon not only needs no cooking to unleash its lycopene but, cup for cup, it has 40 percent more than tomatoes."

Watermelon season is short and sweet. Look for melons that sound neither dull, nor hollow when you thump them. They should have a nice solid ring. I've also been told that a large yellow spot on the bottom, as well as a few brown scales indicates a ripe, sweet melon. Enjoy!

Outdoor Living for Stress Reduction

Everyone knows that stress is a major cause of illness and accidents, but how often do you remember that stress relief can be as close as your own backyard? A relaxing oasis right outside your door is just what the doctor ordered to soothe jangled nerves and lower blood pressure.

The outdoor living area is quickly becoming a "must have" for deep relaxation at home, incorporating cozy outdoor fireplaces, handy kitchen appliances like beverage refrigerators and, to truly relax and recharge, a hot tub.

Outdoor activities to reduce stress include:

* Planting a garden: Gardening is considered to be a form of meditation that can greatly reduce stress. It is also one of the best forms of exercise and it gets you connected with the Earth and the seasons! What better way to get yourself grounded?
* Rocking out: Just a few minutes in a rocker on the back deck can ease stress and anxiety.
* Playing ball: Throw a baseball, Frisbee, or football around the yard with a family member or friend. This will lend some exercise to the day and you'll spend quality time with a companion.

"Extending the living room outdoors and utilizing the warm, calming waters of a hot tub enhances a happy, healthy lifestyle by allowing users to unwind and enjoy a soothing sanctuary on their own property," says Steve Gorlin, chairman of the Washington, D.C.-based Hot Tub Council (HTC).

Warm-water therapy is one of the oldest and safest methods for treating many common ailments associated with stress. "Whether people are having trouble sleeping or are just riddled with stress-induced anxiety, a good soak can provide many therapeutic benefits ranging from improved circulation to relief from tension headaches," Gorlin adds.

Using a hot tub leaves bathers feeling physically, mentally and emotionally refreshed. It also enhances communication by providing a private retreat where users can spend quality time with friends and family. Catching up, talking and relaxing with loved ones is a stress reducer, and the quality of the environment often times results in increased peace of mind and serenity.

For more information on the many health benefits associated with warm-water therapy,click on the link below.

Article adapted from ARA content.

"Green" Air Fresheners for Better Health

The growing concern about how environmental pollutants affect our health is causing a significant growth in both the popularity and sales of natural, environmentally safe products for cleaning the home.

Cleaning up the environment with the purpose of living healthier is becoming a priority for many who see a direct correlation between their health and what they use to clean their house. Numerous studies have shown levels of VOCs (volatile organic compounds -- any organic compound which evaporates readily into the atmosphere) that are present in the air from using these products -- specifically air fresheners -- cause adverse health effects.

According to the Wiley Interscience "Flavor and Fragrance Journal," fragrance is increasingly cited as a trigger in health conditions such as asthma, allergies and migraine headaches. Other more serious maladies like autism and depression may also be related to the presence of VOCs in the home. In addition, some fragrance materials have been found to accumulate in fatty tissue and are present in breast milk.

It doesn't make sense to clean your house to rid your environment of harmless odors, while at the same time depositing harmful pollutants. And while air fresheners may have a pleasant scent, the chemical components that make most of them work are dangerous.

You don't have to live with the odors that come from everyday living and you don't have to change your lifestyle. Don't get rid of the dog, dump the diaper bucket or stop sweating at the gym. You can eliminate odors naturally with a line of products that are proven to be safe for people, pets and the Earth.

Fresh Wave, a unique odor neutralizing product comprised of a proprietary blend of Soy, natural extracts of Lime, Pine Needle, Aniseed, Clove and Cedarwood, comes in a variety of forms. Independent laboratories' research and data prove that Fresh Wave products are effective for eliminating all kinds of odors.

One mode of elimination is by using the spray. A light, non-aerosol pump, sprayed directly onto fabrics, furniture, clothing or straight into the air pulls odors in and poof -- they're gone. Pet odors, the spicy remnants of last-night's feast, or the uncle's cigar smoke can be easily eliminated. It's even okay to spray right onto yourself -- initially there's a light, clean scent and then nothing. The odor is gone.

For larger, more constant odor problems like a musty basement or nursery, put out a bowl-full of the Fresh Wave Gel. Airflow circulates over the gel and odors dissipate leaving only a clean, natural scent, without any detriment to the child.

Or, if you're getting your house ready for selling, it's important that the home is odor free. Odors can greatly reduce the appeal of a home to a potential buyer. Set out a few jars of the gel to remove any lingering evidence that someone lived there and the house will have more appeal.

It's cleaning green. If you enjoy cleaning with vinegar for its "green" environmental qualities, but don't care for the vinegar odor that lingers, burn a Fresh Wave soy candle and the vinegar scent is gone.

Fresh Wave also offers Vacuum Pearls that freshen your vacuum by sucking them into the vacuum bag; Carpet Shake that you sprinkle on the carpet to neutralize odors in rugs; and Pearl Pack Sachets that can be placed anywhere: shoes, pockets, gym bags, drawers or anywhere you want to neutralize odors.

How does it work? When the mixture is activated by airflow, it attracts, captures and neutralizes odor molecules. All that remains is a clean, natural-smelling environment, with no masking fragrances and no harsh chemicals.

Since 1989, Odor Management Industries (OMI) of Barrington, Ill., has been successfully solving industrial odor problems with their unique technologies sold throughout the world. Now this same incredible technology is available to you so you can safely remove odors in your own environment. They launched the consumer product line in 2004. Give your environment a breath of fresh air and create a naturally "green" home.

For more information and locations that carry Fresh Wave products, click the link below.

Article adapted from ARA content.