Years ago, a holistic practitioner told me, “You’re not breathing right.” Now this came as quite a surprise as despite being aware of an array of my shortcomings, I felt that I kind of had the whole breathing thing down. Not so. Most people, I learned, are “shallow breathers.” And while this sounds like an insult (“You shallow breather!”)- well maybe it is if you say it like that- it simply means that most people breathe in and out of their chests, rather than the more beneficial practice of breathing in and out of the abdomen a.k.a. “Belly Breathing”.
What exactly is “Belly Breathing”? Let’s demonstrate: First, lay down on your back- knees up, feet flat on the floor. *Note: Do not try this at work or while driving, and definitely not at Starbucks…learned that the hard way…Anyway, put your palms on your rib cage and take a few deep breaths, feeling the ribs rise and fall. Then move your palms to your belly and continue deep breathing, but focus on bringing the air deeper, down into your belly. If you can feel your hands rise as your abdomen fills with air, you’re cooking with gas. (Oooh, sorry, bad analogy…) And once you’ve got it down, it’s easy to do while sitting or standing too. Read the rest of this entry »
Hello friends of Organic Janet!
I apologize for my break from blogging. While you may be wondering if I took an extended summer vacation to an exotic island in Bora Bora (I wish!) no, I have instead been busily revamping Organic Janet, as well as being knocked out for a while from unpleasant dental shenanigans…Anyway, I am back and ready to announce the new and improved Organic Janet! In addition to enhanced site navigation and many back-end modifications which improve our visibility, you will find several exciting changes afoot, and more to come.
First, I’d like to introduce you to our newest addition…no, it’s not a baby, but it does feature organic baby products…The Organic Janet Store! Here, you’ll find a variety of eco-friendly home products, as well as natural make-up, organic clothing, natural supplements, and MORE! The vendors are all hand-picked affiliate partners, and I promise to never promote any product or service that does not jibe with the Organic Janet vibe. Plus, I have personally dealt with most of these are companies over my many years of organic living, holistic nutrition, and holistic healing. Read the rest of this entry »
If you read enough self-help articles, you will see a common piece of advice. When you’re feeling “meh” about your life, think about what you used to love to do as a child, and start doing it again- the idea being that it will invigorate you, change your outlook, and generally cure what ails you.
I must say I was skeptical about achieving such grand results from simply, say, playing on some swings. But then I thought, why not give it a try? To be honest, I was feeling discouraged after my less than spectacular splash back into the dating pool. What did I have to lose?…So I thought: what did I used to do as a kid that was really fun? What made me feel truly alive and vital? The answer came easily: basketball. Read the rest of this entry »
I’ve never understood why a few weeds growing through the cracks of a sidewalk or patio were reason to haul out “the napalm”, especially when there are cheap, all natural ways to tackle the issue. Multiple studies have revealed that the chemicals and adjuvants (a fancier and more French-sounding way to say chemical enhancers) used in the popular weed killer Roundup are harmful to humans, animals, and the environment. And if you happen to be pregnant, you REALLY don’t want to be around this stuff.
So here’s an eco-friendly home secret the pesticide companies don’t want you to know: Vinegar- yes, plain old $2.97 for 2 liters Vinegar from Sam’s Club- works like a charm as a natural non-toxic weed killer. Just pour it on, and your weeds will shrivel up faster than the Wicked Witch’s legs after her ruby slippers were removed. (Can you tell I just re-watched the Wizard of Oz?) While you may need a repeat treatment to conquer all of your botanical intruders, doesn’t that extra effort beat unleashing a bunch of crazy-dangerous chemicals?
Another simple and natural non-toxic weed killer is boiling water. Simply bring a pot of plain old H2O to a boil and dump it on your weeds. And if you have any water left over, why not make yourself a nice cup of tea? A third option, though pricier than vinegar or water, is lemon juice. Spray it (straight up) on weeds, and in short order, they’ll be “deader than a door nail”- no toxic polluting chemicals required.
So the next time you think about rounding up the Roundup to kill some weeds, why not reconsider? Your family, your endocrine system, and your planet will thank you. And so will I!
Be well,
Organic Janet
Years ago, I had a friend who was always changing our plans because she had to be home for “the bug guy”. In my opinion, the only bug guy you should have in your life is if you happen to be dating the mascot for the minor league Salt Lake Bees.
Why? Because the chemical concoctions routinely sprayed throughout homes by pest control companies, as well as most conventional DIY products on the market, are all, well, pretty scary. Beyond causing skin, eye, and lung irritation, many of these chemicals are known carcinogens which cause detrimental effects to our endocrine, nervous, and immune systems. They have also been linked to increased developmental delays and attention problems in children. And, most liquid varieties come dissolved in a petroleum-based solvent. If you’re still unconvinced about the toxicity of oil, I’ve got some pelicans in the Gulf I’d like you to meet. Read the rest of this entry »
A man goes to his Psychiatrist. He says, “Nobody listens to me.” Doc says, “NEXT!”
This classic Henny Youngman jokes keeps coming to mind lately as the perfect metaphor for on-line dating. You put your best self out there, eagerly waiting for someone to connect with the wonder that is you. But each time you log on, you see exactly how many guys (or girls) have viewed your profile and said “NEXT!”
Now to be fair, every one of us on these sites does plenty of blowing through profiles. Yet somehow, that doesn’t lessen the impact of this peculiar form of rejection. Then add to the mix the ones you reach out to who never respond, and the ones who contact you, who you have no interest in. Not to mention all of the dead-air phone calls and non-reciprocal in-person experiences. And suddenly, you’re back in Mrs. Pierce’s 6th grade homeroom, gazing at Tommy McGillicutty who you find totally dreamy but doesn’t know you exist; while fending off Ned Schmidt who you find totally annoying but keeps asking if he can walk you home. Not that this has ever happened to me… Read the rest of this entry »
You know that feeling when you’ve grown very attached to something in your life? Then suddenly, it becomes more and more elusive. And just when you start to wonder what’s happening, you learn the hard truth…The party’s over, and it’s gone for good…Am I speaking of lost love? Squandered riches? The fleeting quality of fame?…No, I’m talking about something far more weighty, organic fruit and nut bars. Read the rest of this entry »
In case you missed it, The President’s Cancer Panel (made up of respected mainstream scientists not “crunchy” people like me) recently released a landmark report entitled “Reducing Environmental Cancer Risk: What We Can Do Now” . The 240 page document sounds a major warning bell about the impact of environmental exposures on cancer risk. Definitely not relaxing bedside reading, but if you want to scare the crap out of some kids (or adults) while sitting around a bonfire, it would work well for that.
So what did it say? Well I don’t want to be smug or self-righteous here- okay maybe I do a little- but basically, it tells you to be an Organic Janet. The Panel strongly advises that action be taken at the consumer, industrial, and governmental levels to reduce the risks of cancer posed by chemicals in our food, air, water, and products, as well as from radiation exposure. Read the rest of this entry »
Well it’s official. The conventional medical community via the AMA’s Archives of Internal Medicine (which incidentally was standard bathroom reading material during my childhood, though surely that had no bearing on my developing 17 chronic health conditions) is touting the health benefits of nuts. While it seems that the AMA is a little late to the party on this, I’m glad to see the “official science” catching up with what the natural health community has known for decades.
So what is this study all about? It was actually a review of 25 previous studies and it confirmed the cholesterol-lowering benefits of nuts (trigylceride-lowering too), and thus their role in heart disease prevention. The results were similar among different types of nuts, but sorry to report that neither chocolate-covered peanuts nor candy coated almonds were researched. (Regular ole walnuts, almonds, peanuts, pecans, hazelnuts, macadamias, and pistachios were though. And they’re all pretty tasty too!) Read the rest of this entry »
There is a great deal of buzz about “detoxing” or “cleansing”. Ellen DeGeneres recently chronicled her Sugar Cleanse on her show. And chances are that you’re friends with someone on Facebook who gives updates on their latest detox cleanse, liver cleanse, or colon cleanse- whether you want to hear about it or not. But what does it really mean? Is is something that would benefit you? And how much do you really need to know about your Facebook friends’ bowel movements?
The truth is that you’re doing a “detox cleanse” all the time. When you breathe, sweat, expel mucus, or go to the bathroom, the body is working to remove waste and toxins. While most people think of the liver and kidneys as doing the heavy lifting, the colon, gall bladder, skin, and respiratory system are no shlumps either. And a cellular detox cleanse is also happening regularly throughout the rest of the body. That being said, I believe that everyone could benefit from some form of detox cleanse. But first, I’d like to address the mainstream misconception that the body doesn’t need it. Read the rest of this entry »
