1. Tea: Try drinking green, chamomile, or black. Loaded with antioxidants they boost immune function, fight cold and flu, and destroy cell-damaging free radicals.
2. Zinc: have 15 to 25 mgs of zinc a day as some consider it the single most important nutrient for maintaining optimal immune function. It can be found in red meat, poultry, beans, nuts and fortified cereal.
3. Almonds: are full of vitamin E which helps boost the immune system by increasing the amount of the body's cells that destroy germs. 
4. Broccoli: helps mucous membranes form to protect your body from damage by repelling environmental threats. It also contains vitamin A, C, and glutathione, all of which are known to help boost immunity. 
5. Vitamin C: Studies found that people who take vitamin C experience 45 to 91 percent reduction in common cold incidence while most people find them in citrus fruits, strawberries actually have a higher vitamin C concentration. 
6. Fiber: helps to support the production of white blood cells that fight bacteria. Fiber also allows your body to absorb immune boosting nutrients. Try a bowl of steel-cut oats with flax-seed. 
7. Mushrooms: contain beta-glucans known to enhance immunity. They also contain selenium, deficiencies in this nutrient are linked to developing the flu.
8. De-Stress:  Try yoga, tai chi, or meditation. Stress causes the immune system to be more susceptible to the common cold and other viruses. 
9. Watermelon: The antioxidant glutathione found in watermelon helps fight and fortify cells against infections. 
10. Yogurt: Yogurt containing "live and active cultures" may reduce your changes of getting a cold. 
11. Simple sugars: avoid them! Sugary foods and sugary juices can impair immune function.
12. Vitamin D: linked to immune function and regulation, deficiency increases the risk of infections. Few foods contain vitamin D and its best to get your dose from short periods of sun exposure without sunscreen.
13. Garlic: several antioxidants found in garlic battle immune system invaders. It has strong anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal qualities. 
14. Capsaican: studies have shown that capsaican, the substance that makes hot peppers hot, can fighting colds before they start when taken daily by increasing your
15. Echinacea: this supplement stimulates production of white blood cells. It has anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, and anti-viral powers that strengthens the body's natural immunity. It can be found in teas or taken as a supplement.

Eat these foods to when you're in need of some ZZZs:

1. Fish - especially salmon, halibut, and tuna
2. Chickpeas 
3. Bananas
4. Jasmine Rice
5. Tart Cherries or Tart Cherry Juice 
6. Yogurt
7. Whole Grains
8. Kale
9. Fortified Cereals
10. Non-fat popcorn
11. Chamomile Tea
12. Honey
13. Turkey
14. Soy Milk
15. Cashews
16. Oatmeal
17. Hummus

And if these things don't work, get off Pinterest, Blogger, and your computer!! :) 

I drink a pitcher of sassy water every morning it is a great way to add a little flavor to those eight glasses of water a day you should drink, is a great simple weight loss remedy, helps eliminate contaminants, fat, excess water weight and has amazing health benefits.

You'll need:

2 liters water

1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger

1 medium cucumber

1 medium lemon

12 small mint leaves 

Ginger: helps calm and sooth your GI track, and boosts metabolism

Cucumber: helps the body release excess water and reduces high blood pressure 

Lemon: kick starts the digestive system and helps to keep you full

Mint: helps with digestive problems, calms the nerves, and can help whiten teeth

Mix and refrigerate over night then drink the pitcher throughout the day! 

Experiencing cramping? Bloating? All around discomfort? Instead of popping that Midol try these all natural remedies and eat these foods:

1. Beans and peas: high in fiber they reduce the symptoms of cramps
2. Eat a healthy breakfast: those who skip breakfast tend to have more severe PMS bloating symptoms than those who don't
3. Green vegetables: high in calcium, magnesium, and potassium they help relieve and prevent cramping and reduce irritability 
4. Dark green vegetables: help to prevent excess bleeding
5. Take 500 mg of calcium each day or eat foods high in calcium like eggs, broccoli, and milk
6. Pineapple: one of the richest manganese foods and high in bromelain it will help prevent cramping and increase menstrual flow leading to decreased menstrual discomfort 
7. Fish Oil: helps 
8. Tea: another source of manganese, avoid tea with caffeine which can lead to discomfort. Ginger tea helps with nausea and bloating and chamomile can relieve anxiety and irritability 
9. Water: drink a lot of water, it will help to alleviate cramps
10. Cut down on the salt, it will decrease bloating
11. Whole Grains: will help to combat fatigue, tension, and menstrual discomfort
12. Avoid caffeine and alcohol, they will worsen cramps and bloating
13. Dark chocolate: eat some dark chocolate with 60 percent or higher cacao bean, during your period will help sooth cravings and boost your mood
14. Vitamin E can help eliminate some PMS symptoms so try some avocado or egg yolk
15. Vitamin C during your period is especially important to prevent iron-deficient anemia , try citrus fruits, bell peppers or melons
16. Avoid refined sugars in chocolate or candy bars, while we often gravitate towards these items during our periods, they will actually leave you cranky

I have been plagued with pimples ever since I hit puberty (say that three times fast) and let me tell you, at times, it isn't pretty. This year my skin has been brighter and clearer than ever before and I've attributed its beauty to the apple cider vinegar pills I have been taking (they're easier to take down than the pungent vinegar itself). This weekend I went down to Whole Foods and bought myself a bottle of Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar and figured I'd try a couple of home remedies with the real stuff. So yesterday when a monster of a pimple showed up on my forehead I decided to take the bottle for a run and made myself a little mixture of 1 part apple cider vinegar, 3 parts water and let it sit. Then with a cotton swab I rubbed the mixture across my face, let sit for fifteen minutes and rinsed with cold water. I then took a Q-tip and placed the mixture on the large pimple on my forehead and let stay for the night. Do you want to know what my forehead looked like in the morning? It was PERFECTLY clear. Never in my lifetime of pimple madness have I experienced something like this. If only my thirteen-year-old self had learned of this remedy I might actually be able to look at my junior-high photos.


Bottom line: if you have any sort of acne USE THIS SHIT! 


Click here for other uses of apple cider vinegar

One of the best ways to loose weight and stay on track with your diet is to keep a food diary. Print out these food diary cards to help you reach your goal.

Try these foods to help flight bloat:

1. Papaya 
2. Oatmeal
3. Apple Cider Vinegar
4. Calcium rich foods like natural yogurt
5. Asparagus
6. Water
7. Fiber rich foods
8. Avoid artificial sweeteners
9. Mint or Peppermint Tea
10. Raspberries 
11. Cut back on the salt 
12. Celery
13. Bananas
14. Ginger
15. Pineapple  

Dark circles or puffy bags? Try these at home remedies to fix those eye problems:

1. Cool chamomile, green, or black tea and then place the tea bag over each eye for fifteen minutes. For extra oomph use a caffeinated tea bag.
2. Grate a potato placing shreds into gauze to form compress. Place compress over eyes for fifteen to twenty-five minutes then wash. Try placing potato in fridge first to cool.
3. Pour ice-cold whole milk or cream into a small bowl and soak cotton balls inside, squeeze out slightly and put one over each eye. Replace when they warm up.
4. Rest two half inch thick cucumber slices on ice to chill, then place one slice over each eye for ten to fifteen minutes. Or dip cotton balls in chilled cucumber juice.
5. Let oil or heavy duty cream sit for ten to fifteen minutes to plump up your skin.
6. Apply equal parts tomato and lime juice under your eyes with cotton balls, rinse after about thirty minutes.
7. Plump up skin with fast-absorbing oil like jojoba.
8. Massage the area in a gentle circular motion around eyes, moving from your under eyes up past your nose and then back around.
9. Mix green tea, dissolved honey, and cucumbers and refrigerate. Once cooled place cucumber slices over eyes for up to fifteen minutes. 
10. To help reduce dark circles eat foods rich in vitamin K, like Broccoli, Asparagus, and Brussels Sprouts.
11. Beat two egg whites until stiff then apply to under eye area with a brush, let dry for fifteen minutes and rinse. Try adding witch hazel to further reduce swelling.
12. Crush mint leaves into small pieces and apply to under eye circles for twenty minutes.
13. Place four metal spoons in ice water when when chilled placed one spoon on each eye, following the contour of your eye socket. As the spoons begin to warm, switched with the chilled ones.