There’s a chain of high-end health foods stores in the United States called Whole Foods. It’s an amazing place to visit if you’re interested in gourmet foods, all-natural personal care items and the trendiest supplements known to mankind. But cheap it is not. Some people even joke that Whole Foods should be renamed Whole Paycheck because that’s often what you end up spending there. This can be rather disheartening for those who are interested in natural living, but can’t afford to shop in this manner. If you’ve ever felt that way, please be advised that the vast majority of holistic lifestyle choices aren’t cost prohibitive. The trick is finding creative ways to derive the same benefits that normally come with a hefty price tag. Read more »

A common theme found in naturopathic medicine is that a substance used for one purpose often ends up benefiting other seemingly unrelated conditions. When this occurs, scientists generally scramble to determine how in the world such a turn of events is even possible. There’s certainly a great deal of value in identifying the underlying mechanisms by which a “medicine” works. But if the body is viewed as a whole, rather than in isolated parts, then the concept of broad spectrum healing tends to make more sense. One example is a rather obscure supplement that reduces the ill effects of oxidants in the body while also promoting a healthier environment in the brain. Read more »

The world of nutrition was rocked this past week by a seemingly innocuous little study. It came in the form of a scientific presentation by Professor Bart Hoebel from the Princeton Department of Psychology. Dr. Hoebel and his team, which included members from the Princeton Neuroscience Institute, revealed findings that suggest that sugar can indeed be addictive. Read more »