We've decided to post the weekly Holistic American Blog on Mondays to start the week off right! This week...... A Holistic Guide to Wellness: Nurturing Mind, Body, and Spirit In today’s fast-paced world, achieving a true sense of wellness requires more than just physical health. It calls for a holistic approach — one that nurtures the mind, body, and spirit in balance. Holistic wellness recognizes that each part of our being is interconnected, and only by addressing the whole can we unlock our fullest potential for health, happiness, and personal growth. Mind: Cultivating Mental Clarity and Emotional Balance Our mental and emotional states shape our perception of the world. Achieving holistic wellness begins with cultivating a healthy mind. Here are a few ways to support your mental and emotional health: Daily Mindfulness Practice Simple techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, or mindful walks can help quiet mental chatter and reduce stress. Spending just 10 minutes a day in stillness can significantly boost mental clarity. Positive Self-Talk Replace self-critical thoughts with empowering affirmations. Positive thinking nurtures resilience and emotional well-being. Emotional Release Techniques Practices like journaling, creative expression, or somatic therapy allow you to process and release emotions instead of holding them in. When the mind is calm and focused, you're better equipped to make healthier choices and respond to life's challenges with grace. Body: Honoring Physical Health and Vitality A healthy body is the foundation of wellness. Holistic health isn’t about strict diets or punishing workouts — it’s about honoring your body and treating it with love and care. Balanced Nutrition Focus on whole, nutrient-dense foods. Include plenty of fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and clean proteins. Listen to your body’s cues, and strive for a balanced, sustainable approach to eating. Move with Joy Exercise shouldn’t feel like a chore. Whether it’s yoga, dancing, walking, or strength training, find movement that brings you joy and integrates seamlessly into your lifestyle.

Courtesy of Holistic American Health Academy, member Lori Grande Everyone is getting sick these days. So here is a recipe for an all natural shower steamer, free of any toxic ingredients which you can feel good about inhaling. 1/4 cup natural baking soda 1/4 cup citric acid (Millard brand on Amazon) this is found naturally in citrus fruit, such as lemons and limes, which is safe. 3 tbsp, epsom salt 1 tbsp, organic cornstarch 1 tbsp castor oil, hexine, free cold pressed and organic. 50 to 60 drops of an essential oil like eucalyptus, peppermint, geranium, lavender or a mixture of a few. In a glass mixing bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients with your hands, you can wear a glove. Crush any lumps that might be in the bowl. Add the essential oils you will be using and castor oil and mix well with your hands until the mixture resembles wet sand. If the mixture is too dry, then use a fine mist. Spray bottle filled with witch hazel to moisten the mixture, only do 2 sprays at a time to avoid getting it too moist. Once you can squeeze the shower steamer mixture into a clump that holds its shape It's done. Immediately press the mixture into any mold you would like, pressing firmly. Let it air dry for 24 hours before unmolding and using. Store these in an airtight container like a glass Mason. Jar away from heat and moisture. This recipe makes seven shower steamers. If you would like, you can also use a mini muffin mold to make more quantity. Enjoy!

Shared by Holistic American Health Academy member, Michele Harris. Shop Culinary Loose Leaf Teas Polymer tea bags release billions of micro- and nanoplastics, which can enter human cells, posing potential health risks. A UAB research has characterised in detail how polymer-based commercial tea bags release millions of nanoplastics and microplastics when infused. The study shows for the first time the capacity of these particles to be absorbed by human intestinal cells, and are thus able to reach the bloodstream and spread throughout the body. Plastic waste pollution represents a critical environmental challenge with increasing implications for the well-being and health of future generations. Food packaging is a major source of micro and nanoplastic (MNPLs) contamination and inhalation and ingestion is the main route of human exposure. A study by the Mutagenesis Group of the UAB Department of Genetics and Microbiology has successfully obtained and characterised micro and nanoplastics derived from several types of commercially available tea bags. The UAB researchers observed that when these tea bags are used to prepare an infusion, huge amounts of nano-sized particles and nanofilamentous structures are released, which is an important source of exposure to MNPLs. The tea bags used for the research were made from the polymers nylon-6, polypropylene and cellulose. The study shows that, when brewing tea, polypropylene releases approximately 1.2 billion particles per milliliter, with an average size of 136.7 nanometres; cellulose releases about 135 million particles per milliliter, with an average size of 244 nanometres; while nylon-6 releases 8.18 million particles per milliliter, with an average size of 138.4 nanometres. To characterise the different types of particles present in the infusion, a set of advanced analytical techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV), and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) were used. “We have managed to innovatively characterise these pollutants with a set of cutting-edge techniques, which is a very important tool to advance research on their possible impacts on human health,” remarks UAB researcher Alba Garcia.

Enough said!

Happy Thursday, Holistic Family! When it comes to chicken, the world has become a bit… complicated. With countless labels and buzzwords floating around, it’s tough to know what’s truly best for you, your family, and the planet. But there’s a reason PastureBird is different – it’s not just another chicken. It’s a revolutionary approach to raising food that’s guaranteed to transform the way you think about meat. 🌍✨ PastureBird isn’t just chicken. It’s a return to a simpler time, when food was natural, pure, and full of flavor. Why Choose PastureBird? 🐔🌱 - 100% Pasture-Raised: Our chickens are free to roam and forage on open pasture, unlike factory-farmed alternatives. The result? Superior taste, texture, and nutrition! 🌿 - Proven Quality: PastureBird chickens are rich in nutrients and flavor because they’re raised in a natural, stress-free environment. It’s what makes them stand out in today’s crowded market. ✔️ - Essential for Better Health: Choose a healthier, cleaner alternative to factory-raised chicken that supports both your wellness and sustainable farming practices. 🏋️‍♂️🌍 - Guaranteed Freshness: From pasture to plate, PastureBird is committed to delivering only the freshest, most elite chicken available. Taste the difference that true care makes! 💯 Truly Natural Chicken 🌟 Joining the PastureBird family isn’t just about buying chicken; it’s about embracing a lifestyle that values flavor, nutrition, and sustainability. Here’s what you can unlock by choosing PastureBird: - Exclusive Access to Premium Chicken: PastureBird’s chickens are raised on open pasture, ensuring the highest quality meat that’s free of hormones and antibiotics. 🍽️ - Transform Your Meals: With PastureBird, you’re not just feeding your body—you’re treating yourself to a master level of flavor that’s rich, succulent, and totally different from the average chicken. 😋