Natura Review and Giveaway

On our journey to living more naturally healthy lives, we have to think a LOT about our sleep. After all, we do spend 1/3 of our lives in bed! You want to be choosy about what mattress you have, what linens, what pillows, and you want to think about what helps you have great quality sleep. Good quality sleep is so key to great health.

I decided to go organic with our family's bedding about 6 months ago. It took me a couple months to get everything organic and natural, since it is pretty spendy. But, the difference it makes in our lives is tremendous and well worth it. I can sleep better just knowing that my family isn't breathing in toxic flame retardents and other harmful chemicals.

So, you can imagine my excitement at finding another company that believes in natural and organic bedding products for the whole family! This company is Natura. Since 1994, they have been dedicated to fostering a good night's sleep, as well as nurturing our lovely planet. They believe, "Your bed should be your haven from the rest of the world, free from chemicals, allergens and synthetics."

For the last couple of weeks, I have been blessed with the opportunity of trying out some of their products and chatting back and forth with Julia Rosien, their communications director. My experience with this company has been nothing short of delightful.

My absolute favorite product and favorite organic pillow of all times is the Natura Organic Dream Mate. Like I said earlier, I have already been using organic pillows and bedding, so I switched out my other one for the Dream Mate. Wowsers! What a difference! The last one I had turned a little bumpy and clumpy, giving me slight neckaches every morning. I just told myself it was worth it to sleep organic, but now I know there is something out there with just as great quality and even better comfort. The Organic Dream Mate is made of 100% organic materials, naturally hypoallergenic, wicks away moisture and helps regulate temperatures. I recommend it to everyone, and if you are interested in getting your own, check them out here: http://naturaworld.com/catalog/pillows/organic

Now, if you combine the Organic Dream Mate with their Aromatherapy Spray, scented with Green Tea and Aloe, you are practically in heaven. I love this spray, not only for its refreshing and calming scent, but also because it is safe to use anywhere and on anything. You can even use it as a safer alternative to perfume or body spray.

Another product that I tried out was Natura's Dream Travel pillow, which is a really handy pillow that my son loves to take with us on car rides. I appreciate that it is unbleached and has a natural latex core. I am sure all mothers will also appreciate that it is machine washable.

I want to end with another favorite, the 2 in 1 Pillow Blanket. I don't know about you, but especially in winter, my feet are always cold. At night, after my son is tucked away into bed, my hubby and I always relax on the couch. The only problem is, I am always fighting for blanket cover for my feet. Now, my problem is solved. I just stuff my little tootsies right into the foot pocket and cover up the rest of me with the blanket. Now, you can also fold it back up and turn it into a pillow, which is just genius. At first I thought, this might be a hassle having to try to scrunch it all back up into a lumpy version of a pillow, but that didn't happen. I just folded it back up toward the pocket end and tucked it in to make a comfortable pillow. Nice work, Natura! Now the best part about this 2 in 1 Pillow Blanket is that YOU can enter to win one of these wonderful, natural Pillow Blankets (they are valued at $120). That's right! All you have to do is be a follower of this blog, Your World: Healthy and Natural, and you can enter the giveaway, even several times! The deadline for this giveaway is Feb.8th at 9 pm EST, at which time a winner will be randomely chosen. Make sure that your profile is set to public or that you include your email in your comments because if I can't get a hold of you, you can't win! Do as many of the following as you can and leave a separate comment here for each:

Visit Natura at www.naturaworld.com and leave a comment here as to which products you would love to try.

Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post.

Follow @naturaworld and @carathenatural on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway.

Use other forms of social networking to spread the word about this giveaway.

Natura is also giving my readers 10% off any Natura products in the month of February. The code for this discount is organic2010. Let's show our thanks to Natura for their free product giveaway, discount, and for their green initiatives! Besides following them on Twitter, you can also find them on Facebook. Just search NaturaWorld.com. Spread the news to your family and friends because we all deserve a good night's sleep!

Be Well This Winter, Part 2

Let's continue talking about ways to naturally stay well this winter, despite all the sickness lurking around.

I am sure many of you have heard about echinacea. It is an herb that people have been using for a very long time. We use it to treat colds and flu. But, have you heard of elderberry? It is another centuries-old remedy used for respiratory problems. In a study published by The Journal of International Medical Research, when taken within 48 hours of symptoms appearing, elderberry extract reduced flu duration by four days. And, those taking elderberry needed less pain medication. Pretty great, huh? That is why I love Shaklee's Defend and Resist Complex. It is a combination of echinacea, elderberry, larch tree and zinc. Larch tree and zinc also aid the immune system and provide relief.

Garlic has anti-bacterial properties that help the immune system to fight infection, and it is an excellent boost to the immune system. The reason for this is garlic contains several helpful compounds, including allicin, one of the plant kingdom's most potent antibiotics. So, make sure you cook with plenty of garlic and onions, since onions have many of the same healthy properties.

I really love a good tea to boost my immune system or help fend off a cold. Traditional Medicinals has a great tea pack called Seasonal Herb Tea Sampler that includes Echinacea Plus, Throat Coat, Gypsy Cold Care and Breathe Easy. I also love a good peppermint, lemon or chamomile tea.

Make sure you get your sleep, take your vitamins, eat for good health, and cut back on sugar. Try any of these winter wellness tips each day and spring will be here before you know it!

Be Well During the Long Winter, Part 1

A lot of people panic when they hear about all the sickness and the new flu strains that come up during winter. Not to worry, though, there are plenty of natural ways to stay well during these long winters.

A great combination to start with is Vitamin C and honey. Since they have a synergistic effect, the combo is especially valuable. If you already eat a lot of citris fruits, you should take 500 mg of Vit.C plus one teaspoon of honey in the morning and evening. Personally, I love raw organic honey. If you aren't getting lots of citrus in your diet, then bump up your Vit. C intake to 1,000 mg.

Vitamin D is another powerhouse vitamin that "actually switches on a gene that makes a natural antiviral and antibiotic substance in our bodies," says Mark Moyad, MD, MPH and director of preventative and alternative medicine at the Univ. of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Vitamin D also helps with mood during winter, since we are not getting as much sun. Shaklee's multivitamin, VitaLea, just doubled their Vitamin D levels to 800 IU, to meet new clinically supported levels of effectiveness. Don't forget that Vitamin D also helps with the absorption of calcium, and healthy bones and teeth.

I love probiotics, and they are excellent for boosting immunity. Probiotics are healthful bacteria that prevent invaders from taking over your gut. The largest number of immune cells are found in the digestive system, so it is very important to keep this system working at its best. Make sure the yogurt you eat has live and active cultures, and take a probiotic supplement with at least 500 million colony forming units. Shaklee's probiotics have triple encapsulated technology, which protect their live delivery against stomach acid so that they reach the large intestine where they provide the greatest benefit.

Now that we have friendly probiotics living in our digestive system, we want to feed them. Prebiotics are the second step. They give the food and energy needed to function properly. If you aren't taking prebiotics, make sure you add some healthy fiber to your diet, such as flaxseed.

Tomorrow, we will look at more ways to naturally be well this winter.
If you are interested in the quality, 100% guaranteed supplements I mentioned such as: pre and probiotics, Vitamin C, and Vitamin D in the multivitamin, VitaLea, please check out www.caranitz.myshaklee.com. Never hesitate to shoot me over any questions you may have either.

Be Well!

Healthy Plants, Healthy Air

The air we breathe in our homes all day long is not safe. I know, it is not a thing you want to think about. One of the worst offenders in that air is formaldehyde, which is emitted from carpet, plywood, particle board, curtains, and adhesives. It is in all of our homes, and it is higher in newer homes too. Some of the effects of inhalation are eye, nose, and throat irritation and effects on the nasal cavity. Other effects seen from exposure to high levels of formaldehyde in humans are coughing, wheezing, chest pains, and bronchitis.

So, what can we do to keep these levels down and keep our families safe? Well, one easy thing to do is get a few plants. If you want to really make a difference, get a plant for each room in your house. I am still working on that one myself, but each step we take makes a difference.

These plants are natural toxin absorbers, taking in the dangerous toxins through their leaves and stems during the day and through their roots at night. Poor guys, I think they have one of the worst jobs ever!

Some of the best plants for this job are the Boston fern, Areca palm, Lady palm, Bamboo palm, Rubber plant, Spider plant, and Peace lily. So, jot those down and head out to find your new, natural air freshener.

Easy Healthy Recipes

So many times in magazines or wherever, I see these so-called easy recipes. To me, they are never that easy. There are more ingredients that I can count on both hands, and some of the ingredients I have never heard of. Now, there is definitely a time and place for trying out a new exotic and time-consuming recipe. That time and place is usually not in my kitchen with my one and half year old trying to help.

Today, I want to share with you some of my favorite easy and healthy recipes. You can make them even healthier by using organic and/or locally grown food. Don't worry if you can't use all organic, just try to replace a couple of things to start with. I hope you enjoy them, feeling fueled up and energized for anything that comes your way!

Meatless Mexican Lunch
Prep time: 33 minutes
You will need:
1/2 small organic onion, chopped
1 can (15 1/2 oz) organic crushed tomatoes
3/4 cup frozen corn kernels
1 can (3 1/2 oz) organic chopped green chile peppers
1 can (14-19 oz) organic black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup whole wheat rice
1 tsp ground cumin
1/4 cup organic Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese

Heat a medium pot coated with cooking spray or extra virgin olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Stir in the tomatoes, corn and chile peppers and bring to a boil. Add the beans, rice and cumin. Remove from the heat, cover and let stand for 10 minutes. Serve sprinkled with cheese. Makes 4 servings.

Veggie Pizza
Prep time: 13 minutes
You will need:
2 whole wheat English muffins, split
1/2 cup organic tomato sauce
1/2 cup chopped organic mushrooms
4 tbsp chopped organic green bell pepper
4 tbsp chopped organic onion
4 tbsp shredded organic mozzarella cheese

Preheat the oven or toaster oven to 350 degrees. Toast the muffin halves. Evenly divide the sauce, mushrooms, bell pepper, onion and cheese between the muffin halves. Bake for three minutes, or until the cheese is melted.



Easy Baked Apples
Prep time: 10 minutes
You will need:
2 organic apples, cored
2 tbsp organic brown sugar
1/4 tsp organic ground cinnamon
2 tbsp. organic plain yogurt

Place a drop of water on a microwaveable plate. Place the apples on the plate and sprinkle the brown sugar and cinnamon over them. Microwave for five minutes, or until fork-tender. Serve topped with the yogurt.

Feel free to share with us your experience as you try them out and share this post with others who are looking for easy, healthy recipes!