Electrolytes are critical to many fundamental bodily processes, including fluid balance and nerve impulse transmission. Obtaining electrolytes from healthy foods and herbs can help optimize these processes and ensure proper hydration.

The thyroid gland is involved in nearly every process in the body through the actions of thyroid hormones. Iodine is required for the production of thyroid hormones, and when iodine is deficient, thyroid dysfunction can occur. Consuming whole-food sources of iodine and antioxidants like kelp and alfalfa can support thyroid health and function.

Chronic conditions are common among American adults and can have a large impact on quality of life. Consuming a healthy diet, rich in fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and medicinal herbs, can significantly reduce the risk of developing many chronic conditions.

Research indicates that owning a pet is good for both physical and mental health, and pets are increasingly considered family members by many Americans.1,2 This has led to heightened interest and attention on diets for dogs and cats, including the addition of functional foods and supplements, as well as homemade diets.1

Most Americans are familiar with conventional medicine, but there are other approaches to health, including alternative, complementary, and integrative medicine. These three fields have important distinctions that can help support health when conventional medicine falls short.

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It’s time to celebrate the nutritional content of some of the season’s favorite plant foods also known as a gourd. Often, a “gourd” is used synonymously with “squash,” but both can be more officially categorized as belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae. Plus, technically gourds are fruits – defined as such because they contain seeds and grow from the ovaries of flowering plants. In fact, cucumbers, summer and winter squashes, and melons are all from the family Cucurbitaceae – among nearly one thousand other species. Gourds are typically low in calories and high in water content, but they are not without their unique nutrient and phytonutrient profiles and subsequent beneficial health properties.