A raised bed is a great way to start a vegetable garden. It allows you to create the perfect environment for your veggies, with just the right soil mix and good drainage. You can generally grow any vegetables in this way, but some are superstar producers in a raised bed.
Growing fruit is easier than it sounds, even in a limited space. There are several types of fruit that can be grown in pots. Container-grown fruit allows you to have a little orchard even if your outdoor space is limited to a patio or balcony. And, you can bring the pot in for the winter if you choose a fruit that is not hardy. Check out the best fruit varieties to grow in containers and some tips on how to get a good harvest.
If you’re looking for natural ways to manage your blood sugar, good news—some of the most effective solutions are sitting right on your plate. From sweet mangoes to fiber-rich beans, certain foods can help balance your blood sugar levels without feeling like a sacrifice.
Here’s a roundup of research-backed, delicious options to keep your glucose in check and your taste buds happy.
Let’s start with the surprising star: mangoes. Yep, the tropical fruit you thought was too sugary to be healthy may actually help lower insulin resistance. A recent study from the Illinois Institute of Technology found that people who consumed about 100 calories of mango daily showed improved insulin sensitivity and maintained stable weight—unlike the control group, who gained weight. Mangoes are also packed with fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins.
Next up: berries—like blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries. These little powerhouses are rich in antioxidants and fiber that slow sugar absorption and reduce inflammation. One study published in Obesity showed that eating more raspberries was linked to reduced insulin resistance.
Bonus: pairing berries with starchy meals can actually help lower your post-meal blood sugar spikes.
Don’t forget high-fiber foods like oats, beans, lentils, and nuts. They digest slowly, helping prevent those sugar crashes and spikes. Experts recommend aiming for 25–30 grams of fiber per day.
And finally, focus on low-glycemic foods like legumes, leafy greens, and non-starchy veggies. These help keep blood sugar stable and energy steady.
Managing blood sugar doesn’t mean giving up great, naturally sweet food. Enjoy, and let your body do what it does best – balance!
That daily cup of coffee might do more than jumpstart your day—it could also support your liver. Research shows coffee may help reduce inflammation, support detox processes, and even protect against liver disease. According to liver specialist Dr. Jamile Wakim-Fleming, coffee contains powerful antioxidants, like chlorogenic acid (CGA), that help prevent fat buildup in the liver and promote autophagy—a process that clears out damaged cells.
Coffee also appears to slow the progression of liver fibrosis by inhibiting adenosine receptors, which are involved in liver injury and scarring. For people living with hepatitis C or fatty liver disease (now referred to as MASLD), coffee may reduce inflammation and lower the risk of complications like cirrhosis and liver cancer. In fact, regular coffee drinkers with MASLD are less likely to progress to cirrhosis or die from liver-related causes.
So what kind of coffee is best? Black coffee is ideal. Skip sugary syrups, whipped cream, and heavy creamers that can worsen insulin resistance—especially important for those with liver concerns. If you can’t go black, try a splash of plant-based or skim milk and use natural sugar alternatives like honey or monk fruit.
Also, opt for organic and fair-trade coffee whenever possible. Organic coffee is grown without synthetic pesticides and chemicals, reducing your exposure to toxins that the liver must process. Fair-trade options support ethical farming practices and are often higher in quality.
Both caffeinated and decaf coffee offer liver benefits, and drinking at least three to four cups a day is generally recommended—up to six cups for those with liver conditions, if tolerated. However, people with heart issues or sensitivity to caffeine should consult a doctor first.
While coffee won’t cure liver disease, it’s a simple and satisfying habit that can help your liver work better for longer. Cheers to your next cup!
Alex Clark, an advocate for Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) and host of the Culture Apothecary podcast, is revealing her go-to morning drink—a protein-packed smoothie she swears by for energy, beauty, and overall wellness.
Dubbed her “beauty smoothie,” Clark’s morning drink is loaded with antioxidants, collagen, and other powerhouse ingredients. She recently shared the recipe with her 418,000 Instagram followers, highlighting its benefits for skin, hair, and energy levels.
“This is my antioxidant protein beauty smoothie—40 grams of protein, tons of collagen, vitamin C, and antioxidants,” Clark said. “It makes me feel amazing in the morning.”
What’s Inside?
Clark’s smoothie includes unique, high-quality ingredients:
While she admits it’s a pricey blend, Clark insists it’s worth it: “Drink this for a week, and you’ll feel like you have a new lease on life.”
Base
Proteins and Powders
Boosters
Fruit
Instructions:
Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender and blend until creamy.
Freshen up your laundry routine—no bleach necessary.
The average American family washes about 50 pounds of laundry each week, exposing their clothes, skin, and home to a variety of chemical-laden detergents and softeners. Many commercial laundry products contain synthetic fragrances, preservatives, and harsh surfactants that can irritate sensitive skin, disrupt hormones, and pollute waterways. Opting for natural alternatives helps protect your health and the environment while still keeping clothes fresh and clean.
Many traditional detergents contain phosphates and sulfates, which can strip natural oils from fabrics and irritate skin. Some brands also use optical brighteners—chemicals that make clothes appear whiter but don’t actually clean them. These residues stay on fabrics, potentially causing allergies and contributing to water pollution when washed away.
1. Use Vinegar as a Natural Fabric Softener
White vinegar dissolves detergent residue, removes musty odors, and keeps towels fluffy. Just add it to the fabric softener compartment.
2. Add Essential Oils for Freshness
Lavender and tea tree essential oils are naturally antibacterial and help fight mildew. Mix a few drops with vinegar or detergent.
3. Brighten with Baking Soda
Adding ½ cup of baking soda to the rinse cycle helps neutralize odors and brighten whites.
4. Skip Dryer Sheets—Use Dryer Balls
Dryer sheets coat fabrics with chemicals. Instead, use wool dryer balls or tennis balls to speed up drying and soften clothes naturally.
5. Fold Clothes While They’re Warm
Reduce wrinkles without ironing by folding clothes fresh from the dryer.
Switching to natural laundry alternatives keeps your clothes cleaner, your home healthier, and the planet safer.
Your daily cup of tea could be exposing you to billions of tiny plastic particles, according to a November 2024 study in Chemosphere. Researchers tested three types of tea bags and found that brewing tea in polypropylene bags released over a billion microplastic particles per milliliter. Paper-based cellulose and nylon mesh bags shed millions.
“This level of micro and nanoplastics in a consumable product is concerning,” said John Meeker, ScD, CIH, from the University of Michigan. When researchers exposed human intestinal cells to the extracted plastics, the cells absorbed them—suggesting microplastics could persist in the body.
This isn’t the first study on the issue. A 2019 Canadian study found nylon tea bags released 11.6 billion microplastics into a single cup. Research in 2023 confirmed that even biodegradable plastics shed microplastics. The latest study found polypropylene tea bags released the most—1.2 billion particles per milliliter—while cellulose paper and nylon bags released 135 million and 8.18 million, respectively.
Heat, water, and even stirring can accelerate plastic leaching. Researchers found that microplastics reached the nucleus of intestinal cells, which houses DNA, raising concerns about long-term health effects.
While the full health impact of microplastics is unclear, experts recommend minimizing exposure. To reduce risk:
Reducing single-use plastics can limit unnecessary exposure while promoting sustainability.
If you’re looking for a game-changing medicinal flower, look no further than lavender. This fragrant herb isn’t just a delight for the senses—it’s packed with powerful health benefits that make it a must-have in any garden. Whether you use it for relaxation, skincare, or natural remedies, lavender is nature’s gift to your well-being.
For maximum benefits, plant English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)—the variety with the highest concentration of linalool and linalyl acetate, known for their calming and healing effects. This hardy plant thrives in full sun, well-drained soil, and dry conditions, making it an essential low-maintenance garden.
Monk fruit is stealing the spotlight in the world of natural sweeteners, and for good reason. Sweeter than sugar without the calories or blood sugar spikes, this Southeast Asian fruit is showing up everywhere—from protein powders to electrolyte drinks to keto-friendly cereals. While stevia and sugar alcohols have dominated the low-carb scene for years, monk fruit has quietly become the new favorite.
For starters, it tastes better. Unlike stevia, which many find too bitter, monk fruit has a smoother, more neutral sweetness. Brands like Four Sigmatic and Magic Spoon spent years experimenting before settling on monk fruit to sweeten their products, often blending it with stevia and allulose for a sugar-like taste without the artificial aftertaste.
Another big factor? No gut issues. Sugar alcohols like erythritol and Splenda can cause bloating and digestive discomfort. Monk fruit sidesteps those problems, making it an easy choice for wellness-conscious consumers.
Monk fruit is hard to grow and expensive to export, making it pricier than other sweeteners. However, its health halo keeps demand high as more people look to cut sugar without sacrificing sweetness.
As sugar alternatives evolve, monk fruit is proving it’s not just a trend—it’s here to stay.
Artificial intelligence is transforming agriculture, but can it truly outperform time-tested regenerative farming practices? Scientists are using AI to decode why genetically identical potato plants grow differently, uncovering how microbes impact crop health. While AI-driven farming promises precision and efficiency, regenerative agriculture relies on nature’s own systems to build resilience and sustainability.
A team of researchers from Utrecht University and Delft University of Technology used AI to analyze microbial data from thousands of seed potatoes, combining it with drone imagery from 240 test fields. Their AI model identified beneficial microbes like Streptomyces species that enhance growth and harmful ones that hinder it.
This knowledge could lead to coating seeds with helpful microbes or even engineering plants to attract them. AI advocates argue this data-driven approach could boost yields and reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
However, regenerative farming practitioners counter that nature already provides these benefits—without the energy-intensive computing power AI requires. By rotating crops, fostering biodiversity, and building healthy soil, regenerative methods enhance microbial diversity naturally, strengthening crops against pests and climate stress. Unlike AI, regenerative farming improves soil carbon storage and ecosystem health over time, making farms more resilient without technological dependence.
While AI offers precision in predicting weather patterns and optimizing inputs, its reliance on energy-intensive data centers raises sustainability concerns. Regenerative farming, on the other hand, is a holistic approach that restores soil health, enhances biodiversity, and improves water retention through practices like cover cropping, crop rotation, composting, and minimal soil disturbance.
By working with natural ecosystems rather than against them, regenerative methods build long-term resilience, sequester carbon, and reduce the need for synthetic inputs. Unlike AI-driven farming, which depends on technology and vast data processing, regenerative agriculture thrives on time-tested, low-tech practices that empower farmers to cultivate healthier, self-sustaining landscapes.
As shifting weather patterns bring new challenges to food production, the real question remains: will AI-driven precision or nature’s own regenerative power shape the future of farming?
Wellness influencers and natural health advocates are buzzing about a simple, ancient ritual: sipping warm salt water. It’s more than a TikTok trend—this salty sip may offer real benefits for hydration, digestion, and more. But what does science (and tradition) say about it?
According to Dr. Peter Bastian, a preventive medicine specialist, sodium plays a key role in hydration by helping water enter your cells. Think of it like a hydration helper, drawing water where it’s needed most. During exercise or hot, humid conditions, you lose both water and electrolytes—especially sodium—through sweat.
Adding a pinch of unrefined salt (like Himalayan pink or sea salt) to warm water helps replace those lost electrolytes and supports better fluid absorption than plain water alone.
But the benefits don’t stop there.
Drinking warm salt water, especially first thing in the morning, may also stimulate digestion by encouraging stomach acid production and bile flow—helping your gut prepare for food. Anecdotal evidence and Ayurvedic practices also suggest it may support detoxification, flushing out toxins and gently encouraging regular bowel movements. The warm temperature can further soothe the digestive tract and reduce bloating.
Salt water is also rich in trace minerals like magnesium and potassium, which can support nerve function and adrenal health and even improve sleep quality when consumed mindfully.
So if you’re feeling depleted, sluggish, or need a hydration reset—this simple, salty ritual might be worth a warm welcome.
Susan has been nurturing her gardening tips and advice for over 00 years, it’s fair to say she knows her beans. She’ll be sharing her knowledge from tried and tested methods.
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