That's Fit

My son has ADHD and we're constantly working on better ways to manage his symptoms. We do what we can nutritionally -- limiting sugar and caffeine, increasing natural sources of omega 3 and 6, and so forth. Also, my son stays really physically active (which is probably the most effective tool in managing ADHD symptoms). Also, my son is making big efforts to control his symptoms by doing things like taking deep breaths to help him focus. Any control we can gain over his symptoms brings us one step closer to reducing or eliminating the medications he's currently on.

When you're a parent of a child with ADHD, everyone has an opinion. Some people feel it's all a myth. Others think that he just eats too much sugar (which he doesn't). I've had people recommend giving him coffee, others tout eliminating red dye, and others think he needs stricter discipline. Unless the recommendations are coming from a doctor, I usually just smile politely and continue doing what I know is best for my son. But when people recommend natural supplements, I sometimes sit up and take notice. By nature, I'm wary of supplements. After all, "natural" doesn't always equate to "healthy." But if something is proven safe, effective, and is milder than a prescription med, then I think it's worth a try. But, as I stated, it must be safe and it must be effective.

A recent study proves that, despite hopes, St. John's Wort isn't effective in managing ADHD symptoms. In the study, a group of children with ADHD started with a placebo pill for a week. Then half the group took St. John's Wort for eight weeks, while the other half continued taking the placebo. No statistical difference was noted between the placebo and the herb.

Craving a juicy burger on the grill this summer? Grilling has come (no pun intended) under fire lately, due to a cancer-causing compound that's created when meat is grilled.

My mom is one of those hard-to-buy-for types. She and my dad are, thankfully, in a position where if they need or want anything, they can go out and get it. But when birthdays and holidays like Mother's Day roll around, it leaves my siblings and me with very few options. This year, I think I'll try to give my mom something in keeping with her healthy lifestyle. If you're thinking along the healthy lines for Mother's Day gifts too, here are some ideas to consider:

• A day at the spa. Moms rarely take time for themselves. Give your mom a gift certificate for the spa and help her relax.
• Skin care. Whether you give a face mask, moisturizer, hand lotion, or cleanser, skin care gifts are always appreciated.

So you're the type of person who fills your grocery cart with healthy foods -- fruits and veggies of every shape and color, whole grains, low-fat dairy, and lean protein. Your healthy choices are enough to make the check-out person feel guilty about the candy bar stashed beneath her register. But are you sure you're getting the most vitamins and minerals out of the foods that you buy?

Shape has a list of 9 common kitchen mistakes even healthy eaters make:

• Overloading on produce. It's best to buy fresh fruits and veggies within just a few days of using them. If you stock up on too many they'll lose precious nutrients as they sit on your counter waiting to be eaten. Or, worse yet, they'll end up going to waste altogether.
  
• Exposing foods to light. Opt for milk in cardboard boxes and don't store foods in glass canisters or see-through storage containers. Many foods are susceptible to a process called photooxidation in which light breaks down the nutrients.
  

Medicinal herbs can be welcome relief for stress and it's side effects, including nervousness, anxiety and loss of sleep. Thus the market for consumption via herbal teas and supplements in pill or liquid form. Last week I wrote about the benefits of getting out in the garden to relieve stress. Then I got to thinking, why not include some stress-relieving medicinal herbs while you're at it?

Planting lavender, chamomile, lemon balm, passionflower, California poppy, and others in the relatively long list of herbs known for their calming effects would provide a constant supply of remedies and the peace of caring for them. Herbs that provide stress relief are often classified into various categories for treating related ailments, including anxiety, insomnia, nervousness and restlessness. There's also a breakdown of which herbs to use according to potency according to David Hoffmann's book Medical Herbalism. The same article describes such herbs as nervines: a plant remedy with some kind of beneficial effect upon the nervous system. Nervine relaxants are most important in times of stress and confusion, as they can alleviate many of the accompanying symptoms.

If you can't find appropriate plants or seeds at your local nursery, you can buy many of them online. There are also plenty of tips for growing herbs as well as ideas for growing indoors.

Everyone knows a good bath can do wonders to relax and rejuvenate the body and spirit. Adding scented bath salts helps, too.

Did you know that you can easily make your own healing bath to combat whatever issues you may be having? DIY Life has posted about how to create a blissful bath, using herbs and essential oils targeted at fixing what ails you.

DIY Life links to a Third Age article which lists recipes and blends for muscle pain, colds and flu, insomnia and more. There are also good reasons to use Epsom salts in your bath, such as detoxification and replenishing your magnesium levels.

So learn how to make the perfect bath for you and begin healing.

Herbs are amazing things, and they can do so much for us besides just seasoning our food and brewing us a good cup of tea -- they can also go a long way towards helping to relieve stress and improve your mood. Stressed out? Annoyed? Worried about finances? The right herbs can help. According to Natural Health elm, for example, can help you get perspective, beech can increase your tolerance, and mimulus can help ease anxiety.

I can be really moody so some of these may soon be finding their way into my medicine cabinet!

The ancient Ayurvedic herb Holy basil is finding new friends here in the States. Its cortisol-reducing properties and stress-relieving effects are quite the hit with our ever-growing tense and obese population, and some even say it has other healing properties like helping manage diabetes and blood sugar levels.

So it seems Holy basil, or Ocimum sanctum, may be worth looking into. One suggestion, however, is that despite the name "basil" it's not something you probably want to sprinkle on your spaghetti or into any other cooking (it has a sharp clove-like flavor).

Traditional Chinese medicine is gaining momentum in the Western world, but it's still quite a stretch from the synthetic drugs that we are commonly prescribed. Would you balk if your doctor gave to snake skin flakes to relieve what was ailing you? I admit that I might -- out of doubt that it would work and pure shock that the doctor is offering something natural rather than something that's a product of the huge pharmaceutical industry. However, I would be intrigued -- if something natural can cure me, why I am constantly ingesting man-made chemicals?

Still, as CNN's Dr. Gupta has learned, natural remedies aren't all good -- some traditional Chinese medicines are made using endangered species and processes that can be harmful to animals. But I think a further look into natural medicine is in order because getting healthy the natural way is a lot more appealing to me than the alternative. Do you agree?

Natural and organic foods are often seen as boring and bland by those who are used to salty and chemical-infused processed foods, but it does not have to be that way. Ever try using fresh herbs in that salad or with that salmon?

Cilantro, Rosemary and Thyme are three of my favorites. Even squeeze a fresh lemon onto that veggie plate? That's another idea to spruce up the taste of some great feeds that don't have a load of MSG to get those taste buds excited while the food behind it is hardly adequate for normal nutrition.

The next time you find yourself trying to eat a healthier regimen of meals, but are discouraged by the bland taste you think may be there, try some fresh herbs (not bottled if possible) and spices. Personally, I use pepper on most foods I eat, although I understand that is too much for many of you. There are, however, many (many) alternatives.

Summer to me means fresh fruit, herbs from the garden, grilling on the barbecue and long evenings with cool drinks and lots of laughs. It's a season that's not usually conducive to weight-loss, but it can be.

If this summer is the time you're going to lose that extra weight, eDiets has a solution for you -- the Fresh Diet Plan. They've put together a bunch of recipes that combine healthy, weight loss-inducing amounts of carbs, proteins and fats, and the recipes are full of fresh ingredients and flavours that make summer such a wonderfully tasty season.

What's your favourite healthy summer recipe?

If you use herbal supplements, do you pay attention to the indications mentioned on the label? Have you done your own research into the proper dosage and usage of those supplements? Many American adults have not.

Herbs like echinacea are great for certain conditions, but the indications also need to be followed. Do you really know what that kava-kava is supposed to be used for? How about that St. John's Wort? Most herb users I know are very familiar with what they are taking and why. Do you?

With education comes empowerment regarding herbs, and if you're into natural cures and nutrition, it's all worth every bit of effort.

Do you take herbal supplements for those health conditions like high blood pressure or allergies? if so, you're one of the millions that do, but University of Iowa researchers now say that roughly two-thirds who do this don't take the time to check specific medical guidelines on their use.

While herbal supplements have been successfully used for centuries (or longer) to treat certain ailments from a wholly natural perspective, many medical professionals continue to believe only in recent, pharmaceutical drugs. Not only is this a little disturbing, it smacks of very educated health professionals who either don't want to believe or have been trained to believe that natural products can't alleviate health issues.

While medical pros are usually to be trusted, this coming sentence sounds a little suspect to me as a natural health and healing enthusiast: "Physicians, pharmacists, and other health professionals should proactively educate consumers and advocate for public health policies that would disseminate evidence-based information regarding the appropriate use of herbs." This from the Iowa research, which is not sitting right in this mind. How about yours?

With all the new medications being developed practically on a daily basis, and new health benefits being found for "old" supplements and herbs, it's no wonder that people are ending up with more and more substances floating around in their bodies all together at the same time. Doctors and scientists are noticing more and more life-threatening side-effects being created by people mixing medications. Not necessarily just prescriptions meds, either, but also seemingly harmless supplements and OTC drugs.

A good rule of thumb is to remind yourself that if you expect it to do something good for you then it has the potential to do something bad also, if not taken properly. Just because something is "all natural" or doesn't require a prescription doesn't mean you can take it willy-nilly in whatever doses and mixed with whatever else you're taking. Read labels and ask your doctor if you have any questions. It's great to be involved in your own health, just take care not to hurt yourself and get sicker in the process.

Inflammation is the body's response to tissue damage and infection. There are many conditions that cause inflammation. Genetics play a role, so does the environment. Environmental factors include diet, exposure to toxins, germs, pollutants, and inhalants. Some people have a genetic predisposition to heightened inflammation which can cause them to have an illness such as rheumatoid arthritis. But a commonly overlooked cause of inflammation is poor diet.

Foods that cause inflammation are sugar, simple carbohydrates, and certain fatty acids and oils. To reduce inflammation avoid junk foods such as donuts, pastry, and sugared drinks. Insufficient consumption of fish, fruit and vegetables is as bad for human health as smoking.A diet that reduces inflammation consists mostly of vegetables and fish. In my opinion, the foods that cause the least inflammation and are the most anti-inflammatory are fish such as halibut and salmon, and all kinds of vegetables. Make changes slowly and accept the fact that there may be times when you binge on unhealthy snacks and foods.

There are many other herbs and nutrients that could be taken to reduce inflammation. For instance using curry and cinnamon when cooking is great. Use a variety of herbs and spices. Many of them have antioxidants and other beneficial compounds. For instance, curry has curcumin, rosemary has rosmarinic acid and ginger has vanillin and zingerone. All of these compounds have health benefits. Basil, bay leaves, cumin, chili powder, coriander, dill, fennel, garlic, ginger, oregano, pepper, rosemary, sage, thyme, and garlic appears to protect against fungal and bacterial infections, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, blood clots and even cancer. Bee pollen, pomegranate, goji, mangosteen, graviola, green tea extract, and spirulina, are great herbs and additions to add to the body. A calcium supplement is recommended for postmenopausal women.

Cutting down or cutting out your sugar intake is a must to cut down on inflammation. Stevia, a no calorie natural herbal sweetener, is available in liquid or powder in health food stores. Reduce your intake of artificial sweeteners such as aspartame and saccharin also.