WELLNESS – Plum Joyful

Knowing your chronotype may be the key to your success

PlumJoyful — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 06:28:25 +0000

There is so much obsession these days with the “morning routine”. It’s become almost a badge of honor to have a very early and very elaborate morning ritual that you adhere to in the quest to be your best and most productive self. Every self-help “guru” extolls the virtue and power of the morning routine. They have dedicated blog posts, podcasts, webisodes and entire chapters to its power. We have been reminded that everyone from Anthony Robbins to Oprah to Steve Jobs has a morning routine that supposedly contributes to their incredible success. Our collective obsession with productivity and success has led to an almost obsessive compulsive ideation of the morning ritual as if it is the magical ingredient to a successful life. If you aren’t awake by five am to do exactly 12 minutes of high intensity interval training followed by 3 minutes of dry skin brushing while simultaneously chanting kundalini mantras and then jumping into an ice cold shower for just long enough to avoid hypothermia, well then, you may as well kiss your day goodbye. You suck. Go back to bed because your going nowhere fast, and not even your MCT oil infused vegan latte can save […]

The post Knowing your chronotype may be the key to your success appeared first on Plum Joyful.

Ketogenic diet : the new miracle cure?

PlumJoyful — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 06:24:44 +0000

There has been a lot of talk about the ketogenic diet lately and I have been very intrigued by what I’ve learned. Every year there is a new “miracle” diet promising a better body, perfect health and glowing skin. From Paleo to raw vegan, we have heard it all. However the current hoopla around the ketogenic diet suggests that it is more than a diet that will increase your wellness and decrease your waistline. Unlike all the other diets, the ketogenic diet has been proven to have real therapeutic effects and has become an area of research in regards to everything from epilepsy, Alzheimer’s and ALS to type 2 diabetes. There is a lot of evidence that suggests that not only does it do wonders for your physique, but it could possibly have very real neuro-protective effects. What’s interesting is that the diet flies in the face of our conventional ideas of a healthy diet. Less grains and more butter and cream? Say what? So let’s take a look at what this diet is, and all of the potential benefits we may be able to reap from it. What is the Ketogenic diet? The ketogenic diet is a diet that […]

The post Ketogenic diet : the new miracle cure? appeared first on Plum Joyful.

3 simple ways to cleanse your energy and start the new year right

PlumJoyful — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 23:46:58 +0000

2016 has left a lot of people reeling and feeling like up is down and down is up. This has been an intense year for almost everyone that I know. Not necessarily bad, but certainly challenging. A new year brings with it the chance to start fresh and release the things that have been holding you back, whether they be health challenges, relationship issues or just false beliefs. I like to do a bit of a purge and cleanse at the new year. Cleaning out our house and making a donation to Goodwill or Out of the Closet is the place I like to start. Donating things you no longer need is a great way to contribute to others and it helps to lighten the energy of your space. You can also write it off as a year-end tax deduction which is a nice bonus. Then I like to clear the energy of our home and my body to symbolically rid myself of the past years energies, and to create a clean slate upon which to build this new year. Here are a few ways that I like to do this. You can do one or all, or create your […]

The post 3 simple ways to cleanse your energy and start the new year right appeared first on Plum Joyful.

Wellness Gift Guide : Online ideas you can still receive before Christmas

PlumJoyful — Fri, 16 Dec 2016 05:32:31 +0000

Anyone else a last minute shopper when it comes to the holidays? Even when I try to plan ahead there are always a handful of gifts that I inevitably forget and I find myself running around the city scrambling for some last minute presents. Well now that there are such incredible online options, and many with free shipping, I no longer have to race around like a crazy person. I can chill out and order from my couch with a glass of wine in hand. Thank you Amazon Prime. For those of you that need a few last minute ideas and are wellness minded, here is a short list of awesome gifts that you can order now and still receive by Christmas. Now Foods Ultrasonic Real Bamboo Diffuser THIS diffuser is a perfect gift for anyone in your life that needs a little relaxation and me time. I just recently bought an ultrasonic diffuser and it makes my home smell like a Spa. It is a very simple way to change the energy in your home, freshen the air and space as well as utilize the medicinal and healing properties of essential oils. It uses ultrasound to create a fine […]

The post Wellness Gift Guide : Online ideas you can still receive before Christmas appeared first on Plum Joyful.

Gift guide: Healthy fun gifts for your toddler

PlumJoyful — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 06:36:13 +0000

The Holidays are in full swing and the media is inundating us with gift ideas. But most of the gifts for children are plastic and made in China with known toxic materials. Not to mention they will most likely end up in a landfill at some point in the near future where they will add to the environmental burden of our planet. There are so many awesome gifts out there that are not only healthier choices for your little ones, but are also things you will keep and pass on when your child grows out of it. As the mom of a toddler, I wanted to share the gifts that I found. Most are suitable for kids five and under. So instead of getting yet another Barbie or plastic toy with a million flashing lights and batteries, think about one of these chic and timeless options. Manufaktur Wiener Kids’ Musical Instrument Gift Set Manufaktur Wiener Kids’ Musical Instrument Gift Set is a little on the pricey side, but this is a gift that your little one will absolutely love, and will also stand the test of time. My Little Plum is obsessed with music and instruments and these are ones she can use […]

The post Gift guide: Healthy fun gifts for your toddler appeared first on Plum Joyful.

An apology and a pledge to my daughter after the election

PlumJoyful — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 07:45:46 +0000

I have spent the last week in a daze. My emotions spinning like a lazy Susan at a diner overloaded with mismatched condiments. Fear, anger, sadness, revulsion, confusion, hope, then back full circle to fear. I am not sure how this happened, and it most certainly doesn’t feel real, but every time I turn on my laptop or the TV I am reminded that it most certainly is. I woke up on Tuesday morning smiling and energized, which for a mom who hasn’t slept through the night in over two years is really saying something. It was election day and your Dad and I were taking you to the polls with us because I wanted you to see your mama vote for the first female president in history. But truth be told, it was so much more than that. This election felt like a true battle between good and evil, right and wrong. The delineation between the two candidates was so stark, so black and white that is was almost impossible to see it any other way. I’m not religious but it felt almost biblical. I wanted you to bear witness to your mother and many other Americans standing up […]

The post An apology and a pledge to my daughter after the election appeared first on Plum Joyful.

Stop a cold before it starts : My favorite natural remedies

PlumJoyful — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 07:05:00 +0000

The weather her in Los Angeles has been all over the place. We had an unbearable heat wave, followed by very cool temps, followed by rain, and now we are back to 80 and 90 degree days. The drastic swings in temperature coupled with the change of seasons make for the ideal conditions for catching a cold. I am currently fighting one as we speak. I woke up with what I thought were allergies, and as the day progressed it became clear that a cold was trying to take hold. But my defense game is tight, so that cold better watch it’s back is all I’m saying. Anyhoo, with cold and flu season gearing up, I thought I would share my favorite ways to stop a cold before it can really take hold. Natural Cold Remedies 1. Zinc Zinc is one of the best ways to fight a cold as long as you start right when you begin to feel symptoms. It has been shown in studies to reduce the duration of a cold if taken within 24 hours of the first symptoms. It has been shown to inhibit the rhinovirus which is the virus that causes the common cold. […]

The post Stop a cold before it starts : My favorite natural remedies appeared first on Plum Joyful.

The best chicken bone broth recipe : A healing elixir

PlumJoyful — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 05:44:42 +0000

Bone broth is having a moment, and rightly so. It has played a major role in the healing of my gut and immune system, and I am a true believer in it’s benefits. I talked about it in THIS post, but I thought that it really deserves its own page. People are catching on to bone broth’s healing properties and it’s starting to go mainstream. Bone broth is different from regular stock in that it is simmered for an extended period of time (from 6 to upwards of 24 hours), and is therefore extremely rich in flavor as well as nutrition. There is something so nourishing and healing about soup. We use it to heal ourselves when we are ill, or to warm ourselves when we’re cold. It is good for the body as well as the spirit. So for those who are curious about wether bone broth may help them, here is some more information on why bone broth is so good for you, as well as my own (and favorite) chicken bone broth recipe. Bone Broth Benefits Rich in collagen – Bone broth is a very rich source of collagen which helps keep skin healthy and glowing, as well […]

The post The best chicken bone broth recipe : A healing elixir appeared first on Plum Joyful.

Inspirational Ted Talks everyone should watch

PlumJoyful — Fri, 30 Sep 2016 07:35:32 +0000

This has been an interesting couple of weeks. Keeping my wits about me has been a challenge to say the least. My apologies for neglecting this awesome space and community, but I am back and I am rebooting, recalibrating, and reinvigorating myself. Too often we let the day to day issues of our lives overwhelm us and it is easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. Like when your AC breaks in the middle of the worst heat wave of the entire summer, your toddler is sleeping in a pool of her own sweat, and the repairman informs you that the entire system has to be replaced for eleven THOUSAND dollars. Ya heard? THOUSAND. Well ten and change, but at that point it may as well be eleven. Hell it may as well be a million, all we know is it is TOO much. But in the scheme of things it’s really ok. The fact that we have AC to begin with is a luxury and when we become accustom to having these things we begin to take them for granted. So this weekend I am coming back to center, remembering what matters, and getting my head on straight. […]

The post Inspirational Ted Talks everyone should watch appeared first on Plum Joyful.

Turmeric Latte : A better way to start your day

PlumJoyful — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 07:00:26 +0000

The turmeric latte, also known as golden milk, is a healing, energizing, and anti-inflammatory alternative to our morning coffee. I was never a coffee drinker, but after having my daughter, and 20 months of sleep deprivation later, I am a devout double shot espresso drinker. I’m not particularly proud of this. Not because I think coffee is bad, in fact we now know that it has numerous positive health benefits. I’m not proud because I am addicted, and I don’t like that my body is relying on it. If I don’t have it I feel lethargic, achy, and have a headache. Not good. In addition, coffee can be very acidic, dehydrating and according to Dr. Mark Hyman “Habituation to caffeine decreases insulin sensitivity, making it difficult for your cells to respond appropriately to blood sugar. High blood sugar levels lead to arterial deterioration and increased risk of mortality related to cardiovascular disease.” So even though it is rich in antioxidants and has been shown to lower breast cancer, colon cancer and Parkinson’s risks, it can also increase inflammation in those who are sensitive to blood sugar and cortisol fluctuations. So I want to decrease my dependence on coffee, while also […]

The post Turmeric Latte : A better way to start your day appeared first on Plum Joyful.