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For a long time, I was an admittedly stubborn goji-berry-ignorer. Uninterested in what I thought was a “trendy superfood” and distracted by my already long scrawling list of dietary ideas, I would frivolously toss my hand at any discussion of them. I intentionally sauntered by their mystically decorated containers in the grocery store and flipped quickly past boldly titled articles detailing their “instant health benefits” in magazines. Yet, upon further understanding, I recognized that I was both naively and disrespectfully blind. Goji berries are not simply an energy-boosting powerfood to be gnawed at aggressively after a workout, but rather a gentle, sacred plant with deep medicinal tradition. Unlike the exploitive media-hype it has been given, this beautiful fruit deserves an understanding and a respect that mirrors its delicate healing composition. They may not be the one-stop fix for all of your maladies, but dried goji berries sure taste good! Learn how to organically incorporate these juicy, naturally sweet and revitalizing morsels into your diet. 

Mankind has consumed marine liver oils for thousands of years, reaping the experiential benefits of dynamic omega-3 fatty acids, and synergistic Vitamin A and D content. Yet despite our most righteous attempts to "do what's best", when that potent fish scent comes curling out from underneath the narrow cap, the smallest sniff can send even the most stoic running swiftly in the other direction. The modern market has come up with all sorts of deceitfully processed, perfumed, diluted or untested “fish oil” products to appease squeamish crowds, but the truth remains: cod liver oil is a sacred food and the real stuff tastes, well, like cod liver oil. Here are some tips to make sure you are getting the pure, unrefined cod liver oil your body needs, with some creative recommendations for even the most resistant of tasters. 

Let’s face the cliche truth: we’re nuts about nuts! Dense in vital nutrients and high in energy boosting fats and proteins, these crunchy tidbits were an important part of ancestral diets and continue to be an integral source of nourishment today. Yet, despite their popularity, nuts are largely misunderstood. They seem to float amorphously around standard American food groups: one day classified as a protein, the next a hazardous fat or mysterious legume. Some people look at a handful of nuts in a wide-eyed caloric calculating trance, while others gleefully munch away at them with a carefree toss of the hand. You will find them in the grocery store coated in shimmering sugars and plastered with sticky refined salts, or just starkly raw. Some have been ground into nut butters or “spreads,” which now-a-days are often interesting hybrid concoctions filled with more hydrogenated oils, sugar and additives than nuts themselves. In this week's recipe post, clear up some of that confusion and enjoy the blissful benefits of nuts worry-free with Nora’s Nut Ball Snackers, a charming treat from Primal Body-Primal Mind.

What's the first thought that comes to mind when you think of water? For many it evokes a sense of refreshing wellness and purity. Undoubtedly in the heat of summer, the mere thought of diving into a crystal clear pool of water could not be more revitalizing, nor the idea of taking a long, slow sip from a tall glass of the fresh liquid. There are a myriad of possible replies, considering just how many ways we use water on a daily basis. We bathe and shower in it, brush our teeth in it, infuse our stocks and other recipes with it, and rinse our colorful fruits and vegetables under it. Not to mention, Americans drink 1 billion glasses of water from their taps alone each day. Yet, an astonishing 2100 chemical compounds have been found present in U.S. drinking water, with more lingering in our rivers, lakes and the ocean. The EPA has established enforceable safety standards for only 87 of these identified compounds- that's less than 5%. Take a moment to reflect: how do you think about water now?

Magnesium has gotten a lot of buzz lately. Recent studies have found that nearly 68% of Americans are low in the RDA recommended intake of magnesium (a pitifully low dietary suggestion to begin with) and that a projected 200 million Americans suffer the consequences of magnesium deficiencies. But why? Activating over 300 enzymatic reactions and assisting with thousands of biochemical functions within the body, magnesium’s vital role as a healing agent has far-reaching medicinal history and is the subject of documented western research dating as far back as the 1600’s. Yet, due to several haphazard trends of our modern health and dietary practices, this essential mineral has detrimentally slid off the radar until now- even for some of the most avid “healthnuts.” Here are 5 reasons why you may be magnesium deficient without even knowing it.

Confused about grains? With all of the detailed information out there regarding the consumption of grains in the diet today, it is easy to become head-spinningly overwhelmed by this food group. Popular organizations tell us to eat a whopping nine to eleven “whole grain” servings a day, while other nutritional approaches strive for near total carbohydrate elimination. Not to mention, the rates of wheat allergy and gluten intolerance are rampant, causing distress about types of grains that are “good or bad,” “safe or dangerous.” You can go ahead and give a nice big sigh...but don't give up! In the midst of all of these theories, there is universal truth: grains must be soaked and treated well if they are going to be used. And one of the most shocking parts of it all? Properly preparing your grains is far easier than you might think. Give it a try with this sumptuous freshly ground Spelt Flour Pancake recipe from Nourishing Traditions.

Have you ever raised a skeptical brow at all of the fancy scrubs, bubbles, masks, creams and oils lining the shelves of beauty departments? Often neon in color, craftily named and intensely fragranced, they tend to seem more like chemistry experiments than skin care products. But the fact of the matter is that skin is the largest organ in the body, and deserves to be treated well. Nourishing the skin certainly doesn’t have to be as fake, complicated and expensive as fancy spas make you believe. Try out this back to basics Homemade Celtic Sea Salt Scrub with Organic Oils. It is a revitalizing exfoliating treatment, rich with topical vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids that is sure to become one of your new favorite DIY secrets.

Here at Radiant Life, we are passionate about our mission to to offer transformative products, information, and resources that promote optimal health and sustainable living. By combining the best traditions and insights from our human past with the latest findings of independent scientific research, Radiant Life serves those who wish to discern the truth underlying conflicting health opinions and fads. We also thrive off of the brilliant and inspiring community of individuals we are so grateful to interact with on a daily basis. 

“Desserts” is “stressed” spelled backwards. In a world where many people struggle with rampant sweet cravings, uncontrollable urges for refrigerator raiding and dangerously volatile blood sugar levels, this seems all too appropriate. Yet it doesn't have to be this way. While commercial desserts have people spinning with refined sweeteners, white flours and hydrogenated oils, there are nutrient dense, whole food alternatives. By making desserts in the home, you are able to select the highest quality ingredients, enjoy treats fresh without preservatives, limit the amount that you have teasing you as they sit tauntingly on the counter, and enjoy some jovial smiles and spatula-licking along the way. Some people believe that the total elimination of sugary sweets works best for them, however if you want to revel in the occasional delight of ice cream melting on your tongue on a breezy summer afternoon, go ahead and try a delicious scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream from Nourishing Traditions.

Rebounding or cellercising is the seemingly simple exercise of jumping on a mini trampoline. With cumulating research demonstrating its phenomenal health effects, rebounding has grown in popularity as both a singular exercise and cross-training activity. But I have a confession to make: as a fitness-enthusiast, the first time I saw someone rebounding, my eyebrows moved up with shock and I crunched my lips together to hold in a burst of giggles. As the instructor demonstrated the exercise by exuberantly bouncing up and down with hair askew, I couldn’t help but think “this silly jumping couldn’t possibly be helpful.” When I left the session, I dismissed the exercise as “definitely not for me.” Yet over time, I found myself thinking about it, intrigued by the idea that this basic movement could have such profound proclaimed health implications. As I began to delve into the science behind it, I realized that rebounding is definitely not something to laugh about! The unique activity actually offers deep cellular reinvigoration that even the most rigorous physical training cannot otherwise provide. Rebounding may just be one of the most efficient, fun and frequently overlooked ways to tone the entire body, while reaping benefits that extend far beyond physique.

Never before has there been more dietary philosophies and divergent health perspectives clamoring for our attention. From vegetarianism to veganism; from high-carb and low-fat philosophies to the Atkins diet; from the Zone diet to the South Beach diet, everyone seems to have found “the truth” about nutrition. There is, however, one approach that offers a real light in the darkness. “Native nutrition” (our indigenous food wisdom), reintroduced to the West by the breakthrough research of Dr. Weston Price, is an antidote for the confusion! The key is questioning most of the modern “experts” and learning from the example of our healthy ancestors.

Nutrition books spend a great deal of time discussing what to eat, however rarely do we consider the vitality in what we select to drink. Yet, the beverage industry is a crafty multi-billion dollar machine that is very aware of what types of retail drinks are trending at any given time. In 1990, Americans consumed 43 gallons of soft drinks per person per year. Today this number is (thankfully) on the decline, however the beverage industry has been scrambling to find a new knock-out product to bolster sales. Interestingly, coconut water has started to spark a revolution. Pitched as an all-natural thirst quencher, one would think that this age old beverage is as innocent and delicious as it sounds. But not so fast- as with any “new” trend, it is important to take a step back to investigate the facts. And guess what? It turns out making your own is much better than the store bought thing. Surprise!

Take an expansive breath in and let it out slowly. It may seem like an esoteric or awkward thing to do, but did you know that one of the major contributors to stress and related illness is actually the practice of breathing incorrectly? In our well-intentioned efforts towards self-improvement, we look everywhere and anywhere for the solution that will bring us lasting happiness. Whether reading through thick stacks of books on deep nutrition studies, buying countless new pairs of sneakers for innovative healthy fitness programs, or hustling to the store at 11p.m. to stock the pantry for the latest recipe we've stumbled across, we are all trying to do the "right" things in order to achive our goal for optimal health. Yet sometimes in our frenzy, we forget that one of our ultimate gentle cleansers, stress-relievers and reinvigorators is already right here with us in this very moment: breathing. Building research demonstrates that taking a few minutes everyday to breath correctly might just be that missing link in the quest for radiant wellness that you’ve been striving so hard to find.