Cold? Cough? Stomach a bit upset? Make a ginger garlic broth that you can sip as a soup, or have with rice to detoxify your system and heal yourself with these Ayurvedic ‘heating’ herbs.

Worrying is a funny thing—it can be helpful to spark motivation, and it can be a hindrance when it reaches a chronic stage. Below is an account of anxiety, with a light touch of the humor we all need in the world.

Existential worries can plague many of us.

We hear quite a bit about the risks of consuming diet drinks, as well as MSG. But are they really as evil as is painted by many health websites? Let’s find out!

Is MSG bad for me?

Most people consider Monosodium Glutamate (or MSG) to be a mild, harmless flavor enhancer. From salad dressings to chips to most fast food – the use of MSG is unrestrained when it comes to the packaged food industry.

Why is MSG used?

Contrary to what most of mainstream media portrays, flexibility is not just for young gymnasts, athletes, and people who practice yoga. It is for everyone who wants and chooses to be healthy. When we are flexible, it allows our bodies to move with more ease and without overstressing muscles.

If you only know sugar for its sweet reputation, you’re in for a rude awakening. For anyone who abstains from consuming animals and their byproducts, or may be easily grossed out, finding out that the tantalizing sweet stuff may not be suitable for strict vegans could come as quite a shock. Personally, accidentally discovering this tidbit of information about five years ago was definitely a doozy.

It grows in meadows and fields, and you might find one or two popping up in your yard. It’s a soldier-straight plant with heart-shaped leaves and delicate pink or yellow flowers. But don’t try to pick it, or even brush up against it. The tiny hairs on the stinging nettle release chemicals that will make you wish you hadn’t.

But this obnoxious perennial plant is actually a very useful medicinal plant – and ironically, can take away the itch and sting of insect bites or eczema.

Reclining Bound Angle / Supta Baddah Konasana

Benefits:

Helps stretch inner thighs and knees.

Can also help relieve stress, mild depression, and menstruation.

Great relaxation pose but can also be a deep stretch.

Foundation & General Alignment:

Laying flat on back, make sure to keep natural curve in neck and back.

Pelvis is in a neutral position.

Knees are bent and bottom of feet are pressed together.

I remember this line from What’s Eating Gilbert Grape once in a while. The young character of Arnie, played by a 19-year-old Leonardo DiCaprio, is mentally disabled, but in a moment of innocent clarity, he cheerfully proclaims that “I can go any time you know.”

So true.

Any one of us, right this moment, could die.

Poof.

Imagine a tree that cures almost anything that ails you. If there were ever a tree, Moringa oleifera – or drumstick tree - would be it. Referred to as the “miracle tree,” Moringa is used by Ayurveda practitioners to help prevent about 300 different diseases in patients. From the leaves to the bark, the tree can be used for medicinal purposes. Native to South Asia, Moringa is commonly used in curries and stews. It can be ground into a paste, powder, or enjoyed as a tea. It is so healthy, in fact, that it is said to be more nutritious than kale.

As a society, we are constantly bombarded by conflicting information as to what is “good for us” to eat—and what is not.

For example, a pervasive myth exists that “salt is bad.” While an excess of salt in the diet can be harmful, and in some cases a person may need to monitor salt intake based on certain health conditions—it is important that we don’t throw out salt altogether. Salt is actually an incredibly important element of our diet that we require to function, feel good and thrive on a daily basis.

The key here, of course, is moderation.