This post has been contributed by Diana Smith.

Making wine is a really enjoyable experience and it is worth every last sip. When making wine by yourself there is plenty of time to make it as quality as possible since you do not have to worry about how many bottles you managed to squeeze into the market. That is why you do not have to use any chemicals and you can make your wine completely organic. If you want to make such organic wine make sure you follow this guide.

Get all the equipment

​First of all you have to make sure you have everything necessary for the wine to age safely, without being affected by any bugs or bacteria. Making homemade wine should not be expensive so there is no need to buy some special equipment. All you will need are 7.6 L crock or a glass jar and a 3.8 L carboy. Besides these, you will also need an airlock and a thin plastic tube which used for siphoning. Remember not to use a jar that has been used for storing pickles or sauerkraut since these can contaminate your wine.

Pick out the fruit and crush it

​Even though wine can be made out of any fruit, grapes are the most popular choice. You should choose grapes which have not been exposed to any chemicals since you do not want these to end up in your wine. The best way is to grow your own grapes or contact retailers who can provide you organic grapes. Make sure you get rid of all the dirt and stems from the grapes before you start crushing it. You should crush it with a potato masher or your hands until the level of juice is 4cm of the top of the crock.

Stir it in the honey and add yeast

​Honey is the ingredient that will sweeten your wine and provide food for the yeast. Sweetness of your wine will directly be affected by how much honey you use. If you are a fan of sweeter wines put more honey and if you are not you should limit yourself to 2 cups. If maybe you decide to use some other fruit than grapes, you should use more honey since grapes have a high amount of sugar in them as well. You can also use brown sugar if you want to. After this you should add the yeast to the mixture and stir it with a long spoon.

Ferment the wine

​Once you do all of this you should let the wine sit for a couple of days. Just make sure you use a cover that will prevent any bugs from getting in contact with the wine. You can use a crock lid for this or stretch a piece of cloth over the opening and secure it with a rubber band. Keep it in the warm area so the yeast can grow. Stir it every couple of hours and you will see bubbling that will be the result from the yeast moving into action. It is important to do so if you want your wine to be as good as some of the best white wine specials you can find.

Strain and siphon the wine

​After around 3 days, it is the time to strain and siphon the wine. That is when you should move the wine into the carboy where you will later keep it. Once the wine is siphoned into the carboy, you should affix the airlock so the gas can be released. This will also prevent oxygen from getting into your wine and ruining it. If you do not have an airlock you can use a small balloon secured to the opening with a tape. Even though this will release the gas, it will keep the oxygen out of the wine.

​Once all of this is done your wine is almost finished. You should let the wine age for at least 1 month up to 9 months before you bottle it. Siphon the wine into the bottles and cork them as soon as you can. Let the wine age some more or try it immediately.

This post has been contributed by Roxana Oliver

If you are looking for a dairy-free milk substitute, you are definitely at the right place. No matter whether you are a vegan, or sensitive to milk in terms of lactose intolerance, almond milk is a perfect alternative for it. It is becoming more and more popular nowadays, and there are very good reasons for that. It has multiple benefits for our health and overall well-being, that is for sure. You can even make it on your own, which is definitely a more convenient solution than milking a cow. Here are top five benefits of producing almond milk all by yourself.

It Keeps Your Bones Strong
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Even though almond milk doesn’t offer as much calcium as cow’s, it actually does offer 30% of the recommended daily amount. Besides that, it is very rich in vitamin D, which is very effective in reducing the risk of osteoporosis and arthritis. The combination of these two nutrients also works amazing for improving your body’s immune function and providing healthy teeth and bone formation.


It Helps With Weight Management

​Almond milk is a perfect substitute for whole milk, since it contains only 60 calories as opposed to 146 in it. That property can largely contribute to losing weight or maintaining current one. Besides helping you shape your figure, it will also help your skin with the vitamin E it includes. We can see its multiple benefits here – dropping some pounds while protecting our skin from sun damage and making it look radiant at the same time. 


It Tastes Better Than Cow’s Milk

Even though it is called like that, almond milk is not dairy – it is its soy-free and lactose-free alternative. It doesn’t taste like cow’s milk, which is fantastic for those who are turned off by its taste. However, many manufacturers are trying to make it as cow-like as possible. Many people love its light, unique taste, plus the fact that it is very versatile, since it can be used instead of cow’s milk in recipes that require it. Even though the taste won’t be same, the consistency will be great. 


It Is Easy To Make

​It is extremely easy to make, especially when you take into consideration the fact that it would be slightly inappropriate to have a cow in your backyard. The recipe is very simple: just make sure that you have got the best almonds out there. It is always a good idea to choose insecticide-free and GMO-free raw almonds, so check out Honest to Goodness almond produce has to offer. Grind the almonds and then place them in a blender with water. Filter the pulp with a strainer, in order to separate it from the liquid and voila – your almond milk is ready! You will know exactly what is in it this way, which is very important because many manufacturers tend to add some nutrient fortifications and thickening agents like carrageenan. That is a seaweed derivative used as a beverage stabiliser, and some studies have linked it to increased inflammation and inflammatory bowel disease.  

It Does Not Require Refrigeration 

​It’s true – almond milk doesn’t require refrigeration. That makes it even more attractive, since you will be able to take it everywhere you go – even to the work or on a camping trip. It will be absolutely fine at room temperature, which makes it an instant booster – it will automatically keep up with your needs for all the amazing nutrients mentioned above. 

As you can see, almond milk is truly beneficial for many reasons, particularly when it comes to preserving our health and managing weight. Besides that, it is very easy to make, plus the fact that it is extremely tasty and easy to store. Does it get better than that? We don’t think so!

This post has been contributed by Mathews McGarry

You have probably heard it said that sugar is bad for your health, but do you know precisely to what extent this is true? According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, an average Am​erican consumes 156 pounds of sugar every year, which is reason for serious concern if you take into account the range of chronic conditions that go hand in hand with excessive consumption of added sugar. Simple carbs may be a splendid source of instant energy, but a regular intake of high quantities of refined sugar can lead to dental problems, excess weight, obesity, addiction to sweet food and even life-threatening conditions such as cancer and heart disease.

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Sugar and weight problems: The stuff belly fat is made of

Obesity is gradually becoming one of the most common lifestyle diseases that plagues modern society, and the fact that an increasing number of children and teenagers are being diagnosed with the condition is nothing short of alarming. A 2010 study by the Endocrine Society has found that fructose-packed foods and beverages contribute to the formation of fat in the abdominal parts of the body. Combined with a sedentary lifestyle and lack of exercise, excessive intake of sugar in young adults can result in chronic weight problems, obesity and diabetes, which is a rather grim prospect for generations growing up on monosaccharide-laden cereals, sodas and snack bars. 


The sweet tooth: Dental problems linked to sugar intake

​According to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, high sugar intake is directly linked to dental problems such as tooth demineralization and caries. Although regular use of fluoride toothpaste can help curb the negative effects of sugar consumption on oral health, the widespread use of refined sugar in industrial food is a force to be reckoned with, especially since sugar is listed under many  different names on product labels​ different names on product labels, such as glucose, sucrose, dextrose, sucrose and maltose.

Not your sweetheart: Sugar and higher risk of heart disease

​A study carried out by the Journal of the American Heart Association in 2013 has revealed that the regular consumption of high amounts of added sugar can contribute to an increased risk of heart disease. According to the study’s findings, glucose metabolite glucose 6-phosphate found in refined sugar impacts the heart’s pumping mechanism and can increase the risk of heart failure. If you have a habit of wolfing down sugary snacks, you may want to take heart and cut down on your monosaccharide intake, at least for your heart’s sake. 


The silent killer: Sugar and leptin resistance

Based on a  2008 study published in the American Journal of Psychology, a diet high in fructose can trigger leptin resistance and induce overeating, unwarranted weight gain and obesity. Leptin is a hormone that signals to the brain that the body has enough fuel to function on. Once the hormone level is disturbed, you may face the risk of binge eating and multiplying inches in the waistline area. The problem with leptin resistance is that you will not feel any telltale symptoms save for gradual weight gain – and silent diseases are the ones that are the most difficult to treat efficiently.


What the label does not tell you: Cancer thrives on sugar

​You probably know that cancer has by now become one of the leading causes of death across the globe, but what you probably do not know is that excessive intake of sugar is linked to an accelerated progress of the fatal disease. Like all other cells in the body, cancer cells feed on blood sugar (glucose), which is why a diet centered on products rich in refined sugar may be an ideal ally to a growing cancer. In addition to that, sugar plays a major role in the development of obesity and diabetes, both of which are linked to an increased risk of cancer.


Addicted to the substitute for love: The sweet obsession

​Sugar is a common ingredient of most comfort foods we usually reach for when stressed, sad, lonely or moody. If you are not careful, the sugary reward at the end of the day may take control of your life and cause a downright  addiction – and those are extremely hard to shake once the habit is formed. That is all the more reason  not to give in to the cravings every time you feel a bit under the weather: there are many healthier alternatives to candies, chocolate and starchy, sweet treats that will not get you hooked or contribute to development of potentially fatal diseases.


Are you ready to quit sugar and do your body a favor? However much you may love meals and snacks punctuated by sweet flavors, sugar is definitely not your health’s best buddy, so if you cannot imagine a life without it, at least try to be moderate with your daily sugar intake. 

Author
Mathews McGarry is passionate about many forms of strength training, and has spent years lifting, dragging and flipping all manner of heavy objects. After graduating from the Faculty of Health Sciences, he started writing about his experiences, and sharing tips for a better life. He is an all-around fitness adviser and his words are strong as an Australian Bull.

This post has been contributed by Diana Smith

Being a gardener is like being able to grow your own piece of heaven. These private green areas are a safe haven for those who want to relax, meditate, and contemplate. However, merely wishing to have a part of your property which is suited for this beautiful form of escapism is clearly not enough, it requires constant work throughout the seasons to maintain a garden and to keep nature’s wild expanse at bay. A lot of people are also returning to organic methods of gardening, so if you want to do yours in an economically sound way, too, here are a few guidelines which will help you understand what it takes.

Do a little manual labour

Yes, earth and grass harbour all manner of slimy creatures like slugs and snails, but do not shy away from using your own two hands to humanely remove them. They usually come out either during the night or after rainfall, so grab a torchlight, or a raincoat and go get them.  Natural ways to repel snails are to sprinkle crushed eggshells on the earth surrounding the plants. The egg shells have sharp edges which feel unpleasant under the snails' soft bodies, so they will avoid climbing over them to get to the plants.  Coffee is also effective at repelling snails and slugs. It can be used in one of two ways, you can place cooled coffee in a spray bottle and use it to spritz plants, leaves and soil or sprinkle coffee grounds around the base of the plants you wish to protect from snails. This will also help to enrich the soil.
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Also, aphids should be eliminated as soon as you spot them because they can become a major infestation if unattended. Just cut them off and throw them away on time.

Garden hygiene
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It may sound strange for having to think about your garden’s “hygiene”, but clean and tidy gardens drastically reduce the chance of disease spreading to plants from rotting vegetation. Wherever there is organic rot, it is, in fact, a breeding ground for fungi, so this way toxic fungicides won’t be a necessary solution. Keeping things in order will also reduce the food supply for snails and slugs, and leave them homeless/defenceless. The moment you round up dead leaves in a pile, dispose of it on time, because pests won’t have a place to eat and hide. 

Some animals are your allies
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Just as cats are good for chasing away mice and other rodents, so do birds like tits feast on aphids, while thrushes eagerly devour snails and slugs. If you want help from such winged creatures, than install a bird feeder on a nice tall tree and welcome them as your guests. You can make their refuge your own little carpenter project, which can be both artistic and fun. Also, frogs can be of great assistance in keeping the pest population under control, especially those pesky insects which thrive during warm months of the year. You just need a pond for them to hang out and breed. 

Organic wood preservatives

Making a fence and other wooden instalments always require protection from decay and the weather. Buying natural paints and wood covering from local suppliers is definitely a must if you want to keep things organic, just make sure that the seller is authorized and that the wares are certified.

Organic pest control

This is a bit of a pickle because not only are some products expensive (like lime and copper sulphate), but treating your garden with them can be rendered useless in bad weather. Also, there is a chance you can kill beneficial creatures this way, so consult a professional and gather sufficient information to estimate what approach will do you justice the most.     

Supply yourself with tools

No gardener is complete without a nice set of tools, so shovels, hoes, gloves, pruning shears, spray hoses, and other items are simply a must-have. Digging deep, cutting, watering, fertilizing, fencing; there are all manner of activities that need to be done if you want to maintain your personal meadow properly, which is why a trip to the local store for supplies is an inevitable part of gardening. Oh, and focus on purchasing a compost bin because unless you have a dog that is a bottomless pit when it comes to food, kitchen scraps can produce nice compost to nurture your soil. 

Conclusion
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Having a plain, trimmed lawn is, in fact, easy compared to having a beautiful, lush, and tranquil garden. However, a little effort goes a long way because being surrounded by nature has more benefits than we can imagine. Just keep things organic and you’ll see how everything can bloom.   

The following is one in a series of practical Améo Essential Oil uses from healthy lifestyle expert Karen A. Jensen

1 tsp. 100% alcohol such as vodka
¼ tsp. pure liquid Castile soap
5 drops each: Lemongrass and Spruce
Enough water to fill bottle
(More suggestions: Peppermint/Tangerine, Eucalyptus Globulus, ProShield, and even Gentle Repose)

Spray into bowl prior to use, after flushing or just to freshen the room. In a busy home, when children are around, the use of this in a room constitutes a rare moment of calm. For this reason the use of oils like Pure Tranquility and Calming Breeze may also apply.