Relax & Reclaim

It's sweltering in some places, and people are trying to beat the heat. Staying hydrated and getting your vitamins from healthy foods is key. Salads are a fantastic option for both. The great thing about salads is that they're relatively simple to make. Depending on the type of salad you want to make, just a handful of ingredients are usually needed.  Top it off, salads can be created in a very short period of time. That's why people love them so much! Check out this classic salad that everyone loves: Caprese-Style Salad 2 medium red, ripe tomatoes, cut into eight slices 1 bunch fresh basil, leaves removed, washed and patted dry with a paper towel 8 oz. fresh mozzarella, cut into eight slices 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil 1/8 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper (optional) 1/8 teaspoon sea salt (optional) Preparation : On a large serving platter layer slice of tomato, larger basil leaves, and mozzarella slices.  Repeat the layers wh...

🎵 Money's Too Tight To Mention 🎵                - Simply Red Ain't that an appropriate song for today's economy? Low cost is great, but free is always better.... A reader named PJ sent us the following regarding our "Budget" series: " Too bad nobody's figured out how to lose weight on a dime (hint, hint!)... " We got your back, PJ! ICYMI : Here's the links to the previous articles on budget buying -- the first article & the second article . Affordable Ways To Lose Weight  Weight loss plans have a nasty habit of turning into weight loss subscriptions.  Coaching apps, boutique gym memberships, powders in tubs the size of paint cans — the wellness industry would love for you to believe that fat loss requires a monthly invoice. It doesn't.  The mechanics of losing weight and keeping it off haven't changed: move more, eat with intention, and stay consistent longer than your willpower wants you to.  None o...

If you thought table grapes were the same all year round, it's time to have a taste test. The year's best crop is fresh from Mexico . From May through July, the finest harvest of green, red and black grapes will begin to hit supermarket shelves. These grapes ' bright color and crisp texture signify the end of winter, when fresh, new harvests begin arriving from the Mexican state of Sonora.  Grapes for wine and brandy have been grown in Sonora since the days of the Spanish missionaries almost four centuries ago.  Out of this tradition, growers in Sonora began growing fresh grapes that are enjoyed across the world. Sonora grapes are coveted for their notably sweet, juicy flavor. With more than 30,000 acres of vineyards, Sonora supplies 300 million pounds of grapes for U.S . consumption. Grapes offer several benefits. Not only are they a handy snack, but they're a unique addition to many summer dishes, including green salads and fruit s...

Are you ready to get down and dirty? We are..how about you ? Not everyone can stare into a cup of plain black coffee at 7 a.m. and pretend they're perfectly happy until lunch. That's where the idea of dirty fasting comes in. Instead of following the strict rules of a traditional intermittent fast, dirty fasting allows a few calories during your fasting window. The goal isn't to have a snack or a mini breakfast.  It's simply to make fasting a little more manageable without completely throwing away the benefits. So... does it actually work? The answer is a little more complicated than a simple yes or no. starting the day off with fasting What Is Dirty Fasting? Dirty fasting is a modified version of intermittent fasting .  During your fasting period, you consume a very small number of calories—usually fewer than 50 to 100 . People often add things like: A splash of heavy cream in coffee A teaspoon of MCT oil Bone broth Unsweetened almond milk in coffee Zero-cal...

If you’re ready to make a positive change and feel more energized, focused, and confident, you don’t need drastic measures to get started. A healthy weight‑loss kick‑start is all about simple shifts that build momentum — the kind that help you feel better day by day. Here’s how to begin in a way that’s realistic, sustainable, and good for your body. The weight loss plan presented here may help you lose 6 pounds quickly . This begs the question: Is that even possible?

Bonus Part: The Internet Era (2010s–Present) ** BUT FIRST AN APOLOGY **  We get a little busy around here sometimes doing research on topics and drafting new articles. Our brains are SO BUSY ... The " World's Most Dangerous Diet Trends " series was supposed to have a fourth bonus article for your perusal. Our research team got swamped with info about insomnia and lost track of this bonus article. ICYMI - Parts: 1 , 2 , 3 So without further ado, here is your bonus article: As if the diet trends from the previous 4 to 5 decades weren't risky enough, the internet changed how we share information.  Unfortunately, it also made bad ideas spread faster. Modern " hacks " often prioritize shock value over actual health benefits. However unbelievable it may seem, this is the stuff people were doing to their bodies to trim a few pounds off.   All of this happened in just over the past 10 years or so... The Cotton Ball "Crave"  One of the most dang...

If you pay attention long enough, you can see when the old saying: "If it sounds too good to be true, then it isn't true" becoming a fact of life everyday. Take weight loss, for example. Somebody's always got a weight loss secret to sell you.  It's literally been that way for years. Let's go back a few years in time just to prove this point to you. Weight loss in the 1960s wasn’t just about salads; it was a whole chemistry experiment.  People were chasing quick results, and some doctors were more than willing to help out.  Enter the infamous "Rainbow Pills".  The Psychedelic Diet of the 1960s These colorful tablets looked like candy, but the ingredients were anything but sweet. Each dose packed a punch with amphetamines and barbiturates, along with laxatives and thyroid hormones.  The idea was to rev up your body, while the barbiturates were there to keep you from shaking like a leaf! By 1968, a shocking exposé in Life magazine revealed the grim trut...

Did you know that one of the worst things you can do to your body while trying to diet is to follow an actual diet plan? Sounds preposterous doesn't it? Let's rephrase that: “One of the worst things you can do to your body while dieting is diet plan inflexibility?” What does that even mean?  We’ve created a list here of diet do’s and do not’s. We're not saying everyone does this, but some of us have done at least a couple of these at one time or another: 1. All-or-Nothing Thinking Clearing out your cupboards and swearing off anything that isn’t green or grilled might sound brave—but it’s not sustainable. Our bodies don’t like extremes. Cut too much, and you’ll slow your metabolism . Then comes the binge. Then guilt. Slip up? Keep going. Don’t toss the whole day for a few bites. a man working out and resisting a cheeseburger  2. Same Food, Every Day Eating grilled chicken with broccoli six nights a week? Rough. Your body needs a mix of nutrients —...

We all have at least one friend or family member that we sometimes disagree with on one subject or another.  Some subjects tend to raise more controversy than others. In the end though, it always ends in a draw or at least the proverbial agreement to “not agree”.  The person I am referring to is one of my best friends ever. We grew up together in the same neighborhood and we share a lot of mutual interests and opinions. Except for the subject of fasting for health . He is of the persuasion that you don't have to “starve” (read: fast) yourself in order to obtain optimal health. I, of course, disagree with that…insinuation.  Here at Relax and Reclaim, we want to give you the facts about all the topics we discuss and let YOU decide for yourself. So, this article is dedicated to my friend and anyone else who may have the same or similar viewpoint. glass of water with lemon and lime in it What’s Fasting, Anyway? Fasting simply means going without food for a set amount of t...

Are you a fan of coconut? Does that tropical aroma send you into a world of culinary joy? Do you want to know more about the health benefits (and real-world uses) of coconut oil? If not… Then this article is NOT FOR YOU. Everyone else… please read on. coconuts and coconut meat First of All… Occasionally, we get questions from readers about different health foods, diet trends, and nutritional crazes. Recently, we received a question about the coconut oil health boom that really took off in the early 2000s.  One reader (name withheld per request) wondered whether coconut oil or coconut butter might be a smart nutritional supplement because of its alleged health benefits. This article isn’t meant to strongly support or dissuade your decision. As always, we’re simply presenting what modern research says — and reminding you that you and your physician should decide what’s best for your personal health. What’s the Deal With Coconut Oil (and Coconut Butter)? Coconut oil (and co...

In many parts of the world, Valentine's Day is celebrated as a holiday to commemorate romantic liaisons between two people in love (or lust, depending on your idea of love) with each other.  One way to symbolize romance on Valentine's Day is through trinkets or (usually unhealthy) food gifts.  I wanted to take this time to show you that Valentine's Day is also an opportunity to improve your health with some very sexy fruits. Enjoy! Nothing says romance quite like indulging in something sweet, juicy, and just a little bit decadent. Whether you're feeding them to someone special, savoring each bite for effect, or simply treating yourself to nature’s most tempting delights, these fruits are as seductive as they are nourishing. It's said that chocolate has a few benefits too.  😘 Apple Crisp, luscious, and irresistibly refreshing, apples are packed with fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants that support heart health.  They can aid digestion, help regulate cholesterol...

Ever felt like your energy tank is running on fumes while your weight loss goals are playing hide-and-seek? ( Spoiler: they're winning .) Here's the good news: you don't need to subsist on celery sticks and self-loathing.  The secret to firing up your metabolism and helping your body burn fat more effectively might already be sitting in your kitchen—or at least hanging out at your local grocery store. By adding the right foods into your daily meals, you can supercharge your metabolism and enable your body to burn fat more effectively. In this guide, we’ll share eight nutrient-rich foods that will effortlessly support your weight loss efforts.  Are you ready? Let's go! Whole Grains: The Good Carbs (Yes, They Exist!) Plot twist: Not all carbs are the enemy! In fact, whole grains are the overachievers of the carb world.  They provide sustained energy, keep you feeling satisfied, and thanks to their fiber content, they actually make your body work harder during digestion...