Helping people live well and natural is my core focus. When I treat my patients I am sure to include every facet of their life into my treatment. I consult my patients to work out new recipes, when to rest and even new places to eat and vacation with the family. Living with allergies, aches and pains should not keep you from doing the things that you love for yourself and family.

I am happy to announce that I have just been mentioned in an article in Woman’s World magazine. The article is about helping women find time for themselves and using simple, at home remedies to detox the body through bathing and get into better health.

I am always willing to talk to new people to discuss ways for enhancing their life. Whether you have extreme allergies, an upset stomach, indigestion or just trouble sleeping I can find natural ways to improve your body and mind. If you have any comments, you can reach me through my website, facebook or twitter. Love to hear from you!

Learn proven methods on how you can break free from allergies and restore you and your family’s health. Asthma, migraines, arthritis, ulcers and obesity have all been linked to allergy. Fatigue, irritability, body aching, digestive problems, and other vague ailments are typical of allergy.

Join me Wednesday, September 19th,  2012 @ 8:00pm Eastern (NY) time. (5:00pm Pacific, 6:00pm Mountain, 7:00pm Central).

Registration is FREE Reserve your space right here: http://www.healthlady.com/tele-class/dr-susanne-bennett

Find Out:

  • How allergies relates to environmental factors, food additives, diet, digestion, body chemistry, addiction, yeast, molds, parasites and childhood illnesses-
  • Simple, effective day-by-day guides with specific “action items” so you know exactly what to do to eliminate your allergies.
  • How to change your diet and eliminate the worst allergy culprits.
  • Turning your home into a breathe-easy space

We all have a wide array of kitchen products that we use on a daily basis for our favorite meals, be it mixers, blenders, or juicers. One of my favorite kitchen tools though, is a wonderful blender that truly does work wonders, called the Magic Bullet.

I use my Magic Bullet for everything. If you have not heard of them, they are high-speed blenders with all the makings of a great kitchen product; they are efficient, easy to clean up, and are really simple to use. I usually use it to make salad dressing, salsa, to chop up vegetables for omelets or make really delicious smoothies all in under ten seconds.

Getting your own Magic Bullet is fairly simple. You can find them at your nearest Walmart for about the same amount as an ordinary blender, with much less space. You will no longer avoid making meals that demand a blender or food processor, the Magic Bullet does it all and in just seconds. It is lightweight, compact and never rusts.

When you have a spare moment, it would not hurt to check out the website and read the hundreds of reviews from people just like me that adore their Magic Bullet. The website also has great how-to videos and meal ideas to get you started. Let me assure you that once you have one, you will use it for every meal you make. Finding an excuse to not use it, will soon become your biggest problem!

Reference: http://www.buythebullet.com/

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonrising/

With summer heating up and raising more than just your core temperature, it is best to learn some easy tricks to cutting down that AC bill. Not only can turning off your AC save you money, but in the long run it may actually benefit the environment as well.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, “heating and cooling systems emit over half a billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year, adding to global warming”. Not only are Americans literally raising the temperature outside but our air conditioners are also contributing to acid rain.

Let’s try to avoid running for that thermostat at the first sign of heat and brush up on a few ways to cool your house the natural and cheap way. The first mistake that people make is opening windows. You might be craving a cool breeze, but bringing in extra air means you are bringing in extra heat. It is best to insulate your house during a hot day. Make sure all of your windows are closed and sealed. Most heat radiates through the walls and through openings in your house, so creating a seal will protect against the heat creeping in.

Next invest in a fan. As simple as this sound it really works. A good ceiling fan or standing fan will do just the trick. For an extra kick, try placing a cold bowl of water in front of the fan. This will create condensation and blow nothing but cool, water vapor.

Also, if you have a lot of plants and trees, they are wonderful at creating natural shade outside of your windows. It makes for a much cooler environment. Also, if you have some nice heavy drapes, you can also easily shut those to keep the sunlight out, giving your home a nice, dark, cool feel. Try out a few of these tips and see they work out for you. They might just save you some green in the end!

References:

http://www.lyved.com/green/beat-the-heat-8-ways-to-stay-cool-this-summer-without-burning-a-hole-in-your-wallet/

http://eartheasy.com/live_naturalcooling.htm

http://www.bhgrealestate.com/Live/Live-Green/Efficiency/Eight-Ways-to-Cool-Your-Home,-Naturally.html

http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/housing/coolyourhome/cooling.htm

http://www.flickr.com/photos/valeriebb/

Don’t just cover up those smelly odors with air fresheners, get rid of them the right way. Millions of Americans each year rely on air fresheners to add a fresh scent to their homes, but most families are not aware of the incredible health risks involved. Those Spring-scented plug-ins do more than just brighten the smell of your room–they are capable of killing the nerve-endings and even taking away your ability to smell.

Despite the word on the street, air fresheners simply do more harm than good. Instead of cleaning the air in your home, they add harsh chemicals to cover up and dilute the smells in your house, which can coat your nasal passages with an undetectable oily film. There are countless effects on the body caused by the “clean” air fresheners, such as irritated eyes, nose and throat, respiratory problems, lung irritation, fatigue, and nausea. A quick read of the label will tell you just how many toxic chemicals you are letting into your house each day, like benzyl alcohol, camphor and dichlorobenzene.

I strongly urge against the use of air fresheners anywhere in your home or office. A better solution would be to let natural air freshen your home. Try opening more windows and let in that cool summer breeze. There are countless ways to reduce the risk of being harmed by these ‘convenient’, yet dangerous fresheners. The best way to prevent any harm to you or your family is to read up on the household cleaning or air-freshening products used in your home and search for better, natural solutions—why take the risk?

 

References:

http://www.mcs-america.org/airfresh.pdf

 

valleypropertiesaz.com

There is no sweeter feeling of serenity or tranquility than when you pause to enjoy the beauty of your own garden. Watching your plants grow and participating in their growth reconnects you with nature, and almost immediately dissolves any other troubling thought. Digging your hands in the earth’s soil, planting seeds that will eventually grow, all of these activities associated with gardening have the power to alleviate tension and ultimately nurture the soul.

Research has shown that connecting with nature can provide extraordinary health benefits. Setting the mind at ease, and putting it almost into a meditative state, gardening has the power to boost immune function, lower blood pressure, reduce stress, decrease anxiety, and improve your overall livelihood.  It allows your body to soak up healthy vitamin D from the sunshine, and studies have shown that being outdoors in garden-like settings even has the ability to reduce agitation and aggression among older patients suffering from Alzheimer’s.

Best of all, gardening is a great form of healthy exercise. Imagine doing something you love and still burning calories? It has been said that 30 minutes of gardening can get all of your major muscle groups working, like your legs, arms, shoulders, neck, buttocks, and back. Moving heavy bags of mulch and carrying heavy, potted plants is enough to really get your blood pumping!

Lastly, gardening is a great activity to not only bring the immediate family together, but whole communities, especially if everyone works for a cause, like growing organic vegetables to prevent exposure to pesticides and other toxins present in commercially grown food. The benefits from this tranquil yet productive activity are truly limitless!

References:

http://healthylivingextra.com/index.php?page=gardening-for-health

http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/features/gardening-health?page=3

Last month I had the opportunity to get involved in one of the greatest beach festivals in Santa Monica, the Santa Monica Pier Paddleboard Race and Ocean Festival!  I am such a big fan of stand up paddle that I decided to register for their annual paddle race, which took place June 11th.

One of the ancient forms of surfing, stand-up paddling is a great way to work out your core, and is gaining widespread popularity. You typically do not hear of many stand-up paddle races, which is why I jumped at the opportunity to participate. It seemed like everyone at the festival came together for their shared love of this water sport, which made it all the more enjoyable. There were paddle board and dory boat races, live music, Heal the Bay Beach Clean Up, a Paddle Board Museum with unique set of antique surf and paddle boards and vintage surf photos, all in the name of fun. On top of everything, the event contributed to a great cause. A portion of the proceeds went to Heal the Bay, a non-profit environmental organization that strives to keep the Santa Monica Bay clean.

Pier Paddle Race Video 6/2011

(The video link above is of the racers entering the Santa Monica ocean at the start of the race. I am the one with the Yellow/Blue striped SUP board.)

(I am anxiously waiting for the race to start!)

This stand-up paddle race was the first competition I have ever participated in. I raced in the two mile paddle and was pleasantly surprised when I came in 4th place in the “40 years old and up” division! I have been paddling for fun for only two years so you can imagine how great it felt to get out there and challenge myself. If you love to stand-up paddle, I highly recommend getting involved next year and join me! The most important thing to remember though, is to wear a wet suit. Even with summer finally here, the water is chillier than it looks (58 degrees)!

References:

www.pierpaddle.com

www.healthebay.org

 

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/39214918@N03/

The universe is a vast and beautiful place, something we are a part of yet never really take note of. Like the many exploratory places Los Angeles has to offer, the Griffith Observatory is a great place to visit if you are looking to connect with your inner astronomer. It embodies the sheer magnitude of the universe, and brings about a child-like sense of wonder because you truly realize how small you are in the vast universe.

The Griffith Observatory opened in 1935, but long before that it began as a dream by Griffith J. Griffith in 1896. Armed with the audacious plan of building a public observatory, Griffith started out by donating over 3,000 acres of land, and in 1912 began negotiations and funding for a full fledged public observatory. While he died in 1919, shortly after negotiations were put in place, the funds left behind enabled a team of architects and astronomers to construct the glorious astronomical landmark that the Griffith Observatory is today.

Closed for a short period from 2002 to 2006, the Griffith Observatory now offers more of an interactive experience than ever before. It is open Wednesday through Sunday and offers the public a chance to star gaze with their public solar telescopes, showcasing the night sky for all to see. Three live shows premier daily at the Samuel Oschin Planetarium featuring our place in the universe, the role of water in our solar system, and the ancient wisdom behind the appearance of the northern lights. For fifth graders only, (although all grades are welcome to visit) the Griffith Observatory holds a special Field Trip Program that includes theater experiences, exhibits, and a visit to the Observatory’s telescope.

Best of all, visiting the Observatory is free! So if you’re in the mood for a little stargazing and have some time on your hands, take a moment to explore the wonders of our great universe!

References:

http://www.griffithobservatory.org/

Does your furniture tell a story? Sure there is a story or two  to be told about how we stumbled upon an eclectic piece of furniture, perfectly suited to a specific room, but how many of us can share a story about the artistry behind the furniture, or its origin? 

I am guessing not many of us. Furniture shopping has become somewhat of a pricey, loathsome errand when you are not sure which pieces best fit the décor of your home. For  those of you eco-fans out there however, myself included, there is an entire furniture store dedicated to showcasing pieces made out of sustainably harvested and salvaged wood just waiting for your inspection—Environment Furniture.
With six locations in major cities like Los Angeles, Atlanta, and New York, Environment Furniture is more of a museum than a store. Much the way our environment represents the conditions of our natural surroundings, Environment Furniture strives to bring that natural, earthy environment to your home.  They offer non-laminated, natural furniture with recycled and re-purposed wood that has a naturally weathered look and feel. The entire store is an extraordinary testament to ancient craftsmanship with beds and tables made out of 100 year old reclaimed wood from Brazil, and couches made out of fabrics used in pup tents that once sheltered soldiers in the Civil War.

Even if you are uncertain about going the more wholesome, “earthy” route with your furniture, it is worth a stop, at least for a quick browse. There are plenty of knowledgeable and friendly proprietors there to give you suggestions and maybe even a quick history lesson or two. It is definitely a furniture-shopping experience like no other–a great place to take your eco interior decorating to the next level!

Environment Furniture

8126 Beverly Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90048
323-782-0296 (phone)
323-782-0989 (fax)

References:

http://www.environmentfurniture.com

Imagine the best spa you have ever been to. Was it clean and luxurious? Were the products natural and refreshing? If Crystal Spa in Koreatown is not the first place that comes to your mind, you have not visited one of the best in Los Angeles!

Crystal Spa is one of the most amazing Korean spas I’ve ever been to. You can find it at the City Center in Koreatown, and it is open 24 hours a day on the weekends, which is great because you do not have to limit your pampering time. It consists of four main rooms: a salt room, made with all-natural Himalayan mineral ore; a charcoal room which purifies the air with the negative ions released by the charcoal; an ice room to cool down the body after a steamy sauna; and a yellow sand room that contains a Korean mud that rids the body of harmful toxic agents.

The spa is also equipped with a cafe, large screen televisions, and a variety of treatments including acupressure, facials, foot massages, and full body scrubs (my favorite is the Aroma Scrub and Massage!). The best part about the spa? One hundred percent of their products are Aveda; talk about a treat! It is a great place to take a few friends or a mate, as there is a unisex room where everyone sits and sweats together in ridiculous, yet fun baggy shirts and shorts!

I always have a relaxing time when I go because the Crystal Spa is more than just a spa—it is like a relaxing hang out where you can eat Korean food on the floor and unwind. My favorite room is the salt room! After a long week, grabbing a friend and heading to the Crystal Spa would be a great way to kick off the weekend!

References:

http://crystalspala.com