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The Changing Face of Cannabis Use

Reading Time: 5 minutes The use of medical cannabis is on the rise, and considering that its use among seniors has spiked tenfold over the past decade in an effort to tame various ailments, such demand doesn’t seem to be dwindling any time soon. 

With continued legalization of marijuana in states across the nation, barriers continue to be broken down, giving consumers — including seniors — more incentive to seek out marijuana as an alternative to pharmaceuticals.

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Thrive

Why Yerba Mate Might Become Your New Best Friend

Reading Time: 6 minutes I’ve enjoyed drinking mate for years, but when I was a coffee drinker I didn’t find that it affected my energy levels all that much. But now that I’ve turned to teas to get my daily caffeine boost, I’m loving the gentle yet steady lift I get from a cup of yerba mate.

And, now that I know all the other beneficial things it can do for me, I’m turning to yerba mate more and more often.

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Thrive

Boost Your Metabolism and Brain Power with Matcha

Reading Time: 6 minutes Today I want to clue you in on the benefits of matcha specifically. I just might inspire you to trade in your coffee for a matcha latte, or just a plain ceremonial matcha.

Although I’ve discovered there are many, many different grades of matcha, it seems to me that most of the health benefits are present no matter what grade you choose. I’ve now traded in my Trader Joe packets for an authentic Japanese matcha powder with a far superior flavor and texture. However, I honestly think that lower quality Trader Joe’s stuff still packed a power punch.

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news for womenThrive

Is Your Coffee Good For You?

Reading Time: 4 minutes Do you every wonder if your daily cup(s) of joe is healthy, unhealthy, or just neutral?

I’ve had a love/hate affair with coffee for decades. I love the aroma, the ritual, and most of all the jolt of a buzz directly to my central nervous system. When I’m sitting down to write or get some work done, a strong cup of coffee (or even better, espresso) used to be my best friend.

Except for one small problem. Well, a couple of them really. Almost without fail, my beloved cup of coffee would result in a gnawing, hungry feeling in my stomach – not right away but within an hour or two. Some people lose their appetite with coffee and caffeine, but not me! Something in it – and I don’t necessarily think it’s the caffeine, seems to tear at my stomach lining.

I’ve since learned that the acidity in the coffee is likely the culprit. It apparently is associated with all sorts of digestive discomforts – including GERD and heartburn. My problem is neither, but the symptoms are similar.

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Thrive

Detox with the Season: Simple, Nourishing Routines

Reading Time: 4 minutes Are you ready to renew and refresh your outsides and your insides for Spring?

In my last two posts on Confluence I wrote about how the changing of the seasons—especially the advent of spring or autumn—is an excellent time for a Detox. A Spring Cleanse if you will.

In Ayurvedic Medicine – which is one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems, developed more that 3,000 years ago in India—it is customary to detox for 2-6 weeks at the beginning of Spring and again at the beginning of Autumn. The Ayurvedic detox involves limiting your diet to specific foods, herbs and spices, and several other practices.

But cleansing and detoxing with the seasons is a practice that spans many cultures, and in modern times it can be particularly helpful after a winter spent consuming heavier foods, which is our natural tendency when it’s cold outside.

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