Susan Patterson

Hello and welcome to my page. If you enjoy learning about natural health, homesteading and gardening, you have come to the right place. My life journey has taken me to many great places and I consider it a privilege to share information with others to educate, inspire and encourage. As a Certified Health Coach and Master Gardener,  it is my desire to come alongside you as you strive for a balanced life that celebrates all you can be! When I am not coaching others or writing about health you can find me outdoors where I enjoy hiking, biking, organic gardening, homesteading, creating recycled art, photography and being adventurous!

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Popular Articles

The Alternative Daily •

What the Heck Is Seed Cycling and Could it Rebalance Your Hormones?

What if it was possible to stop a hot flash in its tracks, or ease frustration and pain of PMS? The trend of seed cycling is on the rise, but what exactly is it, and is it effective? It involves eating seeds, including flax, pumpkin, sesame, and sunflower at different times in the month to balance hormones. It is said to be effective for women who are menstruating, pre-menopause, postpartum, and post-menopause. While there is a boatload of anecdotal accounts of its effectiveness, the scientific
The Alternative Daily •

What You Might Not Know about That Root Canal

Myths have swirled around the root canal for decades. Some people claim this practice is entirely safe and can help save a dead tooth, while others, fearing disease and pain, choose to have a tooth extracted entirely or leave it be. With such conflicting opinions, it can be hard to know what to believe. Here are common misconceptions about root canals and how to make an informed decision regarding your upcoming appointment. Root canal is one of the most common dental procedures, and if you’ve n
The Alternative Daily •

Here is Just One More Reason to Put Down that Soda

Are you still consuming drinks made with sugar? If so, perhaps a new study published in BMJ might sway you to trade out your soda, sweet tea, or other sugary sweet beverage for something less sinister. According to researchers, there appears to be a connection between sugar-laden drinks and an increased risk of cancer. Sugary drinks refer to any beverage that has added sugar or sweeteners such as high fructose corn syrup, cane sugar, fruit juice concentrate, sucrose or others. This included sod
The Alternative Daily •

Why Science Says Cheat Days on Keto Aren't Worth It

Let’s face it, we’re all human, and no matter how committed you are to a healthy diet or lifestyle, there will always be those few foods that keep drawing you in with their seductive siren song. French fries, sugary ice cream, chips suddenly seem so appealing when you can’t have them anymore. Turning back to these “cheat foods,” very infrequently seems harmless, but on the ketogenic diet, cheat days could spell disaster. So why exactly are cheat days so bad on keto and how can you still enjoy wh
The Alternative Daily •

What's For Dinner Keto Style in 30 Minutes or Less

The ketogenic diet is successful for so many because it targets a number of underlying reasons for weight gain – including hormonal issues such as insulin resistance, with high blood sugar levels, and the vicious cycle of eating empty calories due to out of control hunger and cravings. If you are following a low carb or keto lifestyle, here are some great dinner ideas that the whole family will love. The best thing about these recipes is that they can be made in 30 minutes or less. You gotta lo
The Alternative Daily •

This All Natural Stress Buster is Also Good for Your Love Life

Ashwagandha is a well-known adaptogenic herb that has been used for thousands of years in ancient Ayurvedic medicine to relive several health conditions and help calm the body and mind while restoring balance and relieving stress without the use of prescription drugs. This evergreen shrub is native to the Middle East, Africa, and India and is used primarily for tea or taken in supplement form. Ashwagandha is undoubtedly a natural wonder that is well known for its ability to reduce stress and spi
The Alternative Daily •

5 Reasons to Pee in Your Garden

Believe it or not, you are flushing valuable, nutrient-rich liquid down the toilet every time you pee. We don’t think twice about putting cow manure, chicken droppings, and various other animal excrements in our garden, so why is the thought of peeing on your plants such a disturbing one? Instead of immediately dismissing the idea as some all natural, health nut hoax, take a look at these research-backed reasons to add human urine to your garden. Environmental scientists Surendra Pradhan and He
The Alternative Daily •

Cracking the Top 9 CBD Myths: What You Need to Know

You don’t have to delve very deeply into the health and wellness world to begin hearing about cannabidiol (CBD). This popular “superfood” derived from hemp is driving a multibillion-dollar industry and crushing preconceived negativity about cannabis and other natural remedies. However, if CBD has just popped up on your radar, it can be hard to sort out fact from fiction and figure out why exactly this wonder drug is so great. On one hand, you have the crowd that insists that CBD is the golden se
backyardvitality.com •

So...You Want to Buy a Tree (what you need to know before shopping)

If only it were as easy as purchasing the perfect tree, digging a hole and waiting for your tree to take root and come to life. In fact, there are more technicalities to purchasing and planting a tree than most people understand. Here are a few essential tips for tree shopping that will help you choose the best tree for you. There are so many beautiful trees out there, but you can’t have them all. Rather than trying to find the ideal location for a selected tree, try to source a tree that’s su
The Alternative Daily •

What Your Cravings are Really Trying to Tell You

In our diet and weight-loss crazed world, cravings have become increasingly vilified. They are seen as a weakness that must be ignored at all costs. “I. Will. Not. Eat. That. Chocolate” you heroically tell yourself as you collapse into a puddle of tears on the couch and shove another handful of kale into your mouth. In reality, cravings are often your body’s way of attempting to get a message across. They shouldn’t always be indulged; however, it can often be just as dangerous to disregard them.
The Alternative Daily •

Meet the New Superfood MCT Oil (and why you should care)

If you are in tune with the health and wellness chatter, you have probably started to hear the term MCT oil a lot more in recent years. What is this new craze? Is it better than coconut oil? Is it even good for you? Are you missing out on amazing health benefits by not taking it? Read on to find out the truth about MCT oil and why you should include it in your diet. All fats are constructed with chains of carbon atoms, and different types of fat have varying numbers of these atoms. For instance
The Alternative Daily •

The Most Potent Medicinal Plants and What They Are Capable Of

Thousands of years before modern medication such as ibuprofen, hydrocodone, and codeine became the physicians “go-to,” traditional medicinal plants were being used around the world to alleviate several conditions. Of course, advances in modern medicine are astonishing and have improved lifespan and quality of life in leaps and bounds over the past 50 years. However, there is something to be said for the tried and true plants that have withstood the test of time. These potent medicinal plants can
The Alternative Daily •

What the Color of Your Eyes Says About Your Personality

Though it sounds cliche to say that the eyes are the windows to the soul. Recent research suggests that this may be even more true that we previously thought. In fact, your eye color and pattern may not only be the windows into your soul but your personality as well. We all love taking those personality tests that seem to describe our traits, strengths, and flaws with far more accuracy than we ever could, reading through the results as if we’re discovering some secret about ourselves. But did y
The Alternative Daily •

13 Foods that Could Kill Even the Most Adventurous Eater

Do you consider yourself to be an adventurous eater, always ready to try new and interesting cuisine? Where do you draw the line as far as eating things that are out-of-the-box? While some people will try just about anything for a palate thrill, there are foods, many considered a delicacy, that demand a particular type of respect and fear because they are capable of making a person very sick and even causing death. You have heard the saying, “death by chocolate,” right? This is a marketing ter
The Alternative Daily •

Fat is Back: Food Prices Rise to Meet Soaring Demand

Have you noticed the price of olive oil and avocados going up lately? What about dairy, are you paying more for your butter and cheese? It is likely that you are dishing out more of your hard earned money for these items because, after a very long time in the dark, fat is now back fashion. The increasing demand for healthy fat is putting pressure on farmers all over the globe who are having a hard time keeping up – causing an increase in food prices. Avocado growers, fish farmers, and butter p
Tropical Health •

10 Weird Ways to Use Onions

Onions aren’t just an easy way to add flavor to soup, a crunchy topping for your next sandwich or a great source of antioxidants with inflammation-reducing capabilities. These potent root vegetables actually have many strange uses that you’ve probably never heard of. From removing splinters to cleaning your grill, it’s time to take these eye-watering onions for a trip outside the kitchen. Though no one wants to walk around smelling like an onion, you can actually rub one on your arms and legs t
The Alternative Daily •

Congress Finally Frees Hemp From Jail: Big News For Farmers and CBD Industry

Thanks, Congress for passing the Farm Bill,  making hemp legal in America. Long ago outlawed and thrown in the Controlled Substance Act along with all forms of the cannabis plant, hemp has had the black label of a Schedule 1 drug since 1970. With the passing of the bill, however, CBD’s legal status is still a bit murky. Because the Drug Enforcement Administration classifies CBD as illegal, it has not said whether or not it will reclassify it now that hemp is legal to grow in America. At any rat
The Alternative Daily •

3 Research-Backed Rockstar Lemon Remedies That Really Work

Not only are they a tremendously cute and bight addition to any fruit bowl but they are also incredibly therapeutic. You would be surprised to know just how much healing power there is inside a lemon. Lemons are, without question, rockstars in the fruit world! If you have seen lemons as nothing more than a sweet little garnish, a little color on the side or perhaps a quaint squirt to add variety to water, you are missing out. Inside this little unassuming fruit are fiber, vitamin C and many hig
The Alternative Daily •

5 Weird Ways Inflammation is Messing with Your Health (and what you can do about it)

We are all guilty of ignoring the subtle, and sometimes not so subtle ways that our body’s tell us that something is out of whack. When we are busy, it is easy to brush off an occasional headache, muscle pain or even more severe issues like chronic allergies or constipation. What is important to understand is that all of these are symptoms of possible chronic inflammation. As a reminder, if you already didn’t know – chronic inflammation is behind over 95% of all western diseases such as diabetes
Natural Living Ideas •

11 Reasons To Drink A Tbsp Of Apple Cider Vinegar Daily + More Uses

You’ve probably heard the claims.  But even if you are aware of all that apple cider vinegar has to offer, you might find it hard to believe that just one food can offer so many benefits. Surprisingly (or maybe not) it’s true!  Drinking apple cider vinegar daily is a sure fire way to improve many aspects of your health and your life. Raw, organic, unfiltered and unpasteurized apple cider vinegar (or ‘ACV’ for short) is one of the oldest and most useful remedies on Earth.  It contains a wealth
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