Learn About Herbs & Teas

If you're looking for a low calorie, nutrient dense snack, Homemade Energy Balls are great! Energy balls are bite-sized morsels made from healthy ingredients like oats, nuts, coconut, and dried fruit. Snacking on energy balls packed with protein and fiber can help you...

If you're looking to make your own ointment or cream to treat wounds and skin infections, try the recipe below for Chaparral Cream. Use it to treat cuts, minor burns, scrapes, skin infections or other skin irritations. Things You'll Need 1 1/2 Cup Carrier Oil 1 Cup...

Cracked feet and hands not only look bad - they can be terribly uncomfortable. Try the recipe below for making your own healing salve: Ingredients: 2 Tablespoons beeswax 1/4 cup shea butter or avocado butter 1/4 cup coconut oil 1/4 cup magnesium oil 20 drops oregano...

Turmeric and Ginger are well known for their ability to reduce inflammation and lower bad cholesterol. Try using the fresh, bulk Turmeric and Ginger we carry at Fresh Start Nutrition to make a tea! Ingredients: 4 tsp dried organic turmeric 4 tsp dried ginger ¾ tsp...

Fall is such a wonderful time of the year - the smells & colors are truly delightful! It's only natural to want to bring some of the wonderful Fall decorations and smells into your home. Instead of reaching for a candle or room spray that's full of chemicals or...

Did you know you can grow some pretty awesome mini-plants right in your own home? Growing Microgreens Can Be Easy Microgreens are just miniature plants of greens, herbs, or other vegetables. Like sprouts, they are a concentrated nutrient source and packed with...

Apple cider vinegar gummies are easy to make and they actually have a good taste. It only takes a little of your time and everyone in your family will benefit from these! Ingredients: ½ cup apple cider vinegar 5 tbsp gelatin powder, grass-fed 1 1/2 cups apple juice,...

DIY Vapor Rub When your family has the sniffles, make a soothing, petroleum-free vapor rub at home:  Ingredients 1/2 cup coconut oil, 2 TBSP beeswax  20 drops of eucalyptus oil (only 4 drops for use on babies and young children) 20 drops peppermint oil (omit this oil...

Photo from the Florida Historical Archives  Much of the folk wisdom your grandma or great grandmother knew has been lost. At Fresh Start - we want to help you re-learn what Grandma knew! Read below for a few of the herbal cures granny used - and come by and talk...

We all love Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap but if you're only using it for body wash or shampoo, you're missing out. Take a look at all the ways you can use this wonderful product!1. SHAVINGDilute one part Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap to two parts of water and massage into...

DIY Hand Sanitizer Ingredients: All ingredients available at Fresh Start 1/4 cup organic aloe vera gel 20 drops of essential oil 1 TBSP witch hazel Colloidal silver (optional)  Mix all ingredients and store in a reusable silicone tube. Use a small funnel or medicine...

Salt Lamps are more than just an attractive addition to your home decor, they have many health benefits:They Help You SleepImpurities in the air have an impact on the quality of sleep. Positively-charged particles can actually reduce blood and oxygen supply to the...

You've finally made the move to loose leaf tea - but now you need to know how to make it! Makeing a great cup of tea is simple and it starts with a tea infuser. An infuser is what is used for steeping the tea. A tea infuser basically functions as a tea bag. The tea...

Summer’s over and the kids are headed back-to-school! It’s the time of year when you return to your routine of homework, early bedtime and a host of extra-curricular activities!  Often, these changes can be stressful and can lead to a weakened immune system. The...

1. Make Personalized Blends for Gifts and for Yourself Mix up a batch of your favorite blends for sleep or immune boosting or whatever you like. Use these for yourself or give them as gifts. 2. Make Travel-Sized Products Avoid the hassle at the airport by...

Early research suggests CBD contains anti-inflammatory properties, reduces pain, enhances circulation and promotes regeneration of cellular activity. There are a wide variety of conditions that can be treated by using CBD ointments and other CBD infused...

If you'd like a natural alternative to chemical bug repellent, try making your own! Fresh Start has all of the ingredients you'll need to make this. Homemade Bug Spray Ingredients 30 drops citronella essential oil 30 drops geranium essential oil 20 drops lemon...

If you'd like to remove the effects of processed foods and other chemicals, you may want to try an Apple Cider Vinegar Detox.  Benefits may include: giving the body a good dose of enzymes increasing potassium intake supporting a healthy immune system helping with...

Ingredients Chia Seeds Toasted unsweetened coconut Honey Cocoa powder Oats Ground flax Vanilla extract Peanut butter Simply stir all of the ingredients together in a big bowl until they are evenly combined. Cover and chill the mixture in the refrigerator for at least...

DIY Elderberry Syrup All of the following Ingredients may be found at Fresh Start: 1 cup fresh or 1/2  cup dried elder berries 3 cups water 1 cup raw local honey 1 organic cinnamon stick, 3 cloves, and a pinch of dried ginger root (optional) Directions Place berries,...

DIY Vapor Rub Ingredients: 2 T beeswax, grated or in pellets 1/3 cup and 1 T coconut oil 30 drops eucalyptus essential oil 30 drops peppermint essential oil Optional: 10 drops of rosemary or cinnamon Melt beeswax with oil of choice until just melted - in...

Apple Cider Vinegar has been used for many years and many are familiar with some of its benefits. Here are a few: Can Help With You Lose Weight Lowers Cholesterol Keeps Blood Sugar Levels Regulated Reduce Blood Pressure Improve Quality of Your Skin...

Essential oils have been used since at least 3,500 BC and in the last several years have become an important part of a healthy lifestyle.  Over the last several thousand years, man has continued to find uses of essential oils in everyday life.  The following is a...

Essential oils are used extensively in aromatherapy and various traditional medicinal systems and have been used for thousands of years. Due to the numerous health benefits of essential oils, they are increasingly being explored by the scientific community for the...

The use of essential oils for weight loss is an old practice that has recently gained global attention, given the constant search for better weight-loss methods. Losing weight can be difficult, but since obesity is a very dangerous condition, it becomes important....

Vitamins and Supplements and Why They Are Important Vitamins are substances that are found in many of the foods we eat. Your body needs vitamins to work properly, which makes them some really important substances! Your body uses vitamins to do many things, like help...

Simply stated, organic produce and other ingredients are grown without the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, genetically modified organisms, or ionizing radiation. Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources...

Fair trade is a movement whose stated goal is to help producers in developing countries achieve better trading conditions and to promote sustainable farming. Fair Trade advocates the payment of higher prices to exporters, as well as improved social and environmental...

Essential Oil Dilution Guide Note: The dilution levels given are for high quality, pure essential oils.  If you are using an essential oil that is not a premium oil or has already been diluted by the manufacturer, the below dilution guide will need to be adjusted. ...

Types of Teas and Their Health Benefits From green tea to hibiscus, from white tea to chamomile, teas are chock full of flavonoids and other healthy goodies. By Julie Edgar FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES Regarded for thousands of years in the East as a key to good health,...

a) Green tea: Made with steamed tea leaves, it’s a high concentration of EGCG and has been wide studied. inexperienced tea’s antioxidants could interfere with the expansion of bladder, breast, lung, stomach, pancreatic, and body part cancers; forestall obstructive of...

A great cup of tea begins with fresh, cool, water. Measure the leaf - approximately 1 teaspoonful per cup.  Heat the water and pour it directly over the leaves.  For green teas, heat the water to the point where bubbles just begin to form.  For oolong teas, heat the...

Teas Explained   Black Tea - The most widely consumed teas, black teas are full-flavored and characterized by a tannic, woody flavor with subtle, flowery nuances. Body - Body refers to the weight of prepared tea on the tongue. A tea can have a heavy, medium, full...

Using Herbs Facials Using ordinary kitchen ingredients (fruits, vegetables, etc), you can make natural facial masks. By adding an herb or two, it's easy to customize  — to moisturize or remove excess oil, unclog or reduce pores, soften skin, and/or heal blemishes,...

How to Store Tea Tea absorbs moisture and other aromas very easily, so it's important that tea is stored in an airtight container, away from strong-smelling items. Most tea stores well up to a year, but it depends on many factors. Storage: Loose tea should be stored...