Author: Ramona Levacy Billingslea

I am a 50-something Texan with a feisty cat and a supportive husband of 25+ years. With a Master's degree in English with an emphasis on creative writing, I have taught creative writing at Texas Tech, won awards for my writing and been blessed to be mentored by Horn Professor and poet Dr. Walt McDonald. I earn a living by helping my husband's family run a health food store, but my avocation is writing. I hope you enjoy reading about some of my triumphs and tragedies as I continue to work on figuring out what life is all about and on growing my ability to share my writing. May your own journey be a blessed one.

Control Blood Sugar Through Smart Nutrition: The Best Summer Weight Loss Guide, Part 3 of 6

Read Part 1 and Part 2 Join Betsy’s this summer on a weight loss journey with our six-part series, The Best Summer Weight Loss Guide. In Part Three, we explore the importance of blood sugar control to your weight loss efforts, along with tips to help you manage blood sugar more successfully. Use these four…

Nutritional Steps to Successful Weight Loss: The Best Summer Weight Loss Guide, Part 2 of 6

Read Part One Join Betsy’s this summer on a weight loss journey with our six-part series, The Best Summer Weight Loss Guide. In Part Two, we look at some of the nutritional steps you can take to help make your weight loss plan a success. Choose smart Carbs (in moderation) When it comes to fat…

The Best Summer Weight Loss Guide: Part One of Six–Think Outside the Box

Join Betsy’s this summer on a weight loss journey with our six-part series, The Best Summer Weight Loss Guide. In Part One, we explore how conventional wisdom may need to take a back seat when it comes to the way you think about weight loss. When it comes to weight loss, conventional wisdom just isn’t…

Longevity: Could these 9 secrets be the key to longer life?

What can the world’s oldest people teach us all about living better, happier and longer? Learn how to use the Power 9 as a recipe for longevity in your own home—the nine lifestyle principles outlined in The Blue Zones (National Geographic, 2012) by Dan Buettner, a New York Times best seller showcasing five locations in…

There’s Gluten In That?: Infographic

10 Surprising Gluten-Containing Foods Whether you have an actual allergy or just plain feel better when you avoid gluten, you’re part of a growing group of people when you choose to eat a gluten-free diet. Despite its popularity, avoiding gluten in your diet may not be as easy as one would think. For one, gluten…

You Want To Know These Four Ways To Curb Your Appetite Naturally

When you decide to focus on a weight loss plan, healthful eating is a step in the right direction, but there are also several natural supplements to help you control your appetite. Many people, however, remain skeptical of products’ weight loss claims because of all the diet hype. Unfortunately, there’s no quick-fix diet or product…

Take the First Step to a Toned You: Be Summer Ready with These Special Exercises

Spring has opened up in all its beauty in Houston this year, offering us wondrous days of just-right temperatures, low humidity and light blue skies that make us grasp our opportunities to truly enjoy outdoor activities like walks in the park and staring at the stars with an enthusiasm undampened by the usual downpour of…

Move Over Muscles: Surprising Amino Acid Benefits

Amino acids. Strands of these molecules form the building blocks of protein. When you digest protein, your body breaks it down into individual amino acids and then reconstitutes them as needed. And amino acids are needed for a variety of functions in the body, in part because your body needs protein to build cells as…

Is Better Health All In Your Gut? : Food Sensitivities, Probiotics, and the Gluten Factor

Is there gold in bugs? Scientists and natural health experts say yes. The burgeoning field of the microbiome—the bacteria, fungi, viruses, and archaea that live in our guts (our stomachs and intestinal tracts)—is becoming the health issue to watch. The gut microbiome, evidence says, is linked to numerous aspects of health—from inflammation and autoimmune diseases…

Don’t Let the Skeeters Get You: DIY Insect Repellent

If you live in East Texas, you know that mosquitoes are a threat almost all the year round. With viruses like Zika and West Nile, protecting yourself against these blood-thirsty critters is more important than ever. But, chemical-based insect repellents come with their own set of potentially negative side effects. Learn more about chemical-based repellents…

Our Expo West Adventure: Discover the Latest Health Industry Updates with Betsy’s

Some 80,000 people descended on Anaheim last week, including members of our Betsy’s Team, to discover the latest and greatest in the natural health industry at this year’s ExpoWest event. In a sea of manufacturing booths representing foods, personal care, natural living, and supplements, we noted trends that underscore the depth and diversity of our…

5 Keys To Your Healthy Spring Cleanse

The birds are singing. The flowers are blooming. And your closet is overflowing with clutter that you just can’t stand anymore. Unfortunately, more than your closets may be overflowing with clutter. Toxins from the air we breathe, the foods we eat, and the stress we feel make constant demands on our bodies’ detoxifying organs. The…