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.

Nutrients Improve BMD and Protect against Osteoporosis in Women

According to the Center for Disease Control, 16% of American women 50 years and over have been diagnosed with osteoporosis of the femur neck or lumbar spine. In these recent studies, plant-sourced calcium and black tea flavonoids showed promise in supporting healthy bones in women. Find out more: Plant-sourced calcium Doctors expect women to lose…

Diabetes Update: Nutrients Improve and Slow Progression of Condition

According to the American Diabetes Association, “One-third of adults living with type 2 diabetes are not at their A1C goal. The Association recommends that people with diabetes have an individualized A1C goal. The goal for many adults with diabetes is less than 7 percent. A higher or lower goal may be appropriate for some people….

Diabetes Update: Everyday Nutrients Reduce Chances of Developing Type 2 Diabetes

According to the latest figures from the Centers for Disease Control, 29.1 million people or 9.3% of the U.S. population have diabetes. Since 27.8% of people with diabetes go undiagnosed, that means some 8.1 million people with diabetes do not actually know they have it. Besides the risk of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemic crisis that goes…

Are these 5 sugars hiding out in your child’s lunchbox?

Sugar does much more than contribute to obesity. Whenever you consume especially refined sugar, you actually slow down your immune system, increase the inflammatory factors in your body, and reduce important minerals like calcium and magnesium. If your go-to stress reliever involves sweets, it is never too late to strive for a different option. As…

Well-Being & Healthy Vitamin D Levels

Increasing evidence suggests that low vitamin D levels affect a wide variety of health concerns, from mood and bone health to increased risk of a variety of diseases. In addition, our increased diligence in sunburn protection and a decrease in ability to convert to D naturally have led to a rise in lower vitamin D…

3 Ways To Think About Your Intestinal Health

If you smoothed them out and rolled them down the sidewalk, your large and small intestines combined would reach to a length of almost 28 feet! Whether you realize it or not, your body relies on your intestines for a wide variety of functions, from processing waste and absorbing nutrients to playing a role in…

Energy From A Different Angle

We are robbed of energy for a myriad of reasons. A poor diet, excessive or chronic stress, an imbalance of certain hormones or even a lack of exercise can contribute to a sluggish feeling. One of the most important things you can do to improve your energy is to ensure that you are getting ample,…

3 Things To Make Your School Year Healthy

The school year is just around the corner. As you scurry for supplies like pencils and spiral notebooks and find yourself in the midst of piles of discarded outfits searching for the perfect back-to-school look, don’t neglect one of the key components of a successful school year: a smart nutrition plan for your young scholars….

Because Women Need Healthy Hearts, Too!

Even though heart health might not be the first thing that comes to mind when the topic of women’s health is brought up, women should be just as vigilant in supporting their heart health as they are when it comes to more distinctly feminine health issues. According to the American Heart Association, a woman dies…

Give Your Breasts A Fighting Chance

Breast health may just be at the top of any woman’s better-health list. After all, according to the website Cancer.gov, about 12.4% of women born today will experience breast cancer during their lifetimes. Lifestyle choices, including regular exercise and a healthy diet, are at the top of the list when it comes to striving for…

4 Nutrients with Promise for Heart Health

Good results in the lab can lead to larger, pilot studies. These findings about DHA, vitamin E, fish oil and CoQ10 pay particular attention to potential heart health benefits. Also, discover which nutrients showed promise for protecting the ear and supporting improved sperm counts. DHA, metabolism, and lipids Muscles need a constant supply of fats…

Be Ahead of the Curve with these Early-Stage Discoveries

Check out these early-stage discoveries about nutrients that just may lead to larger, more definitive studies. Here are some of the most promising recent findings. Plant extracts build bone Fruit and vegetable polyphenols may benefit bone. In this study, 46 healthy postmenopausal women took a combination of pomegranate and grape seed extracts or a combination…