An apple a day 
Friday, May 18, 2007
Five De-Stress Solutions
- GET MOVING - Stress raises your levels of adrenalin - the "fight for flight" hormone. Burn it off with a 15-minute walk.
- LIGHTEN UP - If you feel heavy-hearted, do something light - listen to soothing music, watch a funny movie or have five minutes of deep belly laughs.
- JUICE UP - Fresh juices perk you up with vitamins plus natural glucose. Try six stalks of celery (a natural tranquiliser) plus 20 white seedless grapes, a bunch of watercress and ice cubes. Too much work? Buy 100% Apple Cranberry juice in a pack easily available in stores. Apples are good for the heart and help lower cholesterol levels, while cranberry cleans your urinary tract.
- SUPPLEMENT - A balanced diet is best - but sometimes you're too busy. For an Asian slant on supplements, try cracked Lindzhi spores, an all-round tonic. Or try Q10, which supports the immune system and relieves fatigue by helping convert fat into energy. Find Q10 in sardines, mackerel, peanuts and meat.
- TRY QI BREATHING
- Inhale slowly and deeply through your nostrils.
- Pause Hold the breath for another eight seconds by tucking your chin in to "lock" your throat shut.
- Exhale by relaxing your chin. Keep your tongue pressed to the roof of your mouth. Slowly breathe out through your nose.
- Pause Tuck your chin in again. Pause for a few seconds. Repeat the breathing cycle for 10 minutes.
Labels: body and soul
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Cleanse Body & Soul in the Comfort of Home
Toxins reportedly come from the air we breathe, the food, water and drugs we consume or from products rubbed into skin or used on hair.
According to many naturopaths and medical doctors, a toxic body can be the root to many chronic and degenerative diseases. These include inflammation, autoimmune disorders, allergic conditions, kidney and gall stones, digestive abnormalities, skin disorders and even cancer, reports Sue Davis, health & vitality manager for Chiva Som International Resort.
Sally Mathrick a naturopath, recommends a moderate detox at home, particularly for those who regularly smoke, drink or have a high sugar diet.
She says that toxicity occurs from poor eating habits, excessive intake of caffeine, nicotine and alcohol. All of this coupled with stress, living in a polluted environment and minimal physical activity can contribute to a clogged system.
Ms Mathrick says doing nothing gives the body time to repair. Ideally, you will begin eliminating all processed foods, fatty foods, carbonated drinks, sugar and dairy from your diet a week earlier. Say goodbye to your morning espresso and stock up on herbal teas and purified water. Increasing your intake of antioxidant rich fruits and vegetables, and juices would give the body support in cleansing, adds Ms Mathrick.
Start the day with dry skin brushing that will speed up the detoxification process through the skin followed by a salt scrubs and Epsom bath. Cold showers are good for boosting circulation and will give you extra energy. Ultimately, though, you're bound to want to sleep a lot so it's a good time to relax and do nothing.
Afterwards, expect to feel so rejuvenated you may want to eliminate old habits forever. Once you've had a taste of what it's like to live life with better energy, clearer thinking and more happiness you may want to make detox a regular ritual.
3-day detox programme
Begin the day with a glass of warm lemon water (half lemon squeezed into purified/boiled warm water) or 1 tsp apple cider vinegar diluted in warm water.
Dry brush the skin with a natural loofah in upwards strokes towards the heart.
Spend 30 minutes walking or doing gentle yoga stretches to awaken the body and mind (twisting postures help squeeze toxins out of the kidneys). Deep full breathing allows the lungs to expel excess waste.
Breakfast - start the day with a fruit salad mixed with nuts, seeds and flax seed. Before lunch and dinner, sip half a cup of warm water with 1 tsp of apple cider vinegar to improve digestion. A mixed raw food salad with seeds and nuts is recommended for lunch. For dinner, a plate of lightly blanched or steamed greens. For meat eaters, steamed fish is recommended.
Hydration - the key is to drink 10 glasses of warm water slowly throughout the day.
The best shot of life is wheatgrass that can easily be grown at home. It helps clean the blood and is reportedly equivalent to 4kg of fresh green vegetables. You can arrange delivery from your local organic store or grow this easily at home on your kitchen shelf.
Home spa recipes
Daily dry skin brushing followed by a salt scrub is beneficial for detoxifying the skin. You can buy a salt scrub at natural health stores or make it yourself from the following recipes.
Scrub recipes
Sea kelp & salt scrub
Ingredients:
2 tbsp fine sea salt
1 tbsp kelp powder
1 1/2 tbsp coconut oil
1 1/2 tbsp sweet almond oil
1 tsp spirulina powder
4 drops each grapefruit, lemon, cypress and peppermint essential oils
Method
Mix all the ingredients together well. Step into the shower and massage the blend into your skin starting with the feet and working your way up. Turn on the shower and repeat the scrub all over the body by scooping water into your hands and massaging until the salt granuals have disappeared.
Thai salt & herb scrub
Ingredients:
1/4 cup (60g) fine sea salt
3 drops lime, 3 drops ginger and 2 drops lemongrass essential oils
1 heaped tsp fresh lemongrass chopped finely
1/4 cup (50ml) coconut oil
Method
Blend all ingredients into a smooth paste, then use circular movements to rub the entire body before rinsing off in the bath or shower.
~ article by Judy Chapman from The Business Times
According to many naturopaths and medical doctors, a toxic body can be the root to many chronic and degenerative diseases. These include inflammation, autoimmune disorders, allergic conditions, kidney and gall stones, digestive abnormalities, skin disorders and even cancer, reports Sue Davis, health & vitality manager for Chiva Som International Resort.
Sally Mathrick a naturopath, recommends a moderate detox at home, particularly for those who regularly smoke, drink or have a high sugar diet.
She says that toxicity occurs from poor eating habits, excessive intake of caffeine, nicotine and alcohol. All of this coupled with stress, living in a polluted environment and minimal physical activity can contribute to a clogged system.
Ms Mathrick says doing nothing gives the body time to repair. Ideally, you will begin eliminating all processed foods, fatty foods, carbonated drinks, sugar and dairy from your diet a week earlier. Say goodbye to your morning espresso and stock up on herbal teas and purified water. Increasing your intake of antioxidant rich fruits and vegetables, and juices would give the body support in cleansing, adds Ms Mathrick.
Start the day with dry skin brushing that will speed up the detoxification process through the skin followed by a salt scrubs and Epsom bath. Cold showers are good for boosting circulation and will give you extra energy. Ultimately, though, you're bound to want to sleep a lot so it's a good time to relax and do nothing.
Afterwards, expect to feel so rejuvenated you may want to eliminate old habits forever. Once you've had a taste of what it's like to live life with better energy, clearer thinking and more happiness you may want to make detox a regular ritual.
3-day detox programme
Begin the day with a glass of warm lemon water (half lemon squeezed into purified/boiled warm water) or 1 tsp apple cider vinegar diluted in warm water.
Dry brush the skin with a natural loofah in upwards strokes towards the heart.
Spend 30 minutes walking or doing gentle yoga stretches to awaken the body and mind (twisting postures help squeeze toxins out of the kidneys). Deep full breathing allows the lungs to expel excess waste.
Breakfast - start the day with a fruit salad mixed with nuts, seeds and flax seed. Before lunch and dinner, sip half a cup of warm water with 1 tsp of apple cider vinegar to improve digestion. A mixed raw food salad with seeds and nuts is recommended for lunch. For dinner, a plate of lightly blanched or steamed greens. For meat eaters, steamed fish is recommended.
Hydration - the key is to drink 10 glasses of warm water slowly throughout the day.
The best shot of life is wheatgrass that can easily be grown at home. It helps clean the blood and is reportedly equivalent to 4kg of fresh green vegetables. You can arrange delivery from your local organic store or grow this easily at home on your kitchen shelf.
Home spa recipes
Daily dry skin brushing followed by a salt scrub is beneficial for detoxifying the skin. You can buy a salt scrub at natural health stores or make it yourself from the following recipes.
Scrub recipes
Sea kelp & salt scrub
Ingredients:
2 tbsp fine sea salt
1 tbsp kelp powder
1 1/2 tbsp coconut oil
1 1/2 tbsp sweet almond oil
1 tsp spirulina powder
4 drops each grapefruit, lemon, cypress and peppermint essential oils
Method
Mix all the ingredients together well. Step into the shower and massage the blend into your skin starting with the feet and working your way up. Turn on the shower and repeat the scrub all over the body by scooping water into your hands and massaging until the salt granuals have disappeared.
Thai salt & herb scrub
Ingredients:
1/4 cup (60g) fine sea salt
3 drops lime, 3 drops ginger and 2 drops lemongrass essential oils
1 heaped tsp fresh lemongrass chopped finely
1/4 cup (50ml) coconut oil
Method
Blend all ingredients into a smooth paste, then use circular movements to rub the entire body before rinsing off in the bath or shower.
~ article by Judy Chapman from The Business Times
Labels: body and soul
