this week's tip | try drinking warm lemon water

I've had a few people lately asking me whether I've lost weight and although I have lost a little, it's not significant enough for it to actually be noticeable.  When I examined my past and present photos, I realized it's because I'm toning up that people are noticing and remarking.  My secret?  Simply drinking a cup of warm lemon water first thing every morning!

I started drinking lemon water about two months ago, after (my idol) Gisele Bundchen posted the recommendation on her Instagram, claiming that it boosts the immune system, balances ph levels and aids digestion.  Well I didn't need to be told twice and since then I've noticed several wonderful things.  Firstly, despite not changing my diet or exercise regime at all - I'm toning up!  Secondly, I feel more energetic - often not needing a cup of coffee afterwards!  Thirdly (which might be aided by my coconut oil pulling) hangovers are a thing of the past!

Drinking warm lemon water is easy!  The more lemon you can stand, the better: some people (Gisele Bundchen) squeeze an entire lemon into their water, others do half.  As for me, one third of a lemon (two thick slices) is all I can stand to comfortably drink and I believe it's enough to start reaping visible benefits.  I just muddle the slices in the bottom of my mug to release the juice and nutrients from the rind, then pour boiling water over the top and wait several moments for it to cool before drinking it as fast as I can.  It tastes great and has many other benefits, but don't take my word for it!  Here are some of my favourite articles on the topic, or you can do a lemon water google search for yourself.

Lemon water can improve your morning (and day) by the Huffington Post Canada

10 Benefits of drinking warm lemon water by Tasty Yummies

An incredibly effective, no diet/ no fasting, lemon detox by Pure Inside Out

11 Benefits of lemon water you didn't know about by Life Hack

this week's tip | try oil pulling

After publicly announcing my eastern medicine preference (and therefore basically declaring myself a hippie), I was thrilled to discover just two days later that oil pulling was taking cyber space by storm with its amazing results! I always want to take any opportunity to advocate for eastern / alternative medicine but not blindly - so I decided to forgo last week's tip to conduct an experiment instead: my own oil pulling experience which I commenced on Sunday 10th March.  Now, just one week later, I am already thrilled with the results and ready to dish out some advice on the matter.

Firstly, for those who don't know what oil pulling is, a very quick explanation is taking a table spoon of oil and swishing it around your mouth for 20 mins.  The purpose is to 'pull out' food particles or bacteria with the oils' sticky texture. Instead of going into details about the procedure, benefits, oil types to be used or success stories, I have linked up various articles that do so much better than I can - most of which are extensively researched on the matter and include references (for you skeptics :P).

My own results are as follows:
- teeth are much whiter (goodbye teeth whitening strips forever!)
- sensitivity gone
- hardly any plaque buildup during the day - teeth constantly feel glassy and clean
- teeth feel thicker and stronger 
- bad breath? what bad breath?  Even the morning breath is gone!
- skin is clearer
- MOST EXCITING (and completely unexpected):: THE WRINKLES AROUND MY EYES ARE DISAPPEARING!!!!!!!!!!!!  I know this is 100% due to the oil pulling because I've not altered my cleansing/ moisturizing routine or diet in anyway.

I've blogged before about coconut oil but for those readers who haven't already rushed out to stores (or THIS website) and bought the magical oil that has so many uses and properties: do so immediately!  Try oil pulling with it:  if only to see whiter teeth after the very first swish and save yourself the $60 you would have otherwise spent on whitening strips.

...If you find the whole thing repulsive or happen to experiment with oils and find another (eg sesame) that works better for you - coconut oil has many non-edible, household uses as well that can be implemented in every home!  From polishing metals to conditioning leather - there's really no limit to what it can do.

eastern medicine: my choice for healing

Of course if I break my leg, get poisoned or get hit by a car I would like to be taken to a hospital and jacked with as much pain killer as possible!  But as I mentioned here, my own copious experiences with western medicine have left me very unsettled and caused me to loose faith in it for daily life.  One of the points I struggle with is toxic medication which does more harm for the body than good.  Most prescriptions, no matter what they're for, eventually affect the organs or mental state and it's so sad that people trust their doctors and take them anyway.  The other (most important) thing that I don't like about western medicine is the separation that is practiced: that is the belief that all of our body parts are separate from one another .  When you put both of the points I've just raised together, it should (if you're a logical person) at least make you scratch your head!

There are many branches of eastern medicine.  Some, like acupuncture and herbology, are well known; others aren't.  I was introduced to a GP in the field by my mother in law, shortly after moving to America when everything that was ever wrong with me physically was heightened because of my homesickness, loneliness and fear of the unknown.  Shortly after the introduction, I was referred to a kinesiologist, who specializes in muscle testing and tapping, and who treated my then-current condition.

When I had my first sessions with both of these eastern masters they applied pressure to my ankles and told me, accurately, that I had endometriosis / something I'd known about for years but because of western practices (and their black and white approach that told me to cut it all out - reproductive system included) I still struggled with.  Both eastern doctors told me surgery was not necessary to cure my endometriosis and that with time and correct practices, it would heal.  Then they addressed another issue with my lungs, which I had been taking medication for for years and now no longer have at all!  From that point, there was absolutely no going back for me.

Since I started eastern healing, I am now able to cure my own migraines, minor headaches, carpal tunnel and cystitis very easily as they arise (I know I sound like a broken model :P).  All of these were reoccurring conditions that I struggled with for many years before discovering the simple, natural, cheap and non evasive remedies.  Now the frequency with which they bug me is decreasing as well.  Come to think of it, I haven't had one migraine this year!  I'm also managing my endometriosis and you should see the difference!  I feel like a regular girl with a regular period - I can walk, eat and function.  The pain isn't debilitating or nauseating anymore - much to the grievance of my western doctor who told me that, after 10 years with the disease, I would be either completely bed-ridden or dead by now without sugary. HA!

Being the over-thinker that I am, eastern medicine has invariably lead me to metaphysical healing, as they (mostly) go hand in hand and I discovered Louise Hay and her books about thought patterns that cause illness in the first place.  When I began having problems with my teeth (a root canal followed by a filling that kept falling out), I knew it wasn't the fault of my dentist but me making this happen.  I researched teeth and metaphysical causes for problems in that area and found out that the left side of the mouth has to do with problems with the mother/ right side with dad.  Just as I began going through a very difficult time with both of them!  I almost laughed at the correlation and how well my body was communicating with me, letting me see clearly where tension was building within me and what I was focusing on most.  I got to work releasing stress in that area and what do you think?  Haven't had any problems since. 

Eastern and metaphysical healing are very controversial topics.  In some ways, people are waking up and seeing the corruption and monopolization within the western industry, in other ways, they are not.  You only have to check out applied kinesiology on wikipedia to see how frowned upon and discredited it is.  I'm not pushing any form of medicine down anyone's throat, I believe in everybody's internal guidance leading them down the right path for themselves. This post is about me and my experiences which have formulated my beliefs and I know that what's right for me may not be right for someone else.  But let me ask you, have you questioned anything lately?  Have you done your own research about your medical condition?  Looked for, or tried, alternatives?  If you have, bravo! You are doing all you can for your healing!  If, on the other hand you have completely trusted your GP or specialist, as I did earlier in life, I only advise another opinion.  It may be vastly different and less expensive!

PS: Louise Hay actually cured her own cancer - so don't be cynical! 

this week's tip | try coconut oil

coconutbenefits.ca

My skin's been dry this week.  Despite my usually successful moisturizing routine, I've been waking up in the mornings to dry skin and having to reapply moisturizer during the day which I've never had to do before.  It might be due to the heater constantly running inside or maybe the drastic temperature changes outside which are also drying.  What ever the reason for it: it sucks!

In a moment of frustration yesterday as I was reapplying face cream in the afternoon, I remembered coconut oil: which the skin therapist I was working with in Atlanta recommended for my skin type, saying it would be perfect as a moisturizer, wrinkle preventor and (with its antibacterial properties) a pimple treater.  I'd forgotten all about this but I used coconut oil religiously for months until summer hit in full force and wasn't seeping into my skin as well as it used to, so I moved it into the kitchen as a healthy frying oil instead.

I must say, it did the trick! I woke up this morning with smooth, velvety skin.  But if that doesn't convince you - you'll be pleased to know that after just a little research online, I've discovered that many celebrities also use coconut oil as a face, body and hair moisturizer and each of them swear by its success as well!  Miranda Kerr, Jennifer Anniston, Angelina Jolie, Gisele Bundchen and Gwenyth Paltrow just to name a few.

There are so many wonderful uses for coconut oil - from beauty and skin care to the kitchen.  I'm confidant that if you try it: you'll love it!

PS: if you're like Will and can't tolerate the lovely smell of raw coconuts, you can find an oil that has virtually no scent, like Spectrum 

if you're like me and can't get enough of the smell that instantly transports you to a tropical island and you envision yourself in a bikini with tan skin and surrounded by white sand: try a super-frangranced one like Carrington Farms:

sarahscucinabella.com 

This week's tip | try Reiki

atouchofwellnessvi.com

On Saturday afternoon,  I kicked my new year off with a bang when I picked up my to-do list and crossed off something that's been on it for a long time: my first Reiki session.  Now I can wholeheartedly say to anyone who's been putting it off or is simply curious about it: you won't be disappointed.  My own experience was wonderful: two days later I'm still feeling energized and ... more complete somehow.  I've found out where my problem chakra is and even though simply being aware of it has helped enormously, I am also taking steps to correcting it for good.  Truly a great start to my 2014!

For those who don't know what Reiki (pronounced ray-key) is, I'll briefly describe it as an energy-flow correction and stimulation for the body.  It's an Eastern form of healing derived from the basic understanding in physics that everything is made up of an energy that travels upon different frequency waves - our bodies and everything within our bodies included.  Often when we're feeling sick, stressed or just off it's because of a disruption in this flow of energy, which Reiki practitioners are taught to locate and correct. (Click these links for more deatils about Reiki and our body's energy centers called chakras.  Or check out this 8min video which talks about both).

I may have already mentioned that after years of endless doctors and referrals inside of the Western medical system, I no longer believe in much of it and have been implementing Eastern and metaphysical methods for my own health grievances for the past three years.  I'll write a post and go into detail about this at a later date, for now I just wanted to share my Reiki experience: which was simply awesome and which I hope to revisit bimonthly or quarterly.

Despite having health benefits, there doesn't have to be a physical reason to try Reiki - depending upon your belief system, you may just like to experience it for the spiritual aspect that comes from connecting to the energy that flows between you, the practitioner and in essence the entire earth around you.  I really enjoyed meeting with and talking to my practitioner, it was kind of like therapy but much more enlightening and positive.  When I lay down on the table and she begun her 'thing', a lot happened to me that I can hardly describe but then again, I was open to it all.  There isn't a 'typical' reaction to Reiki, everyone is different and most people are on different frequencies altogether so I can't say for certain that my experience was how yours would be but again... it's worth it all just to try.