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Summer Fun

Monday, September 22, 2014

15 Reasons You Should Be Drinking Lemon Water Every Morning





If you are looking for an easy trick to improve your life and overall health, than look no further. Drinking lemon water first thing in the morning is a pretty simple routine to get into and will have tremendous effects on your overall health.
Since I started this simple and surprisingly healthy habit a few years ago, I definitely noticed the difference. Not only does the refreshing taste wake me up in the morning, it helps to kick start digestion and finalizes my body’s natural detoxification processes… And lemons are packed with vitamin C, B, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, enzymes, antioxidants, and fibers.
*According to the Ayurvedic philosophy, choices you make regarding your daily routine either build up resistance to diseases or tear it down.
So what are you waiting for to jump start your day with this incredible easy morning routine. Its benefits are endless.

1. Improves Digestion

Lemon juice has a similar structure to your stomach’s juices and helps to loosen and flush out toxins from the digestive tract. Lemon juice can help ease indigestion, heartburn, and bloating. It also helps to move your bowels in the morning, hydrates your colon, stimulate bile production, and infuses water in your stool.

2. Boost Immune System

Lemon juice is rich in vitamin C, which helps strengthen the immunes system and fights cold and flu. But not only vitamin C is important for a good working immune system, iron is another important nutrient, and lemons improve the ability to absorb more iron from the food you eat.

3. Hydrates Your Body

It is important to stay hydrated. Especially during the summer months. Plain water is best, but many people find this boring and are not drinking enough of it. That’s where lemon comes into play to make things more interesting. So feel free to not only start your day with lemon water, but drink as many glasses as you wish during the day to stay hydrated.

4. Boost Energy

Lemon water gives you an instant boost of energy and improves your mood right at the start of your day.

5. Promote Healthy And Rejuvenated Skin

Lemons are a rich sources of antioxidants that prevent free radical damage. These free radicals are responsible for pre-mature aging of your skin. Vitamin C helps to maintain your skin’s elasticity to prevent the formation of wrinkles and decrease blemishes.

6. Reduce Inflammation

Lemons have the ability to remove uric acid from your joints. Uric acid built-ups are one of the major causes of inflammation.

7. Weight Loss Aid

Although lemon water on its own is no weight loss miracle, it can definitely help you to achieve faster and long term results. Lemons assist in fighting hunger cravings, boost metabolism, and give you a stuffed feeling, making it less likely to snack in between meals.

8. Alkalize Your Body

Although lemons have a sour taste, they are one of the most alkalizing food sources on Earth. Too much acids can cause inflammation, obesity, and major diseases like cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer’s. Click here to learn more about the importance of alkalizing your body.

9. Cleansing Properties

Lemons help your entire body to flush out more toxins to prevent built-ups and damage to your cells, tissues, and organs. It stimulates your liver to produce more enzymes and work more efficiently. Lemon juice works as a diuretic to keep your urinary tract toxin-free and can also change the pH levels which discourage bacterial growth. This is very helpful for people who often suffer from UTI (urinary tract infection). And like mentioned before, lemons loosen and flush out waste from your digestive tract and cleanse your colon.

10. Antibacterial and Antiviral Properties

Lemons have antibacterial and antiviral properties. They help fight the flu, cold, and soothe a sore throat. Although people who drink their daily lemon water every day are less likely to get these in the first place.

11. Reduce Mucus And Phlegm

Lemon water helps to reduce mucus and phlegm formation. People who drink cow’s milk are often more sensitive for mucus production. So starting your day with lemon water can definitely help to lessen mucus if you’re not ready to go dairy-free.

12. Freshen Breath

Lemons freshen your breath and fight mouth bacteria. Although lemons are great for your overall oral health, avoid drinking or using it undiluted. The citric acid can erode tooth enamel, so don’t brush your teeth with it, but have a glass of lemon water instead.

13. Boost Brain Power

The high levels of potassium and magnesium show beneficial effects on our brain and nerve health. Lemon water can give you the boost you need to fight depression and stress. It creates mental clarity and more focus, making it a great drink for students or people with busy and stressful jobs.

14. Anti-cancer

Lemon’s antioxidants not only protect your skin from ageing, but also reduce the risk of several types of cancer. They are great in neutralizing acids as well. Cancer loves to grow in an acidic environment. Alkalizing your body may stop cancer cells to grow and may reduce the risk of getting cancer in the first place.

15. Get Of Caffeine

Many people are able to get off caffeine by replacing their morning coffee by lukewarm lemon water. It gives a similar energy boost to wake your body and boost energy as one cup of coffee would.

How To Make Lemon Water

Making lemon water is super simple. It takes less than 5 minutes of your precious morning time. Just squeeze half a lemon in lukewarm water. If you weigh more than 150 pounds, use a whole lemon.
Why use lukewarm (or room temperature) instead of cold or hot water to make this healing morning drink? Well, hot or cold water takes more energy to process, so your first glass in the morning should be lukewarm or at room temperature to slowly wake your body and kick start digestion.
If you love the taste feel free to add more lemon water to your diet during the rest of the day, cold or hot. It adds up to your daily water need, is less boring than plain water, and adds tons of benefits for body and mind.

Enjoy!

Friday, September 19, 2014

Ear infection: Acute Otitis Media- Inflammation of the Middle Ear

Since entering my third semester in my ongoing studies for my associates degree in Complimentary Alternative Medicine I have learned a lot about the human body and how it's fascinating when it comes to fighting against bacteria, viruses, and other diseases.
 


This week I learned about the ear nose and throat, mainly about the inflammation of the middle ear also knows as earaches. This can be caused by bacterial or a viral infection in the middle ear is often associated with an upper respiratory tract infection. This is most common in children, the mucus and fluid build up in the middle ear and provide resistance due to poor diet, stress, lack of sleep, or faulty elimination.
 


Symptoms of an ear infection:
Usually, the first sign is persistent severe ear pain. There may be some hearing loss, fever, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may all occur in young children. Infants and toddlers my repeatedly pull at their earlobe.
 
Wellness protocols:
Always ensure if you have a child with these conditions get diagnosed first by a healthcare provider. If they prescribe antibiotics in several cases, natural healing methods can supplement allopathic treatments.
A diet rich in raw fruits and vegetables, fresh juices, quality proteins, and whole grains is vital to build up the resistance to infection. Restrict dairy products to one or two servings per day and avoid completely during an ear infection. Avoid sugar, white flour, and processed foods, which provide calories but little micronutrients. Sleep is vitally important.
The nose, throat, sinuses, and teeth should also be examined to check for secondary infection, which will complicate the picture.
 
*Do not put any substances in the ear if the child has ear tubes inserted or if there is a possibility that the eardrum is ruptured.
 
  • High doses of Vitamin C supplements
  • Gently massage over the Eustachian tube in a downward direction.
  • stimulate blood flow and drainage of the middle ear by applying hot (but not boiling), then cold towels over the ear and Eustachian tube. Apply hot for 3 minutes, then cold for 30 seconds.
  • Propolis is a natural and effective antibiotic and can be given orally and used within the ear. Use 3-drops of propolis tincture to 7-drops of boiled water. Place a few drops in the ear three times a day. Mix the propolis with garlic or halibut oil for increased effectiveness.
 
Herbal Protocols:
  • Warmed garlic and clove oils mixed can be dropped into the ear and are antiseptic and soothing.
  • Warm Mullein oil is effective when 2-drops are placed into each ear. Be sure the mixture is not too hot. Test on your inner arm first before applying.
Homeopathic Remedies for Childhood Earaches:
  • Belladonna 30c: Sudden, bounding pain, sudden high fever, red face; Often children wakes in the middle of the night screaming.
  • Chamomilla 30c: Nothing pleases them, can't be consoled, will often throw toys after crying for them.
  • Pulsatilla 30c: weeping, wants to be carried all the time.


Herbal Formulas:

Garlic Oil
8oz garlic, peeled and minced
olive oil, warm, sufficient to cover
Warm the oil in a bowl over a pot of water or using a double broiler. Never put oil directly over heat as it can easily catch fire.
Place the garlic in a large jar.
Add sufficient oil to cover the garlice
Shake and then place in a warm place for two to three days
Strain through cotton or muslin, bottle, and keep refrigerated
Use 10 drops three times a day

Chamomile Ear Blend
1/2 oz Chamomile (German) or (Roman)
1 Cup Boiling Water
1/2 Cup almond oil
1/2 Cup vegetable glycerin


Prepare an infusion of chamomile using the chamomile and boiling water. Strain and add the almond oil and vegetable glycerin. Shake the mixture well. Soak cotton wool in this mixture and insert into the ear.


Ear Blend
1oz distilled water
1oz calendula tincture
1/4oz propolis tincture
1 to 2 drops of fresh nasturtium juice (optional)
Measure the qualities with a syringe. A few drops of the juice from crushed Nasturtium leaves can be added. Use 4-5 drops in the ear, four times a day.