Holistic Life with Manika

Food & Nutrition

Intermittent Fasting

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Intermittent fasting: I have been asked about intermittent fasting so many times. I want to bring you along with me on my journey to intermittent fasting (IF). I have been fasting for the last three years and now it is the only way of life. I have been asked about intermittent fasting so many times. I want to bring you along with me on my journey to intermittent fasting (IF). I have been fasting for the last three years. It is a way of life for me.

Give your body and mind a chance to break out of a pattern and give it a new direction. Fasting is a gift to an overburdened body and an overindulged mind.Fasting is indeed a denial of the physical needs of the body and the emotional cravings of the mind. The tendency of the human mind is to draw patterns and get stuck to patterns.

The ancient science of Ayurveda has spoken elaborately of the merits of fasting. According to this ancient discipline, fasting is an effective way to kindle the digestive fire and burn away accumulated toxins from the body and mind. It also eliminates gas, lightens the body, improves mental clarity, provides a clean tongue and fresh breath, and preserves overall health. However, it also does not recommend infrequent and long term fasting, that could deplete bodily tissues and create imbalance to the constitution. It favors regular and short term fasting, which could be on the same day each week or setting aside a few days each month, all depending on individual constitutions and cleansing requirements.

There is an increasing support for fasting by the scientific community. There is an over consumption of salt and sugars in our diets today than the normal requirements of the body. This can be seen in the increased incidence of water retention in the body, a major factor for hypertension and cardiovascular problems. Fasting helps the body reset.
Fasting, done properly, has another major advantage. It is a kind of ritual that can purify the body and mind and develop the pure qualities of detachment and equanimity. Whether it is done as a part of a religious sacrament or a part of a penance or as a mark of worship, fasting can only give benefits. Fasting helps create an attunement with the Absolute by establishing a harmonious relationship between the body and the soul. It nourishes the physical and spiritual demands so necessary for overall health.

However, fasting also has to be undertaken with an enormous sense of responsibility. There are, of course, norms as to who should and should not be observing fast. The very young, the old and infirm, pregnant and nursing mothers should be extremely cautious when it comes to choosing too fast. Besides these norms, it is also important how fasting should be observed so that we are able to take away the most from the practice.

Intermittent fasting is not a diet, it’s a pattern of eating. It’s a way of scheduling your meals so that you get the most out of them. Intermittent fasting doesn’t change what you eat, it changes when you eat.

Let’s start by going over the different Types of periodic or Intermittent fasting:

The 14:10 method: It involves eating for 10 hrs and fasting for 14 hrs. Example: 9am to 7pm is the eating window. You start fasting at 7pm till the next day at 9am.

The 16:8 method: Also called the Leangains protocol, it involves skipping breakfast and restricting your daily eating period to 8 hours, such as 11 AM to 7 PM. for 16 hours in between.

The 18:6 method: Where your eating window is for 6 hrs and fasting window is for 18 hrs. Example: oon to 6pm m is the eating window and from 6pm to noon is the fasting window.

The 20:4: This method involves eating window of 4 hrs and fasting window of 20 hrs.

Eat-Stop-Eat: This involves fasting for 24 hours, once or twice a week, for example you can stop eating after dinner one day and continue to fast until dinner the next day, completing 24 hours of fasting.

The 5:2 diet: With this method, you consume only 500–600 calories on two nonconsecutive days of the week, but eat normally the other 5 days.

I generally follow the 16:8 method of intermittent fasting. My preferred eating window is 12 noon to 8pm or 1pm to 9pm. I feel this method is most sustainable for me and easily fits well with my lifestyle & routine.

During the fasting periods, you eat either very little or nothing at all. I drink only water, sometimes with a pinch of pink salt and I include lots of herbal teas in my fasting window as well. Sometimes I also have black coffee.

Why do I practise Intermittent fasting?

It helps me stay focused and disciplined. I avoid unnecessary late night snacking or munching here and there just because of company or distractions. My relationship with my food and eating time has improved and it has become so sacred. I listen to my body’s needs and adjust my fasting or eating window accordingly. This has helped me keep my unnecessary calories to low.

I have gained muscle mass and lost body fat as I am able to manage my hormones better. I am a PCOS Warrior and if combined with balanced wholesome meals and exercises helps me manage weight, lowers estrogen levels and improves progesterone levels.

My mental health has improved as intermittent fasting has helped my relationship with body and food. My blood sugar levels are low (which are naturally high in women with PCOS) which has improved my metabolism, moods, anxieties and depression related to Polycystic Syndrome (PCOS).

Is Intermittent fasting for you?

I suggest all my clients give at least 12-13 hrs of fasting period. Your body needs to rest and rejuvenate and renew at the time you are fasting. During fasting one must always build up to fasting hours. You must follow the advice of a health care practitioner and plan properly before you jumpstart to anything. There are different requirements for men and women. We all are have our own requirements. Just because your friend has amazing benefits from IF it is noot necessary that this way of eating & fasting lifestyle will suit you. Get in touch with me to get a detailed guidance if you wish to incorporate intermittent fasting into your lifestyle.
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding you must avoid fasting and allow yourself to eat intuitively.

Intermittent fasting combined with intuitive eating can help bring balance and elevate your overall health goals.

The most important part of intermittent fasting is the eating window but somehow people focus more on the fasting window. It is very important that you eat wholesome, nutritional, well balanced meals during your eating window to provide your body with all the important macronutrients and micronutrients.

It is also important how you break your fast. Choosing alkaline, nutrient dense meals, eating in a calm environment and enjoying your food is very important. Intermittent fasting is not a fad diet it’s a way of living. If you are interested to make IF part of your journey contact me to help you kickstart your fasting program. I provide a Free Discovery Meet.

Four ways to incorporate fasting or transition to fasting, if you are a beginner:

1- Avoid sugars and refined grains. Instead, eat fruits, vegetables, beans, lentils, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats (a sensible, plant-based, Mediterranean-style diet).
2- Let your body burn fat between meals. Don’t snack. Be active throughout your day. Build muscle tone.
3- Consider a simple form of intermittent fasting. Limit the hours of the day when you eat, and for best effect, make it earlier in the day. Stop eating after 6pm but definitely do not eat in the late evening before bed). Avoid snacking or eating at night time, all the time.

Now, take a deep breath, roll your shoulders back, lengthen your spine, neck, relax your head. Breathe in and breathe out. Namaste.

Affirm:

I am cleansing. Water helps my cells detox.

I am grateful for the ability to tune into my body and any emotions coming up.

I am grateful for nutritious high vibe food to give me energy.

My body is light and ready to rest and repair.

Health & Light
Manika

What is Intuitive Eating?

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Eating balanced, wholesome, nutrient rich meals is the way to be, then you hear “watch your calories” and then there is all this buzz about intermittent fasting. Confused? Well, today I am going to share a little bit about intuitive eating, mindful eating and as well as what kind of “diet plan” I am on. Well, firstly I am never on any “diet plan” I am on a plan which is all about listening to your body – always! Though be mindful about it. Confused again?

Intuitive Eating – There are 10 principles of intuitive eating. These principles were created by two registered dietitians, Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch, in 1995, based on their experience working with clients. Here is my holistic approach to these principles.

1- Reject the Diet Mentality – Stop dieting and stop believing society’s messages that quick-fix plans can deliver lasting results. It includes throwing away diet books and magazine articles that promise fast weight loss, and rejecting any meal plans that dictate what or how much you can eat.

2- Honor Your Hunger – Hunger is the most natural biological process. Give respect to your body by honouring your hunger and needs for your body. When we don’t honour our hunger we create stress in our body. Food restrictions and deprivation causes overeating, and binge eating.

3- Make Peace with Food – as it is the most sacred thing. We earn money not for those pairs of shoes (well, not just) our main dharma is to feed our mind with good thoughts, feed our body with wholesome meals and our soul with great experiences! Give yourself the permission to eat that ice cream or a slice of cake (but hey just be mindful – will cover this later).Love your food.

4- Challenge the food Police – Shut all the internal and external voices who are saying “watch your calories”and “this is not good for you”. This step is very important to adopt an intuitive way of eating.

5- Discover the Satisfaction Factor – The satisfaction factor has to do with noticing and appreciating the taste and texture of food, but also the environment in which you’re eating. Sometimes you recognize that you are full but still don’t feel satisfied? Feeling full and satisfied can be two different things. Ask yourself do I like to eat? What feels good in my body? And What environment do I enjoy my food most in and not? “

6- Feel Your Fullness. …Yes, it’s important to eat when you’re hungry, but it’s also important to stop when those hunger cues are no longer present. It can help to pause in the middle of your meal or before you reach out to that slice of cake or even a salad to assess your current state: How full do you feel? Are you still eating to feed your hunger, or are you eating out of distraction, social obligation, boredom, or stress? Learn to listen to your body and intuitions.

7- Cope With Your Emotions with Kindness – Emotional eating is when we eat for reasons other than physical hunger, such as using food to help cover up unpleasant feelings and emotions. If you notice this happening, the first thing to do is to be kind to yourself. Cope with stress, be kind to yourself and then decide if you still want to eat. More on emotional eating coming soon!

8- Respect Your Body – Respect your DNA. Accept your body the way it is. We all can’t be the same size, height. the body you were meant to have—not striving for unrealistic expectations about how much weight you can lose or what size jeans you can squeeze into. Intuitive eating is not a weight loss plan though many women do end up losing weight. Including me! Why? In my opinion we liberate ourselves of all the society’s norms and when we lose that weight, we actually manage to lose some weight or maintain the weight on the scale.

9- Movement – You don’t have to go to the gym or do this or that exercise.You can choose to do a physical exercise which you can sustain and enjoy. It can be dancing, swimming, hiking, playing a sport or lifting weights. Why are you doing this exercise? To shift your focus! Workout because you like the feeling of the movement, not to lose weight or burn those calories! t!

10 – Honour your health – Your body is your temple. Give respect, kindness & love to your body by choosing nutritional wholesome, balanced, and enjoyable meals that you are happy to embrace.

Mindful eating Principles –

1- When eating, just eat.
2- Consider where your food is coming from. If your food is not grown ethically it won’t digest happily in your body.
3- Be aware – Notice your feelings when you are eating.
4- Listen to your body and stop when full.

“My Listen to your body” plan is that I eat intuitively, fast intuitively and try my best to be mindful when I am eating.

Love yourself and eat because you want to not because of any social obligation. When you say no and if a friend or family member doesn’t understand, don’t take it personally. Most of the time people are not aware and think that’s the only way they can show their affection towards you by feeding you. If comfortable then you may explain to them why you do not enjoy eating at this time or eating a particular food. I am sure they’ll understand. At the same time don’t just eat a particular food just because someone doesn’t approve!

Take a deep breath and next time while cooking, play some high vibrational music, bring yourself to centre and enjoy while you cook. Sprinkle the love on your food. If you are eating out, be generous and kind to people who are serving you. Show kindness to people who are serving you with a gift, happy energy or gratuity. Eat the food with all your love. Place your awareness on one aspect of the food, whether it’s the texture or the taste or the visual aspect. If even that sounds too difficult to do with your busy schedule, concentrate on just the first bite, the middle bite, and the last bite. Make your eating time a sacred one. Namaste.

Affirm

I treat my body with respect and nourish it with what it asks for.
I’m savoring each bite.
I’m free from old patterns and habits that involve food.
I am love and I feed myself with love.

Health, Love & light
Manika

What is Holistic/Natural Nutrition?

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Holistic – Concerned with whole rather than analysis or separation into parts.
The human body is affected by a variety of factors – both internal and external such as – food, exercise, emotions, and stress. As a Holistic Nutritionist, I believe that we need a balance of proteins, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients to help our bodies reach maximum energy levels and overall physical and emotional health. Every individual is different and requires different amounts of these nutrients. A Holistic Nutritionist creates a diet that matches each individual’s nutritional needs. Also, a Holistic Nutritionist is qualified to design personalized diet and lifestyle programs that optimize health.
Making the right and healthy food choices can help to prevent many health problems including heart diseases, diabetes, obesity, hormonal imbalances etc. Holistic nutrition addresses digestion, adequacy, balance, and moderation for each individual. A healthy diet includes the intake of the right amounts of vegetables and fruits, whole grains, legumes, dairy, probiotics, oils, nuts and seeds. The quality of the food should be good, clean, locally grown or Organic. One should eliminate or minimize (as much as one can) the intake of processed and refined foods. Consuming water and fresh juices are not only beneficial to keep one hydrated but also nourishes the body with nutrients.
Our body responds to the way we think and feel. When we are stressed, upset or under emotional pressure, our body tries to tell us about the symptoms which occur and we always tend to ignore them. True healing begins with self-awareness. Holistic Nutrition is not only emphasized in the physical body but also in our mind and soul. A healthy mind and a healthy body make true Wholistic ‘you’. So, A Holistic Nutritionist works on the client by educating them on how to make healthy choices in their life by giving nutritional recommendations with the concept of mind-body medicine -the relationship between the body, the mind and health. Spirituality, meditation, mindfulness, exercises, Yoga, proper nutrition and self-care, can help ‘YOU’ – your body and mind in harmony to make you healthy and fit.
If you have symptoms of any health problems or disease you should, of course, be under the care of a medical practitioner. However, it is a good idea to have the help of a Holistic Nutritionist to make the most of your efforts. Changing a diet for the benefit of health is always challenging. Don’t be too hard on yourself for making mistakes; this will only cause negative attitudes that can actually make your health take a turn for the worse. Have fun experimenting with different foods. Enjoy making a healthier you and let me help you with all your Nutritional needs. Invest & give yourself and your family the gift of love by choosing a Holistic lifestyle.

Here are some of my simple tips to get you started:
1- Always try to eat at least one meal a day that consists of strictly raw foods (i.e. a big- salad with a variety of vegetables, seeds, sprouts, avocado)
2- Consume organic whole and unprocessed foods diet whenever possible. Food additives, pesticides, and refined and chemical foods are foreign to the body and put unnecessary stress on the liver’s detoxification processes
3- Eat food that resonates with your DNA. Find out all the recipes which your parents, and grandparents used to make when they were growing up. Traditional food recipes are generally rich in nutrition and consist of a variety of food groups.
4- Eat at least one meal with your family on the table without any technology. If you live alone remember you are your best company. Make yourself a nice table, light up that candle and enjoy your meal.
5- Chew your food slowly and properly. There shouldn’t be any rush to finish your meals.
Give your best and allow yourself to rest and renew.
Now, Please allow me:
Roll your shoulders back, Straighten your back.
Take a deep breath in and out Repeat at least two more times.
Give your body a stretch and now get up and drink slowly a tall glass of water.

Affirm:
I enjoy the foods that are best for my body. I love every cell of my body.
Perfect health is my Divine right, and I claim it now.
Water is my favourite beverage. I drink lots of water to cleanse my body and mind.

Health Love & Light

Manika Kashyap
Registered Holistic Nutritionist & Yoga Instructor

Green Smoothie Recipes Made Easy

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Green smoothies are super easy to make, provide energy and health benefits, and are great for natural weight loss. My favorite benefit is that it is anti-aging and nutrient dense. You will learn top 10 tips to making healthy green smoothies.

I use my Vitamix Blender to make a smoothie every morning that I can sip through breakfast and throughout the day

Green smoothies keeps my energy level up and my hunger at bay. I enjoy a generous healthy smoothie in the morning, then I have a great lunch of my choice, sip on some more of the smoothie between lunch and dinner and have a modest dinner.

You will naturally come to your ideal weight by doing this. We have to stop this epidemic of going on diet pills and yo-yo dieting. Unless there are medical reasons (like hypothyroidism issues which slows down your metabolism), there is no reason that you will not lose weight if you follow simple healthy living rules.

But I digress… back to green smoothie recipes.

Here are 10 tips to get you going on your green smoothie journey:

1. Use one or two fresh or frozen fruits as natural sweeteners. Bananas, sweet ripe mangoes, pineapple, kiwi, pear, berries. The choices are endless.

2. Cucumbers, honey dew, watermelon are great as a base for extra water content.

3. Adding half a carrot or half of a celery stick one way of sneaking in some extra veggies. Again experiment with other veggies.

4. Add ice and/or water to make your smoothie to the consistency you like. I like thinner consistency so I can easily sip with a straw.

5. Choose a leafy green such as spinach or kale, or parsley and cilantro. Herbs have great detoxifying properties so don’t forget those. Rotate your greens and try different ones. Add about one cupful of a leafy green of your choice or start with a smaller quantity if you are new to making smoothies.

6. You can add juices to sweeten them more such as cranberry, orange, and pineapple. Please make sure you don’t add too much, as you get a natural sweetness from the fruits you are adding in.

7. Adding a tablespoon of hemp powder is an awesome way to get some extra natural protein. Hemp seeds/powder is a complete protein, has Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs), high in fiber and rich in minerals like iron and magnesium.

8. Please try to buy organic whenever possible. That’s less chemicals, pesticides, and herbicides in your smoothie.

9. I suggest you do invest in a great blender. And I am extremely biased with my Vitamix. It is a powerful blender that most smoothie enthusiasts and raw foodists use for their creations. It is pricy but once you own one, you will never look at another blender. And it will pay for itself many times over.

10. Have fun creating your combinations. Use left over veggies and whatever fruit you have on hand and get creative.

Here are 2 recipe samples for you. Enjoy! Please go to my site for additional green smoothie recipes and other healthiest foods recipes.

Green Smoothie Recipe #1

2 cups honey dew 2 cups, 1 cup spinach, 1 cucumber, 1 tablespoon hemp powder, add some ice or a little water. Blend it in your Vitamix

Honeydew is a great water base and natural sweetener and an excellent source of Vitamin C and Foliate. It is a great base to add to a green smoothie. The honeydew and cucumber together has an incredible refreshing taste.

Green Smoothie Recipe # 2

cranberry or orange juice, 1 orange, 1 banana, 1/2 cup of kale, 1/2 sprig of celery, 1/2 carrot, 4-6 pieces of Ice

Please leave a comment or feedback about this or share your green smoothie recipe experience. I love to hear from my readers.

Jaya Patel has a passion for holistic health and writes about super healthy recipes, natural cures, remedies, non-toxic products, and alternative therapies. For videos and articles, and to get her free smoothie recipe guide, visit her blog at [http://healthylivingbyjaya.com]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Jaya_Patel/1262278

The Secret Ingredient to a Healthy Life

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While in college studying nutrition, my friend heard from a teacher that it is easier for a person to change their religion than to change their eating habits.

But necessity is the mother of invention. When my dad got sick and was hospitalized for cancer, I started researching to learn how to protect ourselves and heal from cancer. While watching “A Delicate Balance,” on Vimeo I heard nutritional researcher T. Colin Campbell describe the results from the largest study ever done on nutrition and cancer as detailed in his book, the “The China Study.”

A friend had given me the book years before but it had been a deal-breaker since it advocated a vegan diet, which meant giving up all animal foods including vegetarian food like cheese and eggs. But in the fight for my dad’s life I was willing to do what it took so I read the book and couldn’t put it down. My first thought upon finishing it was “knowledge is power.”

The premise of the book is that animal protein causes cancer cells to multiply while plant protein causes cancer cells to shrink. This research is backed by empirical scientific evidence and published in scholarly journals. It is detailed in Chapter 3 of the book and would be a compelling place to start your own research. But the research is silenced by lobbyists for the food industry who don’t want this kind of information available.

After reading the China Study and realizing how many ailments are caused by the “Standard American Diet” or SAD, I vowed to go vegan. Turning vegan seemed like an easy choice to protect my health from the dreaded cancer menace.

Although a seasoned vegetarian, I lacked skill making tasty vegan food without cheese and eggs. Committed to the health benefits of a vegan diet, I enrolled in vegan chef school and trained for three weeks with a master vegan chef.

Throughout chef school I lived exclusively on vegan food. The first thing you notice is the amazing energy gained from eating the fresh wholesome food. Antioxidants color the fruits and vegetables which fortify our own systems.

When people inevitability ask where our protein comes from one expert responds, “I get my protein from the same place your protein gets its protein.” Leafy greens, grains, nuts, legumes, beans, seeds are some “whole food plant-based” sources of protein.

And the best thing is that the food tastes magnificent. Cashew cheese, almond milk and coconut butter are staples. Toss tofu cubes with nutritional yeast, tamari and olive oil then bake for savory nuggets. Steam tempeh cubes for 20 minutes – mix with vegan mayonnaise, garlic, onion, basil and parsley. Place in pita for a “mock” chicken salad sandwich.

My passion is well-being and vegan food benefits human health, animal health, and environmental health. Looking for a place to start? Mark Reinfeld of Vegan Fusion offers a series of cookbooks on Amazon.

Nancy Ivey, MA http://www.nancyivey.com teaches yoga for higher education and offers demonstration-style vegan cooking classes or vegan coaching through Skype. Email her at nancy.ivey@hotmail.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Nancy_L_Ivey/1604280

 

Can Drinking Tea Make You Live Longer?

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Tea is the second most popular beverage in the world, after water. Asian cultures drink gallons of green, oolong and other teas, and the Brits consume large quantities of black tea. In fact, everywhere in the world, tea is a regular part of life. In many cases, we drink tea because we like it, but as it turns out, it may be extremely healthy for us, too.

Over the years there’s been tons of research on the benefits of tea to our health. And, as we learn more and more, it’s becoming clear that drinking tea may be one of the best things we can do to protect our health and prolong our lives. The University of Toronto Medical Journal outlines the many benefits that drinking tea can offer

Prevention of Heart Disease

Studies have shown that regular tea consumption can actually lower cholesterol levels circulating in the blood. In fact, some studies have shown tea to reduce total cholesterol by as much as 6.5% and LDL cholesterol by as much as 11%. A reduction in cholesterol prevents atherosclerosis, a condition in which the arteries that carry blood become narrowed due to a buildup of plaque. The plaque that builds up in our arteries is created when LDL cholesterol oxidizes.

Prevention of Cancer

Tea has been shown to reduce the risk of several forms of cancer. In fact, tea has been shown to reduce lung tumors by 80% in laboratory mice. Tea has also been effective in human studies on cancer, including breast cancer, colon cancer and gastric cancer.

Weight Loss

Tea has also been shown to be an effective weight loss supplement. Tea increases energy expenditure, promotes fat oxidation and decreases fat storage. Many studies have shown that drinking tea in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise can help you lose more weight than diet and exercise alone.

Improvement in Intestinal Tract Bacteria

Regular tea consumption can help improve the bacteria that live in your intestinal tract; eliminating harmful bacteria and helping beneficial bacteria to flourish. Tea has been shown to reduce the level of H pylori bacteria in the stomach. H pylori is associated with the development of ulcers.

Getting Your Daily Dose

The recommended dose of tea for health benefits is about 30 ounces per day – the equivalent of 2 ½ cans of soda. While this may seem like a lot, it’s easy to consume this amount if you replace some of the other beverages you consume with tea. Consider this:

Replace one cup of your morning coffee with a cup of tea instead – that’s 8 ounces.

Have one bottle of green tea with lunch instead of a bottled soda – that’s another 12 ounces.

For an afternoon break, make a relaxing cup of tea instead of a snack. You’ll save calories and get another 8 ounces of tea.

Have a cup of lavender or mint tea before bed – you’re getting another eight ounces of tea, and you’ll sleep better too!

Which tea is best?

There are literally thousands of varieties of tea available – so much that you may be confused about which you should be drinking. Probably the best tea for you is the one that you like, because if you like it you’ll drink more of it. However, if you’re choosing tea strictly for the health benefits, here are some suggestions to help you choose the tea that will give you the most benefit.

Choose green tea over black – Green tea is unfermented, which means that more of the original anti-oxidants are intact. It is believed that green tea has more health benefits than black tea because these anti-oxidants remain in their natural state. If you don’t like the flavor of plain green tea, there are dozens of flavored green teas. They are just as healthy, and taste great. In addition, you can find bottled green teas that are very convenient when you’re on the go.

Choose caffeinated teas over decaffeinated – Caffeinated teas have the most health benefit. It is believed that the caffeine in tea works with the anti-oxidants to create the maximum effects. Those who are caffeine sensitive might try green tea, as its caffeine content is lower than that of black tea.

Make sure it’s real tea – There are many beverages that are referred to as tea that are not really tea. True tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant. Herbal teas, and teas like rooibos and mate are really tisanes -meaning they come from other plants. There’s certainly nothing wrong with these teas, but they don’t provide the health benefits that you’ll find in a true tea.

Drink it the way you like it- Tea retains the same health benefits whether you drink it hot or cold and whether or not you add milk. Just remember to skip the sugar if you’re drinking tea to help you lose weight.

With all the health benefits that we’re discovering about tea, it’s a pretty good assumption that tea may help you live longer. By putting off many of the signs and diseases of aging, you’re also likely to be healthier and more active in your old age. Tea is a natural, refreshing way to improve your health and longevity.

Jon M. Stout is the Chairman of the Golden Moon Tea Company. Golden Moon Tea carefully selects the finest rare and orthodox teas, which are processed slowly and handcrafted with extreme care. At their website, you can learn more about their current tea offerings, including their exceptional green tea [http://www.goldenmoontea.com/greentea/], white tea, black tea, oolong tea (also known as wu-long and wu long tea [http://www.goldenmoontea.com/wu-long/]) and chai. Visit goldenmoontea.com for all details concerning the Golden Moon Tea Company’s fine line of teas.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jon_Stout

To Detox Or Not To Detox

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One of the latest health trends is the Detox Cleanse. They claim to detoxify your body by flushing out toxins, while giving you more energy, making you feel less bloated and help regulate bowel movement.

So why the controversy?

Some detox cleanses suggest fasting during the cleanse. Which is basically just another way to starve yourself to lose weight. Starving yourself may “shock” your system into losing weight but it is not the safest or healthiest way to lose weight and keep it off.

It is essentially a crash diet which often leads to quickly regaining the weight and sometimes putting on even more than you lost. Fasting also lowers your metabolism making it difficult to burn calories while starving your body of necessary nutrients.

Some common side effects of using a Detox Cleanse and fasting include irritability, headaches, fatigue and difficulty thinking clearly. There are healthier ways to lose weight (even quickly) without starving.

Eating a well balanced low carb diet that is high in protein, vegetables, fruit and legumes is a much safer way to lose weight and keep it off. Replace whole grains for white bread, pasta & rice. It keeps you feeling full and energized longer than refined carbohydrates.

Exercise is a key factor to losing weight and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It is a healthy and natural way to burn calories, let off steam and relieve stress. Detox cleanses discourage exercise while fasting, making it more difficult to burn calories.

Detox Water drinks are not a cleansing fast. They act as a natural diuretic to prevent bloating and are a great substitute for carbonated and sugary drinks. Well. Now we’re talking. Drinking lots of water is essential for losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight.

Most Detox Water drinks are just water with fruit. However there are recipes that include vinegar and spices. Adding various fruits, vegetables and herbs to water creates a natural cleanse or diuretic. It also makes the water taste good which promotes drinking more water. The sweetness from the natural fruit also helps stave off the craving for sugary sweet drinks like juice or soda.

Drinking more water not only makes you feel more full, it prevents dehydration which causes headaches, fatigue, muscle cramps, light-headedness and constipation.

If you decide to try a Detox Cleanse watch carefully for these symptoms: headaches, fatigue, irritability and digestive problems. If you experience any of these symptoms you might want to rethink the fast and opt for a safer natural cleanse.

As far as an all natural Detox Water, drink away. It is a healthy natural way to stay hydrated, prevent bloating, curb your appetite and reduce the craving for fatty sugary drinks and sweets.

To get a free copy of my favorite Detox Water recipe go to https://www.irenegabelnick.com/free-recipe/

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Irene_Gabelnick/2365983