Tag Archives: physical health

ayurveda, blissful living, health and wellness, healthy eating, healthy living, stress reduction, Uncategorized

Healthy Ways to Stop Headache Pain

Did you know that almost a fifth of the people presenting to the emergency department go there for headache pain and for women between the ages of 18 to 44, I jumps to a third of the visits. Wow when I read this it was mind boggling to me.  You see severe headaches and migraines can leave you in agony, but even mild headaches can be painful enough to negatively affect your life. And stress, hormones and life can play a major part in bringing a headache on.

Instead of focusing on the headache pain and causes, I am going to focus on natural treatments for your headache pain.

The first remedy that I would like to talk about is the Boswellia tree. This ancient tree contains a resin that has potent anti-inflammatory properties. This tree resin has been included in studies treating people with cluster headaches, which occurred over the course of weeks, month, or even years. Cluster headaches are so intense that they have often been called the “suicide headaches.” The wonderful thing is that the Boswellia tree resin has been shown to provide long –lasting pain relief and has also been shown to decrease the intensity and frequency of these headaches.

Next there’s Butterbur. This is a perennial shrub and has been used to treat pain relief and headache prevention. This beauty has been shown to prevent migraine headaches, in clinical research studies. Butterbur taken twice per day has been shown to decrease the frequency of migraine headaches.  Please note that some Butterbur contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which may cause liver damage, so be careful when selecting your supplement to ensure you get a supplement that’s free of these harmful compounds.

Lastly, I want to share this goody for decreasing headache pain and you are going to flip when you find out. Ready? Well it is the good old vitamin B complex. B vitamins have become a popular treatment for the reduction or the severity of migraines and headaches. B vitamins contain riboflavin that has been deemed effective for the prevention of migraines. In addition vitamin B-6 has been shown to decrease headaches associates with the menstrual cycle.  Vitamin B-6 may even help decrease headaches associated with oral contraceptives.

All of these are available as supplements at your natural health stores. It is always suggested that you check with your healthcare provider for the correct dosage to take for you.

Wishing you peace, wellness and tranquility!

 

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN,AHP,CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous

Host of Blissful Living Show

www.rochelelawson.com

www.healthhealingwellness.com

www.blissful-living.net

www.youtube.com/rochelelawson

www.facebook.com/rochelelawson

www.stressassessmentmagic.com

www.freegiftsfromrochele.com

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The Top Ten Detoxifying Foods – Part 2  

 

In The Top Ten Detoxifying Foods part 1 article, you were introduced to the first five detoxifying foods The Top Ten Detoxifying Foods – Part 2 In this article, you are going to learn the remaining five detoxifying foods that naturally detoxify your body and how they work.

  1. Garlic – Garlic contains allicin, which is created when garlic is crushed and it converts into a sculpture-based compound when it enters the body. Toxins such as mercury, certain food additives and chemical versions of the hormone oestrogen binds with sulphur, enabling the body to excrete the whole package. Sulphur also helps keep the body alkaline which can help fight cravings caused by nicotine addiction.
  2. Kiwi Fruit – Kiwi contains the powerful antioxidant Vitamin C that helps the body manufacture the vital detoxifier glutathione. A study published in the American Journal of Nutrition found that when people were given 500mg of vitamin C a day levels of glutathione increased by 50% in just 2 weeks.
  3. Prunes – There are the ultimate antioxidant food, and provide twice as many antioxidants as blueberries, they’re nearest competitor. They are also important detoxifiers for other reasons. This fruit contains tartaric acid, a natural laxative and dihydropheyl isatin, which trigger the intestine to contract. This and tartaric acid combined reduce the time feces stays in the system, thereby reducing the risk of toxic reabsorption.
  4. Seaweed – Studies at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, have shown that seaweeds will bind in the body with radioactive waste. These wastes can reach us via food that has been grown where water or soil has been contaminated. Seaweed contains in high doses the minerals of iron, iodine, calcium and magnesium. Seaweed also contains something called alginates that have ben shown to bind to heavy metals in our body and helps prepare them for excretion from the body.
  5. Watercress – Watercress increases detox enzymes in the body, and may act directly on particular toxins. When smokers were given 170g (6 ounces) of watercress a day at the Norwich Food Research Centre in the UK, they excreted higher than average levels of known carcinogens in their urine. Watercress contains chlorophyll, which helps builds healthy red blood cells and boost circulation.

In fact water is so important, I mention it again in this article.

Water – Water is needed to flush toxins through our system, yet most of us spend the day dehydrated. You have probably heard that eight glasses of water a day is the required amount, but just aim to drink a glass of something as often as you can. Remember that its not just plain water that hydrates you. Coconut water is an excellent source to utilize for hydrating the body. It is full of electrolytes that the body uses and needs and it is very cooling to the body. You can also eat high water containing foods such as watermelon, celery, cucumber, pears, and grapes to boost your water supply and to provide vitamins to your body.

When you begin to incorporate these foods into your daily diet, you help your body to maintain a state of balance that leads to a feeling of wellbeing. You will not only feel fabulous, fit and well you will look it too. (www.fabfitwellgiftpack.com) People around you will notice your vibrancy and will want to know your secret. And lastly, my favorite benefit is your waistline will thank you.

To further enhance and enjoy a natural detoxification check out: www.the7daydetox.net.

Helping you to enhance your well-being!

Namaste,

 

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN,AHP,CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous

www.rochlelawson.com

www.healthhealingwellness.com

www.blissful-living.net

http://www.stressassessmentmagic.com

Twitter: @rochelelawson

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rochele.lawson.5

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Welcome Fall

When autumn arrives we definitely know that change is in the air. Leaves began to turn colors and fall off the trees. The air feels crisp and dry and in Ayurveda, we say Vata dosha tends to increase, which may lead to imbalances. This is likely to remain until February, when changes occur once again.

You may have noticed that you are prone to go out of balance in the fall; its restless, sweeping qualities can disrupt your physiology and psychology. Occasional constipation, dry skin, irregular appetite, difficulty sleeping, stress and fatigue, to name a few can cause you to feel out-of-sync. The predominance of the elements, especially the wind can cause all of these problems and more. The season of fall can bring with it great excitement for change but can also be quite overwhelming to us all with the advent of the holiday season. I would like to offer you some suggestions to help you transition into the fall season without too much disruption to your normal flow of life.

With fall being the onset of dry and cold days and nights, the first tip I would like for you to consider is a diet that is warming, nourishing and comforting to the body and soul.

Following you will find other ways to help keep you balanced and well during this season.

6 Ways to Maintain Balance This Fall

  1. First and foremost, you must regulate your mealtimes. Have lunch between 12 and 2 p.m., and dinner early in the evening. Don’t skip or neglect breakfast. This simple schedule will regulate your metabolism and hunger cycles, generate healthy agni (digestive fire), and help reduce the accumulation of toxins. I recommend herbal formulas for my clients that assist with toning the digestive tract, promotes healthy elimination and increases assimilation of all nutrients.
  2. Start by going to bed early – ideally by 10 p.m. Get in the habit regardless of the hours you have been keeping. Your body will thank you in the morning.
  3. It is important to pay attention to your diet. If you experience a lot of gas or air digestive challenges then opt for warm, unctuous foods cooked with healthy oils and spices.
  4. Eating leftovers, raw foods, or processed and canned foods will create an imbalance. Fall foods should include hot soups, as well as freshly cooked and lightly spiced split-mung Dahl. In the morning, have a warm stewed apple, or cream of wheat cereal or oatmeal with warm almond milk. For midday meals, try sautéing vegetables in ghee and warming spices. Get wholesome nutrition with whole wheat bread or chapatti. If you’re hungry between meals, snack on almonds, dates or fresh fruit.  Warm a cup of almond milk, flavored with a little cardamom, cinnamon or nutmeg or a warm cup of almond milk with a bit of ginger and a touch of honey (be sure the milk is lukewarm before adding honey) or even a little nutmeg before bedtime will enhance the quality of your slumber.
  5. Because the fall season is drying, skin that is neglected in this season tends to wrinkle and age faster. Give your body a daily massage with Organic Sesame Oil and support facial skin with the lipids and healing properties found in vitamin C and the B-complex will help to stop the aging process. With the rich body of the natural organic products and the usage of healing herbs and vitamins you will be able to pamper your skin and keep it soft and subtle during the fall and the winter.
  6. Imbalances in the fall can cause an increase in restlessness, anxious feelings and day-to-day mental stress. Making time for light yoga exercises, a brisk walk in nature and meditation will help combat those stresses. To calm the mind and emotions, connect with nature by taking short walks outdoors, weather permitting and find time to be quiet for a few minutes each day. If you can try to meditate for 15-30 minutes each day that’s great however if you can only get 5 minutes in that is perfect too. By doing these vitality enhancing things you will not only support your natural resistance to emotional stress and fatigue but you will be aiding your body to increase its immunity.

Happy Fall!

Wishing you much health and wellness!

Namaste,

 

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN,AHP,CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous

www.rochlelawson.com

www.healthhealingwellness.com

www.blissful-living.net

http://www.stressassessmentmagic.com

Twitter: @rochelelawson

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rochele.lawson.5

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Blissful Feet

Summer time is a wonderful time of the year. The choices for footwear are endless. Strappy sandals. T-strap block heels. Colorful pumps. Espadrille wedges. Pretty much anything goes!

With all the fabulous footwear choices and activities that occur during this time of year, sometimes we push to the edge! We do too much, walk a bit too far or stand a bit too long.

Even in our most comfy pair of shoes, our feet are hot, sore, tired and inflamed. This can cause us to be off balance and centered creating aches and pains in our lower back, hips, thighs, knees, calves and toes.

Ever been there?

If yes, then usage of essential oils may be just the thing you need.

Just as the choices for summer footwear are plenty, so are the choices for pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory essential oils.

Essential Oils for Blissful Feeling Feet

Peppermint essential oil increases circulation, stops muscle spasms, and is also a pain reliever.

German Blue Chamomile is an intensely blue, spicy-scented essential oil. It’s best used for pain, muscle soreness and spasms, inflammation and sprains.

Helichrysum
For decades, Helichrysum essential oil has been successfully used in Europe for profound pain relief. It reduces inflammation and relaxes tight muscles and connective tissue, among other actions.

Marjoram 
Known as the “happiness herb” and the “joy of the mountains,” marjoram has strong sedative properties. The essential oil is excellent in treating stiffness, muscle spasms and arthritis pain.

Rosemary essential oil is promoted for its ability to relieve pain, which is why it’s widely when treating muscle pains and even arthritis.

Ginger essential oil has been shown to inhibit the chemical signalers involved in the sensation of pain.
Blissful Therapies to Relieve foot pain utilizing essential oils

Massage
Mix 10 to 12 drops of essential oil with one ounce of carrier oil. The most recommended carrier oil for this method is coconut oil as it is clear, light and does not oxidize. Massage the mixture onto the effected area. Keep in mind that “hot” oils such as peppermint can bring strong sensations to the skin, so apply with care.

Soak  Add one cup of Epsom salt and 8-10 drops of essential oil to a basin or bucket. Fill with warm water and immerse your feet for 15 minutes.

Compress
Fill a bowl or sink with warm water. Add 3 to 5 drops of essential to the water and stir. Soak a washcloth in the water, wring, then apply to the affected area. These compresses can be used for 15 to 20 minutes at a time.

When choosing essential oils, please choose a reputable brand that provide therapeutic grade essential oils and uses organically-harvested plant materials and the most potent parts of the plants when creating the essential oil.

And always test mixtures, baths or compresses on a small area of skin to ensure you don’t have an allergic reaction to particular oil.
*If you are pregnant or nursing, it’s best not to use essential oils. If you’re taking medication, consult with your doctor before using.
Would you like to learn more about how to use essential oils to create your Bliss in your Life? Click here [http://www.feelingfabulous.net] for some of my tips on how to use essential oils in your life.

p.s. please feel free to comment. I would love to hear from you.

Namaste,

 

blissful-feetRochel Marie Lawson, RN, AHP, CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous

Host of Blissful Living

Twitter: @rochelelawson

Instagram: rochelelawson

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ rochele.lawson.5

Www.blissful-living.net

 

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Reverse Mourning the Mornings

How many of you dread waking up in the morning? No matter how much sleep you get you simply hate getting up in the morning and not because you are tired but rather because it is the morning? We have all been there. It’s morning and when that dreaded alarm clock goes off you muster up all the ump you have in you and you either hit the snooze button or you get up.

Sadly most of us are sleep deprived due to various reasons from insomnia to over stimulation of the mind. When we are plague with sleep challenges it is difficult for our brains and bodies that have been asleep for hours, to shift from sleep to wake at the sound of an alarm.  Often times a busy day lies ahead so we must struggle to get a grip on our immediate racing thoughts upon waking up. Having a morning mindfulness routine and practice can help awaken the brain and bring balance and focus to your morning. You may even find with a regular routine of morning mindfulness, you begin to enjoy waking up for the quiet and peaceful moments that starts your day.

Here are a few blissful tips to help you enjoy waking up in the morning.

Upon Waking Up Observe Your Breath

Feel your breath as it moves in and out of your body. Focus on this breath and allow your mind to engage in the process of inhaling and exhaling. If your mind wanders in to other thoughts such as how you would like to just stay in bed, simply note the thought, take 5 more deep breaths in and release them out then rise and get out of bed.

Let The Sunshine In

Upon arising out of bed, before you do anything else such as going to the bathroom or taking a shower, open up the blinds and curtains in your room and let the sunshine in. If the day is a cloudy day do not fret, still open up your window dressings and let the day light in. This has an immediate effect on your brain stimulating the receptors in the brain that differentiate day and night. The light awakens the brain, which then sends signals to the body to wake up and get ready for the day.

Find A Comfortable Spot

Once you have opened up your windows, find a comfortable spot to sit near the window, stretch your arms over your head and then relax them at your sides and let the warmth of the sunshine hit your face so that it can awaken the circulation in your face.  Thus further enhancing the mindfulness waking up process.

Observe The Weather

Look out the window and bath your face in the natural light. Take a moment to observe the weather outside as you gaze out your window from your comfortable spot. Notice if the day is sunny, cloudy, rainy, windy or foggy? What color is the sky? How bright is the sunshining?

Become aware of your feelings, positive or negative about the current weather situation outside. Notice what arises in your mind as you allow yourself to experience the weather in this manner. Take a deep breath in and release it out.

Stand Up And Start Your Day

Plant your feet firmly on the ground and sit there for a moment or two. Notice the texture of the floor. Is it carpeted, hard wood or tile? Does it feel cold? Hot? Stand straight up, stretch your arms up high above your head and take a deep breath in and exhale out, lower your arms and get moving toward your Blissful Day!

Wishing you peace to your mind, wellness to your body and tranquility to your spirit.

Namaste,

 

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN, AHP, CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous and The Wellness Architect Sin título

www.rochelelawson.com
www.healthhealingwellness.com
www.blissful-living.net
www.youtube.com/rochelelawson
www.facebook.com/rochelelawson
www.stressassessmentmagic.com
www.freegiftsfromrochele.com
www.linkedin.com/rochelelawson

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Your Skin’s Biggest Enemy and Friends

Your Skin’s Biggest Enemy

Everyday stress can make you look older but you have the power to stop this from happening. Everyday I amaze people when I tell them how old I am. They often think that I am at least 20 years younger than I am. I often hear that my skin looks amazing. What I learned a long time ago is not to let stress or anxiety take a toll on my health and well being and my skin. You can often tell just by looking at someone how much stress they have had in their lives and how much of a toll it has taken on their wellbeing, just by looking at their face.

You see each one of us at one point and time in our lives has suffered from the stress provoked acne breakout.  This happens because stress and anxiety triggers hormones and neurotransmitters that inflame the skin and causes the skin to become a breeding ground for acne.  When your brain senses psychological stress it turns on the stress related hormones. The result is an acne producing cocktail of adrenaline, cortisol, free radicals triggering angiotensin and inflammation generating cytokines that courses through your body eroding your skin’s plumping collagen and sacred defenses.  When this happens during short-term stress or anxiety, it is not too much of a problem. The trouble is when stress and anxiety become a chronic problem, which often goes unnoticed.

The chronic state of stress continues bathing of the skin in the stress hormones, which begins to damage your complexion from the inside out. Over time the increased exposure to cortisol can inhibit the growth of fibroblast cells, that make new collagen, but it doesn’t slow the breakdown of old tissue. This may lead to skin tissue lost at an accelerated rate.  Chronic stress also boosts the production of free radicals and reduces protective antioxidants making your skin more vulnerable to wrinkles, pigmentation spots and dullness.

Skin inflammation often occurs in response to emotional stress and the inflammatory process damages and ages skin. Your immune system is not meant to be turned up 24/7 and than constant low grade inflammation may further degrade collagen and hinder skin’s ability to replenish. Plus inflammation compromises your skin’s barrier function, which can leave your complexion drier, duller and more prone to irritation. When you live in a constant state of stress it becomes harder for your skin to repair itself naturally, form healthy collagen and elastin and heal the damaged areas.

Your Skin’s Biggest Friends

So now you may be wondering how in the world can I prevent this from happening when often times I don’t even realize that I am stressed, well let me share with you some of the methods I use to keep my skin looking fabulous while keeping stress and anxiety at bay.

We all know that exercise is good for you in so many ways in that it boost circulation and relieves stress. In fact, exercise decrease cortisol levels and inflammation and you actually look younger, fresher and healthier after you exercise. Exercising for even 10 minutes has been shown to have a significant effect on the appearance of your skin.

Something that has wonderfully soothing effects on the mind and the body is listening to some soothing music. Soothing music is known to reduce cortisol and inflammation. So go ahead an indulge in some soothing music by turning on your computer playlist and let the melodies of the music relax your mind and your body and heal your skin from the inside out.

Being in nature or surrounded by green space has a soothing effect on the brain as well and can reduce cortisol and anxiety in adults. Taking a walk in nature can do wonders to relax the mind. A relaxed mind equals decreased stress hormones and happier skin.

At the end of the day, take a minute to write down three things that you are grateful for. Practicing gratitude is one of the simplest ways to beat stress and feel happier. You don’t have to do a 10-day silent retreat to make significant impact on stress and how you let it affect you and the way you look.

My Zenful solution to you for improving the way your skin looks and feels is exercise, music and gratitude. These three little things can reduce the hormones that lead to dull, tired looking skin, wrinkles, sagging and aging skin.

Wishing you peace to your mind, wellness to your body and tranquility to your spirit.

Namaste,

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN, AHP, CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous and The Wellness Architect Sin título

www.rochelelawson.com
www.healthhealingwellness.com
www.blissful-living.net
www.youtube.com/rochelelawson
www.facebook.com/rochelelawson
www.stressassessmentmagic.com
www.freegiftsfromrochele.com
www.linkedin.com/rochelelawson

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Anger

Over the course of years as a healthcare professional I have noticed that people seem to be angrier than in times past. I don’t know if it has to do with the abundance of stress that society is faced with on a daily basis or if we have just become angrier people. In Ayurveda, anger is associated with the element of fire and people of the Pitta Dosha tend to have more challenges with keeping the fire within them from sprouting into an angry rage.

Anger is an enchanting and complex emotion. It is the type of emotion that can spring forth from what appears to be nowhere. What seems like a sense of calm can in an instant become like a raging volcano when a trigger is activated and before you know it, the volcano has erupted like Mount Saint Helens. However you might be the type of person that has a slow burn style of anger that simmers and bubbles beneath the surface, only erupting in tiny bursts.

Anger is a fiery emotion. Even when it’s cold it requires a lot of energy. When we pay attention to how it feels in our body, we might notice a knot in our stomach, a clenched jaw or fist, tightness in our chest, shallowness in our breath and an increase in our heart rate. We may notice that the state of anger can strongly taint our thoughts and how we interpret the world in conjunction with our emotional element.

Deep within the anger, we may be storing feelings of rejection or inadequacy that causes us to see threats and injustices where no real threat exists. It helps to uncover and uproot these feelings and deeply held false views. At the same time, anger can have beneath it a wise and powerful protectiveness that can lead us to believe that we are enforcing a sense of justice in the face of someone wronging us. In fact, anger is so powerful that it can ruin any situation. If it is allowed to lurk inside us it becomes more spicy and intense and will make us sick. It is one of the most ugly and yet most powerful emotions that exist. It has astronomical power.

Rich, complex and powerful, anger benefits from contemplative time and reflection, which in turn can teach us a lot about what is truly going on beneath our outbursts. If you are prone to angry outburst or can’t seem to get a grip on the fire raging within, I suggest you follow this little exercise to help you get back on the cool track and calm the fire within. I call this exercise “Cooling the Flames.”

  • When you notice yourself feeling angry and aggressive, turn your attention and awareness to how you are feeling. Where are you feeling the anger within your body? What is happening at that moment in time?
  • Now take a few long, slow deep breaths allowing your abdominal area to fully expand and contract, taking 3-4 seconds to do this with each breath. Listen for your thoughts without adding to the inner dialogue, or trying to silence your thoughts. When you are offended, you’re usually holding onto a rigid definition of yourself. What are your thoughts saying to you?
  • Now come back to observing how the anger is manifesting itself within your body and breath coolness into that part of your body. Observe what the anger may be trying to teach you at this moment. Is it self -compassion? Forgiveness? Or something else?
  • Now affirm something that you want in the present moment that will calm the anger such as “ May I find the resources to understand and transform my anger,” or “May peace and calmness be restored within me now.”

Once you have completed the exercise, take another slow, long deep breath extending the breath to 5 seconds to seal off the volcano. Although it may take a little practice for you to get used to using this technique, keep at it because eventually you will notice, see and feel the tremendous benefits of utilizing the “Cooling of the Flames” technique. You will gain a greater sense of control and be able to align yourself with your natural, balanced and peaceful state.

When you are ready you can take the “Cooling of the Flames” to a deeper level by learning how to awaken bliss within you and your life. (www.awakeningbliss.com)

I welcome your comments below.

Wishing peace to your mind, wellness to your body and tranquility to your spirit!

 

Namaste,

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN,AHP,CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous

Host of “Blissful Living”

Author of : “Intro to Holistic Health, Ayurveda Style”

Co Author of:  “Answering The Call, ” “Rapid Change For Heart Centered Women”  and “The Live Sassy Formula”

http://www.rochelelawson.com

http://www.healthhealingwellness.com

http://www.doublewidenetwork.com/index.php/Shows/detail/blissful_livng

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Green Super Foods For A Super You #1

Now a days we hear a lot of talk about super foods and how we should incorporate them into our daily diet, but what exactly are super foods and how can they be beneficial to us? Stress is a fantastic way to use up or burn up the precious vitamins and minerals that our bodies need to function, yet most people don’t even realized that they are stress, let alone as to what the stress is doing to the internal resources and fuel sources of their body. As the seasons change from fall to winter, winter to spring and spring to summer, we have an abundant supply of veggies available to us that fall into the “super food” category. Springtime is a great time of year to be adventurous and begin to incorporate these super foods into your diet. This is the time of the year when greens are especially fresh and nutritious, so why not take the plunge and reacquaint yourself with nature’s vast variety of super foods. This will do your mind and your body good.

You may be asking so what is the big deal about these super foods, why should I be concerned about them and what’s in it for me if I eat them? So here are the answers to all of your questions concerning super foods:

  • If you want to rock your workout, here is a super food that, you will want to incorporate into your daily diet, it is Arugula. Arugula provides more nitrates than other top vegetable source, such as rhubarb, celery and spinach. Why is that beneficial for you? Nitrates relax the blood vessels and lowers blood pressure, accelerating blood flow so energizing oxygen is delivered to cells throughout your body more efficiently. As a result, your workout might feel a little easer: Nitrates reduce your muscles’ need for oxygen during exercise, so you don’t tire as quickly.
  • To improve your digestion, eat more asparagus. These tender thin green stalks are rich in inulin, a unique fiber that doesn’t break down in our digestive system until it arrives at the large intestines. When it gets to the large intestines it feeds the beneficial bacteria that keep your intestine healthy and may help your body absorb more nutrients. Asparagus is also rich in vitamin A, Zeaxanthin and lutein, all great for eye health.
  • If you are looking to maintain strong bones or improve your bone health then you will want to incorporate Bok Choy into your diet. This cabbage variant is packed with bone friendly nutrients, such as calcium, which is well absorbed for a vegetable sour of the mineral. The reason is that Bok Choy is low in oxalates, compounds present in many green leafy veggies that can bind to calcium making it harder for your body to absorb. Just two cups of this yummy, low calorie vegetable delivers as much calcium as a half a glass of milk. Two cups of raw Bok Choy provides 80 percent of your daily dose of vitamin K needed to bind calcium to bone.
  • If you have been told that you are Pre-Diabetic or you want to just fend off Diabetes, then you definitely want to incorporate more Chard into your diet. One cup of cooked Chard delivers nearly four grams of fiber. Chard slows the rate at which carbohydrates enter your blood stream, preventing blood-sugar dips and spikes. This plant is a top source of magnesium, a mineral that helps the body use the glucose-regulating hormone insulin more effectively. Chard also contains syringic acid, a substance that blocks the breakdown of starch into sugars, helping to regulate blood sugar levels. Given the fact that many of us only get half the fiber and less than two-thirds of the magnesium we need, Chard is a good source of these blood sugar balancing nutrients.
  • Looking to build your immune system up or to fight off a cold, then you want to eat more dandelion greens. This veggie is high in vitamin A, a nutrient that keeps the lining of our airways healthy, which is one of the first defenses against bacteria and pathogens that cause the common cold and other respiratory illness. Just one cup of raw dandelion greens boast 110 percent of your daily dose of Vitamin A, which is twice the amount you’d get from the same serving of spinach and 10 times the amount you would get from eating the same amount of broccoli. Dandelion greens are high in vitamin C, which is great for boosting the immune system.

Here’s a little tip, if you want to get more of these yummy green veggies into your diet, you can incorporate them into salads, stir-fry’s or smoothies. Once you start eating these goodies, I guarantee that you will love them and your mind and body will thank in you many ways beginning with the essence of feeling more energized, healthy and vibrant. So eat up. What are you waiting for?

I welcome your comments, tips and suggestions below.

Wishing you peace to your mind, wellness to your body and tranquility to your spirit.

Namaste,

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN, AHP, CMS

The Queen of Feeing Fabulous

www.rochelelawson.com

www.healthhealingwellness.com

www.stressassessmentmagic.com

www.youtub.com/rochelelawson

www.facebook.com/rochelelawson

http://www.doublewidenetwork.com/index.php/Shows/detail/blissful_livng

info@healthhealingwellness.com

 

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ayurveda, blissful living, health and wellness, healthy living, stress reduction, Uncategorized

Preventative Medicine: Adopt A Morning Routine

Creating a morning routine is a very important aspect in Ayurveda to help the body maintain balance and manage stress. Clearly, our daily activities have a profound impact on our general health, and Ayurveda addresses this by stating guidelines for creating a daily routine that is actually considered a form of preventative medicine.

Depending on your dosha (vata, pitta or kapha) there will be variances in your routine, but for the most part the routine is intended to keep all doshas in a state of health, equilibrium and balance. It is a great way to have a stabilized behavior pattern so that we don’t get too overwhelmed and stressed through the day.

Create Your Routine

First, make a list of all the things you like or need to do in your day. Place all the activities in a specific order that will give you a sense of predictability and release you from having to figure out what’s coming next. Within your routine, your body will learn to relax as you complete the same tasks and activities at the same time each day.  

Keep in mind the different stages of the day. Between the hours of 2 and 6 am is what we call the Vata time when everything is free-floating and all over the place. In the early morning, between 6 and 10 am, we have the cool, heavy energy of Kapha that can make us feel sluggish if we stay in bed. At midday, when the sun is at its peak, Pitta, the fire dosha, is dominant.

With this information, you can arrange your routine so you make the most of what you do on a daily basis. You’ll know at which times of day you feel sluggish, so you can plan to do activities that will remove some sluggishness.

Healthy Morning Routine

Here is an example of a healthy morning routine.

Generally, it’s best to arise with the sun or just before the sun, between the hours of 6 and 7 am. Just before sunrise is a good time to drink a nice warm glass of water with a drop of lemon essential oil to get your digestive fire going and get your metabolism on track. This is also the best time to empty your bowels. 

Next, brush your teeth. Then you want to take care of your face and eyes. Gently wash your face, paying special attention to removing any sleep or cruddy stuff around your eyes. This is also a good time to blow your nose if you have mucus that has built up. Take a warm towel and place it on your face to allow the warmth to be absorbed.

Gargle with warm water that has a drop of lemon or peppermint essential oil to loosen up your vocal chords.

After this, give yourself a body massage with organic oil such as coconut, sesame or sunflower oil. It’s a good idea to massage before you step in the shower because it will help increase your circulation, help remove any toxic materials that have been sitting in your muscles over night, and help moisturize your skin. Be very careful not to get any oil on the bottom of your feet so you don’t slip in the shower!

Finally, if you have time after you’ve gotten your shower, do a little yoga or yoga asana postures to help balance your system.

Get dressed, have something to eat, and if you didn’t do your meditation or prayer before all of this, it’s a good time to do that. Now you’re ready to get started with your day.

This routine will set a precedent of calmness and tranquility as you go about your day. You will be able to handle any stressful situation that arises much more easily. What does your morning routine look like? Leave a comment below to join the conversation.

Wishing you much health and wellness!

Namaste,

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN,AHP,CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous

http://www.rochelelawson.com

http://www.healthhealingwellness.com

http://www.facebook.com/rochelelawson

Twitter: @rochelelawson

http://www.stressassessmentmagic.com

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ayurveda, blissful living, health and wellness, healthy living, stress reduction, Uncategorized

Why Detoxification is Vital to Your Health

I strongly believe that detoxification is something we should all do periodically. I suggest people do it four times a year, with one of those times being a very deep detox. Let me explain why.

We are surrounded by toxic materials 24/7. Many of them we know about, but many of them are so new that we’re not aware of how they are affecting us.

Let’s first define a toxin as anything that leads us to a behavior that’s not natural or conducive to our overall benefit. Our goal as healthy humans is to ingest things that uplift us, whether that’s organic food or media that promotes love and community.

Body Toxins

At this point, most of us are aware of the pesticides in our produce and the hormones in our meat products. Cell phone towers are contaminating our soil, which then contaminates our plants, animals and water sources.

Every time you take a warm shower, your pores are opening up and allowing all the toxins in the water source to rush into your skin. If you’re not using a filter on your showerhead, you’re setting yourself up to absorb a lot of chemicals that you probably didn’t even know about.

The prescription medication you’re taking may be helping one symptom that you have, but I’d be willing to bet that it’s wrecking havoc on another part of your body.

Its simple things like this that cause your digestive system to become sluggish or your whole body to be out of balance.

Mind Toxins

Our minds suffer from toxic entertainment that causes us to be on edge all the time, which causes stress.              ( https://ayurvedahealing.org/2014/01/27/how-stress-is-…ng-your-health/)

Sexual innuendo is so prevalent in our society now that you see it (and hear it) everywhere you go: in commercials, in music lyrics and in magazines. We’re constantly being bombarded with messages that aren’t necessarily healthy and can lead to destructive behavior.

What your mind sees, it perceives as real. When you watch a violent television show, it plants a seed in your mind that begins to move toward reality. At the same time, when you have a vision board and see the wonderful things you want for your life every morning when you wake up, a more healthy seed is planted.

Time to Detox

Let’s allow things in that are here to uplift the body and let it flow as a river instead of getting backed up and stopped.

Detoxing gets rid of all the toxic material within us so we can build healthy cells and have a strong body and a calm, peaceful and balanced mind. Choosing the right detox for you depends on how much time you have and how intense you’re ready to go. To do it effectively, you must do exercises to keep your mind at peace and connect you with spirit.

If you’re ready for a detoxification process, let’s talk. Follow THIS LINK to get started today.  

http://www.rochelelawson.com/contact

Wishing you Much Health and Wellness!

Namaste,

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN,AHP,CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous

http://www.rochelelawson.com

http://www.healthhealingwellness.com

http://www.facebook.com/rochelelawson

Twitter:@rochelelawson

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