Benefits of Stretching

Benefits of Stretching:
- increases vitality
- protects from injury
- increases flexibility
- strengthens the body
- improves muscle tone
- re-aligns the body so that it functions effectively
- regulates the internal organs, keeping all systems functioning efficiently
- slows the aging process
- enhances concentration
- fights depression

Stretching also assists in the elimination of lactic acid in the muscles that cause muscle cramps and post-training aches and pains. This is extremely important if you run or work out often, and by stretching fully after a workout you will increase your endurance and reduce post workout aches.

Stretching before a workout can do more harm than good; you should do a light warm up with dynamic stretching (such as walking lunges) before exercise and static stretching after.

Epsom Salt and all its many uses:

Epsom Salt and all its many uses:
I. Add to olive oil to exfoliate skin and add to shampoo for rejuvenating the scalp. Let the mixture absorb for a few minutes and then rinse.
II. For blackheads, boil ½ cup of water, 3 drops of iodine, and 1 tsp. of Epsom salt. Let the solution cool enough to touch and bottle; use with a cotton ball and apply to blackheads. Reheat and cool if solution separates.
III. Increase Magnesium levels in your body by soaking three times a week; Magnesium is difficult to get through diet, but it readily absorbs through the skin (consult practitioner if you have kidney issues). Mg is useful in treating migraine and tension headaches, fatigue, kidney stones, COPD, asthma, fibromyalgia, ADD/ADHD, complications during pregnancy and premenstrual syndrome, and cardiovascular disease. It also assists the body's use of serotonin which aids in well-being and relaxation.
IV. A 20 minute soak once a week with a handful of Epsom Salt, 10 drops of lavender essential oil, and half a cup of baking soda will draw out toxins, lower stress hormones, and balance pH levels.
V. Soak feet in warm water and Epsom Salt to soften and smooth.
VI. Add 2 tbsp. of Epsom salt to a gallon of water and spray for a lush, green lawn.
VII. For healthier roses, tomatoes, and peppers, mix 1 tsp. with 4 cups of warm water and spray plants every couple of weeks. This will strengthen plant cell walls, aid seed germination, photosynthesis, and formation of fruits.
VIII. Sprinkle Epsom Salt on the garbage cans to keep raccoons away.
IX. Use Epsom Salt in liquid dish detergent to whiten floor tiles and dissolve dirt.

Slow-Cooker Fajitas

You will need:

Fajitas
- 1 lb. boneless chicken breast (marinated in taco seasoning)
- 2 peppers (green and red; I had leftover yellow/red so I tossed them in)
- 1 large onion (mince 1/3 cup and set aside for marinade)
- 1 cup salsa
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- Tortillas

Homemade Taco Seasoning (I use this rather than the packets)
- 3 tsp. chili powder
- 4 tsp. paprika
- 1 tsp. ground cumin
- ½ tsp. oregano
- 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
For taco seasoning without fresh garlic and onion, just substitute (1 tsp.)  garlic powder and (3 tsp.) onion powder.

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Even though it is starting to warm up out there, this soup still gets the job done. Full of healthy tidbits and still tastes delicious!

 

You will need:
- 2-3 lb. stewing chicken
- 1 qt. water
- 1 qt. chicken stock
- 1 med. onion, diced
- 6-8 carrots, diced
- 1 bunch celery, diced
- 3 cloves garlic
- salt/pepper
- olive oil
- egg noodles
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tsp. dried thyme
- 1 tsp. rosemary, crushed

Step 1: In a large soup pot, drizzle 2 tbsp. olive oil and add the onions and garlic. Cook over medium low heat for about 2-3 minutes until translucent; add desired amount of salt and pepper while they are cooking. Next add the carrots and cook for another minute; add thyme and rosemary. Add the celery, cook another minute.
Step 2: Add the stewing chicken, water, chicken stock, and a bay leaf (or two) to the pot. Bring to a boil, skim any fat, reduce heat to simmer, and cover for 2 hours.
Step 3: Remove chicken from soup, let cool, and debone. Skim any fat and put the shredded chicken back in the pot. Cook egg noodles and enjoy!

Food Philosophy

                            Image by ( Love Veggies

  By ellevalentine)

Lately I’ve been pretty busy trying to keep everything together; fundraisers, clinical, studying, tests, presentations, process papers, patient care plans, trying to find time to sleep, eat, and take care of everything that comes after that.  I try to pour so much energy into the blogs that I posts, making sure that the information is accurate and interesting.  It usually takes me quite some of them together, which is why I haven’t had as many as I would like too. 

Then I realized I’m sure there is something I can come up with that does not require that much effort.  Things that are valuable to me and have now become second nature.

Since I am so passionate about food and the effects that it has on the body I will rattle off a few things.  My philosophy on food is that it should be simple, delicious, and healthy.  Not that I don’t appreciate a complex, well thought out recipe.  It is just not practical for me to fit into my current lifestyle.  Being healthy is a lifestyle choice and needs to be something you are comfortable with.  It should not be an everyday struggle and something you dread. 

That means getting to know your fruits and vegetables; what is in season and the best ways to cook them. 

Why I love Lemons

 

LEMONS, why I love them:


Our body runs on electrolytes, such as potassium, sodium, chloride, and magnesium. These elements conduct electricity in our body, and to maintain balance of our body systems we need to also consume a healthy balance of these mineral salts. High sodium and low potassium in the diet can disrupt this balance and cause high blood pressure as well as increase the risk of cancer in the body. Lemon juice can be used to flavor foods in place of salt.

Lemons are readily available, inexpensive, and the benefits are endless! They are a powerful antioxidant, antibacterial, astringent, diuretic, laxative, AND packed full of Vitamin C, A, B1, B6, and P, magnesium, potassium, and folic acid.

Homemade Tomato Sauce !

You will need:

• 1/2 cup of olive oil
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 3 celery hearts, chopped
• 3 carrots, chopped
• 1 tsp. crushed rosemary
• 1 tsp. oregano
• 1 tsp. thyme
• salt, to taste
• fresh ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 tbsp. basil leaves ( fresh if you have them)
• 2 32oz. cans of crushed tomatoes

I give in and do the harlem shake

Hello Everyone

 

When I saw the Harlem Shake videos I was pleasantly surprised since this is how I normally dance anyway.

I decided to give it a shot!

I donned a glorious skeleton Kirgurumi for the event.

Hopefully this will bring a smile to your face.

 

No pugs were harmed in the making of this video.

 

Healthy Winter Chicken Soup!

You will need:
- 1 lb. marinated chicken breasts, cubed
- 5 (organic) carrots, diced diagonally
- 5 (organic) celery stalks, diced diagonally
- 1 medium sweet onion, sliced
- 1 11 oz. can low sodium cream of (mushroom, chicken, celery; use what you have or like)
- 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 2 or 3 cloves of fresh garlic, minced
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 pinch of rosemary, crushed
- 1 tsp. thyme
- 1 bunch of kale, washed and deveined
- Egg noodles

Make your own Blueberry Smoothie !

You will need:- about 1 cup of ice (5 or 6 cubes)
- about 3/4 cup frozen blueberries
- 1 cup vanilla yogurt
- 4 oz. pomegranate juice

I like to blend my ice and juice first (especially if you add protein), to keep from getting frothy. If you add protein it is best to do it last and only for 10 to 15 sec.

Then add the blueberries and yogurt. Blend and enjoy!

My First Taste of Freedom – Part 2

The vagus nerve, the tenth cranial nerve, is really fascinating when you understand everything within the body that it is involved in. It runs from your brainstem down the whole length of the spine to the abdominal organs and innervates every organ along the way. It plays a major role in lowering the heart rate, breathing patterns, intestinal movement, sweating, and speech. It is your bodies off switch when feeling anxious and dealing with an overwhelming amount of stress, and the counterbalance to the fight or flight response. In another post I will talk about its connection to the enteric nervous system, our bodies "second brain", where our serotonin is secreted, packaged, and sent up to the brain via the vagus nerve. 

  

Have you heard about Mycobacterium vaccae yet?

 

  Have you heard about Mycobacterium vaccae yet? It is a type of good bacteria that you breathe in when you spend time in nature or dig in your garden. M. vaccae was discovered on accident during an experiment to find a cure for lung cancer, after boosting the immune system it was also observed that patients “emotional health, vitality, and cognitive function” had improved.

Spicy Black Bean Soup !

You will need:

• 1 lb. dry black beans
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 peppers (one red, one green), chopped
• 2 jalapenos, chopped
• 5 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 quarts of vegetable stock
• 3 tbsp. olive oil
• 2 tsp. cumin
• 2 tsp. coriander
• 2 tsp. oregano
• 2 tsp. cayenne pepper
• 2 tsp. red wine vinegar

My First Taste of Freedom – Part 1

What happened to me?!...I have had some strange experiences since November of 2012. This is when I first felt an overwhelming surge of energy through my body that seemed to collect in my bottom lip. The lower lip got so tight and puckered that I couldn't force a smile, and I did my best to act normal so that nobody would notice. When this happened for the first time, I also smelled electricity. The kind of smell that I can only compare to the haunted house rides at a fair, where you ride through on low budget metal track in a rusty cart. The first time I felt this was during a high energy, life and death moment and I could not sleep that night. I blamed it on the adrenaline, and perhaps it was.

The many benefits of Garlic!

Another one of the simple remedies that I wanted to start my blog with is raw, crushed garlic. Garlic is a native to Central Asia, one of the oldest cultivated plants, and predates written history. Garlic remedies have been recorded in Sanskrit documents for about 5,000 years and its use in China goes back 3,000 years. An Egyptian medical papyrus, the Ebers Codex, dates the use of garlic to about 1550 B.C.E. for many ailments, while Hippocrates, Aristotle, and Pliny also cited many uses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yoga Sutras

Yoga: arriving at a place we have not been before; a science of the mind; to bring two things together- unite. The roots of Yoga can be traced back roughly 5,000 years to the Indus Valley civilization where the first seals depicting people performing asanas are found.

Those seeking to go beyond habituated thought and the stressful, distracting demands of materialist society are drawn to the meditative practices of yoga. Yoga reunites all opposites, using practices and systems dealing with regulations and exercises, to bring reconciliation between them. There are many styles that all stem from the same concept of sustaining a lucid, balanced mind; waking up the sleeping soul. The goal is to direct the mind to a state of stillness, without any distraction, while you remain conscious; achieving Kaivalya (freedom). Through practice you understand the purity, clarity, and maturity of intelligence.

Of course, there really is no goal when you practice asana or kriyas, the benefits will come when you enjoy the practice with an open mind and fresh insight. By focusing on the bandhas, "to bind or tie together", you will intensify the cleansing of pranayama and clear any energy blocks. These are "locks" in your body. The three most important are jalandhara bandha (involving the neck and upper spine), uddiyana bandha (between the diaphragm and floor of the pelvis), and mula bandha (between the navel and floor of the pelvis).

Homemade Peppermint Bark!

You will need:
- parchment paper
- candy thermometer
- 12 oz. dark (or semi-sweet) chocolate
- 1 lb. white chocolate
- ½ tbsp. peppermint extract
- ½ cup candy canes (crushed)

I recommend tempering the chocolate because it gives the candy a nice snap!