Weigh and place shea butter and coconut oil in a medium-sized bowl. (I suggest using a ceramic or stainless steel bowl. I use the mixing bowl from my stand mixer.)
Melt in a double boiler and stir with a wooden or silicone spoon. (I prefer to use my instant pot. I put a cup of water in the bottom of the pot and use the keep warm button. I leave the top off so no moisture collects inside of the bowl.)
Refrigerate until hardened. (This usually takes 2 to 3 hours.)
Whip using a stand mixer, occasionally scraping down the sides. (This takes 10 to 15 minutes. You can use a hand-mixer, but you may feel like quitting before the process has truly whipped to perfection.)
When the mixture is fully whipped to your desired feel (light and fluffy), whip in essential oil(s).
Scoop into jar(s). (Mason jars work well.)
NOTE: I also scoop out a dime-size bit and mix with baking soda to use as a daily deodorant.
I enjoy using natural all-purpose cleaning sprays in my home made with essential oils to keep our environment safe from toxic chemicals. I’ve been using this homemade recipe for a few years now.
ITEMS USED:
16-ounce spray bottle – glass would be ideal
3 tablespoons rubbing alcohol
3 tablespoons liquid Dish Soap or Castile Soap
30 drops (which equals about 1 teaspoon) of essential oil(s)
Add the rubbing alcohol, soap, and essential oils to the spray bottle. Fill up the remainder of the bottle with filtered water.
NOTE: You can mix your essential oils to come up with your own special blend. Some good choices are lavender, orange, peppermint, lemon/lemon balm/lemongrass. Also, I only use a few drops of these to each bottle: tea tree, pine, or eucalyptus
“Do you go to a grocery store for milk, bread and vegetables instead of milking your cow, grinding your grain and tending your garden?” This is just one of example of our modern conveniences that Stormie Omartian points out in her book Greater Health God’s Way. Modern conveniences have replaced many activities that would require us to move more. (I’m not going to comment here on why you should still milk your own cow or find someone who does – if you still drink cow’s milk. Perhaps I’ll link to another article later. Let’s talk about the importance of exercise.)
Exercise Improves Circulation.
Your body requires movement. One very important process that depends on the movement of your body is circulation. In a nutshell, circulation helps your blood flow while it carries nutrients to important organs and remove toxic wastes to be eliminated. A few signs and symptoms of impaired circulation are:
Numbness in extremities
Fatigue
Chest pains (due to reduced blood flow to the heart)
Brain Fog (inability to think sharply or stay focused)
Benefits of improving circulation can be:
Increased energy (due to increased oxygen levels)
Increased metabolism (speeds up the body processes that maintain life)
Better heart functioning
A focused mind and clearer thinking
Feel and look healthier
Exercise for weight loss?
Yes, we all know that we can burn extra calories while exercising. But, let’s not make that the focus. If you focus on burning calories, you may give up if you don’t see the scale moving down or burn yourself out by doing too much exercise. Instead, our focus should be to exercise for health benefits as a whole. And as we become healthier, our bodies will tend to “go” towards our ideal weight without feeling as if we had to work so hard to get there. When I say “work hard” I mean physically exerting our bodies to the point where we are doing more harm than good. In the beginning you may feel that you are “working hard” to implement exercise within your new lifestyle. Yet, this is normal when implementing any new change. I want to encourage you to be excited about the change and the changes ahead for how adding exercise to your routine is going to reap rewards.
Exercise relieves tension and stress.
Exercising naturally releases endorphins which are “feel-good” hormones. These endorphins can lift your spirit and relieve depression. As you more regularly practice exercise you will gain energy that will allow you to do more activities that you enjoy and even better handle the regular ins-and-outs of daily living. In addition to the endorphins, your body is detoxifying while you exercise through the various pathways that it has in order to do so. Getting rid of toxic chemicals and built up lactic acid will eliminate anxiety and help you to feel calmer too.
Exercise can also provide these additional benefits:
More endurance
Helps prevent constipation
Improve digestion
More muscles and more strength
Increase flexibility and balance
Cut cravings for junk food
Detoxification (through sweat and increased lymph circulation)
Improve attitude
Better sleep and relaxation
Ways to Exercise
Walking on a stationary treadmill or riding a stationary bike is not my idea of fun. Actually, I’m one to try to implement exercise into my daily life that will allow me to get some chores accomplished at the same time. For example, I have a manual push lawn mower (avoids gasoline fumes and strengthens my muscles).
Yet, if not accomplishing a chore, then I rather enjoy exercise! When you find an activity that is fun, then it’s more likely that you will keep doing it. Agree? And even some of these can be just as relaxing as they are fun and enjoyable.
Here are some exercises that can be easy to implement.
Walking – alone or with a friend or family member
Dancing – by yourself or with a partner or in a class setting
House Cleaning – such as cleaning floors, doing laundry or anything that requires reaching, bending and/or squatting
Gardening and lawn care – which regularly requires raking, digging, pulling weeds, bending
And more formal forms of exercise that can be just as enjoyable:
Bicycling
Swimming
Jogging/running
Aerobics
Yoga
Pilates
Lifting weights
NOTE: Stretching your muscles is automatic through most activities involved with exercising and it will help improve circulation. So don’t leave stretching out of your daily activities.
Let me know what types of exercises you enjoy. Send me a message if I have forgotten to list one of your favorites. Thanks.
“The earth was created to sustain life.” – I hope to affirm this for you on a deeper level. Because not only does the earth provide soil for us to grow healthy foods that we can eat, but it provides antioxidants in another surprising way – which you may not yet be aware of… even though most of us have already experienced this phenomenon.
On one of my regular Monday night YouTube Live Chats with Dr. Baxter Montgomery the discussion was “Ways to Protect Yourself from EMF and Wi-Fi”(see link #1 below). I was quite interested in the subject already. I had purchased an EMF meter to test how much EMF Radiation was being emitted in certain areas of our home. Also, now, there is current “talk” about the 5G towers and possible ill-health effects they can cause by exposing us to even greater amounts of EMF Radiation…all amid the COVID-19 health crisis. (Whew! We definitely need a break.)
Back to the Monday night YouTube Live Chat: at 45 minutes and 26 seconds, the presenter mentions that one way to protect ourselves from EMF Radiation is by going outside and walking barefoot on the earth. This suggestion was only discussed for 41 seconds, but it caught my attention because he also mentions the phrase “working in the soil”. This phrase evoked my memory of about 7 years ago when I was spending a great amount of time outdoors in our garden with my bare hands in the dirt. (It was somewhat of a raised garden so it did not have many earthworms, for those of you who know how terrified I am of worms and am least likely to touch the dirt with my bare hands. But I did it for the entire season which I gardened which was from February until the next frost – so about November.)
During the 7 years that followed, I would often find myself pondering about what was different about that year. It was 2013 actually. I had photos that were constant reminders of how healthier I felt and how more relaxed I was in 2013.
What could be so good about the year I gardened? My guesses were that I was:
getting certain microbes from being outdoors by handling dirt with my hands, and
by eating the fresh produce of our garden I was getting extra nutrients
All of these things are positive outcomes of gardening, without a doubt. I knew at the time was that it was an enjoyable experience. But what I was not aware of is that I was being grounded by touching the earth with my hands.
How about you? Do you garden or do landscaping work? Or perhaps you appreciate walking along the beach while barefoot or being barefoot in the cool green grass? Apparently, there are so many reasons to enjoy these activities and I think most of all is the process of being grounded.
Antioxidants for Detoxification
You have probably heard of an indoor outlet being grounded.
“…the grounding system in a residential wiring system serves a ‘backup’ pathway that provides an alternate route for electrical current to follow back to ‘ground’ in the case of a problem in the wiring system.” (see link #2 below)
We will refer back to indoor grounded outlets later.
But, just like indoor outlets we can be grounded too. The terms used for this process is called “Grounding” or “Earthing”. We can experience grounding/earthing while walking barefoot on the earth’s natural surfaces such as grass, dirt, rocks and sand.
ANTIOXIDANTS – Grounding/Earthing “allows our bodies to soak up negatively charged ions from the earth.
These ions [from the earth] neutralize the positively charge ions [free radicals] that we accumulate from EMFs.” – Ways to Protect Yourself form EMF and Wi-Fi
Why You Should Practice Grounding/Earthing
We’ve all heard that we need to eat antioxidant rich foods to clean up free radicals in our bodies. Free radicals are caused by the consumption of poor foods (such as those containing chemicals and pesticides), air pollution, EMFs, medications, overdoing exercises that deplete oxygen intake and many more causes. Yet, antioxidants are molecules that donate an electron to free radicals – without forming or becoming free radicals in the process! When we are being grounded, we take in antioxidants, negative ions from the earth, that bond with free radicals, positive ions.
Grounding/Earthing can provide you with extra antioxidants to improve your health. Here are a few of the most common benefits of grounding that you may experience:
Better Sleep
Pain/Inflammation Reduction
Look and feel more vibrant
Stress relief
Speeds healing and recovery
Calms your nervous system
Increases blood flow
My Personal Experience with Grounding/Earthing
The very next day after viewing that YouTube video about EMFs and grounding I decided to start walking barefoot in a small garden area of my backyard. Before this, I would often go outside to feel the warmth of the sun and to hopefully soak in some Vitamin D, but I always would wear shoes outdoors. I walked outdoors barefoot for three days in a row but because we have been battling ants in our lawn I was being bitten each day and just the day before publishing this article I stepped into an ant mound! Yet, to my amazement, the ant bites never itched and they didn’t even produce the usual itchy bump which usually lasts for a few days. This was strange. The only explanation I could guess at was that because I was grounded I didn’t have my usual inflammatory response.
After day three I started more research. I was curious about how the protection from EMFs really worked so I searched online for more YouTube videos. I found someone who explained how to measure how much voltage my body conducted using a device called a Multimeter.
Here is a “multimeter test” video that I made especially for you:
After conducting the tests and actually being able to see that the voltage I was conducting would drop as a result of placing my bare feet on the earth, I knew I wanted to ground (practice earthing) as much as I possibly could.
Grounding/Earthing Indoors Is Possible Too
Remember the indoor “grounded” outlets that I mentioned above? Well, they are very useful if you wish to be grounded indoors. You can connect tools that are specifically made for the purpose of grounding indoors if you have grounded outlets in your home, office, or any indoor location. Click here to order your earthing mat.
The mats plug into the grounding port of a grounded receptacle. Use of a special tester checks for proper “earth” grounding.
I discovered these tools existed after watching “The Earthing Movie”.
By using the indoor tools you can increase the amount of time you are able to be grounded. I’ve been using products that “ground” me while I sleep and while I’m working at my desk.
INDOOR GROUNDING TOOLS
I chose the single mattress cover because I can take it with me if I decide to travel without taking away the entire bed mattress covering from my husband’s side too. I purchased two single mattress covers for this reason.
Here is an AMAZON link to the same type of perforated mattress cover that is my favorite: https://amzn.to/3hmAjXN
Here are AMAZON links to the mats that I use under my feetwhile sitting/standing at my computer desk:
1 Single Mat – The Original Universal Grounding Mat Kit by Earthing to Improve Sleep, Inflammation, and Anxiety – Only 1 mat: https://amzn.to/3ruFc5J
2 Single Mats – The Original Universal Grounding Mat Kit by Earthing to Improve Sleep, Inflammation, and Anxiety – Pack of 2: https://amzn.to/2WKjigE
The main benefits I’ve noticed are:
More relaxed
Better, refreshing sleep
Less menstrual cramping (after just one month of grounding, it’s a female thing)
A persistent pain that I’d had in my shoulder for many months has subsided (At my last visit with the chiropractor he didn’t find the usual knots he would point out at every monthly visit). Perhaps, this is less stress and less inflammation? Whatever the cause, the effect is that the pain is gone!
We (Modern Societies) Have Lost Our Connection to the Earth
Contact with the earth’s surface used to be automatic and definitely more likely with earlier lifestyles. With more and more modern day inventions we are becoming more removed from our connection to the Earth. By the early 1900s, rubber soled shoes were increasing tremendously in popularity and by the 1960s almost all shoe designs were available with rubber soles, especially athletic footwear. This was definitely a point in time when we became more disconnected from the earth (more than we ever had been before) and with this we can definitely see that there has been a rise in sickness and disease. (Additionally, do not forget, that our modern society has also implemented poor practices of growing and packaging foods which contain pesticides and are also highly laden with toxic chemicals. Most foods these days are also lower in nutrients due to the way they are processed and refined. Read my Real Food Guide if you need help navigating the food system.)
I know I’ve presented you with much information here. Yet, I hope this information has been eye-opening for you and has provided you with an additional tool you can use to boost your health. For me, this has been such a great gift of knowledge from which most of us have become disconnected. Don’t forget to watch “The Earthing Movie”.
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Until next time, remember:
“It’s all about the real food you eat starting with the ground beneath your feet.” — Shonda
The Earthing Movie [The movie features Clint Ober, who is the pioneer of indoor electrical grounding.]
UPDATE: It’s been two months and I’m thoroughly enjoying the “indoor” earthing products that I’ve mentioned in this article. We used to be connected to the earth almost 24/7. These products can help you stay more connected. Below is Video #2 in which I review two different types of sleeping mattress covers and give you my personal favorite.
Here is an AMAZON link to the same type of perforated mattress that is my favorite: https://amzn.to/3hmAjXN
Here are AMAZON links to the mats that I use under my feet while sitting/standing at my computer desk:
1 Single Mat – The Original Universal Grounding Mat Kit by Earthing to Improve Sleep, Inflammation, and Anxiety – Only 1 mat: https://amzn.to/3ruFc5J
2 Single Mats – The Original Universal Grounding Mat Kit by Earthing to Improve Sleep, Inflammation, and Anxiety – Pack of 2: https://amzn.to/2WKjigE
The earth is foundational for natural health.
I have to admit that I mostly drink tea when I’m looking to warm up on a cold winter’s night. So, yes, I mostly drink hot tea. Yet, tea can be enjoyed in a variety of ways and, likewise, there are so many varieties of tea. But most notably, we should be drinking tea for health reasons and its many benefits.
Black tea is what many of us are most familiar with. Some of us drink this tea when out at restaurants and some of us who make it at home using tea bags. In the South, like here in Houston, it’s know as sweet tea. Actually, though I’ve lived here my entire life, I didn’t become familiar with the term sweet tea until just a few years back. (In the community I grew up, sweet tea was replaced by Kool-aid, but that’s an aside, another topic for another day.)
Then there is green tea. Green tea originated in China. Today many westerners have adopted this tea into their diets specifically for its health benefits. Green tea and black tea are both derived from the same plant, yet black tea is more oxidized. See article links below which explain the benefits of green and black tea and how tea is processed.
But, today we will talk about other types of teas.
Roots, spices and plant teas for health benefits:
Roots, spices and plant leaves can be used to create tea also. Usually this is accomplished by heating/boiling water and allowing the substances to be infused into the water. The longer the infusion time, the stronger the tea. Similarly, a stronger tea can be made by using more of the root, spice or leaves.
On a recent podcast titled, “Immunity Series – Drinking Teas”, Patryce (my co-host) shared a few of her favorite teas and how they benefit our immune systems. Here are her findings.
Burdock Root Tea
Heals the liver
Reduces inflammation
Improves hair health
Aids in healing of stomach disorders
Ginger Root Tea
Eases morning sicknesses
Eases period pains
Protects against cancer, heart disease and type-two diabetes
Rooibos (Red Bush)Tea
Rich in antioxidants
Aids in bone health
Improves digestive health
Peppermint Tea
Increases your energy
Increases brain oxygen levels
Enchances breathing functions
Relaxes muscles; even bronchial muscles
Eases indigestion
Hibiscus
Rich in antioxidants
Bosts good HDL levels
Lowers bad LDL levels
Protects the liver
Anti-bacterial properties
Important Note:Only certain hibiscus plants can be used to make hibiscus tea. The flowers of H. sabdariffa and H. acetosella are commonly used when brewing hibiscus tea. (Source)
Tea Plants – More Information
Even though our focus in this article, and during our recent podcast, was on other types of teas other than the common tea plant, I’d like to point out that there are benefits to drinking these teas also.
“Tea, a popular beverage made from leaves of the plant Camellia sinensis, has been shown to reduce body weight, alleviate metabolic syndrome, and prevent diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in animal models and humans. Such beneficial effects have generally been observed in most human studies when the level of tea consumption was 3 to 4 cups (600–900 mg tea catechins) or more per day. Green tea is more effective than black tea.” – An abstract from PMC – US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health
“Store-bought” juices are those which most of us are familiar with and are marketed to us under big brand names. The majority of these also contain added sugars. Even though some are refrigerated, they have still been processed in a way that destroys the natural enzymes that were at once inherent in the juice. But, did you know that even some juices which are usually marketed as fresh pressed (1) on the store shelves also no longer contain their natural enzymes? Yet, there are “fresh pressed” juices that if not pasteurized have undergone a treatment called “High Pressure Processing (HPP)”.
Fresh juices that are raw and have not been HPP processed (or pasteurized) are still in their natural, raw state (with living enzymes) and they must have an FDA required label if stored on a shelf. The FDA labeling currently reads as such:
Fresh raw juice cannot just sit on a shelf because it has a “due date”. It will sour or ferment when past due. If you are purchasing from a reputable company, they have taken all precautions to properly clean the produce (fruits and vegetables) prior to bottling it for sale. Their reputation is on the line and the health department will know of their failures. For this reason, you are most likely to get fresh raw juices from juice bars where the juice has either been made fresh that day or made to order.
I prefer, and recommend fresh raw juices.
Fresh raw juices are truly a delight. Due to the higher price of purchasing fresh raw juices , I prefer to make juice in my own home using a juicing machine. This way I can be sure that the juices I’m drinking still have all the living enzymes intact – which lends to added energy for our family when we drink them this way. The live enzymes in fresh raw juices also aid in digestion especially when consumed with meals.
If you must purchase pasteurized juices, please make sure that these bottled juices do not contain added sugar. Because without the live enzymes, our bodies process these juices in a different way that raises your insulin levels.
Bottled juices that can be purchased:
Trader Joes’ Carrot Juice – HPP treated. I don’t think they have any fresh, raw juices in the store.
Whole Food’s Market – Most sell both. Raw fresh juices from their fresh juice counters and also in the produce section on the shelf which are most likely HPP. Just remember to check labeling.
Central Market – I assume they have both, I’ve definitely found fresh raw juices in the produce section.
Juice Bars – check labeling and ask the company questions.
(1) How are fresh pressed juices made? First the produce is ground up into pulp, then the juice is slowly extracted by pressing the pulp under thousands of pounds of pressure. Most home juicers are either centrifugal or slow-masticating. Click here for more information about the different types of juicers.
We all have a lot of stress these days, especially here in the U.S. where daily life is so busy for the most of us anyway. Whether it is the daily routine of our jobs which likely includes a long commute before and after work or perhaps for a stay-at-home parent who after getting the kids off to school has plenty of chores to keep themselves busy. Some of us work from home (or home school our children) which makes it even more difficult to separate tasks and find relief from our daily stresses. But this should not be the case. We all need a break from our tasks so that we can de-stress.
At the writing of this article, we are 4 months into the Covid-19 pandemic. In some way or another, this event has added stress to just about everyone’s life. So what are our solutions? Because we are individuals, we all have individual ways of experiencing the happenings of what this pandemic has brought to us. Likewise, we all need to find our own individual way of dealing with the stress that we are experiencing.
Dealing With Stress
To help you get started right away, here are simple five ways you can de-stress:
Give your brain a time-out. This can be accomplished in many ways. It depends on where you are and how much time you have. Yet, just taking 5 minutes to relax and allow your mind to rest will work wonders and likely boost your energy levels. I find that thinking about something that I enjoy works the best during this time. Spending time in prayer and focusing on what you are thankful for is a great way to move your attention away from thoughts that may be causing stress. It also is a great way to begin a time-out nap if you can take more time to fit a nap in.
Go for a walk. This option provides many benefits. Not only does it provide exercise and help with circulation, but you can also implement the give your brain a time-outstrategy (as noted above). Also, a walk outdoors will give you an extra dose of fresh air and Vitamin D which helps you to produce those feel good hormones.
Play with your children and/or pets. All of us could use more playtime. Remember what it was like to be a kid and feel free? We can implement that same feeling in our brains by playing with our children and/or pets. Neither are likely to turn you down on the offer to play and it will definitely benefit both parties.
Talk with a friend. Friends bring us delight. Make sure the friend you call is one you normally have conversations with that are enjoyable and encouraging. Yet, if a friend is not available at the moment you want to de-stress, another alternative could be to write out your thoughts and ideas (as talking with a friend) to get them out of your head for now. Or better yet, write a letter to a good friend to let him or her know you are thinking of them and allow you both and opportunity to share and connect.
Do something you enjoy. Some ideas are read a book, play an instrument, play a sport. An artist might draw, paint, or create something new. If you enjoy cooking, prepare a meal. Watch a comedy or read comedy. Laughter is a stress reliever undoubtedly. Like to dance? Then definitely dance. You get the idea. Switch gears to something that you can enjoy doing.
Compound your De-stressing Efforts
And guess what? You can combined these de-stressing activities. Many of these de-stressing activities can easily be merged which will likely give you a greater, compounded effect. For instance, while you walk you can pray and empty your mind. Or you might walk with (or play a game or a sport) with a friend, your child, or even a pet.
Additional Stress Relievers
What else should you do while de-stressing?
Avoid your phone and the TV. The phone and the television may be interjecting messages that are causing us more stress than we recognize. You can use your de-stress time to re-organize your thoughts and think about helpful ways to deal with the thoughts and opinions of others that may be causing stress for you.
Drink fresh spring or Artesian water. Dehydration can make us feel tired and cause unnecessary stress on our bodies. Not drinking enough water restricts our body from carrying out its normal functions. Be sure to hydrate well. (Click here to read how to choose a good water source.) Fruits and vegetables also provide hydration, so have them as snacks while you are relaxing.
Stretch your muscles. Okay, we know than fitness gurus say this over and over. Yet, many times I like to look at nature to see what I can see. And in this case, when I look at my 4 dogs, I see that they all stretch themselves when getting up from a stationary position. This is a practice that I too have had to purposefully do – and I can feel its de-stressing effects with every move. So, do not forget to stretch often and you can even practice stretching while doing other activities or try a yoga class to learn some good stretching positions.
The Importance of Dealing with Stress
Why is de-stressing important? Most of us can recognized when we are stressed. Some of us feel overwhelmed by simple daily tasks. We may experience a lack of energy. We may even experience pain or even anger/frustration. These are all signs that we are over stressed. Therefore, when we have any of these symptoms, it should be a sure signal to us that we need to de-stress. Scientists have studied this phenomenon and they all agree that stress weakens our immune system. Therefore, the most important reason to de-stress is to boost your immune system.
Currently, due to Covid-19, our immune systems are taking a big hit due to lifestyle changes, added fears and simply living in a state of a new normal or perhaps even a state of the unknown. Yes, it is true that Covid-19 has added stress on top of stress for most. Yet, many of us even have extra time on our hands. So, I encourage you to fill in some of that extra time with these 5 ways to de-stress.
You can experience a healthier outlook. The above list of “5 ways to de-stress” will help to boost your immune system, by giving the body a break from stress. Do them as often as you can. Make them a part of your healthy lifestyle. You will not regret it as you begin to see and experience a healthier outlook on your life that is being de-stressed.
Most city tap water contains a chemical called chloramine. It’s replacing the regular use of chlorine in most cities. I called my city in 2016 and, yes, discovered they are using chloramine.
Chloramine contains both chlorine and ammonia.
Unless properly filtered, we are drinking it from city tap water and bathing in it!
Chloramine cannot be filtered using a basic charcoal filter.
Think of Water as a Nutrient
Water serves a number of essential functions to keep us all going (as posted by USGS)
A vital nutrient to the life of every cell, acts first as a building material.
It regulates our internal body temperature by sweating and respiration
The carbohydrates and proteins that our bodies use as food are metabolized and transported by water in the bloodstream;
It assists in flushing waste mainly through urination
acts as a shock absorber for brain, spinal cord, and fetus
forms saliva
lubricates joints
Considering this list of how water functions in the human body, I’d say that it’s an important nutrient for sure. And, surely you want to get the cleanest source possible to help the body function at its best.
What About Tap Water and Bottled Water Labeled Purified (Drinking or Filtered)?
Purified water, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, is “produced by distillation, deionization, reverse osmosis or other suitable processes” and also may be called “demineralized water, deionized water, distilled water or reverse osmosis water.”
It’s highly likely that even if you drink bottled water labeled “Purified” water (also labeled “drinking” and “filtered”)…you are still drinking chloramine. All water with these labels are most likely to just be city tap water that has gone through some type of filtration system. And, the filtration process that is used usually doesn’t remove chloramine. Chloramine cannot be removed through reverse osmosis* and regular carbon filtration processes. If you choose to buy “drinking”, “filtered” or “purified” water, I recommend contacting the bottled water company to see if there are any water quality reports available. You can also contact the city for which the source is listed to view the city’s water quality reports. (NOTE: In many instances, the city water quality reports are a few years behind and many city water agencies allow some amounts of contaminants.) Looking at the tables available at the EPA’s website, they test for over 200 contaminants, so chloramine isn’t your only worry (just perhaps the latest that’s been added to this overwhelming list)! Many of these contaminants are from the insecticides and pharmaceutical drugs!
Spring water, “derived from an underground formation from which water flows naturally to the surface of the earth at an identified location, may be collected at the spring or through a bore hole, tapping the underground formation that feeds the spring,” according to FDA guidelines.
While reviewing documentation that was sent to me by one popular bottled water company, I noticed that they treat their spring water with chlorine during shipment from the source and then filter it out prior to bottling. This doesn’t seem like a good idea to me, so it’s not one of my choices either. In addition, the pH of that same water is 5.6 which is too low. (Water should be at minimum a bit above 7 pH and you regularly do not want to go much higher than 9 pH.)
Therefore, one choice you can make for a better drinking water is to choose spring water that has not been treated using chlorine or one that has not been treated by reverse osmosis (which is excellent at filtration, but it also removes good minerals from the water)
Choose spring water that is pure and perhaps has only undergone the following processes: “filtered with carbon, carbon block, or a sand filter, ozonating water or passing water by an ultraviolet light.” (Ultraviolet light can eliminate chloramine.)
Artesian wateris water produced from an artesian well. To be an artesian well the water in the aquifer (a subsurface rock unit that holds and transmits water) must be under enough pressure to force it up the well to a level that is higher than the top of the aquifer. Artesian water is mostly rain water that has seeped underground and is naturally filtered by the earth’s rock formations.
My favorite artesian drinking water is Evamor. Yes, I know it’s quite expensive, but so are doctor visits and hospitals. I enjoy this water because of its high alkalinity due to the naturally occurring mineral content. It’s not treated by reverse osmosis! Evamor water is bottled right at the source and it taste great!
Be Aware of ManyAlkaline Water Claims: Don’t be fooled by water just because it claims to be alkaline. Many water companies that use the label “Alkaline” water are companies whose source is a city tap water that is treated using reverse osmosis* and then minerals are added to the water to increase its pH (alkalinity).
Remember, water is an important nutrient. It’s a liquid “food” and just like our goal is to eat REAL FOOD, likewise, we should want to drink REAL and “unprocessed” water too.
RECOMMENDED Bottled Natural Artesian and Spring Waters (that I found at my local grocery store):
Reverse osmosis is probably not a good source of drinking water…especially for long term. It DOES NOT hydrate the cells of our bodies well and it NO LONGER CONTAINS the necessary minerals that our cells require. In fact, it is void of all minerals and, as a result, has a lower pH than is ideal. Yes, it can remove bacteria and even viruses (if the systems are well-maintained), but we should not depend on it for daily drinking water.
To find out what’s in your water, you should have an independent company test it. These companies usually provide whole house water filtration services and/or water delivery services.
I know many may be concerned about drinking water from plastic bottles. If this is your concern, but you want Artesian or Spring water, you will need to find a water service that can deliver in glass bottles. Yet, if youwant to filter your city tap water, I recommend something similar to a Berkey filtration system. (Or perhaps just use these types of filtration systems to filter plastic bottled Artesian or Spring water…which would be my personal choice.)
I do not receive compensation for referring you to any of these waters or websites, I just think they are the best choices and the websites provide some valuable information that can benefit us all. Please read the links, they include some really interesting facts about things such as cholesterol, skin and stomach problems, and other various health issues that can be linked to drinking (and bathing) water.
Sunlight and Saunas! I’m all about these. I prefer light/heat therapy because they are most enjoyable for me. They provide relaxation for the nervous system and when my nervous system is relaxed, my digestive system is at ease too. Sunlight undoubtedly has a wonderful effect on our immune system.
SUNLIGHT IS MEDICINE and CONTAINS LIFE-GIVING NUTRIENTS
“When you spend time in the fresh air and sunlight, your body drinks in their life-giving elements” – Stormie Omaritian, Greather Health God’s Way. I couldn’t have worded this sentiment in any better way.
Benefits of the sun:
Vitamin D
Calming, yet Energizing at the same time
Refreshes/relaxes the mind
Gives life to fresh fruits and vegetables (and then we eat their nutrients )
Assists in detoxification
Ways to get more sun in your life. Here are some of my favorites:
Ride with my car’s sunroof/windows open (even if I have to run the A/C at the same time)
Take a walk/bike ride through your neighborhood (even better through a park with lots of trees)
Open the windows and blinds inside your home to allow fresh air and sunlight inside
Step outside often to take breaks from inside chores and the computer
Have meals outside away from electronic devices
We should be enjoying the sun and air that God has created for us. He knows what’s best for us and it’s almost as if we have forgotten how to live properly. Note: Of course we don’t want to stay in the sun until we are sunburned. But we can enjoy healthy doses without this damaging effect.
INFRARED SAUNA THERAPY for DETOXIFICATION and HEALING
All objects in the universe emit some level of infrared light, but two of the most obvious sources are the sun and fire. Therefore, when we get sunlight we are also getting the benefits of infrared light and more. But, if you cannot get sunlight or you wish to intensify the benefits of infrared light. Infrared sauna therapy makes this happen. I enjoy both the sun and infrared saunas to attain the best benefits.
Sauna heat therapy is good, but infrared sauna therapy has some added benefits.
All saunas:
Balance the autonomic nervous system
Induces sweating along with relaxation
Increases circulation
Relaxes muscles and enhances flexibility
Hastens the death of weaker cells (such as cancer, bacteria, viruses, parasites)
Additional benefits of infrared saunas:
Deep tissue healing
Increased enzyme activity (required for digestion and healing)
Ability to direct heat energy to specific parts of the body
Color therapy
Ease of use
What first caught my attention about infrared sauna therapy is it’s ability to inhibit the sympathetic nervous system (the one that is activated when we are anxious) and enhance the parasympathetic nervous system (the one activated when we are in a relaxed state). It’s the parasympathetic nervous system that is required for healing. So if we remain in our anxious states, we inhibit healing.
These lists of benefits, by no means, are exhaustive. Additionally, I cannot explain the feeling and degree of healing that has occurred in my body as a result of adding infrared sauna therapy to my lifestyle.
I want to encourage you to make some healthy lifestyle changes toward getting more sunlight and infrared saunas into your life to activate healing in your body.
Have you ever considered that the amount of sleep you get can affect your health and your weight?
Let’s face it, when we’re tired we tend to make fewer healthy choices throughout the day, and we reach for the quick-fix energy boost we need, often in the form of sugar-filled options and processed snacks. When we’re tired, we also tend to skip the workout we had planned for the day. For many people, this is an ongoing cycle that’s tough to break.
Adequate sleep sets the stage for everything else. I found this quote online. It seeks to explain the concept of getting enough sleep using science.
“When it comes to body weight, it may be that if you snooze, you lose. Lack of sleep seems to be related to an increase in hunger and appetite, and possibly to obesity. According to a 2004 study, people who sleep less than six hours a day were almost 30 percent more likely to become obese than those who slept seven to nine hours.
Recent research has focused on the link between sleep and the peptides that regulate appetite. “Ghrelin stimulates hunger and leptin signals satiety to the brain and suppresses appetite. Shortened sleep time is associated with decreases in leptin and elevations in ghrelin.
Not only does sleep loss appear to stimulate appetite. It also stimulates cravings for high-fat, high-carbohydrate foods. Ongoing studies are considering whether adequate sleep should be a standard part of weight loss programs” – WebMD
But, as I’m sure you already know and have experienced…you feel great when you get good, adequate sleep and almost miserable when you do not! (No science explanation needed.) But think further, not only is it affecting how you feel, but what’s actually going on inside of your body. Your body simply functions better when you get the sleep that you need.
Sleep can also affect your immune function, aging process, memory, learning, and metabolism. Yes, adequate sleep is a big deal! I know that the days I haven’t had enough sleep that my digestive system is sluggish. And I’m sure your experience is something similar…something is just OFF when you lack sleep. If you have been in a habitual pattern of not getting enough sleep then try to experience something new and refreshing by making a change. You won’t regret it.
To get more sleep, set a goal of what time you need to be in bed each night to get the 7-9 hours you need. Try it this week and see if you notice a difference with your energy level and your eating habits. When I get adequate sleep, I just want to sing and jump for joy in the mornings. (Really, my family looks at me strange when I behave this way, but I just cannot help it because it feels so GOOD!) When is the last time you gave yourself the gift of sleep?
Make a commitment right now by writing this goal down on your TO DO list and read it throughout the day.
Write this down: “I’m committing to getting _______ hours of sleep each night this week.“ (Did you write down your commitment? Really? Go ahead. Do it. Okay. That’s good.)
Guess what prompted me to write this article? I wrote it following one night that I stayed up to work on “things” that I felt were important. I believe I only had 3 hours of sleep that night? Did I pay for it the next day? Yes I did.
So, add something good to your lifestyle: add more sleep. Your body will thank you for doing so.
strategy (as noted above). Also, a walk outdoors will give you an extra dose of fresh air and Vitamin D which helps you to produce those feel good hormones.
