Healing your body and senses with aromatherapy

Aromatherapy – you just say it out loud and it already gives you an idea of how it feels like. Can you smell the incense? Can you see the candles slowly burning? Can you feel the floral smell? Can you hear the smooth music playing in the background? I don’t know about you but that’s what I feel when I hear the word aromatherapy. I know it seems really fancy but believe it or not aromatherapy is not so complicated once you get the grip of it. Let's get to the basics so you can start using aromatherapy in your everyday life. 

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils extracted from plants for psychological and physical well-being purposes. Aromatherapy can be used in various ways such as inhalations, massages and even swallowed (these cases are less frequent, and I personally didn’t give it a try yet). Inhaled or applied on the skin, essential oils are becoming an alternative treatment for infections, pain, stress and other health problems. Essential oils have been used for therapeutic purposes for nearly 6,000 years. The ancient Chinese, Indians, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans used them in cosmetics, perfumes, and drugs. They were also used for spiritual, therapeutic, hygienic, and ritualistic purposes.

Note: You should never take essential oils by mouth without specific instruction from a trained and qualified specialist.

Aromatherapy can be used for more than healing proprieties. It can also be used for:

• Air freshening
• Bathing
• Compresses
• Recipes for creams and lotions
• Floral waters
• Foot and hand baths
• Hair care
• Jacuzzis
• Massage
• Saunas
• Showers
• Sits bath
• Steam inhalations
• Vaporization / diffusing

So what are essential oils?

Essential oils are concentrated extracts taken from the roots, seeds, leaves or blossoms of plants. Each contains its own mix of active ingredients, and this mix determines what the oil is used for. While some oils are used to promote physical healing (to treat swelling, fungal infections, nasal decongestion, allergies and so on) others are used for their mood shifting powers (help you relax, energize your body, induce a well being feeling, make a room smell pleasant and so on). Many of the oils have powerful antibacterial and antiviral qualities which, unlike pharmaceutical drugs, do not leave behind dangerous toxins.

For example, orange blossom oil contains a large amount of an active ingredient that is thought to be energizing, whereas lavender essential oil can be used to help you relax. Essential oils, the pure essence of a plant, have been found to provide both psychological and physical benefits when used correctly and safely.

Keep an eye out for "perfume oils" or "fragrance oils", since they are not the same as essential oils! Fragrance oils and perfume oils contain synthetic chemicals and do not provide the therapeutic benefits of essential oils. Because of the chemical substances they contain they can actually be harmful if ingested. This doesn’t mean you should avoid them; just don’t apply them of the skin or even worse swallow fragrance oils. Use them just for the pleasant smell they have – air freshening. Of course it’s best if you use essential oils at all times but fragrance oils are cheaper.

How to tell if essential oils are genuine

Not all ready-made aromatherapy products labeled with the word aromatherapy are pure and natural. When shopping for essential oils you should always check the ingredient label to be sure that the product does not contain fragrance oils or impure (chemical) components. A general rule-of-thumb is to be wary of products that do not list their ingredients and those that do not boast of having pure essential oils (look for products that contain pure essential oils on their ingredient list and avoid those that have words like fragrance).

Using essential oils

Inhaling essential oils. Essential oils that are inhaled into the lungs provide both psychological and physical benefits. The aroma of the natural essential oil stimulates the brain to trigger a reaction, and when inhaled into the lungs, the natural constituents (naturally occurring chemicals) can supply therapeutic benefit. Diffusing eucalyptus essential oil to help ease congestion is a good example.

Applying essential oils to the skin. Another way of using essential oils is to apply them to the skin from where they will be absorbed into the bloodstream. The constituents of essential oils can aid in health, beauty and hygiene conditions. Since essential oils are powerful and concentrated, they should never be applied to the skin in their undiluted form. To apply essential oils to the skin, they have to be diluted into carrier oil. The carrier oil, also known as base oil or vegetable oil, is used to dilute essential oils before they are applied to the skin in massage and aromatherapy. They are so named because they carry the essential oil onto the skin Common carrier oils include sweet almond oil, apricot kernel oil and grape seed oil.

In addition to therapeutic benefit at the emotional and physical level, essential oils are helpful in other applications. Essential oils can be used in household and laundry cleaners. Some oils act as a natural insect repellent and pesticide. Citronella essential oil is well known for its ability to repel mosquitoes.

Essential Oil Blends

Essential oils can be blended together to create appealing and complex aromas. Essential oils can also be blended for a specific therapeutic application. For example a blend of tea tree, sandalwood and rosemary essential oils, make a great “cocktail” that’ll help you fight hayfever (the mix has to be diluted with a carrier oil and will be used for inhalations or massages). Essential oils that are carefully blended with a specific therapeutic purpose in mind may be referred to as an essential oil synergy. A synergistic essential oil blend is considered to be more powerful in total action than each oil working independently.

Wishing you the best,
Rachel

 

How about those apples?

Besides the well known "An apple a day, keeps the doctor away." saying, how much do you actually know about the health benefits apple consumption bring? It's rather amazing. 

Apples will help you:

Have a healthier heart
The phenolic compound found in the apple skin prevents the cholesterol that gets into your system from solidifying on your artery walls. The plaque that builds inside your arteries, reduces the blood flow to your heart, and that's how you get coronary artery disease.

Reduce  cholesterol
The soluble fibre found in apples binds with fats in the intestine, which translates into lower cholesterol levels.

Detoxify your liver
You're liver is "bombed" on a daily basis by those delicious choices of meals and those unhealthy drinks you savor. The liver's job is to get those toxins out of your system, which believe it or not, is not such an easy job. Apples are a great help for your liver - and for you as well. 

Boost your immune system
Quercetin is a very effective antioxidant that is proven to help you boost your immune system, especially when you're stressed out. This amazing antioxidant can be found... as you probably guessed already - in apples... red apples that is.

Get rid of diarrhea and constipation
The fibres found in apples come in great help for those of you who struggle with diarrhea or constipation.  

Control your weight
A rich fibre diet is a well known trick amongst those who struggle to lose weight and/or eat healthy. Foods rich in fibre fill you up with less calories than regular food.

About those hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are not life threatening but a huge pain in the *** - literally! Hemorroids are caused by too much pressure in the pelvic and rectal areas. Fibres can prevent you from straining too much when going to the bathroom and thereby help alleviate hemorrhoids.

Prevent gallstones
Trust me. Gallstones are not cool at all! Gallstones form when there's too much cholesterol in your bile for it to remain as a liquid, so it solidifies. Guess what helps you control the weight and cholesterol levels? Exactly. Fibres. And fibres can be found in... you already know this don't you?

Get White, healthy teeth

When you bite and chew apples it stimulates the production of saliva in your mouth. This is very effective because it lowers the levels of bacteria in your mouth. No bacteria, no tooth decay.  

Decrease the risk of diabetes

Women who eat at least one apple a day are 28 percent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who don't eat apples. Apples are loaded with soluble fibre, the key to blunting blood sugar swings.

Neutralize irritable bowel syndrome

To control the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome doctors recommend staying away from dairy and fatty foods while including a high intake of fibre in your diet.

Keep your brain young and avoid Alzheimer's
A study performed on mice shows that drinking apple juice could keep Alzheimer's away and fight the effects of aging on the brain. The mice were fed an apple-enhanced diet showed higher levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and did better in maze tests than those on a regular diet.

Protect yourself against Parkinson's
Research has shown that people who eat fruits and other high-fibre foods gain a certain amount of protection against Parkinson’s.

Prevent cataracts
Long-term studies suggest that people who have a diet rich in fruits that contain antioxidants—such as apples—are 10 - 15 per cent less likely to develop cataracts.

Curb all sorts of cancer
Researchers at Cornell University have identified several compounds—interpenetrates—in apple peel that have potent anti-growth activities against cancer cells in the liver, colon and breast. Their earlier research found that extracts from whole apples can reduce the number and size of mammary tumors in rats. 

Hope I convinced you to start eating at least an apple a day! Even if you don't like apples, (freak! apples are delicious) you should consider eating an apple a day. It's really such a small price to pay for so many health benefits. 

Wishing you the best,

Rachel

Do you know how and when to drink water?

We all know about the importance of drinking water (and if you don't know, you can read more about it here), but do we all know when and how to drink it?
Specialists say even though it's about drinking 8-12 glasses of water per day, it's no use if we drink it all at once. By drinking high amounts of water at once your body won't have the time to absorb it the way it should... it'll just make you use the bathroom pretty quickly.

Here are some of their advices on when and how to drink water:
- A glass of water when you wake up will help your metabolism "wake up" as well
- A glass of water half an hour before you eat. That'll both help your stomach get prepared for the food that will follow by "waking up" taste buds on the tongue and moisturizing the stomach lining so brittle or acidic foods won’t be uncomfortable and it'll also make you feel fuller so you'll eat less
- A glass of water before taking a shower helps lower blood pressure
- A glass of water before and after exercising
- A glass of water when you're feeling tired. Cold water (but not only) will wake up your body to keep you alert.
- A glass of water right before bed will help your hormones, energy levels, muscles and joints to become balanced.
- Drink before you feel thirsty. Your body will be below its normal water needs by the time you'll feel thirsty.
- Drink water throughout the day, and drink little by little, try to "eat" the water rather than gulping it.
- Drink 8-12 glasses of water per day on a regular basis BUT drink more than that when you are sick or when it's getting really hot outside, those are the times when you're body will gladly consume more water. I remember I once heard Bear Grylls say your body needs 2 liters of water per day just for perspiration, respiration and "nature calls".

Also, make sure you drink clean water and keep in mind that glass bottled water is better than plastic bottled water. Read more about it here. 

Wishing you the best,

Rachel

How I got rid of my awful neck pain

So the story goes on like this: I went to sleep a couple of weeks ago perfectly healthy...well... as healthy as an allergic person can get, and I woke up with a stiff neck that I couldn't turn to the left side because of the pain that was inflicted whenever I tried that move, and it felt as if there was something holding my neck from turning. The first thing I did, was of course to google it xD. They said it was most likely because of my wicked ways of sleeping, because I always find the most twisted ways to sleep. So I relaxed and took their advice: some said I should take some pills to ease the pain but since it didn't hurt permanently I decided not to use any pills (not a big fan of those) but I did massage the affected area. In a couple of days ( three to four) the pain did disappear, only that from time to time whenever I would turn my head into the left direction I would still feel as if something was slightly pulling my neck in the opposite direction... Since it was getting more and more bearable I didn't mind it - I just waited for the pain to go away completely.
And since it would've been just to good to end up like that and I wouldn't have had the opportunity to write this post, after about a week of no pain, all of a sudden, it got back, and it was even worse than before. This time, it wasn't even because of my sleeping ways, and that I know that for sure because it occurred while I was watching a movie on my couch. I wanted to get up and ...when I had to lift up my head it hurt so bad I had to take both of my hands to my neck to support it after getting up. And it didn't stop there. It hurt with every step I took and it felt as if my whole head was stiff even without walking or talking or anything. This time I was really creeped out so I tried what felt natural at the moment: I started massaging my neck, even thou at the moment it hurt really bad, but when I stopped it was better than before. Since it was kind of late I went to sleep, with no pillow under my head so my back was right. The next morning, it was better, but the pain was still there whenever I tried to move my head to the left side. Extremely frustrated at my body I researched much more than before and finally found a combination to help me ease the pain. Here's what I've tried and turned out to help me get rid of the pain:

- Claim your body
Do not let the pain take control over you. If you don't move your head because it hurts, be braver and endure some of the pain while trying to move it (well, of course, in case it's not unbearable).

- Stretching
Doing some exercises to help you stretch your neck muscle will turn out to be really helpful. These can be as easy as turning your head from one side to the other, head rotations and bending your neck forward until your chin touches your chest then slowly dropping your head back.

- Find the hot spot
Rotate your head from right to left or the other way around and stop right where it hurts the most. Keep the pose for 20 seconds (you're muscles will most likely be tensed, it's normal) and release afterwards. Repeat the exercise a couple of times per day or as long as you feel the need to.

- The spasm factor
If you have a spasm in your muscles, that'll cause them to tighten up like that. If that's the case, you should free up your neck muscles to get rid of the pain. Here's how you do it: Put your hands alongside your head so your thumbs are on the front of the muscle under your ear and your fingers are on the back of the muscle behind your neck. Squeeze your thumb and fingers together and hold. Relax your body. After about 30 to 45 seconds, when you don’t feel the muscles releasing any longer, slowly lower your head as far as you can, release the pressure but hold your neck lowered for another 30 seconds (as tried from Yahoo Answers - it worked pretty good.)

Now of course, these methods should not replace a doctor's opinion, so you can try them but if the pain doesn't go away you should definitely go see a doctor as soon as possible. I hope this will help in case you ever get neck pains, but above that - I hope you never get to experience those.

Wishing you the best,
Rachel

To all coffee lovers

How would you feel if I'd tell you your daily morning delight, that sweet creamy coffee that awakens your senses and unfreezes your brain is healthy for you? 

You may feel tempted to blame it all on my imagination and desires but I'm here with proof to convince you a cup of coffee per day is actually good for your health.

The main reason why coffee is healthy is because of the antioxidants it contains. Our bodies produce oxygen radicals, which are damaging to DNA but antioxidants prevent them from doing damage. Antioxidants can be found in fruits and vegetables, but research has shown that coffee is the top source of antioxidants for Americans.

Caffeine is another reason why coffee is good because it has a positive impact on your brain health. Caffeine is an antagonist to adenosine receptors. These receptors slow down neural activity when the chemical adenosine binds to them, producing a sleepy feeling. But if caffeine binds to the receptors, the activity of neurons speeds up.

There is a lower risk in coffee-drinking women to develop endometrial cancer because coffee also lowers the levels of insulin and estrogen. Insulin is well known for its role in prostate cancer, another disease coffee may help stave off.

A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that regular coffee-drinkers have a less chance of suffering from diseases like: heart disease, cancer and Type 2 diabetes compared to sporadic drinkers or non-drinkers, Reuters reported.

"Our results suggest that coffee consumption is not harmful for healthy adults in respect of risk of major chronic disease," study researcher Anna Floegel, an epidemiologist at the German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, told Reuters.

The study included 42,659 people who participated in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)–Germany study. After almost nine years, the researchers found that the people who drank four or more cups of coffee a day were at no higher risk for chronic disease, compared with those who drank less than a cup of coffee a day, according to the study.

Daily Glow pointed out that the coffee-drinkers actually had a 23 percent lower risk of type 2 diabetes than the non-coffee drinkers. 

Pros of drinking coffee

There are strong evidences on how coffee helps preventing type II diabetes, Parkinson's, dementia, hearth rhythm problems, strokes and that's not where the list stops. 

In a 2007 study in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, researchers pooled and analyzed the results of a half dozen clinical trials looking at the effects of caffeine on asthmatics. They found that caffeine produced small improvements in airway function for up to four hours, compared with a placebo, and that even a small dose — less than the amount in a cup of Starbucks coffee — could improve lung function for up to two hours.

The suspicion stems in part from its chemical structure, which resembles that of theophylline, a common asthma medication that relaxes the airway muscles and relieves wheezing, shortness of breath and other respiratory problems. Indeed, when caffeine is ingested and broken down by the liver, one byproduct is small amounts of theophylline.

According to a meta-analysis published in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation: Heart Failure, people who drink two cups of coffee daily have an 11% lower risk of developing heart failure, compared to non-coffee drinkers. The researchers did not take into account the strength of coffee, what time of day it was drunk, or whether it was caffeinated -- factors that could influence the results of the analysis.

Coffee drinkers may also be protecting themselves against basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer. Other caffeinated beverages also seemed to reduce the risk of this slow-growing cancer.

Increased coffee consumption also is associated with longer life, according to Research in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Some of the strongest evidence comes from studies on type II diabetes. According to a 2009 meta-analysis, the risk of type II diabetes goes down with each cup of coffee consumed daily. Additionally, a 2007 meta-analysis found a correlation between increased coffee consumption and lower risk of liver cancer. But it's not enough to tell anyone who doesn't already drink coffee to start.

Coffee contains caffeine which is a stimulant. It can enable people to feel more alert and help them to be more active, leading to weight loss. It may also act as a mild appetite suppressant.

And there's evidence that coffee has mental health benefits as well. The results of one study suggested, "Women who consume two to three cups of caffeinated beverages per day had a 15 percent lower risk of depression than non-coffee drinkers."

But

And don't give me that face. There's always a but ( should've  known that by now) 

Coffee can also damage your health if you drink too much. The optimal daily dose of coffee varies widely, depending on the person. Some can't drink it at all. Others tolerate six to eight cups a day (I don't recommended that unless you train to get in the Guinness World Record for drinking the most coffee). Overall the coffee intake depends on each individual's body, so drink how much feels right for you. A warm cup of coffee per day is enough for me.

As common sense might suggest, the greatest overall benefits appear to be in people who drink coffee at moderate levels: two to three cups a day. But there are exceptions: A May 2011 study found that men who drink six or more cups a day had a decreased risk of fatal prostate cancer.

Cons of drinking coffee

Doctors may never consider coffee a standard recommendation because of individuals' varying susceptibility to side effects, said Hensrud.

The side effects can include: headaches, insomnia, heartburn, palpitations, and urinary urgency. Some people avoid drinking coffee or switch to decaffeinated coffee because regular coffee gives them faster heartbeats or irritates their stomach. You know better what's good and bad for you so act accordingly to that. If your stomach is upset or hurting or you get faster heartbeats after drinking coffee don't just drink it because you read on the Internet is healthy. Try switching to decaffeinated coffee or black tea instead. 

Another down side to coffee is that is a drug therefor it is addictive. At least that's what they say. I don't agree with that thou, I can go on days without drinking coffee with no drawbacks... but maybe that's just me.

Famously, coffee got a bad reputation from research in the early 1980s connecting it to pancreatic cancer. But more recent studies have not found the same link, according to the American Cancer Society. Some studies in the past did not take into account the connection between drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes, which do contain carcinogens, Hensrud said.

Coffee that's boiled -- popular in Scandinavia, for instance -- will increase bad cholesterol; espresso has the same effect, Hensrud said. But filtering regular coffee reduces those cholesterol-raising substances.

Some milky, sugary coffees may contain upwards of 500 calories -- particularly if they begin with the sound "frap." So, if you think you're doing your body a favor with these treats, health detriments of the added calories and fat may cancel out coffee's magic.

Facts about coffee*

1. Legend has it a 9th-century Ethiopian goat herder discovered coffee by accident when he noticed how crazy the beans were making his goats.

2. Coffee is a psychoactive. And at high doses it can make you see things. It can also kill you

3. Johan Sebastian Bach wrote an opera about a woman who was addicted to coffee.

4. The first webcam was invented at The University of Cambridge to let people know if the coffee pot was full or not.

5. There is a spa in Japan that lets you bathe in coffee, tea, or wine. 

6. New Yorkers drink almost 7 times more coffee than other cities in the US.

7. The U.S Imports more thank 4 billion $ in coffee each year

8. Originally coffee was eaten.
African tribes mixed coffee berries with fat which formed edible

9. All coffee in the world grows in the Bean Belt (is the area between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn)

10. 70% of the world consumes Arabica coffee, which is mild and aromatic. The remaining 30% drinks Robusta, which is more butter-tasting but has 50% more caffeine than Arabica.

11. In the 1675, the King of England banned coffee houses, claiming they were places where people met to conspire against him

12. A belgian man living in Guatemala by the name of George Washington invented instant coffee in 1906. 

*http://theoatmeal.com/comics/coffee

http://www.livescience.com/16297-coffee-facts-national-coffee-day-infographic.html

What's your opinion? 

Stuff you didn't know about your pineal gland

The information around the part of our body known as the Pineal Gland, the third eye, the seat of the Soul, the Anja chakra and so on is still clouded in mist.

Today, we know that the pineal gland (also called the pineal body, epiphysis cerebri, epiphysis, conarium or the "third eye") is a small endocrine gland in the vertebrate brain. It produces the serotonin derivative melatonin, a hormone that affects the modulation of wake/sleep patterns and seasonal functions.Its shape resembles a tiny pine cone (hence its name), and it is located near the centre of the brain, between the two hemispheres, tucked in a groove where the two rounded thalamic bodies join.

The pineal gland is involved in several functions of the body including:

• Secretion of the Hormone Melatonin

• Regulation of Endocrine Functions

• Conversion of Nervous System Signals to Endocrine Signals

• Causes Feeling of Sleepiness

• Influences Sexual Development

But the more interesting part comes just now. Ancient Greeks apparently knew about the pineal gland, in fact they believed the pineal gland was our connection to the Realms of Thought. Descartes called it, the Seat of the Soul. Now it makes you wonder if they really knew the mechanism and the role of this gland or was it just pure fiction? 

And just when we thought there is nothing more to the pineal gland than what we already know, in 2001 Rick Strassman suggested a new approach to the pineal gland in his study and book called "DMT The Spirit Molecule: A Doctor's Revolutionary Research into the Biology of Near-Death and Mystical Experiences".

Now I'll be honest right here and tell you from the start that I didn't get a chance to read the book but I did hear him talk about the subject in matter, and I'll share with you exactly what I've heard and read about.


Strassman discovered that the Pineal Gland was responsible for releasing not only melatonin but also DMT - Dimethyltryptamine. DMT is a profound hallucinogenic type of chemical, a so called chemical cousin of seorotonim. During his testing he discovered that abnormal levels of DMT triggered states of consciousness (hallucinogenic states) that resemble very well the experiences of after life. The hallucinogenic state, like the dreaming state is a temporary disconnection from the physical body, where the dreamer becomes a discarded intelligence traversing higher realms, no longer bound to the restriction of time and the law of physics. DMT becomes the portal that allows the spirit to roam freely outside our body.  

It's believed that DMT is released in high levels to act as a catalyst in near death experiences, being released at the same time as the adrenaline. Therefore, DMT would be responsible for inducing the machinery of afterlife.  DMT is also released in states such as: meditation or spiritual practices.


What I've also learned is that the Pineal Gland is extremely low protected from stress and can be calcified by fluoride and other toxins. 

You may wonder... what's so wrong if your Pineal Gland is calcified? 

See, when the Pineal Gland is calcified it stops functioning at its normal parameters which means it may be making it difficult for you to achieve happy, blissful states of being and pleasant night's sleep. This calcification of the pineal gland makes us lose touch with our spiritual selves/ higher selves. 

Also it seems that the internal secretions of the pineal gland inhibit the development of the reproductive glands, because in cases where it is severely damaged in children, the result is accelerated development of the sexual organs and the skeleton. In other words, the pineal gland takes care of our metabolism, development of our sexual organs and spiritual self, so why would you want a gland so important in your life to malfunction?    

Now that we got that out of the way you may wonder...

What calcifies the Pineal Gland? 

As you probably already guessed:

The flouride in your tap water and toothpaste. It calcifies the pineal tissue and basically shuts the gland down 

In the late 90′s, Jennifer Luke (scientist) leads the first study on the effects of sodium fluoride on the pineal gland. According to her, the pineal gland was a target for fluoride. The pineal gland simply absorbed more fluoride than any other physical matter in the body, even bones. It seems that the pineal gland is like a magnet to sodium fluoride. This calcifies the gland and makes it no longer effective in balancing the entire hormonal processes through the body.

Mercury and other toxins also calcify the pineal gland. 

Stuff to consider: The pineal gland appears in the embryo after 49 days of gestation. Tibetans believe that is the required period of time for one soul to reincarnate. 49 days is also when the fetus differentiates into male or female gender.

So what's your opinion of the pineal gland?  

Stay tuned for "How to decalcify your pineal gland"... 

Drink water. You're body will reward you!

Here's how I got to understand how important water is for our body. 

In high school, I begun having this discomfort and slight pain in my lower back. In the beginning it wasn't that bad, I barely noticed it, but then after a while - quite soon thou, it got worse. Other problems flood me as well, whenever I peed it hurt like hell and every time I was done I had the urge to go once again. Of course, going once again was stupid because I just couldn't do it anymore and it just made the pain in my lower back, and belly -this time intensify. During a class the pain got so worse I excused myself and immediately went to a doctor. That was when they told me I had two kidney stones and those made it hurt that bad. They gave me the pills and all that, and everything was good, except that after a month or two the pains and that continuously need to pee returned. This time I didn't let it get that far and I went to see my doctor as soon as possible. She gently prescribed the pills and looked into my eyes telling me on a very serious tone: "You know that you will have problems with kidney stones for the rest of your life, these pills will help you fight them for a while, and then they'll reappear and so on." Of course I felt awful hearing those permanent remarks, these images of me always taking pills for kidney stones and possibly getting even worse kept on whirling in my head... and it was an awful experience. "That's not fair!" I immediately protested. 

But I can say I am really lucky to have a doctor that never encouraged me to give up. She always has the best and most optimistic solutions ever so, as always, she looked at me smiling and told me. "You know you can stop all this once and for all. You can be in charge of your kidneys and your entire body." she encouraged. "And there is so little you have to do. Just drink water and tea." 

It all seemed so easy and just too good to be true so I have to admit I doubt it at first. But then, calm and meekly as always she spent half an hour telling me the importance of drinking water and the benefits it brings. I couldn't believe what I was hearing, drinking the 2 liters of water per day could help me lose weight? And fight off colds? And relieve me from my headaches? Stunned I decided to apply what she suggested. I am so proud to say that it's been 5 years since the kidney stones and I had no such problems anymore, not even once. I lost 7 kilograms (yes in these 5 years not all at once. In the first months I started drinking 2 liters of water/day there was no immediate weight lose) I also have fever headaches and whenever the flu tries to get a grip of me I drink even more fluids (especially hot tea and lemonade -with no sugar) and I get better in a couple of days with no pills. I also discovered water is a great help in allergic reactions. 

So I encourage everybody I know to drink those 8 glasses of water per day! Seriously guys, it does miracles! Now I know at first it'll be hard to drink that much water per day. Trust me, I had a really hard time adjusting to drinking that much water daily. I used to drink 2 -4 glasses of water per day and usually one or two of them were soda. But all I had in mind was that water was healthy for my body and was going to help me be a healthier person. And it did. Something that also helped me a lot was just to have a document on my computer with the benefits of water. Here's what I was reading when I started my '8 glasses of water per day' habit. Hope it'll help you too!

*Humans can exist for several weeks without food, however after several days without water we would not survive. Water is needed by every living cell and almost every process that takes place within the body is dependent on water.  

What do we need water for?

1. Water is needed in order to break down and digest food, carry nutrients in the bloodstream to where they are needed and to eliminate any waste. Food cannot be digested without water.

2. Water helps digested food pass through the body quicker, preventing constipation and any toxins and waste material from sitting inside the body for too long and accumulating to dangerous levels. 

3. Drinking water replenishes bodily fluids lost through sweating, especially when playing sports and through passing urine. 

4. Water aids circulation. 

5. Drinking water helps to regulate the temperature of the body and body heat. 

6. Water is needed to keep the kidneys healthy and in working order and prevents urinary infections from occurring. 

7. Water keeps joints and eyes lubricated, and acts as a protective cushion for tissues and cells. 

8. It is the basis of all body fluids such as blood and saliva. 

9. Water keeps the skin hydrated, supple and looking healthy and glowing. 

10. Water is the main component of muscles and keeps them toned and firm. 

11. Water dilutes toxins and removes them from the body. 

12. Water aids in the metabolism and elimination of fats. Without water, fat deposits in the body will increase. 

13. Drinking water will alleviate water retention and lessen swelling of hands and feet. 

14. The brain is comprised of a lot of water and therefore needs replenishment to keep it working well and to full capacity. Without water we may lose concentration and suffer headaches and tiredness. 

15. Water dilutes the calcium in our urine, which could crystallise to form kidney stones if the body did not receive enough fluids.

(*http://www.helpwithcooking.com/nutrition-information/water-nutrition.html)

*The approximate water content in our body is 2/3, that means that we are more water than anything else!

These are a few numbers, they show that the older we get the less water we have in our body.

New born baby ~ 77%

Grown-up man ~ 65%

Grown-up woman ~ 58%

The elderly ~ 50%

Dehydration describes a state of negative fluid balance (more loss of water than intake) that may be caused by a number of disease entities.

A few functions of water are to regulate body temperature through perspiration; reduces friction between joints and facilitates movement; acts as a cushion between organs in order to protect them; facilitates normal functions of body processes and to remove toxins and waste from the body.

In a review from researchers at Loma Linda University, California, studied more than 20,000 healthy men and women aged 38 to 100 for six years. The study appears in the American Journal of Epidemiology. They found women who drank more than five glasses of water a day were 41% less likely to die from a heart attack during the study period than those who drank less than two glasses. The protective effect of water was even greater in men. Men who drank more water had a 54% lower risk of a fatal heart attack.

But not all liquids were equal. When researchers included the consumption of other liquids such as coffee, tea, juice, milk, and alcohol, the risk of heart attack increased. Women who drank large amounts of liquids other than water were more than twice as likely to die of a heart attack, and non-water drinking men had a 46% increase in risk.

Also remember that most people can live for over a month without food, but less than a week without water.

You should seriously consider your Doctor's advice to drink at least 8 glasses of water every day!

(*http://askville.amazon.com/dont-drink-water-body/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=3074068)

Laughing - the only medicine you'll ever need

"Time spent laughing is time spent with the Gods."
-Japanese Proverb

Laughing is in my opinion, the biggest pleasure in life. I just love that feeling of laughing, it's those moments when every thought is out of your mind and you get this carefree feeling. Laughter is the best remedy for stress and frustration, anger and so on. 

Apparently we are not the only ones that enjoy laughter. The first hoots of laughter from an ancient ancestor of humans rippled across the land at least 10 million years ago, according to a study of giggling primates.


Researchers used recordings of apes and babies being tickled to trace the origins of laughter back to the last common ancestor that humans shared with the modern great apes, which include chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans.

The finding challenges the view that laughter is a uniquely human trait, suggesting instead that it emerged long before humans split from the evolutionary path that led to our primate cousins, between 10m and 16m years ago.

Laughter is a great example of how the best things in life are free.  Besides the great feelings you experience during "a laughing session", laughter comes with more good news. Laughing is really healthy for your whole body. 

In 2005 researchers at the University of Maryland Medical Center were the  first to report  a link between laughter and healthy function of blood vessels. They stated  that laughter causes the dilatation of the inner lining of blood vessels, the endothelium, and increases blood flow.

Some of the other benefits include:

• reduction of inflammation and decreased platelet aggregation.
• reductions in stress hormones such as cortisol and epinephrine.
• When laughing the brain also releases endorphins that can relieve some physical pain.
• Laughter also helps your immune system by boosting the number of antibody-producing cells and enhancing the effectiveness of T-cells

Laughing 100 times is equal to 10 minutes of rowing or 15 minutes of bike riding so just keep that in mind. It's a really fun way to burn calories and keep your body and mind healthy.

Wishing you the best,
Rachel