Category: Health

H20 Purify & Hydrate

by Kali Bliss, posted in Food, Health, Holidays

HYDRATE:

  • any compound that contains water of crystallization
  • supply water or liquid to in order to maintain a healthy balance; “the bicyclists must be hydrated frequently”
  • become hydrated and combine with water

Water droplet with the earth in it.Your body is an amazing vessels that can naturally heal itself if given the opportunity. After a holiday weekend dedicated to celebration life, liberty, freedom, and more, how do you feel? Did you use the holiday to ‘let loose’ by indulging in chips, guacamole, BBQ, & many beers while being outside in the Cali sunshine? How is you body feeling today?

How do you get back on track and feel good again? You Hydrate. Drink water. Refuel your sanctuary and cleanse out the toxins you indulged in over the weekend. Our food supply has changed drastically and so many Americans load up on packaged, processed, and junk that does not satisfy our cells. I believe most of how American’s choose to live is with the ‘quick fix’ – drinking, partying, loading up on fats and animal products, consuming sugar and ingesting endless quantities to have some kind of satisfaction – whether that be a buzz, a high, a sweet taste delight, or a filing a void that people think is ‘hunger’. We load up, we eat, and we love to consume and do the ‘American’ thing of BBQing, eating, and consuming foods that internally just deteriorate our health and more importantly, inhibit your body to heal and perform optimally.

 Recover from your weekend. Let yourself forgive and move forward. Make better choices now. Does that mean going to the gym every day, running five extra miles to burn those calories, or taking a torching yoga class to physically look good? Not quite. It’s funny how people believe we need to ‘work hard’ and ‘train’ in order to look good. It begins with your body, it starts with your soul and remembering that self care begins by being aware.

 Hydrate. Purify your cells and internal organs with Nature’s greatest gift – Water!

Water makes up 71% of our planet and we are so blessed to have so many forms of water on the planet – lakes, rivers, oceans, streams, etc. I believe water is the most healing form of anything. How good does it feel when you jump in the Ocean? My body becomes alive and restored. The same thing happens inside your body – water cleanses and clears and helps your body upshift and heal so you can feel better. (Also why you often crave water when you wake up with a hangover). It’s a miracle elixir! Water is vital to access consciousness and liberate your cells and anything and everything that perhaps has gotten trapped inside. We need water. Our filtering systems are not the same, and much tap water is actually incredibly harmful to your health since it is full of nasty toxins, like Flouride, that actually harm your body. If you’re not yet consuming PURE water, make an effort to get the your local Water store and fill up. It’s worth the extra money and time and is critical for your health.

 

Water purifies because it carries the element hydrogen. Hydrogen is considered the hydrating element (h20), thus water is simply hydrogen with oxygen. Hydrogen is found throughout our body in the lymph, brain, lungs, liver, kidneys, spleen, pancreas, muscles, and more. It helps regulate the body’s temperature by moving oxygen through your system and moistens your lungs so you can breathe and cool your system down. Isn’t that amazing? Hence why breathing, yoga, and learning to tame your breath is so critical for health and wellness. Without hydrogen, and with shallow breathing, blood cannot optimally flow through your body and remove toxins and filter out waste. Breathing is essential to live. Water is essential for your body to continue to operate. Thus hydrogen, and water, aid in the process of digestion and elimination. If you are loading up on crap without anything pure and real, your body is going to feel it and become stagnant. That’s how disease forms. After a weekend of fun in the sun and more, please give back to your body – breathe and hydrate. Bring your body back to a balanced state with filtered pure water. Maybe even try on a day of fasting and only drinking water. You may be surprised how much more your body will love you when you relax, stop eating, working hard, and give it time to heal and come back to a vibrant state.water

 

Signs of excess hydrogen – bloating, puffiness, swelling, puffy hands, stiff neck, low energy, usually constipated or does not eliminate daily.

Signs of hydrogen deficiency- similar to dehydration, irritated, inflammation, cramps, salty food cravings, dry or wrinkled skin, overly heated. Lack of hydrogen really messes up your internal machine and can result in affecting your brain to the point that your brain begins to shut down. This is why we need water to survive.

            Often if you loose over 1% of your body weight while sweating, your body goes into dehydration mode, and if your body continues to loose water (about 9-12% of your body weight) you can die.

 

Best Moisture Containing & Water Based Foods:

Citrus, oranges, vegetable juices, apricots, asparagus, blackberries, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, celery juice, chard, cherries, pineapples, blueberries, prunes, sauerkraut, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips, watermelon…

 

Water Tips:

  • Buy yourself a nice glad waterbottle & keep it with you at your desk. Continue to drink water throughout your day and create deadlines for yourself (like drink my water bottle before 11am)
  • Your body needs WATER, not FOOD first thing. Keep a glass of water by your bed and drink it first thing when you wake up. Continue to hydrate in the AM with lemons to get awaken your body and break your sleep fast.
  • Get in touch with water. Take a walk on the beach, put your feet in the ocean, or swim in the waves! Do something to immerse yourself in water. You will be surprised at the energetic shifts and the healing powers of water. The ocean and natural fresh stream water is obviously best, however a pool works to.
  • When you choose to drink alcohol, enjoy a cup of water in between cocktails and beers.
  • Flavor up your water with lemons, cucumbers, berries, etc
  • Drink water at room temperature. The colder the water the more energy it takes the body to use it and affects your digestion
  • Hydrate before and after meals. When you are eating, don’t chug water with your food.
  • Drink when you are thirsty, and sip even when you are not

 

Food Allergies – What’s ‘Normal’?

by Kali Bliss, posted in Food, Health

The world as we know it has changed, and is changing. Things are happening. Our food supply has evolved into a corporate marketing business. Not much is just natural. Why? I wish I knew. Educate yourself. I suffered a long time and no one could tell me why. They just told me I was crazy. Was I? It is wrong for a kid to cry because they are in pain from eating? In our society, yes. To me, no. I just knew something was not right and that the food I was ingesting did not sit well with me. It made me ill. But how was I suppose to know that was not ‘normal’? I knew all along…

Flu Season

by Kali Bliss, posted in Health, Holidays, Seasonal

There is something in the air. Do you feel it? Ever since the full moon last Monday, and since Halloween has passed something mystical has been circulating. Or at least I feel something magical.  I felt the full moon energies tremendously and so much happened leading up to it and after it, I’m still a bit in ah. It’s November. One of my least favorite months of the year. I just don’t like it. Never really have. The weather gets colder, but it’s not cold enough to snow. We edge closer to family and holiday celebrations, which usually resonates to family drama. Don’t even get me started about Thanksgiving, a holiday I personally thing is really dumb and way to commercial. Not to mention, all the food just puts us more stuck. I just think November and have a natural tendency to want to curl up in my bed all day long with a book and blanket. Is that weird? Probably.

It’s the time of year when we are well into the Fall and practically navigating into the Winter. Halloween is symbolic in many religions and countries and the mid mark foe the year. A time when there is more darkness all around, and less lightness. I agree.  This is also the time of year where my body acts up, it gets uncomfortable with all the changes, my allergies get loose with the weather patterns, and I consciously really have to focus to try to keep my body in balance to avoid getting (if I dare to say it) — sick.

It’s flu season. So how do you cope? I will not be rushing to the doctor to get one of those magical flu shots that will cure me of the common cold. No, not this year. I’ve noticed so so so many people getting ‘sick’ in the last week. Even super healthy people, yogis,  who have come down with something. What is in the air? Energetically I believe we are at a pivotal shifting point. A time when we are reaching closer to what the Mayans believe to be the end of the year (Dec 21, 2012)….it’s 2012 afterall! I’ve been talking about change as the theme for the Fall season, but this year it’s even more significant. I believe it’s time to shift out of old ways of being. To start with this season, to plant your own seeds of passion and inspiration and start to feel rooted to who you are and your own being now. To shed off those layers, to detach from what was, be thankful for what is, and focus on what is coming. It’s time to stepback and evaluate your life. Keep people around who have meaning, who bring you joy, and who you enjoy talking to and being around. And let those other relationships dwindle away as they need to. People are changing, lives are shifting, the planet as we know it I believe is transforming.  If the people are uninspiring, toxic, negative, mean, it’s time to cut those ties. Or maybe you’re in a relationship with someone where you feel no passion or lust, and you sometimes wonder why you’re together. Maybe it’s time to free yourself and move on. It’s liberating and you’ll have more time to focus on the people you value and truly care about. By creating room, for more genuine people like that to flow in. Some may be more in tune with you, others may not understand it. That is fine, that is life. Begin your journey with confidence though. Use this month of November and December to come to terms with who you are and what you want. It’s not easy, but begin to find some clarity and allow your feelings to guide you, then you will know what feels nice.

Do you during this month: Relax. Sleep more, go to bed at a reasonable hour before 10pm, maybe try less rigorous exercise and try slowing it down instead. Eat smaller, lighter, warmer meals. Keep you tea cup filled. Wear socks. Wear scarves. Speak your truth, don’t hold anything back. Sleep more. Breathe deeply. Try yin yoga. Avoid heavy, fried, meaty foods. Add cinnamon for warming. Drink water. Close your eyes breathe. Wash your hands with soap. Clean your body. Get a massage. Stay hydrated. Get moving to move your your bowels. Vitamin D to make up for lost sunshine. Sleep. Drink clean water. Do what feels right for you. Relax.

This time of year is when we get stuck. Physically in the body, mentally in the mind, and confused in the heart. As we try to keep up with our routine, go about our quick paced days, and fill our calendar with holiday events, we forget to take time for ourselves. It’s time to pause, look into your life at the things you value, and begin to appreciate the good things and people you have. When you notice people, jobs, events, circumstances that don’t serve you, decide to let them pass, allow them to go in their direction, and be okay when people stop asking about what you’re doing. You’re on your own path for your own success, and when you follow what feels right, you can never turn down the wrong road. Emotionally this time of year we feel scattered, all over the place, maybe a bit overwhelmed with the new changes and decisions coming upon us all. Our bodies have trouble adapting to the changes in season, the transition into cooler weather and less heat, and out immunity starts to take a downward spiral. Nature shifts, our own mental chatter starts to bog us down, we get fogged in the mind, unstable, insecure, and then it shows up in the body. Take a deep breathe, there is health and vitality available to us all.

The first step to feeling good and keeping your immune system strong is digestion. Yes, that. It may uncomfortable, you may not want to think about it, I’ve been there, but it’s important. You need to rid you’d body of waste and not let the toxins accumulate. If you’re not going once a day you have problems, especially if you’re eating a lot of large meals.

Tips for Digestion:

–       Start your day off with lemon tea: hot water and lemon

–       Maybe drink some natural laxative tea before bed like Smooth Move

–       Eat more veggies, a natural source of fiber

–       Drink more tea….all kinds. Ginger and peppermint are especially beneficial for the tummy

Digestion is different for everyone, so notice what works for you. Notice what foods you are more sensitive to. It’s important to stay consistent around this time of year with how you eat. Take time to slow down, turn off the noise of cell phones, TVs, and instead take a half hour to sit and fully enjoy your meals without distractions. Be present, chew each bite, savor it, and enjoy.

Choose: garlic to warm the body, ginger, peppermint, dates to help the bowels, lemons (in water, tea, everything), more warm veggies, etc

Feeling off? About to catch the cold? Try these first~~~

If you begin to start to feel imbalance, probably in your throat, head, nasal area, and lungs, you can also pick up a natural wellness formula and Echinacea support. Start with your belly though, be conscious of what you’re feeling when you’re eating, what you’re eating, and how you are eating. Notice if you feel stuck or uncomfortable in your gut. And try to eliminate those negativities out of your system completely. Deep breathing, relaxation, tummy massages, yoga, and mediation are fabulous for that. As always, stay hydrated. As things shift internally and externally we need to keep the water flowing through to help flush.

 

 

 

 

Acne, Outbreaks, Your Face, Your Health

by Kali Bliss, posted in Health

We know the the body is set up in an intricate way where each and every part, organ, muscle, etc, connects to something else. But did you know that the face relates directly to what’s going on inside of you, especially with your internal organs? Your face can often be a roadmap of your mind, and show what’s happening with you. Certain areas of your face reveal what’s happening with your health. It’s quite remarkable. The skin is just a barrier, a way to release toxins stored in the body. Often times those toxins release out of the skin and the face. This is especially noticeable when you are detoxing, cleansing, or just came of a weekend of heavy drinking. I’m detoxing this week and cleansing and preparing for Fall. I noticed by chin has become very red compared to normal.

According to Chinese medicine, this redness on my chin is a sign that the kidneys are a little off balance. The chin is a water element and correlates with kidneys and the bladder organs, including hormones, estrogen levels, etc. Breakouts in the area could be due to hormones out of whack, irregular periods, etc. Although remedies are a little harder to come by, it’s always recommend to eat clean and help flush out whatever may be lingering. Kidneys are emotionally associated with fear. It’s always good to check in with that else the organ/issue could be root to. Since I’m eating healthy and clean this week I suspect my redness is an indicator that the kidneys are flushing out the bad stuff and saving the good stuff….give me a few more days and my skin should be radiant…..onto some heated yoga to aid….and of course hydrate

 

Sugaring ~ The All Natural Alternative to Waxing

by Kali Bliss, posted in Body, Health

I need to tell all you ladies out there about Sugaring…well Men too if have a lot of hair or do waxing. Sugaring is an all natural way to remove hair! My friend who lives in San Francisco just told me about it and swears by it. I have not heard about it before that, but apparently it has been around for thousands of years, since the Ancient Egyptians, and is popular in other cultures including: South East, African, Middle East, etc. I’m not surprised, they seem to have all sorts of all natural tricks compared to Western society. Summer is here, bathing suit season has begun, and what’s worse than feeling hairy or having razor burn while in your bikini or at the beach? You want to feel sexy and alive and hot….well ladies, it’s time to invest in stripping your hair off with sugaring–works on any part of the body!

Sugaring is basically the same concept of waxing. You lay the substance down on the skin, and rip it off. The difference is the ingredients in the ‘wax’ are all natural and non allergenic. Seriously! The sugar paste is made of water, lemon juice, and pure sugar cane. You can even eat it because it has no processed substances or fillers. Wouldn’t you rather have that on your body than wax that is made of questionable shit (Glucose, Fructose, Maltose, Aqua, Citric Acid, Modified Colophonium, Solanum Tuberosum, Parfum). I don’t want weird chemicals on my skin!

With sugaring you don’t use strips, the esthetician uses a ball of the sugar paste that’s about room temperature and gently places it on the area to be waxed. The hair is then removed from the root, like in regular waxing, however, it only pulls of dead skin cells, not all skin cells. The hair is pulled in the natural direction of hair growth too. The paste is then disposed off. It’s a super quick process, and there is no issue about the wax being too hot, or you being really sticky after (since sugar is soluble and dissolves with water). The sugar paste easily wipes off the body, if necessary, and you are left hair free, ready to enjoy your day. No mess, rash, bumps, reaction, redness, etc. The one down side– it still hurts. I would say it probably hurts a little less, or about the same as a waxing procedure. Hard for me to judge since I have not been waxing frequently. That will probably change though now that I’ve learned about sugaring!

The other plus about sugaring is that it’s pretty cheap. The place I found does Brazilians for $40 (and it takes about 20 mins only), Brazilians and brows for $50, lips for $10, etc. I just experimented and went in for sugaring last week. So I dont know the exact stats on how long the hair removal lasts. Like anything, it depends on your body. It is rumored that sugaring lasts longer though, and most people come in every 4-5 weeks.

To sum up ~ SUGARING ~ lasts just as long or longer than waxing, uses all natural ingredients, okay for your body and skin, leaves no mess and wipes off easily, less reaction and redness, great for sensitive skin, it’s affordable and cheaper than waxing, it’s quick, it’s safe, removes hair in same direction of growth while only removing dead skin cells….


If you wax, if you’re curious, if you would like your hair gone for longer periods of time so you dont need to shave, I recommend sugaring. I think I’m going to be hooked….

Maca Powder ~ The Sexual Superfood

by Kali Bliss, posted in Health

My friend and I recently exchanged sips of our jars of blended goodness after a yoga sesh. We then got on the topic of maca, what it is, the benefits, etc. It taste soooo good in smoothies, but curiously, neither of us knew much about it besides that I blend it in my smoothies sometimes. So here is some info about maca powder, tasty superfood that blends well…

The Magical Sex & Strength Drug

History

Maca has been used in the Peruvian Andes as food and medicine since the 15th century. It’s known as Peruvian Ginseng and is sacred to the Incas and grown high in the mountains of  Peru. It is said, that Inca warriors would eat maca before battle to help increase strength and stamina. Quite the SUPERFOOD!

Maca is a popular root that is used in smoothies, blended, taken in liquid form, or taken in pill form. There are four types of Maca based on the root color- yellow, black, red. The shades vary from off white to yellow to pinkish to dark purple to black.  It’s a member of the mustard family, looks similar to radishes.

Benefits

– Energizing, increases strength and stamina. Known to help the immune system and reduce stress

– High in protein

– It’s a root that helps heal alignments in the body more so than add nutritional support

– Root contains many vitamins and minerals: calcium, magnesium, iron, vitamin c, vitamin b, and more than 18 amino acids

– Maca is full of fiber. In fact, it has four times the fiber of a potato

– Maca helps stimulate the body to produce hormones and regulate. Thus maca helps the endocrine system and libido- the main reason men and women have begun to take it daily.

-Be careful it can help increase fertility in women and sexual stamina. Men experience increase sperm count and testosterone levels. Sex drug? Maybe. It can actually help erectile dysfunction, and for women, help with PMS symptoms and menopause.

– Studies have proven that Maca is a ‘natural viagra.’ Men and women beware of this aphrodisiac!

So biggest takeaway? Try maca! I like to blend it the best, so tasty, especially with almond milk. I’ve heard people putting it in tea as well to make it seem more creamy. Maca has many benefits, try it out! I personally like to blend it with almond milk, and anything else in your fridge…for me that’s typically vanilla, chia seeds, some blue berries, spinach, and more…

Maca is magical and it’s marvelous!

Reiki….What the —?

by Kali Bliss, posted in Health

I tell people about Reiki and I generally get some weird looks, some rolled eyes, or maybe a slight awkward giggle and glance away. It’s new to many people, and well, slightly out there. To me, there are many definitions as to what Reiki is. I think it’s very personal and I believe that the effects, benefits, and experience, are completely different from person to person. Traditionally, Reiki is a natural healing remedy based on ancient systems from Japan. Reiki is defined as universal life energy. It is based around the life force energy that propels through each of us, within us, unseen. Much like the energy Chakra system, there is a force that flows through us to help us feel more alive and happy. Reiki helps to move this energy throughout the body, to even out stiffness and blockages, and to attune the person to feel better and more complete. That, and its totally relaxing. To me, it’s like floating on a cloud, dreaming away, and relaxing into space. The high after is amazing too. Best of all, it’s all natural, no medicine, drugs, exercise, or talking involved. You lay down on the table, close your eyes, breathe, and let the Reiki practitioner take off. Each session is a bit different, but typically, the practitioner begins by scanning the body, then placing the hands on the head for a few minutes. You feel their palms melt onto you, along different areas of your body, i eventually tune out….It sounds extreme, a bit woowoo, I know, I felt the same way. Then I tried it, and things changes and shifted, I went back, curious as to if it was just in my head, and nope, Reiki really works. It eases the mind, fuels the body, and feels amazing. I would recommend trying different practitioners you feel comfortable with and can connect with. That is important. To me, it’s more about moving your hands along the body and warming different spaces. It me, it’s about connecting with the other person, allowing them in to help, and letting them guide you in how you can begin to transform.

Curious? Want to know more? Confused? My best recommendation is to try it. Experience for yourself.

Benefits of Reiki:

– Balance the body and leave the person extremely relaxed and euphoric, in a Reiki high

– Helps to alleviate pain and tension in the body

– Balances the chakras and energy flow throughout the body….This may include feelings/areas of ‘stuckness’

– Shows people natural healing modality if possible…awakens people to the life force energy that is in all of us

– More mental clarity, less stress, and business in the mind

– Attunes and improves the mind, body, spirit, connection

– Aids better sleep

– Helps internal organs, flush toxins, and increase immune system

Written by the creator of Reiki~

The secret art of inviting happiness
The miraculous medicine of all diseases
Just for today, do not anger
Do not worry and be filled with gratitude
Devote yourself to your work. Be kind to people.
Every morning and evening, join your hands in prayer.
Pray these words to your heart
and chant these words with your mouth
Usui Reiki Treatment for the improvement of body and mind
The founder , Usui Mikao

Spring Allergies Remedy ~ The Netti

by Kali Bliss, posted in Health, Seasonal

Spring has sprung! And with that comes flowers blooming, pollens circulating the air, and unfortunately for me allergies. I began the week, Monday, waking up with a scratchy sore throat and my nose stuffy. Yuck. I told myself I’m not getting sick, this will pass. I jumped out of bed and went straight for my netti pot…the best holistic remedy for allergies or anything nasal related. It’s like rinsing off your body, rinse your nasal passage! I filled it with some warm water put some kosher salt in it, mixed, and began flooding my nasal passages. There are certain recipes, saline solutions, for the Netti, but I just mix and blend at will. Not the most pleasant feeling, but it works. I did it every morning, sometimes twice a day, and by Friday I was feeling great. I added some Echinacea and vitamin C, a few emergency packs, and lots of herbal tea and lemons. Not going to lie, I did take benedryl for a couple nights to help me get some ZZzzZZzzz’s. Health restored in a few days and back to my own fabulous me! It just took a netti pot, some vitamins, and a little bit of hot yoga to sweat it out. Hello Spring! It’s good to get into a routine of using the netti pot, especially if you are cleansing or the seasons are changing. It’s a fabulous Ayurveda tool! It’s weird at first, maybe even gross, and unpleasant, but once you feel the benefits, you will be hooked. No pill, just pure natural h20 and some salt, thank you Mother Earth! But life gets busy, time is short, and mornings are hectic…you can always count on the netti for a rising discomfort, allergies, or nose issue.

Some Netti Pot Benefits

  • It is 100% natural and totally holistic
  • It is cheap
  • Solves sinus issues and drains the bad stuff
  • Helps aid sinus headaches
  • Improves smell and clears your nasal passages
  • Provides instant sinus relief
  • It’s easy, simple, and has only positive side effects, and no drugs!
  • Helps clear allergies, bronchitis, asthma, stuffy nose, running nose and more
  • Dr Oz even recommends it!
  • You can get a netti pot everywhere: drug store, health food stores, online, etc…

Netti Pot Best Practices:

– Use warm water….not hot (you will burn yourself) not cold (brain freeze, discomfort, etc)

– Use non Iodized salt and maybe baking soda, mix with water ( 1/2 teaspoon to 8 oz water recommended)…give or take a little. I don’t use baking soda, but I’ve heard good things. Iodized salt can cause irritations overtime.

– Always lean your head to the side, over a sink, and pour netti through opposite nasal passage. The water should run down opposite nostril. If you feel it in your mouth/throat you are not tilting your head enough.