Detox with Lemon Water

Remember when ordering lemon wedges in your water indicated to all other diners that they were in the presence of sophistication? Well, maybe we were on to something. Of course it adds a nice dash of flavour to your otherwise tasteless glass of water, but it's not just that. Lemon water is detoxifying and has numerous health benefits according to a wealth of different sources, both ancient and current.

According to Ayurveda, the ancient Indian health science, lemons are particularly healthy and even healing because they help to stimulate digestion. It is suggested to drink water with a little lemon juice and some honey (optional) daily to clean out any deposits caused by improperly digested food. Ayurveda texts make a point to highlight the fact that the lemons should be fresh and tree-ripened (lemons don't ripen after picked) to receive the full effects. Otherwise lemons are sprayed with harmful chemicals to make sure they look like we think they should.

More current sources on the health-giving properties of lemons almost all agree that lemons are antibacterial and antiviral, cleansing for the liver and aid in losing weight. It is recommended to drink a glass of lemon water the very first thing in the morning. Click here for an article on 15 health benefits of lemons.

For the last few months I have been trying to drink a glass of lemon water every morning and though I have no evidence that my liver is any happier or that I am healthier for it, but still I love it. It tastes great and I do feel better after drinking my morning lemon water. It is refreshing and if it is a placebo than it is a damn good one.  

Growing Things

If you can remember back to second grade when you grew a bean sprout in a plastic bag with a wet paper towel, maybe you can remember the sheer amazement of seeing the white head poke out of the bean. You found it so magical that you checked it multiple times a day. Growing Seeds in a Bag and More

As an adult I still get that feeling, but living in the city with only a balcony as immediate access to the outside world and  'nature,' my growing possibilities are limited. However I am absolutely satisfied with my indoor plants (a banana tree and its offspring) and my indoor/outdoor potted herbs. 

I love to stick my nose in the herbs, take a big whiff and think, "wow, that smells just like basil!" It is pretty silly but I was only introduced to fresh herbs in my adult years and am still amazed that these things exist in nature and were not concocted in some factory. Anyway, I love to cook with the herbs and use them for tea all while knowing how healthy and organic they are. In addition to that, the fact that I grew something brings me a feeling of accomplishment and responsibility. I even get worried when my plants don't seem to be getting the right amount of sunlight or water. 

Maybe those are some nurturing mother instincts in me or maybe someday you will see me, the grumpy old woman shouting at little kids to stop playing ball on her lawn. In any case, growing things makes me feel good and I'm gonna keep doing it.

Lay Off the Jalapeños - Giving Your Body the Diet It Wants

I love food. I love talking about it. I love learning about it and I love tasting it. Over the last few years I have also learned to value it in a way that I hadn't before. I want to know how food makes me feel and what kind of lasting effects it has on my body.

As a yoga teacher I have trained myself to be attuned to the mental and physical fluctuations of my personal health and to become my own little mad scientist. I have an experimental spirit so it comes easy to me to play with food combinations and observe my physical reactions to them. Plus, there are some things that I already know about myself that I have known for a long time, like No Jalapeños! However sometimes, I still ignore my own hard-won knowledge and have a second cup of coffee or add a couple dashes of hot sauce. The thought is so exciting it is irresistible, but inevitably it is a Bad Idea.

This kind of close attention to your body can get you pretty far in terms of learning what your body needs and what it only begrudgingly digests. But you are not on your own. There are plenty of sources of wisdom to guide you including your doctor, Ayurveda (the ancient Indian health science), innumerable websites and your aunt Sally. Much of the time these sources all happily agree and sometimes they totally don't, which is why the first step is to get to know yourself first so that you can follow your internal compass and lay off the jalapeños!