Tag: health benefits

Indigestion Issues?

by Brittany M. Edwards, posted in Health & Wellness

Indigestion, also known as dyspepsia, is the uncomfortable feeling you get in your belly usually during a meal or after. It usually comes with bloating, nausea or vomiting, belching, and gas. In some cases, you can feel it while or after having a drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic). It can occur after eating spicy or fatty foods, food high in acidity, and from overeating. It is usually the symptom of an underlying problem like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), ulcers, gallbladder disease, or irritable bowel syndrome just to name a few.

If you are having indigestion issues and are tired of taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, you might have already started looking into natural remedies to help you overcome those issues. There are many natural remedies to choose from, but there are a few that stand out the most and actually top of the list when helping ease the pain and comfortability of indigestion and all that it brings.

There are some preventive measures that can be taken to minimize indigestion symptoms. These would be the first line of defense to combat indigestion. Such as frequently eating smaller meals. You can do this by eating a small meal or snack every 2 to 3 hours. Also, eating at a slower pace can help your indigestion; it also reminds you to eat more mindfully. Limiting your caffeine intake and increasing your water intake are also good ways to help with indigestion. Make sure not to eat too late in the evening, this actually causing the heartburn, acid reflux, and indigestion that you are working to combat. Adding whole foods to your diet such as lean meat, fruits and vegetables are a great way to get your body healthy and avoid upset stomach and avoiding spicy foods.

Sometimes it can be hard to remember to do all these things (especially avoiding spicy foods in my case), so there are other natural remedies out there that will help with indigestion as well. These are the top few I found while doing my research:

  • Baking soda – acts as an antacid
    • Mix about 1/2 a teaspoon baking soda with a cup of water.
    • Can drink up to 2 to 3 times daily.
  • Ginger – promotes healthy digestion
    • You can add ginger as a spice to your meal.
    • You can make yourself a ginger tea to drink.
    • You can add 2 teaspoons of ginger juice and 1 teaspoon of honey to a warm cup of water to drink.
  • Apple Cider Vinegar – has alkalizing effect
    • Mix a tablespoon of ACV and a teaspoon of honey in a cup of water.
    • Can drink up to 2 to 3 times daily.
  • Fennel Seeds – contain volatile oils that help reduce nausea and control flatulence
    • In a cup of hot water, add 2 tablespoons of fennel and leave it to steep for a while. Strain the water and add a teaspoon of honey. Can drink up to 2 to 3 times daily.
    • You can chew a spoonful of fennel seeds.
    • You can dry roast, grind, and sieve fennel seeds. Take 1/2 a teaspoon of this powder along with water. Follow this remedy twice daily.
  • Chamomile – calms the stomach and soothes spasms in the intestinal tract
    • You can take a half-teaspoon chamomile tincture up to three times daily.
    • You can have a nice cup of chamomile tea.
  • Peppermint – the oil soothes intestinal muscle spasms and helps relieve nausea
    • You can take one or two capsules containing 0.2 milliliters of oil per capsule three times a day, between meals.
    • You can have a nice cup of peppermint tea.
  • Aloe vera juice – reduces inflammation
    • If you have a 1/2 cup of aloe vera juice before a meal, it will settle your stomach.
    • It is also a laxative, so be mindful that you will probably need to be near a bathroom.

There are plenty more remedies out there, what are some you have tried?

Benefits & Uses of Coconut Oil

by Brittany M. Edwards, posted in Health & Wellness

For a long time, coconut oil has been used to for so many different things. It is one of the oils I like to use for numerous reasons. I love all the benefits coconut oil has and there are still more uses being discovered.

To date, there are over 1,500 studies proving coconut oil to be one of the healthiest foods on the planet. Coconut oil benefits and uses go beyond what most people realize.

–Dr. Axe

One of the main ways I use coconut oil is for my hair. I use it for hot oil treatments. It moisturizes my hair and scalp, keeping dandruff at bay, and helps stop breakage allowing it to grow healthy. I use coconut oil in just about every hair treatment mask or oil I make at home. It has healthy fatty acids (lauric acid, capric acid, and caprylic acid) needed for a healthy lifestyle. Coconut oil is safe to use topically and to ingest. It is also a really good substitute to use when cooking instead of butter or cooking spray. Coconut oil has antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties.

Coconut oil is safe to use topically and to ingest. It is also a really good substitute to use when cooking instead of butter or cooking spray. Because of the good fats in coconut oil, it can actually help lower your cholesterol levels and help fight high blood pressure when ingested. It also helps you digest your food. It strengthens the immune system because it contains antimicrobial lipids and the healthy fatty acids I mentioned above.

Coconut oil is also good for your skin. It is filled with antioxidants that help relieve dry skin and is good for skin infections like eczema and dermatitis for example. You will find that a lot of products have coconut oil in its ingredients for this reason. It is also a carrier oil which means you can easily add essential oils and other beneficial oils to it.

I also like to use coconut oil for oil pulling in the mornings when I first wake up. I scrape my tongue first and then for about five to ten minutes I pull coconut oil in my mouth. It is almost like using a mouthwash but has greater benefits. Since coconut oil aids in the absorption of calcium by the body, it helps in developing strong teeth. It also stops tooth decay and reduces plaque from forming and gingivitis.

The benefits I have mentioned are just to name a few and give examples of how I myself have used coconut oil. Should you want to look up recipes for inspiration or just want to know more ways coconut oil can benefit you, check out these following websites:

You can start small when incorporating coconut oil into your lifestyle for the first time. I started with a top/down approach myself, using it in my hair first. Try not to overwhelm yourself by trying a ton of recipes at once, focus on one and take notes on any reactions. Also, be sure to talk to your doctor prior to making any changes. It is always best to know your starting markers to see how much coconut oil can improve your life.

Until the next post,

Namaste!