Tag: health

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?

Post-Holiday Workout

by Brittany M. Edwards, posted in Workouts

I hope everyone had a blessed and wonderful holiday celebration with their loved ones. I am sure you ate great and now have a little belly action as a result. I am here to tell you that all is not lost and give you some small tips to help you get back to feeling great!

If you have not already started enjoying the weather we are having in Chicago, please go for a light 15-20 minute walk. This will get you started by warming up your muscles and allow you to fully reap the benefits of a post-holiday workout. Make sure you drink lots of water prior to and after your walk.

After you go for your walk, you are going to need to stretch out those muscles you just warmed up. Nothing too major, you can do a toe touch, hamstring and calf stretch and make sure to stretch your arms and neck as these can be the tightest areas in your body and where most people carry their stress.

From there, you should begin with setting your intention: “Today I want to workout for (choose your time frame).” Then, begin your workout. I’ve listed below some exercises you can use in your practice; however, you are more than welcome to create your own workout.

  • Jumping Jacks: 3 reps of 15
  • Squats: 3 reps of 15
  • Lunges: 3 reps of 15 on each leg
  • Arm Circles: 30 forward & 30 backward
  • Push-Ups: 10-20 (or however many you can do with proper form still intact)
  • Plank: Hold for 30 secs – 1 minute
  • Alternating Push-Up Plank: 3 reps of 15-20
  • Tricep Dip: 3 reps of 10-15
  • Hip Raise: 3 reps hold for 20 secs each
  • Sit-Ups: 3 reps of 10-15
  • Leg Spreaders: 3 reps of 15
  • Supine Bicycle: 3 reps of 20 to each side

Cycle through each exercise and rest for 30 secs – 1 minute in between reps. You can also take a rest for 15-30 secs every time the exercise switches focus to a different area of the body.

I hope you find this helpful and that you have a great new year of healthy choices in front of you. Enjoy!

Yoga Certification Complete!

by Brittany M. Edwards, posted in Yoga

Well, I finally did it. I had decided that yoga was for me a long time ago. It’s low impact and keeps me exercising. Back in 2008, I fractured my spine and for a long while could not hyper-extend my back. Now I’m working on a backbend again! It has definitely been an exciting and trying road, but one I could never regret. I love sharing knowledge and I can’t wait to really put my certification to use and begin teaching yoga to others. More excitement to come!!

A Must Share – 21 Ways to Nourish Your Mind & Body

by Brittany M. Edwards, posted in Health & Wellness

Good Morning!

Ever wonder why there are so many ways to take of not only your body, but your mind and soul/spirit too? Well I found something that pretty much lays everything out there for you in a nutshell.  These findings in the photo shared are actually what motivated me to want to share the information I’m learning. I myself, have already begun to follow some of the suggested ways mentioned in the photo below. I struggle with inflammation, insomnia, depression and anxiety and also finding out what would help me combat these ailments and still lead a healthy and productive life.

Now as always, the information given is just a suggestion (or a stepping stone). However, I encourage you to try incorporating some of these soulful ways into your life and routine. They literally make a world of difference. Let me know how it goes.

 

Learn how to manage stress!:

Ayurveda. What is it?

by Brittany M. Edwards, posted in Ayurveda

Ayurveda is one of the world’s oldest healing systems, beginning in India over 5,000 years ago. Its principal belief is that all things are connected, whether living or not. Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word that literally translates as “the science of life” or “the wisdom of life” or “the knowledge of longevity”. According to Ayurveda, in order to be healthy your mind, body, and spirit have to be aligned and balanced with the universe. Being healthy is not just the exclusion of disease in the body.

Ayurveda has a few basic principles:

  • Reaching your unique state of balance in your whole being (body, mind, spirit) is fundamental to your well-being.
  • There are 3 doshas (that describe who we are): vata, pitta, and kapha – I’ll get into these more in future posts.
  • If you are imbalanced, get rid of what’s causing the problem. If you are still experiencing imbalances, counteract with opposite (ei. spicy foods cause indigestion so eat something less spicy).
  • Always support your digestive system, it is here that the good nutrients is absorbed and the bad waste is expelled.
  • The universe is made of the 5 basic elements air, water, fire, earth, and space.

When you hear about Ayurveda, mostly it’s about learning about your body’s unique composition of the principle energies (doshas) and keeping them balanced. Vata (space & air) is the energy of movement, pitta (fire & water) is the energy of digestion or metabolism, and kapha (earth & water) the energy of lubrication and structure.

Stress & It’s Problems

by Brittany M. Edwards, posted in Health & Wellness, Mental Health

Stress

This lovely 6 letter word is the cause of so many health problems today. It is also one of the toughest things to alleviate; even dealing with stressful situations can be difficult. There’s no way to completely get rid of stress; however, you can learn to cope.

So what is stress?

Stress is your body’s way of responding to any kind of demand or threat.

The thing is stress can be good and bad for us. Certain types of stress can help us while other types can land us in the hospital with heart attacks, strokes, and mental breakdowns. Stress can literally kill you. That’s why it’s important that we try our best to handle our stressors in a healthy manner.

Firstly, it’s imperative to know what your stressors are. Some are very common:

  • Work/Career
  • School
  • Kids
  • Money

These are just to name a few. You name it, it can be a stressor. The most common way to keep your stress levels low is to make sure you exercise and eat properly. There are, however, more ways to keep your stress levels in a safe range. Personally I like to go for walks around my neighborhood. I find hidden gems that I didn’t even notice always driving around and it actually lifts my mood.

I’m a person that gets bored doing the same things pretty easily. So there are a few other ways I like to cope with stress:

  • Coloring/Painting
  • Meditation
  • Deep breathing
  • Sports & recreation
  • Reading books
  • Journaling
  • Have a good cry

These are just a few things that help me deal with my stressors. I will tell you this, nothing substitutes for being under the care of doctors whose job it is to help us. I didn’t always think this at first; however, therapy is definitely something that can’t be substituted.