There are so many benefits to this concoction but on top of it, it’s delicious.  I drink hot water with raw honey and cinnamon every day.  Typically, I add 1 tbsp raw honey and 1 tsp cinnamon to about 1 cup of water.  It’s also just a great way to add fluids to your diet if you don’t like to drink water.

Get them here:

Out of the slew of purported benefits, I can definitely personally attest to a few of them.

Relieves sinus congestion – I’ve had a couple experiences of something entering my nasal passages and causing sneezing fits and my sinuses to get majorly congested.  I know one was from the air conditioning at work and the other I am guessing was some sort of dust that lodged itself deep into my nose.  When that happens, I aim for 3 cups a day of this concoction, and let me tell you, it really does the trick.  I will literally feel some sort of relief immediately after drinking, and complete relief within a few days.

Kicks sicknesses – On a similar note…I haven’t been sick in 9 years so I can’t say for myself, but I did tell people to try this out when I saw that they were sick.  One of them now drinks it every day too because of that, and the other told me it normally takes her 10 days to get better but instead, she got 90% better over the weekend!  For you skeptics out there, she started drinking on a Thursday or Friday, not on a Monday or something.

Aids digestion– Drinking this helps get things moving in your colon.  It might be beneficial to drink it before a meal.  Based on personal experience (and the testimony of someone else I know), it seems that the more junky the food you have inside you, the more likely your body will push things out of your colon…so maybe it’s a detoxifier as well.  I’m going to go with it.

Other benefits include:

• lowers cholesterol and strengthens the heart
• relieves (and maybe even cures) arthritis
• prevents bladder infection by destroying the germs in the bladder
• cures stomachaches and clears stomach ulcers
• relieves gas
• strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacterial and viral attacks
• kills the influenza virus
• keeps skin fresh and soft, and slows down the aging process
• removes pimples (apply a daily paste of 3 tbsp raw honey and 1 tsp cinnamon powder on pimples at night, wash in the morning with warm water)
• cures skin infections like eczema and ringworm (apply equal amounts on affected parts)
• weight loss by drinking in the morning before breakfast and at night before sleeping (supposedly, it does not allow the fat to accumulate in the body)
• cures cancer (based on research in Japan and Australia)
• helps fatigue and increases the vitality in the body
• prevents bad breath (gargle 1 tsp of each with hot water in the morning)
• restores hearing if taken daily, morning and night, in equal parts

Digestive Tea

Now, having said all that, I am going to include a bonus recipe.  This is a delicious tea with beneficial digestive properties.  The lemon aids in clearing out your liver, the ginger improves the absorption and assimilation of nutrients to the body and soothes the stomach and colon, and the raw honey and cinnamon has all the benefits I just stated above.  So try it out!  I make this tea on the weekends, since it’s harder for me to slice ginger and squeeze lemon at work.

Makes 1 serving.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup hot water
• a few thin slices ginger root
• 1/4 – 1/2 lemon, freshly squeezed
• 1 tbsp raw honey
• 1 tsp cinnamon powder
• previously steeped tea (optional)

Mix all ingredients together.

The reason I add the previously steeped tea is to add flavor, and once tea has been steeped already, it has been naturally decaffeinated.  Enjoy!

Previous Detox Post – What Do I Put In My Juice?

Next Detox Post – How to Naturally Relieve Sinus Congestion

The rule of thumb for juices is 3:1 veggies to fruits.  You don’t want to have too much sugar hitting your body so quickly.  Maybe eventually you can make the ratio higher for veggies to fruits.

For beginners, I suggest using more mild tasting vegetables like romaine lettuce, broccoli, cucumbers, etc.  I have also learned that it is easier to go with less fruit if you have a big, juicy cucumber to make up for it, like this one:

Maaaaaybe that’s too much…

But adding cucumbers and celery will help dilute the taste greatly.  As you can see in my top picture, I also supplement my juices with a couple drops of liquid kelp and some milk thistle or a combination of other herbs to aid in liver function, because the liver is one of the most important organs in our body to ensure a properly functioning body and to help in the detox process.

However, if you want to jump into the big timer league, here’s what I put in my juices.  Keep in mind these make 32 ounces of juice, so for me that’s 2 servings of juice.

Supreme Green Juice

Ingredients:

• 2 romaine lettuce leaves
• 2 kale leaves
• a handful of spinach
• a handful of cilantro (aids in cleaning out heavy metals from your body)
• a handful of dandelion greens
• some watercress
• 2 green cabbage leaves
• 2 carrots
• 2 celery stalks
• 1 inch ginger root
• 4 asparagus stalks
• 2 small-medium cucumbers or 1 large cucumber
• 1 apple
• a few broccoli heads and stems

Add all ingredients into juicer.  I like to add the leafy greens first, then the ginger, carrots and broccoli, then the cucumber and apple, and finish it off with the celery.

Previous Detox Post – Oil Pulling

Next Detox Post – Benefits of Raw Honey and Cinnamon

Anyone who has heard of yoga has probably also heard of downward facing dog.  So those who start out practicing yoga tend to skip over the correct alignment since they’re under the impression that this is such a basic pose.  But it’s not really as simple as one may initially believe.  So here are some pointers on how to get your body positioned right.

Distance – Let’s start with how far your hands and feet should be from each other.  Position yourself in plank pose – in other words, the top of a pushup.  Your shoulders should be just a little forward of your wrists.  Now, keeping your hands and feet where they are, tilt hips up until you form an upside-down V.

Hands – Keep them about shoulder-width apart, fingers spread wide apart and facing forward.  Push into your knuckles and the fleshy part of your hand between the thumb and first finger.  Less weight/pressure should be on your wrists.

Feet – They should be hip-width apart, facing forward, and parallel to each other (maybe even slightly pigeon-toed, as in turning toward each other).  To measure, take your fists side by side (so that the thumbs touch) and put them between your feet.  That’s the distance they should be.  Aim your heels down toward the floor.  It is very unlikely the heels will be touching the floor and that’s okay.

Shoulders – Pull them away from your ears and chest.  You should feel as if you are lifting yourself up, by pushing into your hands.

Back – You want a straight back.  Don’t curve it too much in either direction.  You should feel like you are squeezing your upper back muscles, or your deltoids, together behind your back a little bit.

Ribs – Tuck your ribs in so that they don’t jut out.  Imagine as if someone is zipping your ribs together.

Stomach – Engage your abdominal area and tuck it in.

Tailbone – Tuck in your tailbone, but not so much that you end up like an upside-down U instead of V.

Hips – Bring your hips up to the sky and back behind you.

Pelvis – Squeeze your pelvic muscles, as if you are trying to stop urine from coming out.

Legs – Keep your legs strong, steady, and straight.  The looser your hamstrings become, the better your downward dog will be.

Head – Gaze toward your pelvis or, if you can’t do that, at your feet.  Shake your head a little bit to loosen tension.

Previous Yoga Post – How to Safely Bend Your Back More Deeply

Next Yoga Post – Headstands

If you haven’t already heard, chia seeds are awesome for you.  They have those essential Omega fatty acids and have plenty of protein and fiber.  They are incredibly useful when you want to figure out a way to have guilt free yet absolutely healthy and nutritious pudding.  This totally hits the spot for me when I want something sweet, cold and creamy.  You can use any frozen fruit you want, but I love adding frozen mango because as the mango defrosts, the juices spread throughout the rest of the pudding.

Chia seeds are also wonderful for your digestive system.  So if you are looking to lose weight, definitely have some of this raw vegan, gluten free pudding!

Makes 4 servings.

Ingredients:

• 9 medjool dates, pitted
• 1 can full fat coconut milk
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp almond extract
• 4 tbsp chia seeds
• frozen fruit of choice

1. Blend dates in food processor or blender.
2. Add coconut milk and extracts and blend.
3. Divide mixture into 4 containers and stir in 1 tbsp seeds into each container.
4. Top with frozen fruit and let sit in fridge for at least 2 hours.  Keeps for about 4 days.

Bonus: Raw Vegan Berry Compote

I whipped thi1s up using leftover berries and some sweetener, so keep in mind these measurements are approximations.  It is super simple but still delicious.  Frozen leftover pineapples were included within the picture shown below.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup raspberries
• 1/2 cup blackberries
• 2-3 tbsp agave nectar or maple syrup

1. Purée half the berries with the agave nectar or maple syrup.
2. Add remaining berries and pulse.
3. Serve by spooning some of the compote on top of the pudding.  Store separately from pudding.

So I was a dork when making this and opted to go with a red color scheme.  Might as well, right?  Well, except for the basil.  But I definitely enjoyed eating this super healthy, almost raw vegan creamy roasted red pepper sauce.  And I do love roasted red peppers.  But it feels amazing to know you’re eating something that you’ve made from scratch with organic, wholesome ingredients.

Makes 3-4 servings.

Ingredients:

• 1 box brown rice pasta
• 2 red bell peppers, roasted (here’s how to roast peppers)
• 1/2 cup sundried tomatoes
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1/2 cup pine nuts
• 3/4 cup water
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
• 2 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
• 1/2 red onion, chopped
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 1/4-1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped

1. Soak sundried tomatoes and roast the bell peppers.
2. Boil pasta according to instructions.
3. Use your food processor or blender to mince the garlic and grind the pine nuts.
4. Add water, salt, lemon juice, yest, chili powder, and roasted peppers and blend.
5. Drain pasta, return to pot and stir in remainder of ingredients, with the basil last.

Step 1: Go to the store and buy a jar of roasted red peppers.

Step 2: Return the jar and buy red peppers from the produce aisle.

Roasting your own peppers is significantly healthier than buying them, and you control what gets added with your peppers.  I roast mine absolutely plain, but you can drizzle with olive oil and/or add salt and pepper.  Here’s how to:

1. Preheat oven to “Broil.”
2. Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil.
3. Cut peppers in accordance with their flat sides – so you want to be able to lay them flat.
4. Lay sliced peppers flat on the sheet with the outsides facing up.
5. Roast peppers in oven in the top rack for 20-25 minutes.
6. Remove peppers and place in closed plastic bag for at least 10 minutes.
7. Remove peppers from back and peel off skin and charred parts.

Getting your back to bend deeply back is not an easy task, and if done incorrectly, could result in injuries.  I know from personal experience.  So here are my tips on how to get there one day without harming yourself.

The most important thing is to listen to your body.  Know where your limit is.  Go further than your comfort level, but don’t go past what your body can handle.

Secondly, take your time.  This is a process, a journey.  Don’t be in a rush.  You will get there eventually.  Think of it as slowly waking up your back so that it can be limber.

Now, alignment.  The most important physical cue I have learned is to tuck in your tailbone.

Notice how, in this picture, the pelvis area is aiming forward.  That is because the tailbone is tucked in.  If you don’t tuck in your tailbone, you crunch your lower back and eventually hurt yourself.

If you’re in a lunge, like in the top picture, bend your back knee and tilt your pelvis forward.  Then, keep your pelvis secure as you straighten your knee again.  You will notice your pelvis will feel more stable.

Next thing is – lift from your upper and middle back.  That is where you want to bend from, not your lower back.  It’s a little hard to tell in this picture, but the the curve begins above the lower back.  The lower back is actually pretty straight in all these backbends.

Also, open your chest.  In other words, bring your shoulders back behind you.

Now, if your backbend involves your arms above your head, like in this photograph, don’t forget to draw your shoulders down away from your ears.

Having that said, I wish you the best of luck!  One day you may wind up coming around full circle!

Previous Yoga Post – Why You Should Do Yoga

Next Yoga Post – Downward Facing Dog

Seriously, though, what is oil pulling and why is it becoming more popular?

What is it: the process of swishing oil in your mouth for 20 minutes

Why is it spreading: because there’s no harm and people have actually had positive results

Oil pulling is one of the easiest ways to help incorporate a method of detoxification into your daily life.

Here’s how you do it:

1. Wake up and stick a tablespoon of healthy oil in your mouth.  I use coconut oil but you can also use sesame oil, sunflower oil, or olive oil.
2. Swish it around in your mouth while you continue with your morning routine.  You want to build up to 20 minutes.
3. Spit out in the garbage.
4. Rinse mouth with water and brush your teeth.  (Added boost: scrape your tongue after rinsing but before brushing)

Things to keep in mind:

• DO NOT SWALLOW!  You may want to gag or swallow at first, but you will only bring toxins back into your body that were pulled out.  Personally, I wanted to swallow because toxins were coming out and my sinuses were swelling up, making it nearly impossible to breathe through my nose.  Spit it out instead.  As I said earlier, you want to build up to 20 minutes.  Eventually, your body will get cleaner and you will not have these sensations again, and oil pulling will become a cinch.
• Do not spit it out in the toilet, sink, or anything else with a drain, as the oil will eventually clog the pipes.
• The more toxic your body is, the harder oil pulling will be.  But that’s a good thing.  The toxins want to stay embedded in your body so they have a tough time coming out.  Push on through, it’ll be worth it.

The idea behind oil pulling is that the oil pulls the harmful toxins, bacteria, fungus, etc. through your gums, pores of your teeth, etc.

People have noticed changes in their body, including whitening of their teeth, preventing bad breath, prevents cavities and gingivitis, eases digestive problems, and getting rid of their allergies and other illnesses.  My teeth have become whiter, yes.  I have a friend who has suffered from nausea and vomiting in the morning, and she would have a lot of trouble holding down food in the morning.  I suggested that she try oil pulling, and lo and behold, it helped!  So oil pulling affects people in different ways but I have yet to hear any harm coming from oil pulling.

So why not give it a try?

Previous Detox Post – Differences Between Juicers

Next Detox Post – What Do I Put In My Juice?

Oh gosh, what can I say about this?  Of course, it’s super healthy and it’s vegan.  Of course, it’s delicious.  You’ll be getting your protein and fiber for sure!  And it’s SUPER easy!  Probably half an hour to make, which includes waiting for the pasta water to boil.  Normal alfredo is more complicated and there’s nothing in it that’s good for you!  I love this dish.  I really do.

I know eating clean can be intimidating and hard to stick with, so when I want to “indulge” in something fatty, this totally hits the spot!  So do yourself a favor and try out this recipe!

Makes 3-4 servings.

• 1 pound brown rice pasta (I like to use this one)
• 1 can full fat coconut milk
• 1/2 cup raw cashews, soaked at least 1 hour (preferably overnight)
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp coconut flour
• juice of 1 lemon
• pinch garlic powder
• pinch onion powder
• 1/2 cup sundried tomatoes, soaked at least 1 hour and sliced
• 1/2 vidalia onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup frozen peas
• 1/2 cup frozen chopped green beans

1. Cook pasta according to directions.
2. In a food processor or blender, blend cashews and water thoroughly.
3. Add yeast, salt, oil, flour, lemon juice, powders, and coconut milk and blend.
4. Drain pasta and return to pot.  Add sauce and remaining ingredients, and cook on low heat for 10-15 minutes until sauce thickens.

Voilá!

I can’t think of many things better than guilt free, healthy dessert.  I mean, how can you go wrong with dessert that’s actually GOOD for you??  So I have a thing for raspberry jam.  These bars are basically bars with raspberry jam, topped with icing.  The awesome part is that they’re made with chia seeds, which are superb for your body and contain the essential omega fatty acids.  Plus, raspberry has lots of antioxidants and coconut water has electrolytes.  Then you got nuts for more protein and fiber…it’s crazy that dessert can do so much good to your body.  So definitely try out these raw vegan, gluten free bars.  Your body AND your taste buds will thank you!  Eating clean never tasted so good! So check out this awesome and easy recipe below.

Base Layer

• 9 medjool dates, pitted
• 1 1/4 cup dried coconut
• 3/4 cup raw walnuts
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• pinch sea salt

Blend all ingredients and press onto a wax/parchment lined pan. Set in fridge to firm up.

Raspberry Jam Layer (can be made ahead of time; lasts 3-4 days in refrigerator or can be frozen)

• 1 cup fresh raspberries
• 1/4 cup medjool dates, pitted
• 1/8 cup coconut water
• 1 tbsp chia seeds

1. Blend water and dates until the dates have broken up.
2. Add raspberries and chia seeds and pulse until it gets that chunky jam look.
3. Place in a glass container and cover. Place in fridge for at least 30 minutes for the flavors to infuse and the chia seeds to thicken up the jam.
4. To assemble, spread this on top of the base.

Topping

• 1/3 cup dried coconut
• 1/3 cup raw walnuts
• pinch cinnamon
• pinch sea salt

Pulse until crumbly. Sprinkle over the raspberry later. Optional to sprinkle a couple tablespoons of raw cacao nibs as well if you like dark chocolate.

Coconut Icing

• 2 tbsp coconut oil, melted (melts at a little above room temperature)
• 2 tbsp raw coconut butter, softened
• 1 tbsp maple syrup

Mix together. Drizzle at the top. Place your bars in the fridge to set.