RAW Juicing On The Go

These days finding time to concoct or to make my own raw smoothies or juices have honestly become a chore. I would rather take the time and make my baby's food and be done with it. :) So, I am ever grateful and thankful to Rawlicious Green Smoothies for having come to light!

I just found out that they are finally delivering "already-made" raw green juices all the way to Alabang and right at my very doorstep! You are a true blessing indeed for giving us health nuts an even easier access to living a healthier lifestyle. There is no excuse anymore. :)

On another note, not only do I care for myself, but being an eco-loving mom as well, I care just as much for the world we live in and always try to do my part. I make it a point to give back the used plastic bottles on their next delivery because they in turn donate it to the right recycling facility. So there you have it! "Fitting two needs with one deed!"

Click on this link: Rawlicious Planet and order away!

Here's to a greener mind, body and soul!

What simple yet inspiring "green deeds" have you done! Do share it with me!

Infinite Blessings Beautiful Soul!

Om Namah Sivaya!

Ayurvedic Food Choices

I try my best to make it a conscious effort in my life to eat sattvic or fresh, pure foods (such as: fresh vegetables, most fruits, freshly prepared grains, a good number of beans, milk, sweet cream, freshly made yogurt, mother's milk, ghee and butter in moderation). But I know that in this day and age, this doesn't come easy especially when rajasic foods (fermented foods, garlic, peppers of all kinds, eggs, cheeses, white sugar, most sweeteners, salt, radishes, peanut, citrus) and tamasic foods (most fast foods, fried foods, frozen foods, microwaved foods, processed foods, left over night foods, alcohol, drugs, chemicals, onions, lard, meat, fish and poultry) are much easier to obtain and suit our gastronomical palate more often.

Finding ingredients and cooking them or even just eating out gets trickier when you are trying your best to choose the kinds of food that fit whatever constitution you are, or what is called your "dosha." There are three: Vata, Pita and Kapha. With that said, I am a pure Kapha. :)

Since I can only do so much, and I have my dear husband to think about, we don't have the pleasure of eating with ayurveda all the time. And honestly, life is too short to be a little fussy. But because of my understanding and belief that this kind of holistic science which is 5,000 years old and is a time-tested system, assists the body, mind, and spirit by bringing harmony and balance starting with the food we eat... I have become aware at least of the kinds of food to choose and avoid (from time to time) for my particular dosha. If I allow myself some minor indulgences against them (which is very often), I still try to eat ayurvedically by choosing more pure, fresh and light foods.

With my changed eating habits aside, I also have to give my husband praises. I somehow have rubbed off a little of this consciousness on to him. He now knows his type of dosha (he is dual: kapha-pitta) but instead of being "dosha-conscious" about it, he chooses to eat instead in moderation of everything. And that too is ok! By being more aware of his food intake, he has now been adding a lot more pure foods in his diet. And once in a blue moon, he catches himself avoiding some foods that contradict his dosha. I am so proud that he is making the effort of being on the right track to healthier living.


Just to be clear that practicing ayurveda is not a cure, but is instead a preventive medicine. And just a little background on the 3 gunas, One of the benefits of eating more sattvic is that they keep you light, flexible, calm and helps clear the mind. It also is truth inspiring. When eating rajasic, it stimulates more fire, outward motion, creativity, aggression, passion. And lastly with tamasic foods, they increase inner darkness and confusion. They are good for numbing us out. It slows us down even depressing us at times. And it also enhances inertia.


So, ideally, when at home, (thanks to my Ayurvedic Cooking for Westerners book) I try my best to create sattvic. On good days, I am able to find some ingredients suitable for my type. Luckily, there is an Indian grocery store 3 minutes away from our home that more or less makes this possible.
When dining out, I try to make it a point that the bulk of my choices are mostly sattvic. If none are really available, then it's not the end of the world for me. I just pick the meal which is closest to being light and healthy. :)




Photo credit: healthjockey.com

Green Health

I like alternating my great mornings with these green and healthy powdered drinks: Wheatgrass and Organic Barley. Here are some of their benefits:


Health Benefits of Wheatgrass:


* The nutrient content of wheatgrass juice is roughly equivalent to that of fresh vegetables.

* Another common claim for this juice is that it promotes heavy metal detoxification and aids in cancer prevention.

* According to research, the chlorophyll molecules in wheatgrass is structurally similar to hemoglobin. Thus, may also help in blood flow and digestion.


Health Benefits of Barley:


* Destroys cancer cells

* Builds immunity against disease

* Slimming toxin remover

* Smoothens and whitens skin

* Cures and prevents allergies

* Regulates bowel movement

* Prevents colds and flu

* Lowers cholesterol

* Improves blood circulation

* Prevents Rheumatism

* Improves fetal development

* Lowers blood sugar level

* Antioxidant

Taking these natural supplements and reaping from their healthy benefits, I sure have nothing to lose and everything to gain. So, bottoms up!

Natural Hair Treat Day!

On my way to the salon for a much needed trim, I saw on the hair menu, a VCO hair treatment. Virgin coconut oil being one of my favorite oils on anything (extra virgin olive oil is my dear 2nd), I never really entertained the idea of applying it on my hair. So I decided to give it a try.



Just like any other hair spa treatments, VCO is applied and massaged onto your hair and scalp. Then they wrap your head with a shower cap. No need for the hair steamer they normally use for a typical hot oil, they just give you a 20 minute back rub which is not bad at all.
After an hour or so, the oil is shampooed off and my hair was blow-dried after. Together with a trim, my hair is back to its healthy, bouncy and black self. It's shiny and soft and it falls nicely behind my back.

As I took the check, the bill wasn't exactly cheap. But it was worth it. It was the only way for me to find out how they did it and if I could do the same on my own for a lot less! Yup! It's easy alright. Now I know that you can, and you don't need any hair steamer at all. Just a shower cap and you're set. I could do this very same natural treatment in the comforts of my own bathroom.

I sure am glad I saw this. With the abundance of VCO out there and its versatility for almost everything and anything, here's another treat where it can be used on-- your hair! :)

Happy Hair Day!

Shampoorific!!

Finally! I found two natural shampoos that actually work for me and that I can actually stick with. Because I don't really like using conditioners, I have been on a quest for a long time, searching for that perfect shampoo made from natural ingredients, and one that doesn't dry and feel coarse the moment you rinse it off. This search wasn't easy because being an ex-user of commercially made shampoos on the market, my standards were pretty high. I was forever looking for that perfect shampoo product that was "after-conditioner-soft-and-smooth" especially after rinsing. Believe me there were many naturally based shampoos that I've tried, and the moment I washed them off, the texture of my hair felt like rubber bands to the touch, and it felt like combing my way through teased hair.
Every purchase I made has been a trial and error case until I recently discovered and tried Ilog Maria's Honey & Propolis shampoo and Mt. Banahaw's Gugo Exotic shampoo. I have to say that I love how they just smell on my hair!

Ilog Maria's Honey & Propolis shampoo doesn't lather much at all and felt a little coarse at first after washing it out. But it gets better. The instructions asks you to apply 2 slices of Calamansi (in my case about 6-8 since my hair is very thick) as the finale. As Calamansi has enough limonene oil in it, I was surprised to feel that the texture of my hair after rinsing the Calamansi juice off, really did my hair good. It felt soft and smooth after. Not being a fan of conditioning, I finally found something worth a conditioner which was just in my fridge all along! :)

The natural ingredients used are honey, which is great for conditioning and hair growth; Propolis which helps ease scalp infections (such as dandruff, falling and graying hair); and natural oils of coconut, palm kernel and castor that are combined for gentle cleansing.

The Adventure of Alternating

Since I've learned not to stick to one shampoo rigidly, I also found Mt. Banahaw's Gugo Exotic shampoo. The dried Gugo vine is still contained in the bottle and is the source of Saponin which is a natural surfactant that also has "magical" cleansing powers for hair and scalp. Since I do have falling hair, it is also believed by the folk people that Gugo aids in hair growth.
When the shampoo is finished, I still like to make use of that potent Gugo vine in there by adding some water in the bottle, shake, and massage away on my scalp.

I alternate shampoos every week or so. I read somewhere that this is the healthy way to keep your hair vital and alive. And so far, it does look and feel that way.

With all this sublime natural ingredients to use and without also having to worry about polluting the environment, my quick, quality showers have never felt this refreshing! :)


P.S I love buying and browsing around for natural products at the echo store located in Serendra, Fort Bonifacio. :)

Phiten Friendly

I've heard of this invention before and I've seen that it is endorsed and used mainly by athletes. Being a yogi and athlete as well, I was kind of doubtful that this product would work. Now with my right wrist feeling a "tingling pain" every time I finished my yoga practice or during a round of golf, I now know that from my research and much asking from friends who experience the same sensations I do, that I am prone to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), and showing gradual signs of it. I am beginning to rethink my skepticism on the bracelet and just go out and buy one.

Since late 2008, I have already been experiencing a "pins and needles" sensation on my dominant hand, which is my right wrist. When it is accidentally brushed or tapped, The "tingling pain" feels like a hundred volts of electricity just passed all throughout my hand and all the way up to my middle fingertip. When it gets hit, it makes me jolt the same way like touching a very hot pan. Believe me it is a very uncomfortable feeling. I am still very thankful though that my left wrist is still fine and that I am really trying my best to take care of it by not abusing it. Since hand surgery is the last thing on my mind, I am so glad that a very good friend of mine taught me the cold compress therapy. And to confirm this, I was lucky enough to meet a doctor in Singapore who plays golf and specializes on the hands and wrists, agrees that the cold compress therapy is the best way to go. He says that everyone are prone to CTS. And by being aware of it early, could help prevent our wrists from heading in that direction and then later on lead to surgery. I feel that after it is iced, the "tingling pain" has subsided.


What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? According to the CTS website (cts.com), the carpals are the bones you feel when you touch your wrist. In the wrist is the carpal tunnel, which is enclosed by the carpals on three sides, and the fourth side, by a transverse carpal ligament. Within this narrow space, is not only the median nerve, but also 9 flexor tendons. These tendons help you bend your wrists. As you can imagine, its a pretty tight squeeze. If for some reason the carpal tunnel is too small, or if the tendons within the tunnel become larger, your meridian nerve will be compressed.


It is through the median nerve that you get sensation in your thumb, forefinger, middle finger and part of your ring finger. When the median nerve is compressed, sensations to these fingers will begin to reduce, you will begin to feel a sort of numbness, or a tingling-- rather like your hand is falling asleep. When you bend your wrist, to form a right angle, the carpal tunnel becomes much narrower. Most activities we do require a lot of wrist bending. Keeping it bent for long periods of time--like when you are typing-- compresses the median nerve and causes the symptoms of CTS. Repeated stress on wrist could also injure your tendons in the carpal tunnel. This makes the already narrow space even narrower and can cause the median nerve to be compressed.

Symptoms of CTS:

1. Numbness, tingling, or burning sensations in the thumb and fingers, particularly the index and middle fingers which are affected by the median nerve.

2. Pain in the hands or wrists.

3. Loss of dexterity or gripping strength.

4. Pain in the arm and shoulder.

5. Swelling of the hand, which often increases at night because of the way of the hand is positioned during sleep.


Now that I am consciously aware of the "wear and tear" of our wrists, and since I am "big " on alternative health therapies, the cold compress is the best in alleviating the discomfort and swelling at this early stage for me. Exercising my wrists too helps prevent and manage CTS. This is why before a yoga practice, or even during a non-active day, I do hand exercises to strengthen my wrists. And after a yoga practice or playing golf, I immediately apply this therapy to keep them from being inflamed. Once the tendons are back to normal, carpal tunnel is back to normal too.

Commonly Recommended Exercises to Prevent and Manage CTS (and what I do at home):

1. Wrist range of motion (dorsiflexion/palmer flexion). Place forearm on a table with wrist off the edge, palm down. Bend hand downward as far as possible, then upward. Repeat 5 or 10 times.

2. Pronation/Supination. Place forearm and whole hand on table, palm flat on table top. Turn wrist so back of hand is flat on the table. Repeat 5 or 10 times.

3. Flexed forearm stretch with palm down. Without raising the shoulders, extend the affected arm straight out in front of the body, and slowly, gently bend the wrist down with the free hand. Keep the fingers over the knuckles of the bent hand, not over the fingers. A stretch in the forearm muscles and wrist should be felt. Hold for 10 seconds. Repeat 5 0r 10 times.

4. Flexed forearm stretch with fist. Repeat number 3 but with a fist this time, then bend the wrist down. Hold for 10 seconds. Repeat 5 or 10 times.

5. Forearm stretch with palm back. Extend the arms to the side, palms facing backward. Simply bend the wrists back. Hold for 10 seconds. Repeat 5 or 10 times. This makes a good stretch for the forearms.

6. Neck stretch. Sit or stand with head facing forward. Tilt the head down as far to the right as possible (right ear to right shoulder) and hold for 5 seconds. Place your right hand on the left trapezius muscle (between the neck and the shoulder joint) to increase the stretch. Repeat 3 to 5 times. Do the same for the other side.

7. Shoulder shrug and rotation. Stand with arms on the side. Lift shoulders to ears and squeeze shoulders back, stretch them down and then roll them forward. Do the whole rotation slowly. Repeat 3 to 5 times. If you cannot do the whole rotation, shrug your shoulders up and down.(http://www.ehealthmd.com/library/carpaltunne/CT_prevention.html)


Then just out of the blue, I remembered the product Phiten, and how almost everyone I know uses it and swears by it. I decided to give it a try and see for myself. Apparently, all Phiten creations are embedded with micro titanium spheres and aqua titanium. The titanium metal used is actually one of the strongest metals, yet also the friendliest to our bodies (this is why I am all for it). It does not cause allergic reactions or irritation, and instead transports the body's natural energy to help relax stiff muscles and increase blood circulation. For the hands and wrists, it helps relieve tension.


The first time I've worn the bracelet, I was instantly amazed. I am happy to say that I did not feel that "electrical pain" as I tried tapping my right wrist. It may be too early to tell since I've only been wearing the bracelet for four days now. But when I tried it right away during my yoga practice, I felt none of that uncomfortable feeling after. Since practicing yoga entails a lot of wrist use, so does golf. I"m pretty sure it will work just as well when I go back to playing. Of course I will still continue to cold compress my wrists after any sort of repeated stress. I think that having to cold compress and wearing Phiten at the same time, may just go hand in hand. And maybe also help prevent my wrists from having CTS. I guess being the "sigurista" that I am. I want to be absolutely sure that none of my nerves in my wrists are swollen.

It feels great to know that I am finally able to discover something that helps relieve me from my wrist discomfort, and if I continue to use it, maybe it will help in the healing process without the need for medication, drugs or even invasive treatments. In conclusion, I am starting to believe in the product. Therefore, all I could say is, to people who have the same condition as I do, go out and give Phiten a try. They come in necklaces too and in great sporty colors. Some may say it to be a placebo. But fake cure or not, it's not that expensive, its non-invasive and for me, it works! So what have you got to lose?