Easy, Healthy, Tasty, Low Acid Coffee

Coffee has its pros and cons.  It can provide energy for your workout, antioxidants, promote weight loss, invokes peristalsis for regularity, and can be an enjoyable social event or meditative morning ritual.  However; Coffee is a stimulant, can become addictive, and when overindulged, can have detrimental health effects.  Hypertension, Osteoporosis, Disrupted Sleep, Stained Teeth, Acid Reflux, and Dehydration are common side effects of overconsumption.  Moderation is key!

Coffee is one of the most highly sprayed crops, and decaffeinated coffee is usually manufactured by using a chemical process.  So consider purchasing Organic.  Additionally, try to support Fair Trade Coffees, as the Coffee Industry is known to employ slave laborers and poor working conditions.  Sampling local and small Coffee businesses can be educational and fun.  Many offer free tastings.  The different flavors will enlighten your senses!

As for the acidity of coffee that leaches calcium from your bones and teeth, creating a bodily environment hospitable to unwanted bacteria and pathogens….there is a way to reduce the acid….It’s called Cold Brewing….There are several devices you can buy online.  But it’s inexpensive and easy to do at home without any special contraptions.

Essentially, you can soak your ground Coffee in a glass pitcher of water the night before.  In the morning, simply strain your coffee into another glass pitcher and refrigerate or heat as desired.  Your coffee will have amazing flavor with up to 75% less acid.  Please take note, the caffeine content will be stronger!

Additionally, you can compost those spent grounds or use them in the garden for acid loving plants.  Did you know that swishing with water after drinking coffee reduces teeth stains substantially?  And drinking a large glass of water will help rehydrate you afterwards.

Enjoy your cup of Joe!

 

Get Hot and Sweaty

There’s no better way to feel the heat on a cold winter day that sweating it out in a Far Infrared Sauna!

Saunas have long been used to relax, rejuvenate, cleanse, and socialize.  The benefits of flushing heavy metals, cleanse skin, and increase circulation have been known for thousands of years.  Now, Far Infrared heat saunas can penetrate the skin more deeply than traditional saunas, better aiding in a number of restorative body processes.  There are many benefits to sweating in a far infrared sauna.

Sweating helps flush out toxins such as mercury, lead, and environmental chemicals, from the body and in so doing reduces its toxic load, aiding in liver function. With infrared saunas, the sweating is deeper and more profuse, enabling your body to excrete a higher percentage of toxins than with a conventional sauna. Infrared saunas are also a great alternative for those who don’t like high temperatures or need to avoid them for medical reasons due to the temperature controls.  You can receive benefits with 15-20 minutes, while most people stay in for up to an hour.  Of course, it is always important to consult with your Physician if you have any medical conditions.

When you sweat, you’ll be stimulating better blood flow and circulation throughout your body, reducing blood pressure, and healing arterial walls.  Additionally, you can relax tight muscles and easing minor aches and pains.   Infrared saunas can provide drug-free pain relief for muscles and joints.  They can improve chronic conditions like arthritis, by reducing stiffness and inflammation, and also aid in muscle recovery.

Infrared spas help improve skin tone and reduce signs of aging by stimulating collagen production, and cleansing pores for a radiant glow.  Because of their ability to penetrate the skin more deeply, they increase metabolic rate and can help the body burn off anywhere from 200 – 600 calories in a half hour session.  Most initial weight loss is water, so hydration is essential.

Many gyms and even yoga studios employ Far Infrared Technology.  Nowadays, a home sauna can be very affordable.  This small investment can have large returns to your health.  You can find portable, easy to assemble models at Costco starting under $1000.

Happy Sweating!

Stoke Your Metabolic Fire

When it’s cold outside, it is natural for metabolism to decrease, while body fat increases.  Here are some ways to beat excessive weight gain, and turn up your internal thermostat.

Foods to Consume:

• Almonds contain fatty acids that raise your metabolism.  Properly prepare by soaking and limit to 1 serving.
• Apples and Pears contain a lot of fiber to help you burn more calories. 1-2 fruits per day is sufficient.
• Broccoli contains Calcium and Vitamin C, a metabolism-rising duo.  Eat liberally.
• Cinnamon helps your body better metabolize sugar.  Add it to your beverages.
• Curry and Cayenne Pepper are spicy, so your body will work hard to metabolize it.
• Grapefruit lowers insulin and burns calories by breaking down the fiber.
• Green Tea speeds up your brain and nervous system, burning more calories.
• Hot Peppers and Jalapenos will speed up your heart rate and metabolism for hours.
• Lean Turkey contains a lot of protein, building muscle and helps burn calories since your body is working harder to process it.
• Spinach speeds up your metabolism, and is high in Vitamin C, antioxidants and iron.
• Water increases your body’s metabolic rate by 30 percent (by drinking 17 ounces).

How to Eat:

• Avoid refined foods of any type.  Whole, un-cooked fresh foods allow your body to do the work and break down the nutrients naturally.
• Eat smaller portions. Each time your digestive system starts to work, you burn calories.
• Add lean protein to every meal (3 oz) or snack (1 oz). The protein builds muscle, tells your brain to stop eating, and increases your metabolism since your body is working harder to digest it.
• Work out. Try strength training a few times a week… it boosts your metabolism.  Walking briskly for 1 hour will kick your body into fat burning      mood for hours.

Start Every Day with A Cleansing, Immune-Strengthening Metabolic Booster:

“CyC’s Rise and Shine Elixir”

Mix ingredients together the night before, and have by bedside.  Stir and consume upon waking.

• Tall glass of room temperature water
• Green Tea Bag
• 1 TBSP RAW Honey
• 1 TBSP Cinnamon or Cinnamon Stick
• ½ fresh squeezed Lemon
• ¼ tsp Cayenne Pepper (increase to ½ tsp over time)
• ¼ tsp ground Ginger (increase to desired taste

Water is Life

Water Warrior

Like the Earth, we are composed of more than 60 percent water.  Water is essential for life.  It helps maintain body temperature, metabolizes body fat, aids in digestion, lubricates and cushions organs, transports nutrients, and flushes toxins.  Dehydration causes disease.

A simple calculation for how much water you should drink is to divide the body weight in pounds by 2. This is the minimum number of ounces of water you should drink per day.  When drinking diuretics such as caffeine, one will need to drink an additional 1.5 times that volume of pure water.  Never exceed one gallon of water per day.  Sip water slowly throughout the day, except during meals, as it can interfere with nutrient absorption.  Adding a pinch of sea salt to your water will add beneficial electrolytes to your water and aid hydration.

Sources should be filtered, avoiding chlorinated, flourinated, or bottled water, as they may be contaminated with chemicals and other carcinogens.

For more information on the importance of hydration, I recommend reading F. Batmanghelidj’s “Your Body’s Many Cries for Water”.  Stay hydrated.