Crush your cold!

Here's a quick & easy - (I never said tasty!) - cold remedy.
Take fresh crushed garlic and ginger juice (buy the root and run it through juicer) 1 teaspoon 2 times daily for 3 days. See if that doesn't crush your cold!! Happy Valentines Day! May you and those you love be healthy and fit!

Fresh revelation for your Monday morning!

Happy & Healthy Monday! I will get back to Loving your Liver in my next post. I just had to share the core of what The Detox Diva and MarlyJones.com is all about. It's all summed up in what I read late last night that allowed me one of the best night's sleep in a long while. I so excited I had to share!

But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard - things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. This is the Apostle Paul sharing how to live in his writings in Galations 5, Message.

Now. Breathe in. Breathe out. Absorb what you just read. Have a blessed day - full of love.

So how's your liver doing these days?

Allergies? Fatigue? Indigestion? Actually I could go on and on. When your liver is congested (yes not just your sinuses get stuffy) all sorts of symptoms will emerge as your body is crying out for a little help. Detox baby! I know...how weird am I that I get excited over cleansing and crowned myself The Detox Diva?
But seriously friends-- to release toxins from the body (physically and emotionally) brings such freedom and wellness to your life! Over the next few posts I am going to talk/explain about liver detoxification & how this works on a physical level, how to prepare your body and support it with nutrition and supplementation, as well as discuss the emotional attributes - which are very fascinating!
First up I'm going to outline just a teeny bit of what your liver does for you.

Your liver:

• Processes toxins
• Destroys bacteria
• Creates cholesterol & even alcohol (yup)
  
• Produces blood proteins
• Manufactures materials needed for clotting blood
• Produces antioxidants
• Controls blood sugar levels
• Stores vitamins
• Produces bile
• Stores a multitude of nutrients & toxins to feed & protect the body

You gotta love your liver. Giving it a little help now and then through a detoxification program is key to keeping it happy. Next up I will intro you to Detox - Phase 1.

Nutrition for Beautiful Skin - it's what's inside that counts!

I have to admit that I have never spent much (or any) money on the nightly and morning ritual of skin care - the eye creams, toners, tighteners, brighteners, etc. Many of these products have ingredients that have some level of toxicity to them (preservatives to keep the all natural ingredients from spoiling) - plus they don't allow the skin to be free and open to cleanse as needed. Some naturopaths more extreme than myself don't use soap at all. It is seen as simply a surfactant (Surfactants are compounds that lower the surface tension of a liquid, the interfacial tension between two liquids, or that between a liquid and a solid. Surfactants may act as detergents, wetting agents, emulsifiers, foaming agents, and dispersants.) These strict natural health peeps are going to rely on the loofah sponge to cleanse the skin instead.
Sorry folks but this natural health girl still uses a body wash and/or soap.
One fellow classmate was so extreme in my naturopath degree program that she was oompa loompa orange from all the carrot juice she drank (more on that later) and did not shave her armpits. I'm all for letting the body detox but I simply could not sit next to her because her cleansing and b.o. would make me gag.
So back to my point. It's what's inside that counts. For healthy, clear and radiant skin - you don't have to buy what all the inf0mmercials are selling for 90 bucks an ounce. Go this route instead:

If you really want beautiful skin, do the same things you would do to strengthen your heart, control your weight, lift your mood and live longer and better: Get regular exercise, sleep enough and eat well.

Discovery Health suggests a number of foods to look at if you want a beautiful-skin diet. Here are a few of their suggestions:

Nuts

The benefits of nuts -- especially almonds -- have to do with antioxidant activity. Vitamin E fights skin-aging free radicals, and also helps your skin hold in moisture.

Red and Green Vegetables

Orange-red vegetables are full of beta-carotene. Your body converts beta-carotene into vitamin A, which prevents cell damage and premature aging. Spinach and other green, leafy foods provide lots of vitamin A, too.

Citrus Fruits

Vitamin C aids in your body's production of collagen, which is the protein that forms the basic structure of your skin. Collagen breakdown can leave your skin saggy, and vitamin C will help tighten it back up.

Easy & fresh high protein recipe

Do you watch NBC's the Biggest Loser? I do. Love the show. I especially love it about 1/2 way through the season when the emotional detox hits. Layers of toxic emotions are shed quicker than the pounds! I particularly was a fan of Season 8 where two friends from my neck of the woods were contestants and the winner is still the all time winner of the show of most percentage of body fat lost. I particularly appreciate that girl Jillian. Sadly she's no longer on the show (on to other cool projects like The Doctors and more on the horizon via my inside source). BUT I am diggin' the new trainer who gets the job done...Dolvett Quince. He's the bomb.
Here's a fun & easy -fresh & high protein & gluten free recipe compliments of Dolvett...

• celery stalks sliced, garlic, cup of chicken broth saute in pot add cup of quinoa
• sprigs of fresh mint basil and fluff together
• add fresh tomatoes
• serve chilled or warm

The Office: healthy energy tips for your day at work

You may not work at Dunder Mifflin with a charming boss like Michael Scott, but you might need some extra boosts to help get you energized throughout your work day. Here ya go...

LEAVE YOUR DESK

And, if possible, leave your building. This can be difficult to do, especially when no one else at your office does, or when you have a pile of work that must be done today. But guess what? That work will always be there, and so will the people with unhealthy habits. You can't let either determine how you take care of yourself. The number one way to have an energetic lunch is to actually take a lunch. Remove yourself from your work environment – even if it's just for 15 minutes – and give your brain and body the break you need to return refreshed, energized and ready to tackle your afternoon. Get in a brisk walk or catch a cat nap if you need to.

WATER

Unless you have been sipping 3-4 glasses of water throughout the morning, you are probably already dehydrated, and even more so if you are a morning coffee or tea drinker. Our bodies are 2/3 water, and without replenishing your supply, you will feel tired and worn out – and you will look like it, too. Every energetic lunch should include a large glass of water. Soda, coffee and tea have no place at your lunch table. You can also bring freshly prepared juice to work you make morning of or night before and freeze. Go to http://www.marlyjones.com/JuicingArticle.html if you need help with Juicing.

LEAN PROTEIN

Without lean protein on your lunch plate, you will not be able to sustain energy until dinnertime. Grilled chicken or grilled fish are great choices for lunchtime and can be easily gleaned from last night's leftovers and perched atop a salad (see below) for maximum energy levels. No leftovers and no time to cook? Keep a few organic boiled eggs on hand for those times that you need protein-to-go. Or consider keeping a nutrient rich protein powder with you at work. This one is probably my fave:

http://www.marlyjones.com/fitness/TotalVegan.html

GREEN SPACE

Fiber is filling and beneficial to your digestive system, and a lunch salad is an ideal way to give yourself the vitamins and minerals you need. Pack your salad the night before, and pile on the leafy greens, other fresh vegetables, walnuts and almonds, stout cheeses – craft a colorful salad that you will look forward to and enjoy. To save time, prep all your veggies before the week begins so they are ready to go when you are. Here's another handy option to get your greens in you (and your kiddos)...

http://www.marlyjones.com/nutrition_diet/PowerFruits&Veggies.html

FRUIT

Add a washed piece of seasonal whole fruit to your lunch box: Apples, bananas, oranges, plums, nectarines and peaches all work well. This piece of fruit can be saved as an afternoon snack for those of us who like to eat all day long – just make sure to eat a handful of nuts along with it. Eating carbohydrates alone without any protein or fat will make your energy crash shortly thereafter; strive to never eat carbohydrates alone.

CHOCOLATE

A small piece of good chocolate at the end of your lunch will elevate your mood without delivering a whopping dose of sugar that will upset your body's balance. After such a healthy lunch, you can indulge. Choose a small square of dark chocolate and have some antioxidants along with your cocoa fix.

The trick to enjoying an energetic lunch is to plan on it. Healthy lifestyles don't just happen, and if you want to have energy throughout the day, prepare a lunch that will sustain you long before the hunger pains arrive.

Stress Detox

Are you stressed? Or should I simply ask, "Do you have a pulse?" Most people are either in the midst of major stress or recovering. How do you handle stress? Here are a few li'l stress busters I've rounded up:

Early Morning:

Whole Grain Cereal

Whole grains are complex carbohydrates that help increase serotonin levels, the chemical that makes you happy. Exercising will also help your body produce more serotonin.

Orange Juice

The vitamin C in orange juice will boost your immune system when you’re exposed to stress. It also strengthens your blood vessels, promoting overall health.

Black Tea

Independent studies show that black tea can actually reduce the effects of stressful events, but it takes about 4 cups a day.

Mid-Morning:

Snack on Walnuts

Walnuts are the best source of the amino acid arginine. Recent studies have uncovered a link between arginine and nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is a compound that has a relaxing effect on blood vessels, therefore improving blood flow. Walnuts are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which help lower your blood pressure.

Early Evening:

Listen to Classical Music

Research shows that listening to 30 minutes of music, especially classical musical produces the equivalent of taking 10 milligrams of Valium, a powerful medication with a calming effect. The average dose of Valium is 2 – 10mg multiple times a day, depending on the reason for treatment.

After Dinner:

Wash the Dishes

Doing a repetitive task will help you relax. Getting into a routine will help lower your heart rate and blood pressure, and slow your breathing.

Right Before Bed:

Read a Book

Reading for 6 minutes slows your heart rate and releases tension in your muscles.

Want to know my all time best form of stress relief? Here it is....
http://www.marlyjones.com/detox/StressDetoxCD.html