Healthy Holistic Living Blog

What's the Skinny on Baking Soda and Body Fat? May 28, 2007 16:02

 
The other day I was scrolling through a list of keywords that people use to find my website and I kept coming across "Baking Soda and body fat" so I decided to do some research. What I came up with was interesting.

As far as I can tell baking soda per say does not directly, affect body fat. But, what I did find was a correlation between baking soda, citric acid and metabolism. You see our bodies are like a chemistry set and they have to be balanced to run properly. And one of the things that needs to balanced is our body's pH.

So what's pH?

Well technically, it stands for potential of hydrogen. It is a measure of the degree of saturation of the hydrogen ion in a substance or solution.

"Potential of Hydrogen measures the degree of the acidity or the alkalinity of a solution as measured on a scale (pH scale) of 0 to 14. The midpoint of 7.0 on the pH scale represents neutrality, i.e., a "neutral" solution is neither acid nor alkaline. Numbers below 7.0 indicate acidity; numbers greater than 7.0 indicate alkalinity."

I have no idea what the heck all that means but what I do know is that by measuring your bodies pH level you can determine if your body is too alkaline or acidic. Healthy people are slightly alkaline. Sick and unhealthy people are linked to acidic body environments. Your body pH affects almost everything about you. Your pH level influences every biochemical process in your body including weight loss and body fat!

The pH of your blood must at all times be between 7.3 and 7.4. "In the human body a pH balancing act is continuously going on to maintain homeostasis." So a body that has achieved homeostasis is a body that is functioning optimally. An optimally running body is one with a high functioning metabolism, good stamina and an overall feeling of wellbeing.

---

If you want to get serious about measuring your bodies' pH, you need to purchase a meter. You can buy simple test strips but from my research, they are not very reliable. I would suggest investing in a quality meter you may want to take a look at the miniLab IQ120 ISFET pH Tester

---

Your bodies' pH factor can explain why you have not been able to lose body fat! For your body to maintain pH balance it stores any excess acid in your fat cells. You see in the acidic person, the body cannot afford to burn fat because it would release acid that is stored in your body fat, thereby putting your blood pH out of balance.

If your body's pH factor is out of balance it could also explain, why you may lack energy, stamina and just plain don't feel good.

So what in the world does all this have to do with baking soda?

Glad you asked...One method of balancing your bodies pH is by combining citric acid with baking soda!

"The Lime Bicarbonate Formula

Take one whole lime and squeeze into a glass, make sure you remove any seeds. Add very small amounts of baking soda slowly bit by bit until the fizz stops. Then add water until the glass is half way filled. Take twice a day on an empty stomach, once in the morning and once before bedtime."

If you are confused about amounts or if even if you should try it at all I would suggest going to the site listed below, Earthclinic.com and reading as much information as you can before you try it.

---

For more alkalizing formulas visit one of my all time favorite sites Earthclinic.com and read "Ted's Famous Alkalizing Formulas"

---

You may want to consider taking a few steps listed below to improve your body's pH before pulling out the chemistry set!

The first thing to consider is the food you are eating.

In an acidic environment, fat flourishes. So, alkaline producing foods will help improve the pH balance of the body. Below I listed a few foods that you should consider adding to your diet.

High Alkaline foods- Asparagus, Onions, Vegetable Juices, Parsley, Raw Spinach, Broccoli, Garlic, Barley Grass, Lemons, Watermelon, Limes, Grapefruit, Mangoes, Papayas, Olive Oil

Alkaline foods- Okra, Squash, Green Beans, Beets, Celery, Lettuce, Zucchini, Sweet Potato, Carob, Dates, Figs, Melons, Grapes, Papaya, Kiwi, Berries, Apples, Pears, Raisins, Almonds, Flax Seed Oil, Green Tea, Maple Syrup, Rice Syrup

---

If you are interested in learning more about what foods are acidic I recommend that you read this excellent article on "Balancing Acid/Alkaline Foods"

---

Let's not forget Water!

Drinking appropriate amounts of water is essential to body balance, weight loss and being healthy. A healthy diet and proper amounts of water will assist the body in gently removing acids. Make sure to especially drink after each meal to allow your food to be properly pH neutralized.

And the ever dreaded Exercise.

Regular exercise helps the body eliminate toxins. And we all know that ongoing exercise is essential to your overall health, and wellbeing.

I think that should be enough to get you started. I am going to start The Lime Bicarbonate Formula in 2 weeks. I am still in the process of testing the oil pulling technique. My golden rule is never try more than one technique at a time for obvious reasons how in the world will you know which one did what!

I have tried quite a few alternative techniques if you are interested in reading about my experiences both good and bad read my Alternative Medicine page.

Take the conscious road to authentic power!!!

Have a fantastic day!!

Help Promote Healthy Holistic Living News:

Send to Friend

To reference this entry please copy the url in this link: (Permalink)

Should We Pull Oil? May 14, 2007 06:39

 
OK so your first thought is that I must be writing an article on oil conservation right, Nope! I am talking about Oil Pulling, the age-old art of putting oil in your mouth to draw out the toxins in the body.

The official definition according to Wikepedia is, "Oil pulling or oil swishing, in alternative medicine, is a procedure in which the practitioner rinses their mouth with approximately one tablespoon of ordinary cooking oil for 3-20 minutes, then spits it out. This procedure is typically performed daily."

So as the theory goes, you take oil, preferable sunflower or sesame and put approximately 1 tablespoon in your mouth, tilt your chin up slightly and proceed to swish, squish, squirt and chomp the oil in your mouth for 20 minutes. Supposedly, you will begin to salivate uncontrollably and the oil will become like a foamy whitish liquid. Then you spit, rinse your mouth out really well with water and then brush your teeth. That's all there is to it.

This form of alternative medicine according to Dr. Karach, who has done many studies on the efficacy of this treatment, is a miracle cure for almost any disease in the body. Now I use the word efficacy lightly because in reading over his findings it is difficult to find the science. Of course, this does not mean this is not a viable treatment.

According to Dr. Karach the list of diseases that are cured from Oil Pulling are endless. "The Oil-therapy heals totally headaches, bronchitis, tooth pain, thrombosis, eczema, ulcers, intestinal diseases, heart and kidney diseases, encephalitis and woman's diseases. Preventively the growth of malignant tumors is cut and healed. Chronic blood diseases, paralysis, diseases of nerves, stomach, lungs and liver and sleeplessness are cured."

You can read highlights of Dr. Karach's paper that he gave at a conference of the All Ukranische-Union of the Oncologists and Bacteriologists, a part of the Academy of Sciences of UDSSR

Deepak Chopra highlights this technique is his book Perfect Health: The Complete Mind/Body Guide. Although he suggests an Ayurvedic technique called oil gargling "to purify the taste-buds and the entire system." According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the tongue and the pulse are two of the most import diagnostic tools. "The tongue is mapped by organ-locations - that is, each section of the tongue is connected to the kidneys, lungs, spleen, liver, heart, pancreas, small intestines, stomach, colon, and spine." "Thus, an oil-mouth-massage soothes and stimulates the key meridians where taste meets organ."

After reviewing several sites about Oil Pulling and reading results from individuals in various forums, I think it's worth a try. Why not? We are talking about a very simple, non-invasive technique that just might improve your health. Minimally, according to all the reports I will end up with whiter teeth!

Another article you may find interesting is in The Hindu Business on-line Oil gargle a day... by Bharat Savur

So here's the low down on what you need to do to try Oil Pulling and yes, I am going to try it myself for 30 days.

OIL PULLING INSTRUCTIONS:

Ok first thing in the morning, before brushing your teeth, eating or drinking, this really means first thing in the morning. Take 1 TBSP of either sesame or sunflower oil. "Put the oil in your mouth, tilt your chin up and slowly swish, suck, chomp and pull through the teeth. Do this for at least 10 minutes. 15 - 20 minutes is better. You want the oil to become a thin, white foam when you finally spit it out. If it's still yellow, you haven't done it long enough."

There seems to be a lot of people on the internet trying various oils, I can't say much about which oil you should or shouldn't use other than if you are going to try it you might as well go with what the experts say, sesame or sunflower oil! Once you find that it is an effective technique for you then, if you are curious you can try other oils such as coconut oil or maybe avocado oil.

Again, the idea being that the toxins are drawn out of your body and into the oil. So don't swallow the OIL!

"You can do this 2 more times during the day if you want to detox faster. Make sure you do it on an empty stomach." If you are going to do it more than once per day make sure that you have not eaten in the last 4 hours.

"Spit it out in the toilet when your mouth is full and rinse your mouth out well."

You need to make sure that you drink at least 1 full glass of water after you brush your teeth.

Let me say it one more time DO NOT SWALLOW THE OIL. It now contains parasites and bacteria! At least according to the theory. But I wouldn't swallow it anyway I would suspect your stomach would not like it.

"DO NOT GARGLE IN THE THROAT. THE OIL IS MEANT TO BE SWISHED IN THE MOUTH ONLY." I know Deepak Chopra said gargle but according to everything, I have read that's not safe so stick to swishing.

"DO IT SLOWLY."

HOW IT WORKS:

"The oil pulls all mucous, bacteria and toxins from your body through your saliva. According to Ayurvedic medicine, mucous is a poison that must be removed."

A worsening of symptoms and maybe even a few you never had before is an excellent indication that the disease/ailment is being cured. "Do not stop Oil Pulling if you feel aggravated symptoms or heightened side effects." Your body is healing.

If you would like to read more about Oil Pulling as well as read a ton of reader results, go to Earthclinic.com . This site is a fabulous site for tons of information on natural remedies. Make sure you bookmark it!

I will let you know the results to my little test on my website. I will include it as one of the alternative techniques I have tried. I will not write the results until the end of the 30 days. If you plan to try it drop back by to let me know your results!

Ok I just got back from doing my first Oil Pulling. I have to say it is not the most pleasant experience. Your first instinct is to spit it out! But, I stuck it out for the 20 minutes! So we shall see.......................

Want to read about my experience with Oil Pulling?

Send to Friend

To reference this entry please copy the url in this link: (Permalink)

What's all the hype about Baking Soda? April 11, 2007 09:28

 
Baking Soda is a staple in just about every household. In some homes it's used strictly for baking in others, you will find the standard box in the refrigerator. In my home, it is used for just about everything. It is cheap, safe and actually does what it claims to do. What more could you ask for!

Baking Soda is sodium bicarbonate. It is found naturally in mineral deposits. Most of the baking soda in North America is mined in Wyoming. Not that it really matters all we have to do is buzz down to the local grocery store and grab a box.

If you go to the Arm & Hammer website you will find a great section on all the things you can do with baking soda.

You probably know by now that baking soda can be used for just about anything. It is one of the most multifaceted natural products you will ever find. There has been a resurgence in the use of baking soda over the last 20 years due to the increased interest in using environmentally friendly products. Studies show that baking soda is environmentally benign.

Check out this study at Pubmed, Safety and Efficacy of Baking Soda

There is a ton of information on the internet giving tips on the many uses of baking soda but chances are you've learned a few from your mom. You know it's a cleaning solution, that it neutralizes odors and cleans the drains with a bit of vinegar you probably know more than you think. Growing up, my mother used baking soda for everything. But it wasn't until I got sick that I went back to my roots and discovered that baking soda could really be used for everything!!

If you don't know the difference between baking soda and baking powder check out this article What Is the Difference Between Baking Soda & Baking Powder?

My Healthy Home Baking Soda Tips:

Quick note: I don't bake or cook so you won't find a single tip on using baking soda for cooking from me!

Kitchen

#1 Clean your cutting board weekly with baking soda. Spread baking soda over entire surface then pour some vinegar on it and let it bubble away all those nasty odors and bacteria.

#2 Put a good amount of baking soda in your kitchen drain pour a good amount of vinegar down the drain to clean out your pipes. It will kill the bacteria and get rid of that nasty lingering odor.

#3 Make a paste of baking soda and water to scrub your flat top range. Let it sit for about a half hour then scrub again using a cloth rag it will make your range sparkle like new!

#4 Put a teaspoon of baking soda in your blender with water and a drop of dish soap put the lid on and blend until clean.

#5 Just chopped onions and garlic for your famous salsa? Take baking soda and sprinkle into the palm of your hand add just a touch of water, enough to make a paste scrub and rinse!

#6 Want your stainless steel kitchen sink to shine? Sprinkle a liberal amount of baking soda all around your sink add just enough water to make a paste and scrub with a damp cleaning rag.

#7 Does your dishwasher have a bit of an odor? Next cycle sprinkle a good amount of baking soda in the bottom of the dishwasher and run the cycle as usual. Your dishwasher will smell as if new not to mention that load of dishes will come out a little cleaner!

#8 Make your tarnished silver sparkle! Take a bowl of baking soda, a damp rag and a cup of water and make a paste. Apply the paste to your silver using a rag, you may have to scrub a little but the baking soda should take the tarnish right off! No more nasty chemicals needed! Note if you do this outside do not pour your dirty water and baking soda in the grass it will kill it! We learned the hard way.

#9 To get hard water stains off kitchen faucets or any faucet for that matter, make a paste out of baking soda and toothpaste use an old toothbrush to get in those tiny crevices.

#10 Going out of town? Sprinkle some baking soda down your kitchen drains and in the bottom of your dishwasher (make sure you leave the dishwasher open just a crack.) You won't come home to those nasty lingering odors.

#11 Make a paste with baking soda and water and scrub your plastic storage containers nothing cleans plastic as well as baking soda. If you have lingering odors, sprinkle dry plastic container with baking soda, put the lid on and let it sit over night. That should take care of any lingering odors.

#12 Clean your coffee maker with 1-quart warm water and ¼ cup of baking soda, brew. Do this once a week and your coffee will taste great every time you brew a pot.

Want to learn more about Healthy Homes? Check out my website, Healthy Holistic Living for information on building a healthy home and more tips on healthy living

OK so maybe I didn't get all my tips from my Mom- check out Baking Soda: Over 500 Fabulous, Fun, and Frugal Uses You've Probably Never Thought Of (Lansky, Vicki)

Check back again next week when my baby, affectionately known as Baby Izzy brings you all her favorite baking soda tips for your baby!

I could go on forever baking soda is amazing stuff but I don't want to overload you…. Check back for more tips each week or Bookmark my Blog for easy reference.

Take the conscious road to authentic power!!!

Have a fantastic day!!

Help Promote Healthy Holistic Living News:

Send to Friend

To reference this entry please copy the url in this link: (Permalink)

Excuse Me If I Don't Feel the Least Bit @#!%!@ Spiritual Today! April 6, 2007 05:59

 
Yesterday I woke up on a spiritual high all was perfect in the world. I couldn't wait to start my day! I felt love for all other humans and I kept everything in perspective. Knowing what I know about the world I took nothing personally and found the humor in each encounter whether it was positive or negative. I went to bed with a feeling of gratitude and peace and was looking forward to another day on my wonderful journey.

Then today I woke up and the first thought that entered my mind was, @!%#% another day! I don't know where this feeling came from whether it's hormones, past life crap coming back to haunt me or childhood trauma and I don't care all I know is I am not happy and for some reason I prefer to feel this way! If someone was to look at me cross, I am quite prepared to rip his or her head off! I am reveling in my misery and seem to be loving it!

What happened and why am I embracing this misery as if it's my best friend?

This scenario is one we have all been through God only knows you can't keep that sense of spirituality for longer than a couple of days before you fall off the spiritual wagon and back into the tangible reality of this world! This usually occurs right at the moment that the person in the car next to you cuts you off and then proceeds to flip you the finger!!

So where does this leave us? Are we less spiritual or spiritually challenged if we can't seem to keep ourselves out of the occasional funk? Do Buddhist Monks ever wake up on the wrong side of the bed?

I am pretty sure that all of us experience a funk from time to time the key is how long does it last. A key determinate in the length of our "bad mood" depends on our personality and to what degree we have suppressed our emotions. Once an emotional situation has been relegated to the subconscious we no longer have choice over how, when or to what degree that emotion is going to be expressed. Our subconscious could have an emotional leak at any point in time and finding the source is about as easy as finding a water leak in your home!

Scott Hemenover, an assistant professor of psychology at K-State studied emotional suppression and personality. "Hemenover performed a study that found that people with different personality types have different rates of mood decay. People with neurotic tendencies hold on to a bad mood longer than other people. Extroverts tend to stay in a positive mood longer than average people.

Maintaining a negative mood for a long period of time is harmful to your health. People think that getting stressed and anxious is bad for you. The key isn't how stressed you are, but how long you are stressed," he said. "Staying stressed for a long time can impair your immune and cardiovascular functions." Hemenover said people who tend to stay in a bad mood for a long time can learn to use strategies that will help them snap out of it faster.

Send to Friend

To reference this entry please copy the url in this link: (Permalink)