How is your metabolism these days? If you think you have gained some weight already, it may mean that you don’t have enough fiber rich foods to detox your body and get rid of constipation; or you maybe stopped practicing my favorite magic yoga move to get rid of belly fat.

If you need a boost to feel sexy and confident, try this fantastic thigh and butt reducing exercise.

Try to do this buttocks reducing exercise regularly for better results.

• The simple exercise is the squat.
• Keep in mind that the doing squats correctly is very important, so read and then carefully follow these directions:
• Stand with your feet a little more than shoulder width apart.
• Put your body into a position where your bottom is pushed back as if you were sitting in a chair.
• Hold your chest up.
• Slowly and gently lower your body as though you are “sitting” in a chair until your thighs are parallel with the ground.
• With your weight on your heels, slowly lift yourself until you’re back where you started.
• Two pointers to keep in mind:
• Your knees should not extend over your toes.
• Keep your torso tight and straight.
• Do the squat one or two times per week to start, and shoot for one or two sets of six to eight repetitions.
• Increase activity as your body strengthens or do more reps more often if you’re already in shape. (adopted from www.chetday.com)

Breathe, smile and be happy.

© Irina Wardas, HHC

Women’s Holistic Health, Nutrition Coach and Counselor

I just wanted to share with you another natural remedy for yeast overgrowth – raw, organic honey.

Raw honey is known to have medicinal purposes in many different areas. It has antiseptic, and antioxidant properties that are great for cleansing, beauty and skin care products, it can be used to treat various ailments including conjunctivitis, cuts and athletes foot. The honey called UMF Manuka honey has been found to not only fight infection and help in healing but also reduces swelling and scarring and helps with digestive issues like ulcers, indigestion and diarrhoea. Honey has been used for thousands of years as a natural healing agent as well as a tasty food.

How to make a honey yeast infection treatment

1. Using organic raw honey, take half a cup and go into the bathroom, since this can be quite messy. Sit on the toilet seat and pour or smear on the honey over the infection. Use a generous amount and then stay there for a good 20 minutes. (It may be an idea to take in a book or magazine with you, and have a washcloth to wipe your hands with). As well as killing the yeast this honey yeast infection treatment helps re-balance the pH of the area making it harder for the fungus to live there. Then run yourself a warm bath and wash carefully. Make sure you dry the area thoroughly when you get out. Do this twice a day and you will see positive results.
2. Eat it! Just as with yogurt, another way to get the benefits of those helpful bacteria in the honey, into you, is to eat more of it each day. Great for treating any internal overgrowth.
3. A third honey yeast infection treatment is also for consumption. Mix honey with apple cider vinegar (another home remedy for yeast infections) and warm water, for a drink to be taken once a day.

Honey and your diet

As well as honey yeast infection treatment options there is the consideration about using honey if you are thinking about going on an anti-candida diet. There are two main opinions about this for you to consider. On one side there is the diet that involves cutting out yeasty foods, and sugary foods including honey, as the fungus feeds on sugar and that can lead to or help an overgrowth. However there is a different opinion that says only refined sugars need to be eliminated, such as white carbohydrates, sodas, and so on, and in this diet raw honey in moderate amounts is acceptable.

The fact that organic honey has been found to have probiotic and antibiotic properties makes it a food that will fight the candida albicans in you body rather than help them grow. You could of course go for a middle road, where all sugar is eliminated and then something like honey is slowly re-introduced to help with replacing the beneficial bacteria. (more on yeast infection at www.yeastinfectioncure101.com)

P.S. Click to listen to our discussion with Dr.Carolyn Dean on why yeast overgrowth can be dangerous for our health and how to treat it naturally.

Breathe, smile and be happy.

© Irina Wardas, HHC

Women’s Holistic Health, Nutrition Coach and Counselor

During Cold and Flu season homemade Sauerkraut may be the cold cure you are looking forcold cure. Fermentation helps create phytochemicals to boost the immune system which helps fight infections like common cold. Fermented cabbage is  rich in vitamin C and other nutrients needed to stay healthy during cold months.

Studies show that sothiocynates produced during fermentation help prevent breast, colon, liver and lung cancer growth.

Sauerkraut also protects the balance of bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, and its juice helps get rid of constipation.

Colds be Gone with Immunity Boosting Homemade Sauerkraut

Bon Appetit!

Breathe,smile and be happy.

© Irina Wardas, HHC

Women’s Holistic Health Counselor and Coach

More than 75% of health problems are related to stress. We know that one of the best stress-relief tools and techniques is a body massage.

I would like to share with you the article “Massage-You Can Do It Yourself” by Michael Tasker where he explains how easily you can self-massage your body. These tips are very helpful for cancer patients to reduce stress and anxiety.

“Qi Gong Tapping is a form of self-massage is commonly used by many Qi Gong and Tai Chi practitioners while warming up before their meditative practices. This can be adopted as a method to energize yourself first thing in the morning or perhaps before a physical workout.

Start by forming your hands into a loose fist so that you can firmly tap your body from head to toe along the meridian pathways. The first step is to tap along your arms both inside and outside. Then tap your torso down the front of your chest, continuing down to the front of your thighs. Repeat the tapping on the inside, outside, and back of your legs to cover the entire lower body. Finally, tap along your neck and behind your back to cover the remaining areas. This practice can be repeated several times, until your feel your body warm up from the increased blood flow. Remember, one of the benefits of massage is to facilitate the increase in blood flow.

Abdominal self-massage is best used after meals to improve digestion or by women during their menstrual cycle. To perform abdominal massage, place one hand over the other as they lay above your naval. Breathe deeply as your move your hands together in a circular-motion around your belly in a clock-wise direction. The clock-wise direction is synchronous with the digestive pathway of your colon. Repeat this motion for several minutes focusing your mind on your hands and breathe to warm your abdomen and improve circulation.

Reflexology is a system of treatment where specific points on the hands and feet are used to improve the health and functioning of the entire body. You can benefit from this practice even without a through understanding of reflexology charts. Use some basic massage oil or hand lotion to gently rub all of your fingers and toes. Continue to rub your palms and the soles of your feet, including the back of your hand and tops of your feet. Pay attention to any tender spots you find so that you can focus more on these areas. You will soon discover which places feel the best and which ones need more attention. By adopting a massage session each day, the tension that is accumulated in these areas through the day can be relieved.

An overall ear massage can greatly benefit our health. With the use of your thumb and index finger you need to rub the outer edge of the ear, which is also called the helix. Follow the helix down the ear until you reach your earlobe. Pull gently on your earlobe several times. Move above your ear lobe and begin to massage each of the remaining areas of your ear. The tragus, which is located just above your earlobe, is very helpful to activate the mind and relieve headaches.“read more

What about you? Have you ever tried reflexology, a self- foot massage or an ear massage on yourself or a partner?

P.S. Click to listen to our interview with Shoshanna Katzman, Chinese Medicine Specialist on Benefits of Qigong.

Breathe, smile and be happy.

Irina Wardas, HHC

Women’s Holistic Counselor and Coach

Do you have tired eyes; you might if you use the computer all day long – or even if you don’t.   Do you remember to blink from time to time while staring at your TV or computer screen?

In another post I showed you how to make a chamomile compress to reduce swelling from computer eyestrain. 

Instead you might want to do an eye meditation for your tired eyes. You can practice it every morning and every evening to reduce stress and feel good about yourself and your eyes:

“I Love My EYES. I see clearly in every direction- past, present and future. I see good in everyone. I lovingly create the life I love to look at”

OR you can try some eye exercises to alleviate eyestrain and stress:

1. Refocus every ten minutes by looking out the window or around the office.

2. Roll your eyes in a circle, making sure to roll in both direction.

3. Once an hour close your eyes and let your face relax.

4. Eye Exercise for soothing relief:

• Rub your palms together quickly to warm them.
• Place your palms gently over your closed eyes.
• Hold them over your eyes until the heat dissipated.
• Take a relaxing breath.

(both exercises adopted from the book “Office Spa” by Darrin Zeer)

Breathe, smile and be happy.

© Irina Wardas, HHC

Women’s Holistic Health, Nutrition Coach and Counselor