Conscious Lliving Archives

How to Instantly Feel Better… without Sugar

We’ve all have felt down and sad from time to time. Often times these feelings are situational: something in your live has made you feel that way temporarily. And other times it could be because of hormonal disruptions led by too much sugar consumption.

So when you feel a little blue, how do you make yourself feel better (without a sugary treat)? Check out the 10-step process I follow to give myself grace and feel better instantly without having to resort to the low-nutrient, sugary treats.

1. Turn off the TV or phone

Do you know how you limit television time for your children and do not allow them to watch anything that could affect their mental state? Well, do the same for yourself. Limit the amount of harmful news and information you get on television or social media to no more than 15 mins a day. If you are feeling particularly bad, turn it off completely for at least a couple of days.

2. Eat some fruit

Now this is really a fun thing that could make you feel better. Believe it or not, eating some fruit could make you smile.

Ok, we all know that there are certain comfort foods that heal our pain, but what happens the next day? The next day, you only feel worse because you shoved all the pizza or ice cream pack down your throat. Fruit on the other hand is full of fiber, enzymes and phytochemicals your body needs to stay healthy and strong. This could satisfy your sweet tooth without undoing your mental state with low-nutrient foods.

3. Smell of oranges

Scientists have concluded that the smell of oranges makes people happier. That is why you will find this particular scent in many offices, as well as many spas and massage parlors. Use it in your home or office.

4. Workout

This is especially good for those of us overtly concerned about our appearance. Take a walk, do some home yoga or resistance training. Anything that would help you increase your heart rate, break a sweat and with it, release endorphins (happy hormones). Exercise can also help reduce stress hormones so it is a win-win.

5. Choose your friends wisely

You should not be around people who like to point out your flaws. Many of them do not mean harm, but yes, they may be adding to your stress and sad feelings. Some people call these, “energy vampires” and they are damn good at making you feel wretched. Choose the company of friends who make you laugh and feel good about yourself.

6. Give someone a big compliment

Acknowledging someone not only help that person feel wonderful, it will have the exact same effect on you: increased feelings of peace, joy and happiness. Even third party witnesses benefit from kind words to others. Try it!

7. Take a walk outside

I whole-heartedly believe that most of our problems would disappear with a simple walk in the park or the forest or the beach. The next time someone makes you angry or upset for any other reason, put on your shoes and go for a walk.

8. Treat yourself

Something kind and useful, like a massage, pedicure or manicure… anything that feels like a fun treat that bring you several minutes to an hour of joy

9. Learn to feel better about yourself

All of our problems tend to look much bigger if we are no longer satisfied with ourselves. To reduce those problems, write down the wonderful things you have going on for yourself: your talents, your goals, your hard work, your best attribute. Remembering how wonderful you are will slowly help you feel better more times of the day than not.

10. Learn how to make someone else feel better

Happy people around us will bring happiness to our lives as well. Surround yourself with positive people and let them transfer some of their energy to you as well.

Heart Health Month 3-Part Series

Hello friend! February is the love month, that one month where we pay attention to our hearts and the love we have to give (and receive). It is also the perfect month to learn about the amazing machine your heart is and more importantly, teaching you how to protect, balance and support your heart so it can return the favor for many years to come.

So, on this 3-part series celebrating the heart, we will chat about diet, science, data and yes, the amazing botanicals that have traditionally been used to support, balance and keep your ticket ticking in love for years to come.

Check out video no 1 here where I give you a basic overview of the diet that has been used and known as a heart protective diet since the 1960’s. Enjoy!

On this Part 2 video I will showcase 2 of the most recent studies showing how a fully plant-based (vegan) diet is potentially the best one to help protect, prevent and in some cases reverse heart conditions. I will also share some resources for you to do your own research and share with your friends, loved ones and doctors.

On this Part 3 video I will showcase 5 of the herbs and botanicals that have traditionally been used to balance, protect and tone the cardiovascular system. I’m sure you know a few of them, a couple may be knew to you!

La Rayia’s: Providing Healthy Meals to Homeless in LA

Today I have a super special video for you. A few months ago, I learned about and visited a new Bodega (little market in Spanish) owned and run by a fellow Afro-Latina.

If you don’t know this powerful little bodega in the heart of Los Angeles, you must! LaRayia’s is the first and only organic plant-based, vegan bodega known.

Through food recovery programs, they offer organic, vegan and whole foods to the community for less than $5.

They also make their own vegan foods, juicing and snacks. The store also sells crystals, candles and merchandise with profits going to fund their food delivery programs. Their non profit arm, Lunch on Me, provides organic food & healing for those experiencing homelessness in downtown Los Angeles.

This is truly a group of exemplary women doing incredible work. I’m especially proud about this fellow Afro-Latinas changing the world for good one meal at a time.

Visit LaRayia’s Bodega at 2713 W. 6th Street in Los Angeles or on Instagram at: @larayiasbodega.

To learn more about Lunch on Me, check out IG: @lunchonme 🇵🇷🇨🇺 www.crowdrise.com/la-bodega

Five Chemicals Banned In Europe (Sold in the USA)

Did you know there are toxic food chemicals allowed to be used in the foods you consume and feed your children? And what’s even more shocking if that many other industrialized nations, especially in Europe, have tested some of these chemicals, deemed them unsafe and banned them from their food chains.

However, in the good ol’ USA, we have a totally different approach to food safety. Here, the Food and Drug Administration uses the “innocent until proven harmful” tactic, allowing ingredients into our foods sometimes for decades until and unless someone can show there’s a problem.

Some of these chemicals can cause symptoms from diarrhea to hormone disruption and some are suspected of causing life-threatening diseases like cancer.

So before you take another bite, check out this list (mean to be a starting point to your own research and self-empowerment with respect to the foods that you feed your amazing body):

rBGH and rBST – available in Milk
Olestra – available in packaged, highly-processed foods
BVO – available in soft drinks
Potassium bromate (bromated flour) – available in baked goods
DPA – available in Apples

The Poopy Fish Tank | Interview with Dr Romeo

A few months ago, I met the owner of a supplement company that specializes in green powders and other herbal blends for detox, cleansing, reducing inflammation and restoring balance in the body.

Dr Romeo is the founder of Roots Nutrition, a true character and someone that teaches people in the most logical of ways how to transform their bodies and feel incredible again.

I had a chance to pick Dr Romeos in his training studio in LA and wanted to share what we talked about here. There are a ton of anecdotes and life-changing healthy living tips on this one, so don’t miss it.

10 Rules to Live By

Have you ever been curious, really curious, about the rules, traditions and dogmas you follow? Have you ever take time to analyze or think through some of the “rules” given to you by your school, your parents, your religion, your society? Do these rules work for you? Do they make you a better, kinder, happier human? Do they negatively affect others around you (who deserve as much happiness and peace as you do)?

I ask myself these questions regularly and come up with my own set of rules to live by based on my experiences and the curiosity that makes me ask others about their own. I truly believe that natural curiosity makes me a more compassionate and understanding member of the human species.

Here are the 10 ones I have been contemplating for the last few months and wanted to share them with you, in hopes they help you build your own. Enjoy!

Rule 1: All living creatures deserve happiness and safety

Rule 2: Take responsibility (for your actions, your thoughts, yourself)

Rule 3: See both sides of the argument before making a judgment call

Rule 4: Great achievements involve great risk, an a healthy dose of fear

Rule 5: Embrace your fear, not the other way around

Rule 6: Practice the 2-1 rule, listen twice as often as you talk (two ears for one mouth)

Rule 7: Change is part of you, and it’s a darn good thing

Rule 8: If things don’t go your way, take a step off, regroup, re-plan and redo

Rule 9: Don’t hold anger for others in your soul. That anger only hurts you

Rule 10: Be a lifelong student. Every day, find a new lesson to enrich your life.

Hypnosis for Weight Loss and MORE

Do you know hypnosis? No, not the silly comedic skits you may have seen at college or the scary (and deeply untrue) thing that caused Chris to drop to the “sunken place” in the film Get Out.

Hypnosis is “meditation with a goal” as my friend, colleague and guest today, Grace Smith will tell you. It is a technique of deep and controlled relaxation that helps you access your subconscious mind and change deeply engrained behaviors that are hold you back and keep you from feeling great.

On today’s video, Grace, the author of the multiple No 1 Amazon best-selling book “Close Your Eyes, Get Free”, tells me how hypnosis changed her life (I tell my story with hypnosis too) and how it can help yours.

Grace also addresses the controversial use of hypnosis as a “mind-control” technique in the film Get Out (we love the film but man, did that do hypnosis – and the rest of humanity – a major disservice)!

AND, as an added bonus, we get to see Grace in action! We’ll do a short hypnosis session on air (check out timing below).

Affirmations start at 21:09

Hypnosis starts at 23:00

Get the #1 Bestselling Book “Close Your Eyes Get Free” here >>> https://amzn.to/2mKxAMj

6 Perfect Home Diarrhea Herbal Preparations

Diarrhea is the watery or loose stools that happen three or more times a day.

It is important to note that diarrhea is not a disease but a symptom of different disorders such as food poisoning, celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, lactose intolerance (sugar in milk), Crohn’s disease, gastroenteritis, ulcerative colitis, intestinal parasites , etc.

Likewise, it can be produced by some medications (antibiotics, blood pressure drugs and antacids with magnesium), since these can alter the normal balance of bacteria in the colon.

Diarrhea is usually accompanied by abdominal pain, bloating, flatulence, general weakness and loss of appetite.

For the average healthy individual, attacking the diarrhea with herbal remedies can be very effective. Either way, you must go to your health care practitioner if your stools are soft for more than 48hrs so you can rule out any serious issues.

Here are my top 6 herbal preparations for this uncomfortable condition (check out the video and the full list below the video).

Remedy for Diarrhea #1 Wash a handful of fresh berries of red currant and place in a blender along with some water. Blend for a few moments and drink the juice obtained.

Remedy for Diarrhea #2 Put some salt on the navel and hold it with a band aid.

Remedy for Diarrhea #3 Wash and split a large lemon. Extract your juice and add it to 1 liter of warm water. Drink throughout the day.

Remedy for Diarrhea #4 Pour a handful of rosehip seeds into 1 cup of boiling water. Cover and let cool for 5 minutes. Drink 3 cups a day.

Remedy for diarrhea #5 Boil, for 10 minutes, 3 tablespoons of raspberry or blackberry leaf in half a liter of water. After that time, cover and let cool. Take throughout the day.

Remedy for Diarrhea #6 Place 1 teaspoon of black tea in 1 cup of boiling water. Cover and let cool. Drink a warm cup, without too much sugar.

What a Health Coach Eats, Winter Edition

I often get asked what I eat in a day and the answer to that question is “it depends”. I eat differently in winter than in summer and regularly check with my alternative medicine practitioners to check for imbalances and nutrient deficiency.

Having said that, you can still follow some simple basic principles to help your body feel its best regardless of the time of the year.

Here’s what a health coach (moi) eats during winter!

Now, below the video, tell me: do you eat for the seasons? What are you eating these days and how does your body feel? Let me know in the comments below!

7 Tips To Avoid The Winter Blues

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a real condition that affects millions in the Western World and can increase your feelings of stress, anxiety, loss of productivity, and other emotional/mental conditions. While SAD is often temporary and in most cases not dangerous, it is disruptive to your quality of life.

If you suffer from SAD or any other type of depression, please get help. There is no need for you (or anyone) to suffer alone. There are many way to help relief the symptoms of SAD.

On the other hand, if you feel a little “blue” around fall/winter, you may have a bad case of the “winter blues”. While SAD and winter blues are used inter-changeably, they are not the same. SAD is a type of clinical depression, often a life-long condition while the winter blues is often temporary and situational.

On today’s video, I’m offering some herbal remedies and holistic approaches to help relief the winter blues that may also help you manage the symptoms of SAD.

Get out of the house – even if ti’s hard
Take in the sun (or supplement with a Vitamin D supplement)
St John’s Wort – known as Nature’s Prozac
Avoid Getting Sick – Use adaptogenic herbs like Rhodiola or Panax Ginseng
Feed your “2nd brain” – your gut with probiotics and probiotics
Don’t isolate yourself
Laugh out Loud

Check the video for more details! xoxo

What’s The Daniel Diet

Have you heard of the Daniel Diet? It is based on the book of Daniel on the bible, which is often credited as the ancient foundation for a plant-based diet. On Chapter 10, the book describes the vegan fast the Prophet Daniel followed: “I ate no delicacies, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.”

In the book, after those 21 days, Daniel appeared healthier.

Check out the video to learn more!

So What Is The Daniel Diet?

The plan is a plant-based program inclusive of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, and healthy oils. No caffeine, alcohol, additives, or preservatives are allowed. Usually, participants partake in the plan for a period of 21 days, often as part of a religiously motivated fasting period.

In 2010 researchers at the Univ of Memphis studied the diet and found that:

Fights inflammation
High in antioxidants
Lowers cholesterol
Protects against diabetes
Fights obesity

And even if you consume small amounts of dairy or flesh (perhaps as a condiment or in truly small amounts), they diet seems to provide the same benefits.

I love the idea of giving your body a respite from processed foods, chemicals and foods that produce an inflammatory response. And it’s a great reminder that a plant-based diet is not a fad diet, it’s been around since biblical times!

So get curious, add more plants to your plate and let me know how you feel! And let me know in the comments below!

Best Way To Flavor Water

So we need water to survive and we are also always told to have supplement this and drink herb that for better health. So I’ve found a really awesome way to combine the 2!

My herbal professor used to say never drink water alone, add herbs to get all the benefits and healing properties of the herbs. Perfect way to kill 2 birds with 1 stone. Here are the favorite things I add to my water every day.

Cinnamon

It’s warming to the body and delicious in flavor and also awesome for you too. It is loaded with minerals, including manganese and calcium, and contains essential oils with potent anti-inflammatory properties.

Apple cider vinegar

Great at regulating the body’s acidity (pH) levels, easing digestive discomfort, relieving heartburn, helping to prevent seasonal illness, and reducing inflammation.

Fennel

Fennel is sweet and aromatic and can help those who need to have something sweet or are used to sweet drinks with meals. Fennel is known to have antioxidant, digestive, carminative, and anti-flatulent properties. So great to take after a heavy meal and when you feel gassy.

Black Salt

Not the crappy table salt but a pinch of the unprocessed, amazing salt that have lots of trace minerals that a lot of us are deficient in.

Mint Leaves

Everybody loves mint. And we are perfectly familiar with it. But did you know that as a palate cleanser, mint can help you better digest your food? It also soothes stomachs and help reduce inflammation

Sage

This is really high in antioxidants so it can help protect your cells from damage caused by free radicals, which often results in impaired immunity, and chronic disease. People in the Caribbean use it to shorten the length of a cold and heal laryngitis.

Tips to reduce sugar cravings Part 2

In the previous video we spoke about sugar addiction and how you can get rid of it. I wanted to create a second video to give you even more tips to finally get rid of sugar in your life!

If you missed that video, click here to access it!

Check the video and tips below!

NUMBER 1 – EAT CARBOHYDRATES (UNLIMITED)
Yes, that’s right. Carbohydrates in droves. Did you know that vegetables are carbohydrates? From them you can eat all you want. Unlimited refills! I refer specifically to non-starchy vegetables, such as greens, the broccoli family (cauliflower, kale, collards, etc.), asparagus, green beans, mushrooms, onions, zucchini, tomato, fennel, aubergines, artichokes, peppers , etc.
Also eat fruit in small portions, once a day for about 14 days. Avoid potatoes, sweet potatoes, winter squash and beets – only for 14 days.

NUMBER 2 PLAN YOUR RECIPES
It is easier to follow a program when you have a list of ingredients and recipes that you can work from. In my sugar detox program I personally check all the ingredients and recipes to make sure they were all low in sugar. Choose a day in the week to plan your recipes so you know what ingredients to use and avoid thinking about other full of sugar. Also keep a contingency plan food around special events such as birthday parties and social events.

NUMBER 3 – ELIMINATES THE RISKS BY FINDING SUPPORTERS
When I decided to change my lifestyle and try detoxification, I told all my friends and colleagues who supported me very much and inspired many to take some of the advice I explained. This kind of support helped both me and them and became an indispensable weapon for success.

NUMBER 4 HELP YOURSELF BY HELPING OTHERS
If you observe or participated in any recovery program, the last step is to help others and teach them through your experiences. We always hope that by sharing our experiences, they inspire others, which is a powerful positive feedback loop which naturally will keep you satisfied, without sugar!

NUMBER 5 – REDUCE STRESS
If you have stress, your hormones go crazy. When cortisol (the stress hormone) rises gives you more hungry, it promotes the storage of fat in the stomach and can lead to type 2 diabetes and other chronic conditions. Try doing deep conscious breathing exercises. This is something you can do anywhere, anytime.

NUMBER 6 – SLEEP MORE
Less sleep affects your appetite and makes hormones that you crave more sugar and carbohydrates. You need more energy if you do not sleep, so you head rapidly absorbed sugars. Sleep is the best way to fight the urge to overeat and manage stress.

This is dubbed the SWEET POISON

Sugar addiction: Is it Real?
Here’s a surprising fact: Sugar is eight times as addictive as cocaine.

Being addicted to sugar is a biological disorder, driven by hormones and neurotransmitters that take you to need more and more sugar and take you to eat in excess uncontrollably. This is the reason why almost 70% of Americans and 40 percent of children are overweight.

I have lots of tips to help us get rid of sugar addiction. Too many in fact, that I’m dividing them into 2 videos. Here are the first 6!

NUMBER 1 – KEEP TRACK OF YOUR SUGAR INTAKE
About 26% of sugars added to our diet comes from prepared foods, such as ketchup, pasta, salad dressing and canned fruits. Keep a journal with all the foods you consume in a day to keep track of your sugar intake.

NUMBER 2 – WHAT YOU LEARN AND WHAT YOU CAN NOT EAT
It’s super important to have an idea of what foods you can eat to replace those you leave behind. Make a list of the foods you need to avoid and one of the food by which you are replacing.

NUMBER 3 – DO NOT DRINK THE CALORIES
More than 40% of all sugar comes from sweetened drinks and sodas. These liquid calories are worse than the solid food with sugar or flour.

NUMBER 4 CLEAN YOUR KITCHEN
Some of us find it easier to avoid cravings than others. If you have sensitivity or are weak-willed, clean your kitchen and remove anything that might serve as a weakness. Eliminate as much temptation as possible.

NUMBER 5 PREPARE FOR EMERGENCIES
You never want to be in a food emergency when blood sugar is falling and you are in a “food desert” as an airport, office or fast food restaurants. In your travels or when you do errands, always carries a small bag with almond butter and apple slices or celery. You can also take walnuts, pumpkin seeds or sunflower.

NUMBER 6 – PREPARE SNACKS BEFOREHAND
Nobody has time to prepare snacks whenever we’re running around. Rather than stress yourself every time you go out, take an hour once a week to prepare bags of healthy snacks and keep them in the cupboard and fridge. When you’re ready to go, just put a bag in your bag and go.

How Constellation Therapy Can Affect Your Weight, Health And Happiness

There’s a unique type of detox (or cleanse) work that is more energetic and has to do with family dynamics.

Your relationship with your family can affect your weight, health and happiness. I’ve interviewed here a Family Constellation facilitator and therapist Natalie Berthold to learn a bit more about this powerful type of work.

Check out this amazing video and learn how constellation therapies can affect your health and happiness.

Interested in learning more about Natalie’s course? Click Here For Details!

Click Here For The Discount!

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