Vegetable juices

Any person has heard at least once in their life the famous phrase: health is about balance! And it’s just so… balance between acidic foods and base or alkaline foods.

But let’s try to understand something more.
The famous Power of Hydrogen (PH) is a value that allows us to measure the degree of acidity or alkalinity of the human body: in general it should be between the 7,38 and the and 7,42. This is what we define as acid-base balance.

The PH measures the acidity or alkalinity of a food before swallowing, the PRAL (Potential Renal Acid Load) measures this ratio after a food is ingested.

Considering the foods most consumed, on average, the modern diet is highly acidifying, and the cause of many imbalances and potentially, diseases too.

We are speaking in fact of very popular foods such as:

Cereals
Their derivatives such as refined flours found in bread or pasta
The sugars in all their forms, in particular refined sugars are present in countless industrial products (sodas, cookies, sauces, etc.)
Soft drinks and tea and coffee are also very acidifying
Milk and dairy
Animal proteins such as meat and egg white

A body overloaded in acids it is in a state of acidosis. This acidosis can become chronic and long-term lead may to imbalances such as diabetes, osteoporosis, chronic fatigue, depression, to name but a few.

According to a publication in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (1), the state of chronic acidosis decreases the basal metabolic rate by reducing the muscle mass of the body: basal metabolism is the minimum energy which the body needs while at rest, to maintain its vital functions.

Fruits and vegetables help us to re-establish the acid-base balance. They are highly alkalizing because they contain minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and sulphur as well as bicarbonates. It is advised to eat lots of fruits and vegetables as part of a balanced diet – vegetables more so than fruits, which contain high amounts of sugar.

The question is: How to eat large amounts of fruits and vegetables to benefit from important nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, enzymes, antioxidants?

By drinking the juices of fresh seasonal vegetables, the nutrients from different parts of the plant are condensed into one glass. These are assimilated quickly, reducing the digestion time that is needed for solid vegetables.

This doesn’t mean that you should replace the consumption of fruits and vegetables, but rather integrate it. It is important to eat these as well, because they contain other benefits such as the fibre.

Norman Walker was the first diffusing benefits of juices made using cold extraction, in particular thanks to his book ‘’Fresh vegetables and fruit juices’’: the basic conviction is that the fresh juices act as regenerators of the body, providing the cells with “living material” that regenerates and strengthens.

Jain N, Minhajuddin AT, Neeland IJ, Elsayed EF, Vega GL, Hedayati SS. ‘Association of urinary sodium-to-potassium ration with obesity in a multiethnic cohort’. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2014 Feb 19.

Link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3985224/

Mauro Maza

Naturopathic Practitioner at Naturopathe.lu

Source: Naturopathe.lu

Why prevent waste?

There is no ‘away’ when you throw something away…

In the first part of this series we discovered the concept of zero waste which at its core promotes the prevention of waste. But why is it so important to prevent Waste?

Preventing waste is important because there is no ‘away’ when you throw something away: it stays on the planet in one form or another and can leach toxic compounds into the soil or air. As such, it can harm the environment but also our health. Managing all this waste is also costly and time consuming.

For the environment

Plastic pollution in the ocean: The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates the amount of plastic waste in the ocean at more than 100 million tons. In the Pacific, plastics outweigh zooplankton at a ratio of 6 to 1. In the end, plastics ingested by marine life can end up on your plate. Plastic pollution is also contributing to the decline of biodiversity.

Climate change: Waste prevention and recycling contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. For example, food scraps that end up in a landfill do not decompose as they would in nature. Once in the oxygenless environment of the landfill, food breaks down to produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas which contributes to climate change.

Scarcity of raw materials, water and energy: When an object or a piece of food goes to the landfill, we are throwing away all the resources, water and energy that went into producing it. For example, the water used to produce a hamburger is equivalent to taking a 90-minute shower. But there are limits to how much natural resources we can extract from the Earth. By using resources wisely and not wasting them, we are slowing the demand for these resources and leaving some for future generations. Let’s think 7 generations ahead like the Native American Iroquois nation traditionally do!

For your health

Certain packaging and plastics may leach chemicals called phthalates and BPAs into our food and beverages. These chemicals are called endocrine disruptors: they mimic human estrogen hormones and contribute to endocrine-related health problems such as early puberty, weight gain, cancer and infertility.

For an improved quality of life

Mid-March Béa Johnson was in Luxembourg and made a wonderful presentation of how zero waste improved her family’s life. The time they saved shopping for things they didn’t need, sorting and organizing them, recycling them, they could now spend it having beautiful family experiences. Her blog “Zero Waste Home” is full of stories about their zero waste lifestyle.

It is also worth noting that waste prevention can save municipalities millions of euros. In 2015, Luxembourg City spent 40 million euros on waste management.

In France, 15 billion euros are spent every year to treat waste.

So, let’s get started: 3 Basic Tips for reducing your waste

These tips will all allow big wins.

1 – Avoid plastic bottles

This can be done by using tap water or buying water and other drinks in glass bottles that can be returned to the store. When going out or at work, bring your reusable bottle with you. Use solid soap and solid shampoo and come to refill your cleaning products and liquid soap at OUNI.

Solid shampoo available at Ouni

2 – Eliminate single-use items as much as possible

These include disposable napkins, papers towels, cotton pads, plastic plates and cutlery, paper tissues, straws. Replace those with reusable options. You can also ask the elderly in your family for some washable handkerchiefs and napkins – they probably have some in their cupboards! When hosting a party, use washable plates. You will also find many reusable and durable product options at OUNI.

Resusable bottles, cups, straws, Nespresso capsules available at Ouni

Reusable cotton pads available at Ouni

Reusable gift wraps available at Ouni

3 – Refuse plastic bags

Always have several bags with you when shopping. There are the obvious grocery bags you bring with you, but also refuse bags in the pharmacy, in clothes stores, etc… Imagine if everyone refused plastic bags the piles of plastic bags in shops would remain untouched, they would never have to order new ones! In the EU about 100 billion plastic bags are still put on the market every year, many of them polluting coastal areas. At OUNI you can also bring your own containers to refill all your dry goods: you will thus avoid hundreds of plastic bags from pasta, rice, cereal, nuts, legumes etc…

Let me know if you have any questions by leaving a comment below or on the HealthyLux forum.

Vanessa Paul
Vanessa Paul is a co-founder and Board member of the cooperative OUNI, Luxembourg’s first packaging-free organic grocery store. OUNI opened its doors in December 2016 and offers a wide variety of food and household products in bulk or in reusable containers. The shop also offer a series of unique products that will help you reduce your waste, from reusable nespresso capsules to Furoshiki gift wraps.

Clock is moving forward! Some useful tips…

We are being robbed!
Is what you are most likely thinking on Monday when your alarm clock is ringing an hour earlier.
(As if Mondays weren’t bad enough …)

When we move the clock forward to save some daylight time, we lose an hour of sleep. Most of us feel the effect for a few days afterward.

For sure it is important to gradually transition into the time change.

To minimize the impact of the switch to daylight saving time, make gradual adjustments. Go to bed and put your children to bed 15 minutes early, starting several days before the change. Make an extra effort to be well-rested the week before the time change.

If you haven’t thought about it go to bed one hour earlier during the weekend before the change so you can start well rested on Monday.

Let’s also get some other useful info and tips.

This is what Christine Hansen has shared with HealthyLux to better cope with the change!

We are being robbed!

Is what you are most likely thinking on Monday when your alarm clock is ringing an hour earlier.

(As if Mondays weren’t bad enough …)

Did you know that it has been documented that Daylight Savings have serious consequences on our health?

ER admissions actually rise dramatically.

A Swedish study in 2008 found that the risk of having a heart attack increases in the first three days after switching to DST in the spring.

Traffic accidents increase on the Monday following the start of DST. Tired drivers are the main reason (but also animals who aren’t used to traffic at that time and are having their morning stroll on the road at the usual time).

Work related accidents increase.

Depression spikes for a couple of days. A Danish study found an 11% increase in depression cases after the seasonal change. The cases dissipated gradually after 10 weeks.

So is enough sleep important? Reading the above: I rest my case.

But fret not, there are some things you can do.

Set a timer an hour before your NEW bedtime on Sunday. I.e. if you go to bed at 10 pm then set the timer for 8 p.m. and aim at being in bed by 9. Don’t take any electronics with you but read a book, magazine or hey, talk to your partner 🙂 Lower the lights to stimulate melatonin. This will help you to get acclimatized easier and will Monday morning not quite as rough.

When the alarm rings on Monday have good cat stretch. This will help you to get the blood flowing and feel more refreshed.

Switch on the lights as soon as you can and do not press the snooze button.

Prepare a smoothie the night before and put it in the fridge in the blender container. That way you just put it on the blender, give in another whizz with some ice and off you go with a 2 second, health and energizing breakfast. (Can’t sacrifice the coffee? That is fine but the smoothie will help you balance out blood sugar levels and avoid crashing mid-morning making you storm towards the vending maching to get your sugar fix.)

Prepare your favourite playlist and turn it on to start your day in a good mood.

Need help and inspiration? Then join my free 5 Day Challenge to More Sleep & Less Weight so that you can sleep, look & act like a boss!

Christine Hansen sleep coach at Sleep like a Boss

What is “Zero Waste”?

One summer in 2014, while sitting in a car driving from Brussels to Luxembourg, I was bored…that’s how the idea for Ouni, a shop without packaging, was born!

One summer in 2014, while sitting in a car driving from Brussels to Luxembourg, I was bored. This is the moment an idea came upon me suddenly, a sort of intense Eureka moment with a bright light-bulb: “Luxembourg needs a packaging-free organic grocery store!”. This would be the solution to all the packaging waste we bring home. But then I wondered, “Does such a store even exist? Is it feasible?”. As soon as I got home, I asked my research assistant, Google, to look into it. This is how I discovered Béa Johnson’s book and the “zero waste” movement. All over the world, there were people trying to avoid waste at its source. I decided to become one of them. It was the start of a beautiful adventure that would lead to take part in the opening of OUNI, Luxembourg’s first packaging-free store.

But first… what is zero waste?

People who aim to live zero waste lifestyle try to avoid waste as much as possible. They apply the principles of the “waste hierarchy”, a way to prioritize how we minimize waste.

The first two elements of the hierarchy, reduce and reuse, refer to waste prevention and are the least harmful to the environment. Only when the possibility of those two strategies has been exhausted should recycling be an option. Despite the benefits of recycling when compared to manufacturing new products from virgin materials, recycling does use energy and create pollution. It’s also a cumbersome and expensive process. Plastic is often more down-cycled than recycled (a plastic bottle cannot become a plastic bottle again). Glass recycling is also difficult.

This is why waste prevention at the source is the best option. It requires a slight shift of mindset to stop engaging with things that will very quickly become waste.

After applying these simple principles, some zero wasters send very little or no waste to the landfill or incinerator. Béa Johnson and her family of four are famous for having pushed the zero waste lifestyle to its limits. Their yearly trash fits into a small jar. Lauren Singer, who is single and lives in New York City, has several years of non-recyclable trash in one jar. Some companies, which apply zero waste or “cradle to cradle” principles, design their products so that all the parts of the products can be reused.

The Waste Hierarchy

Anyone can take part: every little bit counts

“There are no small actions when we are millions doing them.”

While no one ever achieves absolute zero waste, aiming at producing no waste at all makes it fun and challenging. Consider it a game you are playing with yourself trying to overcome hurdles and finding alternatives. Don’t stress if you do not manage to avoid waste all the time. Every little bit counts. Imagine if all of us would refuse plastic bags and plastic bottles? The demand for these products would disappear and so would the production.

With time and practice, circumventing waste will become a second nature, and before you know it, you might find yourself taking out the trash bin less frequently and devising new strategies to prevent waste from entering your home.

In my next blog posts for HealthyLux, I will share some zero waste tips. In the meantime, shopping in bulk is already a great step that will make you feel like you’re saving the planet while running your errands.

Here’s a picture of my latest shopping at OUNI, it includes muesli, rice, milk, cream, cookies, chocolate, olives, cheese and butter, fresh fruits and veggies etc. – and it will generate zero waste from packaging.

Let me know if you have any questions by leaving a comment below or on the HealthyLux forum.

SPRING – Detox season

Spring is the season of rebirth, nature is renewed and the body needs time to adapt to new bio-rhythms. To adapt to this phase quickly, in addition to psychological well-being (dedicating more time to ourselves) it is useful to eliminate toxins and waste accumulated during the winter period when the diet is usually rich in caloric foods.

In this tip I would like to give you some advice to better face “spring syndrome”: in other words drowsiness, apathy, mood swings, fatigue, heavy legs, which can regularly occur during this period.

If you are prone to one or more of these issues, this is most likely a sign of fatigue in your detoxification system (especially the liver).

Pesticides, heavy metals, toxins that come from foods, medicines, etc., fail to be eliminated easily and therefore stagnate inside our tissues.

Here are 5 tips to purify your body effectively:

Every morning, drink on an empty stomach, the juice of one freshly squeezed lemon mixed with a little of warm water (about 30 degrees). Wait 10-15 minutes before having breakfast.

Why? The lemon is a natural antiseptic and is very rich in vitamin C. It is one of the most alkalizing fruits found in nature. Consider this action as a refreshing shower for your body.

Drink 2 glasses a day (morning and afternoon) of beetroot juice.

Why? The beetroot is a vegetable that is rich in antioxidants which (among other qualities), slow down the action of free radicals, protecting the tissues and regulating blood pressure. Beetroots and your liver are best friends!

Consume lots of cruciferous vegetables such as kale, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, red cabbage.

Why? They activate cell metabolism and allow the elimination of toxins from the tissues. If you have a thyroid issue, it is better to eat these vegetables lightly cooked as they contain substances that can irritate the thyroid.

Bitter tasting vegetables are also very good choices, choose chicory, endive, dandelion, artichoke and Marian thistle.

Why? They stimulate the production of bile that allows and promotes the blood cleaning process.

If you love herbal teas and infusions, here are some simple recipes using the foods mentioned above, plus a couple of bonus ones:
1. Artichoke herbal tea: 40g of artichoke, stem or root, infused in hot water. Strain and drink up to three cups a day, before eating.

Dandelion herbal tea: 50g of dried leaves in a litre of hot water. Leave to infuse six minutes, covered, then strain and drink throughout the day.

Nettle infusion: 25g of dried nettle leaves. Leave to infuse for five minutes, strain and drink. Three cups per day, one after each meal.

Birch infusion: 30g of dried and chopped leaves in a jug of water, leave to infuse five minutes, strain and drink. Maximum three cups per day.

Mauro Maza

Naturopathic Practitioner at Naturopathe.lu

Source: Naturopathe.lu

Snacking NUTS: Full power break!

How many of us find, mid morning or afternoon, the need for a small snack to plug a hole in the stomach. Let’s talk about … nuts!
Check the next HealthyLux workshop on 26th March. We are going to learn more about nuts and to prepare some delicious recipes together!

How many of us find, mid morning or afternoon, the need for a small snack to plug a hole in the stomach. And unfortunately, many of the snacks that we reach for, delicious and easy to find, are often not good for our health, especially if consumed daily.

The question that often arises is the following: what are the alternatives? Is there something healthy, cheap and convenient?

The answer is YES! And what’s more, these wonderful and ‘’mysterious’’ foods are also rich in valuable vitamins, good fats AND… they can even help you with your weight!

We’re talking about … nuts!

In this article, I will introduce you to these extraordinary foods and warn you about some stereotypes that are often associated with them.

Walnuts:

Rich in antioxidants, contains all known vitamins, except for vitamin B12. Contains a number of vitamins including folic acid which can help prevent birth defects.
Very high in magnesium, manganese and zinc.
It contains an impressive amount of Omega 3 fatty acids, or “good” fats.

Suggestion: try to consume nuts with their skins on (dark skins covering the fruit): they may taste a little more bitter, but 90% of the antioxidants are concentrated right there.

Extra tip: try to avoid shelled walnuts that have been washed and skinned and sold in transparent bags. Not only have lost a lot of their Omega 3, but some treatments even turn them into toxic substances.

Almonds: excellent choice!

Very rich in monounsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E.
They contain lots of magnesium, potassium, selenium and manganese.
Very good sources of fibre and vegetable protein.

Suggestion: as with walnuts, the skin of almonds contains nearly all of the antioxidants, phenols, flavonoids and phenolic acids. It is much better to buy whole almonds if possible.

Brazil nuts

They are known as the richest food source of selenium in nature. Selenium is a mineral that may help to prevent prostate cancer.
The large amount of selenium appears may be beneficial for thyroid function. : your doctor can advise in effect for those who have problems of hypothyroidism.
Polyunsaturated fatty acids such as Omega 3 have been shown to help maintain low blood levels of LDL (bad cholesterol).

Pecan nuts

Very important in vegetarian diets such as they are extremely rich in vegetable protein.
High in magnesium, which is used to feed your muscles and memory
They are a good source of vitamins such as B1, B2, B6 and E. These are important to help slow down the aging process.

Hazelnuts

Contain B vitamins, which help the nervous system to function properly.
As with almonds, are rich in fibre. As we all know, this is important for the digestive process.
Very high in manganese. Benefits of this mineral include preventing anaemia, protecting cells from free radical damage and the production of energy.

Peanuts: totally wrong choice!

Contrary to the cliché, peanuts are not nuts! Like potatoes, they grow attached to the root of a plant under the ground. They are therefore a tuber vegetable and from a biological point of view, they belong to the same family as beans and chickpeas!
They are especially rich in Omega 6, which is already in excess in a typical Western diet. Omega 6 promotes inflammation while Omega 3 is anti-inflammatory.
They are almost always consumed roasted, salted, or sugar-coated! Not good for the figure of from a nutritional standpoint The only advantage is that peanuts are cheap.

So how should we eat nuts?

. As a general rule I always suggest to prepare a mix of all the above nuts and consume 20-25g (one handful) at 10 am and 4 pm to help beat the mid morning or mid afternoon slump.

Here is some bonus advice for each of the nuts throughout the day:

In the morning, fill up with energy, without getting fat:

walnuts or pecan nuts

At lunch, choose a light mix:

brazil nuts protect against bad cholesterol
Hazelnuts facilitate digestion

In the afternoon, prevent energy dips:

Almonds (rich in minerals) also good for concentration
Walnuts to counter fatigue

In the evening, end the day with lots of nutrients and few calories:

Walnuts are very nutritious and easy to digest
Hazelnuts rich in fibre – best friends for your bowel

Click here to discover the HealthyLux Nux box and taste some delicious nuts spreads!

Mauro Maza

Naturopathic Practitioner at Naturopathe.lu

Source: Naturopathe.lu

Healthy Recipes – What should I cook today? – Buttermilk cereals (muesli) with fruits

I am totally out of ideas – I can’t stand cooking the same things again and again and again!

Who of us doesn’t know this type of thinking? In our daily schedule, cooking becomes a routine and, after some time, repetitive.

It is often not due to lack of time but due to a lack of inspiration that we don’t know what to cook for us or our family and friends.

We rarely take the time to sit down and research new recipes.

A good way of bringing variety into your cooking routine is to buy a new fruit/vegetable or any other type of food during your weekly shopping. You have never tried the strange looking pumpkin or you never dared to buy the sweet potatoes because you don’t know what to do with them – why not go ahead and try?

Once you are at home you will have no choice but to be creative or to research new recipes. You will be surprised how easy it is to add variety to your cuisine.

It doesn’t always have to be a main meal. It may be better to start with small things – even if it is only a snack you adapt, or maybe try a new breakfast on Sunday morning? It is easier to be creative and to enjoy preparing new things when you have time and don’t have to rush to work or anywhere else.

For example, here is an idea for some quick and very tasty foods.

Enjoy!

Buttermilk cereals (muesli) with fruits

Serves 4 people

Ingredients:

300g mixed fruits or berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries…)

100g oatmeal

1 spoon sunflower seeds

3 spoons flaxseeds

600ml buttermilk

4 spoons honey

Preparation:

Wash, dry and clean the fruits and cut into bite – sized bits. Roast the oatmeal together with the sunflower seeds in a pan, with, as an option,

coconut oil to add some extra nutrients. Add the flaxseeds, leave for a little bit and turn off the cooker. Mix the buttermilk with the honey and add the fruits.

Put the oatmeal mix into a bowl and top with the fruit mixture and enjoy!

Sharing is caring, so if you like cooking or if you have discovered a healthy recipe that you love, get in touch so we can share it with the HealthyLux community and improve each other’s life!

Martina – Volunteering for HealthyLux

Veggy Proteins Wanted

More and more people want to decrease their daily intake of animal protein, some of them for ethical reasons, others in a bid to improve their health.

Decreasing the amount of meat, milk and eggs we eat, leads many of us to clash with oureducation in which we think that only animals can provide the protein necessary for the maintenance of health.

In this article we will try to address all the alternatives that nature has to offer.

What are proteins?

Proteins, along with carbohydrates and lipids (fats) are macronutrients. They are essential nutrients which provide energy and material for growth and regeneration in our body.

Specifically, proteins are molecules composed of amino acids, kind of like small “bricks” that are used for the construction of the larger molecule, the protein. There are around 20 different amino acids, 8 of which are deemed “essential” because the human body cannot create them.

These amino acids therefore have to be consumed through the diet. Food from animal origin has a better amino acid profile because they contain all the essential amino acids in good quantities; food from vegetable origin however is usually deficient in one or more essential amino acids. For this reason they are called “incomplete protein” sources.

Unlike animal protein however, plant proteins are devoid of fat and produce less waste products during their break down in the body. This causes less fatigue and overload in the kidneys.

What are good sources of vegetable proteins?

Listed below are the vegetables that contain the most proteins. As a comparison with an animal protein, parmesan cheese contains 33g of protein per 100.

LEGUMES: legumes are the richest plant source of proteins in nature. Just eat them in association with cereals to get all the amino acids missing in comparison to meat. Some examples per 100g include:

Chickpeas 19g
Beans 12g
Beans 20g
Soy 37g
Peas 22g
Lentils 23g

CEREALS: These include spelt, wheat (bread and pasta), and soy flour, which contain an average of 10 grams of protein for every 100g. By combining cereals with legumes, we get all the necessary amino acids for our body.

SEEDS: chia, hemp, pumpkin and sunflower seeds are rich in proteins.

ALGAE: An excellent source of protein with 6 grams of protein for every 100 grams of dried seaweed. Spirulina is a good example and can be found in most organic shops.

TOFU, TEMPEH AND SEITAN: Are products derived from soy beans, and wheat. They are rich in vegetable protein with 8 to 10g per 100g.

DRIED FRUIT: dried fruit is an incredibly rich source of plant proteins, especially pine nuts, here are the values per 100g of product:

Pine nuts 31g
Peanuts 29g
Almonds 22g
Pistachios 18g
Cashew nuts 15g
Hazelnuts 13g

QUINOA: quinoa is a food that looks like a grain but is derived from a plant of the spinach family which can be cooked like millet or couscous. It is very high in vegetable proteins, with 14g in every 100g.

VEGETABLES: Among the vegetables, the most protein-rich are broccoli, artichokes, cabbage, spinach, red peppers, asparagus, and potatoes.

VEGETABLE MILK AND YOGURT : dairy-free milk and yogurt can also provide proteins, the highest being soy milk and yogurt.

In order to avoid a protein deficiency when following a diet that is primarily plant-based, combining foods is essential. Choosing foods from the different groups mentioned above at each meal will help you to meet your protein requirements.

Mauro Maza

Naturopathic Practitioner at Naturopathe.lu

Calm

So, I started on what I call my ‘mindfulness journey’ some weeks ago now. The intention was to slow down, ‘smell the roses’ kind of thing and so the challenge began. I say ‘challenge’ because I am a girl of pace… always zooming to the next item on my agenda and not forcefully either. My energy supports it so I feel ‘why should I slow down’? The answer was not one that could be conjured up. I had to live it and experience it for myself. So, one day while out walking my dogs I decided to listen, breath, connect to the earth through my feet. It was amazing! Hearing the leaves rustling under my shoes, birds chirping in the trees, which in itself for December in Luxembourg was a rare treat. It was literally music to my ears! I smiled and meandered on.

Days passed and I continued on my journey, ensuring I made a conscious effort to slow down, breath & take in all the sights and sounds that nature has to offer.

I took it a step further and decided to make the most of my down time. Instead of aimlessly scrolling through Facebook and Pinterest; creating boards I’ll probably never really look at again, I decided to pick up a book. Yes, an actual book. Not my iPad or Kindle – an actual book.

Within days, my mood became lighter. I could actually feel the anxiousness leaving my body. I sleep more soundly. I’m journaling. Picking up old cookbooks and exploring new recipes. I’m connected to MYSELF and it ROCKS!

So in case you’re looking for something new to do, I encourage you to slow down. Breath. Be Present. Connect with your inner self and simply smile at the beauty that surrounds us. The miracle of life and the opportunity to be here today and enjoy it to it’s fullest.
Stop rushing. Where’s better than here – right now.

Sabrina – HealthyLux

Bach remedies – restore the balance between body and mind

A short interview to Lynsey Baxter for HealthyLux to get to know the Bach remedies and learn how to use them to restore the balance between body and mind.

HL: What are Bach remedies?

LB: Back in the 1920’s, Dr Bach discovered a way to take the healing vibrations or energy from flowers and plants and transfer them to water. This water was then used as a tool to help people by targeting specific feelings or personality types. Most people have heard of or used the Rescue Remedy, but there are actually many more. There are 38 remedies and each one has a property that is directed at a particular characteristic or emotional state.

HL: How do they work?

LB: They help to restore the balance between body and mind. Negative emotions are unsettling for the physical body just as much as they are for the soul. Bach remedies aid the release of these emotions in order to restore equilibrium and inner peace.

HL: Who can use them?

LB: The remedies are safe for the whole family and even pets have been shown to respond favourably to their use. It is worth noting that they are preserved in grape brandy so if you need to avoid alcohol for any reason then you should exercise caution. When used correctly, the amounts of alcohol ingested are minute, and if the drops are put in a hot drink, this will evaporate the alcohol or they can be applied to the pulse points externally. But it is important to use your own discretion in this.

HL: How do you find a remedy?

LB: I spend time speaking to my clients to gain a deep understanding of where they are emotionally. I then meditate over each flower until I narrow down the ones that I feel would be most useful for the client at this time in their life. Once you have an understanding of how to choose a remedy and prepare a dosage bottle, you can easily learn how to do this for yourself.

Lynsey Baxter for HealthyLux

Check the here next workshop about Bach remedies coming up !