Ignite Weight Loss and Glowing Skin with a Sauna Detox!

Time to sweat! I have been using the sauna 3-5 times a week for the last 6 months and the health benefits are remarkable. My skin is radiant, my weight loss has accelerated, and my work out capacity has increased. Yes, it is possible to speed up weight loss by sweating and the sauna is the best place to do it. This is not about the water weight you lose during the session, it is about detoxing your body over time creating a great atmosphere to lose weight. During a sauna session one can lose up to 10 pounds of water weight but as soon as you drink water it comes right back - this is not about the water loss. The documentation on the health benefits of saunas is immense and goes far beyond weightloss. I encourage you to check out the links at the bottom of my post.

BLOOD PRESSURE
What happens in a good sweat out in the sauna is the awakening of all of your capillaries to dilation which actually lowers blood pressure - one might think it would raise blood pressure but that is not the case. Finnish people are known sauna users and they do not suffer from high blood pressure at the rate of westerners.

DETOXIFICATION
Our bodies have a few ways to dispel toxins but the biggest vessel is the skin. The skin is the largest organ of the human body and the sauna is the best way to make that organ work for you! A sauna session actually puts you in fever mode which forces the body to dispel toxins through your pores, similar to what happens when you are sick. Hippocrates, the founder of modern medicine wrote more than two thousand years ago "Give me the power to create a fever, and I shall cure any disease." During a fever the functioning of the immune system is stimulated, and the growth of bacteria and virus is forced to slow down. Fever is the body's defense against bacteria, microbes and consequent infection. It is believed that the sauna can also remove heavy metals from the body and this is more important than ever with all of the sources of mercury that surround us now (high fructose corn syrup). When you detoxify your body of all of the pollutants of everyday life you create a great environment for accelerated weight loss and good overall health.

CALORIE BURNING & CARDIO EFFECTS
A good 30 minute sauna session will burn between 300-500 calories similar to rowing for 30 minutes. Some may say "what about the cardio" - the sauna works your heart! Your heart rate increases in a 30 minute session similar to running or speed walking but without the stress on joints.

FAT DETOX
Some of us plateau with weight loss and will need the extra boost by detoxing those fat cells. Perhaps it is the build up of toxins in our fat that prevents further weight loss. Weight loss occurs because body fat becomes water-soluble at 43ºC and the body can sweat it out. Sweating removes fat stored (lipophilic) toxins. Often weight loss cannot be accomplished unless these toxins are first removed.

SKIN
The sauna stimulates a deep cleansing of the pores which results in clean, glowing, radiant skin. This keeps acne at bay as well as giving a more youthful appearance. Sweating is truely the best way to clean your pores. Cleansing does not come from the outside, it has to come from the inside pushing out!


HEALTH BENEFITS OF SAUNAS LINKS
In Depth article on the Health Benefits of Saunas
Sauna & Health: Sweat Bathing...
Sauna - Wikipedia (History and Tons of Info)

******Steam bathing in a hot tub or bathtub have similar health benefits because of the sweat level.
******Please check with your doctor before beginning a sauna program.
******If you don't have access to a sauna you can still get the benefits of sweating through a hot bath in your own bathroom. Grab a good book and sweat like crazy for 30 minutes.
******If you start feeling dizzy or light headed get out of the sauna.
******Start small with 10 minutes.
******Hydrate well before going in and upon coming out of the sauna.
******Do not drink alcohol before a sauna session.

Cantaloupe - Super Fruit packed with Health Benefits

I eat cantaloupe at least four times a week for vision health, lung health, and a super dose of vitamin A, C, and B6. The cantaloupe originates from the Italian village of Cantalup and was cultivated around 1700 A.D. This powerful fruit was put here on earth for the many natural healing properties it contains. I can only imagine the wonderful surprise when the human first cracked open a cantaloupe and saw the sweet bright orange flesh! I was not aware of all of the health benefits until I researched it. Cantaloupe is a great cancer fighter!
CANTALOUPE FACTS
1 Cup = 56 Calories
1 Cup = 112.5% daily value of vitamin C
1 Cup = 103.2% daily value of vitamin A
1 Cup = 15% daily value of vitamin B6

*Cantaloupe is a natural source of fiber, folic acide, niacin, and thiomine.
*Cardiovascular! -Cantaloupe contains adenosine, which is used in patients with heart disease as a blood-thinning agent, and also as a relief from angina.
*Cancer Fighter! - Cantaloupe contains SOD (Superoxide dismutase)and studies have shown that SOD promotes a healthy cellular environment by protecting against oxidative cell death (that is cancer!)
*Diabetes Fighter! - The Superoxide dismutase properties of cantaloupe help diabetes by reducing oxidative stress and kidney cell damage.
*SMOKERS NEED CANTALOUPE! - Because of the high amount of Vitamin A, smokers can benefit from eating cantaloupe. Many studies have been done on the relation of Vitamin A to lung health, smokers that had a rich diet of Vitamin A had a much lower incidence of emphysema. Cantaloupe everyday may save a smokers life. No hating on smokers here - we all have our vices, if not we are NOT human.
*Menstruation problems! For women, eat cantaloupe around the time of menstruation and it will help reduce heavy flow and clots. It has natural blood thinning properties.
*Cataracts! The Beta-Carotene in Cantaloupe provides natural Vitamin A which is vital to eye health and preventing Cataracts.

TIPS
1.Wash the outside of the cantaloupe well before cooking
2.Once you cut the cantaloupe you start losing nutrients - eat up!
3.Immediately store uneaten cantaloupe in the fridge to conserve nutrients.
4.Cantaloupes are in season June - August

Kombucha - Super Health Elixor

Two years ago I saw a new drink stocked at the Metropolitan Market in Seattle called Kombucha (pronounced kom-BOO-cha) and my curiosity was instantly in action. There were many flavors - grape, guava, green, plain, etc. My attention was grabbed by this statement on the bottle:

"G.T. Dave began bottling Kombucha in 1995 after his mother's success from drinking it during her battle with breast cancer....".

I took the green one home and began googling Kombucha and was amazed at what I was reading, the health benefits are immense. Kombucha is a handmade tea that is cultured for 30 days and during that process something magical happens. Kombucha is essentially sweetened tea or tisane that has been fermented using a macroscopic solid mass of microorganisms called a "kombucha colony". Kombucha is alive! Kombucha is a colony or culture of yeast and other microorganisms embedded in a pure cellulose "pancake." When the "pancake" is grown in a blend of tea and sugar, it transforms the liquid into a refreshingly lightly sparkling, sweet and sour drink with a fruity fragrance full of health giving acids and nutrients. The Kombucha culture feeds on the sugar and, in exchange, produces other valuable substances which change into the drink: glucuronic acid, glucon acid, lactic acid, vitamins, amino acids, and antibiotics. Kombucha is also great for vegans because it provides natural B12 which is lacking in the vegan diet. The bottle above contains 40% of the daily value of B12.

Reading straight from the bottle:
KOMBUCHA SUPPORTS:
Digestion
Metabolism
Immune System
Appetite Control
Weight Control
Liver Function
Body Alkalinity
Anti-Aging
Cell Integrity
Healthy Skin & Hair

There is more demand for Kombucha now more than ever so it is appearing in natural sections and natural stores everyday. Last week the grocery store near my house just added it, I was driving 1.5 miles to get it before. There are a few companies to choose from but I prefer G.T.'S. or High Country out of Colorado. The price varies from $2.75 - 4.20. Many people make it by hand but there are many precautions to take in that process. My goal is to make my own and I would love to hear from others that do :)
****Don't be afraid of the floaties, drink them up!
****The picture below is handmade kombucha with growing organisms it. I found this picture at google images here.\

Quinoa - Superfood packed with Health Benefits

         Quinoa (pronounced "keen wah") is truly one of the most spectacular grains on the planet. Most grains are good for you but Quinoa is a step above all and I am gradually turning to Qunioa as my main grain source. This grain was used by ancient Incas and was referred to as "the gold of the Incas". Quinoa has also been referred to as the "Grain of the Gods" and "Mother Grain".
         Quinoa is considered a complete protein which means that it includes all nine essential amino acids (including lysine, which is essential for tissue growth and repair). The World Health Organization has actually stated that the protein in Quinoa is as complete as the protein in milk! The protein content in Quinoa is 16% which is the highest of all grains - 2% more than wheat. In medical reports it has been found that women eating grains more than 6 times a week cut their heart problem and Quinoa is the best grain there is. Quinoa also packs in fiber, antioxidants, manganese, magnesium, iron, copper and phosphorus.
         At first I was shy with quinoa but once you start using it you reaize how easy it is to use. I cooks up a lot like rice and you can turn it into a hot or cold dish. I have been substituting it for couscous in my favorite salad to make Fresh Easy Cous Cous Salad. I am also trying to eat mostly alkaline foods and Quinoa is up there on the alkalinity chart. You can find Quinoa in your bulk aisle and you can also get it boxed at Natural Markets or online. Don't be shy - cook it, eat it, and enjoy the health benefits!