digestion

Imagine: sitting in class, about to take a final that will determine your grade for the overall class. You’ve been up all night studying and are now only fueled by four cups of coffee and the anxiety that is keeping you focused. The professor hands you your test packet and tells you to begin when you realize nothing you have studied is on the test. Your stomach begins to churn and before you can finish writing your name on the corner of your paper you bolt out of class to the nearest bathroom.

Back when I lived in Minnesota, I used to participate in a seasonal detox program at my local yoga studio. The program included early morning yoga classes, acupuncture, and a detoxifying diet filled with nutritious, whole foods, and plenty of time to meditate and reflect. I found this short 1-week detox to be nourishing not just for my body, but also for my soul.

If you are plagued with chronic indigestion, yoga could become your gut’s BFF…

Going to the dentist can be a real drag, and is generally not something that we look forward to. However, it’s important to remember that our oral health sets the foundation for the rest of our body, so it’s imperative that we do everything possible to keep our gums, teeth, and mouth healthy.

A native of India, organic sesame seed is rich in vitamins and minerals and has been used as a healing herb for millennia. The plant is a tall annual of the Pedaliaceae family growing up to five feet and bearing pink-white foxglove-like flowers. The pods contain white, brown or black seeds arranged in vertical rows. The plant flourishes in well-drained sandy soil in a tropical climate and can be found throughout Asia and Africa. Though not used as extensively in Europe, the plant found its way to America with the slave traders and has been cultivated in the Carolinas.

We all know we need to drink water to be healthy. In trying to reach the 8 glasses a day goal, you will often see people downing tall glasses of ice cold water. Now this might sound refreshing, especially in the summer. But, to truly hydrate your body, sipping warm water all throughout the day is the most effective way to hydrate yourself. This is well known in Ayurveda, which is an ancient healing system that translates to the science of life.