OVERINDULGENCE DETOX

Stuffed with stuffing, filled with turkey, crammed with cookies, and saturated with alcohol. Now what? Holidays call for celebration, and many of us know the consequences that come from overindulging in alcohol and food. Sometimes, despite out best intentions, we overdo it. This holiday season, detoxify and recover naturally with the tips that follow. 

If you live in Atlanta…..
Please stop by our favorite Natural Pharmacy in Buckhead for your Detox support. They will help you customize a program just for you! 

Willner Chemists
http://www.willner.com
2900 Peachtree Rd NW # 112
Atlanta, GA 30305-2173
(404) 266-9115

FOOD OVERLOAD
Chinese medicine views proper digestion as the most essential component in living a long and healthy life. Your digestive function is made up of numerous organs all working together to break down, absorb, and process all of the nutrients in the food you eat. Without healthy digestion, you can become malnourished and toxins will build up in your body, leading to degenerative diseases and rapid aging down the road.

Indigestion is caused and made worse by overeating–especially rich, fatty, spicy foods, alcohol, coffee, and acidic foods. These remedies will get your digestion on the right track.

ONE HOUR AFTERWARD:

Walk it off
After a large meal, take a 10- to 20-minute stroll. Aside from the proven benefits to your heart, walking is the perfect gentle exercise for promoting digestion and encouraging cleansing of the lymphatic system. Walking helps food move along the digestive tract, improving digestion and absorption. For added benefits, walk while massaging your abdomen with your palms, in a circle around your belly button.

Herbal tea brings relief
Relieve that feeling of fullness with herbal teas that target your digestion: Steep 1 teaspoon each of mint, rosemary, oregano, cilantro, sage, and basil and in a cup of hot water. Drink after each meal to soothe and prevent bloating. Peppermint, chamomile, and ginger tea are other good choices for settling the stomach. Also, look for Chinese herbal formulas like Indigestion for digestive support and cleansing.

THE MORNING AFTER:

Start with apple cider
Apple cider vinegar is traditionally used to remedy digestive distress, support liver detoxification, normalize digestive juices, and reduce intestinal bloating. Mix 1 tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar with 12 ounces of warm water, and drink in the morning on empty stomach. Feel free to add a little honey or maple syrup. Lemon water will also help.

Eat right to lighten up
These meals will help your body recover from overindulgence.

Breakfast: Eat oat bran cereal, brown rice, or any other whole grain cereal (as long as it is unbleached and does not contain any added sugar or chemicals.) Pair with unflavored soy milk.
Lunch/Dinner: Eat any combination of beans, brown rice, oat bran, vegetables, and organic chicken, turkey, or soy-products.
For a powerful Super Cleanse Broth, simmer any combination of the following ingredients for an hour: collards, Swiss chard, kale, mustard greens, cabbage, dandelion, Brussels sprouts, daikon radish, watercress, seaweed, shitake mushrooms, cilantro, garlic, leeks, fennel, anise, fresh ginger, and turmeric. Drink 8 ounces twice a day.
A popular herbal formula among my patients is Internal Cleanse, a special combination of natural herbs to detoxify, clear the mind, promote emotional balance, and ease digestion. For more information, click here.

Try a detoxifying exercise
This movement is from Liver Cleansing Qi Gong, a body-mind exercise that was designed by ancient Chinese physicians to help stimulate the liver and drain the excess toxins from the body:

Stand with feet shoulder-width apart in front of a tree. Inhale while raising your right leg and exhale while placing your right foot on the ground in front of you between your body and the tree. Inhale while raising both arms from the sides until they come together over your head. Exhale while lowering your hands in front of your face. Visualize green light running down your face as your hands move down to your chest. Inhale as you move your hands to the right rib cage over your liver. Exhale as you move your arms down your right abdomen and right leg, as if pushing down and out with your hands. Visualize the green light moving the toxins out of the liver, down the liver meridian on the inside right leg, and out the big toe.

ALCOHOL OVERINDULGENCE 
The liver is one of the hardest working organs in your body and performs a wide variety of functions. Its most important ones include the processing of nutrients, the production of bile to help in digestion of food and eliminating wastes, and cleansing the blood of toxins such as drugs, alcohol, and other dangerous substances.

The liver has the ability to regenerate itself, but the effects of alcohol eventually wear down the liver. I strongly suggest that you keep your drinking to a minimum for the longevity of your liver and your health, but on that rare occasion when you overindulge, consider these remedies.

ONE HOUR AFTERWARD: 

Ginger tea to the rescue
Ginger is an ancient Chinese remedy to minimize the symptoms of hangovers. Ginger has been found to soothe the digestive lining and balance gastric juices, making it a great remedy for overeating, too. This remedy is even more effective if you drink it in between alcoholic beverages.

Cut a 2-inch piece from fresh ginger root, and thinly slice. Bring three cups of water to boil in a pot. Add the sliced ginger and reduce heat to a simmer. Brew for about five minutes. Then strain out the ginger and sip the tea slowly. You may also add honey to taste.

Drink up!
Water, that is. Though this is hardly a secret remedy for combating a hangover, it bears repeating. Alcohol dehydrates your system, so drinking plenty of water will help combat some of your unpleasant hangover symptoms, rehydrate your body, and flush out toxins. Drink a few glasses of room temperature, filtered water after a night of holiday extravagance.

THE MORNING AFTER:

Start with lemon water
First thing in the morning, drink one lemon squeezed in 12 ounces of warm filtered water. Lemon activates your liver to release toxins and helps to cleanse and move the roughage that stays behind in your intestines. Throughout the day, drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water to flush your system.

Detoxify with herbal tea
Chinese traditional medicine uses natural substances to help support the healthy functions of your liver, lymphatic system, bowels, urinary tract, and skin. Try these herbs in teas to cleanse and prevent a buildup of toxins and wastes in your body:

Chrysanthemum flower is traditionally used to cleanse the liver and neutralize toxins.
Hawthorn berry is used to cleanse the blood of plaque and other toxins.

Turmeric supports the detoxification process in the whole body by increasing bile production and releasing and eliminating toxins. Simply put a tablespoon of the spice in a pot and stir over medium heat for five minutes.

Milk thistle protects and restores the liver, due to its content of silymarin.

Dandelion root has been found by studies to enhance the flow of bile, relieving liver congestion, which in turn aids the body in detoxifying.

Heal your aching head If you wake up with a “morning-after” headache, try this herbal tea to reduce head pressure: Boil 2 tbsp each of chrysanthemum flowers and mint leaves in 4 cups of water for 15 minutes. Drink throughout the day until your headache subsides.

I hope this article helps you recover from the effects of overindulgence! Please feel free to share your feedback and personal health and wellness stories with us!

May you live long, live strong, and live happy And Be Well!

Kimberly
BeWell Atlanta 

info@bewellatl.com
http://bewellatlanta.com

Help us raise hope for the Congo

This event is being hosted by my very dear friend and Be Well Ambassador, Stephanie Jolluck, owner of Coleccion Luna and Dialogue, Start One    http://dialoguestartone.com          Please try to join us~ And help us raise hope for the women of the Congo!  John Prendergast is Co-Chair of the Enough Project, an initiative to end genocide and      crimes against humanity. During the Clinton administration, John was involved in a number of peace processes in Africa while he was director of African Affairs at the National Security Council and special advisor at the Department of State. John has also worked for members of Congress, the United Nations, human rights organizations, and think tanks, as well as having been a youth counselor and basketball coach in the United States. He has authored eight books on Africa, including  Not on Our Watch, a New York Times bestseller and NAACP non-fiction book of the year that he co-authored with actor Don Cheadle. John has helped produce documentaries, consulted on movie scripts, and was part of a series of episodes of CBS’ “60 Minutes” which earned an Emmy Award for Best Continuing News Coverage. With NBA stars Tracy McGrady and Derek Fisher, he co-founded the Darfur Dream Team Sister Schools Program, which connects schools in the United States with schools in the Darfurian refugee camps Candice Knezevic is the Congo Campaign Manager for Enough. She most recently served as the assistant director of the Washington DC office of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS).  There, she managed the grassroots and congressional advocacy efforts in support of HIAS’s immigrant and refugee protection agenda, and in particular,  led the organization’s efforts to restore Supplemental Security Income eligibility for refugees, as well as to enhance the faith-based community’s role in the broader immigration debate.  She was previously the program associate for Human Rights First’s Washington DC Asylum Program.  In that position, she coordinated the Asylum Legal Representation Program, which places asylum-seekers with pro bono counsel, and assisted with the program’s congressional and administrative advocacy efforts.   www.raisehopeforcongo.org www.enoughproject.org

My Unforgettable Yoga experience at The Aquarium

I have been doing yoga at The Georgia Aquarium in The US…the classes are in front of the Beluga whales and it can best be described as a dream.
To flow into poses as the whales swim and float through the water is so beautiful…it is hard to find words. As I connect with their dance and vibration through my yoga practice I can dive into my inner spirit. It is a truly beautiful experience and has had a powerful impact on my dreams since I began
classes there a month ago. I am so grateful to Kimberly Hard and Be Well Atlanta for this powerful experience!
By Stephanie Jolluck

Be Well Atlanta Yoga under the Sea (You Tube)

Yoga under the Sea

Be Well Atlanta on CNN

It’s no surprise that the swirling, languid movements of the aquarium’s three belugas — Nico, Maris and Natasha — enhance the experience, said instructor Kimberly Hard, CEO/Founder of Be Well Atlanta .

Be Well Atlanta invites you to do Yoga Under The Sea

Be Well Atlanta invites you to join us Sunday Feb 8th for the launch of Yoga under the Sea. This is the first class of its kind in the world. You will find the experience truly unique and life changing for adults and children.

Here is what one student had to say……

There isn’t a proper word in the English language to describe the immediate and long-term effects of the Beluga yoga class at the Georgia Aquarium. The whales are such mesmerizing and hypnotic creatures that I found it difficult to close my eyes and focus on the postures instead of the playful whales. I kept sneaking a peek at them instead of focusing inward but eventually it was possible to tune in to my body and get into the yoga. Even with my eyes closed, I could feel the high vibrational energy from them. It was a bit intoxicating and powerful. Yoga has been an important part of my life for over 12 years now, but this class was oh, so different.

I walked away with an incredible sense of inner peace, serenity, and joy. What a shift from “I really didn’t have the time to take the class today, I have a million things to do” to “what a beautiful and necessary gift I just gave myself!”

Yoga means “union” and experiencing that union with the peaceful and gentle Beluga whales was transformational on many levels. It is an event you will definitely want to experience for yourself!
Jennifer H Atlanta, Ga

Details: Please join us…..
Adult + Children Classes ages 3-14 (Parents can get a break)
Georgia Aquarium (Main Gate)
225 Baker Street
Atlanta, GA 30313
404-581-4000

Yoga classes begin Sunday February 8th
9:30AM-11 (Worth waking up early)

Cost:
Adults $35 (non-aquarium members) you get a free pass to the aquarium good for 90 days
Members $20

Children $25non-aquarium members) you get a free pass to the aquarium good for 90 days
Members $20

Value program (This is amazing)
5 classes passes, Aquarium Annual membership, Be Well Atlanta lifestyle card $290 value Your cost $145
You can only receive this program through the call center
Visitor Services:
Call (404)581-4000

www.georgiaaquarium.org
(You will be able to sign up online next week)

you can send us a message on facebook if you have any question.

Look for Be Well Atlanta in this months Atlantan magazine, CNN,CNN Espanol and the AJC

Be Well Atlanta Partners with Georgia Aquarium

The peaceful energy of the Belugas, whale sharks, and the serene setting of the oversized viewing windows, offers Atlantans an opportunity of a lifetime.

Breathing Meditations By:Kimberly Hard

The first stage of meditation is to stop distractions and make our mind clearer and more lucid. This can be accomplished by practicing a simple breathing meditation. We choose a quiet place to meditate and sit in a comfortable position. 

We can sit in the traditional cross-legged posture or in any other position that is comfortable. If we wish, we can sit in a chair. The most important thing is to keep our back straight to prevent our mind from becoming sluggish or sleepy.

We sit with our eyes partially closed and turn our attention to our breath. Breathe naturally, preferably through the nostrils, without attempting to control our breath, and try to become aware of the sensation of the breath as it enters and leaves the nostrils. This sensation is our object of meditation. We should try to concentrate on it excluding everything else around you

If we discover that our mind has wandered and is following our thoughts, we should immediately return it to the breath. We should repeat this as many times as necessary until the mind settles on the breath.

Enjoy!

Medication Or Meditation

Millions of children and adults are being prescribed medications like Prozac and Ambien for issues.This has been a growing concern in our country for quite some time. Depression, anxiety, and sleep issues are commonly treated with such mood altering medications.

I have been teaching meditation for over ten years and have personally experienced its unlimited benefits.  Through the power of meditation you can expect to calm the nervous system, lower blood pressure, and ease depression, stress and add the ability to focus.  By training in meditation, we create an inner space and clarity that enables us to control our mind regardless of the external circumstances.

With the hectic pace and demands of modern life, many people feel stressed and over-worked. It often feels like there is just not enough time in the day to get everything done. For many, the use of prescription drugs assist in attaining proper sleep, aiding in ones sex life, and altering moods. 

Our stress and tiredness make us unhappy, impatient and frustrated. It often affects our health. The common thought is that there is no time to stop and meditate! But the practice of meditation actually gives you more time by making your mind calmer and more focused. 

A simple ten or fifteen minute breathing meditation as explained below can help you to overcome your stress and find some inner peace and balance.If we train in meditation, we will be able to attain a more peaceful and healthy state from many common problems such as depression, sleep issues, lack of focus, and low libido. We will also discover I amsure the need for less medication in our lives.

In this way, we will come to experience a permanent inner peace, known as “liberation” or “nirvana”. Then, day and night in life after life, we will experience only peace and happiness.

The Essential Truth About Water

 

 

 

Turn on your kitcthen tap for a glass of water and you get as much clean, fresh water as you want. But what if you just got a trickle, or worse yet, nothing at all?

It’s a problem for every one of the 6.6 billion people that live on this planet. Fresh water makes up just 3 percent of the world’s water supply. 

“There is a water crisis today. But the crisis is not about having too little water to satisfy our needs. It is a crisis of managing water so badly that billions of people – and the environment – suffer.

“Water is everybody’s business” was one the the key messages of the 2^nd World Water Forum.

Small changes that protect water supply and improve water quality

• Check all water-using appliances and equipment in your home for leaks. Running toilets, steady faucet drips, home water treatment units and outdoor sprinkler systems are common sources of leaks.
• Consider water-efficient landscaping in your  yard. 
• Replace old toilets. The major water use inside the home is toilet flushing. If your home was built in 1992 and you haven’t replaced your toilets since then, you probably could benefit from installing high-efficiency toilets that use 1.6 gallons or less per flush. A family of four can save between 14,000 and 25,000 gallons of water per year be making this change. 
• Don’t let the water run while shaving or brushing your teeth.
• Before pouring water down the drain, consider using it for other uses, such as watering plants. You can catch this water by placing a bucket in the shower or the sink.
• Operate the dishwasher only when completely full.
• Sweep driveways and sidewalks rather than hosing them off.
• When using a hose, control the flow with an automatic shutoff valve.
• Install low-flow shower head