February 07, 2017

How do you Choose a Rebounder?

February 07, 2017/ Allison Wojtowecz

Hey guys! So I posted a loooooong while ago now about Rebounding for Lymphatic Health, and I wanted to touch on the subject again because I've seen such a vast improvement in quality of life since taking action to treat my lymph system better. The thing is, it may be a bit harder to pick a trampoline than you may think. Each one is targeted at a unique population and you definitely don't want to invest in one that isn't right for you!

Ryan Smith over at Trampolinea sent me this awesome infographic the other day that I think would be a great resource for those unsure of where to start looking for a trampoline, or "rebounder." It asks a few basic questions to get you on the path to greater lymphatic health, stat!

Photo used with permission from Ryan Smith at trampolinea.com.

That wasn't so bad after all, was it? I hope this helps you on your health journey to better lymph flow!

Remember: recovery is just as, if not more important than your actual training session. Health has to come before fitness, y'all.

August 03, 2016

Beat Jet Lag BEFORE it Beats You!

August 03, 2016/ Allison Wojtowecz

In planning for my trip to Florence for the summer (the term "planning" being used very loosely here) I knew one thing for sure: I did NOT want to deal with jet lag. Even though my stay there was long enough for me to consider myself living there for a bit, I didn't want to miss even a few days of the excitement due to a whack sleep schedule. Yes, I just said "whack." It's hip. Whack.

Luckily for me, I happened to see one of Ben Greenfield's talks at Paleo f(x) 2016 a week before I was supposed to leave. If you aren't familiar with him, Greenfield is essentially the definition of a "biohacker". This basically means he likes to find ways to enhance his health and athletic performance using the things available in this era, without disregarding evolution. Self-proclaimed biohackers tend to have a few things in common, including: an interest in paleo or pseudo-paleo diets for optimal food intake, alternative workouts that promote fitness AND wellbeing, mental health practices like meditation, all-natural products for body care. But they still tend to include breaking-edge technology to track their health statistics to see which variations of all of the above are really helping improve their health.

I can dig it.

So when Greenfield gave us his top 10 latest methods he's been using to biohack his performance, my ears perked up. One of the items included on the list was hot-cold therapy. This can be done in cold chambers and saunas if you have access to them like he does, but it works just as well in a shower that can change temperatures quickly. Greenfield claimed this was the way he beats his jet lag every time he travels... which is a lot of the time.

That same weekend, I also finally got to meet Sarah and the other lovely people of Vital Proteins. While chatting it up with them, I asked if they thought any of their products would potentially help with jet lag. Sarah immediately handed me a bottle of their Beef Liver Capsules. I didn't know it at the time, but the B-vitamins in beef liver are actually great at easing digestive issues, like...

Travel constipation (1). I know, TMI, but I always have to deal with this. It's apparently not uncommon, either (2).

From personal experience, I know the way I feel is also hugely influenced by how well I treat my gut. If I'm not eating pre- and probiotics regularly, I feel it. And as it turns out, I'm not wrong in drawing the connection between that and feeling less-than-stellar while traveling. Sitting for long periods of time can apparently cause clogging in the large intestine, where most of your gut bacteria lives. A normal amount of daily activity moves you around enough to prevent it, but you can't exactly get in 10,000 steps on a 10-hour flight (3). So I decided to pack the Primal Probiotics that I won a while back from Primal Blueprint Publishing, since I wasn't sure what the situation with those would be like in Italy.

And lastly, my dad is a seasoned overseas traveler. Upon his advice, I was to try and sleep as much as possible on the way to Europe, and try to keep myself awake for the even-longer trek back to the states, when the time came. So with my knowledge from Greenfield, a bottle of beef liver, a container of Primal Probiotics, and Woj's best words, I set foot on my first 20-hour journey across the big pond.

Sleeping on the plane over was easy enough with the free wine offered on the ride. Sorry not sorry about that. It was still strange stepping off in Munich to see that it was somehow morning again, but I can get on board with a time warp here and there. Once I made it to Florence, I made sure that the first few things I unpacked were the beef liver capsules and probiotics. I took a serving of each and was #blessed to avoid the travel constipation that evening.

retrieved from delta monitor shower faucet (5)

I didn't shower until the next morning, because my luggage had been lost on the flight over so I didn't have a change of clothes. Luckily, my rockstar roommate (s/o to you, Hannah!) let me borrow the essentials to wash the world off my body. I tried the hot/cold therapy tips recommended by Greenfield: 30 seconds of cold water, 10 of hot. Switch back and forth like this for several minutes and your nervous system will be hopping so much, your body clock suddenly decides you're fully awake. And it worked just as promised! I faced a day full of the labyrinth that is Florence without much of an issue. That morning and the following few began this way, plus a serving of beef liver right after the shower. The probiotic capsules helped me out each night, as I took one right before bed until finding some yogurt I trusted enough to ease me off those capsules.

On my return trip, I knew things would be trickier. Staying awake for 24 hours is never a good idea when you're me. Mama needs her 8 hours. I'm basically the worst college student ever.

However, I took a dose each of the beef liver and probiotics again before bidding "ciao!" to my home for the summer, and managed to stay awake with lots of coffee help until I made it back to Austin. I passed out for the night, and made myself take another hot/cold shower the next morning. I was tired that next day from the travel, and I let myself be lazy but avoided napping. I managed to make it through a full day back on Texas time awake and my body clock was reset by the second day after I returned home!

So, the list of things to do (which is probably the only thing you came to this article to read anyway, yes?):

If you're traveling to a time zone later than yours (east on a map with the Atlantic ocean at the center), sleep on the way there and stay awake on the way home. If you're traveling to a time zone earlier than yours (west on a map with the Atlantic ocean at the center), do the opposite.
Utilize hot/cold shower therapy to wake yourself up when you want to be awake in the new time zone.
Supplement with Vital Proteins Beef Liver capsules & quality probiotics, like Primal Probiotics, to avoid travel constipation.

Oh, and remember to ENJOY your trip! :)

Sources

(1) Holland, K., Carter, A. (March 25, 2016). 5 vitamins that can relieve constipation. Healthline. Retrieved from http://www.healthline.com/health/digestive-health/vitamins-for-constipation#1

(2) Monastersky, Konstantin. (2016). What causes traveler's constipation?. Gut Sense. Retrieved from https://www.gutsense.org/constipation/travel.html

(3) Bloudoff-Indelicato, M. (December 28, 2015). The science behind vacation constipation. The Atlantic. Retrieved from http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/12/all-i-got-for-christmas-was-constipation/422046/

(4) St. Pierre, B. (n.d.) Eliminating jeg lag: strategies to reduce, even avoid, symptoms. Precision Nutrition. Retrieved from http://www.precisionnutrition.com/all-about-jet-lag

(5) n.a. (n.d.) Setting up your shower valve: a smart solution for your bathroom. Delta Monitor Shower Faucet. Retrieved from http://deltamonitorshowerfaucet.net/setting-up-your-shower-valve-a-smart-solution-for-your-bathroom

(6) Elizabeth, H. (June 15, 2016). #STOP. Facebook.

July 26, 2016

The Magic of Ginger Detox Baths: Look at the Benefits

July 26, 2016/ Allison Wojtowecz

by Leonard Parker

Retrieved from coolhealthyrecipes.com (9)

Taking a ginger detox bath seems “in” nowadays. According to those who have tried it, it’s therapeutic. With a plethora of positive health effects, why shouldn’t it be?

Picture this:

Due to the health benefits of ginger detox baths, some people are hesitant to use fancy and costly spa treatments.

For rejuvenation, they don’t plan trips to health centers. Instead, all they do is stay home and take a bath. They head to the kitchen to get ginger, grate it, and soak the pieces in lukewarm water (1).

Before taking advantage of the power of a ginger detox bath, however, you should learn what you are getting into. By doing so, you will know about the detox bath experience, the health benefits, and possible side effects.

In this article, I aim to help you learn all you need to know about ginger detox baths.

Let’s get started!

What’s a Ginger Bath?

To begin our description of ginger baths, let’s start with a real life anecdote about James:

James, a sales executive, suffered with chronic viral infections, flu symptoms, and crankiness. According to James, within just a few minutes of soaking into a bathtub filled with hot water and grated ginger, he felt the effects.

Particularly, he felt sweaty; in fact, he was concerned that he was sweating excessively, a condition medically referred to as hyperhidrosis.

That night, when he went to bed, James’ body did a complete 360. Upon waking up the next day, he felt wonderful. He felt cleansed and energetic, and it was because of the ginger bath!

For many centuries, people were aware of the amazing therapeutic effects of ginger (2); however, it wasn’t until the early 21st century that ginger detox baths became popular in mainstream media.

Here’s why:

The Good Side: Positive Benefits of Ginger Detox Baths

Since ginger is a vasodilator, a ginger bath produces a thermogenic effect (i.e. causes a slight increase in temperature) on your body. It eliminates toxins that may prevent any blood flow disruption.

Therefore, by bathing regularly in ginger, you can expect a significant improvement in blood circulation.

With a plethora of benefits, dipping in a bathtub with ginger is a great idea for improving your overall health. Its therapeutic effects are similar to those of sauna bathing.

Rather than spend money in spas, this natural solution is a great, economical alternative that you can do in the comfort of your home (3).

The benefits of ginger baths:

Aids with digestion
Facilitates weight loss
Alleviates menstrual cramps
Boosts energy
Helps you burn calories (4)
Benefits you with anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties
Lowers cholesterol
Improves your metabolism
Increases your alertness
Freshens your breath
Neutralizes acidity in your body (5)
Promotes the production of bile, which helps with your body’s absorption of fat-soluble substances such as vitamins A, D, E, and K
Facilitates your body’s production of gastric fluids
Relieves headaches
Alleviates pain due to rheumatoid arthritis
Stabilizes blood pressure
Treats diarrhea
Relieves anxiety, exhaustion, and nervousness
Improves flu and cold symptoms
Helps with respiratory complications
Alleviates sea and motion sickness

Another huge advantage of the detox bath is its convenience. It takes little effort to prepare a bath of lukewarm water and grated ginger. Half an hour is usually more than enough to get the health benefits.

Furthermore, if you live a sedentary lifestyle or you’re a workaholic, a weekly ginger bath is a great option to detoxify your body.

Although ginger baths provide wide ranging health benefits, it would be quite irresponsible of me to not detail any of the side effects and concerns commonly reported with the baths.

All is not Golden: Side Effects of Ginger Baths that you Should be Aware of

As with any holistic treatment, there is no guarantee that two people will get the same result by taking ginger baths. While it comes with advantages, sweating excessively due to a ginger bath can have small, unintended side effects.

Common Side Effects of Ginger Baths

Dizziness
Insomnia
Muscle soreness
Restlessness
Skin irritation

Start Slow with Ginger Baths, and Use Moderation

To reduce the risk of the side effects above, observe moderation when bathing with ginger. Bathing should be done at most once, or if your body is not as sensitive to ginger, twice, weekly (6).

You should also avoid staying in the bathtub for more than 30 minutes. Remember, the goal is simply to detoxify. Your goal is to rid your body of toxins and other harmful, unnecessary substances.

The Extreme Case: Ginger Baths are not a Good Solution for Everyone

If your body or skin doesn’t react well to ginger, a ginger bath should be skipped. This is just like any other food sensitivity that you may have: don't ingest or soak it in if you know it's got ill effects on you. Though the likelihood of adverse effects is small, they’re possible.

Key Takeway: Enjoy ginger detox baths, but keep the side effects in mind.

Now, that you know more about ginger baths, I’m not going to leave you hanging. Check out this great ginger bath recipe:

The Ultimate Ginger Bath Recipe

A popular ginger bath recipe is the ginger baking soda detox bath. Simply prepare (7):

8 gallons of lukewarm water
A cup of baking soda
½ cup of grated ginger – ginger powder is okay, too.

Next, follow these easy steps:

Add the baking soda and grated ginger to the lukewarm water.
Stir slowly. Wait for about 10 minutes to maximize the effects of the mixture.
Soak in the bath for up to 30 minutes.

Are you an overachiever? Check out this extra tip to take your ginger bath to the next level:

For a more beneficial ginger baking soda detox bath, you can also add another natural ingredient: hydrated magnesium sulfate, or better known as Epsom salt (8). According to studies, the detox bath becomes more powerful with Epsom salt.

Apart from the amazing benefits of ginger, Epsom salt promotes brain tissue formation and stimulates the pancreas.

So, Should You Take a Dip in a Ginger Bath?

Given all of its positive aspects, a ginger detox bath is worth taking. Accumulating toxins due to everyday conditions is inevitable. Though you can’t prevent the entry of harmful substances into your body, you can always detoxify.

The final verdict: Take ginger baths and watch your body transform into the health machine it should be!

About the author

Leonard Parker is a health blogger and owner of the eCommerce store, Rebounder Zone. Through Rebounder Zone, Leonard’s team specializes in rebounder trampolines, health equipment, and useful health information for mature adults.

Leonard is a graduate of Stanford University and has worked in various roles as a digital marketing specialist and technology consultant. Rebounder Zone was started because Leonard saw first hand how health living with regular exercise can change lives, and he wants to help others experience this incredible feeling, too. For any questions about rebounding or information mentioned in this article, please contact Leonard at leonard@rebounderzone.com.

Sources

(1) Venkateshwaran, R. (2015, Mar 11). "Top 3 Benefits of Ginger Detox Bath + Recipe". Wild Turmeric. Retrieved from http://www.wildturmeric.net/2015/03/top-3-benefits-of-ginger-detox-bath-recipe.html

(2) Khalil, R., Baker, L. (n.d.). "Ginger Bath: Sweat Those Toxins out". Pure Inside Out. Retrieved from http://www.pureinsideout.com/ginger-bath.html

(3) Hausner, T. (n.d.). "5 Easy DIY Detox Bath Recipes". Blender Babes. Retrieved from http://www..com/articles/beauty/5-easy-diy-homemade-detox-bath-recipes-for-arthritis-depression-fatigue-headaches-and-more

(4) n.a. (n.d.). "10 Detox Bath Recipes". Bembu. Retrieved from http://bembu.com/detox-bath-recipes

(5) n.a. (2013). "Release Body Toxins with this [AWESOME] DIY Detox Bath". Alliele Fever. Retrieved from http://allielefevere.com/release-body-toxins-with-an-at-home-detox-bath/

(6) Romero, V. (2012, Jan. 18). "Detox Bath Why and How". Healthy Living How To. Retrieved from http://healthylivinghowto.com/1/post/2012/01/detoxification-part-i-healing-waters.html

(7) Gerber, S. (2015, Oct. 8). "5 Healing Detox Bath Recipes". HellowGlow. Retrieved from http://helloglow.co/5-ways-to-take-a-detox-bath

(8) Breyer, M. (n.d.). "Health Benefits of Epsom Salt Baths". Care 2. Retrieved from http://www.care2.com/greenliving/health-benefits-of-epsom-salt-baths.html

(9) Natalie, H. (March 21, 2014). "3 detox baths that came from your kitchen". Cool Healthy Recipes. Retrieved from http://www.coolhealthyrecipes.com/3-detox-baths-that-came-from-your-kitchen/

(10) Emorie. (2014), "Lemon ginger fancy bath". Oh Whimsical Me. Retrieved from http://ohwhimsicalme.blogspot.it/2014/03/lemon-ginger-fancy-bath.html

(11) n.a. n.d. "Ginger essential oil". AromaHQ. Retrieved from http://www.aromahq.com/ginger-oil/

(12) n.a. (July 26, 2016). "Low red blood cell count". New Health Advisor. Retrieved from http://www.newhealthadvisor.com/Low-Red-Blood-Cell-Count.html

(13) Ayushaktiyurveda. (Februrary 12, 2016). "Detoxification: the authentic ancient ayurveda treatment program to boost our metabolism and digestion." Ayushakti. Retrieved from http://www.ayushakti.com/blog/author/ayushaktiayurveda/

(14) n.a. (n.d.). "Itching." Singh Vaid. Retrieved from http://www.singhvaid.com/tag/itching/

(15) Rizk, J. (December 5, 2014). "Say bye bye to alligator legs with a DIY lemon ginger scrub". Detox Diva. Retrieved from https://www.thedetoxdiva.com/say-bye-bye-to-alligator-legs-with-a-diy-lemon-ginger-scrub/

(16) Rama. (n.d.). "DIY lavender bath & foot soak". Freshly Grown. Retreived from http://freshly-grown.com/diy-lavender-bath-foot-soak/

(17) Serena. (n.d.). "Ginger detox bath". Just Simply Health. Retrieved from http://www.justsimplyhealth.com/ginger-detox-bath/

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