Talking
about the worst days of our lives, last Saturday (Oct 13), could be comprised
as hell day. It started at 10pm, Friday night, when I felt unbearable stomach
pains, back shoulder pains, heavy perspiration, and laboured breathing, which
prompted me to vomit at 11pm. No doubt, my
stomach was bloated, and hardening: bending was next to impossible. A resolute
trip to the ER was inevitable, allowing me to stay there until 7 am of
Saturday, Shabat. The ER experience was extremely frustrating, but it’s another
story to be retold in my blog.
My diagnosis was colic pain, assumed but not confirmed, due to accumulation of gall bladder stones. An ultrasound was recommended to affirm findings and could be submitted to surgery if necessary. These findings could say many things but for me it’s illuminated WAKE UP call.
It’s not about losing weight anymore, just like my other health articles but now it is about taking care of our own bodies. All my sign and symptoms are indicators that I have been neglecting my body for a long time. My instincts say it’s not too late for a total body transformation, so I’m burning my butt to search ways on how to salvage my indisposed intrahepatic organs.
The most popular gall bladder and liver cleanses I found was the procedure of Andreas Moritz. This man was born in Germany (1954) and because he was inflicted with several severe illnesses from an early age, he was compelled to study diet, nutrition and various methods of natural healing while still a child. Since then, he dedicated his life’s work in understanding and treating the root causes of illnesses. One of the greatest contributions he did was writing the book, "The Amazing Liver and Gall Bladder Flush. "
The enormous amount of clientele and patrons attesting success of Mr. Moritz liver and gall bladder cleanse was amazing. This achievement couldn’t be disregarded, and yet I am here to appraise it’s effectuality by undergoing the cleanse itself (I need it, by the way, anyway).
Benefits of the Gall Bladder and Liver Cleanse
Benefits of the gallbladder and liver cleanse varies depending on how many times you do the flush. It's recommended by some to perform the flush 7-10 different times to get the full benefits listed below:
Detoxifies
your organs
Lowers your
chance to have a gallstone attack
No acid
reflex
Chronic acne
prevention
Hormonal
acne prevention
Improves
digestion/ indigestion
Release of
lower back pain
Helps some
with Psoriasis, Eczema/ Excema/ Contact Dermatitis, Bloating, Constipation, Fatigue,
Cholesterol
Reduces
strain on your organs
Reversal of
the aging process
Improves
overall health
Helps our
body run smoothly and efficiently
With all the
toxins that surround us every day with the processed foods, hormone enhanced
foods, fried foods, fatty foods, stress from work or life in general, it's
important to clean out your body so you can enjoy a healthy long life free of
sickness and any other conditions that may occur with a toxic body.
Cleansing
Procedure:
I am quoting the actual cleanse method from the book (The Amazing Liver and Gall Bladder Flush) of Mr. Moritz:
" The liver cleanse requires 6 days of preparation, followed by 16 to 20 hours of actual cleansing. To remove gallstones you need the following items:
six
1-liter (32 oz,) containers of apple juice
4
tablespoons of Epsom salts dissolved in three 8-oz. (230ml) glasses
of water
1/2 cup
(4 oz.) of cold-pressed, virgin olive oil
2/3 glass
of fresh grapefruit juice (pink is best), or fresh lemon and orange combined
2 pint jars,
one with a lid
Preparation
Drink 32
oz. of packaged apple juice per day for a period of six days: (You may drink
more than that if it feels comfortable to do so.) The malic acid in the apple
juice softens the gallstones and makes their passage through the bile ducts smooth
and easy. The apple juice has a strong cleansing effect.
Some
sensitive people may experience bloating and, occasionally, diarrhea during the
first few days. Much of the diarrhea is actually stagnant bile, released by the
liver and gallbladder (indicated by a brownish-yellow color). The fermenting
effect of the juice helps widen the bile ducts. If this becomes somewhat
uncomfortable, you can dilute the apple juice with any amount of water. Drink
the apple juice slowly throughout the day, between meals (avoid drinking the
juice during, just before, and in the first two hours after meals, and in the
evening). This is in addition to your normal water intake of six to eight
glasses.
Note: Preferably, use organic apple juice, although for the purpose of the cleanse, any good brand of commercial apple juice, apple concentrate, or apple cider works just as well. It may be useful to rinse your mouth out with baking soda and/or brush your teeth several times per day to prevent the acid from damaging your teeth.
Dietary
recommendations: During the entire week of preparation and cleansing, avoid foods or
beverages that are cold or chilled; they chill the liver and, thereby, reduce
the effectiveness of the cleanse. All foods or beverages should be warm or at
least room temperature.
To help the liver prepare for the main part of the cleanse, try to avoid foods from animal sources, dairy products, and fried food items. Otherwise, eat normal meals, but avoid overeating.
The best times for cleansing:
The main and final part of the liver cleanse is best done over a weekend, when you are not under any pressure and have enough time to rest. Although the liver cleanse is effective at any time of the month, it should preferably coincide with a day between full moon and new moon. Try to avoid doing the actual cleanse on full moon day (the body tends to hold more fluids in the brain and tissues on this day than on others). The day of new moon is the most conducive for cleansing and healing.'
If you take any medication:
While on the liver cleanse regimen, avoid taking any medication, vitamins, or supplements that are not absolutely necessary. It is important not to give the liver any extra work that could interfere with its cleansing efforts. Make sure that you cleanse your colon before and after you do a liver cleanse. Having regular bowel movements is not necessarily an indication that your bowel is unobstructed. Colon cleansing, done either a few days before or, ideally, on the sixth day of preparation, helps to avoid or minimize any discomfort or nausea that may arise during the actual liver cleanse. It prevents back-flushing of the oil mixture or waste products from the intestinal tract into the stomach. It also assists the body in swiftly eliminating the gallstones.
Colonic irrigation (colon hydrotherapy) is the fastest and easiest method to prepare the colon for the liver cleanse. Colema-board irrigation is the second most preferable method
What you need to do on the sixth day of drinking apple juice:
Drink all
the 32 ounces of apple juice in the morning. You may start drinking the juice
soon after awakening. If you feel hungry in the morning, eat a light breakfast,
such as a hot cereal; oatmeal would be an ideal choice. Avoid sugar or other
sweeteners, spices, milk, butter, oils, yogurt, cheese, ham, eggs, nuts,
pastries, cold cereals, and the like. Fruit or fruit juices are fine. For lunch
eat plain cooked or steamed vegetables with white rice (preferably basmati rice)
and flavor it with a little unrefined sea or rock salt. To repeat, do not eat any
protein foods, butter or you might feel ill during the actual cleanse. Do not
eat or drink anything (except water) after 1:30 p.m., otherwise you may have
difficulties passing stones! Follow the exact schedule
below.
The
Actual Cleanse
Evening
6:00
p.m.
Add 4
tablespoons of Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) to a total of 24 ounces (three
8-oz. glasses) of filtered water in ajar. This makes four 6-oz servings. Drink
your first portion glass) now. You may take a few sips of water afterward to
neutralize the bitter taste in your mouth, or may add a little lemon juice to
improve the taste.
Some people drink it with a large plastic straw to bypass the taste buds on the tongue. Closing the nostrils while drinking it works well for most people. It is also helpful to brush your teeth afterward or rinse out the mouth with baking soda. One of the main actions of Epsom salt is to dilate (widen) the bile ducts, making it easy for the stones to pass. Moreover, the salts clear out waste that may obstruct the release of the stones. (If you are allergic to Epsom salts or are just not able to get them down, you may instead use the second best choice, magnesium citrate the same dosage.) Set out the citrus fruit you will be using later, so that it can warm to room temperature.
8:00
p.m.
Drink
your second serving glass of Epsom salts.
9:30
p.m.
If you
have not had a bowel movement until now and have not done a colon cleanse
within the past 24 hours, take a water enema; this will trigger a series of
bowel movements.
9:45
p.m.
Thoroughly wash the grapefruits (or lemons and oranges). Squeeze them by hand
and remove the pulp. You will need glass of juice. Pour the juice and ½ glass
of olive oil into the pint jar. Close the jar tightly and shake hard, about 20
times or until the solution is watery. Ideally, you should drink this mixture
at 10:00 p.m., but if you feel you still need to visit the bathroom a few more
times, you may delay this step for up to 10 minutes.
10:00
p.m.
Stand
next to your bed (do not sit down) and drink the concoction, if possible,
without interruption. Some people prefer to drink it through a large plastic
straw. Drinking it while keeping the nostrils closed seems to work best. If
necessary, use a little honey between sips, which helps the mixture go down
more smoothly. Most people, though, have no problem drinking in one go. Do not
take more than 5 minutes for this (only elderly or weak people may take
longer).
PLFASE
LIE DOWN IMMEDIATELY!
This is
essential for helping to release the gallstones! Turn off the lights and lie
flat on your back with one or two pillows propping your head up. Your head
should be higher than your abdomen. If this is uncomfortable, lie on your right
side with your knees pulled toward your head. Lie perfectly still for at least
20 minutes, and try not to speak! Put your attention on your liver. Some people
find it beneficial to place a castor oil pack over the liver area.
You may
feel the stones traveling along the bile ducts like marbles. There won't be any
spasms or pain because the magnesium in the Epsom salts keeps the bile duct
valves wide open and relaxed, and the bile that is excreted along with the
stones keeps the bile ducts well lubricated. (This is very different than in
the case of a gallstone attack where magnesium and bile are not present.) Go to
sleep if you can.
If at any
time during the night you feel the urge to have a bowel movement, do so. Check
if there are already small gallstones (peagreen
or tan-colored ones) floating in the toilet. You may feel nauseated during the
night and/or in the early morning hours. This is mostly due to a strong, sudden
outpouring of gallstones and toxins from the liver and gallbladder, pushing the
oil mixture back into the stomach. The nausea will pass as the morning
progresses.
The
Following Morning
6:00-6:30
a.m.
Upon
awakening, but not before 6:00 a.m., drink your third 3/4 glass of Epsom salts
(if you feel very thirsty, drink a glass of warm water before taking the
salts). Rest, read, or meditate. If you are sleepy, you may go back to bed,
although it is best if the body stays in an upright position. Most people feel
fine and prefer to do some light exercises, such as yoga.
8:00
-8:30 a.m.
Drink your fourth and last 3/4 glass of Epsom salts.
10:00-10:30
a.m.
You may
drink freshly pressed fruit juice at this time. One half-hour later, you may
eat one or two pieces of fresh fruit. One hour later you may eat regular (but
light) food. By the evening or the next morning you should be back to normal
and feel the first signs of improvement. Continue to eat light meals during the
following 2-3 days.
Remember,
your liver and gallbladder have undergone major "surgery," albeit without the
harmful side effects or the expense.
Note: Drink water whenever you are
thirsty, except right after drinking the Epsom salts and for the first two
hours after drinking the oil mixture. "
What to
expect after the cleanse
The whole
day after the cleanse, expect a number of watery bowel movements. Gallstones
could come out mixed with food residue, or with just water. Most of them are peagreen
and float in the toilet because they contain bile compounds. They can come in
many sizes, colors, and shapes. The lightcolored stones are the newest. Don’t
get alarmed when dozens or even hundreds comes out all at the same time.
Also, watch
for tan-colored and white stones. Some of the larger tan or white stones may
sink to the bottom with the stool. These are calcified gallstones that have
been released from the gallbladder. They contain heavier toxic substances, with
only small amounts of cholesterol.
It may
require at least 8 to 12 cleanses to remove the stones from the gall bladder
and liver, for which can be performed at three-week or monthly intervals, (Do
not cleanse more frequently than that!) cleanses.
To be
continued
Diet shakes may
be useful for jump-starting weight loss. As a reminder, this may not be
regarded as your ultimate and sole diet program, but may only be considered as
meal supplements to control daily excessive caloric intake yet still meet the
basic mineral and nutritional needs of the body.
If you think
you could live on diet shakes for the rest of your life then you are living a
dangerous lifestyle. They may be helpful in certain ways:
· when you lack
the time or motivation to shop for and prepare balanced meals
· if you are
consistently missing a certain meal, such as breakfast
· if there is a
need for extra protein, mineral supplements in the body
· if your goal is
to build muscles (Shakes can give your body a good dose of protein but with a
much lower amount of calories.)
· if you need a liquid diet due to dental issues,
surgery
The ultimate
goal should still be to lose weight in a healthy manner. And the key is a
balance with food intake, habits and exercise.
Recommended
Diet Shakes You Could Easily Prepare at Home
(Reminder:
Delicious, potent shakes and very addictive)
Whey
Powder Shakes
Ingredients:
2 scoops Chocolate Whey Powder
10 ice cubes
12 oz. fat free milk
2 tbsp fat free vanilla yogurt
1 tbsp reduced fat peanut butter
2 tbsp hazelnut coffee
1/8 cup caramel ice cream topping
Banana
Protein Shake
Ingredients:
1 scoop Vanilla Whey Powder
1 medium to large banana
8 oz. light Soy Milk
1 tbsp Linseed, Soy and Almond Mixture
1 tsp Golden Syrup
few drops vanilla essence/extract
3-4 cubes ice
1 tbsp low fat natural yoghurt
Oatmeal
Meal Replacement Shake
Ingredients:
1 cup dry measure oatmeal, cooked in water and
cooled
3 dashes
cinnamon
1/8 c sugar free maple syrup or equivalent
amount brown sugar replacement
1 tbsp chopped almonds (or flaxseed oil or
natural peanut butter)
12 oz. water or low-fat milk
Pineapple
Power
Ingredients:
1 cup of pineapple juice
3 strawberries
1 banana
1 teaspoon of yogurt
1 scoop of your choice of protein
Mango
Madness
1/2 to 1 cup
mango pieces frozen or freshly sliced natural mango
1 cup Brown Cow Vanilla cream top yogurt
1 Tbsp Flax seed oil
6-8 oz water
Egg-cellent
Shake
Ingredients:
3 eggs
1/2 cup milk or 3-4 scoops vanilla ice cream
Add all ingredients in blender. Blend and
enjoy.
Snickers®
Protein Shake
3 Snickers® Bars
4 eggs
3 cups milk
2 tablespoons evaporated milk
Chop the candy into cubes. Add the milk, eggs,
then mix; add the evaporated
I could
sense that Israel is rejoicing, the mood of Succot of jubilant and rain had
finally scored (don’t forget, were counting!). Hallelujah!
If you
haven’t lived in Israel for a least a year, you have no idea how rain meant so
much to everyone here.
So let’s
make a rain check:
Umbrellas: yes, available
Rain shoes: yes
Raincoat: ???
It’s
raining, it’s time to get dry in style! When buying a raincoat, find out what is
it made of and whether it’s resistant. Recommended cloths are Gore-Tex, Ultrex,
Supplex, and WindStop Fleece. They should fit anywhere between two and six
inches above the knee. And it should feel snug, with slim, clean lines.
 |
Nau
Raincoats (The sleeves can be unzipped to transform the coverall into a vest,
while collar-cinching drawstrings provide adjustable shielding for your neck)
|
 |
Patagonia
Raincoat (This is made of polyester with a lined hood with a double-snap
closure, a two-way front zipper, a detachable storm flap, welted hand-warmer
pockets, and side-seam ties for wrapping around the front or back.)
|
 |
Marmor
Raincoat (It is made of 2-layer fabric, waterproof and breathable, with zip-off
hood, and organizational features which include 2 zip hand pockets, an interior
zipper pocket, an interior airline ticket pocket and an interior hood pocket.)
|
 |
Stutterheim
Unisex Raincoat (made from rubber fabric and could be your best defense against
a tough rain)
Helly Hansen
Raincoat (The ultimate raincoat for urban users, the Helly Hansen Women's Embla
Raincoat has 3 layer waterproof, breathable technical fabric, with superb
stretch and comfort as well as state-of-the-art protection from the elements.)
Jenny
Raincoat (A single breasted two tone faux silk raincoat with belt tie, zip
front bib, detachable hood and flannel twill lining for extra warmth)
Vila Ray
Raincoat
Anne Klein
Raincoat (long sleeve hooded empire waist)
|
Regular exercise is one of the major difficulties in losing weight. Not many of us have the opportunity to
exercise on a regular basis and yet we still carry so many excuses just not to engage in
any minor body workout. In this case, I
am reconditioning myself on terms that it will be a fun and exciting
activity. Let us try DANCING.
Yes, dancing is fun and by dancing the right way, one can lose weight and
maintain an attractive body shape. Now,
don’t give me an excuse like you don’t know how to dance. Well, everybody can
dance and sway to a tune. When you are dancing, you don’t get the pressure that
you have to lose weight because your goal is to have fun and enjoy.
I love dancing. I may not be a good dancer but I know
what dance music is and I can jump, sway my hips and wiggle my arms. Dancing is dynamic and you just have to move
and follow the rhythm of the music. There are no complicated requirements in dancing,
you just have to feel it. I guess, dancing is the reinvention of exercise.
Many people do better at the gym but others prefer
working out solitary. If you dislike training but had the desire to love it,
then regular dancing might be an option for restructured exercise on losing
weight. I am giving my best shot on it and I do encourage you to join me in
this journey. Let me remind you of my conviction to lose weight (15kgs)
permanently in 6 months, I am still on it and very much engaged.
Health Benefits
When you start dancing regularly, you will get health benefits like you get from normal exercise routines.
When you start dancing regularly, you will get health benefits like you get from normal exercise routines.
- One doesn't need to set up a studio or buy any equipment or special
clothes for dance routines. You can wear your normal shoes and comfortable
clothes and start grooving to the beats!
- As you start doing dancing regularly you will lose weight, and
dancing will also tone up your body, and give you an attractive shape.
- With regular dancing, your body will become strong and flexible.
- Dancing is for fun, so you don't have to be worried about perfect
movements, you can sing along with the song, jump, shout, wiggle, and have
fun!
- Dancing will give you physical health benefits which you get from
exercises like cardio and weight training. It is also good for your
emotional health as dance is the eternal stress reliever.
In a normal dance routine, one can burn 109
calories in 10 minutes. And, with high paced dancing you can burn even more
calories. So, start a dance routine at home, or in a class, and within a few
months, you will have lost weight and become more toned!
Two things
that go perfectly well together are sandals and summer. The flexibility of sandals is outlandish, it
just match any outfit you wear. It is
easy to wear and a real comfy when travelling.
Check out the latest styles of sandals we have for 2012.
Platform
Sandals
Platform
sandals are sandals with a thick, raised out sole where both the heel and the
toes are raised, thus providing height to the wearer.
Thong
Sandals
Simple,
cheap, rubber sandals held on the feet with a two-piece strap, which is
anchored to the top of the sole on the inside foot arch, between the big and
second toes and on the outside near the heel.
Huaraches
Huaraches,
traditional handmade Mexican sandals with woven leather tops, have been around
for hundreds of years and were popular among Mexican villagers and peasants.
T-Strap
Wedge
It runs the
length of the sandal, though it’s thicker at the heel of the foot and thinner
or flat near the toe.
Clogs
Platform
clogs or sandals are often raised as
high as 6 or even 8 inches right through between sole and insole.
Espadrilles
The soles of
espadrilles may be flat, platform or wedge shaped, and can be made of natural
fiber or synthetic fiber rope, or flexible synthetic materials cast to resemble
rope. Uppers may be made from nearly any substance, and may have open or closed
toes, open or closed backs, and can be slip-on or tied to the ankle with laces.
