I'm halfway through, and I keep on with my water-drinking challenge. But like a diet without spice, this drinking challenge without teas or infusions is painfully boring. Remember, I'm dating an Englishman - I know what spiceless food is like (oh, jab!).
Anyhoo, I vowed that my challenge includes no caffeine and no sweet drinks, so in my need to find some tantalizing flavours to keep me motivated, I found some delicious water-alternatives...
Balancing Chlorophyll: If for no other reason, drinking chlorophyll water is a conversation starter -especially in my futurismo Voss container. Add a bit of this green matter found in plants to your water, and its like getting your veggies in a bottle. I personally opt for chlorophyll in liquid form rather than powder (more easily absorbable - and less Vata) which also has mint essential oil added to it for a (bit of extra zing). Drinking this all day makes keeps you refreshed and it alkalizes your body.
Semi-sweet Rooibos: This African red bush makes a lovely tea with a slight sweetness to it. Not POM juice sweet (love those reusable bottle/cups), but I'll take what I can get. Rooibos is a great anti-inflammatory for your digestive system and its reduction of heat seems and soothe your entire body. Pure + Simple makes a Rooibos blend with dried berries, lavender and chamomile petals - which clients also have told me is excellent for calming the skin topically (using compresses). I also am a fan of Rooibos in Chai instead of the traditional black tea base - you can get this from the Yogi Tea brand. This is great for those of you, who like me, who are sensitive to caffeine. "Sensitive" is actually an understatement, "makes me coo coo bananas" is probably more fitting.
Cool as a Cucumber-Lemon infusion: If you aren't in the mood for tea - another option is to throw some fruit or vegetables into your water. Slice some oranges, limes, apples, or chop up some cilantro and simply add it to your water. The water becomes laced with the lovely light favour of whatever you put into it which isn't overpowering and really wholesome tasting. A spa staple: water with lemon and cucumber slices. This not only looks really pretty, but reminds me of fluffy white robes and cozy slippers. Lemon and cucumber provide the perfect combination as lemon is also a liver detoxifier and cucumber is pitta pacifying.
Powerful Peppermint tea: I heart peppermint tea. On the go, when you really crave that sweet in the mid-afternoon, peppermint tea is the only tea which has potent enough flavour to appease this. But a word of warning to those of you drinking hot fluids while running around- last week I went to the Starbucks for a "Refresh tea" (Peppermint tea) and ended up with a nasty burn. Now, I'm very cautious about my tea drinking and order a Venti with half cold water, half hot. Well, they didn't have their A-team on that day because they didn't make the modification and I realized this as I poured it down my entire front side. Of course, as usual, you're always a klutz in the most awkward places, and I was on the Dundas streetcar sopping wet. To the surprise of my fellow streetcar riders, I began squealing like a pig and stripping off my scalding hot clothes - down to my undershirt.... I was really upset with both the Starbucks staff and myself, freezing cold from my wet clothes, and had to cab it chez moi to change making me really late for the HIV Legal Network fundraiser that evening. And still, with a bit of a sniffle and full of self-pity for my sore skin, in the taxi home I made a point of drinking what remained of crumpled cardboard cup for fear of not making my daily quota. If that isn't a show of devotion to this challenge, I don't know what is.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Drinking more water: its all in the packaging
So, its been a week since the initiation of this challenge, and let me tell you -- it ain't easy. Its been done, but man has it been a chore.
But I must say, the magic is in your water bottle. It really is a pesky little task to keep track of how much you drink throughout the day, so with the help of a good bottle you can avoid those days where you end up getting wrapped up in work and forgetting about hydrating yourself. A good bottle forces you to monitor your intake as the remaining water quote stares you right in the face. Its also much more simple, and armed with a 1.2 litre water container, I know I simply need to drink two bottlefuls to know I have reached my daily target.
Personally, I opted for a Klean Kanteen myself, as it is stainless steel, and unlike the popular Siggoi bottle, it does not have a patented lining on an aluminum body. The Siggoi manufacturer keeps this patented lining's content top-secret and there has been talk that it is made up of plastic containing bisphenol-a. And while these trendy designer bottles come in many groovy patterns, I opt away from being exposed to endocrine distrupters.
I heart my Klean Kanteen mostly because it is so light in weight. As I drink up, it only gets lighter, and I no longer feel like I am carrying around a 5 pound weight (another incentive to drink that H2O). Mine was $25.95 CAN, and I ended up purchasing two allowing me to alternate them so I can ensure I always have a sterilized bottle. (I'm a bit of a germaphobe and clean anything which holds aqueous solutions for long periods of time with a swish of water and iodine or run it through the dishwasher's heat. This is what happens when you work with natural skincare for years and see how easily plant waters mold.)
But for those of you who don't want to spend more than fifty bucks on water containers, you can simply buy a bottle of Voss water. This Norwegan water company puts their water in a a glass bottle which is super space-efficent, as it slips perfectly in any bag due to its perfectly cylindrical shape. Its only $5.95 (I read online that you can find it even cheaper) and holds up to 800 ml - but is much heavier than the Klean Kanteen because of its glass make up. But the sleek design may be worth it, move over Evian and Perrier, the bottles from the future are here. I feel like I should be putting a scroll in them and sending them down a pipe.
But when the weather is cold (like it was this week in Toronto) some of us prefer to consume warm liquids. I myself am a big wimp when it comes to the cold; and drinking cool water in this weather repels me from drinking water even more.
According to Ayurveda we really should never be drinking cold water as it is bad for our digestion (agni). Room temperature is as cold as our drinks should get, and hot water is best as it is anti-kapha and melts internal toxins. But I cannot find a good litre large thermos. The Eco Flask is too small, and the best I could find was a Starbucks refillable which was just under 500ml.
Ah well, because I work in many different locations and always on-the-go, I don't have the luxury of an office kitchen, so it works out that I get something that Starbucks will service me through. I tried filling my Klean Kanteen with warm water at the beginning of the day, and the heat with the steel almost burned my hands. Duh. While I may be more hydrated, I will say that it has not made me any more alert.
But I must say, the magic is in your water bottle. It really is a pesky little task to keep track of how much you drink throughout the day, so with the help of a good bottle you can avoid those days where you end up getting wrapped up in work and forgetting about hydrating yourself. A good bottle forces you to monitor your intake as the remaining water quote stares you right in the face. Its also much more simple, and armed with a 1.2 litre water container, I know I simply need to drink two bottlefuls to know I have reached my daily target.
Personally, I opted for a Klean Kanteen myself, as it is stainless steel, and unlike the popular Siggoi bottle, it does not have a patented lining on an aluminum body. The Siggoi manufacturer keeps this patented lining's content top-secret and there has been talk that it is made up of plastic containing bisphenol-a. And while these trendy designer bottles come in many groovy patterns, I opt away from being exposed to endocrine distrupters.
I heart my Klean Kanteen mostly because it is so light in weight. As I drink up, it only gets lighter, and I no longer feel like I am carrying around a 5 pound weight (another incentive to drink that H2O). Mine was $25.95 CAN, and I ended up purchasing two allowing me to alternate them so I can ensure I always have a sterilized bottle. (I'm a bit of a germaphobe and clean anything which holds aqueous solutions for long periods of time with a swish of water and iodine or run it through the dishwasher's heat. This is what happens when you work with natural skincare for years and see how easily plant waters mold.)
But for those of you who don't want to spend more than fifty bucks on water containers, you can simply buy a bottle of Voss water. This Norwegan water company puts their water in a a glass bottle which is super space-efficent, as it slips perfectly in any bag due to its perfectly cylindrical shape. Its only $5.95 (I read online that you can find it even cheaper) and holds up to 800 ml - but is much heavier than the Klean Kanteen because of its glass make up. But the sleek design may be worth it, move over Evian and Perrier, the bottles from the future are here. I feel like I should be putting a scroll in them and sending them down a pipe.
But when the weather is cold (like it was this week in Toronto) some of us prefer to consume warm liquids. I myself am a big wimp when it comes to the cold; and drinking cool water in this weather repels me from drinking water even more.According to Ayurveda we really should never be drinking cold water as it is bad for our digestion (agni). Room temperature is as cold as our drinks should get, and hot water is best as it is anti-kapha and melts internal toxins. But I cannot find a good litre large thermos. The Eco Flask is too small, and the best I could find was a Starbucks refillable which was just under 500ml.
Ah well, because I work in many different locations and always on-the-go, I don't have the luxury of an office kitchen, so it works out that I get something that Starbucks will service me through. I tried filling my Klean Kanteen with warm water at the beginning of the day, and the heat with the steel almost burned my hands. Duh. While I may be more hydrated, I will say that it has not made me any more alert.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Drinking more water: A 30 day challenge (groan)
I hate drinking water. There. I said it.
But as someone who is both health-conscious and vain, I know that it is essential to my well-being. Water makes up 70% of our body's composition and this translates into the healthiness of our tissues.
From my experience as an esthetician, I know that dehydrated skin is the cause of almost all skin ailments. Without proper hydration, our skin weakens its barrier function and ability to repair, triggering eczema break outs, blemishes and wrinkles. Wrinkles are simply "skin wounds from being stretched and creased which have not had the ability to heal", according to former head chemist of Estee Lauder. And the inhibition of skin-regeneration due to dryness causes premature signs of aging. This also comes in the form of dreaded sun-damage as dried out skin is less resilient and cannot heal and fade pigmentation or scars as easily.
Glug-glug-glug should be our new beauty mantra - and, as I wrote in my beauty book "Beauty 2.0", soon to be re-launched from Mc Arthur and Company as "Beauty: Pure + Simple", we should be drinking between 1.5 and 3 litres per day. I will be the first to admit that often I am not following my own advice and have the forehead lines forming to show it. I have gotten lazy, and now that I have cleared up my terrible acne, I do not have such a visible monitor of when I am, and am not taking care of myself. This makes it so easy to slip into bad habits.
Well no more! I'm going to swallow my own words (pun totally intended) and make drinking 2 litres of water (or more) per day second nature. They say that if you repeat a behaviour 27 times it becomes custom. So I will do this for 30 days to ensure full efficacy. By the end of this, I should be a regularly guzzling down water with glee, full of hydration and donning more dewy, more glowing skin!
This little project will hopefully inspire others and offer helpful tips to making water both more palatable and convenient. I will not be including juice or sweet additives, but will be testing out tasty new teas, supplements full of vitality, and possibly a squeeze of lemon to take in more water.
On my mark...Get set...Sip!
But as someone who is both health-conscious and vain, I know that it is essential to my well-being. Water makes up 70% of our body's composition and this translates into the healthiness of our tissues.
From my experience as an esthetician, I know that dehydrated skin is the cause of almost all skin ailments. Without proper hydration, our skin weakens its barrier function and ability to repair, triggering eczema break outs, blemishes and wrinkles. Wrinkles are simply "skin wounds from being stretched and creased which have not had the ability to heal", according to former head chemist of Estee Lauder. And the inhibition of skin-regeneration due to dryness causes premature signs of aging. This also comes in the form of dreaded sun-damage as dried out skin is less resilient and cannot heal and fade pigmentation or scars as easily.
Glug-glug-glug should be our new beauty mantra - and, as I wrote in my beauty book "Beauty 2.0", soon to be re-launched from Mc Arthur and Company as "Beauty: Pure + Simple", we should be drinking between 1.5 and 3 litres per day. I will be the first to admit that often I am not following my own advice and have the forehead lines forming to show it. I have gotten lazy, and now that I have cleared up my terrible acne, I do not have such a visible monitor of when I am, and am not taking care of myself. This makes it so easy to slip into bad habits.
Well no more! I'm going to swallow my own words (pun totally intended) and make drinking 2 litres of water (or more) per day second nature. They say that if you repeat a behaviour 27 times it becomes custom. So I will do this for 30 days to ensure full efficacy. By the end of this, I should be a regularly guzzling down water with glee, full of hydration and donning more dewy, more glowing skin!
This little project will hopefully inspire others and offer helpful tips to making water both more palatable and convenient. I will not be including juice or sweet additives, but will be testing out tasty new teas, supplements full of vitality, and possibly a squeeze of lemon to take in more water.
On my mark...Get set...Sip!
Friday, November 6, 2009
How "Same old, same old" can save your skin
In the last week or so, I have decided that I need to muster up some discipline and establish a routine. As a single mother, my mom would constantly tell me about the importance of routine throughout my childhood to more efficiently get ready in the morning....I was a bit of a dawdler.
But, like the theme of our modern-day sentiments, my motto has always been: if the results are good, who cares about the method? If I'm at my commitments on time, get my work done and keep myself fed, what's the problem, right? Well, the problem is that our bodies need regularity.
Waking, eating and sleeping at consistent times helps us establish habits - and like little planners, our bodies can expect when to be stimulated, nourished and rested. This helps our digestion immensely, helping our skin and bodies immensely as well. Poor digestion has been tied to rosacea, eczema and cellulite. I, myself, have had my share of digestive issues and its no coincidence that I eat on the run wherever and whenever it has fit into my inconsistent schedule. This is why Vatas (those with an abundance of air in their constitution) tend to have poor digestion and bloating. Vata governs inconsistency - whether it is in the mind or body - and when this happens, our systems do not know when digestive fire should be enkindled, and this also creates erratic hunger patterns.
But routine does not only help with digestion, but also with our metabolism. If we do not eat regularly, our bodies do not know when they will be fed again, and often enter "starvation mode" in which they hang onto nutrients in fear of not receiving more. It is proven fact that those of us who eat consistently, avoiding swings of being too ravenous and overly stuffed, also regulate our blood sugar and metabolic function. Many clients who seem like they cannot lose weight despite reasonable portion sizes and reasonable food choices find that their lack of eating at the same times each day is a major factor. Excess Kapha (the earth element in our constitution) is related to this, and Kaphas who have a habit of over-indulging themselves also lack discipline and structure. Establishing a strict regimen of waking, eating and sleeping is one of the best ways to reduce excess Kapha.
And our waking/ sleeping patterns are of the utmost importance. Waking early each day clears out Kapha lethargy. According to Ayurveda, we should be using the sunrise to help wake and stimulate us - and we should not be eating after sun-down (as our bodies naturally slow down). I have blogged about circadian rhythm before, and this coincides with this concept.
Sleeping at the same time each day also helps us become better rested. Fluctuating sleep patterns confuse our bodies and often cause insomnia (another sign of excess Vata). And we all know that a good night's sleep not only prevents the feeling of fatigue, but also under eye circles, skin dehydration (lack of sleep taxes our kidneys which regulate water) and water-retention (due to dehydration).
So, while it isn't as glamorous as a luxurious skin renewing facial or provides the instant gratification of a nourishing body massage, establishing a strict lifestyle routine may provide the most powerful total health and beauty make-over.
But, like the theme of our modern-day sentiments, my motto has always been: if the results are good, who cares about the method? If I'm at my commitments on time, get my work done and keep myself fed, what's the problem, right? Well, the problem is that our bodies need regularity.
Waking, eating and sleeping at consistent times helps us establish habits - and like little planners, our bodies can expect when to be stimulated, nourished and rested. This helps our digestion immensely, helping our skin and bodies immensely as well. Poor digestion has been tied to rosacea, eczema and cellulite. I, myself, have had my share of digestive issues and its no coincidence that I eat on the run wherever and whenever it has fit into my inconsistent schedule. This is why Vatas (those with an abundance of air in their constitution) tend to have poor digestion and bloating. Vata governs inconsistency - whether it is in the mind or body - and when this happens, our systems do not know when digestive fire should be enkindled, and this also creates erratic hunger patterns.
But routine does not only help with digestion, but also with our metabolism. If we do not eat regularly, our bodies do not know when they will be fed again, and often enter "starvation mode" in which they hang onto nutrients in fear of not receiving more. It is proven fact that those of us who eat consistently, avoiding swings of being too ravenous and overly stuffed, also regulate our blood sugar and metabolic function. Many clients who seem like they cannot lose weight despite reasonable portion sizes and reasonable food choices find that their lack of eating at the same times each day is a major factor. Excess Kapha (the earth element in our constitution) is related to this, and Kaphas who have a habit of over-indulging themselves also lack discipline and structure. Establishing a strict regimen of waking, eating and sleeping is one of the best ways to reduce excess Kapha.
And our waking/ sleeping patterns are of the utmost importance. Waking early each day clears out Kapha lethargy. According to Ayurveda, we should be using the sunrise to help wake and stimulate us - and we should not be eating after sun-down (as our bodies naturally slow down). I have blogged about circadian rhythm before, and this coincides with this concept.
Sleeping at the same time each day also helps us become better rested. Fluctuating sleep patterns confuse our bodies and often cause insomnia (another sign of excess Vata). And we all know that a good night's sleep not only prevents the feeling of fatigue, but also under eye circles, skin dehydration (lack of sleep taxes our kidneys which regulate water) and water-retention (due to dehydration).
So, while it isn't as glamorous as a luxurious skin renewing facial or provides the instant gratification of a nourishing body massage, establishing a strict lifestyle routine may provide the most powerful total health and beauty make-over.
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