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.

Kidney-Care: An essential in Anti-aging

I am very protective of my kidneys.

Now, you may think its obvious that we should all be protective over every part of our precious bodies, but unfortunately, I often am not. In the past, I have washed my colon out with colon irrigation, wrung out my liver and gallbladder of stones with vile tasting detox programs, and I have pushed my poor little lungs so hard that I would cough up mucous. But when it comes to my kidneys, I have been wise enough to be gentle - because I know it is the organ which will cause me to show signs of aging if I do not. Yes, the kidneys regulate water metabolism in our bodies - and dysfunctional kidneys will disrupt the dispersion of water causing dehydrated skin, fine lines, under eye bags and circles as well as edema.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the kidneys are such important organs as they govern every essence and fluid in our bodies. This not only relates to the water-levels in our skin and other organs, but also influences our reproductive systems and its fluids. My TCM doctor has often commented on the increase of infertility and menstrual irregularities and how they are related to the stress we often put on our kidneys in the modern age.

But it is very difficult not to stress our kidneys out because the kidneys are taxed by stress itself. My mother calls our family "a family full of kidney people" because we over-think and make a hobby of being high-strung. Unfortunately this has also translated into bouts of nausea which follow the feeling of unquenchable dehydration. Our digestive systems also become very sensitive when our kidneys are especially depleted.

But it isn't just emotional stress which will deplete our kidney energy, but physical stress as well. The following are kidney-abusers:

Interrupted sleep
Excess protein consumption (especially animal protein)
Being an avid traveller (especially engaging in habitual dehydrating air travel)
Over-exercising (cardio: especially running)
Excess water-consumption
Deficient water-consumption
Inconsistent eating habits
Taking too many supplements in pill form
Low body temperature and exposure to cold
Excess sodium consumption


So what are we to do? While I feel like I am already so regimented with my habits, my eye bags beg a differ. Below are recommendations for kidney support:

Keep warm: Our kidneys need warmth. While I never thought I wore skimpy clothes, my grandfather doesn't understand how I protect my kidneys running around in yoga pants and a T shirt. To truly keep up our immunity and collect our energy, we are to bundle up and layer up- especially in the kidney area (which is on our backside right under our rib cage. Actually, Ayurvedic Doctors will often knock that area to see if there is pain to scout out a weak kidney.)... So burn all of your crop tops from 1993... Its probably a good idea to do for more reasons than for your kidneys.

Another way to keep warm is by oiling our bodies with sesame oil. Oil infused with warming herbs and spices are even better.

Maintain perfect hydration: We must try to not drink too much or too little. 10 glasses of water is said to be ideal, but of course this is dependant on your body's size. If you already eat a low-sodium diet, it can actually be beneficial to add a pinch of salt as it will help water stay and be retained in the body.

Limit supplements: I used to think that more was better. But while my days of taking supplements by the handful are over, I will still take some cherry-picked vitamins and minerals in liquid form. This is much easier for us to process and absorb.

Sleep deeply: Sleep quality is so important to nurture our kidneys. Interrupted sleep, or the inability to get REM sleep will not allow our organs to regenerate properly. This is one of the leading factors of kidney dysfunction.

Avoid animal protein: Too much dense protein will overwork our kidneys. A vegetarian diet is much more beneficial for those of us with kidney issues.

Eating ample kidney cleansing foods: Eating as many hydrating fruits and veggies will cleanse both the kidneys and the blood. But spinach, dandelion, ginger (warming - and also good for Vata pacifying), asparagus, blueberries, cranberries, string beans and parsley are especially good for detoxifying the kidneys. When I first discovered I was getting permanent bags under my eyes I began to juice raw parsley. While its sounds unappetizing, it was actually a refreshing addition to fresh squeeze apple or carrot juices.

Beauty Secret #9: Love

So, I am back from my Ayurvedic Seminar in New Mexico - but while the course was teaching my about marmani (the Ayurvedic version of acupressure), I learnt about something that is even more meaningful: love.

Love? Now I know what you are thinking: Put away the prayer beads and fisherman pants and start talking to me about real beauty tips, but what I realized is that being beautiful and open-hearted are one in the same... even in a very direct way.

Dr. Lad (the teacher of my course and renowned Ayurvedic doctor), sprinkled the week with side notes about the link between the way we think and our body's health. According to him, not only did negative thoughts or repressed emotions create toxins, but also displayed themselves in the physical form. This could express itself as wrinkles (Vata worry lines or liver related frown lines), blemishes (excess heat and Pitta emotions), pigmented spots (internal inflammation aggravated by inflammatory thoughts) and muscular pain (sometimes caused by unresolved grief). "Our issues are in our tissues" he would say.

Ayurveda even has emotions which are linked to specific organs and which were included in the seminar's hand-out package: the Kidneys relate to fear and anxiety (also enhanced by lack of sleep), the Stomach relates to nervousness, the Liver relates to anger and frustration, the Heart relates to Worry and the Sex organs relate to embarrassment - and the antithesis to these emotion-caused organ dysfunctions is love.

Dr. Lad went on to explain that true balance was attained through striving for enlightenment, and that this was only achieved through love - which meant we had to let go of ego and judgement. Now this for me is especially difficult as I have made a sport of self-judgement (I think I have spent half an hour trying to decide whether I am forming a double chin or not), but he said it was not only for ourselves but for the health of those around us, and as health practitioners, it was imperative that we treat and diagnose our patients/ clients from a place of compassion and love (starting with ourselves). And while this may sound to you like a lot of new age jargon, I believe him as I felt healthier than I have in years just being in such an environment of positivity.

The class itself was filled with Western Doctors, Massage Therapists, Yoga Teachers, Acupuncturists and other Ayurvedic Practitioners, and as the week wore on I noticed how nurturing this group was. And being from a large city in which we mostly keep to ourselves (and eye contact straight ahead, I was surprised by how much perfect strangers were smiling and waving at me. One classmate even stopped me as I passed her and said peacefully "I haven't had the pleasure of meeting you yet, I have just seen your beautiful face in class." I was completely taken aback (did I mention I wore no make-up and fisherman pants the whole week?). And she herself was also beautiful with kind eyes and a beaming complexion.

I reminded me of how beautifying our intentions can be - and while I knew this already, I needed to be reminded that while we can have things and attributes we want to change about ourselves, we cannot get so attached to them that they become more important than our sense of self-acceptance. Needless to say I am working on bringing these serene mountain-side thoughts into the busyness of life back in Toronto.

And I do believe in the power of mindset and karma - because when I landed at home, Ben was waiting for me at the airport in a full tuxedo and with a bouquet of flowers (these kind of grandiose gestures are totally out of character)...and I couldn't have felt prettier.