Dr. Lorraine

Sip Warm Water When You Eat

May18

by doctorlorraine on 2013/05/18 at 12:02

Posted In: China, Longevity, Restaurants, Water

When you sit down in an Asian restaurant in Japan, Hong Kong, Macau, or Singapore, you’re likely to be greeted with a short cup of warm water. This typically comes as a surprise to Western tourists who expect cold water. It turns out these Asian longevity hot spots are hot in more ways than one.

When you’re seated at a Western restaurant, you’re typically served a (sometimes very tall) glass of ice water that cools your hands and insides. Drinking ice water causes the blood vessels near your stomach to constrict and solidifies the fats you’re eating, possibly making it more difficult for your body to disperse unwanted fats. Some believe that cold water interferes with the gastrointestinal tract’s ability to properly digest food and retrieve the vitamins and minerals your body needs, and may even cause indigestion.

Traditional Chinese doctors advise against gulping too much water with meals. It dilutes your digestive “fire.” They suggest sipping warm water which helps with digestion. Drinking warm water before breakfast is especially beneficial. Add a squeeze of fresh lemon for even more benefit. It helps to flush your kidneys and bowels. Dr. Robert with Acupuncture Associates drinks warm water and lemon with every meal. You use hot or warm water to wash your dishes. Doesn’t it make sense to cleanse and rinse your own body with warm water as well?

Another advantage of asking for hot water in restaurants is that it may be safer than cold water at the same establishment. Boiling kills bacterial organisms in the water, thereby reducing your chance of taking in any viruses or fungi that can infect your body. See this USA Today article for tips on purifying water. Ice machines and portable water dispensers, on the other hand, tend to accumulate bacteria and mold if they aren’t cleaned well on a regular basis. This City of Houston Health and Human Services article describes some of the risks of consuming mold that can grow in ice machines and on bar guns and soda nozzles.

If you like cold water, drink it between meals. It can help to cool you down on a hot day, or bring your body temperature back to normal after exercise. And if you’re trying to lose weight, you’ll be happy to know that cold water burns a few extra calories and may even temporarily raise your metabolism.

When you’re at home, you can prepare water any way you want. But even when you go to restaurants, you can be specific about the type of water you want. Ask them to hold the ice, or bring a cup of hot water, for example. It’s okay if it makes you sweat a little. That’s another important way your body eliminates toxins.

Regardless of the temperature, water is one of the most essential elements of sustaining life and maintaining good health. It’s necessary to purify your blood and eliminate toxins that build up in your body.

Test it out for yourself. Drink iced or cold water with all your meals for a week. And then sip warm or hot water with all your meals the following week. Find out what temperature feels best for you. Your body type, lifestyle, diet, local climate, and even your beliefs affect your results. Trust your own gut feeling.

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Boost Your Immune System

Apr11

by doctorlorraine on 2013/04/11 at 23:15

Posted In: Food, Health, Natural Remedies, Sleep

Your immune system is your body’s defense against illness and disease. It’s up to you to help keep it strong throughout your lifetime. People who live long lives have rugged immune systems.

A robust gastrointestinal tract (GI) is your biggest defense against illness. Live probiotic cultures that occur naturally in tempeh, miso soup, sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, yogurt, kombucha, buttermilk, and dark chocolate feed the friendly bacteria in your intestines that ward off invaders. Even if you eat some of these foods every day, consider taking a probiotic supplement, especially when you’re traveling. Good flora is vital to maintaining a healthy “gut feeling.” Avoid taking antibiotics if possible. Although doctors prescribe them to kill bad bacteria, antibiotics also kill good bacteria in your GI.

Feed your immune system plenty of fruits, vegetables, and legumes. Plant-based foods are rich in the antioxidants and nutrients your body needs for optimal immune system function. Add to your diet immune-enhancing ingredients such as cumin, curry, garlic, ginger, goji berries. onions, rosemary, thyme, turmeric, and shitake and wood ear mushrooms. Learn more about the many beneficial properties of fruits and vegetables in Foods That Heal by Bernard Jensen.

To guard against illness, drink immune-enhancing teas. Echinacea, goldenseal, green, kombucha, and pau d’arco are easy-to-make beverages that defend you. Buy organic teas whenever possible from sustainable and ethical companies such as Mountain Rose Herbs. Avoid alcohol. It suppresses your immune system.

Get moving. People who lead sedentary lives experience more illness than people who are active. Get some fresh air and a little sunshine. Walking, biking, hiking, or doing other forms of moderate exercise outdoors can boost your immune system and ward off depression. If you’re active in the daytime, you’ll sleep better at night. What good is it in living to an old age if you’re creaky and weak?

Get good sleep. Every night matters. When you don’t sleep well, you’re more fatigued the next day and more vulnerable to contagious illnesses. Most adults need about 7-8 hours every day. If you’re chronically sleep-deprived, you put yourself at greater risk for more serious diseases. Sleep builds your immune system and helps you recover from illness quicker. For suggestions on how to improve your sleep, read Natural Sleep Solutions for Insomnia by Casey Adams, Ph.D..

Get vaccinations as needed. Although you get most of your immunizations as a child, some can be beneficial to adults, such as a tetanus booster. Ask your doctor for advice on immunizations such as hepatitis, especially If you travel to foreign countries.

Reduce your stress. When you’re burdened with too much, it depresses your immune system. You know what causes the most tension in your life. A little stress can be a good motivator, but when it gets too high, it can be detrimental to your mental and physical health. Whether it’s your job, financial situation, or a difficult relationship, take steps to minimize your worries and negative emotions. Your happiness intoxicates your immune system.

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Drink Pure Water

Mar21

by doctorlorraine on 2013/03/21 at 16:49

Posted In: Uncategorized

Clean water is one of the most important factors to maintaining good health, second only to oxygen. We can live without oxygen for two to five minutes, and without water for two to five days. Our bodies are made up of more than 50% water. It carries oxygen and essential nutrients throughout our bodies. We need it daily to sustain life and flush away pesticides and other impurities.

Many centenarians are relatively poor, yet they’ve aged well, in part, because they’ve had access to naturally clean water sources for much of their lives. Some have lived in secluded rural areas so remote that roads are sometimes impassable. Many don’t have material things that others consider necessities. But just because they’re poor by worldly standards doesn’t mean they’re unhappy. On the contrary, they’re rich and satisfied in different ways, with things that are more essential to life, like water.

Do you assume that good water is any water that looks clear, tastes okay, and doesn’t make you sick immediately? Be careful. Don’t judge water by the way it looks. It may contain clear odorless poisons such as chlorine, fluoride, arsenic, and many others, that can eventually cause a slew of side effects, and lead to disease. Because these poisons accumulate over time, it’s difficult to pinpoint the cause.

Avoid drinking from plastic bottles unless they’re Bisphenol A (BPA) free. BPA mimics estrogen which can cause cancer or dozens of other negative health effects. Consumer attorneys Baum, Hedlund, Aristei & Goldman spell out some of the health problems associated with BPA. Don’t presume that bottled water is more or less safe than tap water. If you do buy bottled water, choose purified or distilled. It’s less likely to contain harmful additives.

Purchase a small water testing device so you can regularly test the quality of the water you use for drinking, cooking, and bathing. HM Digital makes an affordable handheld TDS meter , as shown above, for example. If necessary, install a water filter in your home, and have the quality checked by a professional at least twice a year.

If you spend a time outside your home each day, take one or more (glass or stainless steel) water bottles to go. Develop strategies to ensure that you consume safe water wherever you are.

Although many people who live in developed countries take water for granted, water quality is declining worldwide. Nearly one third of the world’s population, billions of people, don’t have access to adequate water sanitation. And it is a growing concern for every nation. If you haven’t already seen Blue Gold: World Water Wars or Flow, watch one or both of these documentaries soon.

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Drink Fresh Juice

Mar20

by doctorlorraine on 2013/03/20 at 15:58

Posted In: Centenarians, Food, Fruit

Fresh juice helps to detoxify the body and it contains essential vitamins, minerals, and enzymes which strengthen the body. Consuming fresh produce is indeed one of the secrets to longevity.

Each fruit has its own benefits. Citrus juices can help to reduce cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and prevent blood clots. Apples are high in fiber. They help to improve digestion, prevent constipation, and treat diabetes.

Each vegetable also has its own benefits. Celery, for example, can help to reduce high blood pressure, prevent kidney or gallstones, and ward off cancer. Carrots are good for your eyes, skin, and liver. Chard, kale, lettuce, spinach, and watercress also contain many beneficial nutrients.

Make juice in your blender. Depending on how powerful it is, you should be able to make fresh juices with soft fruits and vegetables such as bananas, blueberries, cucumber, kiwi, oranges, pineapple pieces, strawberries, and tomatoes. I love my Blendtec blender, which is powerful enough to turn most produce into juice!

Invest in a high quality juicer. If you’re short on countertop space, give away your microwave or toaster to make room for a juicer. Professional juicers can turn just about any fruit or vegetable into juice.

Many juice drinks begin with a main ingredient of orange, apple, or carrot. To any of these you can add one or more additional ingredients for an infinite combination of delightful drinks. Check out Juice Recipes for suggestions on how to customize juice mixes to your health needs.

Bottled juices don’t have the same benefits. Although the pasteurization process kills bad bacteria, it also kills good enzymes. Most bottled juices also contain sugars and not-so-healthful preservatives to extend their shelf-life. Some bottled juices are better than others. Naked Juice, for example, is committed to sustainability and good health.

Go to juice bars instead of cafes. When you feel tired, have a fresh juice drink instead of a coffee. It will give you an energy and health boost at the same time. Confirm that they’re using fresh fruits and vegetables, and not adding sugar or other flavor-enhancers.

Most centenarians have fueled their bodies for decades with an abundance of fruits and vegetables. In restaurants and cafes throughout Hong Kong and Okinawa, home to many centenarians, it’s quite common to find fresh juice on the menu. Fresh juice gives you one more way to consume produce and help ensure that you get an ample dose of living vitamins every day.

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Design a Peaceful Bedroom

Mar07

by doctorlorraine on 2013/03/07 at 20:01

Posted In: Health, Home, Sleep

Good sleep is one of the most important factors in maintaining good health. Make your bedroom a peaceful sanctuary. By applying a few Feng Shui principals, you can optimize your sleeping space. Use a mix of soft blue tones, for example, to promote tranquility. Avoid bright red, or other vivid colors or patterns that stimulate energy.

Keep TVs, computers, and other electronics out of your bedroom, or at least hide them away in closets or cabinets before sleeping. Keep your alarm clock on the far side of your nightstand and make sure it doesn’t emit too much light.

Keep mirrors out of your bedroom. They bounce light and images around the room, and therefore increase energy. If you have a mirror in your bedroom, cover it with thick fabric before getting in bed. Glass also reflects light. Glass-top nightstands, artwork framed in glass, and glass containers all reflect light and should, therefore be avoided.

Consider your partner. Objects and colors should appeal to both of you. If you share your bed, place a nightstand on each side to create balance. Choose art and objects carefully. If having a partner is important to you, avoid depictions with only one figure, which suggests solitude. And avoid things with three or more figures which can insinuate infidelity. Be especially attentive to what you can see from your bed. What you notice first thing in the morning can help to set the mood for your first and last thoughts of the day.

Ideally, everything about the area should be peaceful. Don’t store exercise equipment near your bed, for example, or allow clutter to accumulate. If you live in an open-style loft or you can’t move things, cover them, or hide them behind a screen before you go to sleep.

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