Losing Hair? Natural Solutions to Restoring Healthy Hair

Photo from med-health.com

I have to share a personal story with you as my own hair used to be brittle and fall out a lot. People have told me that while touching my hair exclaim, "you have thick hair!!!!!" Little did they know my hair was severely damaged and covered up with products that I thought helped my hair. I've used straighteners, curling irons, bleached, dyed on many occasions, and not to mention I used all kinds of over-the-counter products such as shampoos, conditioners, heating oils, sprays, hair spray, hair gel, etc. I have used it all! I spent thousands of dollars (this is no joke!) on useless products that really ended up destroying my scalp and my hair. It's funny now because I never thought that using less products on my hair was healthier. This has never dawned on me. It seems very logical if you look at it from



My hair is healthier, thicker, softer, and falls out less now. I have to say I only do a few things to my hair that doesn't require too much money. I will share with you below.

Here are my tips that help build healthy hair:

1. SCALP MASSAGE:
This is not something you have to do everyday. A lot of us lead busy lives with our school, work, and kids. I recommend doing this at least once a week. Massage essential oils into your hair to regulate hair-oil production and improve the condition of your scalp. Use 1 tbsp of carrier oil such as jojoba, coconut, or sweet almond oil which are my absolute favorites for skin and hair. Mix in 2 drops of essential oil.

For oily or greasy hair choose from clary sage, geranium, lemon, lavender, tea tree, cypress, and rosemary.

For dry hair choose from roman camomile, lavender, and rosemary

For dandruff choose from tea tree, juniper, lemon, lavender, and sandalwood

My absolute favorite is lavender because you can use this for all hair types. I prefer this for massaging into my skin as well. If you want to get serious into essential oils I have a post on tips on getting started with essential oils. Click here for the link.

Massage oil into scalp using your fingertips for about a few minutes (you can always do it longer). Then leave it on for a half hour, then rinse off. Towel hair dry, then follow with a antioxidant fruit smoothie hair mask. This part is optional. Recipe will be listed below.


2. FRUIT SMOOTHIE HAIR MASK
This is also done once a week as well. This fruit smoothie hair mask recipe is made with 1/2 banana, 1/4 melon, 1/4 avocado, 1 tbsp olive oil, and 1 tbsp of yogurt. Try to get all natural and organic brands of these items if you can. Work mixture into roots of your hair and then coat the rest of your hair. Wrap your hair in a plastic wrap or shower cap and leave it in for about 15 minutes. Rinse hair in warm water and then lightly shampoo and rinse again.

3. LET HAIR DRY NATURALLY
Of course this doesn't always happen as sometimes we have to be places and we need our hair done and dried. If you have to blow dry your hair then do it on a cooler setting. Having it too hot can dry out your hair and scalp and can damage the hair much faster. I only blow dry my hair once or twice a month now ^-^

4. USE NATURAL HAIR CLEANSERS AND CONDITIONERS
There are three different shampoos I use and it depends on my schedule or availability of what I have on hand. I typically interchange Dr. Bronner's brand of castile soap in Lavender, bar soap I make from scratch, or coconut milk shampoo I also make. Click for my recipe. I also use coconut oil or jojoba oil to condition my hair. The tip here is to keep it simple. Don't over do yourself by buying all sorts of products. Having healthy hair doesn't occur overnight. I know it took my scalp and hair about 1 to 2 months of craziness before it started settling down and getting healthier.

5. DYE HAIR WITH HENNA
Chemical dyes have such toxic and harmful chemicals that are not good for your scalp or your hair. This can lead to brittle hair that falls out easily. If you must have colors in your hair then there are natural ways to doing so. You are not going to find anything that is completely natural when it comes to chemical dying, bleaching, straightening, and perming. After so much research I found the answer in henna. What is henna you might ask? Henna is a natural powder from plants that is known culturally being used in India. They use it mainly for the beautiful designs you see on their hands and body. You  can also use it for your hair as well because of the strong pigments in the henna powder. Indigo is a bluish black pigment and henna is more of a reddish pigment. Unfortunately, you're not going to find rainbow colors in plant pigments but you'll find that this is a great alternative to having some color in your hair. I like to use the reddish pigment and it's not super bright. I prefer it that way. Now if you want something super bright it won't come out that way unless you have lighter hair colors. [Henna acts as a great conditioner as well]

I hope these tips help because I wanted to make sure that these were not costly and not time consuming. Please give it some time as again I mentioned earlier that it doesn't happen overnight. It will take at least one or two months before you see any results. Your hair will seem a bit crazy and damaged but that's because you're hair has been coated with silicone ingredients from conventional shampoo and the coating is taken off. This silicone coating makes your hair seem shiny and healthy when really it's just covering up the problem. You'll see that the natural shampoo will take this off and then your hair will start healing. Eventually it will become healthy again!

There are factors such as stress, genetics, and diet that play a huge part in hair and growth. If you have a more serious problem then you'll have to start analyzing your diet and the stress in your life first. I'll do more detailed posts about that in the near future. Medications and food can play a huge part in your hair health. And as reminder, this does not replace an advice of a medical professional.

December Update: Winter Break & New Buys

Hello my bonbon beauties!

It's been a long time I know, sigh~ -_-

So I hope everyone had a beautiful holiday with family and friends. I sure did! I got what I wanted this year which was a few furniture items and a gift card to my favorite market Wholefoods. I got my brother a phone case for his new Samsung Galaxy phone and a blood pressure monitor. He needed one desperately because his health is not so good. I try to help him out and give him advice. I got my mother frying pans this year. I know these items don't seem very much buuuut I am in nursing school so that makes me poor! I just spent all of my savings on tuition. Give me a break guys lol. I helped out with the cooking this year and I made corn salad and spinach salad. YUM!

I wanted to share my recent updates with me:

I switched coffee brands. I went from Starbucks brand of K-CUPS to donut shop. It's such a surprise for me especially when I've been drinking Starbucks for years. I still do actually when I go out and get coffee.

I must say I like the switch because the cost is much lower and the taste of this coffee tastes great as well. I would say it's pretty comparable. It's a much bolder taste for me since it's medium roast. I usually drink blonde veranda version which is a lighter roast that I like but I only found medium roast in donut shop brand so that would explain why I started drinking stronger coffee. I found it for 24 k-cups for about 14 or 15 dollars. With Starbucks it would be half the amount of k cups. Here is the link where I got mine from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006N3HZL0/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Mighty Leaf Tea is my absolute favorite tea brand when it comes to simple pouches in a box. This is my fourth flavor to try from this lovely company. I've tried their tropical green tea, detox, breakfast black tea, and ginger twist. I love the pouch packaging as it's not the normal pouches you would see in common brands. I have to say I've tried several other brands and this one is by far my favorite.

I am already setting my new years resolutions early and I'm am challenging myself to become fluent in speaking Korean by the end of next year. This has always been something I've longed for but never really thought about getting into fully so hopefully I will be fluent by the end of next year in December. I started off watching all kinds of videos of Shinhwa. They're a boy band that I fell in love with when I was like 10 years old. I forgot about them for a long time and decided it was time to get back into Korean culture. It was a lot of fun and it's really different. Maybe my obsession for them now stems from my nostalgia and the fact they are the only "idol group" that has lasted this long. Almost 15 years!

I bought a black eyeliner from Juicebeauty. If you don't know about this brand well you should! It's a great organic and toxic-free high end cosmetics line that is based in California, USA. Click for their website. I wanted to get it from 100% Pure but they always seem to be out of their black eyeliner. It's a popular item! I will do a review on this item soon for you all. This eyeliner only cost me 16 US dollars.

I've been getting into stretching everyday. It's really good for your posture and back. I especially do it before a workout or if I go running. I try to run about 3 to 4 times a week if I'm not too busy. That is not including my walks outside which I do for about a couple miles and then I also walk around a lot at work. I will in the near future start getting into weights which will be a new thing for me because I usually lean more towards cardio then I do with weight training but I've been reading more and more on how good that is for you too. I will start off with light weight training for my arms first as I'm weak there lol.

Well here is a few things I've been getting into and I hope to keep myself busy so I can share more interesting items with you all. Hope you guys stay safe and healthy this winter and you will hear from me very soon.

Love Shon

Feeling Stressed? Tips On Coping With Stress

Have you ever had one of those days where you just felt awful, stressed, and overwhelmed? Everything was not going right: a customer yells at you, bills are piling up, sounds of argument from your family fills your halls, somebody tells you that you're worthless, and nobody is listening to you. I think we can all agree that we have all been there!

First of all, I am not a psychologist or a doctor. By all means, if there is a serious problem please consult with one. This post is not to replace the advice of medical expertise. I am simply writing about how to deal with stressful situations through my own experience. Moving on, the biggest mistake that I see people make is that instead of finding ways to cope they try to cover it up (which is a big no no!) such as:

• Shopping
• Drinking
• Taking pills
• Eating
• Smoking or chewing tobacco

While these may seem like a plausible solution, it's only temporary and it's unhealthy. I guess a little bit of shopping wouldn't hurt lol. Just remember anything in excess is bad even if it's good for you.

There are other ways to deal with stressful situations. You may ask well, Shon what are they? I will gladly tell you. There are all kinds of therapeutic ways to deal with stress without having to go to such measures of harming oneself such as:

• Exercise (biking, hiking, running, swimming, dancing..)
• Playing an instrument
• Aromatherapy
• Meditation
• Stretching or yoga
• Enjoy time with friends and family
• Talking to someone or just vent!
• Drinking hot tea
• Having some quiet time
• Get some fresh air
• Do something you enjoy
• Reading a book
• Learning a new hobby or skill
• Visualization
• Listening to relaxing music
• Write in a journal/diary
• Singing
• Gardening
• Drawing/painting
• Preparing meals/cooking
• Join support groups
• And more...which I can't think of at the moment.

reference: hisacne.com

Sometimes what I like to do is a do a combination of these things. It really depends on the level of stress. Believe it or not I do get stressed but I'm learning to quickly cope with my stressful situations better and better everyday. I write in my blog for example or I drink hot tea which helps a lot. Aromatherapy is great if you have essential oils at home or you can buy them at my favorite place called Mountain Rose Herbs. I enjoy a few drops of lavender and peppermint in hot water and breath in the steam. This is very therapeutic and it's so relaxing. I also exercise and play my piano. Great thing about this is that most of the things I mentioned here are inexpensive. You don't have to spend butt loads of money!

A lot of it has to do with diet too. I will probably get into more detail about that in another post. What I recommend to my family and friends is that if everything else fails make sure you eat a healthy diet. Eating raw or steamed vegetables and/or fruits more. You don't have to be a raw vegan to reap the benefits. You can feel great about yourself if you can incorporate more of that in your diet.

Another factor that comes into play is that you need to be confident in yourself. Don't let the demons in your head keeps you down. You have heard this many times but you are your own worst enemy. I know this is easier said than done but don't let those negative thoughts bring you down and affect your being and your entire day or even weeks. I've seen stuff like this happen to people! The best thing to do is not take it personally and move on. The faster, the better. I knew of a co-worker that didn't sleep at all the night before because of a fight that she had with a friend. She was just so flustered the entire working day. It affected her well-being and her work. 

Ultimately, you have the power to keep going and do what you want to do in life. Everybody has the potential to do anything they want to do if they really set their mind to it. Self esteem and confidence is important to incorporate but this is something that each and everyone of us has to work on. It took me years to build myself at a level where I just feel so great that nobody can really bring me down. Nothing happens overnight let me tell ya. It takes time and you have to be patient. It would be great if we had some kind of machine that makes us perfect in seconds or we were all born talented and beautiful, however, that is not the case, unfortunately. So I recommend starting now and make the change. The hardest part is getting over that hump of negativity (I can't do it, it's too hard, I'm not pretty or good looking, I'm a loser, I'll never make it....) because once you get over that then it becomes so much easier after that. It's like a snowball effect and there's only one direction you can go and you can only go up.

Please stay posted as I will do another post about more relaxation techniques and detox regimens which I'm excited to share with you all about. Please support my blog by adding me to your circles and sharing the word to your friends about being "almost" stress-free and healthy!

What are you favorite ways to deal with your own stressful situations? Please share with us! We would love to hear from you~

Dreams Can Come True

I am a big BIG believer in hopes and dreams no matter how little or small. I believe the sky is the limit. Anybody can reach their highest potential and still keep going. The hardest part is those thoughts in head that tells us we can't. Those thoughts didn't stop architect Macy Miller from Idaho after a divorce and losing her home to foreclosure. If you look at the photo below you can't even tell that was built by one person let alone a woman. Macy built her very own house from scratch. This is so amazing. Remember, never say never.

It may seem small at 196 sq. feet but has a lot to offer. It's eco-friendly and the most expensive factor was composting the toilet which was about 2,000 dollars. Another amazing factor is that the home is made on a flat bed so she can take this sweet baby anywhere. She completed this home by herself including the wiring. Even though she's not good at construction that didn't stop her from building a beautiful cozy home for herself.

This is so inspirational. How could something like this not keep you from doing what you want to do in life? I really want to do this one day. How awesome would that be to have something to call your own and be able to travel without leaving home lol.

Even though it took 2 years to build, the house was only 11,000 dollars. With no mortgage, try to beat that, WOW!

You can check out more pictures of her story here:

http://www.viralnova.com/sick-of-divorce/

Healthy Orange Juice With A Twist

I just made some carrot and red cabbage orange juice today. Before you lovely ladies and gents start making that face that looks like you have sucked on a lemon, there are great benefits to this drink and it actually doesn't taste bad at all. I made this juice just because I had excess cabbage from making corn salad and my mom ended buying the jumbo bag of carrots that nobody can really finish. The great benefit in red cabbage and carrots is that they contain different forms of vitamin A that contribute to eye health.

"Beta-carotene is converted into the form of vitamin A called retinol that's used by cells in the eyes that detect light and convert it into nerve impulses. Lutein and zeaxanthin function as antioxidants that protect the retina and may help prevent age-related macular degeneration." -Sandi Busch, healthyeating.sfgate.com

The important thing here is that you get red cabbage because comparing both regular cabbage and red cabbage are both healthy, nutritious, and cholesterol friendly foods. However, you'll find that red cabbage has a lot more to offer overall. The regular cabbage does trump red one with vitamin K by an additional 40% of DV. You can check out nutritiondata.self.com. Everybody has heard oranges are great sources of vitamin C but did you know that red cabbages are too?

Photo from healthy recipes.wikia.com

Red cabbage, 1 cup raw
Vitamin C, 85% DV
Vitamin K, 42% DV
Vitamin A, 20% DV
Carbs, 85% DV
Great source of fiber

There are many more but I listed the top nutrients.

Carrots, 1 cup raw

Vitamin A, 428% DV
Vitamin C, 13% DV
Vitamin K, 21% DV
Potassium, 12%
Carbs, 89% DV
Great source of fiber
anti-inflammatory


Photo by www.bhg.com

You can mix it with any fruit drink but I decided to go along with organic orange juice from Wholefoods. It is so yummy and easy to make. You can hardly taste the cabbage unless you put a lot in there. You can garnish it with a sliced wedge of orange to make it look pretty. If you don't like pulp then you can strain it if you use a blender.

Note of discretion: please consult with a doctor before starting any health diets or drinks. Certain vegetables such as cabbage are high in vitamin K which can be fatal to someone who is on anticoagulants as it can increase the risk of stroke or a heart attack.

My All Natural Solution To Dirty Laundry

Have you looked at the prices of laundry detergents lately? They are quite expensive. I can't even afford detergent anymore. In addition, commercial detergents are full of yucky chemicals that are bad for the environment and bad for our health. Our skin absorbs 60% of what we put on it. Our clothes will contain some residue of our favorite smelling mountain fresh or lavender Tide or Snuggly wuggly teddy bear softener. I have a simple, easy, and cheaper solution to this listed below.

All you need:

• Vinegar
• Distilled Water
• Baking Soda

That's it! Seriously it's that cheap and easy. I get my baking soda from Mountain Rose Herbs. I get 5 lbs for 13 US dollars and I buy vinegar by the bulk from a natural food store for super cheap. A few dollars perhaps depending where you get it. Distilled water is about a dollar.

Image from Mountain Rose Herbs

I mix about 1 cup of vinegar to 2 cups of water (or a 1:2 ratio). I like to make it last as I like to pour a lot. Don't know why I do that... -_-  You can be the judge on how much vinegar to water ratio you want.

So before I start my laundry I put in a small scoop or two of baking soda. You can just eyeball it depending on your laundry amount. If you need more cleaning power I've read that you can put washing soda or borax into it. Mountain Rose Herbs sells borax as well for a great price. 1 lb runs for 3.50 US dollars or 5 lb for 14. What a deal! I then put the premixed vinegar water into the prewash or softener portion and that's it!

If you want a liquid detergent you can always mix castile soap with baking soda or borax which makes a great laundry detergent for clothes. If you want to stretch your buck, I might suggest adding water to it. I will do another post about this one.

I will do posts about baking soda as I put that in every cleaning agent I have in my house including dish detergent, bathroom cleaner, kitchen cleaning... BAKING SODA IS AMAZING! I can't wait to tell you guys more.

Benefits of Bentonite Clay

I just bought some bentonite clay about three weeks ago and I have made a clay mask to start off and let me tell you it's an amazing mask! I felt like I was in a salon. The mask is cooling and calm. It's a powder of light green/gray. There isn't much of an odor to it. What is bentonite clay you might ask? Let me tell you some tid-bits.

Bentonite is also known as "swelling clay" as it opens up like a sponge when applied with water. It has many uses in cosmetics, medicine, detox, etc. The largest and most popular deposit is from Benton, Wyoming hence the name of Bentonite clay.

Photo from Mountain Rose Herbs

There are many health benefits:

• Cleansing liver, colon, and skin
• Balancing bacteria in digestive tract
• Improving nutrient assimilation
• Improving immune system

Bentonite clay, when used correctly, can be safe to consume. It is used internally and externally.
The great thing about bentonite clay is that it has a negative charge so it naturally attracts toxins, pathogens, bacteria, metals, and pesticides which have a positive charge. All natural detox~!

Uses (Internal & External)

• If ingested make sure to not eat or drink 1 to 2 hours before or after as it can intefere with the absorption of nutrients from foods and vitamin supplements. Mix 1 to 2 teaspoons of bentonite clay in water on an empty stomach. Make sure to consult with your doctor before taking bentonite clay internally if on prescription drugs or have health conditions such high blood pressure.
• Make your own foundation powder - I've seen videos of this done and it looks amazing. There are a few more ingredients that are needed but nonetheless a great alternative to foundation full of chemicals. 
• Apply to hot bath for rejuvenated skin - I can't wait to try this!
• Face mask
• Help calm eczema and psoriasis

Where to buy? 

Bentonite clay is a sedimentary ash that is composed of volcanic ash. The Mountain Rose Herbs gets their product from Wyoming. I bought 5 lbs (11kg) for 24 US dollars.

Here's the mineral content:

Mineral Content 
Silica- 61.4%Aluminum- 18.1%Iron- 3.5%
Sodium- 2.3%
Magnesium- 1.7%
Calcium- 0.04%Titanium- 0.02%Potassium- 0.01%Moisture- 7.8%
pH - 8.3 - 9.1


If you want to hear or see more add me in your circles as I will do a follow-up post about my face mask with bentonite clay!






References:

http://www.naturalnews.com/032549_bentonite_clay_health_benefits.html#

Fresh Natural Look With 100% Pure Cosmetics

 I used all 100% Pure cosmetics on my face for this fresh natural look. It was really and simple! You need just a few things and I will list them below. 

Chiffon Blush  //   25 US dollars

I like light pink blushes that brighten my face for a innocent and fresh look.

  Fruit Pigmented Everywhere Concealer   //   25 US dollars

I can use this anywhere on my face from dark circles, blemishes, creases, etc... Awesome product.

 Dual Ended Creamstick Silk/Cotton   //   18 US dollars

I love the fact there are two colors in one which makes it easier to carry around. These colors are shimmery. I use this on my eyes as eyeshadow and sometimes as primer. It is a superb primer!

 Lip Glaze Velveteen   //   15 US dollars

I love this lip glaze as it has a smooth creamy texture with a slight shine like a gloss would give. It's like a lipstick and gloss had a baby. I love the sweet smell to this too!

  Fruit Pigmented Tinted Moisturizer   //   32 US dollars

My all time favorite moisturizer. I love two in ones for sure! This save a lot of time as I am super busy with school and work. I'm sure there are a lot of ladies and gents that are in the same boat. Sheer coverage with sunblock which makes this a must-have product.

Buying In Bulk Save You Money: Coconut Oil

Hi there my bonbon beauties,

I wanted to share the this past week's purchase on coconut oil from Mountain Rose Herbs. I bought a gallon worth of coconut oil! I plan to make soap and eat lots of it. I wanted to get the 5 gallon but I will do that sometime later.

Look at it! It's beeeee-u-tifulllll! This was onlly 32 dollars [not including tax or shipping] for 1 gallon of organic coconut oil. How amazing is that?

Here are two jars that I'm going to fill it with. I'm planning to give on to myself and my mom.

I am too excited and wanted to share with you all here. Buying in bulk saves you money so DO IT!!!!!! hehe :)

20 Detox Superfoods

DETOX SUPERFOODS:

Here is a list of 20 superfoods that are super healthy and nutritious~ I definitely have my go to favorites but there is a good list to start off with. Try to eat these raw or steamed to get the fullest nutrient and detox benefit from these lovely delicious gifts of mother earth. :)

Apple - helps excrete heavy metals and cholesterol and is cleansing for the liver and kidneys

Artichoke - Purifies and protects the liver and has a diuretic effect on the kidneys

Asparagus - diuretic effect, helps maintain healing bacteria in the intestines

Broccoli - Like sprouts and cabbage, increases levels of glutathione, a key antioxidant that helps the liver expel toxins

Carrot - Packed with beta-carotene, powerful antioxidant; antibacterial and antifungal

Cranberry - Antioxidant-rich; destroys harmful bacteria in the kidneys, bladder, and urinary tract

Fennel - Strong diuretic action and helps the body eliminates fats

Garlic - Powerful antioxidant that is also excellent at eliminating toxic microorganisms

Ginger - Relieves abdominal bloating, nausea, and diarrhea. Helps to stimulate digestive enzymes, aiding efficient digestion

Lemon - Stimulates the release of enzymes--an essential part of the liver's detoxification process

Drink freshly squeezed lemon water in the morning to kick start your day and your metabolism!

Olive oil - Antioxidant; prevents cholesterol from being transformed into a harmful free radical

Onion - Rich in the antioxidant quercetin, which protects against free radical damage; enhances the activity of healthy intestinal flora and is also an antiviral

Parsley - Diuretic and helps kidneys to flush out toxins; contains phytonutrients that support the liver and is rich in antioxidants

Quinoa (pronounced kin-wa, just found this out recently!) - Easily digested cleansing grain that is a good source of protein, vitamins, and minerals.

Rice - Brown rice in particular cleans the intestines as it passes through and prevents constipation; antiallergenic and helps stabilize blood-sugar levels.

Salad greens - Superb antioxidant and cleanser of the digestive tract.

Spinach, kale, and butter lettuce are my go to for now...YUM!

Seaweed - Strong antioxidant; helps alkalinize the blood and strengthens the digestive tract.

I am definitely a huge fan of seaweed. I can eat these by the bowl full. I absolutely love love love this stuff!!

Tomato - Rich source of the antioxidant lycopene, thought to prevent a variety of diseases

Watercress - purifies the blood and expels wastes from the body

images from msmarket.coop

Yogurt - Live yogurt contains probiotics that reduce intestinal inflammation and fungal infections and eliminate bad bacteria that damage the gut wall

I'm sure there are tons more detox superfoods out there. This is just a small list...which is making me really hungry right now and it's almost midnight. Sad thing is I just ate 3 bananas like 10 minutes ago lol!

References: The process of cleansing and restoration detox

Snacking Mode But Lose The Weight

Okay, I wanted to write up this little post for my bonbon beauties about snacking and not gaining weight. I know this is ironic but I wanted to quickly share my go to snacks when I need something to munch on. Here are some quick and easy snacks for those midnight munchies. :)

• Unsalted nuts
• Blueberries
• Bananas
• Celery
• Carrots
• Cheese sticks

This will help ward off those calories trust me. I hardly gain weight by eating these. Now things like sweets and chips will put on those pounds and stay away from those at the grocery store. I simply don't buy it because I know I will snack on it at home even when I'm not hungry. BIG NO NO. 

Another tip I wanted to share was when you're hungry go work out. You shouldn't work out on a full stomach anyways. I feel as this has increased my metabolism. I started this about a couple weeks ago and I'm getting hungry all the time. I'm building a little bit of muscle now which is great. Key is though is to keep snacking on these healthy snacks because by doing this you will be hungry at almost all hours of the day it seems like and you don't want to eat the wrong foods. I feel like a pig! Anyways, time for me to get my snack on and pull out celery sticks and bananas. YUMMMM ^-^

Trouble Getting ZZZ's? Here Are Some Natural Tips to Promote Sleep

Okay guys so I decided to do a blog on sleep as I see more and more people not getting enough sleep.  There are at least 2 people in my class who don't get sleep and are not doing so well and I'm thinking in my head that I have to share my own tips! Because I've been there! Sleep is so important and essential to performing at your fullest potential. The funny thing is that's how my blog got started was me researching ways to fall asleep without resorting to pills.

I want to tell you that you are NOT alone. This problem that affects a lot of people.

I will include some tips that has helped me get to sleep better and feel more energized in the mornings.

This did not happen overnight for me. It will vary from person to person. I can only tell you what happened to me personally. It took me a good year to figure out how to get enough sleep consistently.

Okay, I want to start off by telling you guys that in the past I hardly ever went to sleep early. I would be up until 3 to 7 in the morning. YIKES! Then I would wake up late and the whole process would start over. This drove me "insane in the membrane" because I hated wasting my days sleeping and then blowing my night trying to be quiet. I really felt unproductive!

I tried melatonin for a week but I don't think I used it properly. My doctor at the time recommended it for me. I was skeptical at first and then gave up. I tossed this one out.

Next, I tried herbal teas that would help my anxiety and sleep. I bought chamomile tea, sleeping teas with valerian root, and stress relief teas with kava. These are amazing but it takes time. I would say this is a supplement to what helped me sleep.

I started exercising 2 to 3 times a week. This relieves my stress and anxiety. A lot of the lack of sleep has to do with the worry and stress. I feel like that we need to address that first.

Overall, I tried to find ways to relieve my stress and worries at night. I used to lay there thinking of random events over and over again. After I found the source of my problem then I evaluated what I needed to do in order to fix the problem.

1. Less water, alcoholic and caffeinated drinks at night
2. Drink relaxing or sleep teas or even milk that contains tryptophan which promotes sleep
3. Exercise which relieves stress and promotes sleep. Make sure not to do it within at least 2 hours before going to sleep as this will promote in keeping you awake.
4. Eat a healthier diet full of raw fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
5. Be on a more consistent sleep schedule.

Like I said earlier this won't happen overnight but rather this will take time. Trust me, I've been there and it was a long hard road but once it happens you won't regret it. I get more restful sleep and feel less anxious. I used to hate mornings but now I do. I love getting up at 4 or 5 in the mornings which is super crazy! I feel much more productive and I get more things done.

Hope this helped some of you out there. If you have some of your own natural tips or ways of getting to sleep not listed here please share with us below. We would love hearing from you!

Just as a reminder none of these tips replaces an advice from a health professional. If you have a true problem with sleeping consult with your doctor first.