"regular" schedule

How's your bowel habits? Is it on a regular basis? how often do you go, is it everyday or every other day? Actually, it depends on the individual because we all have different lifestyles. Mine happens every morning after my breakfast. And it does not fail, everytime. That's why I call it my "regular schedule".

I am glad I do have them in the morning because it gives me a lighter feeling before I start my day and also because after doing so, I am ready to clean up myself by taking a bath so that, I would not only feel lighter but feel fresher as well. These are the advantages of having them in the morning.

Your lifestyle has a lot to say about this. If coffee is part of your morning meal, then you are likely to have them after drinking it because of the caffeine. Caffeine is a large bowel stimulant that increases the movement of your large bowel. This moves "poop" closer to the "hole in your bottom" which gives you the sensation that a bowel movement is coming on. You can also feel this kind of urgency in the morning after having breakfast. As we all know, eating is part of the digestion process... a process that starts in your mouth and stomach and ends with you going to the bathroom. That is why skipping breakfast is a big no-no for me.

Well, talking about breakfast, are you getting enough fibers in your menu like oatmeal, wheat crackers, whole-grain breads and cereals, vegetables and fruits? These may help you get your bowels back on a regular schedule. Avoid fatty and greasy foods and sugary foods like soda. Drink water instead.

Drinking one glass of water upon waking up is also a good idea. As what I have written in my past blog, water aids in detoxification. You see, while we are asleep, our bodies get a rest from digestion. So they go to work in other areas including eliminating toxins. Drinking water first thing in the morning helps our bodies finish the job and push the toxins out by urinating and helps to move the bowels easily.

Lastly, getting up a little earlier in the morning to get yourself some exercise can be of great help to keep your digestive system moving. Doing simple exercises like biking or even just walking will do a lot of wonders. Not to mention all the other benefits you get from doing it. So why not give it a try? (wink)

If you have all these morning habits I have mentioned, you can surely maintain "regularity".

wake up to water

As soon as I wake up, I go directly to my drinking station and have a fill of one glass to start my morning routine. This helps me regain my energy as I feel like dehydrated from my eight hours of sleep.

Now I am ready to do my morning routine: bladder break and then prepare to do my morning walk. After I get back from my exercise, I go boil some water for my coffee and get ready to have my breakfast by the window while watching my favorite news program.

I need that one or two glasses of water first thing in the morning to do all these activities or else, I might go back to sleep and not be progressive, or worse, be late for work!

It is ideal to drink water as you wake up because it directly hydrates the body. Why? Because the water is quickly transported to all parts of the body promoting good blood circulation. Thus, giving you energy right away. It also aids in detoxification. While we are asleep, our bodies get a rest from digestion, so they go to work in other areas including eliminating toxins. Drinking water first thing in the morning helps our bodies finish the job and push the toxins out by urinating. It even helps move the bowels easily, keeping me "regular".

So, make it a habit! Drink water first thing in the morning and experience the benefits it gives. It is inexpensive, widely available and naturally low in sodium and caffeine-free. Cheers to that!

a fruitful morning

What's for breakfast today? A ponkan, oatmeal, and coffee.. Yes! A ponkan or an apple is always present in my morning meal. And believe it or not, it satisfies my tummy. 

Here are some fruity facts my brother sent me through e-mail, which is now circulating in the net: We all think eating fruits means just buying fruits, cutting it and just popping it into our mouths. It's not as easy as you think. It's important to know how and when to eat. 

What is the correct way of eating fruits? It means not eating fruits after your meals. Fruits should be eaten on an empty stomach. If you eat fruit like that, it will play a major role to detoxify your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities.

Fruit is the most important food. Let's say you eat two slices of bread and then a slice of fruit. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it is prevented from doing so. In the meantime the whole meal rots and ferments and turns to acid. The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil. So please eat your fruits on an empty stomach or before your meals! 

You have heard people complaining - every time I eat watermelon I burp, when I eat durian my stomach bloats up, when I eat a banana I feel like running to the toilet etc - actually all these will not arise if you eat the fruit on an empty stomach. The fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas and hence you will bloat!

Graying hair, balding, nervous outburst, and dark circles under the eyes.. all these will not happen if you take fruits on an empty stomach.

There is no such thing as some fruits, like orange and lemon are acidic, because all fruits become alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert Shelton who did research on this matter. If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruits, you have the secret of beauty, longevity, health, energy, happiness and normal weight.

I strongly believe that a fruit a day keeps the doctor away!