When Life Gives You Lemons

While one of my duties is to teach my patients how to live a healthier life, I often find myself on the other side, learning from my patients.  For several months, one of my regular patients mentioned the benefits of drinking warm water with freshly squeezed lemon juice every morning, saying she hasn't had a cold in over 2 years.  I finally decided to try it myself earlier this year and I've been hooked ever since, as it certainly seems to have a positive effect.  It turns out that lemons are alkaline-forming in our bodies and have numerous health benefits, including preventing colds, heart disease, osteoporosis, cancer, and many other ailments.  I even found a health book at a local bookshop devoted solely to lemons, called "The Miracle of Lemons," authored by a medical doctor.  Everyone can benefit, but lemon juice should always be consumed in a diluted form:  half a lemon with warm water if you weigh less than 70 kg, and a whole lemon if you weigh more.  So when life gives you lemons, make the most of it and enjoy the rewards!

For more information:
http://health-tipz.blogspot.com/2009/07/25-health-benefits-of-lemon.html
http://www.quantumbalancing.com/news/lemon%20water.htm
http://www.earthincommon.com/nutrition_01-article.html
http://whiteonricecouple.com/garden/lemon-tree-for-container-gardening/
http://maxwellsci.com/print/bjpt/v2-119-122.pdf

Nature's Indoor Air Filters

One of the reasons that we thrive on this planet is because of our mutually beneficial relationship to plants.  Without plants, there would not be enough oxygen for us and the rest of the animals.  Recent studies have shown that plants do much more than that, as they also detoxify the environment we live in.  Unfortunately, many of us spend most of our time in indoors, away from nature and plant life.  However, shade-loving plants are a wonderful and practical addition to your home or work, making a significant impact on indoor air quality.  A recent study done by NASA found several plant species to be exceptionally effective in purifying the air we breathe, even prompting them to use them in future space stations.  The plants found most effective for removing air pollutants are:

• English Ivy (Hedera helix)
• Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
• Golden pothos or Devil's ivy (Scindapsus aures or Epipremnum aureum)
• Peace lily (Spathiphyllum 'Mauna Loa')
• Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema modestum)
• Bamboo palm or reed palm (Chamaedorea sefritzii)
• Snake plant or mother-in-law's tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata 'Laurentii')
• Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron oxycardium, syn. Philodendron cordatum)
• Selloum philodendron (Philodendron bipinnatifidum, syn. Philodendron selloum)
• Elephant ear philodendron (Philodendron domesticum)
• Red-edged dracaena (Dracaena marginata)
• Cornstalk dracaena (Dracaena fragans 'Massangeana')
• Janet Craig dracaena (Dracaena deremensis 'Janet Craig')
• Warneck dracaena (Dracaena deremensis 'Warneckii')
• Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina)
• Gerbera Daisy or Barberton daisy (Gerbera jamesonii)
• Pot Mum or Florist's Chrysanthemum (Chrysantheium morifolium)
• Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)

Luckily, most of these species are quite commonly available.  Be sure to choose wisely, place it correctly, and give it the care that it deserves.  If you care for your plants, they will also care for you, literally.  So bring a bit of nature into your home or office, so you can breathe easier and also get healthier.

http://www.naturalnews.com/035593_indoor_air_plants_detox.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_air-filtering_plants