This Wonder Gel Is A Gift From Nature- Aloe Vera is the Plant of Immortality

Aloe Vera is the plant of immortality. The leaf that most researchers claimed had helped not just cuts, scrapes and burns, but it seems that this wonder plant has endless benefits. Ancient Egyptians called this plant of immortality. Egyptians claimed that aside from using it for immediate remedy, Aloe Vera has plenty of amazing healing properties. Ancient kings and queens like Nefertiti and Cleopatra used aloe vera as part of their beauty regimen.

In the Philippines, the herb is one of the most common plant that grows due to the warm climate and extensively use for herbal medicine and has been distributed all over the continent. Aloe Vera has variegated leaves that grow up from center base. If you wish to grow this plant, you can use a pot with well-draining soil and place in direct or indirect sunlight. Proper care is important but waterering the plant only requires after a week or if soil is too dry.

Aloe Vera helped my dog. Yesterday, I have been bothered that my dog keeps scratching his neck and chest. I was guessing it could be mange, scabies or skin allergy. For a week, he has these tiny hot spots, dry, flaky skin and has an odd unusual odor. Sometimes, we are out doing outdoor exercise since he really enjoys running and jumping on the stairs and just walk around in the morning. I was guessing that our outdoor activities might have contributed of acquiring these filthy mites or bacteria that results to his skin problems. The skin problem is not too serious, though I just want to make sure it will not worsen and simply want to give him a comfort. I always tend to look for a holistic or natural approach for healing. So I looked up online trying to find answers and I saw that one big contributor to solve this dog skin problem is Aloe Vera. Luckily, my neighbor has plenty of this wonder herb in front of their porch. I asked for few cuts of leaves and applied each slimy gel or juices to his skin. The great news is, the scratching lessens and within the day the red patches are eventually no longer visible on his skin. The Aloe Vera’s soothing agent had given him comfort and he no longer scratches his skin. Aside from Aloe Vera, I also had him drink a mixture of water and apple cider vinegar or the undiluted ACV applied to some of his red patches. Of course, there are plenty of natural remedies that can help skin problem for dogs but this aloe Vera is one of these top notched remedy. I noticed that within the day, there is healing and these natural home remedies like aloe Vera is now my favorite.

Aloe vera is called the heal-all plant, wonder juice, emergency patch, comfort patch, but few more contributions like rejuvenator, anti bacterial, detoxification, supplementation, beauty treatment and countless benefits that one might think how could this plant gained recognition. According to The Journal of Environmental Science and Health, that the aloe gel contains Minerals-including calcium, zinc, sodium, and selenium; Enzymes like amylase and lipase that aids digestions; Vitamins like vitamin B12 for productions of red blood cells and contains 20 essential amino acids that are required by the human body.

Here are few uses and benefits of Aloe Vera:

1. Detox juice- Since the juice is full of amino acids, vitamins and minerals, the juice helps digestive system of getting rid toxic waste and naturally flushing it out of the body.
2.  Indigestion, stomach ulcers and heartburn- When the scorching cells reacts inside the digestive system, the natural smoothing effects relieves the intestinal irritation and protecting gastrointestinal system.
3. Muscle Recovery- incase athletes don’t know about this, Aloe Vera is effective recovering the tired and stressed muscles from hard exercises.
4. Skin burns, nails, acne, skin hydrating- when topically applied, aloe vera can soothe the inflamed, burned or dry skin, allows to enhance collagen and hydraulic acid to rejuvenate skin.
5. Regulate Blood Sugar and lowers cholesterol- Some evidence has been proven that the aloe vera juice helps lower cholesterol. Mayo clinic website states when aloe vera is taken internally it helps lower blood sugar levels.
6.  Natural Supplements in Aloe Vera-It contains vitamins A, C, E, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12 and folic acid.
7.  Hair growth- There are plenty of commercial or natural products in the market that aloe vera helps promote healthy hair.
8. Support Immune System-  When there is too much inflammation in the body most likely is caused by asthma, eczema and Crohn’s disease. Since it contains immune boosting polysaccharides it helps aid and maintains body’s immune system.
9. Fights Cancer- Everybody hates cancer. But Aloe Vera has cancer-fighting properties believe to have 94% cure rate on terminal cancers.

You can grow Aloe Vera in your backyard or buy it from the market which are sold commercially online, drugstores or on supermarkets. The best thing about aloe vera is there are no side effects using the pure leaf or inner juice. Some commercially sold aloe vera might contains other chemicals that can result to diarrhea, constipation, or electrolyte imbalance. It is important to consult an expert or your doctor if you are unsure of the dosage and medication of aloe vera products.

Aloe Vera juice can be taken orally and regularly. Sebastian Pole of Pukka Herbs suggested of taking 3-6 tablespoons once or twice a day.

Here is a video on How to Best Prepare and Eat Aloe Vera

Nature has offered plenty of amazing plants that are not only for healing but with additional versatile contributions. Aloe Vera used to be just sitting like a sturdy house plant but had incredibly makes you healthy along with these boosting range of nutrients, range of healing and beneficial effects. From the interview, according to Dr. Michael Haley, “The food you eat can make significant changes on how your body works.  We want to make positive health dietary lifestyle changes for the rest of your life. Is alove Vera a cure-all? It’s pretty darn Good! -♥keyef

References:

Grow Your Own Aloe! 

Additional References about Aloe Vera.

Check Thses Aloe Vera Products Online:

http://www.aloecurephilippines.com/

Aloe Fuzion

Tipco 100% by Del Monte Aloe Vera

Nature Republic Skin Care

OFK Aloe Vera King Juice

(c) Featured photo: PLANT OF IMMORTALITY

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Iloilo City, Rising Progress- Who Do We Owe The Success?

The city that was popularly known as the Queen City of the South, is now in the rising progress of success. For two decades, many changes had obviously  been implemented and if you ask the locals, their wide grinned teeth, expressing warm approval of how the local government had greatly impacted their lives. Most of the people I asked after coming back home from Manila, greatly patronize the significant change, developmental program and tourism contributed in Iloilo City.

My Hometown. Iloilo City was very different than it is today. I was born and raised in Iloilo City. As a child recollecting my memories to this old province had greatly comforted me. While I was basking under the heat of sun, I was walking in the pavement of the new Iloilo Business Park. It was a laid back life, no traffic, less congestion but now these high class hotels and huge structures of big companies shading me as walked along the street  of the new Iloilo business park. I was recollecting beautiful memories as I passed by the once familiar street where our house was. Looking back of how life was sweet and simple with our little house which was seated on the exact wide cemented  road I was standing at. I decided to ride the jeepney while eating taho, as it moved along it passed by the newly constructed esplanade. Back then, the stink was overflowing. There were houses near the river, floating garbages, plenty riverbank weeds and fishermen sitting in front of their houses desperate for a big catch. I sighed, “There it is, a lovely riverside esplanade across Molo and Diversion Road attracts local and foreign tourist with peaceful view spot.

  (aerial shot of Iloilo River)

Down by the Riverside. Since Iloilo River is a scenic asset, it was suffering from a smelling pollution that angst whoever passed by. The Iloilo River starts from Oton at  Batiano River, transverse to Lapuz, Lapaz, Mandurriao, Molo and Arevalo to the city proper before emptying into the Iloilo Strait. The river serves as a path for ferries and a drop off point for fishing vessels. According to Hechanova, a City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) Engr, said, “There’s a problem of low dissolved oxygen caused by the organic load from human wastes. The impact is fish kill and death of aquatic animals and plants. Septic tanks should serve as partial treatment of human wastes considering the city has no centralized sewage treatment facility.” He also added that the centralized sewage treatment facility would cost P80million. There was a political will and the present Mayor Jed Mabilog had shared to the public forum of saving the Iloilo River. Illegal settlers were transferred without legal battle with the help of Gawad Kalinga. The Dept. of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) were securing budget for dredging and flood-control and major removal of river dwellers, fish cages, polluting factories had been implemented.

(Above: Megaworld’s or now called Iloilo Business Park)

(Above:New Iloilo Esplanade- fit for morning walks and joggers)

Highways are Wider. I can still remember the two-way roads, tight and sometimes impassable because of the bad weather.  Changes have been very visible now and the widening old roads, bike lanes and boardwalks has helped creating new space for the economic growth.

The city had implemented two-phase flood control development program which is now being realigned with the road and flood control projects.

(Road is wider now with bike lanes or boardwalk )

More Businesses. More Tourism. Megaworld is in progress of rising, creating a hub for entrepreneurs and businessmen. The metropolis now transform into one of the most livable cities in the Philippines. Political Leaders have greatly encompass successful alliances that created large scale for infrastructure, employment, and housing for Ilonggos.  Now, the city caters world class hotels, popular restaurants and BPO industries. According to the present mayor Jed Mabilog, the city had created 50,000 jobs since 2010.

International Airport-Beautiful and Safe. Our house used to be near the old domestic airport. I can still recall the annoying airplane noise, cracking cements on the old buildings, outdated interior design of the facility and congested travelers seems to be confused of getting into parking, limited waiting area and eating stalls . In 2007, government started the million fund of relocating a massive New Iloilo Airport to operate International Flights in Cabatuan, Iloilo. The New International Airport has infrastructure like any other international airports provides high-end security, state-of-the-art equipment and a large area of aircraft parking. The former old airport is now the Megaworld’s major commercial area, also where the Iloilo Convention Center is now located.

To Whom Do We Owe The Iloilo City’s Success? According to Rommel Ynion, a journalist, stated his opinion that Ilonggo’s owe big thanks to the three Ilonggo leaders: Raul Gonzales Sr, Franklin Drilon and Jerry Treñas. They contributed a huge amount to the development we see now in Iloilo City. Raul Gonzales, was said to have persuaded real estate tycoon Andrew Tan to buy the land of the former Iloilo Airport and which it is now the famous Megaworld City rises today. Senator Drilon narrated that as an Ilonggo as well, who initiated the “cleansing” of the Iloilo River.The 70 million PDAF was said to hel build the 2.9km esplanade, brickpathways and pedestrians for the residents and visitors. Senator Drilon added that he was willing to face death threats and even death just to clean up the Iloilo River. Looking at the impact of tourism, Cong. Jerry Treñas, authored the Republic Act No. 10555 or Act of declaring Act Declaring Jaro Cathedral, Molo Church, the Iloilo City Central Business District, Fort San Pedro, Jaro Plaza Complex, Molo Plaza Complex and Plaza Libertad Complex, All Located in Iloilo City as Cultural Heritage Tourism Zone’. The restoration of these heritage sites, when the long forgotten and neglected, are now treasured and has now been restored to their former glory.

(Above: Best Food and Places to Visit in Iloilo)

Although the city itself is not perfect, perhaps it would still need more development. The local government increase of aiming for improvement of tourism and continuous growth of economy.

Nonetheless, inspite of all claimed success by the politicians wholeheartedly supported the city and by the claims of so-called World Mayor Mabilog, the Ilonggos generally has been passionate about unity and planned more for the love of the city. I am proud to Ilonggos willingness and drive of preserving the beauty of the city’s history and culture. They have a sense of pride and individually contributed to promote the city and continuously making social interaction to continue the beauty and their love of Iloilo City. -Proud Ilongga- ♥keyef

Travel and Explore Iloilo: Iloilo Guide for First Time Travelers – Explore Iloilo

 

How to Start Yoga at Home: Embrace the Comfort and Benefits

When you decide of getting into Yoga, you must commit and dedicate time for the practice. It isn’t all about bending you head, arching your back or doing a yoga cute pose. Mainly the focus is the breathing process, finding your breath and the synchronicity of your breathe along with each steps or yoga poses (asana). Yoga asanas is a wonderful way to be with yourself. Its a process of uniting with yourself – using your breath, body and your mind. The reason why I encourage most people to start it at home because I want them to spend their own time without having someone seeing their rear when doing downward dog or when bending down, or maybe just having to cut off expenses for a yoga instructor in the gym and most of the time, saving yourself from traffic when travelling to the gym or studio. Of course, there are also when getting a yoga instructor like personal instructions, prior to commencing the yoga practice and even direct inputs of how you do your poses. However, nothing feels better that listening to your breath while practicing yoga in the comfort of your home. Some might think, they cannot do this on their own, well think about it. Most people are being independent that I have discovered yogis success by just starting their yoga from the comfort of their home.

Now the question is,”Is yoga good for me?”.  The answer is YES!

Look at the other benefits you can get from Yoga:

• Increased flexibility.
• Increased muscle strength and tone.
• Improved respiration, energy and vitality.
• Maintaining a balanced metabolism.
• Weight reduction.
• Cardio and circulatory health.
• Improved athletic performance.
• Protection from injury.

Take a look at this great illustration Why Yoga is Good For You:

I have to admit that when I first started my yoga, I was finding it weird and raging emotions as I go along the process and trying too hard to perfect my poses. I was mimicking my instructor, but I have been always in a hurry going to the next step and that was my mistake. Eventually, after days of practiced I have learned from my trigger happy actions and learn how to control my emotion and calm my mind.

Yoga does not require you to be flexible. I was never a gymnast neither a cheerleader. I started being persistent and ends up failing my foundational poses. My yoga time always starts in the late afternoon. Why? Because after a stressful day from work I can just simply roll my mat and perform yoga as my decompression. Stress, anxiety, tension goes away! Sometimes, yoga allows you to embrace your imperfections. Yoga can brought up all you memories and sometimes fears that as you move along, all you think about is letting all go. Yoga has a beauty of finding your inner peace and during the resting process you will feel like a child with all loving memories.

Cyndi Lee, a yoga instructor, shared few tips of when is the best time to practice yoga. On her recent Q&A interview, on a yoga practice, it is important that you know yourself and how to change from moment to moment. Let your energy inform you and practice according to season and time. There are poses that are energizing and calming.  Sun Salutation is the common preparatory during yoga practices since it create heat and flowing movement connected to breath. Standing poses build strength and stamina. Balancing poses cultivate concentration. Twists detoxify the body and relieves tension and Inversions, has power to elicit a range of emotions, fear and anxiety. Personally, Inversions are very challenging to me. I did not grow up endeavoring such playtime like inversions. But when you are determined and paying up attention to your body movement and listening to your body is as exciting that creates butterflies in your empty space. Remember to always end the practice with corpse pose for restoration.

Remember that there will be poses that you will love and hate. Always find a sweet and quiet space that cooperates for your concentration. Sometimes, I practice my yoga on my room office or on my bedroom.

My friend Arlene advised me to start my yoga with the basics. Remember that is important find a perfect spot away from disturbance or just simply clear a space for your yoga time. I acquired some of these online videos of Yoga Beginner Foundational Poses. My first instructor was Esther Ekhart and she is incredible yoga instructor despite her age.

“Foundational Poses” Yoga Beginners Part 1 , Esther’s new beginner series is for all of you who are starting to practice yoga. In part one of this beginner series, Esther Ekhart explains a few of the most used yoga poses in a flowing yoga class. The second video is Learning How to Flow.  It teaches you to flow with them on the rhythm of your breath. Part 3 is Yoga Beginners Part 3 ‘Standing Poses‘.  Yoga Beginners Part 4, is a 10 min Energizing Practice, suitable for beginners. Some of the standing poses you learned in part 3 are repeated, but you learn to get into them differently. Lastly, “Yoga Beginners Part 5 of 5 , Relaxation” is the final episode of this beginner series. Relaxation , or savasana, is a very important part of our yoga practice.

After mastering Foundational Poses,  Follow the  Ekhart Beginners Yoga:

(Click to open to new window)

Notice how these Foundational Poses are the opener of your physical and mental preparation for Yoga. My usual preparation for Yoga is the Sun Salutation. Sun salutations are a time-efficient way of practicing yoga because they thread together poses that involve different parts of the body. Sun salutes are also commonly practiced as a warm-up, followed by standing poses such as Warrior I, II and II — and ending with forward bends, twists and restorative poses.

Here is another yoga instructor, Adrienne, who always helps me with my daily yoga practice:

 

Take a look at my first downward dog pose. This was taken 5 months ago. If you are a beginner, you simply can’t get everything in perfect. Remember that yoga requires time, discipline and dedication. If you look at my back from the photo below, it is slightly arch, misaligned from my rear.  After several practices, I am happy with the improvement. ☻

One of my favorite poses is downward facing dog. Check out how this pose benefits you:

• Calms the brain and helps relieve stress and mild depression.
• Energizes the body.
• Stretches the shoulders, hamstrings, calves, arches, and hands.
• Strengthens the arms and legs.
• Helps relieve the symptoms of menopause.
• Relieves menstrual discomfort when done with head supported.
• Helps prevent osteoporosis.

(yoga with my dog)

(There is always a room for improvement. Notice how my body adapt and getting flexible)

There are several benefits that you can get from yoga.  I may need to reserve a different article for that. But focus on changing your mindset and instead of saying Yoga is Not for Me, you may want to think about it again why this tradition is still being practice. For some reason that you might not be physically fit or having a medical condition, I advised you seek a yoga instructor or a doctor just to be safe.

Although yoga emcompasses timeless ancient history and philosphy, or it may not inclined to my personal faith and beliefs, I am grateful and rewarded of how this tradition has been beneficial to me and it gained my respect. Since yoga poses are unique, observe how it uniquely transformed your body the more time and practice you get. Yoga is For everyone who wants change, collectiveness and to those who likes to experience risk for benefits. Again, remember to be patient and the reward will just simply unfold as you move along . -♥keyef

Enjoy your first Yoga! 

Featured photo by: www.iyengaryogamanchester.co.uk

THE BIBLE: UNBREAKABLE

I have been fascinated why after thousands of years, the Bible is still considered as the most read, most published, and most translated book in the world. But despite all these victories the bible has been the most despised, derided, denied, disputed, dissected, and debated book in all of history.

Earlier today, as a usual Sunday routine, I spare my time for scripture reading or Sunday preach. I watched Pastor Bong Saquing and the Topic was Trust and Obey.

Here is the link:

 

Over the century of attacks, the bible stays UNBREAKABLE. Whichever the meaning is, it can be synonymous to indestructible. It stays and keeps the Promised.

Jesus said in Matthew 24:35, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away”(NIV). The only item on the planet that will last is the Word of God. Everything else will burn up, because the truth is eternal.

I must admit, the bible had been tested and proven to be worth living word of God.

One noted and a brilliant artist named Voltaire, had greatly condemned the Bible. He once made a very bold statement: “One hundred years from today the Bible will be a forgotten book.”

Pastor Rick Warren said, “Today, everyone has forgotten that quote — not the Bible! After Voltaire died, for nearly 100 years, his homestead was used as the book depository for the French Bible Society. They sold Bibles out of his house! It’s now a museum. People have forgotten Voltaire. Nobody forgets the Bible.”

While doing some research about how indestructible and unbreakable the bible is, another article came up to me. A twitter message saying,

Lynnanne Nguyen ‎@lynnannefox4

This is truly the most incredible thing I’ve seen today. Driver saved from burning car, everything burned but Bible 1:22 PM – 21 Feb 2016

Here is the story of  the man and the bible survived but everything else burned.

http://ktla.com/2016/02/22/man-pulled-from-vehicle-moments-before-it-explodes-undamaged-bible-found-inside/#ooid=50aWU4MTE6PJ09IeC3DQftRGZB_90aO2

After firefighters extinguished the fire, officials found an undamaged Bible in the passenger seat of the vehicle.

Follow

Lynnanne Nguyen ‎@lynnannefox4

Police say a car side swiped this car causing it to spin out. Good Samaritans stopped to help pull driver from car

1:04 PM – 21 Feb 2016

• 99 Retweets

• 55 likes

I am not surprised. People have separated the facts from the Truth and Truth had always prevailed.

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (Matthew 24:35 NIV)

Note: If you are an atheist or a non believer of the bible, I will not condemn you reading this article. Please have an open mind to know more about the bible and save your kind words if you have to leave a comment. -♥keyef

Apple Cider Vinegar: Detox, Cleanse and Healthy

I love Apple Cider Vinegar or ACV! The healthiest drink of all time.
Cures all and heals All. When mixed with leaves, herbs and other healthy fruits- I call it-earthy boosters, the effect is Amazing. My all time favorite is Bragg’s Organic Apple Cider Vinegar. Why? The brand is famous of “The Mother”. It contains the amazing Mother of Vinegar which occurs naturally as strand-like enzymes of connected protein molecules.
You may visit:
bragg.com/products/bragg-organic-apple-cider-vinegar.html <http://bragg.com/products/bragg-organic-apple-cider-vinegar.html&gt;
-All of Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar

(c) MissyMiller- Lemon and ACV -the powerful duo

Let me share my Apple Cider Vinegar and Lemon (the best duo).
Every morning, I start off my empty stomach by drinking a glass of water. Not cold or warm. The water itself, the universal solvent, helps prepare my stomach for the ingestion. After that, I prepare my hot water, adding two tablespoons of ACV, a slice of lemon and 1 tablespoon of brown or muscovado.
I have a slim figure, but when I eat a lot, I get bloated and the first massive fats rounds my lower belly or some call it the muffin top. I am not overly conscious when my body is getting out of shape. I’m not happy feeling this bloats and heavy breathing when I gain weight. I noticed that after a week of this morning routine, I felt the lightness and losing a few inches on my waist. I am very proud to say that Apple cider vinegar found me. Sometimes, I have this weird combination of adding ginger or turmeric with ACV. But it works also! I experimented with honey, ginger and apple cider vinegar and the effect are great in my body.
A few facts from livestrong.com- Honey, ginger and apple cider vinegar contain antioxidants that help to fight harmful molecules in your cells and may protect against chronic diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s. Honey is rich in the antioxidants called phenolic acids, which come from the pollen and nectar in the plants that the bees visit. Choose dark-colored honey because it tends to have more antioxidants than light-colored honey. Ginger also contains antioxidants such as gingerols and shogaols, and apple cider vinegar contains phenolic acids.
It is very important to me that I watched over my body since I am in my late 20s. My metabolism is slowing down and since my genes inherited the hypertension, I definitely have to watch over what I eat and how I manage my lifestyle.
I have also observed how Apple cider vinegar helped me clear breakouts from my face. I seldom get these annoying whiteheads and pimple that just suddenly appears after I wake up in the morning. Also, I have this craving to eat after a few minutes, but after dozing apple cider vinegar tea, it neutralizes my palate and somehow it sends of the message to prevent these unnecessary eating. Cool, right? And lastly, some women may also relate to this. My V-jay or my female genitalia has a clean and odor free discharge. Probably due to the acidity of apple cider vinegar, it helps cleans my “female environment”. Some may experience this or not, but definitely my firm testimony. What do you think?
It has been suggested that washing your face with water and ACV can help cleanse your face and prevents pimple. Well, that is actually true after doing some research that Scarlett Johanssen beauty secret is using apple cider vinegar to wash her face. My research doesn’t stop there, I discovered http://mamavation.com/2015/01/25-ways-apple-cider-vinegar-will-change-life.html <http: //mamavation/> and how awesome the apple cider vinegar can be. There are plenty of things and benefits you can get from using apple cider, not just for weight loss but also for healing. -♥keyef