Beat the Bulge this Holiday Season

Beat the bulge this Holiday Season
and a Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is the kickoff for the holiday season here in the USA and all it brings  to many of us - the joy, the feasts, the parties - and the stress and over-indulgences.

This is often a time many of us neglect our health and well-being by allowing ourselves to get inundated with all of the above.  It can be difficult to find a balance.  Also, the waning days and often challenging weather seems to invite the eating of "comfort foods", which usually means over loading on starchy carbs which can leave us feeling bloated, icky and full.

Here are some tips I can offer that have worked wonders for me during this hectic time:

- Find healthy options for "comfort" foods.  
I also really like Elena's Pantry and Comfy Belly for wonderful, grain free recipes that don't get stuck in our guts.  Oh, and be sure to check out Detoxinista's recipe blog.  All of these sites feature delicious, "quick exit" (meaning, they leave the body quickly) foods.  Very important for beating the bulge!
- Food combining!  Try to eat your protein and starches at separate meals and you will notice your belly fat melt away.  This is difficult to do in a holiday dinner situation, so do your best.  If you can, eat lots of non-starchy veggies with your turkey; if opting for the starch, avoid the turkey and eat all the veggies you want.  If you really want to have it all, try to stick to just one serving of everything, chew it well and take lots of digestive enzymes.
-  Keep up with your cleansing practices, especially colon cleansing (colonics!)  I have found that keeping up with my colonics is essential in beating the bulge and helping curb cravings.  Plus, I get the added benefits of oxygenating my system, which benefits my skin (which suffers in the cooler months) and my immunity, which is a bonus!
- Stay consistent:  continue to eat a large, water-plump, delicious salad as the start of your lunch or dinner (or both).  If you can, drink raw vegetable juices.  Getting nourished with these nutrient dense foods will leave you feeling satisfied and less likely to reach for the "cheat" foods
- make a blended salad and drink before any event that will have challenging, heavy foods.  The blended veggies will fill you up and create a nice buffer for the heavier, denser foods.  Plus, you might feel less guilt when you reach for that extra piece of french bread!
- If really craving starch, try to go for a vegetable based starch.  Squashes, yams, sweet potatoes, and even baby potoates can all satisfy that starchy urge.  Start with an avocado salad and then finish with one of these starchy vegetables and you won't even miss the bread.

- If craving starch other than the veggies above, try to reach for gluten free brown rice or quinoa pasta; pseudo-grains such as quinoa, amaranth, buckwheat or millet.  A good rule of thumb is to try to go for the "whole food" version as opposed to the more starchy version (such as the pasta, or the bread, or anything with flour in it).  Another tip is to make the starch the smallest portion of your meal.  If you fill up with salads, steamed or roasted veggies and then finish up with your starch, you will be less likely to overeat.
- If hosting a Thanksgiving dinner, make lots of healthy veggie options.  The links above are filled with great ideas.  If attending a dinner, offer to bring a dish or two of your favorite, delicious healthy foods.  This is a fail-proof way of having your healthy eating bases covered.
- If you do end up over-indulging, especially after a holiday dinner, schedule a Colonic right away.  I guarantee you will feel better for it.  If you are away and unable to come in for a session, try to do a home enema.  Another great option after a night of over-indulgence is to take a natural colon cleanser, such as Oxypowder, and just juice till lunch or even till dinner that day.  Have a nice light dinner of salad and veggies only.

The most important thing to remember is - be gentle with yourself.  Every day is a new day, and the opportunity for a new start.  Set realistic parameters for yourself, and do your best to stay within those parameters.  Have fun, enjoy yourself, and remember we are here to support you in any way we can.  We are just a phone call away!

We wish you a safe and delicious Happy Thanksgiving.
We are grateful to know all of you.

In health,
Xell

Colonics, Colon Irrigation, Colon Hydrotherapy - what does it all mean?

In my next blog post (which has been a long time coming, believe me), I will share information about the different "types" of colonics out there.  I will (hopefully) dispel some urban myths, and also explain why I believe the Woods Gravity Method of Colon Hygiene  is the safest method out there.

If you have ever had an unpleasant experience with a Colonic, chances are, it was not a Woods Gravity Hygiene method, but rather a colonic done through the pressure system, or the "machine".

All will be explained - stay tuned!

And for more information, discounts and recipes, be sure to check out my website at www.oasiscolonics.com!

How many Colonics do I need?

Spring is here - and the time to clear the sludge accumulated during this especially long and heavy winter. Most of us turn to comfort and dense foods in the colder months, and our health and well-being pays a price.

A series of colonics can be the ideal way to get back into tune with a clean, vibrant body, as well as offering the beautifying benefit of oxygenation to the entire system of organs - when we do regular colonics, we have an undeniable glow! I affectionately call Colonics the "facial for the colon". We bathe our bodies every day - the colon loves a good bathing, too!

I often get asked, "How many colonics do I need?" How many times do we need to go the gym before we are in shape? Consistently will have the greatest effect.

Cleansing is always happening - that's the body's job. To what degree and to what rate is the body able to keep the channels of elimination moving? Our job is to assist the body so that we can enjoy consistent, vibrant energy throughout or day. As my mentor taught me, most bodies are in a state of disaster management (due to lifestyle/dietary choices), and cleansing is greatly hindered. Thus, day after day, toxins and sludge accumulate, until eventually dis-ease sets in.

To support all of us who want to revitalize our bodies and flush out our systems of accumulated toxins and debris, we are offering a LIMITED time Series of Colonic Irrigations (Colonics) for a very special price. Call our office for details: (203) 524-2888, or contact us through our website at www.internal-hygiene.com

We have many new exciting updates and changes happening to the website soon - stay tuned for regular blog posts, Newsletters containing recipes and Product specials, and more!

In health and beauty,

Xell

Internal Hygiene

Autumn - time for a change

Greetings everyone!

I hope everyone had a wonderful summer and were able to relax and get outdoors.

I recently got back from vacation in my hometown of beautiful Vancouver, and Kelowna, British Columbia, and it amazed me how much relaxation played a role in my well being and digestion, and thus (my favorite subject, next to food!) elimination! Whoo hooo!

I have thought a lot in the past few months the role stress plays in our bodies – not just mental stress, but also physiological and nutritional stress. What we put into our bodies has a direct impact on our well-being. This is why the role of cleansing and colon hydrotherapys (colonics) is so essential in this day and age - colonics reduce the effects of stress on our bodies and therefore our overall state.

Many of you who know me know my passion for good food. While I choose to eat a plant-based diet, I also know one can thrive on a diet containing animal protein as well. Overall I think dairy is detrimental to our health, however, if I had a goat or sheep in my backyard, eating organic greens, who is to say I wouldn’t partake in it’s milk or make yogurt and cheeses?

But I digress. Back to one of my favorite subjects – food. As I was saying, I choose to eat a plant based diet and as a result, have come up with many creative and simple ways to eat vegetable and fruits.

I truly believe that the key to making food taste great is to use the best ingredients: great salt – like Sunfire Salt (the pink salt many of you know and love), great oils, quality nuts and seeds, fresh herbs and organic and/or locally grown produce (as much as possible). It also leaves less of a residue in our bodies and thus in our colons. And none of us like the feeling of a bloated, congested colon, right? Ugh. It can feel miserable. Looks like the fellow below could use some colonics!

Below are a couple of recipes created by me to get you inspired in your kitchen. Play around with the ingredients and enjoy whatever you create!

Tahini Dressing (great on salads, steamed veggies or cooked whole grains, or as a dip)

½ cup raw tahini

1 heaping Tablespoon (or more) South River Miso Sweet White Miso

juice of ½ lemon, or more if a more lemony flavor is desired

pinch of Sunfire Salt

½ T Nama Shoyu or Coconut Amino’s (optional)

water, enough to blend

Blend until smooth. Enjoy!

Optional additional ingredients, choose one or more:

herbs (parsley, dill, basil or cilantro could be nice)

ginger

garlic or scallions

paprika

chili’s

cumin

You get the idea!

Mushroom Burgers

2 Portabello Mushrooms

1 medium zucchini

small chunk ginger (optional)

¼ cup sage and rosemary (fresh)

pinch or two of salt

½ T nama shoyu or tamari (optional)

½ to 1 tsp umeboshi plum paste (remember this is salty)

dash of olive oil

1 -2 T each of:

raw sunflower seeds

raw pumpkin seeds

raw hemp seeds

Process the mushrooms, zucchini , ginger, herbs, shoyu and plum paste until well mixed but not over processed. Mix seeds in by hand or pulse lightly to mix. Adjust seasonings to taste.

Form into patties and place on teflex sheet in dehydrator at 115 degrees until patties firm up – remove from teflex and finish dehydrating on screens. I like to my burgers on the moist side but dehydrate to your desired texture. Store in sealed container. These taste even better the next day!

Alternatively, these could be placed on a baking sheet and cooked at low heat.

Enjoy!

Feel free to send me any comments or questions.

In health,

Xell Calderer

Internal Hygiene

www.internal-hygiene.com

Recipes

By popular demand, I will use this page for recipes to help you on your healthy journey. For those of you who have met me, you will know that healthy, delicious food is a passion of mine, and I can provide recipes for you to make fast, healthy, delicious meals and treats. I highly recommend the Vitamix Prep or the K-Tek Blendtec for the best blending experience. You can find these through the resource section of my site, or other fine dealers. Enjoy!

Xell's Chocolate Bliss and Amazing Meal Replacement
(This recipe makes approximately 2 litres)
1/2 cup Chocolate Bliss Mix (or more as desired)
1/4 cup *Vanilla Agave Nectar (or as desired)
2-4 T hemp seeds
1 T Ultra Tocos (adds a delicious malty flavour plus antioxidant benefits) 

1 small chunk (thumbnail 

size) Pristine Cacao Butter (optional)
1 to 4 T *Jarrah Bee Pollen (optional) 

5 to 6 cups filtered water (or more or less as desired)
ice cubes if you like the drink cold
Blend until smooth. This drink is pure ecstasy!  

*Can also use Yacon Syrup, or dark stevia instead of agave, if desired.

*This is how I love to use the Bee Pollen: After making the Bliss, I pour most of it into a container and place in fridge. I keep the amount I am going to drink right away in the blender (typically 2 or 3 cups), and then I add 2 or more Tablespoons of the pollen and blend again. DELICIOUS and keeps me going for hours.

Green Smoothie #1
2 -3 cups filtered water or coconut water
1/2 to 1 cup fresh or frozen mango

large handful of parsley 

Blend until smooth.  

You won't believe how delicious this is! 

*optional ingredients: dates, Brazil Nut Protein Powder

Green Smoothie #2
2-4 cups filtered water or coconut water
1 banana (fresh or frozen)
1 or 2 soaked figs1/2 cup frozen cherries
1 or 2 sticks of celery
*2 T hemp seeds (optional - adds protein, EFA's and creaminess)

*1 T ground golden flax seeds (optional - adds protein, fiber, and EFA's)
Blend until smooth and enjoy!
Technically protein and fruit do not food combine well, but somehow the blending process, which initiates digestion, sits well in my tummy. I hope it does in yours!

My Favourite Chia Seed Pudding
1 cup lukewarm/cooled vanilla rooibos tea* (I like to use strawberry kiwi rooibos but get mine from Canada. A berry type of tea will work, too)
2 cups nut milk, rice, milk, seed milk, or water
1/4 to 1/2 cup chia seeds (more will make it thicker)

1 - 2 T dried mulberries (optional and yummy)
Whisk ingredients with fork until well mixed. Let stand at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes or longer (or overnight, in fridge).  I also like to stir it a few more times within the soaking time to avoid clumping.
Enjoy with chopped fruit (I love grated apple or banana), added nut milk, lucuma (a wonderful, low glycemic sweetener I carry that is reminiscent of butterscotch/caramel) or vanilla agave. I like to add a T or more of bee pollen just as I am about to eat it, for a wonderful, delicious flavour and crunch!

I have many more recipes on the way.  I invite your feedback and requests.

Light and blessings,

Xell

NEW WEBSITE!!!

Happy Summer, everyone!

I have exciting news - I am launching my new website today.  

There you will find all the information you want on Colonics and how to make an appointment with me, and more.

The site will continue to grow and change, as I grow, learn and change.

Check it out and let me know what you think!

www.internal-hygiene.com

Colonics in Connecticut: Stinky Poo

I have two cats, whom I adore.  They have me completely wrapped around their paws.  They can do no wrong in my eyes (okay, almost!)

The big grey one is named Mowgley, and he is a big bundle of love.  He is the master of Self-love.  If your hand is not available, he will rub up against your toes, or any hard edge he

 can find.  Happiness is his nature, and he is one smart guy.  He will find all kinds of ways to support himself (see photo on right) when he is grooming himself.  

He has only a couple of nicknames - Insta-purr and Big Buddy.

The picture on the right was taken when he was taking a break from licking his buddha belly.  I have another photo where he is in the same position with his eyes closed - just 

lke he is meditating.  Which he always is.

My other buddy is named Jasper.  He is the sensitive, delicate one.  I often say he is a female trapped in a male's body, and this little guy has a lot of nicknames.  He is the Cat with a Thousand Faces.  He is Slinky, Silky, Pinky, Stinky, Squeaky, Little Buddy, Little Black Lips, Cutey, Sweetie, My Very Best Friend...I could go on.  

Now, you might think that because he has all these names that I (and my hubby) love him more.  That is not true - but Jasper simply NEEDS more loving, more attention, due to his delicate nature.  He is fragile, and skittish, and you have to know how to approach him.  

With Mowlgey, you can be rough and tumble.  He likes a good hard rub, and he is a very confident, inquisitive, friendly male.  He is a "pet me" slut.  Not much fazes him, except for a spray bottle.  

With Jasper, on the other hand, you need to be very soft, and talk to him in a soft voice, walk slowly,

 and with that, you get many rewards.  He is one of the few cats I have met that goes nuts for belly rubs (and his belly is SO soft!) and I have gotten him used to lots of belly kisses, and forehead kisses, and I talk to him gently all the time.  He even loves to have his teats cleaned (a couple of them can get clogged and you have to know just the right way to get the gook out).  

BUT, if you are in a hurry, or make a loud noise (farts are okay) or walk fast, he will run around in a panic as if he has never seen you before.

So why am I talking about cats, you ask?  Well, here are two kitties who eat the same food, (although Jasper goes outside more and probably gets more insects into his diet, and they both like to chew on either our wheatgrass or normal grass outside) and yet their poo is totally different!

Mowgley's poo doesn't stink.  And you always know when Jasper takes a dump, because it is RANK!  I have incense in my home for the purpose of masking his stinky poo - it is the only thing that really works.

So, two cats, same (pretty much) diet, and very different personalities and systems.

This got me to wondering, and I have a few theories which make sense to me.

Jasper is an anxious type kitty and this greatly affects your acid/alkaline balance, and your colon.  Hence, the stinky poos.  He is kind enough that he will usually whine for a while to go out to do his business (and I think he can't stand being in the litter box with his own poo - it is worthy of singeing your nose hairs, really) , but if it is late, or raining, or we ar

e lazy, he will say, Okay, I tried warning you.  Get the incense ready! 

Mowgley is a pretty chill cat.  Lately, in his old age (he is 15, Jasper is 13), he does get his sausage like poos stuck partway out his anus (he will run around with them dangling and one of us has to pull it out, poor guy - usually lots of grass is the culprit).  If we don't catch them - no problem!  Mowgs finds a way to scrape them off, much to our rug's chagrin.  Or it will be left as a present on our new bedspread (okay, actually, we cover the bed with a fleece blanket so they can sleep on it, so not such a big deal).  Usually this poo is pretty hard, so it is not like it smears anywhere - but it doesn't smell, I mean, I wouldn't be shoving it up my nose or anything but really, it ain't so odorous!

I call Jasper and Mowgley my alter egos.  Both in personality and in poo's.  

State of mind, personality type, doshas, metabolic types, etc...and of course how you eat and food combining all have an effect on your bowel movements (B.M's).  Last posting I gave a list of all the different types of poos - but in general, people tend to consistency in the smells of their poos.  If you are the anxious type, chances are, your poo is more stinky than your calm and pretty regular partner.  

None of this is scientific by any means. :)  This is no double blind case study.  Just some observation's from l'il ol' me.

If you eat non stop all day and never give your system a chance to truly digest, you are setting yourself up for all kind of problems.

Which brings me, as always, to the subject of colon health and the necessity of Colonics as part of your health care regimen.  A series is often needed to "wake up" the often irritated muscle, to set a good foundation, to tone and clean the colon - along with dietary shifts and self awareness.  

Stinky Poo does not have to be your birthright!  

And if it does happen to you often, or even from time to time, remember the story of Jasper and Mowgley.  And by the way, they are perfectly fine with who they are.  I don't see Jasper wishing he was more like Mowgley, even in the stinky poo department.

Cleanse, eat well, be gentle with yourself, and have fun.

Blessings,

Xell