Happy June! With the start of a new month, we want to share with you all the latest digestive trends that have taken the wellness world by storm. From mindful eating workshops to aloe vera juice, let us dive into what makes these trends so appealing and how they can benefit your health.
What is a Mindful Eating Workshop and How Can It Improve Your Digestion?
It is no secret that most of our lives are centered around our jobs and a million other responsibilities we have to take care of. We seldom take the time to savor each moment for what it’s worth. This lack of awareness for our daily actions impacts us negatively — especially when it comes to mealtime.
When was the last time you truly allowed yourself to be present for each meal throughout your day? A lack of mindfulness can cause you to participate in poor eating habits that will disrupt your digestion and cause a host of health concerns. When you are not mindful of what you are consuming, you are more likely to overeat, lose the ability to gauge hunger levels, eat too quickly, and make mindless food choices.
As more and more people have realized the error in these actions, they are turning to mindful eating workshops. A mindful eating workshop will help to guide you to break down those poor eating habits, and instead replace them with mindful choices. The workshop will guide you in meditations, self-reflections, and practices that will transform your relationship with food and its place in your life. Food is meant to nourish, energize, and support our bodies throughout our rigorous days. It deserves adequate attention so that it is able to properly support us.
Take some time to reflect on your relationship with food and the meals you consume. If you find that you are practicing poor eating habits, a mindful eating workshop, or simply building your own, can be a great way to improve the way you eat.
How Aloe Vera Juice Can Transform Your Wellness Routine
Aloe vera is known for its alleviating properties post-sun exposure, but did you know that it has digestive and oral health benefits as well? This tropical plant can be used topically, but also can be ingested in the form of a juice.
Its antioxidant levels make it a wonderful anti-inflammatory ingredient, especially due to the level of polyphenols it contains. Polyphenols are known to regulate blood pressure levels and can promote circulation throughout the body. While it is no secret that applying aloe vera topically is beneficial to one’s skin, especially when it is struggling, ingesting the aloe vera can also benefit your skin by increasing your levels of collagen. Collagen helps to improve the skin’s elasticity and helps to slow down the aging process.
Now, let’s break down how aloe vera can possibly be beneficial to your digestion. It is all thanks to this one plant compound called anthraquinone glycosides. This plant compound contains laxative properties which would be helpful when one is experiencing constipation and infrequent bowel movements. There is also a potential that aloe vera juice can improve symptoms of acid reflux and irritable bowel syndrome, but studies are limited.
The antibacterial properties found in aloe vera make it a wonderful choice for your dental health. It can help to alleviate pain associated with certain oral complications, and can reduce the amount of bacteria found in your mouth. These dental benefits can be reaped by drinking the aloe juice or simply by using an aloe vera mouthwash.
Aloe vera is truly versatile making it a wonderful option to keep in your back pocket in times of need.
Breaking Down The Potential Benefits and Side Effects of Moringa
There is a rise in buzz surrounding the benefits of the moringa tree. The moringa tree contains a variety of different essential nutrients including, but not limited to:
- calcium
- magnesium
- potassium
- iron
- phosphorus
Moringa is an appealing choice for wellness due to its high nutrient count, but the benefits do not stop there. Moringa has both a laxative and anti-inflammatory effect making it a wonderful option for those who might be experiencing an excess of inflammation and/or constipation. It helps to keep inflammatory enzymes at bay, which are known to further exacerbate issues such as acid reflux. On the other hand, the laxative effect can cause an adverse reaction on those whose digestive process is normal or experiencing bouts of diarrhea. In this case, moringa should not be consumed to avoid increasing complications.
As mentioned above, the moringa tree contains a powerhouse of antioxidants. Antioxidants have a variety of different health benefits depending on the specific antioxidant. We are going to break down just a few to highlight the extra ways in which the moringa tree can be beneficial to your health.
- Beta-carotene turns into vitamin A as it travels through the body. Once it is converted into vitamin A, it helps with one’s vision, protection levels, and skin health. Antioxidants protect the body from free radicals which can cause cellular damage and other complications in the long run. It also acts as a barrier from the sun, making it a wonderful addition year-around, but especially in the summer months.
- Chlorogenic acid can be found in a variety of different plants such as moringa, and also offers antioxidant protection. It potentially can help to regulate blood sugar and insulin activity in the body, meaning it can help to prevent a sugar high or crash after eating. It is also known to protect cognitive function.
- Vitamin C is a nutrient we are all familiar with. It helps to support and protect one's immunity levels and produces collagen. Collagen promotes healthy skin, and can be especially helpful when one finds themselves with a wound or cut. Vitamin C can also help your body absorb iron.
Moringa can be taken either through a supplement form or through a powdered form. Women who are breastfeeding or pregnant should avoid moringa as certain chemicals found in the tree can cause adverse issues and complications. As always, it is important to speak with your physician before adding any new supplement or trend to your routine to best understand if it is the right course of action for you specifically.