You only live once

We won’t live forever. So we might as well live well. One key way to joy is to be healthy. So let me share with you what I am currently doing now.

Enzymes

I take enzyme packets three times a day. It helps me digest the food and seems to have made a difference with my bone density. You get this from Pillar 5 (Jaylyn Trogen, 0917-5814077). They also have this great Probiotic packet which is like a meal. It has great ingredients and is quite tasty.

Jules

These are small bottles of juice coming from 180 berries. Since I started taking them, people say I look younger. It seems to give me a lot of energy. It helped me with jet lag in the States and when I arrived in the Philippines. It’s quite tasty. You get this from Dr. Lisa (0917-8945006). If you look at the flyer the juice can address conditions from acne to cancer to Parkinsons Disease! My goal is just general well being  and in that context, it has worked.

Travel drops

Wherever I go I bring this. It’s four drops for every 8 oz. of water. It makes the water alkaline. It also has a cleansing effect on the water. You can put it in wine, soup... anything liquid. You can even put it in food. My sister said when she puts it in drinks she doesn’t get a hangover the next day. The recommended dosage is 40 drops a day. I noticed I pass out a lot more water when I go to the banyo. Clean water is so vital to health. These drops ensure that wherever I go, what I am putting in my system is healthy. It has an effect on my energy level. So I have a water bottle in which I put these drops and a packet of enzymes that I take throughout the day.

Himalayan nose inhaler

If you go to the States and to a health food shop, look for Himalayan Nose Inhaler. I just started using it. There is Himalayan salt in the inhaler. It’s like breathing in Himalayan air! It cleans the lungs. It helps me survive the pollution of Metro Manila. I use it before I sleep. I noticed my sleep is deeper. Now I bring it in the car, so whenever I go to a polluted place, I use it to clean my lungs. Clean air is the key to good health.

Exercise

Needless to say, this is vital. I am back on my power plate. This morning I had a stretching session with my trainer. What a difference stretching makes.

I found this rigorous for me. You can try it out if you do not have the luxury of time. My brother Ernie told me about a four-minute exercise regime. He did it for about 10 days when he was short of time and it kept him in shape. This is 10 jumping jacks, 10 lunges, 10 squats and 10 pushups. You do as many rounds as you can in four minutes.

I tried and my eldest son, Roberto watched me  and he snickered all the way through. Ernie can do 10 of these in four minutes; I reached about three! I had a hard time with the squats. Ernie explained that I do not have to go all the way down. So if I take out the resting time I could probably do four. Anyway, try it: midway my heart was palpitating. It’s amazing what one can do in four minutes!

Yoga

When we were on our Alaskan cruise, my sister Berta, who is the president of Yoga Manila, held a yoga class for the family. Berta does Ashtanga yoga. This is the first time I had ever attended her class and I was impressed. She coaxed us gently into the right positions. What impressed me most was the level of energy I had afterwards. I felt something had “opened.” I don’t normally sweat, but by the end of the session I was perspiring  and I was on a ship in Alaska!

According to Berta, Ashtanga is a yoga practice so unlike the stereotypical yoga class where you stretch and everything is chill. Ashtanga builds strength, stamina, flexibility. (For those who want to register here, contact 0917-5229642.)

If you look at the picture of Gregor Maehle, who will be in town teaching Ashtanga, he certainly looks strong! He will be at a book signing session on July 13, 6 p.m., at Powerbooks Greenbelt 4. He is the author of two renowned books on yoga. Gregor will also be facilitating a Weekend Yoga Philosophy Workshop at Yoga Manila’s Alabang Studio on July 14 and 15 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. He will be teaching morning sessions daily from July 15 to 20 at Yoga Manila’s Alabang and Makati studios. This six-day Asana Practice will give students a chance to deepen their understanding of yoga asana (postures) under Gregor’s guidance. (For more information visit http://www.yogamanila.com.)

Beauty

I am not a beauty expert but I like products that enhance one’s physical appearance in a sustained way. Meaning they don’t have chemicals that end up adversely affecting our health (examples: lead in lipsticks, talc in makeup, which clogs pores, etc.)

So this is what I use. I love Laura Mercier products. There is one award-winning foundation which I have been using for years  it’s their tinted moisturizer. It has SPF 20, moisturizes the skin and gives excellent cover.

Yesterday I was in Rockwell at Beauty Bar and I bought Koh Gen Do which also gives excellent cover. It is made from fruits and yogurt and has SPF 15.

Body care

This is my all-time favorite. Sparitual. You can get it from Shelley Lazaro (0917-5770921). They have it at Essences but the line is not complete. This doesn’t only have good ingredients but the ingredients are “sourced with awareness!” That is so cool! When I use it I feel a soothing energy. You have to try the calming Close Your Eyes body wash. It has an immediate effect of calming me. They have the best nail polish ever. Your nails don’t get yellow, even with continuous use. I love the colors. My manicurista says that they have the best nail polish remover. There is integrity to the company, something I really like. I read about the founder. She started the company as an extension of her beliefs, so it was not just about making money. 

Juerlen. A friend of mine went to this company and he said it’s really clean. The company has integrity and the products are really good. I’ve liked whatever I tried from their ensemble. They used to have a shop in Rockwell but they closed. Some of their products are available in Cathay Pacific. Try their lip and hand balm.

Dr. Haushka. I don’t know if they have this here. They used to. But if you go to the US, try it out. They have great Foot Relief Cream. I have been using the lip care balm for many years now. Their Rose Oil Body Moisturizer is the best. I love using it during cold weather. At home I prefer to use coconut oil.

Argan oil. If you are in the US, go to Sephora and get Jose Maran Arghan Oil. It’s their hottest selling product. It’s organic. I love it. You can use it on your face, your hair, your body. When I travel I bring a bottle so I don’t have to bring too many bottles. It’s very convenient. You can’t go wrong here. It’s the best!

Moroccan shampoo, conditioner. This is another best! This also has Arghan oil. After the shampoo and conditioner your hair will feel soft and silky. Pinggay, my office manager, told me her friend uses this and her Brazilian blow dry lasts an additional month because the shampoo does not strip the oil from one’s hair. They also have a Glimmer Spray and oil essences that are very similar to the Jose Maran Arghan Oil. I think it’s because the base ingredient is the same.

Aveda products. This is an ayurvedic line. I love these products. I use their lipstick, their hair products. I especially like their conditioner. They have great licorice tea that they give you for free when you go to their shop.

I choose companies with integrity. You can’t go wrong when you try their product lines because there is a commitment to deliver quality.

Vinegar. When I ran out of toner, I searched the net and found out that distilled vinegar with equal parts water and drops of lavender can be used as a toner. So I have been using this and I really like it. Otherwise you may want to try the aloe products of Bettina Osmena. (Call 888-2563.) They are great. She has a great toner that moisturizes the skin. Her whole line is actually great. She claims their aloe drink addressed her acid reflux significantly and that’s what got her into marketing the line. Aloe Cure is a certified organic alternative to antacids. It’s great for anyone suffering from ulcers.

The best way to health is to ensure you have clean air, clean water, and take in minimal chemicals. Even what you put on your body should have minimal chemicals. When you are not feeling well, don’t go headlong into pharmaceuticals. Excessive medicine is harmful for the kidney and liver. It’s always better to heal yourself the natural way. You will find you get sick less often.

The killer is dinner. That’s my experience. I notice when I eat a heavy dinner, the next day, my eyes feel cloggier, my mucous canals act up. I did an eight-day fast when I got back from Alaska. I needed to balance all the food I had loaded myself with onboard the cruise.

I find that the best way to keep my weight down is to control my food intake at night. We just sleep so there really is no need to eat. It will just turn into fat.

We don’t live forever, we might as well live well and healthy, and in a way that benefits the people we are with.

Happy, healthy living!

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I can be reached at regina_lopez@abs-cbn.com.