HEALTHY LIVING

Ever smelled something and suddenly felt like you were seven years old again? 

The scent of your grandmother’s house. Freshly baked cake. A familiar flower. Suddenly, you're not just remembering a moment, you almost feel like you're back in it.

There’s science behind this.

Unlike most sensory information, smell has a particularly direct connection to the brain regions involved in memory and emotion, including the amygdala and hippocampus.

Research has found that scents can trigger vivid autobiographical memories, often reaching further back into childhood than memories prompted by words or pictures. These memories can also feel unusually emotional, as though the past has briefly come alive again. 

Of all our senses, smell has one of the most direct pathways to the brain’s memory and emotion centers.

Ever tried to change everything at once, only to lose momentum a week later? A single, enjoyable shift—like a quiet morning pause or a few minutes of Qigong—can make it easier to notice what fits your life. Explore a gentler way to build a routine that feels like your own, one small change at a time.

When the air feels stale or outdoor haze lingers, a fresh-smelling home can feel especially inviting. Aromatic oils offer a simple way to bring a crisp, botanical scent into your space, whether you diffuse them at home or use them as part of your daily routine. Explore the plant aromas behind a refreshing blend and discover a few ways to enjoy them.

A: I have been drinking a minimum of 10 drops of lemon in my water daily for 12 years, and there has been NO EROSION of enamel.  Previously, I was unable to eat citrus fruit or fresh pineapple because my teeth were so sensitive.

A: There is a chemical reaction in the body which causes some citrus oils – particularly LEMON and GRAPEFRUIT – to leave the body in a more alkaline state.  In other words, the molecules of lemon and grapefruit bond the acid molecules to them.  They are then eliminated from the body in the urine.  It is important to note that lemon and grapefruit are ACID-BINDERS while ORANGE IS ACID-FORMING.

What are Carotenoids?  

Carotenoids are pigments that give plants their characteristic red, orange and yellow colors. Carotenoids are also natural antioxidants and help protect cells from the damaging effects of “free radicals.” 

There are over 700 different carotenoids in nature, but only about 20 have ever been found in the human body. Only 2 carotenoids are found in our eyes. These are zeaxanthin and lutein.

Zeaxanthin is concentrated in the center of the retina and is also said to have “blue light filtering” capability along with the antioxidant action against those free radicals.

Research into the beneficial impacts of these antioxidants that are thought to be uniquely beneficial to eye health has stirred a lot of interest.  Some of the key research published in this area are the “Age-Related Eye Disease Study” (often abbreviated as AREDS) as well as the Australian “Blue Mountains Eye Study.”

In the September 2020 issue of the journal, Molecules, in the paper titled A Brief Overview of Dietary Zeaxanthin Occurrence and Bioaccessibility stated “the overall occurrence of zeaxanthin in natural food products is low.”  and “the most predominant sources of zeaxanthin present in the human diet are corn-based foods along with pepper and egg yolk.”

For comparison, from a table provided in that report, these were the top recognizable food sources of zeaxanthin, shown along with corn, peppers and egg for comparison:

Wow!  I know which food source I would choose.  Thanks to NingXia Red, I can have my Wolfberry and drink it too.  No kale or hot chili peppers required, but if you choose to add those to your daily NingXia, it will be one powerful drink!! 

Have you ever noticed how difficult it is to think clearly, relax, or make decisions when you're stressed?

Your nervous system plays a big role in how your body responds to those moments, and one important part of that system is the vagus nerve.

What is the vagus nerve?

The vagus nerve is a major communication pathway between your brain and many of your internal organs, including your heart, lungs, and digestive system. It plays an important role in regulating functions such as heart rate, digestion, and your body's relaxation response.

When you feel stressed, your body may shift into a state of heightened alertness. Gentle breathing techniques can help you slow down and support a calmer physiological state.

Try the thumb-blowing technique!

 

This simple exercise combines gentle breath control with a longer exhale. It's the controlled breathing, particularly the gentle, prolonged exhale, which may influence heart-rate regulation and support the body's calming response.

The vagus nerve is involved in these processes, although this technique specifically hasn't been well studied as a way to directly stimulate it.

Try it the next time you feel tense before a meeting, overwhelmed by your to-do list, or simply in need of a mindful pause. Save this post for the moments when you need a little reset. 

Pine’s aroma is reminiscent of the Japanese tradition of forest bathing and provides a refreshing breathing experience and encourages a moment of joy.

Pine essential oil has a long history of use in traditional wellness practices, particularly for supporting the respiratory system. Its naturally occurring constituents like alpha-pinene and limonene are known for their cleansing and soothing properties.

What’s unique about Pine? While many oils support the upper and mid-respiratory system, Pine is believed to offer support all the way down to the lower parts of the lungs, supporting deeper breathing. This isn’t just anecdotal: Pine essential oil and its components have been the focus of emerging scientific interest. (Search for yourself!)

Add Pine to your diffuser or use it topically on your chest. Breathe in that refreshing aroma and let it take your breath to places it may not usually go.  What does that feel like to you?

Did you know that the skin around your eyes can be 10x thinner than the skin on the rest of your face?

The skin around the eyes is thinner and has less oil glands than the skin on the rest of the body. This makes it more prone to dryness, droopiness, fine lines and wrinkles. It makes it the very first place to show fine lines, puffiness, or dark circles.

That’s why a regular face cream just doesn’t cut it. The eye area needs something gentler, more concentrated, and designed to hydrate and protect without overloading.

A good eye cream can:

 Your eyes do a lot for you & deserve their own special care.

SULFURZYME is the Young Living supplement that consists of organic sulfur, which is present in every cell of the body, along with supportive elements to enhance the absorption and action of the main ingredient, MSM. 

Here in Indonesia, it’s called JOINT ESSENTIALS, while in Singapore it goes by SULFURZYME and in Malaysia it’s called SUL4ZYME.  But they are “essentially” all the regionally adapted versions of the same well-loved Young Living supplement.

In the body, typically the levels of organic sulfur are depleted in those with chronic ailments and must be supplemented. 

Sulfurzyme can also support the cell membranes in becoming more permeable so the nutrients can be more readily absorbed, and the toxins can be eliminated.  It is also an excellent choice for healthy skin and to combat hair fall.  

Did we mention that organic sulfur is present in every cell of the body?  So, every cell of the body can be nourished and nurtured by providing your body with adequate levels of organic sulfur found in this beneficial supplement.  Skin, hair, nails, muscles and joints… the list of benefits goes on and on!

Whether you choose Sulfurzyme, Sulf4zyme, and Joint Essentials, the name depends on where you live, you’ll be giving your body what every cell craves.

We often reach for coffee when we’re tired, stressed, or needing that quick boost. But when we know better, we can do better.

Coffee’s “pick-me-up” often comes with a crash. Caffeine forces the body into overdrive, depletes minerals, taxes the adrenals, and leaves you needing more just to feel “normal.” It’s the cycle of temporary energy at the expense of long-term vitality.

It also dehydrates the body, putting you at even more need of “picking yourself up” just to keep going.  Combined with caffeine’s detrimental effect on sleep and the hidden toxins that damage your cellular health, can you see why it’s a vicious cycle?

Why choose NingXia Red instead?  

☕️ Coffee stimulates.    🍷 NingXia nourishes.

Where coffee can drain, NingXia replenishes by providing steady, cellular-level energy thanks to natural antioxidants, polysaccharides, and a low glycemic index that doesn’t spike blood sugar.

Coffee’s quick hit may feel good in the moment, but nourishing energy, the kind that supports your whole system, is what truly fuels your day.

Choose nourishment and regeneration over crash and degeneration!