Hello hello,
Wow, it really has been a while! And instead of making excuses as to why I haven’t been posting nearly as often as I would like to, I’m just going to jump right into it!
In the last little while, A LOT has happened and I can’t wait to share some of these life events! The first, and probably the biggest change in my life right now is that I got engaged!! This was in December (wow time flies!) and my fiance lives in NYC, so I’ve had the pleasure of visiting The Big Apple a number of times in the last little while! He’s been such an incredible part of my life and i’m really happy to have him along this crazy journey with me!
I’ve also traveled a fair bit in the last few years, and have had the pleasure of visiting some new places including Italy, Dominican Republic, Paris & Prague to name a few! I’m hoping to continue to travel as much as I possibly can and will look to share some of my most incredible experiences, as well as some tips along the way!
Apart from that, I have been trying to take advantage of the beautiful HOT summer we have had in Toronto, play tourist both in my own city and abroad by just exploring all the incredible things around us! It has been such a rewarding and enjoyable experience thus far!
In addition to this, I have been trying to keep healthy & have been working out… well… trying to be consistent with it, but, let me be the first to say it is HARD to keep a regular schedule. I so want to make that a priority though, not only for the upcoming #weddingdiet, but just to live a healthy lifestyle too. That being said, getting sick is the absolute worst, and I can say that my family, friends, fiance and myself have all had our fair share of colds and the flu this year (yes, I’m currently still getting over my post-travel cold as I’m writing this) but, I’ve realized that there are a lot of natural remedies I use when I’m sick that really do help! And whenever a friend, colleague or relative get sick, I’m quick to pull out my Marry Poppins bag with something that will be sure to help! So, I figured let me dedicate a post to this specifically because if it can help anyone else then that’s a bonus! And, it’s a good place to have all my little secrets, tips and tricks to refer to in writing for anyone I do share this stuff verbally with. Most of these (okay, lets be honest..pretty much all of these tricks) I have learnt from my amazing mum, who is a huge health enthusiast! So, let me know what you think if you do happen to try out any of these remedies out, and I hope they help you as much as they help us!
These are written in no particular order unless otherwise specified, and I am not a doctor, nor am I in the health-care field so please choose to try this at your own discretion 🙂 I know they work for me and my family, but every person is different so just keep that in mind & wishing you lots of good health 🙂
- Mudd-harder (also referred to as haldi & turmeric)
Yes, you’ve probably heard the craze on golden milk, turmeric root and how beneficial it is for our bodies, and it’s absolutely correct! This has been a tradition in my household for as long as I can remember. Different people suggest to mix turmeric in milk, water and even make a tea out of it! For me, growing up, as soon as I would get sick my mum would first give me a spoon of what was always referred to as “mudd harder” which translates to honey turmeric. Yup, it’s literally that simple – You take half to a teaspoon of turmeric powder and place the spoon over the stove for a few seconds to heat up the turmeric – this is a step you can’t forget, just be careful if you’re using a metal spoon directly over an open flame, to transfer the concoction onto another spoon before you eat it because the spoon gets really HOT! (yes science here would dictate open flame + metal = very hot but when i’m sick, i’ll be the first to say that has slipped my mind one too many times, so, I’ve made sure to include it as a tip!) next get an equal portion of fresh honey and mix it with the turmeric into a paste consistency. Have this straight from the spoon and make sure you have some water on hand in case you’re not a huge fan of the taste. Have this 1-2 times a day for a few days and voila – it’s a natural antibiotic, antioxidant and has been said to help prevent & treat cancer, Alzheimer and fight against depression! So, not only is this a great thing to have while you’re sick, but on the regular too!
If you don’t have the powder, or don’t like the taste, you can also get curcumin (the active ingredient in turmeric) tablets at the health food store. It’s best to get the ones with black pepper already in it, or have it with some black pepper as it will absorb easier into the bloodstream.
2. Ginger candies! (Gem Gem – Jam packed with Positivity)
Yup, candy! I have literally told everyone I know about these little candies! They have ginger in them but are still sweetened with cane sugar, and include tapioca for a chewy consistency. I’ll sometimes just have it as a treat as well. They’re vegan, gluten free, have no trans fats and cholesterol free, too! They hit your throat a little bit, but when you’re feeling your throat start to hurt these are the best little things to pop in your mouth! Ginger also helps with nausea, helps fight fevers, excessive sweating and motion sickness. You can find these at a health food store such as ambrosia, or, I get mine from Marshals or homesense in their food section.
3. Garlic pills (Allimax)
Okay, so I realize that I just included the top three things to made a basic indian curry, but trust me, this stuff works!!! I was travelling to Italy and my friend and I were both getting sick, we arrived to Venice and hadn’t eaten, or slept for over 18 hours! So we dropped off our bags, went to get a meal and wanted to call it a night, however, we ended up getting lost in Venice and didn’t return to our hotel until well past midnight. So we we’re both worried we were going to get super sick, and had only started out Italy trip, so we both popped 2 of these little garlic pills and called it a night. And let me tell you, these things are magic!! We both woke up feeling so much better, and the sore throat was completely gone. So this is now a staple for me to take whenever I travel, or if I get sick to try and help nurse me back to full health! They can be found at any health food store, but again I got mine from Ambrosia and the brand I buy is called Allimax, but I’m sure there are various brands wherever you are too.
4. Oregano Oil
This stuff does not taste great, so let me warn you about that first, BUT it does work. You put a few drops in some water, or if you’re daring enough from the dropper directly into your throat as soon as you start feeling the early symptoms of a cold or flu. Take this a few times (I usually have it 2-3 times a day) and you’ll feel it really work to fight those flu symptoms off ASAP
5. Water
Yup, anytime you get sick, lots of liquids especially water is key. It helps your body stay hydrated and you can fight off the infection better when you have lots of liquids in your system. Tea works too, but water is best. If you want some flavour try adding a little bit of honey and lemon which will help sooth a sore throat too.
6. Essential oils
Okay, so another craze people seem to be on are essential oils which let me tell you i’m all for! But just make sure you’re getting good quality, all natural oils before you put them on your body or in your diffuser, because when it comes to oils, it’s all about quality! My mum has been using young living for over 20 years now, and it has been the best thing to assist when you’re not feeling well. It also helps with so many other things, which, if you’re interested in I can dedicate a post to as well. But when you’re down, Joy has been an incredible oil that has helped lift my mood and feel better. In addition to that, thieves is an oil that really helps fight off infection and I always travel with it on planes. Lavender is also a great oil to help you sleep, especially when you’re sick and I find lavender really helps to relax me as well. Overall, I use essential oils on the regular and find that when I’m sick they aid in my recovery process as well. 🙂
Those are all the tips I can think of for now, I hope they help you as much as they have helped me and my loved ones throughout the years. This list is forever growing, but please let me know if you have any tricks or tips of your own in the comments below! Hope you enjoyed reading and stay healthy!
Xo
Ally
Crust & Topping 
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