Product Review: Diva Cup + Giveaway!

Before you keep reading, this post is geared towards the ladies (sorry guys!). Second, we are not sponsored or paid to publicize this product.

The product that I am reviewing is called the Diva Cup. It is a sustainable menstrual cup that you insert and clean and whatnot. There are other cups just like this like: the Moon Cup and the Keeper. I have linked them all so you can compare. This review is solely on the Diva Cup because I haven't tried the others.

Why I love the Diva Cup

• It is only $40 ($30 on amazon!). If you think about it, you will save money. According to their website, you save about $100-150 per year!
• You can keep it in for 12 hours. I hate having to go to the bathroom every 3-4 hours especially when I have class that long. This is the best solution.
• I hate the bulkyness of pads, and tampons freak me out.
• You don't feel it (for the most part). It definitely gets some getting used to in the beginning. 
• It is so easy to do normal things. I used to avoid working out and doing yoga because I hate worrying about it. Now, I don't even think about what to do.

Here is a video explaining menstrual cups. She doesn't talk about the DivaCup because it is newer but you should still watch it!

Diva Cup Giveaway!

 What you get: one Diva Cup (size 1)

Who can enter: US residents only!

What you need to do:

• You must email livingtowardslove@gmail.com your name.
• You must be liking our Facebook page.
• +2 entry: advertising LTL on Facebook (send screenshot to email above)
• +1 entry: advertising LTL on Tumblr/Twitter (only one, if you do both, it counts as one entry. send screenshot)
• +1 entry: doing the survey from a couple weeks ago (leave your name in one of the comment boxes so we know you did it!)
• +1 entry: commenting on this post on why you want the Diva cup

How we will choose:
We will take all your entries, write them on a piece of paper, put in hat, and pick. We will make a video so you can all see. We will also email you that you have won so we can get your shipping information.

Enter by Valentines Day at 9pm PST. We will announce the winner on Friday or Saturday!

Good luck!! :)

This post is written by Karel.
Adapted from: 
Diva Cup 
Amazon
Youtube
 Diva Cup Logo Image
Diva Cup Image

Eating for pH Balance

Our bodies are most happy at a pH level of about 7.2-7.4. The pH scale ranges from 0-14, where 0 is the most acidic, and 14 is the most alkaline. When there is too much acidity, the body has to rely on it's own precious reserves in order to balance and be within the optimal range, thus aging our bodies faster and robbing us of energy. The more alkaline foods that we consume, the better our bodies are able to fight disease and also stay strong and recover. Naturally, the body constantly wants to heal itself and become perfect, but if we continually stress it out, it loses it's ability to fight. We thrive when we are more alkaline, but unfortunately a lot of standard diets have many acidic foods that promote and harbor illness. Read below about foods that contribute to alkalinity and acidity.

pH of foods (in order of most alkaline to most acidic) 
Most alkaline:
baking soda, lime, nectarine, persimmon, raspberry watermelon, tangerine, lentils, yams, onion, daikon, taro root, sea vegetables, burdock, sweet potato, pumpkin seeds

More alkaline: spices, cinnamon  grapefruit, cantaloupe, honeydew, citrus, mango, dewberry, loganberry, kohlrabi, parsnip, garlic, kale, parsley, endive, mustard green, ginger root, brocoli, poppy seed, molasses

Low alkaline: herbs (most), lemon, pear, apple, avocado, blackberry, cherry, peach, papaya, eggplant, potato, bell pepper, mushroom, cauliflower, pumpkin, collard-greens, primrose oil, sesame seed, cod liver oil, almonds, sprouts, quail eggs, green or mu tea, rice syrup, apple cider

Lowest alkaline: orange, apricot, banana, blueberry, pineapple, raisin, currant, grape, strawberry, brussel sprouts, beet, chive, okra, turnip greens, squash, lettuces, avocado oil, seeds (most), coconut oil, olive oil, linseed oil, oats, quinoa, wild rice, duck eggs, ginger tea

Lowest acid: curry, guava, dry fruit, figs, dates persimmon juice, spinach, fava beans, kidney beans, string beans, chutney, rhubarb, pumpkin seed oil, grape seed oil, sunflower oil, pine nuts, canola oil, millet, kasha, amaranth, brown rice, wild duck, venison, fish, chicken eggs, cream, yogurt, kona, honey, maple syrup, rice vinegar

Low acid: vanilla, plum, prune, tomato, tofu, pinto beans, white beans, navy beans, adzuki beans, lima beans, chard, almond oil, sesame oil, safflower oil, buckwheat, spelt, wheat, semolina, goose/turkey, lamb/mutton, elk, shellfish, cow and goat milk, aged cheese, soy cheese, black tea, balsamic vinegar.

More acid: nutmeg, cranberry, pomegranite, green peas, peanut, snowpea, legumes, carrots, chickpea, pistachio, pecans, corn rye, oat bran, chicken, pork/veal, muscles/squid, casein, coffee, saccharin

Most acidic: pudding, jam jelly, soybean, hazelnuts, walnuts, brazil nuts, barley, pheasant, beef, lobster, processed cheese, ice cream, beer, sugar, cocoa, white vinegar

--> This image sums up what I wrote pretty well, of course it doesn't include all foods, but it gives you an idea. Basically the more natural foods are within the mildly acidic to highly alkaline range, and this is exactly what the body needs. Where as the most acidic foods are the processed sugars, flours, alcohol, dairy/meat products, etc. Yes there are acidic natural foods as well, but these are what offer a "balance" for the highly alkaline foods, so that the body can meet in the middle at the optimal pH of 7. Just know that it isn't bad to eat acidic foods, but it is good to have a balance!

Hopefully this guide can help you incorporate more fresh and disease fighting alkaline foods into your diet, and I have included some basic guidelines for eating below that will help on your journey to new and thriving health! :)

Basic eating guidelines to maintain health & vital energy :

• Enjoy food in a relaxed atmosphere (not in front of a TV watching CSI)
• Be thankful for your food before every meal, eat purposefully
• Eat portions of food that won't overtax the system
• Eat foods that are high in fiber
• Eat seasonally, and organically grown, and hand pick your food if possible
• Chew food well
• Do not skip meals
• Choose the most fresh food as possible
• Stay hydrated, and try not to drink 20 minutes before or 20 minutes after a meal (because the water dilutes digestive acids making it harder to break down the nutrients) 

If you are curious what your current pH level is in your body, and want to see if you are within the optimal range, you can buy pH strips and test easily using the saliva from your mouth.

This post is written by Michael 
Adapted from: 
The pH Balance Diet Book
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Life Lessons: The Stranger Part 4

For those of you that have been keeping up, we've been writing about "The Stranger" for a while now. He had so many lessons to share and it is not over yet! If you have missed, here is Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. Here is the continuation of The Stranger.

You can't change anyone but yourself.  You can only change yourself. The Stranger would always leave his dirty clothes in the bathroom. His wife finally learned that nagging him won't change anything. She put the laundry basket in the bathroom. Everyone is happy.

Pick and choose what you want to believe. We hear things everyday but we should question and not always believe that people are right or speaking the truth. Research before you believe what someone says.

Just because you listen, does not mean that you are not participating.  The Stranger told us a story about this man he knew in Hawaii. The Stranger always talked to... well, strangers while waiting for his wife shopping. He made conversation with other people that we waiting too. There was always this man that listened for years. Finally, over time, this man opened up to the Stranger. Even though he did not speak up in the earlier years, he was still participating because he was listening to conversation. In this story (which was a rather long story), we also learned that you can make something out of what you have and love to do.

There are Four Agreements:

1. written (contracts, etc)
2.  oral (things you talk about with others)
3. knowledgeable (for example, you know that mom will get mad if you aren't at the dinner table at 5:30)
4. nature (you can't go through walls, can't jump off building with out dying: we are limited by nature)

 ***if you break the agreement, someone will get mad. Learn to talk about changing the agreement.

Make wishes and change your stories. Wish for things to happen and make them true. Even if it seems simple do it. This works! You just need to believe it will. Picture it in your head, what happens, how it feels, visualize and feel. I once told Michael when pulling into a parking lot to go close to the building because someone will be leaving their spot. Believe it or not, someone did.


The biggest lesson: Be honest, open, and kind.
We all make mistakes, but we have to realize that we made those mistakes and forgive ourselves. 

This is the last of the Life Lessons with the Stranger.  It was an amazing random encounter. His main ideas were based on Enlightenment and how to find it. He says that we are now on our journey and can never go back. Thank you for keeping up with the long series of The Stranger. Keep coming back for more Life Lessons with LTL! (:


This post is written by Karel and Michel.
Adapted from: a random encounter with The Stranger 
Wish Picture 
Question Everything Picture

Oriental Medicine: Introduction to the Five Element Theory

The five element theory is used in traditional chinese medicine as a way to diagnose and treat illness. The premise behind it is that every being is created from five elements. Wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. Each of these elements relates to each other and can control one another. When we become out of balanced emotionally or physically, it can be detrimental to our health and show up as aches in certain parts of our bodies, or even aversions to certain tastes or smells. Our bodies are very intricate and this is definitely a specialized type of medicine used for diagnosis.

Each element feeds the other and if one is out of balance it can affect your health adversely. Below is a nice diagram that shows how the elements feed off of each other, and the cycles are also explained.

There are four main cycles in which the elements work together or against each other
The first cycle is called sheng and is the "generating cycle." With this cycle, each element acts as a mother to the next one. An example of this would be that fire provides nourishment for earth.

The second cycle is called ke and is the "controlling cycle." With this cycle, each element checks up on elements across from each other. Each element is controlled and controls another element.

The third cycle is called cheng and is the "overactive cycle." With this cycle, if an element is overactive. An example of this would be water suppressing fire.

The fourth cycle is called wu and is the "insulting cycle." With this cycle, the forces of the elements become reversed. An example of this would be fire burning up water.

FIVE ELEMENTS	Wood	Fire	Earth	Metal	Water
Seasons	Spring	Summer	Late Summer	Autumn	Winter
Zang /Yin organs	Liver	Heart	Spleen	Lung	Kidney
Fu /Yang organs	Gallbladder	Small Intestine	Stomach	Large Intestine	Bladder
Directions	East	South	Middle	West	North
Tastes	Sour	Bitter	Sweet	Pungent	Salty
Tissues	Tendons	Vessels	Muscles	Skin/hair	Bones
Colors	Green	Red	Yellow	White	Blue/Black
Sense organs	Eye	Tongue	Mouth	Nose	Ear

Above is a nice list of how each element relates to many parts of mother natures cycle, and our own bodies. If we are having issues in any of these organs, or have issues in certain seasons, it can be a sign that one or more of our elements are out of balance. Health issues occur when our bodies aren't in perfect harmony, and more than one of our elements can be pointing to something that is wrong.

Many acupuncturists use the five element theory along with the needles in order to help heal illnesses. It is an ancient type of medicine, but can still be extremely effective if practiced properly  It may seem more complicated than it is, but nourishing elements that are out of balance, or the controlling elements, can actually cure disease.

The most important thing is to always listen to signs that your body gives you. It is extremely smart and will detect and warn you of imbalances before anything goes adversely wrong. If you ignore the signs, disease can manifest. If you are in tune, you can take caution and exercise prevention.

This post is written by Michael
Adapted from: 
Five Elements
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Living Towards Love Updates

Happy Wednesday to our lovely readers!
First of all, we would like to wish you all a very happy new year. Remember to keep your thoughts positive this new year! Second, thank you for reading and checking on LTL every Wednesday and Saturday. We really appreciate all of your support and love.

We wanted to take this Wednesday to update all of you.

First, we are now going to be updating once a week. Check us out every Saturday for a new post!

Second, please fill out this survey. We want to hear from you to make our blog bigger and better! It is only one page and will take no more than three minutes. 

Last, some stats for all of you:
Since our opening, we have had over 3,000 page views!
Our top four most viewed posts are: Chakras, Running Form, Sweaty Bands, and 2012 Transition! Check them out by clicking the links.
We have even gone international. Some of our readers are from Israel, United Kingdom, China, Germany, Russia, India, Canada, France, and Malaysia.

Thank you so much for supporting us!
Love, Karel and Michael

This post is written by Karel and Michael.
Adapted from: blogger webstats 
Surveymonkey
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Saturday Winnie the Pooh

Iron Explained for Vegetarians

Your body needs iron for your blood and your brains. Iron helps make hemoglobin, which assists the transportation of oxygen through your blood into the cells in your body. If you do not get enough iron in your system, your red blood cells becomes pale and weak. This means that your blood is not receiving enough oxygen. 

Cues That You May Need More Iron

• fatigue & weakness
• inability to concentrate
• increased susceptibility to infections
• hair loss
• dizziness 
• headaches
• brittle nails
• apathy
• depression

Iron Requirements

The Food and Nutrition Board at the Institute of Medicine recommends the following:

Infants and Children
• Younger than 6 months: 0.27 milligrams per day (mg/day)
• 7 months to 1 year: 11 mg/day
• 1 to 3 years: 7 mg/day
• 4 to 8 years: 10 mg/day

Men
• 9 to 13 years: 8 mg/day
• 14 to 18 years: 11 mg/day
• Age 19 and older: 8 mg/day

Women
• 9 to 13 years: 8 mg/day
• 14 to 18 years: 15 mg/day
• 19 to 50 years: 18 mg/day
• 51 and older: 8 mg/day

Sources of Iron
1 cup of cooked soybeans (8.8 mg)
1 cup of cooked lentils (6.6 mg)
1 cup of cooked spinach (6.4 mg)
1 teaspoon of Spirulina (5 mg)
1 cup of cooked chickpeas (4.7 mg)
4 ounces of quinoa (4 mg)
1 cup of cooked oatmeal (1.6 mg)



This post is written by Karel.
Adapted from:
Why Do You Need Iron
Iron Requirements
Iron Sources 1
Iron Sources 2
Cues for more iron
Iron
Leafy Greens Picture
Iron Greens

6 Cleansing Methods to Get Clean

With the start of the new year, it is a great time to start a cleanse. Our bodies are consistently enduring many toxins and attempting to clear themselves. Cleansing detox diets are short term methods to help clear the system from toxins from processed foods and the environment. Also, cleanses are a great way to beat addictions such as caffeine, alcohol, and sugar. These cleanses can bring mental clarity, spiritual uplifting, and help you feel better.

6 Cleanses to Get Clean

1. Master Cleanse: This cleanse involves consuming a mixture of lemon juice, maple syrup, water, and cayenne pepper. This mix is consumed multiple times per day over a span of about ten days. Also salt water flushes in the morning and laxative teas are used at night to further cleanse the system.
pro: better sleep, improved complexion, more energy, weight loss, increased strength, reduced swelling and pain
cons: can lead to muscle breakdown, vitamin deficiencies, headaches
*read book The Complete Master Cleanse by Tom Woloshyn or research online for more info

2. Green Smoothie Detox Diet: This cleanse involves drinking fruits and vegetables through smoothies. You want to shoot for about fifteen servings of fruit and vegetables per day. Additional foods besides fruit and veggies allowed are: bee pollen, chia seeds, herbs, raw cacao, coconut, flaxseed oil, goji berries, maple syrup, stevia, honey, and avocado.
pro: good source of fiber to get things moving
cons: can experience headaches and fatigue because of toxin elimination

3. Fresh Fruit Cleanse: This cleanse was created by Leanne Hall who is a yoga instructor and nutrition enthusiast. It lasts between one to seven days. The fruit works to restore metabolism and strengthen digestive action of the intestines. Recommended foods are: mangos, pears, bananas, raspberries, plantains, dates, figs, lemons, tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, eggplants, zucchinis, avocados, coconut milk, spirulina, raw cacao, hemp seeds, flaxseeds, olive oil, balsamic vinegar herbs, and spices. It is called the fresh fruit cleanse, but can include some veggies too as listed above
pro: affordable, encourages fruit an veggie intake
con: food needs to be prepped and can be time consuming
*read book Fresh Fruit Cleanse by Leanne Hall for more information

4. Raw Food Cleanse: The idea behind this cleanse is that when we eat too many cooked foods, our bodies use energy that normally goes towards detoxification to assimilate these foods. This cleanse will help to get rid of waste without gaining more junk along the way. Eating habits include organic raw vegetables, fruits, seeds, and sprouts. Avocados, nuts and coconuts aren't allowed for this cleanse because they reduce the efficacy of cleansing and can tax the liver if consumed in large quantities. You must eat at least one pound of leafy greens per day as well. This cleanse normally lasts about 7-10 days. This cleanse also recommends a 24 hour water faster prior to starting.
pro: rejuvenation, energy, weight loss, mental clarity
con: may experience discomfort as toxins leave the body

5. Juice Cleanse: This cleanse requires that you have a juicer, which can be costly. Juice cleanses last at least three days normally and require fruit and vegetable juices. Prior to this type of cleanse you want to eliminate caffeine, processed foods, and sugar from your diet. This is to help avert negative cravings and headaches. You want to drink around 32-96 ounces of juice each day. Half of the juice should come from greens. Warm water is drank between the juices too to help elimination.
pro: increased energy, heal without drugs, maintain stamina
con: costly to buy massive amounts of fruits and veggies, juicers range from $60-1000, need to consume juice immediately after it is made since phytochemicals break down.

6. PH Cleanse: With this cleanse, you consume fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains. It prohibits meats, dairy sweets, alcohol, condiments, and artifical sweeteners. The idea behind this cleanse is that you eat foods that have a more alkaline pH. When we eat too many acidic foods such as meat and dairy, it disrupts the homeostasis within our bodies and can cause disease and illness. Balancing our pH with more alkaline foods increases our energy and helps us to recover faster and fight infections. You should do frequent saliva pH tests daily and try and shoot for a pH between 7.35-7.45. This cleanse also calls for two enemas daily
pro: alkaline foods are plant based and nourishing, can resolve pain, increase energy and sense of well being
con: two enemas daily can lead to electrolyte imbalance, negative feelings from toxins leaving body

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Karel and I tried the master cleanse about a year ago and it was great to clear out the system, but it got a bit repetitive and the drinks did not taste very good at all. With all of these cleanses feel out your body and remember that these cleanses are meant to be used for the short term. Note that you don't have to follow these cleanses directly as they are stated, but adapt them as you wish and listen to your body. Also, please consult a doctor before choosing to make any drastic dietary changes, and research each cleanse further independently so you know what to expect.

One more thing... It is BEST to start a cleanse during the spring and summer seasons.

This post is written by Michael.
Adapted from: 
Style Magazine 
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