Categories Advice, Health

Colon Hydrotherapy

A major component in maintaining or establishing a satisfied body composition is colon therapy. The idea is to cleanse the colon from impacted fecal matter. This causes your abdomen to be distended due to its inability to remove the substance that makes the stomach protrude. It’s not fat and it’s not fluid. It’s built up waste from eating foods that are difficult to pass through the intestines. We experience discomfort due to weight and gas from the substances that remain in the colon. Our body has the ability to break down components by way of order. In other words our body will break down carbohydrates first. Followed by fats. Then protein. Traditionally,we are not taught to know why or how our bodies perform this action. If we are unaware of this mechanism then we can unknowingly contribute to problems of the digestive system like indigestion. When we eat meals that have items of different groups for instance sweet potato and chicken our body will begin to break down the sweet potato first while the chicken which is a protein will sit and wait. Due to the sweet potato being a carbohydrate, it takes precedence in digestion. While the chicken waits for its turn to digest it will begin to ferment, thus causing indigestion and gas to accumulate.

Over time this will cause our stomach area to extend beyond our desired point. We will ultimately begin to feel discomfort and feel dissatisfied with our appearance. Whenever I conduct a free consultation with clients I recommend colon therapy to assist with the process of reestablishing a satisfactory core. For every foot of the colon, the body can store between 7 and 10 pounds of feces. The average person’s colon can often hold 8 to 25 pounds of accumulated fecal matter when we do not eat the foods or take supplements that aid in colon therapy. Our services at Bella 2 will allow you to achieve a better waste line along with colon therapy.

Our machine is in a private suite with all the amenities necessary to achieve colon therapy while in a serene, quiet and comfortable environment. This process usually takes 45 minutes to complete. We recommend that anyone without any health restrictions to complete at least 3 sessions yearly. We will accommodate anyone that wishes to complete more than 3 sessions as long as a physician approves the request. It is reported that 3 times a day to 3 times a week is normal for bowel movements. But we must keep in mind that consistency and regularity is very important in maintaining a healthy colon. Some people may feel uncomfortable in regards to discussing issues or concerns about their colon. But while there is apprehension in discussing the bowel there is also an increasing number of people that are diagnosed with colon disorders and cancer yearly. We must let go of the embarrassment and start having discussions on how to offset the unnecessary complications of the colon due to lack of care. We welcome anyone to contact us to ask any questions they may have regarding colon therapy. Our consultations are free and private. Schedule your appointment today.

Categories Advice, Beauty, Health

Why Indulge in a Body Wrap?

Making a visit to the spa is undoubtedly one of the most relaxing activities around, and when you indulge in a body wrap you can look forward to a splendid sense of restoration in the body as well as the spirit. With more specialized body wraps available than ever before, trying one for yourself is bound to be a rewarding experience.

Body wrap treatments often incorporate a variety of elements to cater to your personal needs including detoxifying clays, herbal aromatherapy blends, nourishing oils and exfoliation rituals. Once your skin has been pampered with the appropriate products, you will be wrapped up and left to bask in some blissful quiet time. To make sure your body receives the maximum benefits that a body wrap can provide, treatments involve being wrapped in materials like cloth bandages, a sheet or even plastic wrap. When your treatment is finished, you are sure to leave the spa feeling amazing, both physically and mentally.

Here are some of the wonderful ways a body wrap at the spa can benefit you:

Get rid of dead skin

An exfoliation treatment is often the first step during the experience to prepare the skin before the body wrap is applied. Exfoliation helps remove dead skin cells from the outermost layers of the body and boost circulation, which lends skin a radiant glow and a more even tone.

Skin is intensely hydrated

Known for their ability to deliver major moisture to parched skin, body wraps are an extremely popular spa treatment for individuals who suffer from dry skin. Body wraps are nourishing to the skin, giving it a lustrous, more supple look and feel.

Enjoy some blissful “me time”

Although most people book a body wrap treatment because of its physical benefits, the relaxing rituals involved will certainly have you feeling mellow, too. Every portion of the treatment feels exquisite, from luxurious products for exfoliation and moisture being applied to the skin, to being wrapped and left alone to decompress in a tranquil space. Most people who get a body wrap treatment savor the built-in quiet time they enjoy away from the stresses of everyday life.

Temporary weight loss or inch loss

A body wrap can result in giving the body a sleeker appearance, and can also mean dropping a dress size for some people, which makes the treatment a go-to choice for anyone looking for a temporary fix before an important event. The effects only last a day or two, but the short-lived results are definitely worth it. The human body naturally hangs onto excess water and toxins in its system, but a body wrap is able to quickly flush them away through sweat, lending skin a tighter, more toned appearance.

Detox the skin

Body wraps have the ability to help detoxify the skin through the use of natural elements including algae, seaweed, a range of sea salts, and mud or clay rich in minerals. These products help draw impurities and toxins away from the skin. A body wrap produces immediate results, improving the appearance and tone of the skin as soon as the toxins have been flushed away. Skin is left with a younger, brighter luminescence that gives an instant boost in confidence.

Body wraps at the spa

During your incredible spa experience, you will not want to miss treating yourself to an indulgent body wrap at Spa Imagine. The Green Tea & Seaweed Body Wrap envelopes the skin in rich hydration with a calming yet deep cleansing ritual; the treatment starts with an exfoliating body scrub, followed by a relaxing period as the wrap works its magic, and finally a full-body massage takes things to another level of fabulous. Anyone who wants to pamper their skin and rejuvenate its youthful glow will love the Vitamin C Body Wrap, which combines a blend of antioxidant-rich citrus essences that is applied to the skin, leaving it feeling deeply moisturized while rejuvenating its level of firmness and refining its texture.

Categories Advice, Health

12 Health Benefits Of Dandelion Leaves And Dandelion Root

Health Benefits of the Common Dandelion Plant

What’s better than a plant that gives wishes when you puff its fluff? A plant that provides health benefits! Dandelion is excellent food and medicine!

Dandelion is most often thought of as a pesky weed that takes over our lawns and gardens.

They overwhelm meadows, soccer fields, and are the bane of golf courses. They even pop up in cracked sidewalks and pavement.

Dandelion is invasive and pervasive. Lucky for us, it’s also excellent food and herbal medicine anyone can find, grow, and put to use.

It has been used in traditional Chinese healing for breast concerns, appendicitis, and stomach problems. Native Americans boil and drink dandelion extract to help treat digestion problems, skin ailments, inflammation, liver injury, kidney disease, and heartburn.

Early Europeans used it to remedy diabetes, high fever, and diarrhea.

Dandelion is a very rich source of beta-carotene which we convert into vitamin A. This flowering plant is also rich in vitamin C, fiber, potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and phosphorus.

It’s a good place to get B complex vitamins, trace minerals, organic sodium, and even some vitamin D, too. Dandelion also contains protein, more than spinach.

How to Pick Dandelion Root and Leaves

It has been eaten for thousands of years as food and medicine to help treat anemia, scurvy, skin problems, blood disorders, and depression.

If you collect them wild, try to choose ones you know have not been subjected to pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals. The ones in your lawn are not usually the best.

Instead, pick them from a mountain meadow or abandoned lot.

You can buy seeds or gather them from the familiar puff balls you see each summer. Seeds grow readily in your garden, planter boxes, or pots.

Dandelion leaves are also found fresh in some health food markets or as a freeze-dried herb. Dandelion tea, capsules, and tinctures are also available.

Dandelion Root and Leaves: How Do They Keep the Body Healthy?

1. Promotes and Stimulates Digestion

Dandelion acts as a mild laxative that promotes digestion, stimulates appetite, and balances the natural and beneficial bacteria in the intestines. It can increase the release of stomach acid and bile to aid digestion, especially of fats.

2. Prevents Water Retention in the Kidneys

This weed-like superfood is a natural diuretic, which helps the kidneys clear out waste, salt, and excess water by increasing urine production and frequency of urination.

In French, it is called pissenlit, which roughly translates to ‘wet the bed.’ This inhibits microbial growth in the urinary system and prevents urinary tract infections.

Dandelion also replaces some of the potassium lost in the process.

In a study conducted in 2009, high-quality fresh dandelion leaf hydroethanolic extract was given to volunteer subjects. Results showed that the urine output and frequency increased in the two out of three instances dandelion extract was ingested.

3. Detoxifies the Liver

Dandelion has been shown to improve hepatic function by detoxifying the liver and reestablishing hydration and electrolyte balance. It also increases the production and release of bile.

A laboratory study on mice showed this medicinal plant’s ability to slow down the progress of carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis or scarring.

4. Boosts Antioxidant Activity

Every part of the dandelion plant is rich in antioxidants, which prevents free radicals from damaging cells and DNA, slowing down the aging process in our cells. It is rich in vitamin C and vitamin A as beta-carotene and increases the liver’s production of superoxide dismutase.

What is superoxide dismutase? This is an enzyme that speeds up or catalyzes the breakdown of the oxidative stress-causing superoxide by-product.

5. Has Been Used In Cancer Research

The ability to combat cancer is not a claim made lightly, but dandelion seems to show promise in study after study after study. Dandelion may slow cancer’s growth and prevent it from spreading.

The leaves are especially rich in antioxidants and phytonutrients which combat cancer. Dandelion root extract, on the same note, has shown its ability to induce apoptosis or cell death in prostate and pancreatic cells.

6. Helps Regulate Blood Sugar Levels

Recent animal studies show dandelion helps regulate blood sugar and insulin levels. Most of this is done through its ability to control lipid levels and stimulate the pancreatic cells to produce more insulin when needed.

7. Aids in the Management of High Blood Pressure

As a natural diuretic, dandelion increases urination which then lowers blood pressure. The fiber and potassium in dandelion also help regulate blood pressure.

8. Reduces Cholesterol Levels

Animal studies have shown how dandelion lowers and controls cholesterol levels while improving cholesterol ratios by raising HDL.

9. Protects the Gallbladder

Dandelion increases bile production and reduces inflammation to help with gallbladder problems and blockages.

10. Fights Inflammation with Its Antioxidant Properties

Dandelion contains essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and phytonutrients that all reduce inflammation throughout the body. These can relieve pain and swelling.

11. Boosts the Immune System

Studies also show dandelion boosts immune function and fights off microbes and fungi.

12. Prevents UVB Damage on the Skin at the Cellular Level

A study published in 2015 on the journal of Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity made the following conclusions :

  • Dandelion extracts prepared from dandelion root, leaves, and flowers protect the skin cells from UVB-induced cell death.
  • Dandelion flower and leaf extract can help with UVB-related oxidative stress.
  • Dandelion leaf extract protects the skin from free radical-induced aging.
  • Dandelion leaf extract absorbs UV radiation better than dandelion flower extract.

How to Use Dandelion Root, Leaves, and Flowers for Health

Dandelion leaves, flowers, and roots are all edible. They have a slightly bitter flavor that can be minimized by harvesting them in the fall or spring.

The young leaves are more tender and less bitter, making a great addition to raw salads. Cooking dandelion cuts the bitter flavor of both the leaves and the roots.

You can start by drinking a cup of dandelion root coffee or roasted dandelion root a day to give your body time to adjust. Then, increase your intake to two to three cups a day.

Dandelion Root Dosage

There is no approved recommended dosage for dandelion extract in the U.S., but there are recommended daily dosages in Europe:

  • Dried dandelion extract – .75-1 g
  • Fresh dandelion root – 2-8 g
  • Fresh root extract – 1-2 tbsp
  • Dandelion tea infusion – 1 tbsp chopped root soaked in ½ cup of hot water for 20 mins.
  • Dandelion root powder – 3-4 g powder dissolved in ½ cup of hot water

How to Make Dandelion Root Extract

Get dandelion root and leaves from a health food store or a reputable source, preferably organic.

Soak your dandelion leaves and roots in water for a few minutes, then rinse. Cut them into small bits.

Roast for an hour at 200° F for 60 minutes to make roasted dandelion roots and leaves. Cool them down before storing in an airtight container.

When you’re ready to drink, just take a few teaspoons and add to hot water. Enjoy your dandelion root coffee or tea!

Dandelion Allergy Warning


Dandelion is generally considered safe in food and medicinal levels. Some people may have allergic reactions to dandelion.

Anyone with an allergy to ragweed, chrysanthemum, marigold, chamomile, yarrow, or daisy should avoid dandelion, and anyone pregnant, nursing, or taking prescription drugs should talk to a health care professional before adding something new to their diet.

Dandelion Extract Drug Interactions

Because dandelion extract goes through the blood, liver, and kidneys when ingested, it may interact and cause changes in the prescribed effects of some drugs:

  • Antibiotics
  • Diuretics
  • Antipsychotics
  • Antidepressants
  • Blood pressure medications
  • Hormone pills
  • Other herbal medicines

Consult your physician before making changes to your medicine intake or before drinking dandelion extract.

Dandelions are more than just pesky weeds. Whether you’re taking dandelion root tincture, tea, or roasted coffee, it can greatly benefit your health.

Do note, however, the plant’s recommended intake dosages, allergy warnings, drug interactions, and effects before taking it in any form. As with everything else, consult your doctor.

How do you like your dandelion root extract? Do you know of other recipes that use the dandelion herb? Let’s talk about this herbal medicine in the comments below!

Categories Advice, Health

8 questions we have about CoolSculpting® answered

I remember when I was being fitted for my wedding dress, and the veteran dressmaker commented on my stomach.

“Oh, it won’t look like that after you have a baby,” she promised me.

More than 12 years later, I can confirm she was right. I’m proud of my baby-tummy, but secretly, sometimes, I wish it was a little firmer.

I love my body, and try my best to exercise and eat healthily to feel good. There’s only so much it can do for me, though.

For some of us, wanting some extra help is a reality. Each to their own, right?

So, when I heard about this thing called CoolSculpting®, I was intrigued; the concept of freezing fat cells with no surgery. Hang on…does it actually require no extra energy exertion apart from my usual regular exercise?

I decided to look into it, and here’s what I’ve learned so far.

So, what is CoolSculpting®?

In short, CoolSculpting is a non-invasive fat-freezing technology that’s designed to reduced superficial and unwanted fat.

Through the process of cryolipolysis, which was developed by Harvard scientists, it freezes the subcutaneous fat cells (fat found underneath the skin) that are usually difficult to shift, even with healthy living.

It’s not a weight-loss procedure, but it is about contouring your body.

Here’s the part I think is so interesting; while the fat cells freeze, the skin and other tissue are spared from injury. Most of the targeted fat cells are damaged beyond repair and die. The body’s natural system removes these dead fat cells over the coming weeks and months post-treatment.

There are no needles or no surgery involved in the CoolSculpting procedure. Perfect for pain-phobes like me. (Yes I had a C-section and am a warrior, but still.)

Who can provide CoolSculpting®?

CoolSculpting has been available globally for many years, and more than eight million treatments have been done as of July 2019 – meaning it’s been tried and tested. In Australia and New Zealand, 185 clinics perform these treatments.

All treatments must be done by certified CoolSculpting technicians. The way it works is that they do an initial consultation, put together a treatment plan and undertake the procedure.

At the initial consultation they work out if it’s right for you, and tailor it to your needs.

Can I get the CoolSculpting® treatment?

The CoolSculpting treatment can be done on most people who have stubborn areas of the body they’d like extra help on, despite living a reasonably healthy lifestyle. If this is something you’re interested in, you can book an appointment with a trained CoolSculpting technician to find out if it’s right for you. In this initial chat, you can also get a better understanding of treatment costs, if it is something you might proceed with.

On that, most CoolSculpting clinics offer package pricing for your tailored treatment, so your sessions can be more affordable.

How does freezing fat cells help in body shaping/body sculpting?

During your treatment session, the CoolSculpting technician precisely marks up the areas to be treated to ensure accurate positioning of the applicators.

Depending on the treatment area, the procedure will take approximately 35 to 75 minutes.

The CoolSculpting treatment decreases the size of the pockets of fat by reducing the number of fat cells in the treated area. The CoolSculpting technicians have intensive training, so they know where to place the applicators to best “sculpt” the body.  The CoolSculpting treatment has demonstrated fat layer reductions across multiple treatment areas of up to 27 per cent.

What happens to the fat after it has been frozen?

OK, so we know the skin and surrounding tissue aren’t damaged, but where do the dead fat cells go? Your body just eliminates them naturally.

This step-by-step visualization explains the CoolSculpting process:

What does the CoolSculpting® treatment feel like?

So this is the big question – is it painful?

As mentioned before, the treatment is non-surgical and doesn’t use needles.

Controlled cooling is delivered via an applicator to freeze the targeted subcutaneous fat.

Most CoolSculpting applicators use a vacuum to draw the fatty tissue into the applicator cup. During this initial part of the procedure, you may feel some pulling, tugging and or mild pinching/stinging.

But it is not a vacuum sucking fat out of your body. Remember, it’s non-invasive.

When the applicators are removed, the technician performs a two-minute massage on the treated area to break up the fat cells.

The sensation felt during that part of the process is apparently different for each person; some are fine, others (most likely me, who has a child-like threshold for discomfort) say it can be slightly uncomfortable for a short period of the massage.

What can I expect in the hours and days after the treatment?

According to the CoolSculpting website, there can be some swelling or numbness in the treated area, or it may feel tender. But that usually subsides pretty quickly.

As the treatment is completely non-invasive, most people return to work and their daily activities immediately after the treatment.

What are the results I can expect to see after treatment?

You should start to see results at six weeks and see final results around 12 weeks after treatment. This is because it takes around this amount of time for your body to naturally eliminate those dead fat cells.

With the CoolSculpting treatment being so targeted, the remaining fat cells can change in size depending on your lifestyle; that is, they can expand with weight gain or shrink with weight loss.  However, the treated fat cells are removed for good.

If you’re like me and you’re in the research phase, head to CoolSculpting’s website to find out more or find a clinic that offers CoolSculpting.

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