Vitamin cures for fantastic skin

 By Nathalie Chantal de Ahna

1. Vitamin C: Exfoliator.
You probably already know that vitamin C is incredibly important to boost your immune system. But has it ever come to your mind that you can use it to prepare a super effective DIY exfoliator? Just mix a teaspoon or two of vitamin C powder (ascorbic acid) with some almond milk until you get a nice paste, and massage it into your face with a little brush. Once you feel it tingle, rinse and apply some rosewater. Do this 3-5 times a week, and your skin texture will improve quickly. Don't use on injured skin, as ascorbic acid burns in open wounds. 

2. Vitamin E: Anti-Wrinkle Treatment.
I'm 35 and I don't have any wrinkles — except for my frown lines, which I started cultivating when I was still a child (I'm a frowner by nature, I'm afraid). Last year, however, I also noticed some fine lines around my eyes. Uhhhh, that didn't feel too good, because I simply wasn't ready for noticeable signs of aging in my face yet. So I went looking for an effective vitamin cure which would quickly solve this problem, and I found it in vitamin E. Just squeeze the content of one vitamin E capsule onto fine lines of your clean face before you go to bed, and you'll be as good as new when you wake up the next morning. 

3. Omega-3 fatty acids: Face Mask.
Whenever people ask me about my diet secret, I tell them: I love my fat! It's true: I eat a considerable amount of healthy fats. Why? Well, there are numerous health benefits, but skin-wise, omega-3 fatty acids are perfect for reducing inflammation, lines and wrinkles, and they even help you fight clogged pores. If you want to use them externally, mix a little bit of finely ground chia seeds with some organic yogurt and a splash of flaxseed oil, and stir thoroughly. Apply on your skin like a face mask and rinse with lukewarm water after 15-20 minutes. If you do this before you go to bed at night, you'll still feel the moisturizing and rejuvenating effects the next day. 

4. Zinc: Moisturizer.
Zinc is a powerful nutrient. Not only did a zinc supplement help me get rid of an awful wart on my foot which kept coming back, it's also great for my looks: it promotes cell renewal, has a skin-soothing effect and is a terrific acne buster. If you want to increase your zinc intake, salmon, pumpkin seeds, dark chocolate, garlic, chickpeas or shrimp are great sources. 

5. B Vitamins: Overall Skin Health.
B vitamins are vital for healthy skin and could easily be considered genuine skincare heroes. Because B-vitamins are water soluble and get washed out if your body doesn't use them right away, it's important to replace them daily. If you want to give it a try, buy clams, mussels, crab, beef or lamb next time you go shopping, or simply find a good (preferably organic) supplement. I've been using vitamin cures for a couple of years now, and I can tell you one thing: even if most of them are really inexpensive, their effect is priceless!

10 Rules To Live By If You're Trying To Lose Weight

By Cheryl Bigus 
It's easy to lose weight (and maintain a healthy weight!) with a few consistent habits. Here they are.

1. Keep a food journal. 
This is a tedious task (I know!) but it will give you clues to which foods you should keep eating and which ones might not be suited for your body. 
Here's what to include in your food journal: 

• What you eat 
• What you drink and how much
• When you eat
• How you felt while eating, and how you felt an hour later (include any changes in how you feel physically and emotionally). 

2. Drink a LOT of water. 
Good, clean water is the foundation of good health. It flushes toxins, maintains our body temperature, and lubricates and cushions our organs. 
3. Plan your meals ahead of time. 
Planning what you'll eat (and when) decreases the likelihood of eating whatever is around because you’re famished. It also takes the stress out of feeding yourself. You save money and waste less food as well as increase the success of meeting your weight loss goals.

4. Watch your portion sizes. 
Here is a fast and simple way to look at portions:

• oils, fats, butter, cheese, condiments and dressings = size of your thumb
• nuts and other healthy snacks = handful 
• protein, meat, yogurt = size of your palm 
• whole grain, starchy vegetables, vegetables and fruit = size of your fist

A few years ago, I was trying to lose a few of the extra pounds that had snuck up on me. Once I started to pay attention to portion sizes, something surprising happened: I realized that my body really didn't need all the food I'd been eating and that I was actually much more comfortable with a little less.

5. Don't diet. 
When you live in a restrictive way, your body perceives this lack of nutrients as starvation and it starts to store excess body fat. What you need to do is change your eating habits and your lifestyle—not go on a diet.  
6. Ditch the negative self-talk and the naysayers. 
You are where you. As long as you keep taking action and treating yourself with kindness, your anxiety and stress levels about your excess weight will diminish. There will be naysayers in everything you say, do, and believe in your life. Learning to accept that they are entitled to their opinions but they have no bearing on your life is the only way you'll reach your goals.

7. Carve time to de-stress and relax. 
Stress is the biggest saboteur of weight loss. When you are under excess stress, your body kicks into emergency mode and releases cortisol, the stress hormone. You body thinks it has to fight or run, but then you do nothing but sit there and stew in your stress. This depletes your adrenals and your energy level as well as hinders proper digestion and your immune system.

8. Sleep at least 7 hours a night. 
When you don't have long enough quality sleep, your body again releases excess cortisol into your bloodstream. This derails all the efforts that you make in the day to eat healthy and lose weight. Plus, since you're tired, you're more likely during the day to reach for something sugary or caffeinated.
9. Move yo' body. 
Sorry to give you a reality check on this one! You will be infinitely more successful in ALL your efforts if you stop sitting all day. Find something that you like to do that is physical and do it, frequently and consistently.

10. Be consistent in all your efforts.  
This is the #1 factor that will get you to any goal—small, consistent actions.We tend to treat everyone else better than we treat ourselves and our bodies. The biggest impact you can have on achieving your weight goals is to commit to yourself and be consistent.

Chanca Piedra updated tea

Ingredients
Real Raw Wildcrafted Changa Pietra tea cut
1/4-1/2 tsp Organic ginger root powder
1/4 tsp Betaine
1 tsp Coconut sugar
2 Cardamom pods
dash of cinnamon
dash of clove powder
1/2 mug Filtered water
1/2 mug of Almond milk
2 tall mugs
strainer
pan to heat tea

Recipe
Fill mug 1/3 full with water. 
Heat the water until boiling. 
Add the water back into the cup with added 1 tsp of Chanca Piedra, 1/4 tsp of ginger, dash of clove powder, dash of nutmeg, and 2 Cardamom pods.  
Stir and let steep for 2-15 minutes...depending on how strong you want it. 
Then fill up the rest of the mug with almond milk.  
Stir, then strain out the tea from one mug into the other.  I strain it twice.   
Add 1 tsp of coconut sugar. 
Add 1/4 tsp of Betaine and stir.  
Reheat to desired heat, add dash of cinnamon. 
And serve immediately...Enjoy!

All ingredients

 Betaine...not shown above...I don't always add it

Heat half a mug of water

Add 1 tsp of Chanca Piedra

Add clove...I usually loosen the lid and give it an upwards shake...that gives me just enough

a teeny bit of nutmeg...don't over do it, it's potent and too much is dangerous for your health

Add about 1/2 tsp of ginger powder...it gives it a great kick, and great for your health

I usually use 2 Cardamum pods, I crush them with the lid to expose as much flavor from them as possible during the short time they're in my drink

Add the boiling water, and let steep for 2-15 minutes...I usually let it sit for just a couple minutes

Strain into another mug

Strain it once more, a lot more of the fine particles get through the first strain

 Add Almond milk to fill the mug along with Sweetener...I used 1 tsp of coconut palm sugar

1/4 tsp of Betaine for extra sweetness and nutrition (derived from beets)

Add the tea to a pot and heat on stove

Add a dash of cinnamon

Enjoy hot!

21 Home Remedies for Migraines and Headaches

1. Peppermint oil. Rubbed on the forehead, temples or back of the neck, peppermint essential oil has a way of dissolving headaches into nothingness.

2. Willow bark. Known as the natural alternative to aspirin, willow bark is actually what aspirin was originally made from. It contains the pain-relieving compound salicin, and is one of the most common natural remedies for headaches.

3.  Take a nap. Ever notice how the world seems renewed after a nap? Sometimes just a simple power nap is enough for your body to reboot and squash your headache.

4. Eat something! Headaches are often a sign that you’ve gone too long without eating a balanced meal. In fact, my last headache is a good example: I’d gotten caught up in working and hadn’t eaten in a while. Next thing you know, I had a raging headache pounding my brain. Needless to say, I couldn’t work much after that. An ounce of prevention is definitely worth a pound of cure in this case! 
5. Acupuncture. This increases blood flow to tissues and is shown in studies to prevent migraines. 

6. Water. Headaches can be a sign of dehydration. Sometimes drinking a tall glass of pure water is enough to stop a headache in its tracks. Staying hydrated is also a good way to prevent headaches from occurring in the first place. (Note: sometimes it helps to balance water with electrolytes, so adding a little juice and a dash of sea salt to your water can help you achieve balanced hydration.)

7. Massage. A good massage improves circulation and is obviously relaxing, and it might be just what you need to melt away that headache. In any case, we all need more excuses to get a massage!

8. See a chiropractor. Being out of alignment can definitely give you head pain. Many report that regular visits to the chiropractor is highly effective for relieving headaches and migraines. 

9. Feverfew. This herb has been used since ancient times to treat pain, including headaches. Get feverfew tea here.


10. Hot showers. As with a massage, I’m always up for an excuse to take a hot shower. I always feel more relaxed and rejuvenated afterward, which goes a long way in relieving headache pain. 

11. Baltic amber necklace (milk and butter color). I don’t know much about amber, but Health, Home and Happiness wrote an excellent post on it recently.

12. Acupressure. Not quite the same as acupuncture (no needles), one suggestion is to pinch the spot between your thumb and index finger. Gently increase pressure until there’s a dull ache, then hold until your head pain subsides.

13. Magnesium. If you’re deficient in magnesium, it could very well be the cause of your headaches and migraines. Correct the deficiency, end the migraines. And magnesium supplements can get rid of a headache that’s already begun as well. Learn more about magnesium here.

14. Cold packs. Whether an ice pack or a cool washcloth, cold can definitely ease headache pain.

15. Yoga. The benefits of yoga include improved circulation, relaxation, healthy blood pressure, and heightened neurotransmitter levels. All of these combined make for a great headache remedy.

16. Cherries. Cherries contain the active compound Quercetin, which is a powerful antioxidant and has strong anti-inflammatory properties. Users report that eating cherries or drinking cherry juice helps tremendously with headache pain.

17. Get outside. Let’s face it: the air inside of our homes and other buildings isn’t ideal. Fresh air is vitally important for health, as is getting adequate sunlight. A few minutes outdoors can be surprisingly refreshing, even enough to relieve your head pain.

18. DLPA. This supplement (a form of the amino acid phenylalanine), naturally increases dopamine levels, which can help ease pain of all kinds.

19. Salt loading. This one sounds interesting (haven’t yet tried it myself), and has to do with detoxing bromide from the body. Read more about it here.

20. A cup of tea. Not only is a warm cup of tea relaxing, but a tea that uses herbs like peppermint or willow bark can also directly help reduce your headache pain. Green tea is also especially helpful, as it contains a small amount of caffeine, which some people find helps with headaches and migraines.

21. Eliminate the cause. This is more of a long term approach, but it’s by far the most effective. Food additives like aspartame and MSG can cause migraine headaches. So can food allergies like gluten intolerance. Find out if your diet is causing your headaches, and you’ll be on the road to real recovery.

Heart Attacks and Water

author unknown

How many folks do you know who say they don't want to drink anything before going to bed because they'll have to get up during the night.

Heart Attack and Water -
Something else I didn't know ... I asked my Doctor why people need to urinate so much at night time. Answer from my Cardiac Doctor - Gravity holds water in the lower part of your body when you are upright (legs swell). When you lie down and the lower body (legs and etc) seeks level with the kidneys, it is then that the kidneys remove the water because it is easier. This then ties in with the last statement!

I knew you need your minimum water to help flush the toxins out of your body, but this was news to me. Correct time to drink water...
Very Important. From A Cardiac Specialist!

Drinking water at a certain time maximizes its effectiveness on the body
2 glasses of water after waking up - helps activate internal organs
1 glass of water 30 minutes before a meal - helps digestion
1 glass of water before taking a bath - helps lower blood pressure
1 glass of water before going to bed - avoids stroke or heart attack
I can also add to this... My Physician told me that water at bed time will also help prevent night time leg cramps. Your leg muscles are seeking hydration when they cramp and wake you up with a Charlie Horse.

Mayo Clinic Aspirin Dr. Virend Somers, is a Cardiologist from the Mayo Clinic, who is lead author of the report in the July 29, 2008 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Most heart attacks occur in the day, generally between 6 A.M. and noon. Having one during the night, when the heart should be most at rest, means that something unusual happened. Somers and his colleagues have been working for a decade to show that sleep apnea is to blame.

1. If you take an aspirin or a baby aspirin once a day, take it at night.
The reason: Aspirin has a 24-hour "half-life"; therefore, if most heart attacks happen in the wee hours of the morning, the Aspirin would be strongest in your system.

2. FYI, Aspirin lasts a really long time in your medicine chest, for years, (when it gets old, it smells like vinegar).

Something that we can do to help ourselves - nice to know. Bayer is making crystal aspirin to dissolve instantly on the tongue.
They work much faster than the tablets.

Why keep Aspirin by your bedside? It's about Heart Attacks.
There are other symptoms of a heart attack, besides the pain on the left arm. One must also be aware of an intense pain on the chin, as well as nausea and lots of sweating; however, these symptoms may also occur less frequently.
Note: There may be NO pain in the chest during a heart attack.

The majority of people (about 60%) who had a heart attack during their sleep did not wake up. However, if it occurs, the chest pain may wake you up from your deep sleep.

If that happens, immediately dissolve two aspirins in your mouth and swallow them with a bit of water.

Afterwards: - Call 911. - Phone a neighbor or a family member who lives very close by.- Say "heart attack!" - Say that you have taken 2 Aspirins.Take a seat on a chair or sofa near the front door, and wait for their arrival and ...DO NOT LIE DOWN!

Top 5 Herbs for Headache Relief

Almost everyone has experienced at least one or two headaches in a lifetime. Some have to put up with several headaches over time, especially those who experience migraine or cluster headaches.


Migraine headaches are often debilitating with their intensity. They also often have other symptoms to accompany the painful head throbbing, such as intense nausea and dizziness. But most headaches arise from muscular and nervous tension. 

Most over the counter (OTC) drugs for headaches have side-effects. Tylenol brand and their generic counterparts contain acetaminophen, which causes or exacerbates liver damage. There have been several ER (emergency room) visits for people suffering acute acetaminophen toxicity. Some have died.
Aspirin and other similar pain relievers cause gastric distress and ulcers. Constantly taking aspirins can lead to strokes. Beware of this if you're taking daily aspirins to reduce heart attack risk. You're increasing stroke risks and gambling with developing ulcers. 

So of course those pharmaceutical solutions should be avoided. Here's how:
Five herbs that eliminate headaches without side-effects

(1) Willow (Salix alba, white willow, willow bark) has a long history of pain relief. White willow extracts were used in the early 1800s. Extracting white willow's active ingredient of salicin, which the body converts to salicylic acid, proved to be too time consuming and costly for rising public demands.

By the mid 1800s, a German pharmaceutical company created a synthetic version of salicylic acid to meet public demand, but it often caused stomach bleeding and severe ulcers. So the salicyclic acid was modified into acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) by the German pharmaceutical company called Bayer. Thus came Bayer Aspirin. 

Though not as severe as earlier synthetic substitutes for willow, ASA aspirin still irritates the inner stomach wall. Willow's active ingredient goes into the stomach as salicin and is later converted in the body as pain relieving salicyclic acid, avoiding irritation to the stomach lining. 

Willow has been clinically proven to be just as effective for tension headaches and other pains as aspirin.
 
(2) Butterbur, an old folk remedy for other ailments, has been recently discovered to be effective for migraine headaches. Migraine headaches are less common but more uncomfortable and debilitating than tension headaches.

The May 2000 journal Headache reported rising interest and clinical proof that butterbur was very effective for relieving migraine headaches without side-effects and even preventing future migraine repeat episodes. 

Some evidence points to butterbur as effective for even cluster headaches, which generally are short, very intense, and on one side of the head.

One of those clinical trials involved the Albert Einstein College of Medicine's study of 245 migraine sufferers, 68 percent of whom had at least 50 percent reduction of migraine symptoms when using butterbur.

If you wish to try butterbur, make sure it's labeled PA (pyrrolizidine alkaloids) free before you buy it. This indicates liver toxic alkaloids normally in butterbur plants have been removed.

As usual, it's wise to check with a knowledgeable holistic health practitioner to make sure if it's right for you.

(3) Feverfew has been used with considerable success for migraines and even cluster headaches. It is a member of the daisy family, and its leaves are used to create the herb.

Not much is known about how it works, but it's believed that the anti-inflammatory properties from feverfew's parthenolide inhibits chemicals that cause brain blood vessels to spasm.

A 1997 study by D. G. Palevitch and R. Carasso showed that feverfew significantly reduced pain and alleviated nausea and light sensitivity. Many consider feverfew effective as a preventative for the migraine prone.

One source recommends daily dosing of 250 mg of the extract for around a month to minimize migraine frequency and intensity.
Check feverfew out with someone who knows herbs well.

(4) Skullcap is a safe, effective solution for tension headaches and tension itself. It's available in extracts or capsules. But make sure you're getting the real, unadulterated herb. Sometimes skullcap's mixed or even substituted with germander, a known liver toxin.

(5) Ginger and/or Ginko Biloba are both useful for tension headaches and other types of headache stemming from jaw and sinus problems. The ginger is anti-inflammatory. It can be purchased in capsules or you can slice up ginger root thinly and boil it as a tea. Simmer for 30 minutes as part of steeping.


Ginko Biloba capsules or tablets tend to increase mental alertness and improve minor memory issues by dilating blood vessels in the brain. This also helps reduce headache discomfort.

There are a few other herbal remedies that can be used for headaches, such as valerian and passion flower. Both have sedative qualities and are best used before retiring.

Regardless of how safe all of them are, consult an herbalist or health practitioner knowledgeable about herbs to ensure optimum results.

Garden update & harvest 9/21/13

 9/23/13 - 12 large tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, white habanero peppers and holy basil

 9/21/13 - today's harvest...Dino kale, Red Russian kale, Curled Scotch kale and Swiss Chard

 9/21/13 - a happy bumble bee in my garden ^_^

 9/21/13 - lots of ready raspberries

Best Treatment for Constipation

Constipation is a common problem that affects up to 20 percent of the world’s population. Nearly 60 million Americans suffer from chronic constipation, which is particularly a problem in women and the elderly. It is a pathological condition that is often severe enough to disrupt daily activities and derange quality of life. It responds poorly to available medical remedies and may prompt sophisticated and potentially harmful surgical procedures. Despite all this, it is still frequently considered a trivial issue and affected individuals tend to self-medicate either using over-the-counter laxatives or ‘natural’ remedies, none of which had been adequately investigated. Until now. Fiber supplements can be inconvenient, taste nasty, and cause bloating—even choking. Prunes could present a natural, convenient, tasty alternative, but do they work?

A randomized clinical trial of prunes vs. Metamucil was recently published. I present the results in my 4-min video Prunes vs. Metamucil vs. Vegan Diet. Each dot on the graph represents a complete spontaneous bowel movement. You’ll notice when you watch the video how many had zero a week. Study participants went from an average of 1.7 a week up to 3.5 on prunes (at least one every other day), then back to baseline when prunes were removed. On Metamucil they got up to 2.8  a week. Not as good as the prunes, and a significantly better stool consistency was also noted when using the prunes, as measured by the famous Bristol Stool Scale.

The researchers concluded that treatment with dried plums resulted in a greater improvement in constipation symptoms than the commonly used fiber supplement. Given their palatability, tolerability, and availability, dried plums should be “considered as a first line therapy for chronic constipation.”
If that’s what adding one plant can do, though, what if all you ate was plants? Vegans are off the charts, averaging 10.9!
For more on optimizing bowel function, see:

• Stool Size Matters
• Food Mass Transit
• Bowels of the Earth
• Diverticulosis & Nuts
• Bulking Up on Antioxidants
• Greasy Orange Rectal Leakage
• Kiwifruit for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Relieving Yourself of Excess Estrogen

-Michael Greger, M.D.

Garden harvest 9/19/13

 9/19/13 - 12 large tomatoes, cherry tomatoes

 9/19/13 - Collard greens, Swiss chard, Dino kale, Red Russian kale and Curled Scotch kale

Coconut water review

Today's post is a review of 12 popular coconut waters. Six plain coconut waters and 6 flavored coconut waters. Three adults and one child. We all tasted each drink and rated each on taste and preference rating of 1 to 10.. 

The 12 coconut waters from left in the photo to right...

-Harvest Bay - All-Natural Coconut Water RTD

-Amy & Brian - All Natural Coconut Juice With Pulp 

-Nature Factor - Organic Coconut Water

-Vita Coco - Coconut Water 100% Pure Orange

-Amy & Brian - All Natural Coconut Juice With Lime 

-C2O - Pure Coconut Water

-Zico - Pure Premium Coconut Water Natural 

-Vita Coco - Coconut Water Pineapple

-Vita Coco - Coconut Water Peach & Mango

-Naked Juice Coconut Water

-ALO - Coco Exposed Pure Coconut Water+Real Aloe Vera Mangosteen +Mango

-Amy & Brian - All Natural Coconut Juice  

Tester number one being myself, tester number two, Gabe, posing with the flavored coconut waters. 

 

 Tester number two and three, Marita and little Emma, posing with the 100% plain coconut waters.  

Below is a rating from 1-10 for each drink, 1 indicating dislike and 10 indicating love. The favorites of the bunch are highlighted in yellow.  Emma ranked all hers with a 3 because she loved to write the number 3, but from her body language (ie. finishing the can of her favorite and refusing to finish the one she didn't like...we have her favorite and least favorite). Below each rating are a few collective descriptive words for each drink

Amy & Brian - All Natural Coconut Juice    

My rank- 10          Gabe- 9          Marita- 10          Emma- loved

sweetest, one of the favorites

ALO - Coco Exposed Pure Coconut Water + Real Aloe Vera Mangosteen + Mango 

My rank- 7          Gabe- 1          Marita- 6          Emma- liked

very different from the bunch, gel floaties of aloe can be unappealing to many

 

Vita Coco - Coconut Water Pineapple
My rank- 9          Gabe- 8          Marita- 8          Emma- liked

a true pineapple flavor, refreshing

Vita Coco - Coconut Water Peach & Mango
My rank- 9           Gabe- 8          Marita- 10        Emma- liked

sweet, very flavorful

Vita Coco - Coconut Water 100% Pure Orange 

My rank- 5          Gabe- 6          Marita- 2          Emma- disliked

orange flavor too much like medicine flavoring, immune booster drinks

Nature Factor - Organic Coconut Water
My rank- 7          Gabe- 6          Marita- 5          Emma- liked

C2O - Pure Coconut Water
My rank- 10        Gabe- 10        Marita- 10         Emma- liked

yum, well rounded sweetness, a collective favorite

Harvest Bay - All-Natural Coconut Water RTD
My rank- 7          Gabe- 5          Marita- 7          Emma- liked

Milky, nutty, flavorful

Amy & Brian - All Natural Coconut Juice With Lime
My rank- 8          Gabe- 10          Marita- 9         Emma- liked

refreshing, lemonade-like

Amy & Brian - All Natural Coconut Juice With Pulp     

My rank- 7          Gabe- 7          Marita- 8           Emma- liked

milky, mixed reviews on floating stuff in a drink 

Zico - Pure Premium Coconut Water Natural
My rank- 7          Gabe- 7          Marita- 3           Emma- liked

fruity, hint of grape flavor

Naked Juice Coconut Water

My rank- 4          Gabe- 5          Marita- 5          Emma- liked
Plain, lacked sweetness

10 Ways to Naturally Heal Eczema Break Outs

10 Ways to Naturally Heal Eczema Break Outs

by Sheleana Jennings

10 Eczema Healing Principals to Follow

1. Avocado and aloe vera can be uses topically on a break out to help moisturize and heal the skin. Mix one or both together into a paste and apply to your skin for 20 minutes and gently wash off with warm water.

2. Swap out pasteurized dairy products for dairy free kefir, sauerkraut and other fermented foods. Pasteurized dairy can be overly acidic and the other potential hormones, chemicals can lower the immune system and aggravate skin conditions like eczema and acne.

3. Replace acid producing foods like grain-fed beef, pork and chicken for grass-fed meats, dark leafy green vegetables, whole fruits and sprouted nuts or seeds for a few weeks and see if you notice any improvement.

4. Swap out your oils for a cold pressed, organic, extra virgin coconut oil.

5. Eat more living foods – fresh juices, fruit & green smoothies, salads, and lightly steamed vegetables.

6. Drink green vegetable juices with ingredients like celery, cucumber, kale, parsley, cilantro and ginger.

7. Take a dairy free probiotic to support and re-build healthy gut bacteria. You can also have cultured foods like sauerkraut, coconut kefir and miso.

8. Avoid caffeine as it can aggravate eczema. Drink water instead, hydration is important.

9. Remove Gluten from the diet that may be hiding in packaged foods, breads, cereals and replace it with sprouted, whole grains or fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds and seaweeds. You can find wonderful seaweed blends from HarmonicArts.ca

10. Eat foods rich in Omega 3′s like chia, hemp seed, and walnuts, (salmon if you eat fish). You can also find an oil like Udo’s oil or hemp at your local health food store. Spirulina is another great food for skin conditions, it’s rich in fatty acids and protein.

11. Bonus Tip. Reduce your stress by doing the things you love and following your bliss. If there are areas of your life that need healing, do what it takes to clear past wounds and embark on a new chapter in your life. There are some great meditations out there like the Ho’oponopono track, and wonderful books by authors like Harville Hendrix, Dr. Daniel Amen, Dr. Nathaniel Branden and NLP practitioners Richard Bandler. These authors have written amazing books on self-healing and self-growth.

Following these healing principles does not mean you will experience results overnight, but over time when you adopt these principles as part of your lifestyle your skin will follow suit. Talk to your N.D or R.H.N about implementing these practices into your daily routine.

Home made jewelry cleaner

Never buy jewelry clearner again

1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 tablespoon dish detergent
1 cup water
1 piece aluminum foil

Directions:
1. Heat water in the microwave for 1 or 2 minutes.

2. Cut a piece of aluminum foil that roughly covers the bottom of a small bowl (like a cereal bowl).

3. Pour hot water into bowl. Place salt, soda, and dishwashing liquid into bowl. Place jewelry on top of foil and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes. Rinse jewelry in cool water and dry jewelry completely with soft cloth. Discard solution after use and make a new batch next time.

4. According to wire-sculpture.com, "this works well for gold-filled, brass, german (nickel) silver, and sterling silver. I have even cleaned jewelry with freshwater pearls, shell cameos and mother of pearl with no problem.".

September 2013 Conscious box - Gluten Free

September Conscious Box 2013 - Gluten-Free

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Garden update & harvest 9/16/13

 Mmmm tomatoes coming in at a fantastic rate

 Dino kale still going strong

 Most fruitful apart from my chocolate cherry tomatoes are my Oxhearts, which are Humungous!

 Raspberries finally coming in again!

9/16/13 - Today's harvest...8 large tomatoes (mostly Oxheart tomatoes), cherry tomatoes, holy basil, Red Russian kale and cherry tomatoes

 My little garden helper posing with today's harvest...she ate all the ready raspberries

 Big tomato!

 Oxheart tomato

and of course made some more amazing salsa!