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Wednesday, December 18, 2013

No need to stress when the best way to spread cheer is Pampering yourself this year

Over the years I have learned to just relax when the crazy, busy season comes around. Realizing you make the Holiday's what you want, I have taken the anti-stress route. We deal with enough in our day to day lives that adding stress, sickness traveling through the air, the harsh cold weather drying out your skin, in-laws or family at your home for a long extended stay that you MUST take care of yourself in order to give to others. Here are some great little things you can do for yourself during the holidays.
 
Olive Oil Cleansing Lotion

1 teaspoon Liquid Soap
2 tablespoons Water
2 tablespoons Honey
½ cup Olive Oil
10 drops Sandalwood oil
5 drops Carrot Seed oil
 
Mix all ingredients together in a blender or by hand with a wire whisk until smooth and creamy. Pour into clean jar with a tight fitting lid and label. Put a small amount in the palm of your hand and massage into the skin of your hands. Work it into all the areas of your hands and wrists. Rinse with tepid water and pat dry. Follow with a small application of more oil massaged well into skin.
 

 Nail and Cuticle Treatment

1 teaspoon Jojoba oil
1 teaspoon Almond oil
½ teaspoon Vitamin E oil
10 drops Sandalwood
5 drops Myrrh 

Mix together and store in a clean container. Massage a small amount into your cuticles. Also works well for feet and toenails.

Sugar Scrub

1 teaspoon Sugar
Juice of ½ a Lemon
2 drops Spearmint oil 

Mix together ingredients and work into hands. Use as much water as necessary to make the desired consistency. Rinse well with cool water and follow with a moisturizer.
 
With any of these recipes, if you do them at night, you can add extra moisturizing by following them with Almond, Vitamin E, Apricot, or Olive oil. Massage well into skin and wear 100% cotton gloves to bed to keep the oil on your hands. Enjoy your time of pampering!
 

P.S. I want to say Thank you to everyone who takes the time to read my blog and try out new recipes. I hope you have enjoyed everything as much as I have enjoyed researching and typing it all out!

 

 
 
 


Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Gifts to give

The past few days I have received Holiday gift tips from Rocky Mountain Oils. I will share some of their tips and recipes for fun gifts to make for your friends and family. I am going to make a few of them this weekend to try out.

Sugar and Salt Scrubs:
 
Possible blends:
You can use any blend Rocky Mountain Oil sells, if it’s a scent your friend or loved one already likes.
A single oil is also a good choice. You might try: Lavender, Sandalwood, Blend of Rose, Jasmine, Rosewood, Palmarosa, Spearmint, or Peppermint.

 Blends:
10 drops Sandalwood and 6 drops Cardamom
5 drops each Peppermint, Lavender, and Tea Tree
4 drops Jasmine, 4 drops Ginger Root, 2 drops Cumin, 4 drops Neroli, and 6 drops Clary Sage
4 drops each Rosewood, Cedarwood, and Rosemary
3 drops Ylang Ylang, 2 drops Patchouli, and 3 drops Orange
 
For a sugar scrub add 1 Tablespoon oil (any kind of carrier oil you prefer), 1 cup fine Brown Sugar
 
For bath salts add 1 Tablespoon oil (any kind of carrier oil you prefer), 3 cups sea salt or unscented Epsom Salts
 
Add all ingredients to a ziploc bag, seal it and massage until oils including essential oils are completely mixed in.
Add to a cute jar with a lid. Label and wrap. They will love it!

www.rockymountainoils.com
www.mountainroseherbs.com


Holiday Kisses Lip Scrub

1 tablespoon Fine Brown Sugar
 
1 tablespoon Powdered Sugar
 
1 tablespoon Jojoba oil
 
10 drops Vanilla infusion (can substitute Pure Vanilla Extract)
 
3 drops Spearmint oil

Combine all ingredients in a ziploc bag, seal and massage bag until all ingredients are mixed together well. Store in a small glass jar with a lid. Lightly massage into the lips using circular motions, then rinse off. Use as frequently as needed. Discard after 6 months.

Also, if you are looking for another fun gift go to my previous post on Whipped Shea Body Butter. http://nelsonjuliet.blogspot.com/2012/12/whipped-shea-butter-recipe-for-hair-and.html I just made some this past weekend and packaged it in these cute little canning jars. GREAT Christmas present for the office, friends, or family!

Friday, December 13, 2013

Want to make your own Infused Olive Oil???

I made Infused Garlic oil, but you can add any kind of herb you would like.
 
Ingredients Needed
8oz fresh garlic (peeled and minced)
Olive Oil (warm and sufficient to cover)
 
*Note: If you try Rosemary, basil, Lavender, or any other kind of herb make sure you wash it well and chop it us so the oils from the leaves or flower can be absorbed by the olive oil.**


~Warm the oil in a bowl over a pot of water or a double boiler. Place the garlic or any kind of herb you would like to use in a large jar. Add sufficient oil to cover the herb. Shake and then place in a warm place for 2-3 days. Strain through cotton or muslin, bottle and keep refrigerated.


Last Christmas I made this for each of my co-workers as a Christmas gift and I was told by my boss that it was better than some of the olive oil shops she has go to for tastings. This is a fun and great homemade gift.

I buy Sciabicas olive oil- Marsala (I cook with this all the time, use for skin products for my face and dry skin in the winters)
http://sunshineinabottle.com/products/extra-virgin-olive-oil/marsala-1-gallon.html#.Uqs-eajn99A

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Fighting the "SUPERBUG" this season

I just read a recent article that this years "superbug" is the worst ever and is resistant to antibiotics. That is a little unsettling to read about......... So, if the doctors can't help us maybe Mother Nature can.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/16/health/antibiotic-resistant-infections-cdc/


Everything we have mass produced has derived one time or another from what we have grown or cultivated from the ground. These are all my "go-to's" when I am feeling a cold come on. You can find all these ingredients in your kitchen or at least your local grocery stores/ farmer's markets.

1. Lemons: Lemons are great to soothe sore throats, cleanse your blood and loosen mucus in the sinuses or throat. I have found that fresh squeezed lemon juice plus the rind, some honey or if you prefer maple syrup (about a teaspoon) and a cup of warm or hot water (depends on your preference) will help your throat and sinuses. If you want to add some spice to your life....... sprinkle Cayenne pepper for an added cleansing effect.

2. Chicken Soup: I have grown up hearing the long time wives tale that Chicken broth has some healing properties in it. I would suggest Organic chicken broth or a whole natural organic chicken can be used to create a healing broth. This has been recommended since the 12 century when a Jewish physician first recommended it to treat colds and flu.

3. Mustard: A very interesting concept taking mustard packs and placing them on the chest to reduce fevers and helps heal mucous membranes in the lungs and chest. (make sure you unwrap them though)

4. Ginger: Ginger is my ALL time favorite root to cook with, cut up if I'm feeling sick and just to eat. I grew up loving this amazing root with some terrific healing properties. It's antifungal, antibacterial, anti-vomiting, helps relieve the gastrointestinal. Basically it KILLS germs!
Ginger-root tea, simmer 2 tablespoons of fresh ginger (chopped or grated) mixed into two cups of water. Simmer for 15 minutes, then remove from the heat and let it steep for ten minutes. You can drink this as often as you need too. Some days I make several cups of tea.

5. Garlic: This is known as a "cure for all" in the natural medicine community and is also the common household treatment for the common cold and flu and can also be used to prevent their occurrence. Raw garlic has antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties. Research has shown that garlic could help speed up the healing process from the flu and also increase immunity. **Taking too much garlic can cause bleeding, so those taking medications for blood thinning, such as aspirin, should take care when increasing the amount of garlic in their diets.**

6. Aloe Vera: Like ginger, aloe vera possesses an incredible ability to ease nausea, improve digestion, cleanse the colon and digestive tract, and maintain healthy elimination and bowel function. Consuming aloe vera can also help ease inflammation and improve oxygenation of blood, which are two benefits that can increase the quality of life for us.

7. Basil: Basil is a powerful herb that helps elevate mood and spirits while calming the mind. Like ginseng and licorice root, basil is said to enhance the mind-body-spirit connection by addressing the underlying health conditions affecting each of these important human systems. Basil helps relieve stress and boosts the immune system, fights chronic inflammation, boost energy levels, improves digestion, and promotes clarity of mind.

8. Tea Tree oil: (You can find this at your local health food store or online) Tea tree has some great active constituents such as: antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antiviral, curative, bactericidal, fungicidal, insecticidal, and sudorific herb capable of treating many different physical and mental ailments.
Adding a few drops to a diffuser, or if you don't have a diffuser a pot of boiling water with a few drops added to the water and inhaling the steam can help clear the lungs and airways of harmful buildup.

I hope this helps each of you during this cold and flu season. I will be posting my website for my business I just started for natural remedies. Thank you and I hope you Enjoy the read!



Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Have Sore Muscles???? Make your own blends with Essential Oils

While I am at work I have a clear view of both the front door of our office and the back door which leads to our parking lot. I see each person come in and out. At the beginning of this week I was watching one of my co-workers limp around the office, I finally asked them if they were doing okay and what was wrong.... They told me they had pulled a muscle that past weekend rock climbing or something along those lines. I always have some blend of essential oils in my desk for those stressful days where normal Advil doesn't help.

This particular blend in my desk was from Young Living- Deep Relief. This is great to help relax your muscles, helps reduce inflammation among with other things. (If you want a recommendation on which sites for the best essential oils let me know) I grabbed my blend out of my desk and headed to the other side of the building to their office. I told them to rub several drops onto the inflamed area several times a day. I let them know I would be making another mixture for them that night that was more powerful than what I had just given them. They thanked me and left work shortly after that.

Day 2:
That next morning I had placed a one-of-a-kind blend of oils with a homemade label on their desk so they would see it when they came in later. I was making copies for a project and they came back to thank me. They had already started noticing a difference with walking and that the inflamed area wasn't hurting as bad and the muscles were starting to calm down.

Day 3:
They walked into my office and said "WOW!!!! That blend you made for me was some POWERFUL stuff! I put it on my skin and rubbed it into my muscles and I felt the oils going into my skin, muscles and working it's magic. I woke up this morning feeling so much better. Those oils really work." They were already walking with an almost normal stride. Significant improvement from 3 days of helping them.

When making a blend of oils for sore, torn, bruised, or stressed muscles....... remember you want the oils to effectively do it's job while also smelling good to you. When I was in massage school in 2005 I had purchased a Essential Oils Desk Reference by Essential Science Publishing (Jun 2000). This was my best purchase I could have ever made and I have made several of the blends or created my own blends depending on the problem for myself or others.
Instructions
Choose as many essential oils as you would like.
Single Oils:                                                                       
Wintergreen                                                                                 Black Pepper
Peppermint                                                                                  Helichrysum
Ginger                                                                                           Balsam Fir
Vetiver                                                                                           Cypress
Lavender                                                                                       Myrrh
Lemon                                                                                           Rosemary
I added a large amount of one essential oil I wanted as a base then added a several drops of each one listed to create my one-of a kind blend for my co-worker. I added the essential oils to a 15ml Amber glass bottle with a dropper. Then I decided to add a little Almond oil to fill the rest of the bottle making it easier to rub into the skin.

 Once you have added all your ingredients add a few drops for a skin patch test. Some oils may cause irritation if used on the skin, either at all or in too high a concentration.

If you feel that an oil is too powerful either add a little more oil of your choice..... either Almond, Jojoba, or Apricot oil to help dilute it a bit or add your favorite essential oil out of the bunch. Once complete place the cap on and give it a little shake to mix the essential oils with the oil you have chosen. Enjoy!

Websites for Essential oils:
http://mountainroseherb.com/
http://www.rockymountainoils.com/




Saturday, May 18, 2013

Awareness for Women:Knowing ALL the facts before you ACT..

I came across this blog about the recent events of Angelina Jolie removing her healthy breasts due to "fear" of contracting breast cancer since she is a carrier of the gene BRCA1. Please take some time and read this article from Dr. Richard Schulze and click on the Natural News link as well. I am not saying you should believe everything, but do your homework and look at ALL your options before making a life-changing experience. You will learn about some raw fruits, vegetables, nuts and other vitamins that are a very good source in preventing BRCA1 gene to switch on. I have learned a lot about our bodies from school and research that if we have a disease our bodies are created with the ability to fight off anything as long as we give our bodies the proper nutrition to help boost our immune system and ward off colds, flu, or any other diseases.

If you walk away with anything from this.......... Don't let "FEAR" run your life. The moment you allow fear to come in and take hold that will be the moment you allow those disease to run your life into the grave.

Short story..... I had to get blood work 2 years ago and my Dr. said my Thyroid was messed up and sent me to a specialist. The specialist began to tell me that I had hashimoto's disease, which is where your thyroid moves slow and you physically are sluggish, gain weight and lots of other things. I prayed and told my mind that I wasn't going to accept what this specialist was trying to declare over my life. I went back several weeks later and my blood tests were on the opposite side of the spectrum (hyperthyroidism). Now my thyroid was over working. He wanted to put me on thyroid medication for life....... yeah, no thank you....... I said "NO" and got more blood work. Throughout this whole time I began to use positive affirmations over myself, and lots of prayer (positive thoughts go a long way with the way our brain works). I went back 2 months later and have had perfect levels for the past 2 years!! You're mind is a VERY POWERFUL weapon, don't let it run your life. YOU BE IN CHARGE!

Below are 2 very great articles that help us become more aware to help ourselves NATURALLY overcome what's already in our bodies.

https://herbdocblog.com/ - (article listed below)


May 15, 2013, COMMENTARY by DR. RICHARD SCHULZE

Friends, I am interrupting this week’s Video Blog with a special commentary.
Since Angelina Jolie’s voluntary breast removal story hit the press yesterday, my office has been flooded with calls and e-mails from friends and acquaintances regarding this subject, and what my opinion is on such a radical preventative surgery. Readers are also starting to flood my BLOG with similar questions so let me address this issue, yet once again.

What’s Going On?
It is common medical knowledge that we are all genetically predisposed to certain diseases. We are the genetic products of our mother and our father. Therefore we all have the predisposition to develop inherited strengths and weaknesses (or diseases), passed down by them. This does NOT mean that we will develop the same health problems or die from the same diseases that our parents did. It simply means that our chances may be elevated. I will explain more on this later, and more important, how YOU can AVOID manifesting any genetic family diseases.
But specifically, with breast cancer, scientists think that they have discovered a gene, they refer to as BRCA1, that is a genetic marker for the potential development of breast cancer. The reason I say “think” is simply because almost all this testing science is proven false or at least faulty a decade or so later, like the AIDS test, or the PSA test for prostate cancer (that has now been proven defective), or giving millions of mammograms to young women whose breast tissue was too dense to see anything, which caused breast cancer and so this practice is now condemned. Regardless of the history of medical testing blunders, many women who test positive for this particular BRCA1 gene are now opting to have their healthy breasts removed, as did Angelina Jolie in February.
And I am telling you right now, that in a decade or two, surgically cutting off healthy breasts because someone tests positive for the BRCA1 gene will be seen as a huge horrific medical mistake.

Regarding Angelina’s decision, personally I think it is an ignorant mistake. We are all just doing the best we can with the information that we have. When faced with possible death, who knows what each of us will decide? On the other hand, she was not faced with death, she is currently healthy, and I do not believe that her doctors gave her the whole picture, the whole truth, and if they had, her decision may have been very different, and not based on fear, disease and death but instead focusing on getting really healthy and staying really healthy. So I don’t mind her ignorance, but what I do mind is her preaching her ignorance, and being some spokeswoman for BRCA1 genes. FEAR, negativity, and being a spokeswoman for the trillion-dollar medical and pharmaceutical industry that is getting rich by exploiting women’s fears—now she is becoming a spokeswomen to convince other women to cut off their own healthy breasts.

There Is A Positive Side To Testing Positive
NOTE: A positive test for this BRCA1 gene DOES NOT MEAN that you will develop breast cancer in your lifetime. In fact, if you have no family history of breast cancer, your odds of developing it are only slightly increased over the general population, like 10%. Your odds are much higher to develop breast cancer by simply living on a farm than having this gene, which can cause a 20% to 40% increase in breast cancer, but no one is suggesting that all farmers’ daughters have their breasts chopped off are they?
It is common medical knowledge that when doctors say you have a family history, or a family tendency to develop a particular disease, or even a marker gene that can mutate, it is USUALLY NOT the genetic defect that causes the disease, but what the family ate and the environment that the family lived in, that caused this gene to mutate.
But doctors say if you have a relative who did have breast cancer, and you have the BRCA1 gene, then your chances are increased up to 80%. Again, more on how to NOT manifest genetic diseases later.

Bottom Line First
The only reason a woman would cut off her healthy breasts is FEAR. Fear often caused by watching a close relative or loved one die of cancer, or specifically breast cancer. FEAR promoted by medical doctors and cancer researchers who all know better. FEAR promoted by hospitals and medical doctors because they make billions of dollars annually using this fear to sell their horrific medical procedures.
The late President Franklin D. Roosevelt stated, “The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself…nameless, unjustified terror that paralyses us into retreating, instead of advancing”.
FEAR, darkness, negativity, disease, causing us to retreat instead of advance. Wow, what a great statement. This couldn’t be truer than in this instance. FEAR causing us to cut off healthy body parts instead of learning how to shut off bad genes and Creating Powerful Health.

Medical Doctors Should Be Ashamed
After all, it is their oath, not mine, that states, “Do No Harm”, and surgical removal of healthy body parts is definitely harmful, not just physically harmful and risky, as is any surgical procedure, but also harmful are all the drugs used for this type of surgery from anesthetics and antibiotics to the pain killers. Trust me, every single day patients all across America are dying from hospital contracted bacterial infections, cancer caused by x-rays and CT scans and lives are ruined by pain killing drugs and patients are killed by pharmaceutical drugs. There are 1,000 potential risks from undergoing any type of surgery. And I have not even mentioned the emotional and spiritual harm caused to a woman by having this type of surgery. I saw the negative aftermath of mastectomies in my clinic, one too many times.

How to AVOID Genetic Diseases
Don’t let medical doctors terrify you into making horrifying, life-changing decisions! And don’t let them talk you into cutting off healthy body parts.
All that genetic markers say is that you have the potential to develop a disease, like breast cancer. It simply means that you have genes in your body, that when stimulated, irritated or woken up, can mutate and develop into cancer. Well, what wakes these genes up is no mystery, and ALL medical and cancer researchers know exactly what turns these genes on, but they don’t want to touch this subject, simply because it’s unpopular. What turns these genes on and makes them mutate, is junk food, toxic chemicals, French fries, pharmaceutical drugs… the list is long; it’s the aftermath of the American Dream.
Studies in Israel and even worldwide have proven the direct link between cows’ milk consumption and breast cancer. The growth hormones and steroids naturally present in cows’ milk are genetically designed to create a COW, not a human, and consumption of these alien hormones has been associated with cancer. Worse, if the cows have been subjected to additional growth hormones and steroids, which almost all are in America, because the use is rampant in the dairy industry, well, your odds of developing cancer are much greater. But no one is talking about women not consuming cow dairy products.
And maybe the greatest known risk factor to cause breast cancer is the use of hormones, like taking birth control pills or the supplemental use of hormones for menopause. This can increase your risk of developing breast cancer much greater than if you have the BRCA1 gene and a mother who had breast cancer. Taking hormones can increase your risk of cancer 15 TIMES (1,500%)!
Dr. Angela Lanfranchi, a breast surgical oncologist and cofounder of the Breast Cancer Prevention Institute, calls the contraceptive pill a “Molotov cocktail” for breast cancer!
Additionally, there are hundreds of environmental toxins that are known to cause breast cancer like heavy metals to toxic chemicals and pollutants, to numerous chemicals added to the food we eat or the water we drink, to even the containers the food and drink comes in. There are even negative emotions that are now known to cause cancer.
The bottom line is that what causes someone to develop cancer, specifically breast cancer, is not so much the genetic predisposition, as what your mother ate, drank and the environment she grew up in and was exposed to. And, if she developed breast cancer, and you continue to live, eat, drink and even think the same way she did, well, then you can certainly expect to have an increased breast cancer risk.

BUT…
Now here is the big ‘BUT’… If you CHANGE, and do not live like your mother, and don’t live in the same possibly toxic environment, and don’t eat the same food, and don’t drink the same drinks, and don’t take the same pharmaceutical drugs, and don’t wear the same clothes, and don’t expose yourself to the same household chemicals, and don’t breathe the same air, and don’t think the same thoughts, and don’t torture yourself physically, emotionally and spiritually like your mother did to herself, then why would your body develop cancer? The answer is simply that these genes would NOT be stimulated and you would NOT develop cancer!

Bottom, Bottom Line
From a blog I wrote a few years ago on this same subject...
"Remember, your level of health is determined by your GENETICS REACTING to your LIFESTYLE, meaning, that you may be genetically predisposed to reproductive cancer (and there is nothing that you can do about that, that's water under the bridge) but if you create a powerfully healthy lifestyle, again, not just physically, but also emotionally and spiritually, well, you simply WILL NOT develop reproductive cancer.
On the other hand, if you live in a similar way as your parents did, or even a lower quality or lower health lifestyle, well, you can expect a similar outcome, possibly creating Reproductive Cancer. For all of us, the best way to PREVENT genetic weaknesses (family diseases) from developing in our bodies, and the best way to pass on stronger genetic coding to our children, is to live a healthy life. I don’t want to sound like a German geneticist or Dr. "Adolph" Schulze here, but this is a very basic law of Nature. The weak become diseased and die out and the strong survive, and get stronger, and I want to make sure that you are strong, healthy, live long, and that we will all create stronger and healthier future generations."

Finally, and MOST IMPORTANT!!!
Remember one thing…
It is NOT what you inherit…
It is how you LIVE that can either turn on, or turn off, genes that are predisposed to disease. But let’s get our minds out of the negative medical gutter.
I ask you to STOP being medically negative for a moment and just imagine that we also have genes in our body that are predisposed to greatness—genes for powerful strength, powerful health, brilliance, genius and maybe even super powers, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Let us STOP living in FEAR and dwelling about your genes that can possibly turn into a disease, and instead START THINKING about living a healthy lifestyle and a life that turns your other super-health genes and super-power-genes on! YES!!!
— Dr. Schulze
DISCLAIMER: This BLOG's purpose is to promote the sharing of information about healthy living and dietary supplements. The views and opinions of Dr.Schulze and those of his companies and BLOG administrators are offered for your information and are not intended to constitute medical advice. If you are sick, injured or pregnant, consult a licensed medical professional.
 

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Puerto Vallarta Tacos

When I worked for an airline company my parents were able to travel on my flight benefits. For their Anniversary they went to Puerto Vallarta for a few days. While staying at a local resort they had a very simple dinner that has been a long time favorite and simple recipe to make.


Things you will need:
  • Chicken- boneless, skinless (I will pound it out so it will remain tender while cooking)
  • Chili Powder
  • Olive Oil
  • Corn Tortillas
  • Fresh or canned Pineapple- sliced
  • Cilantro- chopped
  • Tomatoes- sliced
  • Avocado - sliced (optional)
  • Limes - sliced
  • Sour Cream (optional)
  • Hot sauce - I like Cholula (optional)
Prep the chicken and pound it out with a meat tenderizer, if you desire. Place in a baking dish and sprinkle as much Chili powder on each side to give good coverage, then pour olive oil over your chicken so it will cook better in the oven. Broil each side for 4 minutes. Once it's finished cooking cut into slices



While your chicken is broiling, chop cilantro, slice pineapple, tomatoes, avocados, and limes. Sometimes I place it in separate glass containers (as shown below). This will make it easier to store in the refrigerator once you have finished your meal. Heat up as many corn tortillas you will need for your meal. Once you are finished you can add each ingredient to your corn tortillas.


This meal is a great time saver if you don't know what to make for dinner or lunch one evening. If you have other ingredients you love and wish to add, then create away! Enjoy


Smooth 'n' Silky Banana Hair Mask

I stumbled upon this blog that had this recipe they got from Dr. Oz's show a while ago. I thought I would try it out and see for myself how well it worked.
Dr. Oz assembled a team of enthusiastic researchers to determine what food, in fact, was the most repairing, the most conditioning, for hair. They found it was bananas.

Bananas as a hair mask is effective, because bananas contain things like potassium, vitamin B6, folate, and other properties that are great for your hair (and also helps with hair loss).

Milk is full of protein to make your hair stronger, as well as lactic acid to help whisk away old, dead skin cells that might have accumulated on your hair and caused it to become lifeless, limp, and mildly suicidal.

Smooth 'n' Silky Banana Milkshake Hair Mask



  • 1-2 bananas (maybe 3, if your hair is really long and thick)
  • Whole Milk or coconut milk, enough to thin out the bananas
  • Honey (optional)
  • Cocoa powder, strawberries, or a peach (optional)
We're just going to talk about the basic hair mask, which is a very lovely and perfect as it is, and then in a moment we'll talk about the other ingredients to add some spice.
~YOU CAN ALSO DRINK THE LEFTOVERS TOO~


First, you want to take your banana(s) and blend them in some way, either in the blender, food processor, with a stick blender, or just by mashing and stirring really well. You want to do this until you have a slimy paste. No chucks. Just slime.

 
Partway through the blending process - you can still see some chunkies in there.
 
Then, you just drizzle in milk, monitoring the thickness of the banana. You want to aim for a consistency that is nearly identical to regular hair conditioners.
 
 
 
Once you have this blended and smooth, it should be relatively runny, but still thick enough to stay on your hair. Again, go for the consistency of regular conditioner.
 
After this, you can add in your optional ingredients and blend them in there very well.


 

Here are a few ideas:
  • Honey, for even more moisturizing
  • Cocao powder, which is also moisturizing, and it's great for brunettes or redheads who want to boost their deep brown tones.
  • Strawberries are clarifying, but they'd also be great for anyone interested in adding a bit of a slight red highlight (note: none of these "highlights" are strong, and they won't last past your second wash)
  • Peaches are great for delicate, broken hair, as well as blondes who want to soften the brassiness of their hair.
  • Strong green tea, wonderfully clarifying, would be great for any hair type, and it would make for an interesting flavor combination when you drink up what you don't use on your hair.

How to apply the Smooth 'n' Silky Banana Milkshake Hair Mask

  • Start with dry hair and work over the sink or in the bathtub
  • You will need a shower cap or a towel to wrap your hair up in to prevent dripping.
  • Apply as much of this mask to your hair as you can, making sure it's saturating your hair and caressing your scalp
  • Leave this on for 15-20 minutes
  • Wash as normal (you may or may not need to condition your hair, just see how it feels after you wash it), but make sure you get ALL of the mask out of your hair, of you'll walk around smelling like old banana and sour milk. Yikes!
  • Enjoy your silky smooth hair




Friday, March 29, 2013

Need to strengthen your Immune System? Here are 5 easy foods that will help~

Do you get sick every year? Maybe more than once?? Here are 5 great sources to include in your daily diet that naturally helps boost your immune system. This past winter each of my co-workers minus myself and my boss all were sick more than once for over a week. I just got a small cold, but took the proper steps, which included my father's homemade remedy juice, to fight off the cold and keep a strong immune system going.

If you eat the right kinds of foods that provide natural immune boosting nutrients you wont have to get the flu vaccines, which are full of extra toxic chemicals that will harm your body and break down your immune system. Your immune system is fully equipped to thwart off colds, influenza, and other viral diseases naturally on it's own, if you feed it the nutrients it needs in order to maintain homeostasis. Here are five simple ways to strengthen your immune system naturally using simple food choices:

1. Garlic- This is a powerful member of the onion family. It is called a "cure-all" in the world of homeopathic communities. Garlic's high allicin content is largely responsible for its disease-fighting effects, as this powerful antioxidant compound neutralizes free radicals and quells disease-causing inflammation. Allicin is said to have antibacterial action equivalent to 1% of Penicillin.
For thousands of years people have been using garlic as a natural remedy to prevent and treat respiratory, bacterial, fungal, viral, and parasitic infections as well. Using garlic every day will keep your nose and lungs clear of mucus and your arteries in good condition, reducing high blood pressure and cholesterol.

2. Homemade Chicken Soup- Who knew that great soup mom's made is so good for you when you're not feeling well. This is one of the most effective, and delicious, natural remedies for preventing and treating viral infections, homemade chicken soup made from whole, pasture-raised chickens is loaded with disease-fighting nutrients such as cysteine, an amino acid released during the cooking of chicken that, according to Prevention.com resembles the bronchitis drug acetylcysteine. Real chicken broth made from whole chickens, bones and all, also contains a host of beneficial fats, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that support vibrant immunity.
Gelatin, for instance, which is naturally formed in chicken broth, is a food substance composed of broth essential and non-essential amino acids that is critical for regulating immunity, promoting healthy digestion, improving liver functions, and strengthening bones.

3. Sweet Potatoes- These are a rich source of both vitamin A and C. Sweet potatoes are very beneficial for your skin, which just so happens to be your body's LARGEST organ, and the first line of defense against harmful bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. This starchy root vegetable contains nutrients that help improve cardiovascular and nervous system health as well.

4. Mushrooms- These are my least favorite of all ( I have never acquired a taste for this fungus). They have been around the Chinese medicine and are known for their incredible ability to stimulate the immune system, mushrooms of numerous sorts may hold the key to keeping you and your family healthy during the winter season. A Study in 2009 out of Arizona State University, revealed that white button, reishi, maitake, shitake and oyster mushrooms (just to name a few) all possess unique immune-boosting properties that make them a worthy addition to a healthy diet.

5. Brazil nuts- These are nature's richest sources of selenium, Brazil nuts are distinctively beneficial in promoting a healthy immune system. Their ability to stimulate the production of antibodies, selenium is involved in most functions of cellular biochemistry, and are absolutely essential for proper immune function. Selenium also plays an important role in the production and function of glutathione which boosts adaptive immunity and promotes the production of white blood cells.