Fat Facts 101:  The Good And The Trans Fat

Trans fat…  Most people have heard those two words, but do you know what a trans fat truly is or how to identify it on a food label?  Do you know how detrimental to your health that trans fats can be?  Do you know what would be a better choice to make when it comes to ingesting fats into your body?  Hopefully, I will clear some of these questions up for you in this article.

First off, not all fats are created equal.  Healthy fats nourish every cell in our bodies as well as many of our organs.   Healthy fats are amazing for our skin, our nails and our hair.  Believe it or not, we actually need healthy fats in our diet so that our bodies function properly.  Without the proper fats in our diet, all kinds of problems can occur with our health.  

One example relates to me… Years ago when I used to eat the Standard American Diet (referred to as the SAD diet), I was always cold, and I mean cold, frigid, freezing… I felt like an icicle most of the time!  I am talking about the fact that I used to drive around in the middle of the summer with the heat on in my car because I was cold.  I even remember one of my friends referring to the inside of my car one time as a “sauna.”   Crazy stuff!!  Are you freezing all the time?  It may be time to look at what fats you are consuming.

After I changed the way I ate and began eating whole foods (real food), I added into my diet Udo’s Choice oil, organic first cold pressed extra virgin olive oil, hemp oil, evening primrose oil, flax oil, coconut oil, began eating young Thai coconuts, durian, walnuts, almonds, Brazil nuts and avocados (not all at the same time, obviously!), for example, and my body was able to regulate my body temperature.  My cells were being nourished, and consequently, I am not freezing all the time any longer.  I feel pretty darn good when it comes to body temperature.  Yea for me!   Thank goodness for good information and a few simple lifestyle changes!

Obviously, the fats that I listed above are healthy and are better choices that you can add into your daily meals for you and your family.  Here are a couple ideas that you can use to add some good fats into your daily regime:

• A delicious snack that myself and my boyfriend love is avocado mashed on toasted Ezekiel bread (sprouted grain bread).  Yes, it is only avocado and toasted sprouted-grain bread.  Simple, I know.  It is truly delicious!  I have shared this easy recipe with so many people, and they absolutely love it!   
• Hemp seeds or oil make a fantastic addition to breakfast smoothies.  Here is a little tip… If you are making a smoothie in the morning for breakfast and don’t want to be hungry an hour after you eat it, make sure that you add a healthy fat to it.  When you add a fat to a smoothie that contains fruit, it helps release the sugar from the fruit into your bloodstream at a slower pace, therefore, it provides you with more sustained energy.  You will feel more satiated, and you will not be hungry for a while.
• Try using some olive or flax oil on your salad with some pressed garlic, basil and a pinch of Celtic sea salt… Yum!  It is a healthier choice than store-bought salad dressings, and you know exactly what is being put into your dressing.  There’s no guesswork.  There’s no need to read labels.  Whole foods are fabulous that way… There are no complicated words on their packaging to decipher (mostly because they have no packaging) and no tricky and slick advertising from the big food companies that you need to be worried about. 

This brings me to the reason that I wrote this Fat Facts 101:  The Good And The Trans Fat article  in the first place:  Trans fats.  So what is a trans fat? 

According to Answers.com a trans fat is…

A type of fat created when oils are hydrogenated, which chemically transforms them from their normal liquid state (at room temperature) into solids. During the hydrogenation procedure extra hydrogen atoms are pumped into unsaturated fat, thereby creating trans fatty acids. This process converts the mixture into a saturated fat, which obliterates its polyunsaturate benefits.

So what the heck does that mean?  In this fast-paced world that we live in, many people want to be able to buy a product at the supermarket, convenience store or bakery and have it last for weeks, if not months, and even better, for years.  That’s one of the reasons that trans fats exist.  Food companies were looking for a way to make their products last longer, so they artificially combined hydrogen with a polyunsaturated oil and got a trans fat… a liquid that was turned into a solid.  Becoming a solid makes the fat last longer and also makes it harmful to your health.  So here is a bit of a clarification, just in case you don’t realize it… That is absolutely NOT normal.  Food (real food) is supposed to grow, ripen and then rot.  If a food product is not rotting, it’s full of preservatives, chemicals, and it quite possibly contains trans fats.  When people eat processed foods including margarine, frozen foods, fast foods, baked goods and junk foods (some of the foods pictured above), to name a few, they are likely ingesting trans fats. 

After the public began to catch on to the fact that trans fats are not good for anyone, there was an effort to get a law passed that required food companies to let people know if trans fats are, in fact, contained in the foods that they are selling to the public.  After much of a struggle and who knows what else went on (you never know when it comes to what goes on behind the scenes in Washington), there was a law passed requiring food companies to come clean and let consumers in on the secret of whether their products contained trans fats or not.  Yippie!  It’s a victory for the consumer, right? 

Well, this is the shocker… there is — ready for this — a loophole in the law (thank you, again, FDA)!  If you buy a product and it says “No Trans Fats” or ”Trans Fat Free” or any other variation of that, you MUST read the label.  Food companies are allowed to add trans fats to a product if it contains less than 0.5 grams per serving.  “But that’s really not a large number, 0.05,” you say…  I beg to differ.  If you have more than one serving of a product or eat several products together that contain “No Trans Fats” ( just kidding — they really contain trans fats), you are eating trans fats without knowing it.  Very, very sneaky of the food companies.

So what can you do about it?  Read food labels.  I cannot stress enough how important it is to read food labels.  Yes, READ food labels.  I said it again.  :0)

It surprises me when I go to a supermarket and see consumers blindly pulling items off a shelf and depositing them into their carts without even so much as a glance on the back of the product to see what they’re really going to be  eating.  For purposes of identifying trans fats in a product, you can skip all of the calorie, sodium, vitamins and mineral information located in the label box.  Skip right down to the “ingredients.”  What you need to look for are any words, such as, “hydrogenated,” “partially hydrogenated,” and/or “shortening.”  If a product contains any of these words listed on the ingredients label, put it back on the shelf and step away from the item.  It contains trans fats.  Trust me.  You’re better off.  :0) 

 Make it an AMAZING day!  

♥ Health Inspired Beauty ♥

Let’s face it, we live in a culture that puts a lot of emphasis on external beauty…  While I believe that inner beauty is the most important factor when the two are being compared, that’s a subject for another day.  Today I’m going to be sharing some simple, easy natural beauty tips for external beauty that have worked really well for me over the years.  I will be 40-years-young this year, and when I tell people my age, they usually cannot believe it.  I truly believe that my diet and lifestyle have played a pivotal role in keeping me looking and feeling young.  I am really excited to share with you a few of the things that I do on a daily basis to keep my skin, nails and hair healthy and vibrant.  :0)

To begin with, did you know that our skin is actually considered an organ?  Yes, it’s an organ – like our heart, lungs, stomach and even our liver.  Until 11 years ago, in all honesty, I had no clue about this fact!   Another cool fact that I didn’t realize is that not only is our skin an organ, it is our body’s largest organ of elimination.  This is an extremely important fact to realize when it comes to what we put in our mouths and put onto our skin, which can make a difference between looking young, fresh and healthy or looking old, tired and sickly.

It is my belief that our bodies are perfectly designed, and they do perform very effectively when given the proper tools to do their jobs … When we eat healthy, whole, alkalizing foods (preferably organic or wildcrafted), our body is able to run like a finely-tuned machine…  Our eyes shimmer, our skin glows, we have lots of energy, and we feel fantastic!  When our bodies are not alkaline and are toxic from food, chemical pollutants and/or stress (among other factors), we end up on the other end of the spectrum.

You hear a lot about “cleansing” these days in order to facilitate living a healthy lifestyle.  When out body accumulates too much acid or toxic build-up, its job is to rid itself of these toxic substances.   Engaging in an organized cleanse can help facilitate that process in a controlled manner.  Even when we’re not doing an organized cleanse, our bodies perform cleansing functions every single day that we are alive… That is evident by the fact that we urinate, sneeze or even have bad breath, for example.  These are three ways that the body attempts to clean and rid itself of toxins.

When our other organs of elimination (the colon, kidneys and liver are the primary elimination organs) are on overload and are not able to effectively get rid of toxin build-up, that is where the skin steps in does its job.  It rids our body of this nasty waste by pushing toxins out through the skin in the form of pimples, rashes, wrinkles and/or skin discolorations.  Unfortunately, when this occurs, many people reach for over-the-counter creams, salves or even medications to apply to their skin in the hopes of banishing these unsightly blemishes.  A few simple changes in diet, in the “products” that we use and the way that we care for our bodies can often take care of these issues in a natural and healthful manner. So let’s get started with outlining the basics…

***********************************************************************************************************************

Simple Suggestions For Health Inspired Beauty

Drink water.  Drink at least half of your body weight in ounces of filtered or spring water per day (stay as far away from tap water as you can get).  For example, a person weighing 120 pounds should drink 60 ounces of water per day.  This will help to flush your system of toxins and keep you hydrated so you feel alert.  If you get to the point that you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated, so it is best to sip on water throughout the day.  A great website to use to find free — yes, free — spring water is Find A Spring that was created by Daniel Vitalis.  It is updated on a regular basis when new free springs are found.  Check it out today, and enjoy a cool and refreshing chemical-free drink… :0)

Eat Whole Foods.  Whole foods means a food in its whole state.  If it comes in a box, a can, a plastic container, etc.,  it is not a whole food.  If it has a list of ingredients a mile long, it is not a whole food.  If you cannot pronounce the ingredients on a label and wouldn’t keep the unpronouncable igredients in your pantry, it is not a whole food.  An apple is a whole food; eat it.  Blue Lake 40 and Red 10 and other potentially harmful food additives are not whole foods and should NOT be put into your precious body if you want to stay healthy, period.

Consume Lots of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables.  Well, of course!  Not only do fruits and vegetables taste great, they also have a high water, vitamin and mineral content (there is that water creeping into the healthy skin discussion again!).  Everyone these days knows how good fruits and veggies are for you.  They really are essential for good health and healthy skin.  If you want to have younger-looking skin and feel great, eat your fruits and veggies.  Remember to eat organic or wildcrafted when you can.  A great way to find different varieties of in-season fruits and veggies is to join a CSA (community-supported agriculture group) or shop your local farmer’s market.  You will be amazed at what is out there!

Eat Superfoods.  A superfood.  What the heck is that?  According to David Wolfe, a “Superfood is a term used to describe food with high phytonutrient content and other power-packed nutrient values that are massively abundant and bio-available to the human organism.”  That means more nutrition, more antioxidants, anthocyanins, vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber that keep your body healthy.  An example of superfoods would be dark chocolate (make sure it is dark and contains more than 70% cacao to receive the benefits), raw cacao, maca, goji, golden and/or mulberries, blueberries, acai berry, mangosteen, chia and/or pumpkin seeds, durian, young Thai coconut, figs, green superfood powders.  You can eat many delicious superfoods on their own or throw them in a blender and make a superfood smoothie that is both delcious and nutritious!  What a fabulous way to start your day!

Eat Healthy Fats.  Yes, I said that.  Eat fats.  When I say that, I feel I must tell you that not all fats were created equal.  So I’m not talking about fried foods, transfats, margarine or any other type of unhealthy fat.  I’m talking about flax oil, raw coconut oil, avocados, hemp oil, sesame oil, first cold pressed extra virgin olive oil, ghee, real butter from grass-fed cows, to name a few.  You can add these healthy fats into delicious dressings or sauces, smoothies or juices.  If you want your skin, hair and nails to be luxurious, strong, healthy and glowing, begin incorporating these healthy fats into your daily routine.

If You Won’t Put It In Your Mouth, Don’t Put It On Your Skin.  I have to say that this piece of advice that I received years ago was some of the best advice I have ever received in my life so far.  I took this advice and never looked back.  You must realize that anything that you put on your skin gets absorbed into your body and goes directly into your bloodstream.  Would you put a squirt of your favorite perfume directly into your mouth?  Would you eat that face cream that you are rubbing onto the delicate skin on your face?  How about having a big bite of that hand and body lotion that you are slathering all over your precious body?  When you are answering these questions, I hope that you are saying, ABSOLUTELY NOT!  I would NEVER do that!  You can truly get sick and maybe even die from consuming the toxic substances that are contained in most commercially-produced products.  On your skin or in your mouth, it’s essentially the same thing…  One can make you sick slowly, and one can make you sick quickly.  Follow this suggestion, and your skin and body will truly thank you.

Use Natural Toothpaste, Mouthwash and Deodorant.  I am sure most people have heard by now that deodorants are preferable to antiperspirants.  FYI, our bodies were designed to sweat, and they really need to be allowed to perform this function.  Most antiperspirants contain aluminum, which clogs the pores under our armpits, exactly where our lymphatic system is located.  The lymphatic system is basically the sewage system in the body… It helps to clean out the junk.  Back up the lymph system, and you are in for a world of no good.   Instead, choose all-natural deodorants.  It just makes sense.  And as far as toothpaste and mouthwash are concerned, now we’re back to the putting-chemicals-directly-into-your-mouth discussion again.  Need I say more?

Use Non-Toxic Beauty and Hair Products.  Avoid products that contain the following ingredients:  Foaming agents (including sodium laureth sulphate (SLS), ammonium lauryl sulphate and 1,4-dioxane), artificial fragrances, artificial colors, emulsifiers (such as Glyceryl monostearate and stearic acid), preservatives, urea (of any kind), parabens (of any kind), petroleum-based carrying agents or PVP/VA copolymer, stearalkonium chloride, petrolatum and paraffin.  A great rule to follow is if you cannot pronounce an ingredient, stay away from it.  Run, don’t walk, away from these products.  As I’ve said before, they end up on your skin and in your bloodstream.  That’s not where they belong.  There are scores of amazing natural alternatives these days when it comes to makeup, skincare and hair care… There’s no reason to be applying damaging chemicals to our precious skin.

Use Non-Toxic Detergent To Do Your Laundry.  Just imagine wearing chemicals all day or sleeping between chemicals all night.  That is exactly what is happening when you use toxic detergents on your clothing or bedding.  I also recommend avoiding fabric softeners and dryer sheets.  You smell good already…  It isn’t worth the risk of ruining your health just to smell fluffy fresh.  The residue from these products can also end up on your clothes, on your skin and ultimately in your bloodstream.  Again, not so good.  There are many great products that are available to get your new outfit sparkling clean without the use of harmful chemicals.

Move Your Body.  Go for a walk, run in the woods, do some yoga, jump on a rebounder, take a Zumba class, go dancing, walk up and down the stairs, go to the gym, play hide and seek with your kids, take up a sport like tennis, soccer, golf; whatever it takes, just get your body moving.  If you’re sitting still, your lymph system is not doing anything.  It’s just sitting still, too.  Help your lymph system eliminate toxins from your body by moving it.  You’ll truly feel better, and your body will thank you..

Take Time For Yourself.  Stress does a number on our health and manifests itself in many forms, including being able to see it on our skin.  Take time for yourself.  It is absolutely crucial that you put some time aside for yourself every single day, even if it is only for 15 minutes.  You CAN find at least 15 minutes in a day to do something that you love for YOU.  What is it that makes you feel good?  Is it meditation?  Going for a walk?  Watching a movie?  Taking a nap?  Spending time with your friends or family?  Playing with your animals?  Taking a bath?  Surfing the Web?  Creating something new?  Reading a book?  Preparing a delicious meal?  These happen to be some of my favorite things.  Find out what yours are and do at least one of them every single day.  You will feel refreshed by engaging in something that you love doing, which makes for a happier person, which makes for less stress in your life.  :0)

************************************************************************************************************************

Helpful Tips For Following The Suggestions

1.  If you are not a big fan of drinking water, that’s okay.  One idea is to purchase a stainless steel water container that inspires you and gets you excited to carry it around.  Make drinking water fun!  It’s the little things, you know, that make the biggest difference…  You can fill the container with filtered or spring water and squirt in a little lemon or lime (both very alkalizing to the body), add a bit of liquid stevia(an alternative sweetener) or use a combination of both lemon/lime and liquid stevia to make a lemonade-tasting water.

You could also make cucumber water by slicing up an organic cucumber, adding it to your water and letting it “marinate” for a couple hours.  It’s a really refreshing treat!  I was just discussing making cucumber water with my sister yesterday, and she got all excited.  She had a great idea… She is growing a bunch of organic mint and decided she’s going to make some organic cucumber and mint water… I think that sounds wonderful!  Think outside the box like she did and find what works for you.  Do whatever it takes to make it easy for you to succeed.  If you find something that tastes delicious to you, you will be more likely to drink it through the day.  Set yourself up to win!

2.  If you are thinking, I don’t know how to prepare fruits and vegetables.  What do I do now?  This is so simple that you will say, Wow.  Why didn’t I think of that?!?  One option is to head to your local bookstore or go online to find a cook/recipe book in order to prepare a fantastic creation that will knock your socks off and literally cause your friends and family to bow down when you walk by.  That one is obvious.

There is another way, though… Did you realize that there are literally thousands of sites online where you can find free… yes, free… recipes?!?  Simply type your favorite fruit or vegetable along with a description of what type of recipe you feel like making into the search engine of your choice, and away you go!  You could type in anything… “Raw Food Recipes and Tomatoes” or “Cooked Kale Recipes” or “Fruit Recipes” or ”Amazing Salads” or “Delicious Juicing Recipes”… The possibilities are endless.  It really is fun to make a new recipe…  You might even begin to enjoy it so much that you start to create your own wonderful recipes… Imagine if that happened!  Try a new recipe today.  :0)

3.  Instead of using commercially-created perfume, consider using 100% pure organic essential oils.  Check out simple scented oils that make you feel good and uplifted.  I love lavender and peppermint.  Another option is to create a mixture of your favorite essential oils or purchase essential oils that have already been prepared into wonderfully-scented mixtures. Two of my favorites mixtures are Positive Thoughts by Oshadhi and Peace & Calming by Young Living Oils.

4.  If you feel you absolutely cannot live without your perfume, lay the outfit you are going to be wearing on a flat surface and spray the perfume on the outside of your outfit before you put it on.  Let the perfume dry, and then put your outfit on.  By doing this, you won’t be getting the perfume on your skin, as it will be on the outside of your clothing, and you will definitely be better off.

5.  My favorite, favorite, favorite moisturizer for my skin is organic raw coconut oil!!  I cannot say enough great things about this powerful and inexpensive product.  I love to use it on my face and my whole body.  My advice is to use it sparingly.  When using it on my face, I usually use a tiny bit (about the size of a quarter of a dime), rub it between my hands, apply it to my face and then wipe the excess off.  My skin literally glows (and it smells great)!  Other great oils to use on your skin would be avocado oil, jojoba oil or olive oil, to name a few.  Like I said, use them sparingly.  A little goes a long way.  You will notice a difference in your skin in no time!

6.  If you’re not quite ready to switch to coconut or avocado oil and would like to give some organic non-toxic skin care products a try…  rusticrootz.com (my favorite for organic skincare), MyChelle Dermaceuticals and Aubrey Organics make some fantastic products.  If you do a little bit of research, you should be able to find other organic non-toxic skin care products that work well for you.  Again, use your favorite search engine, put on your investigator hat and search away…  There are many new and amazing companies that are born every day that produce wonderful organic non-toxic skin care products.  It’s up to you to find a great product that works well with your skin.

7.  I, personally, use Aubrey Organics when it comes to hair care products.  I have, in the past, used totally natural hair care — organic raw honey cut with organic apple cider vinegar.  It worked great, actually.  The only issue that I ran into was that one day my sister told me my head smelled like a salad.  Honestly, that cracks me up to think about what she said to this day!!  After I ceased having salad head, I switched back to Aubrey Organics.  I currently use their Blue Chamomile Shampoo, and I love it!  I very rarely use hair spray, and when I do, I use the Aubrey Organics Super Hold Hairspray.  It works really great and is not loaded with tons of chemicals.  There are loads of organic, non-toxic hair products out there.  Do a little investigating, and you will find one that you love, too.

8.  I want to give two recommendations when it comes to deodorant.  I have used the Thai Crystal Deodorant Stone and Thai Crystal Mist Deodorant products for years.  They both work really great for me.  When using the Thai Crystal Deodorant Stone, you wet the stone, then apply it after you have just taken a shower.  Do not… I repeat… Do not wet the stone and apply it if you have any odor under your armpits.  It will pull the smell into the stone, and then your stone will be stinky.   I like the Thai Crystal Mist Deodorant because all you do is spray the mist under your arms, and you’re ready to go.

9.  Give non-toxic products a try when doing your laundry, such as soap nutsor Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds, and use dryer balls to soften your clothing and reduce static electricity naturally.

***I invite you to visit Inspired Health & Happiness Marketplace  to find the products listed in this article, handpicked by me, in one convenient location.***

*************************************************************************************************************************

Simple Recipes For Health Inspired Beauty

Fruits are wonderful to use in homemade facial masks, as they are chock full of enzymes, vitamins and minerals that are nourishing to your skin.  When I see a commercial product that boasts that it contains “avocado oil”, for example, it literally makes me laugh.  I think to myself, why not just put real avocado on your skin?  Why would you want to put avocado that has been processed and is swimming around in who knows what kind ingredients on your face instead?  Crazy, crazy stuff right there.  Stick to the actual whole fruit.  It just makes sense.

***Please remember to only use organic or wildcrafted ingredients on your skin.***

My Favorite Homemade Facial Masks:

***Add 4 ripe organic strawberries and 1/2 teaspoon of raw organic honey to a blender, food processor or mash together with a fork.  Blend, process or mash until the consistency is creamy.  Apply evenly to face (avoiding eyes).  Leave mask on for 5 minutes, then wash off with warm water.  Once the mask is completely washed off, splash some cool water on face, then pat dry.***

***Add 2 ripe organic strawberries, 1/4 cup of organic avocado, 2 teaspoons of raw organic cacao powder and 1 Tablespoon of aloe vera juice to a blender, food processor or mash together with a fork.  Blend, process or mash until the consistency is creamy.  Apply evenly to face (avoiding eyes).  Leave mask on for 5 minutes, then wash off with warm water.  Once the mask is completely washed off, splash some cool water on face, then pat dry.***

***Add 1/4 cup of organic papaya (leave out peppery seeds, as they can irritate the eyes) and 1/4 cup of organic avocado to a blender or food processor and blend or process until the consistency is creamy.  Apply evenly to face (avoiding eyes).  Leave mask on for 5 minutes, then wash off with warm water.  Once the mask is completely washed off, splash some cool water on face, then pat dry.***

***Add 1/4 cup of organic banana, 1/8 cup of organic avocado and 1 Tablespoon of raw organic honey to a blender, food processor or mash together with a fork.  Blend, process or mash until the consistency is creamy.  Apply evenly to face (avoiding eyes).  Leave mask on for 5 minutes, then wash off with warm water.  Once the mask is completely washed off, splash some cool water on face, then pat dry.***

 Healing Salve:

I just love the words “healing salve.”  I’m not sure why…  It gives me a feeling of comfort, I guess.  Because these are so easy and fun to make, I wanted to include a short video by Mountain Rose Herbs that will educate you about healing salves and show you a simple technique to use to make them.  Enjoy!

]

***One easy hair care tip that I would like to share with you involves, once again, organic raw coconut oil.  I usually take a very little bit (about the size of a quarter of a dime) and rub in between my hands.  I then apply it to the ends of my hair.  This helps with keeping the ends of my hair healthy, and if you I’m having a frizzy hair day, it cuts down on the frizz.

If I am looking to add more sheen to my hair, after I have applied the organic raw coconut oil to the ends of my hair, I will use up the excess oil by running my fingers through the rest of my hair.  It really makes my hair vibrant!  If you want to try this out, too, I would recommend doing it for the first time when you are in for the evening and not going anywhere.  Play around with the amount of oil that you use.  You may have to take a bit of oil off of your hands with a towel first and then apply the rest to you hair.  I will stress this again… Use this oil sparingly or you will end up with a greasy shine and not a healthy-looking sheen.***

My Favorite Homemade Deep Hair Conditioner:

***Add 1 organic avocado (maybe a little less or more depending on if your hair is short or long, thin or thick, healthy or damaged — you will have to play around with the quantity to fit your individual needs) to a blender or food processor and blend or process until creamy.  After your hair is nice and clean, apply the creamy avocado to your hair, as you would any commercially-produced conditioner.  Leave on for 10 minutes.  Rinse the avocado out of your hair.  Wash your hair one more time, rinse and enjoy your deeply conditioned hair!***

*******************************************************************************************************************************

Obviously, I could go on and on and give you recipe after recipe on this subject of Health Inspired Beauty.  I have a lot more tricks up my sleeve, so to speak.  The only issue is this would turn into more of a book than an article… So if you desire to learn more about the subject of natural beauty and homemade beauty treatments, etc., I am listing three of my favorite books below that will get you started.

Natural Beauty Recommended Reading:

Eating For Beauty by David Wolfe is one of my FAVORITE books ever!  In this book David Wolfe teaches you which foods are the most beautifying foods, and he also gives you some simple and delicious recipes that you may use to enhance your health.

Recipes for Natural Beauty contains 100 homemade treatments for radiant beauty that include such recipes as a Strawberry Moisture Bar, Eyelash Thickener, Fruit and Nut Lip Salve and Honey and Lemon Bath Elixir.  Besides the wonderful recipes that are beautifully laid out in this book, Katie Spiers clearly lists and defines all of the ingredients and what their specific uses are for.

The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy: Over 600 Natural, Non-Toxic and Fragrant Recipes to Create Health - Beauty - a Safe Home Environmentcontains over 600 natural, non-toxic and fragrant recipes to create health, beauty and a safe home environment… That deserves a big WOW!!

****************************************************************************************************************************

It is important to remember that health is a journey, and that goes for natural beauty, too.  I recommend taking baby steps in the right direction… Pick one or two of my simple suggestions that appeal to you most and implement them into your life over the next two weeks.  Once you get used to these changes, pick two more suggestions and go from there.  Eventually, you will get through the whole list, and it will be at YOUR pace.  Make it easy for you to succeed by not biting off more than you can chew.  This is precisely how I began my journey to health 11 years ago.  You will eventually get to where you want to go, the important thing is to keep moving forward. One last thing… remember that everyone’s body is different.  All of the suggestions, techniques, recipes and products that I have listed in this article have worked well for me over the past 11 years.  It was a trial-and-error type of thing.  I eventually found what works for my body.  I recommend that you use my suggestions, techniques, recipes and products as guidelines to inspire you and to put you on a path that leads to finding out exactly what works well for you.  You CAN do it!

To your healthy, happiness and beauty!

My Adventures In Cleansing

Most of my friends that know me well know that I am a big fan of cleansing. I did my first monthlong cleanse back in 1999 (I can’t believe it was such a long time ago!), which was an Arise & Shine Cleanse that entailed orally taking herbs, psyllium and hydrated bentonite clay several times a day while eating only alkalizing foods. It was very structured, which was great for me at the time. I loved following directions, and this made things simple for me.  Boy, how things have changed!  All in all, I am happy to report it was a great cleanse for my first cleansing experience and continues to be a great product to this day (in my opinion).

I had just transitioned a year earlier from eating the Standard American Diet to eating a whole-foods based vegan diet, was learning about cleansing and ready for my first one. Once I started to get more in tune to my body (after getting the processed junk and junk foods out of me), I intuitively knew it was time.  I was so enthusiastic and excited to begin!  Of course I couldn’t start slow with a weeklong cleanse — I tend to like to go for it when I commit to doing something.  I dove right in and went for the gusto, what I believed to be the Cadillac of all cleanses, a monthlong one!!  Longer cleansing had to be better, right?  After all, I had been eating an unhealthy, nutritionally-deficient diet for years, so the longer the cleanse, the healthier I would be… Well, we all learn lessons, and I am no exception to that rule.  When it comes to cleansing, I think being conservative and building up to longer cleanses is a must.  That’s how I think today, though, and not back in 1999.  With age comes wisdom, I guess, or maybe I just am fantastic at learning from my experiences.  :0)

Besides the cleansing reactions that some people experience while cleansing –headaches, nausea, skin eruptions, emotional highs and lows and some other unmentionables — and at some points wanting to give up, I was losing a pound of weight a day on this particular cleanse, which kind of freaked me out a little bit. After I went from 124 pounds to 115 pounds in nine days, I ended up having to contact the Arise & Shine cleanse representatives and find out what was going on.  I felt a bit panicked, as none of my clothing was fitting me anymore. I looked like a size 4 mannequin draped in a size 10 outfit!  The representatives I spoke with were extremely helpful, and their recommendation was that I consume more calories and good fat during the cleanse, so I ate two avocados every day for the rest of the time on the cleanse, felt better and was able to put a few pounds back on. Whew!  It was definately a learning experience for me that was very valuable.  I also learned about black walnut hull being used to kill parasites during a cleanse, about colon cleansing and coffee enemas, about using cayenne pepper to intensify the effects of the herbs I was taking, how to slow down or speed up a cleanse and, generally, what works for my body and what doesn’t.

Needless to say, although I really like the Arise & Shine products, honestly, that cleanse was tough for me because it was so long and intense. Although I felt great at the end of the month, it did take a lot out of me.  And being the stubbon girl that I can be at times, I did three more monthlong cleanses over the next couple of years (all before 2005)… Two Arise & Shines and one Ejuva Cleanse. Sometimes it can take me a bit to figure out what works for my body… luckily I eventually get it. :0)

Well, I finally got it, and I am happy to report that my days of monthlong cleansing are over (at least for now). It simply takes too much out of my body and is too taxing on my mind.  I have found that doing a weeklong (or shorter) cleanse works great for me, and my body seems to respond well to it.  I tend to only cleanse in the spring, summer and early fall, as the winter is too cold up here in the northeast.  I would much rather eat hardy and building foods, such as soups, root veggies and dark leafy greens, instead of juicing and eating 100% raw during that season.  The thought of cleansing and winter together gives me a chill even thinking about it, and it’s warm outside today!  The last weeklong product cleanse that I did was the Raw Cleanse by Garden of Life, and I really enjoyed doing it.  It was quite different than any other cleansing products I have used.  It was VERY gentle, and I felt fantastic at the end of the week after using it.

For the past couple weeks one of my best girlfriends (who I consider my sister), Nancy, has been going on and on about the delicious juices she has been making for herself, her husband and her two-year-old son, Baby D. Nancy is an exceptional role model for other mothers when it comes to nourishing her child with healthy foods, and I consider myself blessed that she shares some of these recipes that she creates with me! She is always making her little pumpkin healthy smoothies, giving him delicious whole-food snacks and has even incorporated a daily ritual into their schedule of him helping with the preparation of some of the meals! He gets to help his mommy put the vegetables in the juicer in order to make a juice and is very enthusiastic about doing so.  While drinking the masterpieces that he helps to create, he doesn’t come up for air until the end of his cup, and then he always says, “Mmmmmmmmmm!” It’s way too cute for words to even express, and it makes me excited to hear all of her lovely stories about this little sweetheart and his adventures with loving food and healthy eating.

Over the past few weeks, Nancy has expressed to me how delicious one particular juice she has been making is that she got out of David Wolfe’s book Eating For Beauty (one of my FAVORITE books of all time!), which is sooooo good for your skin and overall health. The juice consists of apples, cucumber and celery. She told me that it was refreshing and delicious at the same time…  And since she loves healthy and delicious food as much as I do, this made me EXCITED!

I decided to give it a whirl this past Sunday morning, and it was, in fact, DELICIOUS! I am happy to say that my honey loved it, too. :0)

After being INSPIRED by Nancy and Baby D, thoroughly enjoying this sensational juice and realizing that I am wanting to cleanse (I can feel myself being pulled in that direction), I decided that it is time for me to do a spring juice feast!  (I have heard juice fasting referred to as juice feasting, and I like the term “feast”, as I associate the term “fast” with lack and “feast” with abundance!).  I love the idea of doing a mini juice feast for four days. This is definitely a managable amount of time for me to cleanse, and it makes me excited to think of how much more energy I will have in only four short days! 

Over the past few years I have been working on simplifying my life… So why wouldn’t that pertain to cleansing, too?  When I really thought about it, I came to realize that cleansing CAN be really simple (doing a juice feast or eating 100% raw) and doesn’t have to entail purchasing any “products” in order to do a cleanse, unless buying a product and following the directions works for you.  It also doesn’t have to be a long, drawn-out process unless you choose for it to be.  Setting the stage for your body to go into cleansing mode and letting it do what it’s designed to do by juicing fresh, organic raw vegetables or eating lightly steamed ones, using cleansing products or not, together with rest and meditation, can make a world of difference in your overall health.  It definitely has for me.  :0)

As an added note… if you are considering doing ANY form of a cleanse, I recommend doing your research first… There are countless numbers of books to read or websites to visit on this subject.  It is best to know what might go on in your body during a cleanse BEFORE you cleanse.  If you smoke, drink excessive alcohol, eat lots of processed foods and/or the Standard American Diet, are taking prescription drugs or recreational drugs, you should consult a health care professional before you do ANY type of cleansing, as the cleansing reactions you could experience might be severe and harmful to your body.

With that said, Happy Cleansing!  :0)

Three Cheers For Garbanzo Beans Salad

Three Cheers For Garbanzo Bean Salad is an absolutely DELICIOUS recipe that I created years ago. I cannot even express to you how much I LOVE it! The bottom line with this easy dish is the flavors meld together and just work. All I can say is Yum!

While co-heading the food crew for Tony Robbins’ UPW weekend seminars for years, I made this recipe for over 300 people at a time. It was always a BIG hit that resulted in droves of crew members seeking me out to ask for the recipe. I am excited to share it with you!

Ingredients:

4 cups garbanzo beans

1 avocado

1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved) OR 2 medium tomatoes (chopped)

1/4 cup red onion

2 garlic cloves (pressed)

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/4 cup nama shoyu or tamari 

3 basil leaves slivered (optional)

***USE ORGANIC INGREDIENTS WHEN AVAILABLE***

To Create This Dish:

1. Add garbanzo beans to a large bowl.

2. Halve the tomatoes and add to garbanzo beans.

3. Put garlic through a garlic press into your bowl with the beans and tomatoes.

4. Chop up the red onion and add to the beans, garlic and tomatoes.

5. Dice the avocado and add to garbanzo beans, tomatoes and garlic mixture.

6. Pick three large basil leaves and sliver.

 

 

 

 

 

7.  Add basil leaves to bowl. 

8.  Add the olive oil and nama shoyu/tamari.

9.  Mix thoroughly.

10.  Enjoy!!

A Few Helpful Hints

1. I buy dehydrated organic garbanzo beans from the bulk bins at my health food store, soak them overnight (at least 8 hours), boil them for 30 minutes with a 2″ piece of kombu (seaweed) for added nutrition, and I end up with tasty sweet garbanzo beans!! The bulk bins are a FANTASTIC way to be able to purchase organic ingredients for all of your recipes at a resonable price. I love that.

2. If you are using organic garbanzo beans from a can, a 15-ounce can is equal to 2 cups of beans.  Drain well before using in the salad.

3. As a variation, I also use white cannelli beans in this recipe (the same amount as the garbanzo beans). It depends on what I feel like eating. The canelli beans have a creamier texture and give the recipe an entirely different flavor.

4. Add cucumbers, olives, sprouts or different veggies to vary the basic recipe. It is also great as-is served over spinach or arugula; it really tastes delcious over a regular green salad.

5. If, after adding the olive oil and nama shoyu/tamari, you feel you need a little bit more nama shoyu/tamari, pour a little over the salad, mix it again, taste it and see if it needs more. Adding a little at a time to this recipe goes a long way. The recipe won’t taste as good if you put too much in.

6. If you let the salad sit for a while, all the flavors meld together. It also tastes fantastic the next day.

7. As this is the basic recipe, be adventurous after you have made it the first time. Add in different veggies and spices. You might create a masterpiece of your own!

A Bit About Garbanzo Beans

They are grown in India, Australia, the Mediterranean and Western Asia.

Garbanzo beans are also known as chickpeas.

They can be sprouted, used in soups, stews, salads, breads, to make falafel and are commonly used to make hummus (one of my personal favorites).

These beans are high in protein and dietary fiber.

They contain the minerals phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc, all of which our bodies need. 

Chocolate Pudding With A Twist

If you’re a chocolate lover, you’re going to do backflips when you taste this pudding. In fact, not only are you going to do backflips because it tastes so good, you’ll be doing them because it is easy to make and is extremely good for you, too!

What’s the twist in this recipe?  It contains only six ingredients that are all packed with nutrients and are exploding with flavor. You can prepare this entire dessert in under ten minutes using a blender or a food processor, so there’s minimal cleanup and more time for eating. :0)

Ingredients:

2 ripe avocados

1/3 cup raw agave nectar

3 Tbs raw cacao powder

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/8 tsp Celtic sea salt

1/8 tsp cinnamon

***USE ORGANIC INGREDIENTS WHEN AVAILABLE***

Serves 2

How to Prepare:

1. Open the avocados by cutting in a circle from top to bottom of the skin, then de-pit by hitting the blade of the knife into the pit and turning. This will take the pit out with no fuss. 

2. Scoop the avocado with a spoon into your food processor or blender and add the raw agave nectar. Process until smooth.

3. Add the raw cacao powder, vanilla extract, Celtic sea salt and cinnamon. Process until mixed well with the avocado/raw agave nectar mixture.

4. Yes, it is actually that easy.  Your Chocolate Pudding With A Twist is ready… Enjoy!!

Variations:

Eat this yummy pudding plain or garnish with fresh fruit, such as, sliced banana, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, kiwi fruit, apples or pears;

If you like milk chocolate (this recipe is for dark chocolate), add 1/2 cup almond, rice, hemp or soy milk (if you do this, you need to add a little more raw agave nectar — adjust to your taste by adding a little at a time);

Chop up some nuts, such as, raw almonds, walnuts, brazil nuts or cashews and stir in for a little texture or crunch.

Fun Facts About The Ingredients

Raw cacao is considered a superfood and is packed full of nutrition. Raw cacao is rich in magnesium (balances brain chemisty and helps build strong bones), phenylethylamine (a chemical that is released by our brains when we are in love), anandamide (a chemical that is produced by our brains when we are happy), tryptophan (helps promote better sleep) and is loaded with antioxidants.

Most people know that blueberries are an amazing food for you… Well, raw cacao outperforms blueberries when it comes to the O.R.A.C. (Oxygen Radical Absorption Content) value, which is a method of measuring the antioxidant capacities in foods. Blueberries have an O.R.A.C. value of 2400, while raw cacao powder’s value is 13,140. That’s incredible!!

If you are going to have a chocolate bar, it is best to eat one containing at least 70% dark chocolate to receive health benefits.

Avocados contain healthy fats that our body needs to function normally. Not only do avocados contain healthy fats, they are high in potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and vitamins A, C and K. Wow!

Raw agave nectar is a sweetener that is sweeter than sugar, can be substitued for cooking, baking, preparing raw foods and as a sweetener in teas, drinks or smoothies.

Vanilla extract contains small amounts of calcium, magnesium and potassium.

Cinnamon has been found to be extremely helpful in the treatment of Type II diabetes and also contains vitamin A, calcium, iron and magnesium.

Extra tip about cinnamon: I keep a little bit of cinnamon in an tiny container in my purse and use it as a breath freshener. It works really well, and it tastes great, too!