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Wednesday, September 30, 2009

ICE CREAM.......OR IS IT?

Okay, I know that the weather is turning (or has turned depending on your location) cooler but sometimes I just want me some. Ice cream, that is. And seeing as I am so into eating as healthy as I possibly can, I found a recipe for something that will definitely satisfy your sweets craving.



Can you guess what this is....
It’s actually frozen bananas, creamed in a food processor (using the S blade). I got this recipe from ChoosingRaw blog (great raw foods blog). She (Gena from ChoosingRaw) calls this dish "Banana Soft Serve". I could not believe that something this simple could be so good. So of course, I had to put this recipe to the test.




Here’s the recipe :
3 frozen organic bananas
Cinnamon (optional)
Chocolate Sauce (optional)


I took 3 frozen bananas and popped them into the food processor. Pulsed them for about 5 minutes, during which I would stop it and scrap the bananas off the sides to make sure everything was creamed.


In the meantime for the chocolate sauce, I used 1 Tablespoon of raw cacao (raw chocolate) to 2 T of Agave nectar and blended until smooth. And just to make things a little funky, I shook a little bit of Cinnamon on top. Ummmmmm…. So delicious.

I was especially happy when my daughter tried it and loved it. So tryin, to get that girl to eat more raw so I took this as a victory and beginning for her. ( I do believe she’s opening up to it more.) She even requests this. Lol.
It really is a simple win-win recipe. If you try it, let me know what you think.


Ice Creamy Smooches,

CO

Post Title ICE CREAM.......OR IS IT?

Monday, September 28, 2009

THANK GOD I'M NATURAL REVIEW


I can remember more than 2 yrs ago deciding that I was finally going to go “natural”. I had spent soooooo many years wanting to. Secretly envying (and admiring) other woman who had gone thru with their decision before me. I distinctly remember finally getting the um….gonads to go for it and doing it. I also vividly remember not knowing what the hell to do after I got it done. I was clueless. So I bought a book by a well known hair stylist regarding natural hair. I was really happy with my purchase until I got home - disappointed by its content. It really didn’t help me as I expected it would. Now looking back, I realize that it was not necessarily a book for the newbie. However, “Thank God I’m Natural: The Ultimate Guide to Caring for and Maintaining Natural Hair” by Chris-Tia E. Donaldson is that book and so much more.

When Chris-Tia contacted me about reading and reviewing her book, I honestly thought, “Oh God. Not another hair book.” But after visiting her site I was convinced that I should give it a try. After reading and thoroughly enjoying this book, I regard “Thank God I’m Natural” as an encyclopedia, maybe even bible for natural hair newbies, for those considering going natural, those transitioning, and even for those who have been natural for awhile. This is a book that should definitely be in your library.

I loved the fact that Chris-Tia shares her personal journey to natural hair. That really made me feel connected. This is definitely a book written by someone who knows the experience- ups and downs, very well. Which in turn, makes it easily readable, enjoyable, understandable and relatable.

I can’t say that there was any favorite point of the book for me because I appreciated it in its entirety. So here are some of the particulars that I enjoyed.
Chapter on “A Brush With History” – A must read is all I can say.

Chapter on “Color Me Natural” – Great information seeing as I’ve been strongly considering getting my coils & curls colored. I appreciate the honesty of the personal experience in which it was written.

Chapter on “The Perfect Blow Out” – After reading this chapter, I think I just may have the nerve to swing this on my own.

Chapter on “Making Products at Home”- Okay, I am so into this right now. There are some great, simple recipes in this chapter. Now I have a more reasons to get in the kitchen.


Overall this is an awesome reference book that all naturals can benefit from. There’s even a natural hair glossary in the back. Also, those with beautiful locks have a chapter dedicated to them!

Bottom line: If you’re thinking about going natural, transitioning or if you’re already natural (newbie, old-head or somewhere in between), you should have this book in your library. It’s totally relatable and has a wealth of useful and practical information in it that is written with genuine perspective and intent. This would also make a great gift!


You can purchase "Thank God I'm Natural: The Ultimate Guide to Caring for and Maintaining Natural Hair" on Amazon here.
Or visit Thank God I'm Natural for the website and entrance to Chris-Tia's blog.

To the author:
Thank you Chris-Tia for sending me a copy of your book and allowing me to do this review. I am honored and grateful that you considered me and my blog for this. I thoroughly enjoyed reading “Thank God I’m Natural” and consider it an asset in my personal library. I wish you great success!!

ChocolateOrchid

Post Title THANK GOD I'M NATURAL REVIEW

GOOD NEWS MONDAY


Hola Beautifuls!

I hope that your weekend was wonderful. I also hope that you did something for yourself. A mani, pedi, got massage...something. How's the weather where you're at? Guess Fall is really here. It's cooler here in the "A", which really makes me wanna lay in the bed and somewhat hibernate but alas, I must start my day.

Anyhoo, it's Monday and its time for some good news. Today's good news comes out of Wisconsin. It's a story of how a family became debt-free. How much debt did they become free of?.... $106,000. Yep.

Five years ago, the Hildebrandt family of New Richmond, Wis., was juggling more than $100,000 in credit card and personal debt. Through frugality, determination and hard work, they are now — other than a mortgage — debt-free.

At the time, Russell and Kandy Hildebrandts' credit card balances totaled about $89,000, and they owed $17,000 to a family member. While they were current on all the payments, the card companies had begun raising their interest rates, adding hundreds to their minimum monthly payments. Kandy acknowledges that they presented a higher credit risk, given how their balances had ballooned. Even so, with the bump in the required payments, covering the monthly payments was a struggle. "We had to change," Kandy says.

Change they did. For their debt-fighting prowess, the Hildebrandts were on Tuesday night named the winners of the Professional Achievement and Counseling Excellence (PACE) 2009 Graduate Client of the Year Award. This national award, given by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, recognizes the hard work and commitment they demonstrated in repaying their debts, and their willingness to become effective managers of their money and change their lifestyle. (Disclosure: CreditCards.com Senior Reporter Connie Prater served as a judge in the awards.)


Check the entire story here.

Just had to share that anythings possible if and when you put your mind to it.

Peace and blessings,
CO

Post Title GOOD NEWS MONDAY

Sunday, September 27, 2009

ITS MY ONE YEAR BLOGIVERSARY!!


I honestly cannot believe it's been a year since I started this blog. I don't think I had any expectations beyond just doing it. I really just jumped in. And am soooo happy I did!

I've met some wonderful and cool people along the way. Shout out to Urbancurlz, whose been a sweetie from the start and was the first person to blogroll me on her site. I <3 U. Much love to Gem over at The Gemini Life who was one of the first person's I connected with via the web. Very intelligent (& crazy) chica. Lol. Shout outs to Alicia at InstantVintage (designer/stylista), No at NorianLove (great poet and music to listen to), Laquita at All Naptural (online editor/mixtress/author/Oprah in the making. Lol.) ,Ingrid at RawEpicurean (raw food chef connoisseour & such a sweetie), earthmother at InTheRaw (raw food sweetie & awesome raw food resource) and so many others. Thanks for connecting with me so early on. Your presence has been such a great help and encouragement.


Special love to my followers and subscribers. You all keep me going, especially when you leave a comment. Hint hint. My prayer is that I will continue to improve & grow this blog. And that the delivery of the information given continues to improve so that you will get something positive and beneficial from it.

Much love to you all,
ChocolateOrchid

Post Title ITS MY ONE YEAR BLOGIVERSARY!!

Thursday, September 24, 2009

TGIF & A GIVEAWAY!!


HAPPY FRIDAY, BEAUTIFULS!!

I hope that you all have had a wonderful week and have an even better weekend planned, whatever it may include. I was so happy when I got home to see that my package from Moutain Rose Herbs had arrived. Wanna know what all was in it?....

Well, here goes:
1. Some Press & Brew tea bags
2. Herbs: Coltsfoot, Rosemary Leaf, Peppermint Leaf, Nettle Leaf, Rosemary Leaf, Rosehips
3. Teas: Vita Blend, Blossoms of Health, Hisbiscus High, Honeybush Tea, Firefly Chai, Red Rooibos Tea
4. Essential Oils: Eucalyptus, Chamomile (German), Red Thyme, Rosemary, Geranium, Hyssop, Lemon, Peppermint

Yes, it was a big box full of goodies. So full of goodies that I discovered I ordered two 8 oz bags of Rosemary leaf. No, that was not a misprint above.
Sooooo... Seeing as my one year blogiversary is this Sunday, Sept. 27th (Woo hoo!!) and there is absolutely nothing I’d like more than sharing the love. I will be doing another giveaway.

The winner will receive the following:

8 oz bag of Rosemary leaf
4 oz bag of Hisbiscus Flowers
4 oz bag of Hisbiscus Flower Powder


All organic. All from Mountain Rose Herbs. These herbs can be used in foods, teas, hair products, etc. You can find some info. on these particular herbs here and here.

The guidelines for this giveaway are as follows:

1. You have to be a follower or subscriber. In the comment section of this blog post, please specify which one you are.

2. You must leave a comment in the comment section of this particular post.

3. Share how you plan to use these particular herbs. You never know. You may inspire someone to try something new and/or different.

4. All comments must be in by next Thursday, Oct, 1st. No later than 8pm, EST.
I will use the random number generator to pick the winner and will announce your name in next Friday’s post. So be sure to check back!
I wish each and every one of you the best!

Have an awesome weekend! Do something good for yourself. Do something kind for someone else. And as always, “Do you.”


Peace, blessings and much luv,
ChocolateOrchid

Post Title TGIF & A GIVEAWAY!!

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

MACA -- NATURE'S LOVE DRUG



In my journey to incorporate a majority of raw/living foods into my diet, I have come across a lot of foods, supplements and herbs that I had never heard of. One of such herbs was Maca.

It has amazing properties and is becoming more well known of for its effectiveness in health challenges, including osteoporosis, male impotence, menopause, menstrual difficulties, chronic fatigue, and depression. Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is related to the turnip and beetroot. It grows underground, enduring extremes of temperature due to the altitude and proximity to the equator. A true superfood it is the only native vegetable in South America to be a member of the cruciferous family, sharing the cancer fighting properties of its relatives. It is similar to a sweet potato but in the West we can buy raw organic maca in powdered form, keeping all of the nutritional benefits intact. Maca is an adaptogen - that is, a plant classified to have certain medicinal qualities that can fight stress and reduce many degenerative diseases. Maca supplements are often marketed as an herb, although 'herbal maca' is actually a root vegetable. It is widely known for its libido enhancing powers and medicinal properties, but it has been a food product for thousands of years in South America.

Key phrase here is “libido enhancing powers”. So let me lay this personal experience out to you.

Some months ago, I decided to incorporate Maca powder into my diet because I wanted to try this popular food out. After all, it was well known and often mentioned in recipes on raw food blogs, sites and circles. So, of course, me being me decided to give it a try. After all, it’s a raw food and certainly is good for you. Well, I should have read a little more about it or asked some other raw foodies more indepthly about this food because it really had an impact on me. Not long after consistently taking it (I purchased the powdered form and would add it to my smoothies), I noticed something..different about myself.

I was abnormally “hot-n-bothered”. Now please understand. I am a healthy, adult woman with natural sexual desires. But suddenly, I noticed that I was always….ready. Oh my goodness! It got to the point where I could just be reading, laying in the bed, talking on the phone, reading the bible (insert holy book of choice) and urges would just hit me almost overwhelmingly. (Please note that at this same time, I was not in a relationship so I had no one to work this out with. Pure torture, I say! Pure torture! Lol.) I was about ready to jump the mailman, and believe me, he’ ain’t “jump-worthy”!


Yes, this dude needed to watch his back! Really!!

So let’s talk a little more about the uses & history of Maca because I obviously didn’t pay close attention to the stuff I read or didn’t give it much stock.

JUST SO YOU KNOW:

When the farmers were grazing their flocks in Peru many years ago they noticed that when they let their animals graze where there was lots of Peruvian maca root growing the animals would become much healthier, hardier, and stronger, and also they would tend to copulate a lot more and have a much higher fertility rate.

After a while the farmers tried the Peruvian maca root on themselves and found that it made them much more energetic, and strong, and better able to withstand the high altitude, and harsh climate, and also that it made them more sexually active, and fertile as well. Since then, there has been much widespread recorded knowledge and facts about the reputed abilty of Peruvian maca root to be a true aphrodisiac, and a fertility enhancer as well as a very effective energizer, strengthener, and instiller of a feeling of well being.

Maca holds a special place in Peruvian culture. Its dried roots have been treated as a delicacy for thousands of years. To the ancient natives of the Andes, maca was also reputed to restore the fertility of their livestock which often suffered in the high elevation. The Inca's used maca as an energy enhancing potion to give themselves more power before going into battle.

Maca has also been valued as trading commodity. Maca crops are often exchanged with communities at lower altitudes for other food staples such a rice. They were also traded with the Spanish conquistadors as a means of paying taxes. Maca has also been used as a herbal medicine believing to improve fertility, sexual desire, strength and endurance.

Did you notice the words “fertility”, “sexually active”, “libido “and similar terms as it relates to Maca? I challenge you to google it. As a matter of fact, I double-dare you to google it! I guarantee you that you won’t find anything different. And from personal experience, I can definitely tell you that its true.


Now of course, it offers other benefits like:
* Increases energy and endurance

* Increases stamina

* Alleviates chronic exhaustion (fatigue) syndrome

* Can regulate hormonal irregularities

* Aids in alleviating depression, gives a sense of well being, reduces anxiety

* Reduces anxiety and stress

* Has a beneficial action on the circulatory system; Speeds wound healing and reduces anemia

* Enhances memory, learning, and mental ability

* Has a beneficial action on the circulatory system; gives skin a more youthful appearance

* Helps treat anemia, rickets, osteomalacia, and stomach cancer

* Good for healthy teeth and bones

* Inhibits the growth & reproduction of fungi and bacteria

* Acts as an anticarcinogen and antioxidant

* Is an alternative to anabolic steroids, helps to build muscle


So it will definitely benefit you while getting your wheels in gear. I’m just sayin’.

So if you’re looking to increase you and/or your mates libido, I’d say go for. I had to put this stuff away…at least for a minute.

Lol,
ChocolateOrchid

Post Title MACA -- NATURE'S LOVE DRUG

SLOOOOOOOOOW FOOOOOOOOD



On last Wednesday, I spent the day at my daughter’s school. It was “Bring a Parent to School Day”. Let me say, I had sooooo much fun. I did some class work and actually got some homework. I was so stoked! Seriously!! The only disappointing thing was lunch.

There was not a green piece of anything in sight. At least nothing edible. A pitifully wilted salad and old fruit, all of which looked fit for compost. Fried chicken, peas, rice and a roll. Not good at all.

Which brings me to my point of this post:

The Slow Food Movement

Slow Food is an idea, a way of living and a way of eating. It is a global, grassroots movement with thousands of members around the world that links the pleasure of food with a commitment to community and the environment.

Their Mission:
Slow Food USA seeks to create dramatic and lasting change in the food system. We reconnect Americans with the people, traditions, plants, animals, fertile soils and waters that produce our food. We seek to inspire a transformation in food policy, production practices and market forces so that they ensure equity, sustainability and pleasure in the food we eat

Their Vision
Food is a common language and a universal right. Slow Food USA envisions a world in which all people can eat food that is good for them, good for the people who grow it and good for the planet.

Good:
The word good can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. For Slow Food, the idea of good means enjoying delicious food created with care from healthy plants and animals. The pleasures of good food can also help to build community and celebrate culture and regional diversity.

Clean:
When we talk about clean food, we are talking about nutritious food that is as good for the planet as it is for our bodies. It is grown and harvested with methods that have a positive impact on our local ecosystems and promotes biodiversity.

Fair:
We believe that food is a universal right. Food that is fair should be accessible to all, regardless of income, and produced by people who are treated with dignity and justly compensated for their labor.


Every 4 to 5 years Congress reviews federal law, called the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act. This law sets the standards for the food eaten by nearly 30 million children every school day. It is scheduled for review this fall.

Slow Food has developed a plan detailing five actions legislators need to take to make the Child Nutrition Act work for our kids. They are the following:
1) Invest in children’s health. Increase school lunch funding by one dollar a day per child.
2) Protect against food that puts children at risk. Establish strong standards for all food sold at school, including food from vending machines and school fast food.
3) Teach children healthy habits that will last through life. Fund grants for innovative farm-to-school programs and school gardens.
4) Give schools the incentive to buy local, and organic. Establish subsidies to encourage schools to buy food from local farms.
5) Create green jobs with a School Lunch Corps. Train underemployed Americans to be the teachers, farmers, cooks and administrators our school cafeterias need.


You can review and sign Slow Food’s petition at www.slowfoodusa.org/timeforlunch.

*Article from Co-Options by Judith Winfrey of Slow food Atlanta.

Post Title SLOOOOOOOOOW FOOOOOOOOD

Monday, September 21, 2009

IT'S TEA TIME!


Hola Beautifuls!

Remember my post on herbs. I ended up trying an herbal rinse out on last week. Too impatient to wait on my Mountain Rose order I went ahead and worked w/what I had on hand and picked up some loose herbs from a health store. It went pretty well. I just wished that I had had all of the herbs that I intended to use. What I used in this particular tea was Marshmallow Root, Burdock Root and Horsetail. I basically followed the method in that Trenellm used in her video that I included in my previous post.

FIRST HAIR TEA RECIPE

1 T of Marshmallow Root – gives awesome slip; detangler. It provides excellent relief from skin and scalp irritation while leaving hair soft and shining.

1 T Burdock Root – manageability, conditioning, improve hair strength, shine, body, and to help reverse scalp conditions, such as dandruff and to combat hair loss. It contains nutrients required to maintain a healthy scalp and promote natural hair growth.

1 T horsetail - Heavy in silica; strengthens fingernails and hair, especially good for split ends. It contributes flexibility and strength to the bones, hair, and nails.

I steeped the herbs in about 20 oz of distilled water. I let them steep for about 2 hours. I’ve read that the longer you allow the tea to steep, the better the herbs will infuse. With that in mind, I’ll allow a longer amount of steeping the next time I do an herbal rinse. I poured a small amount of Apple Cider Vinegar into a 16 oz plastic bottle.

**side note**
Hair is on the mildly acidic side of the pH scale and has an ideal pH of 4.5 to 5.5, which is close to that of an apple cider vinegar rinse (pH 2.9).

On the other hand, many of the hair care products we use, such as soap-based shampoos, bleaches, hair colors, and permanents are strongly alkaline.

Rinsing with apple cider vinegar will help balance the pH of your hair and remove the buildup that can result from the use of these styling products and inexpensive shampoos.

Rinsing will also close the numerous cuticle scales which cover and protect the surface of each hair shaft. This imparts a smoother surface which reflects more light and as a result leaves your hair shinier, smoother and easier to manage.


After reading a little more on this, I believe that I can up that amount to 1/3 of the mixture. Based on that, I’ll also increase this for my next batch. (I doubt it will be 1/3 but it'll definitely be more than I used last time. I'm always concerned about drying my hair out so I'll gradually increase the ACV amount and be watchful of how my hair responds.) I poured my tea mixture on top of the ACV. Then I added a few drops of my favorite essential oils- Lemongrass and Lavender. Oh, that was a heavenly scent that actually lingered longer than I expected. I also added a few drops of Vitamin E oil.

Shook all these ingredients up and used it as a final rinse. Final rinse meaning I did not rinse it out. I liked the way my hair felt and can’t wait to do this with my other herbs. This can be done on all types of hair, including chemically treated.

This was really easy to do so it is definitely a permanent part of my regimen. I hope that after some repeated uses, I’ll be able to share with you more info about my hair and it’s health.

I so still love to play in & with my hair.

By the way, I used the perfect tea maker by Teavana to steep my tea. Loves this product. It makes the process so easy...and fun.

Product Description
The Teavana Perfect Teamaker creates the perfect cup of tea for tea lovers on the go. Just add loose tea, 32oz of hot water and steep. Drain the tea by placing it onto your favorite mug. Prepares four 8oz cups of tea. Dishwasher safe.

I cannot fathom why I didn’t take photos, but will be sure to take some next time.

Also, be sure to check out BreaKINK New Ground. She has some really great to the point information. I'm a little jealous of her herbal hair oil that she's infusing. Lol. Can't wait to give that a try, also. She's also doing a really nice giveaway so check her out.

Peace out, Lovelies...

Post Title IT'S TEA TIME!

Sunday, September 20, 2009

SIR-PRISE! SIR-PRISE! SIR-PRISE!

Hi Beautifuls!

Now that I have my laptop (Webcam included, thank God!) I can finally post videos to my youtube page. Took me and my sweetie a minute to edit and then figure out how to upload them. But I do think that I have the hang of it now.

So check out my Good News Monday video post.
Part I.


Seeing as it was my first time, I didn't realize that I should pause the video instead of stopping it. Lol.
Part II.


I hope you all enjoyed. I'm sure I'll get more comfortable with it over time.
If you have any suggestions, feel free to put them in the comments or send me an email.

Btw, who knows what character and what television show today's blog post title came from. I'm hoping I'm not the only one. Lol.

Peace,
CO

Post Title SIR-PRISE! SIR-PRISE! SIR-PRISE!

Saturday, September 19, 2009

AND THE WINNER IS......



......Brandiss from Brandissology and Undefined Kinks Redefined. You've won an 8oz bag of Navitas Naturals Chia Seeds along w/recipe cards.

Thanks to all those who participated in this giveaway. This was fun. I hope to do a few more.

Congrats again to Brandiss!!

Post Title AND THE WINNER IS......

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME, I SHOULDN'T HAVE....


Hi Beautifuls!

I miss yooooooouu.... Have to get a new laptop (So excited about it!) and that should be done by Thursday so that I can be back on top of my blogging game by next week.

In the meantime, I'd like to have some fun. For the randomly picked person who can correctly complete the line in this blog title, "It's been a long time, I shouldn't have __ __. _ _ _ _ _ _ _.", I'd love to give away some Navitas Naturals Chia Seeds. Along w/this bag of Chia, you will receive a few recipe cards and maybe a little somethin' extra. =)

If you need a refresher or missed my post on Chia, click here.
Also, be sure to leave your email address in the comment after you've completed the line so that I'll be able to contact you for your winnings.

This giveaway will be open until noon (Eastern time) on this Friday, Sept. 18th.

Smooches,
ChocolateOrchid

Post Title IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME, I SHOULDN'T HAVE....

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

ADVICE FOR THE DRY & BRITTLE


Hola Beautifuls!

I hope that you had a wonderful and fun-filled labor day weekend! Hate to see it leave so soon but 'tis life. It's back to the grind now, so I'm hopping back into it.

I recently received an email regarding natural hair and dryness. I wanted to share it and my answer with everyone in hopes that all of you naturals will chime in with your wonderful advice for reviving dry, brittle hair. It goes as follows:


From Treena:
Hi, just wanted to drop you a line or two. love you hair journey photo. I just started letting my hair grow, I've wore my hair short for many years now, then I started locs and now I twisted out of those and my hair is brittle and dry I see a little breakage. your hair look so healthy and it grew so nice what products do you use on it?

My answer:
Hi Treena!
Hope your day/week is going well. Thanks for the hair compliment.

You mentioned that your hair is dry & brittle. Have you done any deep treatments/conditioning? I would try doing those on a weekly basis. I usually deep condish w/Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose condish mixed w/Jessicurl's Weekly Deep Conditioning Treatment. **before I go any further let me advise you that I am a product junkie. I've gotten better but for the most part I still am and do enjoy it. Lol.** Some others that I like and on occasion use are Curl Junkie's Hisbiscus & Banana Deep Fix and Hairveda's StirNillah Deep Conditioning Masque.

You also may want to try incorporating oil rinses and/or overnight oil treatments to your hair. You can do these w/any oil like evoo, grapeseed oil, Vatika oil, Castor oil, a mix of oils or whatever you prefer.

Also, after washing or wetting your hair be sure to put a leave-in condish on while its still damp. I like Mop Leave-In and Oyin's Honey Hemp condish the best. You also may want to try butters. Qhemet Biologics Burdock Root Buttercreme is good. I'm also feelin' Curl Junkie's Hisbiscus & Banana Honey Butta Leave-In.
Unrefined shea butter is also good but I find it works best on my hair when its dry.

I hope this helps. I'll post your question on my blog on next Tuesday to see if anyone else has some good pointers to offer.


Alright people. Please offer your advice/solutions on this matter. I'm sure quite a few of us have had this issue at one time or another so I'm sure there's plenty of helpful information out there for her. Just post it in the comments. ;)

Peace,
CO

Post Title ADVICE FOR THE DRY & BRITTLE

Thursday, September 3, 2009

JUST JUICE



Many people are enjoying the health benefits of consuming raw juices. These powerful elixirs have the ability to strengthen and heal weak cells, increase your oxygen levels, and electron activity through their enzymes, and importantly, saturate your body with needed nutrients. When people are ill, they sometimes have difficulty digesting food. Juice is typically a food that anyone can digest no matter how impaired their anatomy is. Keep in mind that disease states are not the only areas helped by consuming raw juice. Athletes and people who aren't ill use these powerful liquids to prevent free radical damage through the wide spectrum of antioxidants that they provide.

Speaking of which, I have been juicing it up with my Breville Juice Fountain. My current fav juice is a Watermelon/Lemon juice. Very easy and delicious. Tastes like punch.

There are many healthy benefits that you get from watermelons and lemons. The following is a listing of these:

Benefits of Lemon:
1. Lemon act as blood purifier and improves the body’s ability to get rid of toxins.

2. Lemon fruit is excellent in fighting disease that's related to infection.


3. Buy lemon to get rid of certain insects. It’s mother nature’s version of insecticides and will help to repel mosquitoes and flies

4. Some people love antiseptics and would apply it to their skin whenever they have the smallest cut. The good news is you can use lemon on cuts too since it's nature's antiseptics. Not only that, because of its styptics property, it is said that lemon could be applied on cuts to stop bleeding.

5. Drinking lemon juice is useful for people with heart problem - because of its high potassium content

The use of Lemon:
1. Drink fresh lemon juice to cleanse your system

2. Use pure lemon juice on wasp and bee stings to relieve pain

3. Lemon juice mixed with olive oil may help to dissolve gallstones

4. It is believed that regular intake of fresh lemons may be useful in treating cases of kidney stones

And the list goes on for watermelon so I'll try to make this as to the point as possible...

Benefits of Watermelon - Watermelon Nutrients
Watermelon is 92% water, 8% sugar, and high in electrolytes (sodium, potassium, and magnesium), making it a wonderful "energy drink" to hydrate the body.

Watermelon is a good source of vitamin A and beta carotene. Eating watermelon is actually better for your eyes than eating carrots in preventing age-related vision loss (such as macular degeneration and cataracts).

Other watermelon nutrients include vitamin C, thiamin, vitamin B6, and vitamin B1.

Benefits of Watermelon Nutrients - Antioxidants
Besides including the antioxidants vitamin C, vitamin A, and beta carotene, research has recently discovered watermelon is rich in lycopene (a phytochemical). On average, watermelons have about 40% more lycopene than raw tomatoes.
Antioxidants protect cells against free radicals (damaging molecules that play a role in cancer, heart disease, and other diseases). Lycopene is said to be particularly effective in preventing prostate cancer.

Benefits of Watermelon Nutrients - Citrulline
Watermelon is high in citrulline, a non-essential amino acid our bodies use to make arginine, an essential amino acid. Benefits of these amino acids include:
• removing ammonia from the body
• lowering blood pressure
• promoting energy
• strengthening the immune system
• stimulating the pancreas to release insulin
• maintaining acid base balance.

*According to scientists at the Texas A&M's Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Center, citrulline found in watermelon acts similar to sildenafil citrate (better known as Viagra).


You may be wondering what is that stuff at the top of CO's watermelon-lemon juice. Well, I decided to add some Chia seeds to it. Remember my Chia seed post. I just soaked about 1.5 Tablespoons of Chia seeds in distilled water for 30 minutes. After I juiced the melon and lemon, I added the seeds to it.

Oh, here's the recipe which I mostly wing.

WATERMELON PUNCH
1/4 to 1/2 of a small watermelon
1 lemon
I simply juice it, drink and enjoy.

Also, here's a list of issues and some juices that you can drink to address them.

**from : THE JUICING BOOK – Steven Blauer

Acidosis papaya, pineapple
Anemia alfalfa sprouts, asparagus, bean sprouts, beet, beet greens, buckwheat greens dandelion greens, endive, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, parsley, purslane, spinach, string beans, swiss chard, turnip, turnip greens, watercress, wheatgrass, cherry, grape, lemon, lime, orange, prune
Asthma cabbage, cabbage sprout, carrot, celery, kale, kohlrabi, parsnip, radish, radish sprout, scallion, sunflower greens, turnip, turnip greens, wheatgrass, cranberry
Bladder Disorders beet, beet greens, carrot, cabbage, cabbage sprout, kohlrabi, parsley, parsnip, purslane, sunflower green, summer squash, tomato (fresh), turnip, turnip greens, watercress, wheatgrass, cranberry, melon, pear, watermelon
Blood Pressure Beet, beet greens, cabbage, cabbage sprouts, cucumber, spinach, wheatgrass
High Blood Pressure orange
Cancer asparagus, bean sprout, beet greens, carrot, kale, kohlrabi, parsley, parsnip, spinach, sunflower greens, swiss chard, turnip, turnip greens, wheatgrass, grape
Constipation cabbage, cabbage sprout, celery. Dandelion greens, endive, lettuce, purslane, spinach, wheatgrass, cherry, grape, lemon, lime, melon, papaya, peach, pear, prune, strawberry, watermelon
Fever cucumber, cranberry, grape, grapefruit, lemon, lime, orange, strawberry
Fluid Retention bean sprout, cucumber, fenugreek sprout, cranberry, strawberry, watermelon
Hay Fever carrot, kale, parsnip, wheatgrass
Heart Disease beet, beet greens, buckwheat greens, dandelion greens, endive, fenugreek sprouts, kohlrabi, parsley, pepper, purslane, scallion, spinach, sunflower greens, turnip greens, orange, papaya
Kidney Disorders alfalfa sprouts, asparagus, beet, beet greens, cabbage, cabbage sprouts, celery, cucumber, lamb’s quarters, apple, cranberry, grape, melon, papaya, strawberry, watermelon
Liver Disorders Alfalfa sprouts, beet, beet greens, carrot, celery, dandelion greens, endive, kale, kohlrabi, lamb’s quarters, lettuce, parsnip, purslane, spinach, sunflower, tomato (fresh), turnip, turnip greens, watercress, wheatgrass, apple, grapefruit, grape, lemon, lime, orange, papaya, pear
Prostate Disorders asparagus, parsley, cherry, pear, strawberry, watermelon
Pregnancy & Delivery alfalfa sprouts, bean sprouts, beet, beet greens, carrot, kale, lamb’s quarter, parsnip, swiss chard, greapfruit, peach, watermelon
Rheumatism asparagus, apple, cherry, grape, lemon, lime, orange, strawberry
Skin Disorders asparagus, beet, beet greens, carrot, dandelion greens, endive, fenugreek sprout, kohlrabi, parsley, parsnip, pepper, purslane, radish sprout, scallion, spinach, string bean, sunflower greens, swiss chard, tomato (fresh), turnip, turnip green, watercress, wheatgrass, cranberry, grape, grapefruit, melon, lime, orange, watermelon
Ulcers cabbage, cabbage sprouts, carrot, kale, parsnip, spinach, wheatgrass, papaya


Happy Juicing,
CO

P.S. Next week I'll feature another juice I've tried.

Post Title JUST JUICE

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

HERBS, HERBS & MORE HERBS


Hi Beautifuls!

Over the past couple of months, my interest in using herbs (common and ayurvedic), not just for health but for my hair, has grown exponentially. I've read a few posts and articles about people using them successfully in hair tea rinses. Tea rinses meaning, brewing herbs as a tea and then rinsing your hair with that very same tea.

Below is a video of an easy-to-do tea rinse done by Trenellm on Youtube. She's really funny.


You can subscribe to Trenellm on Youtube here.


Here's a short list of some herbs and their benefits to your hair.

burdock root - helps prevent hair loss, nourishing
coltsfoot - encourages hair growth
fenugreek - conditioning, medicating, rich in protein, treatment for falling/split hair, growth, silky
nettle - conditions/stimulates scalp
peppermint - stimulates scalp, cooling
rosehips - conditioning, moisturizing
rosemary - encourages hair growth, adds shine


You can also find a list of some herbs, their benefits and ways to use them from hair mixtress, Anita Grant.

I've tried a tea rinse with Marshmallow Root (has great slip to it) and Hisbiscus together. It made for a wonderful detangler.


Aside from using herbs as hair rinses, you can also drink herbs in a tea for many health benefits but do note that if pregnant, use caution and consult with a specialist before doing so to insure you and your unborn childs safety. Ingrid from RawEpicurean has some great posts/recipes for some common herbs that we use for our hair. Click on the names of these herbs to read her informative posts (and recipes) for hisbiscus, nettle and aloe.

Do you use herbs and if so, which ones and how have they worked for you?....

Post Title HERBS, HERBS & MORE HERBS