Top 10 Spring Superfoods
Top 10 Spring Superfoods
By Michelle Schoffro Cook~Care2 Read more…
By Danna Norek~Natural News
Spring time is upon us, and now is the time to get rid of excess body weight by doing a “spring cleaning” of sorts for your body. The perfect way to achieve this is to take a smoothie day once a week.
These smoothies will help your body get rid of built up toxins, improve sluggish digestion and elimination and jump start weight loss goals. They help flatten the belly, clear the skin and increase energy levels.
Smoothies require very little energy to digest and assimilate into energy. This is because the ingredients, which are whole fruits, are already pureed into easily broken down nutrients. They are also very filling due to the high fiber content and wholesome nature of the ingredients.
If you need to, you can eat a very light dinner on your smoothie day. However, it works best if you drink a smoothie for each meal the entire day. If you’d like to add more nutritional value or fiber, you can also add a green powder, wheat grass or ground flaxseed to the recipes below.
Mango Pineapple Smoothie Recipe
1 cup chopped fresh pineapple
1 cup sliced fresh mango
1/2 fresh orange, sliced with seeds removed
1/2 banana, sliced
3/4 cup plain yogurt
1 T. coconut oil
2 T. of whey powder or soy protein powder
1 t. stevia optional if additional sweetness desired
1 cup ice
Blend all of the ingredients together in a blender. Put the ice in last to avoid getting the ingredients stuck in one place. This recipe supplies fiber, beneficial enzymes from the pineapple and mango, protein from the banana and protein powder and a host of antioxidants.
Vibrant Berry Smoothie Recipe
1 cup chopped strawberries
1 cup blackberries
1 cup blueberries
1/2 fresh orange, sliced with seeds removed
1/2 sliced banana
1 cup plain yogurt
1 T. coconut oil
2 T. whey powder or soy protein powder
1 t. stevia (optional)
1 cup ice
Add all ingredients to your blender and blend. This recipe is full of antioxidants. Blueberries, blackberries and strawberries all contain anti-inflammatory properties as well which makes this an excellent recipe for those who suffer fromchronic pain.
The yogurt in both recipes adds beneficial probiotic active cultures. These help to speed sluggish elimination, reduce bloating and water retention and assist in managing weight.
Coconut oil contains beneficial fatty acids which help keep you fuller longer and add vibrance and clarity to your skin. Vitamin C is also excellent for the skin and immune system, and this is supplied in abundance in the fruits contained in both of these smoothie recipes.
After an all-smoothie day you will feel lighter, more energetic and less bloated. It is a great way to detoxify the body and give it a break from the normal foods we eat every day.
Sources for this article include:
http://www.dailydietblog.com/the-juicing-diet/
http://www.angelfire.com/journal/difleys/smoothies.html
http://www.livingintherealworld.net
About the author:
Danna Norek contributes to several natural health blogs and websites. You can find information on her all natural citrus body soap, 100% unscented natural soap, an all natural aluminum and chemical free deodorant, and a lemongrass, lavender and tea tree acne soap (100% sulfate and chemical free) at AuraSensory All Natural Body Care. You may also find information about general health, well being and beauty supplements at Herbal News Magazine.
80 Uses for Coconut Oil
So what’s the deal with coconut oil?
Offering a myriad of health benefits, coconut oil is affordable, readily available and completely natural. I have completely fallen in love with coconut oil and use it for EVERYTHING. Literally. I buy it in 5 gallon increments and keep it all over my house. I even have some in the car. So here is a little information to inspire you to check out this amazing oil including 80 uses for it!
General information about Coconut Oil
Coconut Oil Is:
· Anti-inflammatory
· Antimicrobial
· Antifungal
· Antiviral
· Improves nutrient absorption
Here is a chart outlining the recommended daily dosage of virgin coconut oil for persons over the age of 12. Coconut oil may be consumed by children under 12 but it is advisable to check with a healthcare practitioner on the proper dosage. Any good naturopath will have the information at the ready.
|
Weight in pounds/kilograms
|
Number of tablespoons of coconut oil daily
|
|
175+/79+
|
4
|
|
150+ /68+
|
3 1/2
|
|
125+ / 57+
|
3
|
|
100+/ 45+
|
2 1/2
|
|
75+ / 34+
|
2
|
|
50+ / 23+
|
1 1/2
|
|
25+ / 11+
|
1
|
· Expeller pressed coconut oil can be used for anything. It does not have a coconutty smell of taste.
· Virgin coconut oil tastes coconutty and is great for cooking and baking where you want that flavor.
· Food grade should always be used.
Personal Hygiene/Body
1. Moisturizer – simply scoop some out of the jar and apply all over your body, including neck and face.
2. Eye cream – apply under the eyes to reduce puffiness, bags, and wrinkles. Use on the lids in the evening.
3. Preshave – coconut oil will prep skin for the pending damage caused by shaving.
4. Aftershave – coconut oil will help heal your skin after shaving without clogging pores.
5. Deodorant – coconut oil alone can be used as a deodorant, but even more effective in combination with cornstarch/arrowroot powder and baking soda!
6. Hair Conditioner/Deep Treatment – use as a leave in hair conditioner by applying a teaspoon of coconut oil to your ends and then running your fingers through your hair to distribute the rest! For a deeper treatment, rub in a tablespoon of coconut oil onto your dry scalp and gently work through to the ends. Put a shower cap on to prevent transfer onto bed linens and leave on overnight.
7. Hair Gel/Defrizzer – rub a little between your palms and either scrunch into hair (for curly hair) or finger comb in through from scalp to ends (for wavy/straight hair).
8. Toothpaste – there are numerous recipes out there but I just mix coconut oil and baking soda and dab a little of the mix on my toothbrush.
9. Make up remover – use a cotton swab and a dab of coconut oil and you would be amazed at how well it works!
10. Chapstick – just rub a little into lips and it not only acts as a softening agent but it also has an SPF of about 4 so you get a little protection!
11. Massage Oil – pretty simple; grab some and rub!
12. Lubricant – it is an all natural, perfectly safe personal lubricant. Not compatible with latex!
13. Sunscreen – see my post on natural sunscreen for more detailed information.
14. Stretch Mark Cream – coconut oil is great at nourishing damaged skin. It may not be the magic stretch mark cure but it will help.
15. Nipple Cream – works great to nourish cracked, sore, or dry nipples. Apply to a cotton ball and leave on your nipples between feedings.
16. Diaper salve – very comforting on a rashy bum with no harsh chemicals. Also safe for cloth diapers.
17. Cradle cap – having issues with dry skin on your baby’s scalp? Coconut oil will not only nourish your baby’s skin, it also helps eliminate cradle cap. Just rub a teaspoon onto scalp daily.
18. Body scrub – mix coconut oil and sugar together and rub all over! Rinse off and your skin will be super soft! You can add in essential oils if you would like a specific smell.
19. Healing – when applied on scrapes and cuts, coconut oil forms a thin, chemical layer which protects the wound from outside dust, bacteria and virus. Coconut oil speeds up the healing process of bruises by repairing damaged tissues. Plus, it smells a heck-of-a-lot better than anything from the pharmacy.
20. Bug Bites – when applied directly to a bug bite, coconut oil can stop the itching and burning sensation as well as hasten the healing process.
21. Skin problems – coconut oil relieves skin problems such as psoriasis, dermatitis, and eczema.
22. Swimmers Ear – mix garlic oil and coconut oil and put a few drops in affected ear for about 10 minutes. Do this 2-3 times a day and it usually works within one or two days.
General Health and Wellness
23. Stress Relief – relieve mental fatigue by applying coconut oil to the head in a circular, massaging motion. The natural aroma of coconuts is extremely soothing thus helping to lower your stress level.
24. Digestion – the saturated fats in coconut oil have anti-bacterial properties that help control, parasites, and fungi that cause indigestion and other digestion related problems such as irritable bowel syndrome. The fat in coconut oil also aids in the absorption of vitamins, minerals and amino acids, making you healthier all around.
25. Fitness – coconut oil has been proven to stimulate your metabolism, improve thyroid function, and escalate energy levels, all of which help decrease your unwanted fat, while increasing muscle.
26. Nose bleeds – coconut oil can prevent nose bleeding that is caused by sensitivity to weather such as extreme hotness and extreme coldness. This condition happens when the nasal passages become dry because of cold or dry air resulting to burns and cracks in the mucus membranes so bleeding happens. To prevent this just put coconut oil in you nostrils. Coat your finger with coconut oil and then lie down and coat your finger inside your nose. Doing this will strengthen and protect the capillaries in the nasal passages. A Vitamin C supplement will also help prevent nose bleeding.
27. For breastfeeding moms, consuming 3 ½ tablespoons of coconut oil daily will enrich your milk supply.
28. Helps with weight loss & controlling cravings.
29. Helps keep blood sugar levels stable and/or helps with cravings in those with diabetes.
Health Problems (that coconut oil is known for aiding, relieving, or even curing when taken internally)
30. Eczema – in addition to taking it internally, many have success applying it externally, some don’t
31. Skin problems
32. Toenail fungus
33. Hot flashes
34. Bleeding hemorrhoids (can also be applied externally twice a day)
35. HIV
36. Head lice
37. Improvements in menstruation regarding pain/cramps and heavy blood flow
38. Migraines (with regular use)
39. Mononucleosis
40. Parasites
41. Thrush
42. Relieve gallbladder pain
43. Has helped some people improve symptoms of an underactive thyroid gland, results have shown subsequent thyroid blood tests becoming normal
44. Energy boost
45. Flaky, dry skin
46. May relieve acid reflux and indigestion when taken with each meal
47. Adrenal fatigue
48. Alzheimers
49. H. pylori
50. Candida albicans
51. Asthma, even in children
52. Autism
53. Cholesterol – improves HDL (‘good’ cholesterol) to HDL (‘bad’ cholesterol) ratio in people with high cholesterol
54. Chronic fatigue
55. Circulation/feeling cold all the time
56. Stronger immune system
57. Mental Clarity
58. Depression
59. Helps with inflammation in Crohns
Health Problems (that coconut oil is known for aiding, relieving, or even curing when applied topically)
60. Athletes foot
61. Back pain/sore muscles
62. Canker sores
63. Acne
64. Cellulite
65. Herpes (applied topically and taken internally)
66. Genital warts (through topical application over 6 weeks, and coconut oil enemas twice a day depending on the location of the warts)
67. Circumcision healing – although I am personally against circumcision, I have read that coconut oil is a really great healer for this.
Cooking
68. Use 1 cup to 1 cup ratio when replacing other oils/butter in recipes with coconut oil.
69. Replacement for butter/lard/Crisco/PAM in it’s solid form – greasing pans, pie crusts, etc.
70. Replacement for various oils in liquid form – baking, cooking, sautéing, etc.
71. Nutritional supplement – melt and add to smoothies.
72. Insect repellent – mix coconut oil with peppermint oil extract and rub it all over exposed skin. Keeps insects off better than anything with Deet! Tons safer too.
73. Great for dogs and cats for general wellness. Just add a teaspoon to their water bowl daily.
74. Goo Gone – just mix equal parts coconut oil and baking soda into a paste. Apply to the “sticky” area and let it set for a minute. Then scrub off with an old toothbrush or the scrubby side of a sponge.
75. Chewing Gum in Hair Remover – just rub some coconut oil over the stuck chewing gum, leave in for about 30 minutes, then roll the gum between your fingertip. Voila! It’s out!
76. Polish Furniture – coconut oil with a little bit of lemon juice to polish wood furniture. However, I recommend you test it first on a very small, unobtrusive part of your furniture to make sure it works the way you’d like.
77. Polishing Bronze – all you have to do is rub a little oil into a cotton towel and then wipe down the statue. It cleans and helps deepen the color of your bronze.
78. Seasoning animal hide drums
79. Seasoning cookware
80. Moisturizing and cleaning leather products
Did I miss any? Do you use coconut oil for something not on my list? Please add it in the comments. I am always excited to find new ways to implement coconut oil!
Blessings,
Jennifer
Read the Full Article Here: http://hybridrastamama.blogspot.com/2011/06/80-uses-for-coconut-oil.html
NOTE: Jennifer has revised this article and now has a list of 160 uses for coconut oil! Read it here!
More Research on the Health Benefits of Coconut Oil
How to start practicing permaculture right now
By Christina Luisa~NaturalNews
Permaculture is a fundamental approach to food production and urban renewal, water, energy and pollution. It is based on the ethics of caring for people and our planet. It is about growing your own healthy food, being resourceful and environmentally responsible. Permaculture concepts, design principles and ideas can be applied successfully to anything from small suburban units to large farming properties.
According to Bill Mollison, permaculture integrates ecology, organic gardening, architecture, landscape and agro-forestry into the creation of a rich and sustainable way of living. Not only does it use appropriate technology that provide high yields for low energy inputs, it strives to create a resource that is both stable and incredibly diverse.
Permaculture design ethics include:
• Care of the earth (“Earth Care”)
• Care of people and all other species (“People Care”)
• Limiting consumption; sharing surplus (“Fair Shares”)
The core principles of Permaculture are explained in detail here: http://www.permacultureprinciples.com/principles.php
Here is an easy-to-follow guide on four great ways to start incorporating permaculture practices into your own life.
Get into the habit of observing nature
Start to closely observe natural elements and designs such as sunlight patterns, moon phases, the direction of tree growth, where and how water collects and where plants don’t grow well in your native area. Don’t forget to extend your observation to patterns in human nature as well. For example, pay attention to what kinds of work young children enjoy and don’t enjoy, or how your coworkers tend to behave at certain phases of a project. What time of day is your mind most receptive to trying new ideas?
It is also important to observe the needs of anything you want to nurture, whether it is a garden, a plant, an animal, a friend or a business partner. If you want to grow herbs or raise chickens, find out what conditions they need so you can adjust your micro-climate accordingly.
Develop a design-oriented mind
Look around you and imagine ways to apply the permaculture ethics and principles to the design of everything you notice. A good way to begin developing your eye for design would be to choose a permaculture principle that especially resonates with you personally and find ways to implement it in various areas of your personal life.
For example, if you really love the permaculture principles of “using and valuing diversity” and “using small and slow solutions,” then make a list of ways you can diversify your daily activities in a simple, non-wasteful way. Design grocery shopping lists that include a variety of simple, local and seasonal foods, and make your shopping trips include tasks for the whole family, since one of the most important aspects of permaculture is the rebuilding of community.
Create a simple and ecological permaculture garden
Ecological gardening involves growing a wide range of edible and other useful plants and can be done on any scale. It’s a fun and easy way to create a “backyard ecosystem” by assembling communities of plants that can work cooperatively and perform a variety of functions, including:
• Composing and maintaining soil fertility
• Catching and conserving water in the landscape
• Providing a habitat for various animals, insects and birds
• Growing an edible “mini forest” that yields seasonal fruits, nuts, and other foods
Many beginning books on permaculture as well as online sources explain how to complete a variety of useful projects such as making your own herb fertilizers and compost or creating homemade organic sprays for pest control.
To learn more about creating permaculture gardens, check out this article: http://www.naturalnews.com/035038_permaculture_gardening_how_to.html
Take a permaculture design course
Study and practice permaculture principles in-depth by looking into affordable local permaculture design courses. You’ll learn to practice sustainable design in your everyday life, strengthen your connection with nature and develop your creativity and intuition.
In the process, you’ll also get an interesting tour of various permaculture practices from all over the world – all of which you can adapt to your own situation. Most permaculture classes offer an extraordinarily rich community as well, giving you the opportunity to improve your understanding of this holistic design system and create lifelong friendships and business partnerships. If you don’t want to take a general course on permaculture design, research specific elements of permaculture such as local food systems, self-reliance, growing food, traditional skills, beekeeping, small-scale organic farming and ways to build community.
For a list of sources and videos on permaculture, check out the list of links at the bottom of this article: http://www.youtube.com
Sources for this article and further reading include:
1. http://www.permacultureprinciples.com/
2. Hemenway, Toby. Gaia’s Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture. White River Jct., Vermont: Chelsea Green, May 2009
3. http://www.naturalnews.com/032152_permaculture_gardening.html
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permaculture
5. http://www.naturalnews.com/027156_permaculture_natural_YouTube.html
15 Easy Raw Food Recipes
Becky Striepe~Care2
