Natural Beauty Recipe: Pineapple Honey Enzymatic Facial Treatment

By Tracy Neely

Today I was thinking about what led me to the path of raw living foods and what immediately came to mind is the role that enzymes play in our bodies. It took me some time to fully understand the benefits that enzymes played in my diet and because of this lack of understanding; I continued to eat a diet void of foods complete in nutritional enzymes. I believe in the back of my mind, I knew the rumblings I would hear very often in my stomach were clear evidence that I had to make a powerful change in how I thought about foods.

Having adopted a majority of raw living foods into my diet in the last few years, I believe enzymes are the “work horse” in our bodies and are very important elements to aid digestion and maintain good health. If we think about the role of enzymes in very simple terms, enzymes are the “life force” that activates vitamins, minerals, proteins and other physical components within our body.

“There are two major enzyme systems in the human body. One is digestive and the other is metabolic. The digestive enzymes help break down all of the food that we eat so that it can be absorbed by the body. The metabolic enzymes help to run all of the systems of the body from respiratory system to the nervous system.

The seven categories of food (digestive) enzymes and their activities are:

• Amylase: breaks down starches
• Cellulase: breaks down fibers
• Lactase: breaks down dairy products
• Lipase: breaks down fats
• Maltase: breaks down grains
• Protease: breaks down proteins
• Sucrase: breaks down sugars*

*reference from soul-body.com

I want to talk about an enzyme that is very beneficial in skin care treatments. Bromelain is a mixture of enzymes found naturally in the juice and stems of pineapples (Ananas comosus), a tropical fruit-bearing plant indigenous to South American countries as well as the Hawaiian Islands. Bromelain is a proteolytic enzyme, which is an enzyme that helps you digest the proteins in foods. Papaya and Pineapple are two of the richest plant sources of proteolytic enzymes.

Bromelain used in skin care treatments is an alpha hydroxy acid and is very effective in gently removing the dead skin cells by chemical exfoliation, on the surface of the skin. Enzymatic activity destroys the keratin of dead cells and the debris, allowing the skin to breathe and feel more alive and vibrant. Once the skin has been exfoliated, you will notice a visual difference in the tone and smoothness of the skin. The follicles are clearer and the skin is softened and hydrated, allowing for a deeper penetration of serums and moisturizers.

Bromelain is an anti-inflammatory agent that will benefit people who suffer with acne. People, who do suffer with acne conditions, will notice a visible difference in the way this treatment will unclog the pores and reduce inflammation of accumulated buildup of skin cells on the surface of the skin.
Honey is a natural humectant that attracts and binds water to the upper layers of the skin. Exfoliation of pineapple on sensitive skin can cause skin irritation, so honey’s natural moisturizing ability makes it a perfect fit for this treatment.

Remember the next time you’re thinking about purchasing high priced products to exfoliate your skin, look no further than the produce section of your local supermarket, farmers market or co-op and buy an organic pineapple.

Beauty Note: rub a chunk of the pineapple behind the ear a few hours before the treatment to detect any skin sensitivity.

Recipe
1/2 cup pineapple chunks
3 tablespoons honey

Puree pineapple in blender and apply in a circular motion to a cleansed face. Leave on for 10 minutes and rinse well with cool water and pat excess water from the skin. Apply the honey to the skin and leave on for 5 minutes. Rinse with cool water, pat the skin dry and apply your favorite moisturizer.

Enjoy!!

Raw Mom Financial Serenity Budgeting Toolkit update

Ladies, if you downloaded the Raw Mom budgeting toolkit a while ago, we thought you’d like to know that it’s had a little update.

It now features gridlines in the Monthly Expenses Template – these gridlines should have been in the original toolkit, but slipped through the net. It’s kinda handy to have the lines print out, because you need them to be able to write on the document!

There’s also a new ‘Budgeted’ section (highlighted in blue) in the Yearly Category Expenses worksheet – if you have a feeling that you’ve already spent a huge whack of your yearly clothing budget and it’s only May, this worksheet will tell you where you’re at. It allows you to track your current levels of spending in all budget categories, in relation to their overall yearly budgeted amounts (providing percentages spent of the yearly total). Doing this allows you to ‘course correct’ if necessary, and slow down your spending in certain categories. Or you may need to adjust your budget to be more realistic! Instructions for use are included the Excel document.

To download the updated toolkit, click here!

Jumping Like A Kid!

When attending the 10-day Healthy Lifestyle program at the Living Foods Institute, bouncing on the rebounder is one of the daily recommendations of that program. This information peaked my rebounding interest, and now I’ve become so in love with the concept of rebounding that, recently, I’ve been jumping — like a kid — many times throughout the day.

In fact, last week Friday after returning home from my son’s 6th-grade graduation (or “Empowerment” ceremony as someone referred to it), I entered the door, kicked off my shoes and jumped — in brown dress and all (pictured here). I was jumping for joy about the heart-warming, unique graduation we had just witnessed. Another part of me was simply jumping as a form of celebrating life. Additionally, of course, I was jumping for health……jumping to cleanse my lymphatic system.

“Your heart circulates your blood continuously, delivering nutrients, oxygen, and hydration to your cells. But what about your cell’s waste products?” asks Don Bennett, DAS, in his book Avoiding Degenerative Disease — under the section Jump for Joy! Bounce your Way to Better Health.

“Unlike your blood,” Bennett continues, “your waste system’s fluid (lymph fluid) does not need to be moving every second, so it doesn’t need a ‘continuous duty’ pump. But it does need to circulate. And that’s your job! As you move around, the lymph fluid is moved from the cells, to the lymph nodes, and on to the ‘dump’. But if you don’t move enough — if you are less active than children — your metabolic garbage container isn’t being emptied on a regular basis. And that can spell trouble (lingering waste products are a major contributor to degenerative disease),” says Bennett.

“Although running is good for the lymphatic system,” Bennett explains, “over time it can take a toll on your joints (and on your heart believe it or not). So, on balance, running is not the best way to move your lymph fluid around. Skipping, ‘spirited walking’, and rebounding are your best choices. Time to take a cue from kids — jump!” he says.

And to think that only a few minutes a day gently bouncing on a rebounder are needed to really put this lymphatic-flushing system into motion!

Bennett states that rebounding is “so gentle when compared to running’s forceful pounding that it’s the exercise of choice for astronauts returning from the weightless environment of outer space.”

How does it work?

According to Bennett, “At the top of each bounce, you are momentarily weightless, and at the bottom of each bounce, you are actually resisting the Earth’s pull more than you usually do. This alternating weightlessness and multiplied gravity produces a pumping action which pulls out waste products from the cells, and forces into them oxygen and nutrients from the bloodstream.”

Although I’ve been bouncing on my rebounder a few minutes at a time off and on throughout the day, I realize I probably haven’t been jumping on the ideal rebounder since “all rebounders are not created equal,” Bennett informs his readers. Perhaps I should have waited until I could get the one of choice, but one day I got such an urge to jump — rebounder-style — that I darted out and got the first one I could get my hands on. I keep it centrally located and find myself making pit-stops at it regularly.

Since it is so easily transportable, I’ll be off to carry my rebounder outdoors and delight in jumping under the great blue sky and bright, warm sun as soon as I’m done with this post. Oh how fun! How fun!

And, by the way, not that my active pre-teen son doesn’t move his body enough already, but the rebounder is yet another body-moving tool for him, too. Although he was initially disappointed that the rebounder doesn’t bounce the way a standard trampoline does, that certainly doesn’t stop him from using it.

Well, it’s my turn to use it now. So off I go…….

In Rebounding,

Penny

Energy Soup for the Soul: Dr. Flora VanOrden III is Coming To Visit

We are sooooo excited to announce that we have a VERY special guest who will be joining us on Sunday at 3:00pm for an exclusive and rare telephone interview. Dr. Flora VanOrden III is going to be sharing with us the tips, tricks and heart-warming stories of her extensive experience with Dr. Ann Wigmore, as well as what she does now to inspire and encourage others to follow a raw food path.

She’s reduced her food bill to virtually pennies and has devoted her entire life to serving and educating others about high energy living. We want to make sure that all Raw Divas and their loved ones and anyone with two ears and an open mind are invited to this inspirational call.

Here’s what you’ll need to make it to the call.

Print this page off, stick it on your fridge, and be sure to join us.

EVENT: Dr. Flora’s amazing life and sustainability
DATE & TIME: Sunday, June 1st at 3:00pm Eastern
FORMAT: Simulcast! (Attend via Phone or Webcast)

TO ATTEND THIS EVENT, CLICK THIS LINK NOW!

It’s not a coincidence that this call falls on the 1st of June! As you know Tera’s been warming herself up for a green adventure and Amy’s getting on board. The two of them will be committing themselves to a month of HIGH GREEN, Sprouty goodness and looooow fruit consumption.

And here ye, here ye, fearers of fat! We will also be keeping the fat content very, very low! Let’s see what happens! We’re excited about the adventure and will be journaling abot our food, our favorite recipes and the emotional detox that will no doubt take place as we wean ourselves off a few treats and indulgences we’ve come to delight in.

Give it up for June the Month of Green Living at it’s finest! Join us as we kick off this green adventure on June 1st with this SUPER inspirational call with Dr. Flora VanOrden III.

We’ll be keeping you posted!

Love and green, grassy hugs,

Tera and Amy

Homage to Autumn

I’m one of those strange people who loves winter. Australia is on the cusp of a season change this Sunday, June 1, going from autumn (fall) to winter. Most of you reading this – those of you in the northern hemisphere – will be embracing the change from spring to sunny summer, and I daresay would not like to even think about there being cold weather somewhere else in the world!

But, my lovelies, do not pity those of us who reside south of the equator. Well, at least not this little snow bunny.

I adore this time of year. And I’m trying to make sure that my girls appreciate – nay, love – autumn and its serene sister, winter.

For me, one of the best things about autumn is the changing color of leaves. It’s something I’ve really made a big deal of this year, pointing out breathtakingly glorious trees as we drive or walk by, noting the vibrant yellows, the deep russets, and the golden browns.

When we’re out for a walk, we spend a little while just appreciating the beauty of the trees. The girls have embraced this, making a competition of spotting the most beautiful trees, and dragging me around streets or parks to show me their finds. I just love hearing their gasps of joy and wonder as they spot yet another gorgeous, colorful tree. We also spend time appreciating the bark on the trees, running our hands over it and noticing whether it’s smooth or rough, and whether there are any little creatures living in it. And then there are those tree hugs…

In our own garden, the girls sit peacefully watching leaves tumble from enormous old trees that we’re so lucky to have (thank you so much to the people who planted them all those years ago!), and love helping Daddy rake up mounds of leaves – perfect for crunching underfoot, and for leaping into.

I really hope that this attention to detail, to noticing the beauty in each season – no matter how short-lived that beauty may be – is a habit the girls will carry with them throughout their lives.

But now, it’s time to hibernate. The leaves have dropped. (And quickly! One tree in our garden was full of gorgeous leaves only two weeks ago – see the first tree picture – and is now a mass of spindly branches – see the second tree picture.) Autumn is turning over a new leaf and floating gracefully into an icy slumber. Bring it on.