Raw Food Health: Spinach for Beautiful Glowing Skin!

Raw Food Health: Spinach for Beautiful Glowing Skin!

- by Christie Fischer

Would you think of spinach for beauty?

Because when I think beautiful glowing skin I always think of GREENS.

And one of my favourite ones would definitely be spinach!

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Green Juices and Smoothies for Optimal Skin Health

Eat Your Greens for Healthier, Younger-Looking Skin

- by Tracy Neely

Healthy skin starts with clean blood and requires strong and steady blood flow. Your blood circulation brings your skin cells nourishment, and clears away waste products that your skin cells are constantly generating.

Eating mostly fruits and vegetables is essential to experiencing strong and steady blood flow. The water, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients found in these highly nutritious foods all promote optimal blood circulation to your skin and throughout your body.

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Raw & Organic Skin Care – If you Can’t Eat It, Don’t Use It

By Fran Kerr

Today I’m writing this article in the garden out the back of a beautiful raw food cafe in Sedona.  I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to travel through the United States from Australia for a few weeks.

I originally came here to check out the raw food and health scene but after a few days in the city I couldn’t ignore a strong call from nature to get myself out of the concrete jungles and into the natural beauty that’s everywhere across the States.  I guess ever since I transitioned into eating predominantly Read more »

Top 10 Detox Foods to Eat for Better Health and Beautiful Skin

by Tracy Neely

The body is continuously working to stay in an alkaline state and the body’s acid-alkaline balance adjusts throughout the day depending on the types of foods you consume.  In today’s fast paced society, we consume high amounts of refined foods that contain sugar, cow’s milk products, excess salt, alcohol, wheat as well as meats that contain high amounts of saturated fat. Over time these foods can cause increased inflammation in the body and can wreak havoc on the skin causing acne, psoriasis and eczema.  Adding more detoxifying foods to your diet will not only keep your body in an alkaline state, but depending on which detox foods you include in your diet, will help to eliminate toxins that have accumulated over time.

Adding the following foods to your diet, will allow your body to detox naturally and improve your skin and overall health and energy:

*Apple contains pectin which helps to excrete heavy metals and is cleansing for the liver and the kidneys

*Artichoke increases bile production and purifies and protects the liver and has a diuretic effect on the kidneys.

*Asparagus is a great diuretic that helps to support and maintain restorative properties that promote good bacteria in the intestines.

*Cruciferous Vegetables (Broccoli, Sprouts, Cabbage and Cauliflower) increase levels of glutathione, a powerful antioxidant that supports the liver in releasing toxins.

*Fennel has strong diuretic properties that help eliminate fats from the body.

*Garlic known as nature’s pharmacy has powerful antioxidants properties that convert to sulphur based compounds which bind to mercury as well as food additives.  It also activates liver enzymes that help to filter out refined foods.

*Ginger for some, is known as a panacea that relieves bloating and nausea, but also helps to stimulate digestive enzymes which supports healthy digestion.

*Lemon stimulates the release of enzymes and helps convert toxins into a water-soluble form that’s easily excreted from the body. Drinking lemon water, which is alkaline- forming first thing in the morning, will help to balance out the acidity Read more »

The Top Detox Foods That Support Healthy Skin

The body is continuously working to stay in an alkaline state and the body’s acid-alkaline balance adjusts throughout the day depending on the types of foods you consume. In today’s fast paced society, we consume high amounts of refined foods that contain sugar, cow’s milk products, excess salt, alcohol, wheat as well as meats that contain high amounts of saturated fat. Over time these foods can cause increased inflammation in the body and can wreak havoc on the skin causing acne, psoriasis and eczema. Adding in detoxifying foods will not only keep your body in an alkaline state, but depending on which detox foods you include in your diet, will help to eliminate toxins that have accumulated over time.

Adding the following foods to your diet, will allow your body to detox naturally:

• Apple contains pectin which helps to excrete heavy metals and is cleansing for the liver and the kidneys.
• Artichoke increases bile production and purifies and protects the liver and has a diuretic effect on the kidneys.
• Asparagus is a great diuretic that helps to support and maintain restorative properties that promote good bacteria in the intestines.
• Cruciferous Vegetables (Broccoli, Sprouts, Cabbage and Cauliflower) increase levels of glutathione, a powerful antioxidant that supports the liver in releasing toxins.
• Fennel has strong diuretic properties that help eliminate fats from the body.
• Garlic known as nature’s pharmacy has powerful antioxidants properties that convert to sulphur based compounds which bind to mercury as well as food additives. It also activates liver enzymes that help to filter out refined foods.
• Ginger for some, is known as a panacea that relieves bloating and nausea, but also helps to stimulate digestive enzymes which supports healthy digestion.
• Lemon stimulates the release of enzymes and helps convert toxins into a water-soluble form that’s easily excreted from the body. Read more »

The Best Fats to Use for Healthy, Glowing Skin

by Tracy Neely

Not all oils and fats are created equal.
Heavily processed, hydrogenated, “trans” fats and oils that are used in prepared, packaged foods can be extremely damaging to the body.

However, fats and oils from whole foods and other high-quality sources can steady our metabolism, keep hormone levels even, nourish our skin, hair and nails and provide lubrication to keep the body functioning fluidly. Our bodies also need fat for insulation and to protect and hold our organs in place.

One of the best ways to achieve healthy glowing skin is by using virgin coconut oil.  Virgin coconut oil is coconut oil that has not been refined or produced with high temperatures and chemical solvents.

Un-refined or virgin coconut oil applied topically is probably the best treat you can give to your body’s largest organ.  The fatty acids present in virgin coconut oil like medium chain fatty acids (mcfa), lauric, capric, and caprylic are normal components of the skin and serve as a replacement for lost lipids in the skin barrier. Medium chain fatty acids are easily digested, absorbed, and put to use nourishing the body.

Unlike other fats, they put little strain on the digestive system and provide a quick source of energy necessary to promote healing. A healthy percentage of high-quality fat in a meal satisfies and leaves feelings of energy, fulfillment and warmth.

When there are excess fats and oils in the diet, especially heavily processed fats, symptoms can include weight gain, skin breakouts, high blood pressure, liver strain and an overall feeling of mental, physical and emotional heaviness. Signs of insufficient high-quality fats are brittle hair and nails, dry skin, hunger after meals and feeling cold.

Oils like flaxseed, sesame,walnut and pumpkin seed are best used unheated in sauces or dressings on top of salads and veggies. Other healthy fats are found in whole nuts and seeds and in their butters like almond butter or tahini.

Whole foods such as avocados, olives and coconuts are great sources of healthy fat. Experiment with these healthy fat sources and see which work best for you and leave you satisfied.

*** Tracy Neely is the founder and owner of  Nourish & Flourish Healthy Living, a holistic nutrition and wellness consulting business located in Orlando Florida. Tracy’s love for raw foods led her to implement raw food cooking demonstrations within her consulting business.Tracy is a mother of a wonderful little boy and a wife to an amazing man and enjoys doing yoga, juicing and creating green smoothie recipes, reading books and going for walks with her family.

Hydrating Skin Elixir for Radiant Skin

There is something so refreshing about the smell of cucumbers, especially on a hot humid day here in Orlando.

My motto is always, “healthy skin from the inside out” and cucumbers are at the top of my list for not only eating, but adding to skin care treatments. When I can find organic cucumbers, I take every opportunity to eat them, juice them or slice them up for my water. When choosing any type of cucumber, the darker the color (except for the Kirby) the better. A yellow color indicates old age. It is highly recommended to choose organic cucumbers that have not been waxed. The skin on the cucumber has so many nutrients and you wouldn’t want to ingest the wax as well as the chemicals trapped in the skin. If you aren’t able to find organic cucumbers, just peel before consuming. Because cucumbers provide a wonderful feeling to the skin, they have been used for centuries as a natural toner for the skin.

Cucumbers are composed mostly of water, making it a must for glowing, hydrated skin. They are a good source of Vitamins A, ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) and folic acid. The skin of the cucumber is rich in fiber and a variety of minerals including silica, magnesium and potassium. The silica in cucumbers is an essential component of healthy connective tissue, which includes muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and bone. I often recommend cucumber juice to clients because the mineral silica improves the complexion and health of the skin. The ascorbic acid and caffeic acid in cucumbers prevent water retention, which may explain why cucumbers applied topically are often helpful for puffy eyes, burns and dermatitis.

Paul Bragg, a health crusader pioneer wrote in an old issue of “Nature’s Path”, “There is nothing more nourishing for the skin than to have the liquid juice from the cucumber.” He noted that cucumber juice was very beneficial at cleansing the body. When you juice the entire cucumber, it will cleanse your body of old waste materials and chemicals.

Hydrating Skin Elixir Recipe

• One cucumber

• One apple

• One tbsp. lemon juice (fresh squeezed is best)

• Two tbsp. aloe vera gel(remove from aloe leaf)

(Purchase organic cucumber, apple and lemon if possible)

Combine all ingredients in a blender and enjoy!

**Tracy Neely is the founder and owner of Nourish & Flourish Healthy Living, a holistic nutrition and wellness consulting business located in Orlando Florida. Tracy’s love for raw foods led her to implement raw food cooking demonstrations within her consulting business.Tracy is a mother of a wonderful little boy and a wife to an amazing man and enjoys doing yoga, juicing and creating green smoothie recipes, reading books and going for walks with her family.

**All our Beautiful Blogging Divas can be found here: Meet The Blogging Beauties!

Jo's Brilliant Idea

Occasionally (OK, most days) I head over to the UK Times Online website, to check out current events in the Old Dart.

This week, I came across a very interesting article, and it’s given me an idea.

The article is about a couple of rather exclusive “mum and baby” members’ clubs that have opened in London. They each have a slightly different focus, but they provide food, massages or other relaxation treatments (for parents) and fun (for kids). They’re touted as being a great way to connect with other parents – mostly mums, I’m guessing – and children. Oh, and they’re super luxurious. And therefore, pricey.

When my girls were born, I was automatically included in a mothers’ group for new mums in our area. About nine of us would meet up every week for a couple of hours, bringing our babies to each other’s houses and watching them while we chatted. We provided each other with fantastic support, and some of us became good friends. We knew that, as first-time mothers, we could blather on endlessly about sleepless nights, sore breasts, baby bellies and mysterious baby ailments without boring each other. Once the babies became mobile, we began meeting at a local mothercare nurse’s centre, and the group eventually became a playgroup.

But we certainly didn’t have massages. Nope. Food? Yep – someone would bring a nice little naughty nibbly thing each week. And the nurse’s centre itself, while very pleasant, wasn’t what one would call luxurious. But, really, it was the support that made it so much fun. Being a mum on your own at home, with young children, can be pretty lonely.

Just imagine, though, if there existed in every town, in every city, a kind of gorgeous “Raw Parents’ & Kids’ Club”? A beautiful refuge where parents of young children could head not only for company and support, but for a lip-smacking raw nosh-up (and with take-home salads made to order)?

And for a reasonably priced aromatherapy massage or reflexology session, knowing that their children were being well cared for in a fun children’s club, just a few rooms away? A place where children could run wild through nature (with their mums keeping an eye…) or get their hands dirty in all sorts of fun, creative activities; where lively debates were held; where stimulating lectures were given for parents; and where inspiring raw-food creation classes were offered every week? An aesthetically pleasing, groovy haven that soothed the senses and made you feel as though you’d come home? The sort of business that received local government subsidies so that everyone and anyone could afford to drop in for an energy boost and dose of lovin’ care?

I’m melting, just thinking about it. Maybe I’ll file this away as one of my “brilliant ideas” (well, an idea I’ve borrowed and tweaked) that might – just might – come to fruition one day. Or maybe this is something YOU could build in your neighborhood? Dream big, baby!