14 Days of Beauty: Day 11, Elbows and Knees

We've all had trouble with our elbows and knees having a slightly darker coloration than the rest of our skin. To help with this, mix a half of a teaspoon of fresh squeezed lime juice with 1 teaspoon of my favorite oil- coconut oil and apply to these areas. Let the mixture remain on the skin for approximately 15 minutes. While the mixture is on your skin, fill your sink with hot water and let a wash cloth soak in the water. When your 15 minutes has expired, use the hot tail and scrub the areas briskly; removing the mixture. For best results, repeat daily for about two weeks.

Coffee Creamer or Cigarettes?

I'm taking a brief break from the "14 Days of Beauty" posts to discuss an extremely important topic: cholesterol. Consider the following statistics for this individual:

Sex: Male

Age: 40

Height: 5'10"

Weight: 170 lbs

Activity level: active exercise everyday

Diseases or conditions: none, except for some moderate low back pain

Smoker: NO

Drinker: NO

Diet consists of mostly lean protein, grains, organic dairy, low to moderate amounts of fruits and vegetables, coffee and water. Individual consumes very little fast food- 1-2 x's per month.

This person sees their doctor regularly and at the age of 40 the doctor orders routine blood work. The patient gets the blood work and after a few days, calls the doctor for results of his blood work. The blood work shows the patient has high overall cholesterol levels; the LDL (bad cholesterol) levels are extremely high- so high they were off the charts and wouldn't register, HDL (good cholesterol) was low and triglycerides were too high. The results also showed a Vitamin D deficit.

He was dumbfounded. This person has been very active his entire life and makes it a point to engage in some type of physical activity everyday. He runs on a consistent basis. He recently lost about 2o-25 lbs by really cleaning up his diet. At the time of his blood work, he had been on a vegetarian diet for two weeks. And a Vitamin D deficiency? He is in the sun everyday and most of his workouts are outdoors. He immediately began looking at all aspects of his diet, looking for cholesterol and saturated fat content. It came down to what he thought was a minor splurge every day. He drank approximately 3- 20 oz cups of coffee daily with enough Nestle French Vanilla Coffee Creamer to make it taste good- which for him is about 7-8 tbsp per 20 oz cup.(OUCH!). When you look at the ingredients list, here is what you see:

Water, sugar, partially hydrogenated soybean and/or cottonseed oil, and less than 2% of sodium caseinate (a milk derivative), dipotassium phosphate, disodium phosphate, mono and diglycerides, natural and artificial flavors, cellulose gel, cellulose gum, color added, carrageenan.

Then you read the nutrition information and, hey it doesn't look so bad, right? For 1 tbsp, you get 1.5 grams of fat, none which are listed as saturated, trans, polyunsaturated, monounsaturated fats, no cholesterol, 30 mg of sodium, only 5 grams of sugar and no protein.

Here is the problem- the third ingredient, which you see highlighted in red. Partially hydrogenated oils are TRANS FATS!! I am not quite sure how Nestle is able to get away with saying there is no trans fat in their product.

This man I am speaking of is my husband and this angers me to my core.

Read this excerpt taken from http://www.becomehealthynow.com/article/conditioncardio/135

Poisons in Our Diet

Why not consume partially hydrogenated fats or oils? Because by the definition of "poison," partially hydrogenated fats and oils are poisons. Dorland's Medical Dictionary defines "poison" as "any substance which, when relatively small amounts are ingested ... has chemical action that may cause damage to structure or disturbance of function, producing symptomatology, illness, or death." (1) Partially hydrogenated oils do not exist in nature. Partially hydrogenated fats and oils are processed versions of naturally occurring fats and oils. In nature, most dietary fats and oils exist in a structural form which is called the "cis" form. When these natural cis form fats are processed by bubbling hydrogen gas through them at high temperatures, they become partially hydrogenated which changes their structure to the "trans" form. The natural cis fat has a bend and the processed trans fat is a straight molecule. This difference in cis and trans shapes is of major significance. When eaten, fats and oils are incorporated into cell membranes altering the composition of these delicate structures. When they interact with normal fat metabolism, they disturb function in a most deleterious manner. Hence, these substances meet the definition of a poison." Trans fats interfere with important, normal functions by inhibiting enzymes which are necessary for the body's normal metabolism of fats and they keep doing it for a long time.

Before I lost my weight, I used this in my coffee too. Then I read the label one day and researched a bit on hydrogenated oils and decided to stop drinking it. I brought this to my husband's attention and he figured that he had cleaned up his diet so dramatically that this is the ONE thing that he could indulge in. I began using coconut milk creamer in my coffee and have since dropped the coffee habit altogether and now start my day with loose leaf Yerba Mate.

My husband poured out the last bit of creamer about a week ago and began searching for other alternatives such as silk soy milk creamer. He has also cut back his coffee intake dramatically. He went from about 50-60 ounces a day to only 16 ounces. He is eating oatmeal daily and has increased his intake of fruits and vegetables. He is also taking a fish oil/borage oil/flaxseed oil supplement as well as the 5000 IU's of Vitamin D that the doctor recommended. (We're still not sure of the reason behind this.)

He purchased a home cholesterol test after being off the creamer for about a week. His overall cholesterol was back to a normal level- 170. His LDL was still high and his HDL was still low, but the numbers were better than they had been. So we are seeing improvement. He will return to the doctor in a few weeks for an official retest. Taken from the same source above, "When you eat normal cis fats, the body metabolizes half of them in 18 days. When you eat trans fats the body requires 51 days to metabolize half of them. This means that half of the trans fats you eat today will still be inhibiting essential enzyme systems in your body 51 days from now." I'd like to see his blood work in a few months.

This has been an emotional roller coaster for me. I couldn't help but feel responsible. I cook his food and buy his groceries. The meals that I prepare for him are healthy and organic. I should have put my foot down with the creamer. It disgusts me. I can't imagine what would have happened if he kept drinking it. He had been drinking that creamer for about five years. It seems like a person could get away with smoking cigarettes longer than they could get away with drinking that partially hydrogenated POISON.

A lesson I would like you all to take from this: Read your labels. Do not overlook ingredients that you know are bad for you. If there is an ingredient you are not sure of, look it up. Even better, if you can't pronounce it, stay away from it. The shorter the ingredient list, the better. Health is a gift....savor it.

Free Yoga on Monday: Cancelled this week

Yoga this Monday (July 19) will be cancelled, but is back on the schedule for next week. Feel free to join us for boot camp on Monday evening, 7pm at Los Alamos Sports Park. Just $10 per class for walk on.

Have a beautiful Sunday!

14 Days of Beauty: Day 10, The Hair

Try not to wash your hair too often as the hair can become dry. Some say this is a myth, but in my own experience, I find it to be true. Taking a break from washing lets the natural oils from the scalp naturally moisturize your hair. You can also try a homemade hair mask by combining a mashed avocado and coconut milk, apply to hair and comb through. Leave on for approximately 15 minutes. Of course you can also apply straight coconut oil to the hair in the same manner. An added soothing benefit is to warm the coconut oil slightly before applying. Coconut oil is my favorite for everything from smoothies to skin care. Last but not least, remember that beautiful hair begins within the body; meaning to eat healthy and well. Green leafy veggies are excellent for hair growth as well as raw pumpkin seeds.

14 Days of Beauty: Day 9, The Heart

Your Heart is a symbol of the pulse and energy of life. It is such a sacred organ, that without it, we would fade away. Often we shut down and do not give ourselves the attention we need because we are so focused on others; we neglect ourselves. We may and often do overlook the value in safeguarding ourselves in a nourishing and healthy manner. As a result, we are challenged with various issues like depression, nervousness and problems and conditions that threaten our heart and our health..

Today’s tips:

Keep the shoulders engaged at all times by maintaining posture and alignment. This facilitates keeping this area accessible and open physically and mentally.

Practice yoga poses that open this area. We often spend a lot of time with our shoulders slumped forward and our chest caved inward. Poses such as bow pose, fish, bridge or wheel counteract this and open this area.

Spread lavender or rose oils to the chest area at the end of each day.

Keep your heart at the forefront of your consciousness in everything that you do. Whether its physical and you are eating foods that are good for your heart, engaging in cardiovascular activity to improve the strength of your heart or if you are mentally keeping your heart “open” to new experiences and new journeys in life, value your heart and the sacred role that it plays.

14 Days of Beauty: Day 8, The Neck

Many times we neglect our neck area. Remember when cleansing, moisturizing and exfoliated to not forget the neck. The neck and shoulder area is another area in which we carry stress. A massage to this area is of great benefit. You do not have to pay a massage therapist for such a treatment as you can perform a neck massage yourself. You can stimulate lymphatic drainage by performing the following technique. Remember to use care when massaging the neck.

After performing your daily skin care regimine, find a relaxing area to sit. First, carefully and gently place your fingers on either side of the neck just under the ears. Gently manipulate the skin in a downward motion toward the back of your neck. Repeat this approximately ten times while changing the position of your fingers each time to a lower position on the neck further away from the ears. Now, move your fingers to the tops of your shoulders. Gently and carefully massage the skin toward the collarbone. Do this approximately five times.

Chakras: The Throat

The neck is the location of the throat chakra. The color representing this chakra is blue. In this area, we verbalize and communicate. This chakra governs knowledge, health and decision making.

You can perform yoga asanas that open the throat area. Take a wide stance, facing the toes outward slightly. Interlace your fingers behind the back while keeping your arms staright and let the shoulders relax down and back. Let your head drop behind you, opening the throat. You are still in a standing position. Take five to ten deep breaths.

14 Days of Beauty: Day 7, The Lips

When you meet someone, one of the first things you notice is their face. Your lips and mouth are holders of expression and much attention is drawn to this area. Many of us, pay lots of attention to our face with our skin care regimens. We cleanse, exfoliate and moisturize; often working around the lips. Purchase an extra soft toothbrush and save it for use on the lips. Brush your lips daily. Once or twice a week, make a homemade lip mask and apply it. The result will be soft and beautiful lips....worth a kiss or two. xoxo


Lip Mask
2 tbsp turbinado sugar
1-3 tsp honey
a few drops of olive oil

Place the sugar in a small bowl and begin adding the honey by teaspoons until it reaches a nice thick consistency. Add in a few drops of olive oil. You may use your "lip brush" (see above) to gently apply or simply use your finger. After rinsing with warm water, apply a natural lip moisturizer or lip balm. This routine is best done before going to bed.

14 Days of Beauty: Day 6

Today, wash your face with a good cleanser. I use Avalon Organics Lavendar Facial Cleansing Gel. Afterwards, give your face a good steam. Fill the sink with hot water and make a tent with the towel. Add a little eucalyptus oil or other essential oil to the water. Breath deeply. Pat your face dry and apply some coconut oil to moisturize.

Most of all, today....love yourself. Take a good look at yourself in the mirror and find something that is beautiful about you...something you love. Treasure yourself. Take care of you and know that you are unique and beautiful.

Namaste.

14 Days of Beauty: Day 5, The Tongue

It sounds a bit strange, but today let's focus on the tongue. Upon waking in the morning, your tongue should be scraped before brushing your teeth. It is said that the thick layer upon your tongue in the morning is a build up of toxins in your system. It is important to rid yourself of these toxins.

Smoothies

In trying to take advantage of summer, I am making it a priority to eat lots of raw foods. Today I've been experimenting with smoothies and have had some great results. Here is what I have come up with.

Raw Chocolate Chia Breakfast Smoothie

1 banana
8 oz. almond milk
1 tsp chia seeds (soaked for 15 min.)
1-2 tsp raw cacao powder
ice as desired

Blend all ingredients on high speed in the blender. So de-lish!


Summer Green Smoothie

1 banana
8 oz apple juice (I juiced my own)
4-5 leaves rainbow chard (from my garden!)
1 kiwi
1 pink grapefruit
1 sprig of mint (from my garden too!)
1 tsp bee pollen
1 tsp raw honey
ice as desired

Blend all ingredients on high speed in a blender. The mint gives this smoothie a super refreshing taste. I was really impressed! I had a mini bowl of raw sunflower seeds, raw pepitas, and pecan pieces with this. Very tasty!

14 Days of Beauty: Day 4, The Forehead

Give yourself a forehead massage sometime today. We carry a lot of tension in this area. Massage is a good way to increase circulation and smooth out those worry lines we often create.

Lift the heel of your hand to the center of your forehead, to the space between your eye brows.
Allow all the weight of your head to fall forward into the heel of your hand.
Breathe long and deeply.
Begin making small circular rotations with the heel of your hand on your forehead.
Do this first clockwise and then counter clockwise.

Rub a small amount of essential oil on your temples for an increased relaxation effect.

Chakra

This chakra is known as the "third eye." The color assocation with this chakra is indigo and

relates to self responsibility. We are responsible for our own lives, we have a responsibility to ourselves to follow the our path and we need to trust our intuition. We need to focus on the whole picture and act with knowledge, love and compassion. We must not act upon satifsfaction or ego. This energy connects us to our unconscious self, and creates the experience of being part of the whole universe.

14 Days of Beauty: Day 3, The Face

Avocado nourishing facial mask

Avocados hydrate and nourish the skin. This is deal for dry skin, or for those that live in dry areas. It also can be used for normal skin type. This mask is rich in Vitamin E which restores the skin’s surface while improving the skin’s texture overall.
This mask also contains carrots that are rich in beta-carotene and antioxidants.

Ingredients
1 avocado (peeled, pitted and mashed)
1 carrot (cooked and mashed)
3 tablespoons of honey

Preparation
Combine all the ingredients and apply on the face and neck. Leave on for 15 minutes and rinse well.

14 Days of Beauty, Day 2: The Eyes

Home treatment for puffy eyes

This easy restorative treatment removes puffiness in a short amount of time.

You will need:

- 1 organic potato
- organic cotton facial pads

---or---

- chamomile tea bags

Directions:

1. Grate a potato and collect the juice in a bowl.
2. Apply the potato juice to damp cotton pads.
3. Place over the eye area for about 15 minutes. For extreme problems leave on for 30 minutes.
Chamomile tea bags placed over the eyes in the same manner are also a good alternative.

Drinking about a quart of nettle tea can also help reduce puffy eyes.

When you notice that you have bags under the eyes, it may indicate that your kidneys are under stress or you may be suffering from food allergies. Keep a close eye on the foods you are eating.

14 Days of Beauty

We crave beauty. Whether it be in ourselves, our loved ones, our relationship or in our surroundings. This month, I will give a daily beauty tip. Make it your goal this month to pamper yourself daily, even if it is just for a moment. It is so important that we love ourselves first before we give a part of ourselves to others. Know that YOU are important, beautiful, unique and powerful.

Let's focus on the head: the crown.



Today, take care of your crown by massaging the scalp with jojoba oil or shea butter. This invigorates, while simulating and increasing the blood flow and circulation to this area.



For those of you that enjoy reading about or connecting to your chakras, or main energy centers, this is the crown, the seventh chakra, and the color associated with it is violet. This is the connection to your higher self. Disease can result from an imbalance of energy in this chakra. The violet energy connects us to wisdom and inner strength. It also purifies our thoughts and feelings, giving us inspiration in all of our duties. It develops artistic talent as well as creativity.

Recommended Reading

Here is a list of a few of my favorite books and can be added to your summer reading list.

Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin

The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone

Total Yoga by Tara Fraser

The Conscious Cook by Tal Ronnen

Becoming Vegetarian or Becoming Vegan

Raw Food Cleanse by Penni Shelton

Master Your Metabolism by Jillian Michaels

Happy Reading!