Living Earth Beauty - Alive with the Elements of Nature

Oils: The Secret to that Dewy, Luminous Glow?

February 2, 2010

Photo Credit: 96dpi

I have found that one of the most beautiful ways to love myself is to care for my body with great reverence. I consider my body a divine temple – that’s why I eat healthy, exercise, and care for my skin. One of my favorite luxurious skin care rituals is to literally bathe myself in oils – cleansing and moisturizing my face and body.

Oils for Travel

Jed and I have been on the road traveling frequently lately, sometimes having to take off at the drop of a hat. I am always seeking to simplify my travel needs and lighten my packing as much as possible. That is why I am so grateful to have discovered the use of oils as ‘all-in-one’ skin care. I use a more extensive skin care regimen at home, but whenever I travel, all I do is pack my bottle of Best Skin Ever. (I love all the scents, but my current companion is Vanilla.) I am able to cleanse, exfoliate, and moisturize with this glorious blend of oils all in one bottle. Joy! (See below for instructions)

Why Use Oils on the Face?

It may seem mysterious or even unnerving to use oils on the face. It certainly felt this way to me when I first learned about this method. I had oily skin and breakouts for so long that it seemed counter-intuitive to put more oil on my face! Yet, the truth is that oil dissolves oil. Your skin naturally lubricates itself with oil, and produces excess when dried out. If using oil weren’t the appropriate care for our skin, our bodies would not produce it at all. There is nothing to fear in applying oils to your face!

Pure Cold-Pressed Plant Oils will not clog pores or cause blemishes. Blemishes of all kinds can be caused by a plethora of things including diet, toxicity, hormones, bacteria, candida overgrowth, liver congestion, etc. Your skin naturally produces oil because it it ensures it proper functioning. Your natural oils protect, lubricate, heals, and moisturizes your skin. Skin that is functioning as it was designed to will be clear and glow with radiance.

Using oils to moisturize is the perfect way to achieve absolute purity. A pure oil is not blended with any water-based substance, no preservative is needed, and no solubilizers or stabilizers are necessary. Pure Cold-Pressed Plant Oils contain the highest level of active, alive nutrients for skin. They are very efficiently assimilated through skin because they are naturally absorbed and can penetrate deeper the lotions, creams, etc due to the natural composition of the skin. Oils also do not require heat to blend. The Cold-Pressing process ensures that all of the nutrients naturally present in the plant ingredients make it into the oil. Like cooking food, temperatures exceeding around 110º F destroy enzymes, vitamins and alter or deactivate many other beneficial nutrients in the product ingredients. A facial oil leaves skin with a renewed look of health and dewy, youthful beauty.

Our Facial Oils: Ultra Restore, Ultra Sapphire, Best Skin Ever

Daily Cleansing with Oils

Simply moisten a wash cloth with warm water, add a few squirts of our Best Skin Ever and gently massage cloth over face. This removes the dirt of the day and exfoliates. Finish with a spray of Rosewater. Add another squirt of Best Skin Ever for more moisture or use your favorite moisturizer.

Deep Cleansing with Oils

(The following information comes from Stephanie Strauss of The Beauty Bottle, LLC)

The basic concept of this skin care and cleansing method is that the oil used to massage your skin will dissolve the oil that has hardened with impurities and found itself stuck in your pores. The steam will open your pores, allowing the oil to be easily removed. Should you need it, the smallest drop of the same oil formula patted over damp skin will provide the necessary lubrication to keep your skin from over-compensating in oil production.

First and foremost, this is typically done in the evening, prior to bed. There should be no need for deep cleansing in the morning if you’re waking up with skin cleansed the night before. In the morning, a quick wipe with a warm washcloth should suffice. We don’t want to over-cleanse our skin as this will serve only to irritate and cause more oil production. The objective of using this method is to deep clean while balancing our skins oil production at the same time.

Instructions

1) You’ll need a soft washcloth, your oil blend, and hot, running water.
2) Pour a generous amount of Best Skin Ever into the palm of your hand. Roughly, the size of a quarter, but more is acceptable. Rub your
hands together to warm the oil and smooth over your face.
3) Begin massaging the oil into your face. This will remove makeup, dirt, and other impurities, so there is no need to use a makeup remover or wash your face prior to the massage.
4) Using slow, firm motions across the skin, massage the oil deeply into your pores. Take your time and focus on your problem areas. You
want the oil to work into your pores so that blackheads and the like can be dissolved and steamed away.
5) As you’re massaging, let your mind drift off to something calming and breathe deeply. Take this time to relax and release some of the stress that your body is harboring. Sit down, breathe deeply, and take your time. Give the oil enough time to work on dissolving the impurities in your pores and give yourself enough time to unwind.
6) Once you’re satisfied that your pores are saturated and you’re feeling calm, pick up your washcloth and soak it in clean, steamy water. We want the water to be warm enough to open your pores and remove the oil. Cool water will not open your pores, nor will it remove the oil efficiently. We’re not scalding our skin, we’re steaming to coax our pores to release the oil carrying the impurities. We’re essentially steaming our skin as an esthetician would, but without a steam machine.
7) Hold the washcloth to cover your face. Allow it to stay until it cools. You will feel your pores releasing the impurities. Wipe the oil
gently away and rinse the washcloth well in hot, running water. Hold the washcloth to your face again, allowing it to cool. Wipe gently, rinse well, and repeat two or three more times. Avoid any temptation to scrub, as you’ll find it’s completely unnecessary and your skin will be soft, smooth, and free of flakes without the additional manual exfoliation and irritation that will result. Impurities, dead skin cells, and bacteria will be gently swept away.
If your skin feels tight, take a tiny drop of Best Skin Ever, rub it between your clean, damp palms and pat it onto your damp skin. Gently massage any oil residue into your skin so there is no film of oil left sitting on the surface. Your skin should now glow!

This deep cleansing method should be done regularly, but not too frequently. You’ll know if you’re deep cleansing too frequently by the dryness that your skin will exhibit. Don’t be surprised if you find you’ve unblocked an oil flow for the first few days. Once you remove the plugs from your pores, they will begin functioning properly again. Perfect skin won’t happen overnight and while it may take a few massages to achieve your goal, you should notice a huge difference in your skin after the first deep cleansing massage. Give your skin a few days to adjust and adapt to being clean and clear of blockages; understand that the new oil coming from your skin is actually a good sign and will balance out very shortly. You’ll find redness and irritation subsiding. You’ll find your skin losing that “congested,” and thick feeling.

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How to use Morrocco Method Shampoos

January 20, 2010

I just received this great question on Twitter about using Morrocco Method Organic Shampoos. Thanks so much Victoria!

momsnkidshealth @LivingEarthLive Hi there – wondering if you have any usage instructions for the Morrocco Method shampoos – is there a transition period?

Transitioning

Because Morrocco Method products are Organic, Vegan, and chemical-free, there can be a detoxification transition period. Often when one moves away from chemical laden shampoos, the hair follicles will begin letting go of toxins. Yes, hair can detox too! This means, it is possible to experience a short period of slightly less than glorious results before you start having GLORIOUS results. Personally, I had glorious results right away.

Using Morrocco Method Shampoos

(The following text is courtesy of Morrocco Method Int’l)

Rotation

Morrocco Method 5 Elements Shampoos are designed to be used in rotation so that all aspects of hair and scalp can be nourished and maintained. Pine Shale (Air) and Apple Cider Vinegar (Fire) Shampoos nourish the hair and stimulate growth. Sea Essence (Water) and Earth Essence (Earth) Shampoos detoxify and regenerate hair and scalp. Rotate all four for maximum care — Pine Shale today, Apple Cider Vinegar tomorrow, Sea Essence the next day, then Earth Essence, then back to Pine Shale Shampoo to continue the rotation cycle. Regularly alternating shampoos helps to keep the hair and scalp receptive and responsive, insuring a thorough cleansing and nourishing every time they are used.

Two Steps to Gorgeous Hair

A perfect shampoo is achieved in two parts. The first shampooing cleanses hair and scalp of dirt, dead cells and dust, which you would otherwise massage back into the hair, scalp and follicle openings if you shampooed only once. This clogging debris could retard new hair growth and severely damage the oil glands, upsetting the natural fall-out and reproductive cycles of your hair.

The second shampooing and massage of your clean hair and scalp stimulates the flow of blood to the scalp and opens the hair follicles, allowing the blood vessels to feed each root, bulb and hair shaft, nourishing the entire follicle and activating the sebaceous (oil) glands. This ensures the proper lubrication and distribution of your own natural oils to the entire scalp and hair shafts. A natural coating of oil is vital to the maintenance of a healthy scalp and hair. It keeps the outer layer of hair lubricated and prevents drying, which is the excessive evaporation of moisture.

Step One: Wet your hair, then apply a nickel-sized portion of shampoo to your scalp. Massage it lightly into your hair and scalp, and then rinse thoroughly, using warm water.

Step Two: After rinsing, take a quarter-size portion of the same shampoo and massage it gently into your clean hair and scalp for a second cleansing, then rinse thoroughly, finishing with a cool rinse. Towel dry hair and scalp thoroughly. Your hair is now ready to be brushed and styled.

Find these incredible shampoos HERE.

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Adult Acne: I Explain the Causes and Offer Ways to Heal it Forever

January 12, 2010

Photo Credit: aehack

I received the following email from a lovely woman named, Belene, last week. I asked her if I could share our correspondence because I felt it might also be of help to others out there, possibly you. She graciously agreed. Thank you, Belene!

If you would like to know more or if this information was helpful to you, please let me know in the comments below.

Belene’s Email:

I am emailing you because I am having facial problems I have never encountered in my entire life. For the past 5 weeks, I have had severe acne from temple to temple and smaller bumps on my cheeks and chin. Each day I get a new pimple and they are scaring. I am of Ethiopian descent and the scaring is black. Prior to this I had almost flawless skin. If I were to have a break out it would be a single one. Not every sq nanometer of my face. Please advise.
Thanks so much.
Bliss

My Response:

Hi Belene,

Nice to meet you!
Thank you so much for your inquiry.

I understand how you might be feeling. Acne can be a troubling condition. I had acne for many years until recently – I tried everything to heal it over that entire period of time and nothing seemed to work. My skin is beautiful now and I found that it was caused many factors, some of which took some time to heal.

Acne is a complex issue. There are a plethora of possible causes including:

Diet
Toxic load in the body
Stress & Stored Emotions
Hormone Imbalances 1) Increased insulin production can signal the body to release extra male hormones, called androgens, which are involved in pimple formation. 2) Changes in the hormonal balance, such as those brought about by pregnancy, menstruation or hormonal abnormalities.
Medication – including some contraceptive pills, anabolic steroids, some anti-epileptic medications, lithium and iodine-containing medications.
Chlorinated industrial chemicals may induce the occupational skin disorder known as chloracne.
Rosacea can often be confused with acne – some causes include small intestinal bacterial overgrowth; demodex mites, caffeine; foods high in histamines (red wine, aged cheeses, yogurt, beer, cured pork products, etc.); microdermabrasion and chemical peels; high dosages topical or nasal steroids or benzyol perioxide. Also a very acidic diet contributes to rosacea.

I have some questions for you:

Have you changed your diet recently? You could be detoxing.
Have you had an abnormal amount of stress lately?
Have you experienced any changes in your health recently?
Could it be Rosacea? Have you used any corticosteroid (cortisone) creams or any steriod type medication?

Here are my recommendations:

1) First, try to determine if it is indeed acne or rosacea. You might need to see a dermatologist to determine this. You may also look for an alternative medicine practitioner that can make this determination. You could also diagnose yourself by researching online – I do this all of the time.

2) Good skin care makes a significant difference with both conditions. If it is acne, look for products that are antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant. With ingredients such as MSM (methylsulfonylmethane, a vital naturally occurring sulfur compound), Niacinamide (vitamin B4), Willow bark extract, Neem, Zinc Oxide, Witch Hazel, and Lavender, Tea Tree, Rosemary, and Chamomile Essential Oils.
Click HERE for some products that will help.

If it is rosacea, I would recommend very soothing and healing products for you, such as Rose Cellular Renewal, RoseGlow Face Creme, RoseGlow Serum, Seabuckthorn Tamanu All Over Lotion, Blue-Green Algae Mask

3) A healthy diet and body free of toxins is also essential. I definitely recommend a healthy Vegan diet. A Raw Vegan diet is even better for beautiful, blemish-free skin. Regardless, specifically steer clear of sugar; refined starches and grains; alcohol; caffeine; chocolate; dairy products (especially pasteurized cow dairy), red meat, and all processed and chemical foods. Consume an abundance of fresh vegetables and vegetable juices. Eating foods with Omega-3 fatty acids and fermented foods or a non-dairy pro-biotic supplement is also important for clear skin. Increase your pro-biotics for sure.

You might consider a green juice fast for at least several days or more – this will be intensely healing and alkalizing to the body.

4) Your body may need help detoxing. I highly recommend Colon Hydro-Therapy!!

5) Acne can also be caused by poor fat metabolism. This means that the liver is not capable of fully digesting and assimilating all of the fat and oil entering the system. The health of the skin is often a reflection of the health of the liver. There are various ways to cleanse the liver. Drinking water with lemon every day helps. Eating Raw, Fresh, Organic Fruits and Vegetables is important. I add large amounts of dandelion to my fresh juices for liver cleansing. Milk Thistle and Dandelion Root in tincture or tea form are also simple ways to keep the liver healthy. Avoiding drugs, alcohol, and for some of us, even chocolate, which has a stimulating effect on the body and taxes that liver, is essential. Also look into doing liver flushes and cleanses, seasonally, or more frequently for a congested liver.

6) Hygiene is important. Change your pillowcase regularly and avoid touching your face with your hands unless you have just washed them.

7) I have all of the above covered and still get a pimple or three from time to time. Hormonal imbalances, stored emotions, and stress can also contribute to acne breakouts. I participate in various forms of therapy, healing, and other practices to take care of my emotional well-being.

I wish you many many blessings towards your healing. Do not hesitate to ask any more questions you may have. Keep me updated on your progress, if you like, as well.

Warmly,
Jill

Posted in: Beauty, Healing, Skin and Body – 1 Comment

Recipe: Apple Pie Smoothie

December 23, 2009

Photo Credit: Bashed

I just created a spur-of-the-moment yummy smoothie for my Honey. He LOVED it!

Apple Pie Smoothie

Ingredients

All Raw & Organic:

1 large apple or 2 small apples (my favorites are Pink Lady and HoneyCrisp – use your favorite)

5 dates (we are blessed enough to have fresh, local dates)

2 handfuls of pecans ( I used 1 handful of walnuts and 1 handful of chashews because I did not have pecans)

1 tsp Vanilla ( I have fresh ground vanilla beans, so I only used a tiny dash because it so so much more potent when it is not an extract)

1 – 2 tsp cinnamon (depending on how ’spicy’ you would like it to be

1/4 – 1/2 tsp nutmeg

a dash of Himalayan or Celtic Sea Salt

Roughly 2 cups of water (depending on how thick you like your smoothies)

(If you like super sweetness add a bit of Honey or Agave to taste)

Instructions

Soak the pecans (or whatever nuts you have) the night before or a few hours in advance. If you want it now and don’t have soaked nuts, use un-soaked nuts – they are getting blended.
Drain and rinse the pecans
Pit the dates, cut in half or pieces
Core apple(s) and cut into pieces
Add all of the above and the rest of the ingredients to a powerful blender (preferably a Vitamix or similar). Blend until completely smooth.
Enjoy drinkable and healthy apple pie!

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My Top Winter Beauty Tips: Radiance Inside and Out

December 22, 2009

Photo Credit: Swamibu

I eat 100% raw all year round and my skin stays soft and beautiful and I stay warm and happy. Here are my top tips for gorgeous glowing skin and radiating warmth this winter:

Stay Hydrated
It is extremely important to stay hydrated all of the time, especially during the winter when there is less of a desire for water and when skin tends to dry out. If room temperature water is too cool for you, heat it up a bit. Add a squeezed wedge of lemon. Lemon is also great for alkanizing the body and cleansing the liver. Drink more moisturizing herbal teas: Irish Moss, Red Clover Blossom, Marshmallow Root, and Fennel Seed. Always drink herbal teas, and stay away from caffiene. Also, try adding raw ginger or a dash of cayenne to drinks or dishes.

Eat more Healthy Fats
Eating more healthy fats beautifies your skin and warms your body from the inside out:
All raw and organic:
Avocado
Coconut, especially organic young coconut
Seeds especially Hemp Seeds, Chia Seeds, and Flax seeds
Nuts, especially almonds, walnuts, and macadamia nuts
Olives
Fresh Oils
* Only use Extra Virgin Olive oil or Coconut oil when cooking
* Only use Flax, Hemp (only if very fresh) or Olive oils for raw foods and salads

Get your Vitamin D
If you live in a less sunny place, and I know what that is like (I lived in Seattle for many years until very recently), make sure to take a high quality Vitamin D supplement, at least 4000 IU per day.

Cleanse with care
Be very cautious not to cleanse skin too often or use a harsh cleanser. All of our cleansers are very gentle and hydrating.

Rehydrate throughout the day
Rehydrate skin frequently throughout the day with a hydrating mist, which will work even over makeup. You could also reapply your favorite moisturizer.

Bathe with moisturizing herbs
If you take baths, bathe with moisturizing herbs such as rosebud, lavender flowers, calendula, and chamomile flowers

Eat warming foods
Eating Raw foods is actually warming to the body. This may be a surprise, but more heat is produced through digesting raw foods then eating cooked foods. Also, raw, living foods are beautifying, whereas, cooked foods are not. In general, foods that take longer to grow are generally more warming than foods that grow quickly. What do I see most abundant this time of year, root vegetables. They grow this time of year for a reason, they are very warming to the body. Foods that are warming include: squash, carrots, potatoes, yams, rutabagas, turnips, garlic, leeks, onions, rice, oats, cardamon, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, black or hot pepper.

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Recipe: Raw Chocolate Pudding (and the truth about ‘raw’ cashews)

December 6, 2009

Photo Credit: sweetonveg

Jed loves this treat. He adores dipping fresh, organic berries, especially strawberries, in it.

Ingredients

1/2 cup – 2 cups soaked Raw, Organic Cashews*
4 Tablespoons Raw, Organic Carob Powder (We use Carob, but you may use Raw Cacao Powder, if you like, for even more chocolaty-richness). We like the Raw European Carob, as it has a “roasted” flavor like chocolate, but it is raw.
2 teaspoons Vanilla (I use pure dried/powdered vanilla bean)
Sweetener of your choice (I use Stevia, but you could also use raw, organic Honey, Yacon Syrup, or Agave Nectar)
a dash of Cinnamon
spring or purified Water

Instructions
Soak 1/2 – 2 cups of truly raw, organic Cashews* overnight. (The amount of cashews depends on how many people you want to serve or how much you want left over).

Drain and rinse the Cashews.
Place all ingredients in your Vita-Mix (or very powerful blender) and blend until completely smooth. Start with approximately a 1/2 cup of water. Add more water if the consistency is too thick or it will not blend easily.
Enjoy as is or as a sweet, chocolaty dip for fruit

* All cashews are steamed to remove the skin, unless the package says that they have been skinned by hand. Therefore, cashews are not raw unless they are labeled “truly raw” and are treated by hand. Eating only truly raw cashews ensures that the fat has not oxidized due to the heat applied to them and that their enzymes are intact.

*The oils found in the cashew shell are poisonous. Cashews are in the same family as poison ivy and poison sumac. This is why you always see them shelled and skinned. I was concerned about this fact for while and stopped eating them. But, I soon came to my senses. Being cashew-free only lasted a few months – they are so luscious. I eat them alone as dessert sometimes, they are so naturally sweet. They really are totally safe and extremely healthy to eat when the skin is removed and when they are truly raw, so no need to go without these sweet, creamy nuts.

Posted in: Health, Nutrition, Recipes, Uncategorized – 1 Comment

I Am Featured in an Exclusive Magazine Interview

November 27, 2009

Photo Credit: suttonhoo

I am featured in an in-depth interview in the current issue of Pear Magazine. Read all about my story, how and why Living Earth Beauty came to be, and my answers to many skin and beauty questions.

Read it here.

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I Will Address Your Questions and Concerns About Veganism

November 21, 2009

Photo Credit: BotheredByBees

I am currently spending a lot of time writing an article about veganism and cruelty-free living, especially in the arenas of food and skin care. I am attempting to cover as much as possible, without going on for days. I would love to address your questions and concerns. Please share them in the comments below.

In the meantime, here are some quotes to inspire consideration:

“Until he extends the circle of compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace.” -Albert Schweitzer

“Vegetarian food leaves a deep impression on our nature. If the whole world adopts vegetarianism, it can change the destiny of humankind.” -Albert Einstein

“Animals are my friends…and I don’t eat my friends.” -George Bernard Shaw

“If a man aspires towards a righteous life, his first act of abstinence is from injury to animals.” -Albert Einstein

“I do feel that spiritual progress does demand at some stage that we should cease to kill our fellow creatures for the satisfaction of our bodily wants.” -Gandhi

“If man wants freedom why keep birds and animals in cages? Truly man is the king of beasts, for his brutality exceeds them. We live by the death of others. We are burial places! I have since an early age abjured the use of meat.” -Leonardo-da-Vinci

“Flesh eating is simply immoral, as it involves the performance of an act which is contrary to moral feeling: killing. By killing, man suppresses in himself, unnecessarily, the highest spiritual capacity, that of sympathy and pity towards living creatures like himself and by violating his own feelings becomes cruel.” “As long as there are slaughterhouses, there will be battlefields.” -Leo Tolstoy

“How can man be possessed of kindness who, to increase his own flesh, eats the flesh of other creatures. As those possess no property who do not take care of it, so those possess no kindness who feed on flesh.” “Like the (murderous)mind of him who carries a weapon (in his hand), the mind of him who feasts with pleasure on the body of another (creature), has no regard for goodness.” “Man did not weave the web of life: he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself. To harm the earth is to heap contempt on its creator.” -Red Indian Chief (1854)

“We pray on Sundays that we may have light/To guide our footsteps on the path we tread;/We are sick of war, we don’t want to fight,/And yet we gorge ourselves upon the dead.” -George Bernard Shaw

“My refusing to eat flesh occasioned an inconveniency, and I was frequently chided for my singularity, but, with this lighter repast, I made the greater progress, for greater clearness of head and quicker comprehension” “Flesh eating is unprovoked murder.” -Benjamin Franklin

“I have no doubt that it is a part of the destiny of the human race, in its gradual improvement, to leave off eating animals.” -Henry Thoreau:

“I am in favor of animal rights as well as human rights. That is the way of a whole human being” -Abraham Lincoln

Genesis 1:29 “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.”

“There will never be any peace in the world as long as we eat animals.” -Isaac Bashevis Singer

“Not having known anything better does not alleviate the suffering of the animal. Its fundamental desires remain and it is the frustration of those desires that is a great part of its suffering. There are so many examples: the dairy cow who is never allowed to raise her young, the battery hen who can never walk or stretch her wings, the sow who can never build a nest or root for food in the forest litter, etc. Eventually we frustrate the animal’s most fundamental desire of all – to live.” -David Cowles-Hamar.

“In all the round world of utopia there is no meat. There used to be. But now we cannot stand the thought of slaughterhouses. And in a population that is all educated and at about the same level of physical refinement, it is practically impossible to find anyone who will hew a dead ox or pig. We never settled the hygienic aspect of meat-eating at all. This other aspect decided us. I can still remember as a boy the rejoicings over the closing of the last slaughterhouse.” -H.G. Wells

“There is something so very dreadful in tormenting those who have never harmed us, and who cannot defend themselves, who are utterly in our power, who have weapons neither of offence nor defense, that none but very hardened persons can endure the thought of it” -Cardinal Newman

“There will come a time…when civilized people will look back in horror on our generation and the ones that preceded it: the idea that we should eat other living things running around on four legs, that we should raise them just for the purpose of killing them! The people of the future will say “meat-eaters!” in disgust and regard us in the same way we regard cannibals and cannibalism” -Dennis Weaver (actor)

“Awareness is bad for the meat business. Conscience is bad for the meat business. Sensitivity to life is bad for the meat business. DENIAL, however, the meat business finds indispensable.” -John Robbins, Diet for a New America

“When a man has pity on all living creatures then only is he noble.” -Buddha (563? – 483? B.C.)

“Cruelty to animals is as if humans did not love God.” -Cardinal John Henry Newman

“…many vivisectors still claim that what they do helps save human lives. They are Iying. The truth is that animal experiments kill people, and animal researchers are responsible for the deaths of thousands of men, women and children every year.” -Dr. Vernon Coleman, Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, UK.

“We stopped eating meat many years ago. During the course of a Sunday lunch we happened to look out of the kitchen window at our young lambs playing happily in the fields. Glancing down at our plates, we suddenly realized that we were eating the leg of an animal who had until recently been playing in a field herself. We looked at each other and said, “Wait a minute, we love these sheep–they’re such gentle creatures. So why are we eating them?” It was the last time we ever did.” -Linda and Paul McCartney

“To be non-violent to human beings, [but] to be a killer or enemy of poor animals[?] In this age there is always enmity against animals, and therefore the poor creatures are always anxious. The reaction of the poor animals is being forced on human society, and therefore there is always the strain of cold or hot war between men, individually, collectively or nationally… “The earth affords a lavish supply of riches, of innocent foods, and offers you banquets that involve no bloodshed or slaughter; only beasts satisfy their hunger with flesh, and not even all of those, because horses, cattle, and sheep live on grass. As long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other. Indeed, he who sows the seeds of murder and pain cannot reap joy and love.” -Pythagoras

“To my mind, the life of a lamb is no less precious than that of a human being. I should be unwilling to take the life of a lamb for the sake of the human body.” -Mohandas Gandhi (1869-1948)

“I abhor vivisection with my whole soul. All the scientific discoveries stained with innocent blood I count as of no consequence.” Mahatma Gandhi

“The human body has no more need for cows’ milk than it does for dogs’ milk, horses’ milk, or giraffes’ milk.” -Michael Klaper, MD

“In every respect, vegans appear to enjoy better health in comparison to both vegetarians and non-vegetarians.” -T. Colin Campbell, PhD Professor of Nutrition, Cornell University (letter dated 3/29/98)

“If you step back and look at the data, the optimum amount of red meat you eat should be zero.” -Walter Willett, M.D., of Brigham and Women’s Hospital, director of a study that found a close correlation between red meat consumption and colon cancer.

“When we kill the animals to eat them, they end up killing us because their flesh, which contains cholesterol and saturated fat, was never intended for human beings.” -William C. Roberts, M.D., editor of The American Journal of Cardiology

“The beef industry has contributed to more American deaths than all the wars of this century, all natural disasters, and all automobile accidents combined. If beef is your idea of `real food for real people,’ you’d better live real close to a real good hospital.” -Neal D. Barnard, M.D., President, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, Washington, D.C

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Beauty Foods: Stinging Nettles!

November 3, 2009

Stinging Nettles

*Please see below for the sources of the following text.

Nettle is a magical medicinal plant. It has amazing astringent, expectorant, tonic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic properties and it is an important source of beta-carotene, vitamin A, C and E, iron, calcium, phosphates and minerals. It is a powerful remedy against hepatic, arthritic or rheumatic affections, and in treating allergies, anemia and kidney diseases.

Nettle is a blood-purifier of the highest caliber. Because of it’s high alkaline-mineral content (silicon and iron) and blood-building properties, it is a beautifier of the highest order. Nettle leaves are highly alkaline. They neutralize and dissolve acidic wastes in the blood. Their diuretic properties simultaneously help flush the blood and cleanse it through the action of the kidneys. Since both neutralizing and flushing characteristics are important for blood purification, stinging nettle is an excellent choice for complaints where toxicity and/or over-acidity of the tissues are the root of the problem, including poor skin quality, weak nails, damaged teeth, and loss of overall luster. It power to purify the blood will do wonders for chronic skin ailments. It is effective against eczema on the upper body, especially the face, neck, and ears.

Nettle leaves increase the function of the thyroid gland, increasing metabolism and helping to burn away fat while increasing energy. Nettles also help relieve excess mucous in the colon allowing for the release of excess waste.

Nettle leaves are so mineral rich that they satisfy hunger. Overeating can often an outward manifestation of a search for minerals. Eating food that is fully mineralized eventually makes us fully mineralized and provides us with the food-mineral cosmetics necessary to express true inner and outer beauty.

nettle

Properties

Nettle contains a great number of amino acids, glucidic substances, amines, sterols, cetones, ketones as methyl heptenone, acetophenone, volatile oil, fat substances, sitosterols, formic and acetic acid, panthotenic acid, folic acid, chlorophyl 0.3 – 0.8, protoporphyrine and coproporphynine. It also contains vitamins C, B2 and K, beta-carotene, Ca, Mg, Fe and Si salts, phosphates etc. Because of these compounds, the plant has anti-anaemic, anti-diabetic, hemostatic and diuretic properties.

Choline acetyltransferase is present in stinging nettle plants, as well as choline, acetylcholine, and serotonin. Presence of these compounds categorize the nettle as food for the nervous system.

Nettles also contain one of the highest levels of the beautifying mineral silicon found in any food.

Mixtures and Treatments

Perhaps the most well known property of nettle is that it stings. The stems and leaf-tops are covered with thin, hair-like protrusions. These protrusions, if touched, release a stinging fluid containing histamine and formic acid. The sting produces a temporary inflammation. The sting of the nettle is annoying to the skin, but not poisonous.

When nettles are eaten, the saliva neutralizes the sting, so that one cannot be stung in the mouth or throat.

It is said that if the plant did not sting, it would not have lasted through time. As a matter of fact, the Swiss priest, Kunzle, shows that nettle would have been destroyed by insects and animals by now, had it not defended itself by stinging. However, popular medicine has proved the usefulness of this property: fresh nettle leaves placed on the skin, and especially on the kidney area (a practice named urticaria) induces a stinging and burning sensation, with the effect of easing more profound rheumatic pains. Ancient shaman healers used to purposely strike their paralyzed patients with nettles in order to bring blood flow back into the muscles and skin.

Here are some of the ways to enjoy all the benefits of this wonder-plant:
nettle

Eating the Leaves

Come at the leaf from the bottom, folding it along its central crease, yanking it gently from the mother plant, and then rolling it up so as to enclose the top of the leaf (the stingers are most commonly found in the top of the leaf).

Nettle Tea

It cures diseases and inflammations of the urinary system, and also urinary retentions. It has a slightly laxative effect, being recommended in depurative remedies. For hepatic, biliary affections as well as for affections of the spleen, the treatment with nettle tea will last for a number of weeks. Nettle tea can also be of great help to those who suffer from diabetes, because it leads to the decrease of blood sugar and implicitly, of the glycaemia level. It is useful in eliminating virosis, and bacterial infections. Preparation: the tea can be prepared through soaking the fresh or dried leaves in boiled water. This method allows the retention of active substances.

Nettle Infusion

Washing the scalp with nettle (leaves or roots) infusion helps regenerate, grow and thicken the hair. Preparation: to prepare the infusion, 60g of finely crushed nettles are mixed with two and a half cups of water. The mixture is boiled, and then covered for 10 minutes. It can be consumed either hot or cold.

Nettle Tincture

It eliminates dandruff and leaves the hair silky. It also strengthens and revitalizes the hair. Preparation: for ten days, six-seven fresh leaves or two spoons of dried plant are kept macerating in half a liter of alcohol. The mixture is then used to rub the hair root.

Nettle Juice

Running nettles through a juice machine is a unique way to access the the high-quality minerals and oils present in fresh nettles without having to risk being stung.The juice from stinging nettle leaves acts as an antidote to the sting when applied topically. Due to its rich iron content and ease of absorption, nettle juice is more effective than spinach juice in building blood. Given its propensity to neutralize and flush out acidic waste, nettle juice is perfect for weight reduction. Nettle juice can also be used as a hair rinse to restore natural color.

For hypertension half a glass is drunk right before the most important meals. It has the effect of regulating arterial pressure and straightening blood vessels. In case of renal insufficiency, one glass of nettle juice per day should be consumed in the morning after waking up. In case of anemia and demineralization – one-two glasses of nettle juice are consumed daily for a period of two weeks. Preparation: nettle leaves and stem are gathered and put into the juicer.

Nettle Root Powder

For frail dry hair 60 day treatments can be done, during which half a teaspoon of root powder is administered three times a day on an empty stomach. Preparation: the dried nettle roots are finely crushed using an electric coffee grinder.

* The above text in italic comes from Eating for Beauty by David Wolfe

The plain text above comes from http://www.liveandfeel.com/medicinalplants/nettle.html

Huge thanks to both of these wonderfully rich resources.

My Love For Nettles

The absolute BEST way to enjoy nettles in all of their glory is to juice FRESH nettles. I feel so blessed have access to freshly picked nettles. I do not even have to go hunting in the forest for them. One of the wonderful organic farmers at my local Farmer’s Market has bunches of nettles quite frequently. I get so excited when I see them at the stand amongst all of the beautiful herbs and wildflowers. It costs only $1.00 for a whole small bag full of nettles, on the stalk! However, if you do live where nettles might be growing in your area, I highly suggest going on a nettle-picking adventure (look near streams, especially in California).

Nettle Leaf Powder

Another way to enjoy nettle nutrition is to eat them in a dry powder form. Billy’s Infinity Greens (coming soon to the Living Earth Beauty Store) contains a high concentration of this powder in its amazing superfoods formula.

How I Juice Nettles

I often juice a wide variety of green leafy vegetables, herbs, and hard veggies – what I find organic and in-season at the farmer’s market. I so look forward to growing all of this in our own garden someday soon! A typical juice blend will consist of items such as: dandelion greens, pea shoots, sunflower sprouts, kale, rainbow chard, parsley, cilantro, lemon balm, holy basil, fennel, cucumber, celery, etc. I always save the nettles for last. This is because I wear rubber gloves to handle them to avoid getting stung. Once I have juiced everything else, I pull out my rubber gloves, rinse the nettles with purified water and feed them into the juicer (I use the Green Star Gold) one stalk at a time. The stalks are usually thin enough to get pulled right in by the blades (which is always fun). Once I have finished juicing a large handful of nettle stalks and leaves, I pour the juice into the rest of the juice I already have put through a nut milk bag. I always double-filter my juice through a nut milk bag to remove all of the plant fiber for ease of absorption and digestion. I then stir the juice up, pour a tall glass for me and for Jed and put the rest in the fridge. The final step is to wash the juicing tools and the juicer with the gloves on, since there are often stray leaves and pieces of the nettles still intact. Wearing rubber gloves for the washing phase of juicing is also an excellent way to preserve the beauty and softness of your hands!

Enjoy your nettles! Here’s to wellness, joy, and timeless beauty!

Posted in: Beauty Foods – 5 Comments

6 Ways to Start Making Healthy Food Choices – Become an Empowered Eater

October 23, 2009

Our Kitchen Island after the local Farmer's Market

One Sunday Trip to the Farmer's Market

Do you have the automatic habit of eating whatever is in front of you or eating something just because it sounds or smells good? Do you want to discover how to enhance your wellness, beauty, and confidence by taking charge of your diet? Here’s how to transform your habitual way of eating into a conscious, joyful choice – become an empowered eater!

Keep a Food Journal

I’m often asked for one easy step to move towards healthy eating. That’s easy – I recommend keeping a food journal - recording in a notebook everything you eat or drink, how you felt before eating, how you feel immediately after eating, and how you feel several hours later. This includes everything that enters your body, including supplements, pharmaceuticals, and water. Using a journal will bring eating and drinking from an unconscious behavior to a conscious awareness. Also, you’ll notice that by choosing to feel the effect of each substance that enters your body, you will reconnect with the physical and emotional feedback that your body gives any time you eat or drink. We are one synergistic being, everything we think, feel, eat, or drink affects every part of our being. Our Body, Mind, and Spirit are all affected by the food choices we make. The deeper we go with the awareness of how everything we eat and drink affects our entire being, those around us, and the planet at large, the healthier we will eat. (Ask in the comments if you would like a sample layout for a food journal.)

Ask Yourself: How Close is This Food to Nature?

A relatively new development in the last 100 years has been packaged, pre-processed food. For millions of years before that, our ancestors have successfully eaten food exactly as it came from the earth, with minimal preparation. A simple trick for choosing food in a store or restaurant is to ask yourself, “How close is this food to nature?” Think about what it took for the food to get from a garden or farm to your hands. Choosing food with the fewest steps to reach you and the least processing means that more nutrients and natural components will be part of the meal. When you do eat out or buy packaged food, read labels and be wary of anything that you cannot pronounce, do not recognize, or sounds like it was created in a lab or factory. (We all know what sounds like a chemical, ie “Butylated Hydroxyanisole”.) If you eat out, ask what the ingredients are and where they came from. Tracing food and ingredients back to their natural source is a fun and simple way to reconnect with the life-giving nature of foods fresh from the earth.

Eliminate Processed and Damaging Foods

Now you have started asking “How close is this food to nature?” And surprisingly, you have found that much of the food in grocery stores and restaurants contains processed ingredients. Choose to begin eliminating these foods, and bringing in creative replacements. Many people look for motivation in this stage, and I recommend two methods. First, try “crowding out” the harmful foods by adding in more luscious fruits and vegetables. Second, give yourself a gentle but firm schedule for eliminating harmful foods in stages. For example: “By December 1st I will end my relationship with foods containing refined sugar. By January 15th, I will stop eating processed fats.” Involving friends and family in the process of empowered eating is a fun way to receive support and accountability. (If you need support and accountability on your path, please don’t hesitate to contact me.)

Damaging Foods Categories:

Refined Sugars
All Processed Foods, including Processed Starches, Processed Fats, etc.
Dairy (If you choose to keep dairy in your diet, Raw Dairy is a better option, especially Raw Goat’s Milk products)
Animal Protein (If you choose to keep animal products in your diet, which I highly recommend against for health and ethical reasons, reduce the frequency you consume meat to 1-3 times per week. Also, try make sure the animal was treated as well as possible and the meat is free from antibiotics, hormones, and was fed the food that it was designed to eat, such as grass, not corn. Buy your meat and dairy from local Organic farmers, if possible.)

Connect With Your Food

Know where your food comes from and how it came to be. Prepare your own food at home as much as you possibly can. Eat Organic, Locally, and Seasonally whenever possible. Support your local Organic Farmers – buy your food at your local Co-op, Farmer’s Market, or even better yet, grow your own food.

Be Prepared

I always plan in advance when I am going to be away from home for several hours and when traveling. I bring snacks like veggies, fruit, nuts, etc. when away from home or traveling. When on a road trip or camping, we bring a cooler full of fresh food and veggie juice I make just beforehand. We also bring Green Food Powder, like Billy’s Infinity Greens, so that when the veggie juice runs out we have an easy dose of energy and nutrients – just add water. When traveling by airplane, we also always bring snacks and meals we have prepared ourselves. The food at airports is terrible! Never get stuck there hungry and unprepared. Also, I find out ahead of time where health food stores and raw and vegan restaurants are at every destination. Always plan to nourish yourself with healthy, fresh food where ever you are! You’ll find yourself more energized, relaxed, and content.

Educate Yourself

Read books and watch films about the food industry and where your food comes from. You’ll be surprised by what you learn. Here are a few to get started:

BOOKS:

In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto and The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan – The quintessential starting point on the path of food awareness

The China Study by T. Colin Campbell – The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-term Health.

FILMS:

Food, Inc. – A recent documentary exposing the insides of the United States food production system.

Foodmatters – You are what you eat.

Earthlings – Humans and Animals can interact peacefully. (View Free on Google Video)

JOIN ORGANIZATIONS:

I receive the Organic Consumers Association newsletter for regular up-to-date information on food and the food industry.

Since I became an empowered eater, my life completely changed. I stopped getting sick – ever. I would like everyone to know that getting a cold or the flu does not have to be a normal seasonal routine. I have not had a cold or virus, not even a sniffle, for over six years now and I do not expect to ever have one again. My immune system is so strong because of the healthy way I eat that colds or the flu never have a chance in my body. When I began eating consciously I also lost weight, began looking more vibrant and beautiful, and became more happy, positive, energized, and more able to give and receive love. You absolutely can have the healthy, happy life that you desire. Conscious, empowered eating is an essential part of creating a healthy, happy life!

Posted in: Health, Nutrition – 2 Comments