RAW VEGAN COCONUT SOUR CREAM

Easy and super delicious!!! Great on some raw nachos with guacamole, salsa, and nut meat.

You can watch the video HERE.

Coconut is great not only for your waistline, but for your skin and hair as well. This is a great way to replace something harmful (sour cream, which induces inflammation in the body) with something healthful! Enjoy :)

YOUNGER WITH YOGA

... or with any exercise!

THIS STUDY from Germany was just released showing the anti-aging benefits of life-long exercise.

The study looked at athletes over their lifetimes, examining their cellular function on a genetic level. Ultimately, the DNA in cells of people who exercised regularly during their lifetime functioned as if they were younger, helping to negate normal DNA degradation caused by age.

Exercise: great for your waist, mood, brain, skin, and EVERYTHING ELSE!

Yet another reason to lace up those running shoes or roll out those yoga mats in 2010!

THE BENEFITS OF KEFIR

If you don't know what "Kefir" is, now is the time to learn! The health benefits it offers are too good to pass up... not to mention it's delicious!

Kefir is a lot like yogurt. It's a fermented milk product made with probiotics, but instead of utilizing traditional yogurt bacterium, it is made with Kefir grains.

Kefir grains are little balls of "good" bacteria that have been shown to improve digestion, increase immune function, decrease oxidative and mutagenic damage in the body (aka it's a STRONG antioxidant that combats free radicals and the effects of aging), aids in weight loss, can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and naturally balances the bacterial flora of the intestines.

Kefir's anti-cancer and healthy skin/hair benefits are continuing to be studied, so the list of positives attributed to Kefir will likely grow longer!

What I love about Kefir is that is has FAR MORE probiotics than regular yogurt (with added anti-fungal properties) and it's slightly thinner texture lends itself to making AMAZING smoothies: Just add 1 cup Kefir and a handful of mango (or blueberries, or another fruit) to the blender (you can add agave nectar or honey for additonal natural sweetness) and voila! You have a delicious and nutrious snack or breakfast with minimal effort :)

So, what's stopping you?! Go grab some Kefir and start seeing the health benefits today!

For more on Kefir, you can check it out HERE

A WEEK OF HEALTHY EATING

HERE is an article with easy recipes and an easy to follow meal plan to help you get on track with your healthy eating/weight loss goals! Great for your health, your appearance, and your waist line!

It's always nice when the work is done for you, and thanks to this plan your entire menu for the week doesn't even take a second thought.

Happy eating :)

FOODS WITH PURPOSE

HERE is an article about foods you can eat to help improve specific aspects of your health. Good article, short and to the point. Here's a summary:

SKIN AND HAIR:
*Citrus fruits (for vitamin C)
*Tomatoes (for lycopene)
*Tofu (for soy protein)
*Flax (for omega 3 fatty acids)

EYES:
*Eggs
*Leafy Greens
*Broccoli
*Winter Squash
*Brussels Sprouts (all of these provide lutein and zeaxanthin)

BONES:
*Spinach & Broccoli (Vitamin D, Calcium, and Phosphorus together... good combo for bones!)
*Calcium-fortified Tofu

HEART:
*Whole Grains (for fiber)
*Fatty Fish (and Flax, for omega 3's)
*Fresh Fruits & Veggies (organic is even better!)

BRAIN:
*Flax (for omega 3's)
*Whole Grains (for fiber and minerals)
*Vitamin C, E, and Folate

WALNUTS FOR HEALTHY BREASTS

NEW research shows that walnuts may help reduce the risk of developing breast cancer!

Great ways to get walnuts into your diet include sprinkling them onto your salad, throwing a handful of ground walnuts into your risotto or brown rice, and adding a handful to some greek yogurt (or SOY YOGURT!).

On top of the cancer prevention, walnuts also have a TON of healthy fats that help to prevent hardening of the arteries and help to keep skin and hair glowing and healthy!

So snack away! Walnuts are yummy and their benefits are still being discovered!

LOW-COST, ECO-FRIENDLY BEAUTY

I have tried a TON of natural skincare products (and gone bankrupt in the process) and seen very few that actually work. So when I found a toner and moisturizer that ACTUALLY helped with my occasional pimples and reduced the prominence of my age spots (yep, already have some), I knew I had to share the news with anyone who would listen!

The brand Earth Science, you can check out their products HERE, is AMAZING!! Free of parabens, pthalates, and other harmful ingredients, these products cannot be beat! Not to mention my toner only costs $8.75!

I highly recommend the Clarifying Herbal Astringent (it's very gentle but effective), and the A/B Hydroxy Night Rejuvenator.




Oh, and if you have a moment, PLEASE CLICK ON OUR ADVERTISERS!! It helps to support the blog :)

HAIR AND SPEARMINT...

OK, this is crazy!
A study coming out of Turkey shows that women with excessive hair growth (facial, stomach, and/or chest) who drank two cups of Spearmint tea a day saw a noticeable decline in hair growth!

The cause? Spearmint blocks the effects of testosterone, which is often the culprit behind hirsutism (aka men's facial hair on a woman).

So throw away your hair bleaching agents and grab a couple of boxes of spearmint tea!

The article is available HERE

SWEET, GLOWING SKIN

If you dream of having glowing skin and want to reduce the look of cellulite, nothing works better than a basic sugar scrub. The problem with most body scrubs found in your local supermarket is that they either use exfoliating beads made from plastics (NOT biodegradable) and/or they are chock full of chemicals and parabens.

Parabens (methyl-, proply-, etc.) act as a weak estrogen in the human body and some studies suggest they may be linked to certain birth defects and cancers (breast in particular). Avoid parabens and increase the natural radiance of your skin by using a sugar scrub.

You can make one at home with a few drops of essential oil (or olive oil) and some Sugar in the Raw, or you can check out some of the natural and organic products mentioned HERE

By the way, Natural Health Magazine is my FAVORITE! If you want the latest and greatest information on natural health and beauty, you should seriously subscribe. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!