Virgin Coconut Oil is one of these very versatile oils that is good for you inside and out.  Let’s take a look at this oil

Origins:  Virgin Coconut Oil is the oil that is pressed or extracted from the fresh meat of the coconut.  It melts on the skin and smells of fresh coconuts.

Benefits:  There are three ways that virgin coconut oil can benefit you and your body.

• Cooking – yes, you can cook with virgin coconut oil and it will not make your food taste like coconuts.  It’s a great monounsaturated fat that can be used for frying (yes, you’re not supposed to fry food, but you know full well we sometimes do), in smoothies ( a great energy source) and in salad dressings.
• On the skin – Use it straight as a natrually scented massage oil or as a lotion for those dry spots.  I often use it to cleanse my skin and remove makeup and the environmental “dirt” from the day.  It’s a gentle cleanser that leaves your skin feeling great.  (Did I also say it smells good too?)
• On the hair – I use coconut oil as an “cold oil” treatment for my hair.  I slather on as much as possible, pop on a plastic cap and tie a bandanna around my hairline because the oil will run in your eyes (ask me how I know).  After about 20-30 min, I rinse my hair using warm water and a dab of shampoo, not too much -don’t want to rinse all that good oil out of my hair!  I also use it as a hair oil for mine and my children’s hair.

In my search for that magic eczema cream that would ease my daughter’s itching, as she had it much worse than my husband, her pediatrician directed me towards Eucerin, Vaseline as well as  hydrocortisone cream.  Reading the ingredients on these items was enough to make my hair stand on end – I’m not a big fan of mineral oil mixtures or petrolatum jelly.  Mind you, these two oils do have their uses, but in my opinion, they are not for regular use on the skin.

After much research, I found my own magic eczema cream that worked for my daughter and my husband.  The base of the eczeam cream was unrefined shea butter to which I added other oils such as soybean oil.  After using this natural eczema cream on my daughter’s legs and my husband arms, there was a marked improvement in the appearance of their skin.  Of course, I used this shea cream on my two sons also and their skin improved, even though they had no marked skin conditions.

As it stands, I have not purchased commercial lotions or eczema creams since I discovered my recipe!  Please understand that I don’t claim that this cream will cure your eczema – I’m just relating my own experience.

However, if you would like to try out my homemade eczema cream, take a look at http://sheabodybutter.net and try a product today!

Vitamin D can be derived naturally from the sun.   For the average person, spending as much at 10 to 20 minutes in the sun at least three times a week will fulfill their vitamin D requirements.  Keep in mind that people with darker skin need more sun exposure because the melanin in the skin tends to block vitamin D absorption.  In addition, those who live in an area which is north of Columbia, South Carolina’s latitude may not be exposed to enough sun during the winter months and may require supplementation.

Rutgers University, with campuses in New Brunswick and Newark, New Jersey is conducting an ongoing study in regards to how supplementation of vitamin D can halt and/or decrease bone loss in post-menopausal women who are dieting. Furthermore, recent studies have shown that keeping sufficient levels of vitamin D may aid in weight loss.

Even though vitamin D supplements may keep the body healthy and may be natural, more does not always mean better.  An overdose of vitamin D may cause kidney damage, high blood pressure and heart arrhythmia.    If you suspect that you may have a vitamin D deficiency, check with your doctor or other medical professional to get an official diagnosis.

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The omega-3 fatty acids in the fish oil may help brain cells repair themselves and remain intact – while the actual cause of schizophrenia is not known, researchers speculate that people with this particular type of mental illness do not process fatty acids properly, which may lead to damage of the brain cells.

The research was funded by the Stanley Medical Research Institute, a nonprofit in Chevy Chase, Md., that supports research on schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Omega-3 fatty acids help to reduce inflammation in the body while omega-6 fatty acids tend to promote inflammation.  The average American diet contains nearly 14-25 more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 fatty acids.  On the other hand, the Mediterranean diet has a much more healthy balance between the two fatty acids – it does not depend so heavily on meat, but relies on foods higher in omega-3 fatty acids such as fish, olive oil, and garlic in addition to wines.

However, one can still raise their consumption of omega-3 fatty acids without much change in diet through the use of fish oil supplements.  Not only does omega-3 reduce inflammation in the body, but also may help lower the risk of diseases such as cancer, heart disease and arthritis as well as skin conditions such as eczema.

If you do decide to take fish oil supplements, remember to look for high quality fish oils that are screened for mercury contaminants.  And as always, consult a medical professional who can provide you with individualized information.

It’s never too early to begin thinking about how to boost your immune system against the germs that swirl around us everyday.  People who come in contact with large numbers of people every day and families of school children should be especially vigilant when to comes to preventing the spread of germs and boosting their body’s defenses.  There are several ways to do this, including hand washing and covering your cough or sneeze.  However, it is also advisable to boost one’s immune system to present a strong defense against those germy invaders.

Following are three foods that are good immune system boosters and keep you strong against winter colds. The best thing is that many of these items are either easy to get or already in your kitchen!

Apple Juice – Remember the old adage that an apple a day keeps the doctor away?  Apple juice contains a type of antioxidant called polyphenols, which are thought to provide health benefits such as anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties.  However, steer clear of the clear apple juice.  Cloudy apple juice contains more polyphenols than the clear because it has not been strained and some solids still remain.  Eating the apple itself is also a good immune system booster, plus you get fiber from the pulp of the fruit.

Tea – According to Prevention magazine, drinking at least five cups a day of either green or black tea is a good immune system booster.  Both green and black tea contain the amino acid L-theanine, which boosts immunity.

Garlic – Garlic and garlic supplements contain a compound called allicin, which had antimicrobial as well as antiviral properties which may serve to fight off an attack of the common cold.  In addition, if you happen to get a cold while using a garlic supplement, the duration of the cold symptoms may be shorter and the symptoms less severe. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) the recommended daily dosage is 2-5 grams fresh garlic, up to 1.2 grams of garlic powder or up to 1,000 milligrams of extract – whatever formulation that equals 2 to 5 milligrams of allicin daily.

These are just a few of the immune system boosters that you may take this winter to fight off germs.  Keep hands clean and remember if you do feel sick, try to limit contact with others to avoid spreading more germs.

Most Americans are bogged down with chronic diseases and illnesses due to a huge amount of heavy toxins in their bodies. These toxins enter the body through the following methods: (1) When you consume the chemicals, preservatives, pesticides, heavy metals, and growth hormones that are found in the American diet; (2) when you apply personal care products that are heavily burdened with harsh chemicals to your skin, hair, and mouth (i.e. your tooth paste); and (3) when you breath in toxic fumes from cars, airplanes, cleaning supplies, cigarette smoke, and indoor air pollution from gas emissions via your carpet, mattress, and many other furnishings and building materials. So now that these toxins are showing up in human tissue samples, what can you do to eliminate them from your body short of living in a bubble?

One of the best ways to eliminate toxins from your body is to do a detoxification. Just like your car, your body needs to eliminate all of the sluggish slime that has accumulated throughout the years, and get replenished with fuel that will promote energy, vitality, and health. Dr. Don Colbert, a medical doctor with preventative medicine training, says that one of the best ways to detoxify your body is with the following diet:

Avoid these foods:
Sugars- including honey
Wheat products (pasta, breads, bagels, and processed cereals), chips and corn
All processed foods- refined foods, fast foods, fried foods, animal skins, preserved meats, and fatty meats
Alcohol, coffee, sodas, dark teas, and chocolate
Hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils or trans fats

You can consume a small amount of these foods:
Skinless, extra lean free-range poultry and meats
If you must have dairy-eat plain yogurt, cheese made with skim milk, and/or organic butter sparingly. You can also drink skim milk and kefir sparingly

You can consume as much of these foods as you like:
Organic vegetables and fruits
Extra-virgin olive oil
Brown rice and wild rice
Raw, fresh nuts and seeds (avoid peanuts and cashews)
Flaxseed oil, evening primrose oil, black currant seed oil, borage oil, and fish oil
Garlic and onions
Filtered water with fresh squeezed lemon or lime (about two quarts daily)
Freshly juiced vegetable and fruit juices (you will need a juicer)
Green tea and other herbal teas
Green super foods or just take chlorella.

You should follow this diet for 14 days to adequately prepare your liver to do its job of detoxifying your body. Moreover, you will be slowly detoxifying during these 14 days so that your liver can handle the toxins and eliminate them efficiently when you do your juice fast on day 15. If you do not do this, you will run the risk of recirculating the toxins back into your blood stream because your liver will not be able to handle the excessive amount of toxins being eliminated. When toxins recirculate back into your blood stream, they can cause more damage to your cells, which promotes more sickness.

On the 15th day, do a juice fast of freshly juiced fruit and vegetables juices with chlorella or a green super food and drink plenty of water also. If you thoroughly follow the diet for the first 14 days, your liver will be ready to handle the amount of toxins that will be eliminated on day 15 when you do the juice fast.

After day 15, you should slowly resume the previous diet starting with fruits and vegetables and gradually work your way up to the dairy and meats. This step allows your body to gradually prepare to eat your regular diet again. Although this diet requires four weeks of discipline and determination; the payoff is well worth the sacrifice.

You will be amazed at the following results:

• Your brain will be completely clear (you probably don’t even know that you have brain fog);
• Your skin will be radiant;
• You will feel very happy (this diet eliminates depression);
• You will have more energy than you ever imagined possible;
• You will reverse many medical conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, some chronic aches and pains, migraine headaches, psoriasis and eczema, autoimmune diseases, and heart disease;
• You will lose enough weight to reduce your dressor pants size; and
• You will have an increased libido.

This detoxification diet is a safe diet; however, please note that you should not stop taking your prescribed medications. Therefore, you will have to monitor your blood pressure and blood sugar regularly. If you see that your blood pressure or blood sugar levels are dropping, consult with your doctor regarding reducing your medication dosage while on the diet. Lastly, if you have psoriasis or eczema you should eat vegetables that are right for your nutritional blood type to get the maximum results.

References:

Colbert, Don. (2001). Toxic Relief. Florida. Siloam-A Strange Company.

Homemade Remedies for Skin

Your skin plays an important role in your life.  Not only does the skin protect our bodies and our internal organs, the skin has a great impact on our appearance and how others see us.  Because of this, most of us are constantly on the watch for ways to improve our skin or repair skin damage such as rashes, sun damage, eczema issues or dry skin.  Although there are a countless number of easily available skincare products that claim effortless skin repair, there are also many natural skin remedies that can safely give you comparable effects for a fraction of the cost.

Here are a few of the common epidermal concerns that many of us suffer and the homemade remedies:

Dry flaky skin – Proteins, vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin E and vitamin C can assist with peeling skin by providing the body with requisite nutrients and oils. Salmon, eggs, carrots, milk, cheese, green vegetables, and citrus fruits should be consumed on a daily basis in order to provide the body with the vitamins and minerals it needs.  Juices can also be used for further nutrients, but make sure they are pure juice with no added sugars!

Eczema  – The skin condition eczema can be harmful on several different levels because it often brings about the irrepressible urge to scratch.   This can result raw or scraped skin, which may increase the chances of developing an infection.   I recall when my little girl had terrible eczema breakouts.  I would see where her little nails had
scratched into her tender skin.   Taking 1000 mg of flaxseed oil daily can offer protection against eczema occurences.  Certainly, keeping the affected area moisturized with oils and/or butters such as coconut oil or olive oil will also help.

Razor burn  -  The easiest way to avoid razor burn is by careful shaving.    Warm water should be used first to help soften the hairs, making shaving easier.  Using shaving soap or gel is a must, as it can help the razor to glide over the facial skin, resulting in less nicks and cuts.  If razor burn does develop, crush a few strawberries and mix them with one tablespoon of sour cream.  This mixture should be applied to the affected area and left on for 10 to 15 minutes.  Apply daily until the razor burn is no longer an issue.  Surely, if you are sensitive to strawberries, this remedy should not be tried! Add some sugar to the leftover portion and you’ve got a neat dessert!

Sunburn  – There are a few of homemadecures that may minimize the pain from a harmful sunburn.  Aloe Vera gel, which is readily available in drug stores, is one of the most familiar natural remedies for sunburn.  Apply the aloe vera gel to the painful area.  Or you might try the cucumber and milk natural remedy:  Place slices of raw cucumbers to the burned area for relief and a reduction in skin inflammation.  Soak a napkin or washrag in milk and gently place on to the skin.  Milk tends to have a calming effect on irritated skin.

Dry skin – A squashed ripe banana is a perfect way to alleviate dry skin on the face and neck.  Though it will work on the entire body, it might get a bit messy.  Other easy ways to remedy dry skin on the entire body are taking a milk bath (use the dry milk that comes in packets) once or twice a month or the addition of oils to the bath such as olive or avocado oil.

Fruits and vegetables have a season, just as your healthy snacks should have a season. Although fruit

Image via Wikipedia

juice popsicles are a great snack, no one wants that in the dead of winter. Instead, try granola bars, cheese, grapes and whole fiber crackers along with 100% juice. Store these healthy items in individual serving sizes in a zipper bag to easily hand out. You can also create your own healthy trail mix – since my daughter is allergic to many nuts, I only use almonds and all my children enjoy my mixture of whole grain pretzel nuggets, goldfish crackers, dried banana chips, almonds and semi sweet chocolate chips.

If you don’t have the time to create your healthy snacks, many supermarkets have a bulk food section as well as individually packaged trail mixes and granola bars. Just be sure to read the label so that you approve of all the ingredients.

Eating healthy is not difficult, but does take some planning. Rest assured that the extra effort you put into creating or purchasing healthy snack foods for your children will pay off in the future in good eating habits.

Asthma can restrict activities

It’s difficult when children suffer from asthma. Because of breathing difficulties, it may keep them from participating in sports or even sideline them from gym class or recess. Living more naturally may be the key to improving your child’s asthma condition and send him or her on his way to a new lifestyle.  Natural remedies for asthma can be used in the case of moderate to mild asthma. Please, however, check with your doctor or other medical professional before eliminating any prescribed medication. Asthma is a serious condition and should not be treated lightly. If your child uses an emergency inhaler, it is best to keep this with him at all times, just in case.

Some of the most common natural remedies for asthma start from the “inside out”, that is, one can take supplements or modify one’s diet to improve the condition. Taking fish oil supplements, which are high in Omega 3 fatty acids, is a good start. Omega 3 is an anti-inflammatory and may serve to naturally shrink the swelling of the bronchial tubes.

Omega-3 Fish Oil Free Bottle Offer. Order Now.

Vitamin C, when taken in appropriate doses for the age and weight of the child, is a natural antihistamine and may serve to squelch the allergens that may trigger an asthma attack. Vitamin C also acts as an antioxidant. If you are living naturally, using Vitamin C is a must!

Finally, essential oils such as lavender and eucalyptus may also alleviate the collection of mucus in the bronchial tubes and keep those breathing passages clear. (As a wanna-be natural mom, lavender and eucalyptus are staples in my essential oil aresenal.)  Whenever you use essential oils, they must NOT be applied to the skin unless you dilute them with a carrier oil such as vegetable oil, canola oil or other carrier oil. Mix a few drops of these oils with at least a tablespoon of carrier oil and rub on the chest and back. This treatment may be especially effective for preventing middle of the night attacks.

Hopefully, these natural remedies for asthma will be incorporated in your everyday life. Continue on your journey to living naturally!

So what to do when you turn the television off? For younger children, this is the time to engage them in various activities that they may do on their own when they get older. As a mother of three children 5 and under, this is a time when I can play with them while also teaching. Following are the games and activities that I use with them.  Most, if not all of these games can be purchased from your local Target, Walmart, and of course ToysRus.

CandyLand – (Standard version) I purchased the original version of CandyLand with no special characters. This is a simple game that everyone, even my 2 -year old can play with assistance. The color cards indicate where the player is to move and the picture cards move them backwards or forward on the board. By playing this game, children learn about taking turns and good sportsmanship. The game itself is inexpensive (under $10.00) and is easy to set up and play.

Chutes and Ladders – This game is perfect for my four year old and my five year old as it has little “lessons” included in the game. In addition, it teaches counting as well as good sportsmanship. Although it is a game of chance, where the players are depended on the spinner to determine where to move, the pictures on the board give lessons – don’t play in the rain without your boots, or you’ll catch a cold/ clean up your room and you’ll get a reward, etc. You can discuss these lessons with your children as you play the game.

The Memory Game/Concentration – This is the simplest of all. Lay out the cards face down and each player turns over two at a time. The object is to get matching pairs. This game not only improves memory (especially mine) but also improves players’ focus and decision making skills. Again, I purchased the generic Memory Game without any television tie-ins.

Mancala– A game that can be as hard or as easy as the players make it. I’ve played this game with my son and my husband, and lost many times! It’s easy to play, but difficult to win. Mancala Gameplay.

I was able to purchase all of these games at Target. You may also find these games at a TJMaxx or Marshalls, and if all else fails you can purchase them online. Here’s wishing you great game playing!