health and Beauty 4Ever

Mashed Cauliflower Mashed Cauliflower Submitted by: Whole Foods Market Serves 4 Mashed cauliflower tastes similar to mashed potatoes but with fewer carbs. Top with chopped herbs and grated cheese if you like. Ingredients 1 medium head cauliflower, trimmed and cut into small florets (about 6 to 7 cups) 1 to 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil or butter Sea salt and ground black pepper to taste and 1 tsp garlic powder Method Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add cauliflower and cook until very tender, about 10 minutes. Reserve 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid and then drain well and transfer cauliflower to a food processor. Add oil and reserved water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and puree until smooth. (Or, mash cauliflower with a potato masher). Season with salt and pepper and serve. Nutrition Per serving: 110 calories (80 from fat), 9g total fat, 1g saturated fat, 0mg cholesterol, 330mg sodium, 8g total carbohydrate (3g dietary f...

Meet Your Maca Marc h 21 · Kitchen Oysters, strawberries, chocolate and... maca? Yep, add this superfood to your list of aphrodisiacs. Maca's a root plant traditionally used for medicinal purposes to enhance stamina, endurance and sex drive, and it's showing up on health food store shelves all over the place. The so-called superfood (available as a pill, liquid or powder) has a strong nutritional profile of vitamins and nutrients that support brain function and regulate hormones. More of maca’s exciting benefits? Get it on: Some studies show that maca may increase sexual desire and may actually increase fertility in men. Energize for your workout: Those who use maca regularly swear by its ability to increase stamina and endurance and build muscle mass. Boost your mood: In menopausal women, maca has been shown to to reduce depression and increase sexual function.

Salsa Naranja (Orange Salsa) I came across the idea of a salsa naranja, an orange salsa, on Kogi BBQ a while ago and it sounded really good! More recently I came across a recipe for the salsa naranja on Chow while searching for something else and decided that I would have to try it! In addition to the Mexican influences this salsa also has Korean and Thai aspects that really make it shine! The salsa naranja starts out with a base of sweet chili sauce and orange juice and builds up the flavour base with garlic, ginger, plenty of fresh herbs, chilies is several different forms and it is finishes off with sesame seeds. Don't let the long list of ingredients fool you as once you have them all assembled all you need to do is puree them in a food processor and it is well worth making. I have to say that this is one amazing salsa! It is sweet and spicy, full of flavour and all of the herbs give it a fatastic freshness that will have you eating it b...

Does Soy Have a Dark Side? By Kaayla T. Daniel, PhD, CCN KindredCommunity.com Over the past two decades, soy has been widely promoted as a ‘miracle’ food that can prevent heart disease, fight cancer, fan away hot flashes and build strong bones and bodies in far more than 12 ways. Sales of soy foods topped $4 billion in the USA for the first time in 2004, with most segments of the industry reporting double-digit growth.  Although such growth has mostly slowed, sales aren’t reducing and the soy industry has been stepping up its marketing of products all over the world. The marketing of soy as a ‘health food’ has been so successful that few people realize that respected scientists have warned that possible benefits should be weighed against proven risks. Even researchers working for the soy industry have admitted to each other at soy symposia that the ‘marketing is way ahead of the science’. Fortunately, the ‘whole...

How to make your own DIY perfume by Ruth Balfe Making your own DIY perfume is easy and inexpensive, and sure beats spending money to smell like everyone else. Learn how to choose from the 5 perfume categories, choose your perfume notes and oils, and put it all together. Viva the handmade movement. What you'll need to make your own perfume: A notebook and pen Fragrance oils Mixing/measuring cups Jojoba oil or Sweet Almond oil Pipettes Cotton wool pads Perfume bottles Patience ;) Make your perfume with fragrance oils not essential oils In this tutorial we’re going to use Fragrance oils rather than essential oils. You need to know what you’re doing with essential oils - they can cause health problems if used incorrectly, and frankly an itchy rash is a hard look to pull off. Fragrance oils are widely available online, and in some bath and body or craft shops too: hit up Google and see what you can find. The other reason for using fragrance oi...

What is Fenugreek? Fenugreek (also known as Greek Hay and Fenigreek), is an herb that is commonly found growing in the Mediterranean region of the world. While the seeds and leaves are primarily used as a culinary spice, it is also used to treat a variety of health problems in Egypt, Greece, Italy, and South Asia. Fenugreek seeds have been found to contain protein, vitamin C, niacin, potassium, and diosgenin (which is a compound that has properties similar to estrogen). Other active constituents in fenugreek are alkaloids, lysine and L-tryptophan, as well as steroidal saponins (diosgenin, yamogenin, tigogenin, and neotigogenin). What are the Benefits of Fenugreek? Due to its estrogen-like properties, fenugreek has been found to help increase libido and lessen the effect of hot flashes and mood fluctuations that are common symptoms of menopause and PMS. In India and China it has also been used to treat arthritis, asthma, bronchitis, improve dig...

What is Grape Seed Oil? Grape Seed Extract and its oil is derived from the seeds of a grape. Due to their nutritional and medicinal properties grapes, their seeds, and leaves have been used in many home remedies for centuries. Grape Seed Oil is a great source of polyphenols - flavonoids, Essential Fatty Acid - linoleic acid, vitamin E, and oligomeric proanthocyanidin. These great components make grape seed extract an asset in the treatment of many minor to severe health conditions. It has also been used in the production of massage oils and balms, hair and hygienic products, face and body moisturizers, as well as in sunblocks and sunburn ointments. What are the Benefits of Grape Seed Oil? Studies suggest that Grape Seed Oil and its Extract constitute anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-histamine, anti-aging, anti-allergic, antimicrobial, and adaptogenic activity. Therefore, it has been beneficial in the treatment of a number of health...

Signs and Symptoms of Age Spots Age spots (also known as sun spots, liver spots, and lentigines), are harmless, flat, yellow or brown discolorations of the skin which usually occur on the back of the hands, neck and face of people above the age of 40. These age spots are usually not serious, but instead are mainly an annoyance since they can reveal a person's age. However, if you have irregular, dark spots that increase in size or change color/texture, have them checked by a doctor since they could be a sign of skin cancer. Causes of Age Spots Age spots are commonly a sign of sun damage by having the skin exposed to the sun over many years. In more serious situations, they can be due to impaired liver function or dietary and nutritional deficiencies. For example, as we age, our metabolism changes and the liver can become overwhelmed with toxins. If the liver cannot rid the body of these toxins, age spots (liver spots) can begin to...

What is Chamomile? Chamomile is an herb that comes from a flowering plant from the daisy family. Both the fresh and dried flowers of chamomile have been used to create teas for centuries to cure a number of health problems. The active ingredient in chamomile essential oil is known as bisabolol , which has a number of anti-irritant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial properties. What are the Benefits of Chamomile? Chamomile can be used topically or orally to treat a number of everyday ailments, such as: Insomnia and other sleep disorders Anxiety and Panic Attacks Muscle twitches Wounds, burns, and scrapes Skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, chickenpox, and diaper rash Stomach problems such as menstrual cramps, stomach flu, and ulcers Uses of Chamomile Home Remedy for Stomach Cramps Chamomile has been found to contain fairly strong antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory constituents. Therefore, it ...

 Natural Beauty Tips & Recipes Former model Dawn Gallagher realized beauty from nature was the best recipe for her and she set out to make it available to everybody. By: Gerit Quealy Natural Beauty: As Within So Without Ingredients for these recipes are usually edible; yogurt and papaya can make skin glow both topically and internally. This recipe for a Home Fruit-Acid Peel is from Dawn Gallagher's Nature's Beauty Secrets : Many fruits contain AHAs, so pick from the following list: apple, grape, grapefruit, lemon, orange, papaya, mango, pear, pineapple, or tomato. Step 1: Peel, pit or core, and mash the fruit in a bowl. Add a few teaspoons of cream, buttermilk, or yogurt (all lactic acids), mixing & matching to find the best formula for your skin. If your skin is dry, add a few drops of honey or oil to the mixture. Step 2: Apply to your face, leave on 10 - 15 minutes (if using papaya juice, leave on only 5 minutes). Step 3: Rinse wit...

The 3rd Chakra – The Navel Chakra – Manipura The Third Chakra is associated with fire The Manipura Chakra is located in the navel center or the abdomen. This chakra is associated with the element fire and it represents will, power, digestion and assertiveness. The 1st chakra is solid. The 2nd chakra is change and movement. When solid matter is rubbed together using movement , the result is fire and energy – just as two sticks rubbed together create a fire. The Navel chakra represents transformation and overcoming inertia. It has been called the “fire in the belly.” This fire, or will power, gives us the energy to change, grow, and act in our lives. We were given a form or a vehicle (our body) as represented by the 1st chakra. We were also given the ability to move and change, as represented by the 2nd chakra. The third chakra gives us the intelligence, spark and power to move our bodies into action. This chakra is associated with the color yellow . The colo...

 Natural Beauty Tips & Recipes Natural Beauty: Claymation Here's Dawn Gallagher 's adaptation of a Costa Rican mud treatment that will make your skin feel toned and restored to its natural glow. Fuller's earth, volcanic clay, or green clay (found at health-food stores and pharmacies) 1 tsp avocado or vegetable oil Add one part clay to one part water in a ceramic bowl. Mix together. Add 1 tsp avocado or vegetable oil and apply to face and/or body with a small paintbrush or your hands. Leave on until completely dry (about 10 - 15 minutes). Wash off with warm or tepid water. Finish with a cold splash.

How to End Dieting for Good with Yoga By Katrina Love Senn As a yoga teacher, I frequently get asked if yoga can help people break free of dieting trap so that they can start to lose weight for good. What many of my yoga students don’t realize is that I used to struggle with emotional eating. 12 years ago, I was 60 pounds overweight. Yoga has helped me to lose this extra weight and keep it off for good. In my book, ‘ Losing Weight is a Healing Journey ’ I share more about the role yoga played in my own weight loss transformation. Here are 3 ways that yoga can help with losing weight… 1. Yoga relaxes your body and mind. Being overweight is an indicator that something is out of balance in your life. Excess stress is a big factor that contributes to excess weight. Last year, when I was teaching a yoga retreat in Italy, Deborah, a participant from California told me she lost almost 10 pounds over the week. I asked her what made the difference. She respon...

10 Easy Recipes for Flavoring Kombucha Flavor Flav wants more flavor from his Kombucha! One of the funnest (yes, I said funnest) things about Kombucha is inventing new flavors . I am a prolific experimenter; from exotic South American super foods to seasonal fruit to healing herbal blends , I continue to push my creative boundaries. However, improving the flavor is not the only reason for adding these healthy elements to your Kombucha . That’s because the healing properties, anti-oxidants and other vitamins & minerals present in the flavoring agents are also passed on to you in the final beverage . Allowing the flavored bottles to condition outside the fridge gives the KT a chance to soak up the goodness and get extra bubbly (watch out for too much built up carbonation). Have you ever noticed that a piece of fruit such as strawberry or blueberry loses all of its color and turns mushy when left in a bottle of KT ? That’s because the Kombucha sucks out ...