Youthful Glow

There are so many uses for coconut oil beyond cooking.  Coconut oil can cure dry skin almost overnight, try it on feet!  I have noticed a significant difference in my wrinkles when I regularly put coconut oil under my eyes.  Every morning and just before bed I apply coconut oil on the skin around my eyes.  It not only feels great, it has anti aging properties and I've noticed quite a difference in my skin after a few weeks.   I also use it as chapstick and makeup remover when necessary.

Hair & Hands Fix

Dry hair?  Dry hands?  Dry lips?   Try Coconut oil!  I like to put coconut oil with a drop of my favorite essential oil in my hands, rub together and smooth onto my hair.  This is a great trick if you're running late and don't have time to iron the hair.  The oil will shine and smooth without weighing it down.

 

The health benefits of coconut oil include hair care, skin care, stress relief, cholesterol level maintenance, weight loss, boosted immune system, proper digestion and regulated metabolism. It also provides relief from kidney problems, heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV, and cancer, while helping to improve dental quality and bone strength. These benefits of oil can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, and their respective properties, such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-fungal, antibacterial and soothing qualities.

http://www.organicfacts.net/organic-oils/organic-coconut-oil/health-benefits-of-coconut-oil.html

Fat Fixes Fat

Don't be scared of fat.  Enjoy oil, butter, bacon - are you weeping yet?  It's the opposite of what we were taught over the last 30 years.  There's new science blowing apart the low-fat, high carb theory.  I've spent 3 years explaining to people that they need to open their minds and consider what we now know.  Fat doesn't cause heart disease or high cholesterol.  Our brains need and thrive on fat - my concentration is much improved!  The low-fat theory has a shameful beginning - but the truth is out and a food revolution is taking place.

It has been an interesting experiment for me to talk about adding fat back into the diet.  I've seen people's outright unwillingness to even consider something contradictory to the textbook nutritionist (who hasn't learned anything NEW since college).

This website has fantastic resources and information for anyone wanting to learn more.  http://www.dietdoctor.com/science.  I'm not affiliated, just a fan of this great information.  There is nothing for sale, nothing to buy.  Enjoy watching the food revolution video - it is eye opening.  It will make you want to move to Sweden.

Acne Fix

For over 35 years I've had to deal with acne.  As a teenager it was a vanity, self-confidence issue.  As an adult, I felt it really held me back professionally from my full potential.   I 've tried all of the acne products varying from cheap to expensive, drug store to medically prescribed to specialty online vendors.  I even tried homeopathy cures from garlic to egg whites.  I avoided chocolate, fried foods and drank gallons of water - doing everything experts recommended.

For the past 3 years I changed my eating habits to low-carb, lost 50 pounds and felt great!!   My body, mental focus and attitude drastically improved.  Shockingly, my acne got worse on a diet full of extremely clean eating!  I reached out to a nutritional expert and she gave me surprising advice - to cut out dairy.  Being low-carb, cheese and whey protein had become a staple in my diet and it was a tall order to remove it.   I had nothing to lose so I cut out dairy.  Within 3 days, my acne had all but vanished!!  Within a dairy-free week, my skin was nearly beautiful.  So, every once in awhile, I test it - I have cream in my coffee, or sour cream on my dinner and sure enough, my acne returns within two days.  Bad, cystic acne that takes over a week to heal.  Huh!

I share this with you because in all my years of struggling with acne, no one ever mentioned dairy.  The many dermatologists I've visited, never asked me about my eating habits.  Topical ointments may be a band-aid to a food allergy that we're otherwise unaware of.  I had no other symptoms of a dairy issue and am still shocked that dairy was indeed to blame.  I hope I can save others from years of frustration.

Head Cold Fix

The common head cold is never a welcome visitor and mine arrived late last night.  I can't spare the time nor energy to not feel well this coming week and the resulting cough usually lingers for months.  I'm just NOT interested, so I went researching old world remedies.  Combining a few different ideas, I concocted my own elixir and can't believe how much better I felt after only 15 minutes. 

Naturally Me's Head Cold Cure:
Fresh ginger, grated, 1/4 cup-ish
64 oz. almost boiled water (more if this is too strong)
1 tbsp cayenne pepper
Juice of a lime
Stevia glycerite or sweetener of choice
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

Steep ginger in hot water for at least 15 minutes, strain and add the rest.  Drink it warm or add ice.    It's very Bloody-Mary like, if its too strong just add more water - but drink it all to move those toxins right out of the body.  My ears are draining while I write this, I feel incredibly good suddenly and I choose to not be sick! 

Patchouli

Essential oils are a language all their own and I'm always learning.   Known for its anti-stress and anti-depressant properties, Patchouli is an exotic aroma that people either love or hate.  On a stressful day, just one deep breath of patchouli can completely calm my brain all the way down through my spine.  It brings me back to my happy place and I can carry on.

Patchouli is an oil and be warned of its potency.  Wearing it often will become a part of the overall skin scent essence.  People love my scent and I don't have to apply the oil every day.  Every patchouli is different, seek until you score your favorite.