Two Loves: Argan Oil and Abe’s Natural Market

18 Jul

Obviously, we are fans of Argan oil and its benefits. It is a star ingredient in several of our products. So, we were happy to see when it got some star treatment on Abe’s Market online magazine: “5×5: 5 Reasons to Love Argan Oil.”  http://bit.ly/W8p8qN.

And we were very proud to have one of our serums chosen to be featured.  Thanks Abe’s!

Head over to Abe’s for all your natural products and pick up some Yum Scrub Organics while you are there. :)  http://www.abesmarket.com/.  Also, in coming months check out their online magazine as we contribute to it with skincare articles.

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Food as Medicine: A Prescription for Clearing Acne

5 Jun

We have become so focused on satiating the tastes buds with fast, salty, sweet, and processed foods that we have forgotten the purpose of food: Food is medicine for the body. This concept seems to have become lost in both modern medicine and in our culture.

Rind of orange cutaway in spiral shape

It is not just that we have forgotten the purpose of food. Our minds have become conditioned and in some ways addicted to eating foods low in nutrients, but high in satiating the taste buds and giving us emotional comfort. Eating like this when you have acne or any disease impedes the body’s ability to heal because you choose low nutrient-filled foods.

Low nutrient-filled foods do not have what it takes for the body to heal acne. As a result, maintaining clear skin is a constant battle as you yo-yo from one remedy to another with perhaps temporary results, but with no lasting results. Poor nutrition can also acerbate and contribute to the cause of acne.

Coconut Milk Fruit ShakeBy the way, nutrient rich foods also satiate the taste buds and emotions. It is a matter of becoming aware of your diet and adapting your mind to a different way of eating. Once you do, you will wonder how you ever ate any other way.

When the body is diseased in some way (acne is a disease), it needs all the nutrients it can get to heal. The current western diet that most people eat is for the most part nutritiously poor. The other problem with our misdirected perception of food and its purpose comes from the medical establishment. Many dermatologists and other doctors say there is no connection between acne and diet. They are wrong…period.Spinach

Their heads are in the sand. Hello! Scurvy is from a lack of vitamin C; rickets is from a deficiency in vitamin D, and some cases of blindness are caused by vitamin A defieiciencyy. So, logic dictates that if these diseases are cured or prevented when the body is supplied with them then food is medicine for the body and will help with other diseases.

The food, however, has to be nutrient rich. Food is not created equal when it comes to nutrients. The long-held misconception is that if we are eating then we must be getting the nutrients we need. Wrong thinking.

If your diet consists of food from fast food chains, out of boxes, foods processed with chemicals, pizza, pasta, soda (including diet), sugary drinks and food, then you are not getting enough nutrients need to clear your skin of acne. You need whole foods in your diet; foods that are fresh.

DSC_0044For way too long, the role of nutrition in clearing skin has been sorely neglected or ignored. However, there is a growing number of enlightened doctors who are teaching their patients that food is medicine. Nutrient rich food helps to prevent disease and aids in the body in maintaining homeostasis. Food as medicine for acne is very important because the body not only needs nutrients to maintain its balance; it also needs them to heal the skin at the same time. The nutrients are doing double duty.

It really is impossible to have great looking skin without proper nutrition. Besides individual choices when choosing what to eat, there are contributing elements that are creating detrimental consequences to the nutritional health of the country. More on this in the next post. For now, if you have acne take a hard look at your diet.

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In the News: Strange Phenomenon in Yoga Studios

1 Apr

Yes we are a bath and body company, yumscrub.com, and our blogs usually focus on those things related to it.  But, Yum Scrub Organics’ founder, Denise, is also a yoga teacher.  She found this article in the San Jose Post so alarming she thought we should share it in case you or anyone you know practices yoga – just to be prepared.

A new unexplainable phenomenon is happening to yoga students in yoga classes in California and apparently spreading eastward.

It began a couple of weeks ago in a class at the Mudhatama Yoga Studio in San Jose, California while students were doing cat and cow pose.  Cat/cow is a movement done on the hands and knees. Students flex their spine by moving from rounding it to extending it. It is called cat/cow because the rounding of the spine resembles a frightened cat, and the extending of the spine where the belly drops down looks like a cow. This time though the poses took on a life of their own. Students involuntarily began to meow and moo spontaneously.

The teacher, Josh Riddel, sensed right away that something was wrong–that this was no game.  He said he felt chills go up and down his spine at the sound because they were so realistic.  Riddel could see by the bewilderment and fright on the students’ faces that something strange was going on.  The sounds stopped when the class of about 24 students moved from cat/cow to sitting.

After the students calmed down, Riddel asked if they could explain what happened. The students could not explain.  They all reported the same experience: Something uncontrollable came over them, and the meows and moos emanated from their mouths on their own volition.  Several of the students were so frightened they began to sob while others laughed it off as part of the yoga experience.

Riddel asked for student volunteers to go back into cat/cow to see if the sounds would emanate from them again.  Several students did volunteer, and once again they all meowed and mooed.  He had no explanation to give his students.  It didn’t end there.  Other teachers at the yoga studio reported the same sensations were happening in their classes.  And soon, posts on social media showed that the meowing and mooing were not limited to this one studio.  Like a virus, it had spread to other yoga studios all over California.

Some gurus are saying that this is merely students embodying the essence of the pose.  “I know that yoga is to transform me.  But I don’t know if I’m ready to be transformed into a cat or cow even if cows are sacred in India.  Well…besides we aren’t in India, and I’d probably get eaten here in the U.S.  This is what has become of me since that day; I make no sense at all when I speak.  This whole experience has ungrounded me,” said Flo Hardy, a yoga student in Riddel’s class.

Since the San Jose Post broke the story, many students are staying away from yoga classes while other people who have never done yoga are flocking to them.  They want to have what they see as a once in a lifetime experience.  During the full moon in March, many yoga classes were held outside so students could meow/moo at the moon…a yoga version of howling at the moon.

The SJP interviewed medical personnel in various fields to see if they could offer any insights or explanations, but no one as been able to identify a cause.  Strangely, it is only happening in yoga classes and only with the cat/cow movement. Students are not barking in downward facing dog………not yet.  Also, teachers are not affected, and individuals practicing at home do not report the same experience.

Some speculate that maybe a mass Kundalini awakening or enlightenment is happening, and others say it is a sign that points to the birth of the aquarius age.  The aquarius age, which humanity is in the beginning stages, is said to cause consciousness rising. Unsettling consequences can happen to those not prepared for higher levels of consciousness in this new age, Dr. Shaman Mee, director of Spirit Rising explains. Whether it is related no one knows for sure–all is speculation.  What is known, however, is that the phenomenon is not just isolated to California.

It is moving east.  Reports of the Meow Moo Mantra, as it is now being called, are coming in from Oregon, Washington State, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Arizona, and Colorado.  Since it seems to be spreading like a virus, it’s only a matter of time that yoga studios nationwide may be affected.

If you or someone you know practices yoga, all that we can tell you to do is:

 

 Have a Happy April Fool’s Day!

Love and Light to All~

Denise & Mackenzie

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Yum Friday Recipe: Roasted Vegetables

15 Mar
Roasted Carrots, Beets & Sweet Potatoes

Roasted Carrots, Beets & Sweet Potatoes

We tell you over and over, eat your veggies for healthy, beautiful skin. So, maybe you have been including more of them, but have become bored with raw or steamed vegetables.  We’ve got good news for you.  Roasting vegetables livens their taste; it is very easy to do, and it is a great way to maintain their nutrient value. Roasting is also a good for trying vegetables you may have not liked in the past.  It is also easy to add herbs/seasonings to the vegetables for even more and varied flavors.  We have a few flavorful suggestions at the end of the recipe.

Yum Roasted Vegetables – serves 4        Oven: 425 degrees

4 cups of vegetables–cut into about 2 inch pieces (broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, potatoes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, brussel sprouts, carrots, mushrooms, beets, parsnips, onions – you get the idea.)
3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (or any quality oil, such as coconut or peanut)
1 minced garlic clove or 1 tsp organic garlic powder
Salt/pepper to taste

Clean and cut vegetables.  Put oil, garlic, salt and pepper in a bowl.  Add vegetables and toss vegetables in the bowl to coat with oil.
Place vegetables on a baking sheet.  Bake until soft/crisp and slightly brown – about 10-12 min.

Suggestions:
You may need to experiment with the time and oven temperature because ovens vary.

Roast vegetables at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes.  This is a way to have roasted vegetables without the browning.

A mixture of different vegetables can be roasted at the same time.  Just make sure they are similar in texture so they are done at the same time.  For example, roast carrots, potatoes, brussel sprouts on the same baking sheet, but asparagus and scallions will need to be baked separately.

Try seasoning with different herbs.  Try these herbs: thyme, rosemary, oregano, basil, fennel, sage, curry, or freshly grated ginger or nutmeg, etc.  Mix herbs in with olive oil mixture.  Combine different herbs together.

Add a tablespoon of fresh squeezed lemon juice or lime juice to the olive oil mixture.  The juice can also be tossed on vegetables after cooking.

Balsamic or champagne vinegar added to the olive oil mixture or tossed with baked vegetables adds a nice dimension to the flavor.

Grate a few tablespoons of Parmesan cheese on top of roasted vegetables immediately after they come out of the oven.  Or top roasted vegetables with a couple tablespoons of feta or goat cheese.

Allow vegetables to come to room temperature and mix with greens for a salad.

Grill vegetables on an outdoor grill.  May need to cut vegetables larger if grilling directly on grill, or place in a grill pan.

 About the Recipe’s Nutrients

Without going into detail about all the different vegetables, suffice to say that fresh vegetables are incredibly healthy.  Roasting or grilling them also helps to maintain their highest nutrient value as compared to cooking them in water.  We say this over and over, and we will say it again: To have healthy, beautiful skin you need to eat fresh vegetables on a daily basis.

ENJOY!!

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Yum Friday Recipe: Golden Sweet Potato and Cilantro Hummus

15 Jun

Yum Recipe: Golden Sweet Potato & Cilantro Hummus

This hummus was inspired by one served at a friend’s barbeque on Memorial Day.  I raved about it so much my friend gave me some to take home with me.  The next morning I made one of my favorite breakfasts with it.  I take a rice cake, spread on some hummus, add a couple slices of avocado, tomato, and onion. Mmmmmm.  And it’s so skin helpful.  My friend served the sweet potato hummus as a dip with some crackers.

Yum Recipe: Golden Sweet Potato & Cilantro Hummus on Rice Cake

I changed out the copper-skinned sweet potatoes she used for golden (pale-skinned) sweet potatoes.  They aren’t as sweet.  Also, they absorb the color of the other ingredients more readily.  So, when the cilantro is added to the hummus it turns a nice green. 

Yum Recipe: Golden Sweet Potato & Cilantro Hummus

What I had most fun with in making this recipe was  serving it.  While looking for something different to serve it in, I remembered the old China tea and dessert set I bought at a garage sale a few months ago.  I haven’t had a chance to put them to much use.  So, I decided to serve the hummus in the teacups with the vegetables and crackers surrounding it on the saucers and dessert plates. 

Yum Recipe: Sweet Potato & Cilantro Hummus

Yum Recipe: Golden Sweet Potato and Cilantro Hummus

1 ½ pound pale sweet potato
½ cup packed fresh cilantro minus coarse stems
1 ½ Tablespoon tahini (sesame oil paste)
1 ½ cloves garlic coarsely chopped
3 Tablespoon fresh lime juice
3 teaspoon pepper sauce (optional) i.e. Franks Red Hot Sauce
1/4 to 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
Salt to taste
Olive oil for drizzling.

Wash sweet potatoes.  Pierce with knife or fork.  Bake 350 degrees 45 – 60 min., depending on the size.  Allow them to cool to touch.  Peel off skin of sweet potatoes.  They can also be cut in half and the flesh scooped out.  Place the sweet potatoes in a food processor.  Process sweet potatoes for a few seconds until they start to become mashed.  Stop the food processor.  Add cilantro, tahini, garlic, lime juice, pepper sauce, salt and process again.  Pour olive oil in a stream through the lid opening.  Use enough olive oil to make a creamy hummus.  Continue to process until hummus is smooth and ingredients are well blended.  After moving to serving container, drizzle some olive oil over the hummus and garnish with some cilantro or chopped scallion.  Best served room temperature or chilled.

Serve with vegetables or crackers.  I served them with sesame rice and a cheese rice cracker.

Yum Recipe: Golden Sweet Potato & Cilantro Hummus

Sweet Potatoes Benefits for the Skin
Sweet potatoes are great for the skin because they are loaded with beta carotene, a precursor to vitamin A.  Vitamin A is essential to keep skin healthy.  Because of its high anti-inflammatory and an anti-oxidant properties, it also helps the skin to heal, slows wrinkle formation, and helps with acne.  One cup of cooked sweet potato has over 400% of the daily value for vitamin A! 

Sweet potatoes are also high in another skin loving nutrient, vitamin C.  Collagen helps with prevention of wrinkles and helps maintain healthy skin.  It is synthesized by vitamin C.  Scurvy while extreme shows the importance of collagen for the skin–the skin breaks down with sores appearing.

Sweet Potatoes also have other skin friendly nutrients, such as some B’s and copper.

Cilantro Benefits for the Skin
Cilantro is high in phytonutrients that helps with anti-aging and fight free radicals.  Also, cilantro also contains anti-bacterial properties, which is good for fighting skin issues such as acne or eczema.

So, while this hummus is choked full of skin loving nutrients, it’s the taste of it that will have you making it again and again.

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“Beauty Should Enrich Us, Not Enslave Us.”

11 Jun

I’ve been reading Unbinding the Heart, A Dose of Greek Wisdom, Generosity, and Unconditional Love by Agapi Stassinopoulos.  It is a wonderful little book.  While little in size, it is large in sharing wisdom on how we can open our hearts to live an authentic and fulfilling life.  Ms. Stassinopoulos teaches with learning moments from her own life and her mother’s.  Examples that we can relate to.  There are many passages/ideas that I love and intend to write down for my own reference, such as couple coming from “Change the Channel” and “Finding Your Voice.”  However, I want to share with you a passage on beauty that I think we all can apply individually, and thereby unbind our collective hearts from the marketing hype of perfection in beauty. 

From The Chapter: “You’re Just Pretty, You’re Not Beautiful“

At the heart of our obsession with glamour lies the need to feel important.  But important to whom?  How important are we to ourselves? When the lights go out and the music stops and the glitter fades, it’s us alone with ourselves, just our own light and our own shadow.  How do we feel then about the beauty that’s in us?

Beauty should enrich us, not enslave us.  If we feel unattractive, imperfect, or simply insecure, then beautifying ourselves is an act of masking and covering up.  But when we know the beauty of our real self and choose to reflect it in  the way we wear makeup or jewelry or clothes, then it’s an act of creativity and self-expression to amplify an inner radiance–not disguising what we are, but adorning it for all to see.  The archetype of Aphrodite, the goddess of glamour if ever there was one exudes a quintessential beauty that’s not bound by size, age, or fashion, and you always know this beauty when you see it.  I don’t know if you’ve ever seen ancient statues of Aphrodite, but they don’t fit our 21st-century ideal!  She had a rounded belly and voluptuous hips; she was real.

Unbinding the Heart, A Dose of Greek Wisdom, Generosity, and Unconditional Love  Agapi Stassinopoulos.  http://unbindingtheheart.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/agapisays

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Abbott and Costello: What’s Natural?

6 Jun

Sometimes the confusion over natural, organic, and 100% organic puts me in the mind of the famous Abbott and Costello baseball skit, “Who’s on First?”  I imagine a discussion between them on natural, organic, and 100% organic labeling going something like this:

             Abbott:    Did you get the lettuce?

            Costello:  Yeah, got it right here.

            Abbott:    Is it organic?

            Costello:  It says it’s natural. 

            Abbott:    The lettuce talks?

            Costello:  No, the label.  It states the lettuce is natural.

            Aboott:    Does that mean it’s organic?                       

            Costello:  Naturally.

            Abbott:    Natural is organic, naturally?

            Costello:  Sure, it grows in nature doesn’t it?

            Abbott:    So, why does the label say natural and not organic?

            Costello:  Because organic is natural and natural organic.  So, it doesn’t matter.

            Abbott:    Natural is organic, naturally then you say?

            Costello:  Organic is natural.

            Abbott:    Only if it’s not on a label.  Then there’s 100% organic.

            Costello:  Huh?

            Abbott:    100% organic is more organic than organic and natural.

            Costello:  What about natural?  Nature is nature, which is organic.

            Abbott:    Naturally you’d think that.  But natural is marketing.

            Costello:  I go to the market to get natural?

            Abbott:   Natural is marketing spin.  It makes food & things look healthy and organic.

            Costello:  I’m beginning to spin.  So, I go to the market and spin my food to make it natural & organic.

            Abbott:   You don’t spin it.  Companies with marketing departments do.

            Costello:  Companies have departments that do the marketing?  I want to work there.

            Abbott:    They don’t do the shopping for you.  Marketing departments spin words and create images to make the products more appealing to customers.           

            Costello:   Is this natural?

            Abbott:    We’ve been over this.  100% organic is natural only.  Only in the natural world is organic natural and 100% doesn’t exist.

            Costello:  So, let me get this straight.  Natural marketing is unnatural, natural is not organic, and organic is not 100%.

            Abbott:    Naturally…

            Costello:  Don’t start; I’m leaving with my lettuce.

Okay, so maybe it’s not as funny as the “Who’s on First,” but it does offer a description of the confusion over natural, organic, and 100% organic.  And yes, some of the confusion is done purposely by marketing machines, especially the “natural” description.

“Natural” Labeling Is a Marketing Term Only
Basically, “natural” had no official designation when it comes to most food and means nothing with regard to cosmetics.  The USDA defines “natural” only as it relates to meat, poultry, and eggs only.  For meat, poultry, and eggs the definition means, “minimally processed and contain no artificial ingredients.”  It doesn’t say anything about how the meat, poultry, or eggs are farmed or produced.

Companies have latched onto the fact that “natural” and “from nature” have no official designation.  The terms can be used broadly to describe about anything that has even a remote connection to nature.

The same is true with “natural” or “naturally-based” cosmetics.  Theoretically, a product can contain 99% chemical based ingredients and state on its label that is “natural” or contains “natural ingredients.”  Many companies take advantage of this to confuse consumers because they want to capture and use the trend toward organic lifestyle.

“Natural,” “from nature, “natural source derived” are all marketing terms.  Period.

“Organic” Products Can Contain Chemicals
In addition, “organic” does not mean that the ingredients are all organic as in without manmade chemicals.  By USDA regulations, multi-ingredient products can have up to 5% nonorganic ingredients.  These ingredients must come from USDA approved nonorganic list.

Not to confuse you even more, but products labeled “contains organic ingredients” can have up to 30% manmade chemicals or nonorganic ingredients.

100% Organic Assures No Synthetic Chemicals
Only those products labeled 100% organic are truly natural in the true sense of the word as in straight from Mother Nature without chemical additives or chemical processes.  Products labeled such cannot contain any manmade chemicals or chemicals derived from natural sources.

Ending the Confusion
So, hopefully you are not as confused as Abbott and Costello.  Just remember “natural” is not synonymous with “organic” or “100% organic.” It is a term latched onto by marketing departments.  And “100% organic” is the only labeling that is regulated to not have any chemicals in the product.  However, to the honesty of 100% organic labeling….well, that’s for another post.

Natural.  As required by USDA, meat, poultry, and egg products labeled as “natural” must be minimally processed and contain no artificial ingredients. However, the natural label does not include any standards regarding farm practices and only applies to processing of meat and egg products. There are no standards or regulations for the labeling of natural food products if they do not contain meat or eggs.

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Yum Friday Recipe: Pink Salt & Pepper Truffles

1 Jun

Pink Salt & Pepper Truffles, by Natalia KW

I’m excited today to post this wonderful recipe for raw chocolate truffles from raw food chef, Natalia KW.  Check out her beautiful website  http://www.nataliakw.com  with other great raw recipes including wonderful-looking raw Chocolate Cherry Truffles.  Yum!  These chocolate recipes show that you can eat fabulous desserts that are also body and skin friendly.

This recipe centers around raw cacao.  Anything chocolate has its beginning with cacao (cuh-COW).  Cacao is the edible part of the cocoa bean.  While cacao is filled with hundreds of beneficial nutrient compounds, these nutrients do not get passed into your favorite chocolate bar.  Processing, cooking, & refining destroy the nutrients.   

Antioxidants (flavonoids especially) are one of the nutrients that are plentiful in cacao.  Antioxidants as we have reported are important to skin health and aid in repairing any damage to skin from sun, aging, acne, eczema, etc.  A report in Clinics in Dermatology (2009) said, “consumption of flavanol-rich cocoa acutely increased microcirculation of the skin….”(1).  Skin microcirculation  increases blood flow thereby delivering more nutrients to the skin and expatiating removal of toxins.  

However, don’t think you are getting these healthy benefits in milk chocolate and other common chocolate treats.  Besides being destroyed in processing, the antioxidants in cacao have also shown to be inhibited in the presence of dairy ingredients.  Studies also show that cacao has anti-microbial and reduces inflammation (2).  It’s also a great natural mood enhancer.  Of course, moderation is advised because cacao also contains caffeine.

So, enjoy these decadent truffles knowing you are also helping your body and skin.

Pink Salt & Pepper Truffles

by

Natalia KW

Exotic chocolate blends are pretty hot right now and I love to come up with exciting combinations.  I’ve always loved slightly salty chocolate and was looking for a spice to complement my favorite Himalayan salt–and to offer a bright contrasting color.  The pink peppercorn was perfect!  It’s actually a berry–a bit sweeter than black pepper, but still spicy with hints of citrus.  The raw chocolate truffle base here is ultra simple, so feel free to get creative and mix up your own favorite flavors.  

  • 3/4 cup raw cacao powder
  • seeds of one vanilla bean
  • 1/2 cup pitted medjool dates
  • 1/4 cup raw honey
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil
  • 1 teaspoon ground pink peppercorns
  • 1/8 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt, course ground

Instructions:
Place the cacao powder and vanilla bean in a food processor.  Pulse gently to combine.  Add the dates, honey and coconut oil and process until sticky and smooth.  To make each truffle, roll about one tablespoon of chocolate into a 1″ ball with your hands until very smooth.  In a small bowl, mix the salt & pepper.  Place a pinch of salt & pepper on the top of each truffle as a garnish and press to set.  Place the garnished truffles in the refrigerator for one hour to firm.  Indulge with pleasure!

Natalia is available for coaching to help those who want to heal their body and be healthy through raw foods. 

“Raw foods work their magic when integrated properly and sustainably—for your unique lifestyle.  When these foods are practical to prepare and at the same time, deeply pleasurable, you discover your sweet spot.” 

You can contact her through her website: http://www.nataliakw.com/contact/

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1 Davis, Stephen BS, Perez, Robert PhD, “Cosmeceuticals and Natural Products: Wound Healing.”  Clinics in Dermatology (2009) 27, 502–506.  Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1600 NW 10th Avenue,
Room 2089, Miami, FL 33136, USA.  online: http://www.worldcocoafoundation.org/scientific-research/research-library/Cacao_HumanNutrition.asp#Antimicrobial.

2 “Cacao Research: Human Nutrition,” World Cacao Foundation.  Online: http://www.worldcocoafoundation.org/scientific-research/research-library/Cacao_HumanNutrition.asp#Antimicrobial

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Yum Friday Recipe: Kombucha Salad Dressing and Kombucha Green Smoothie

25 May

We are very happy and exited to share two wonderful recipe from guest blogger, Lis Viehweg, M.A., CNFC.  Lis is a Denver-based Certified Natural Food Chef.  Lis created two fantastic recipes using kombucha:  Passionberry Kombucha and Fresh Raspberry-Tarragon Salad Dressing and Green Kombucha Smoothie.  Can’t wait for you to try them.

Kombucha Salad Dressing by Lis Viehwig

Kombucha is a fermented tea loaded with probiotics enzymes.  It is said to have originated in Russia in late 19th century.  It comes in different flavors and is sold in most natural foods stores in the refrigerated section.  All the benefits Lis addresses below help the skin by allowing the skin to receive more nutrients.  Also, when toxins are prevented from forming or are reduced, they won’t show up on the skin in the form of  wrinkles, dry skin, blemishes, eczema, keratosis pilaris, etc.

Kombucha:  Fizzy, Fermented, and Fabulous

by:

Lis Viehweg  M.A., CNFC
Certified Natural Foods Chef

Trust me, your stomach can use all the help it can get.  Friendly bacteria, contained in probiotic food sources, are just the guys for this job.  Probiotic enzymes improve immunity (so you don’t get sick) and help your body absorb vitamins and minerals better (so you don’t get sick AND you feel better, to boot).  Win-Win.  The fermentation process enhances the enzyme content of foods and chemically kick-starts digestion. 

Food that remains undigested in your gut can lead to such unappetizing outcomes as cell damage and toxic strain on the liver and kidneys, thus creating a “perfect storm” environment for allergies, inflammation that is a causative agent for diseases such as cancer, heart disease, metabolic syndrome, and immunity issues.  So drink your kombucha, children.  Or eat it!  Kombucha is an easy additive to smoothies-  I’ve included my favorite green smoothie recipe.  But one day, I said to myself:  I wonder how kombucha would work as a salad dressing?  Et voila. 

Passionberry Kombucha and Fresh Raspberry-Tarragon Salad Dressing

Ingredients for Dressing:

Kombucha Salad Dressing by Lis Viehwig

½ cup fresh raspberries
2 Tablespoon finely chopped fresh tarragon
½ cup Passionberry kombucha ( any fruity kombucha will do)
1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon honey or agave nectar
½ teaspoon freshly-squeezed lemon juice
3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Sea Salt or Grey Salt
Freshly-ground  Pepper to taste

Method:

Muddle raspberries and tarragon in the bottom of a mixing bowl.  Add kombucha, Dijon mustard, honey, and lemon juice; whisk to blend.  Slowly drizzle in olive oil while whisking constantly until the mixture thickens.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Refrigerate until ready to use.

Yield:  1 1/2 cups

_______________________________________________________________

Green Kombucha Smoothie

Ingredients:

1 cup green kombucha
1 small apple (preferably organic), unpeeled and cut into chunks
1 banana
1 cup of frozen strawberries
A big handful of (organic) greens:  salad greens, baby spinach
1 Tablespoon chia seeds (optional)

Method:

Throw all of the ingredients into a blender and whirl until smooth.  If you like your smoothies thicker, add more frozen strawberries or ice cubes.
Note:  Chia seeds are a good source of fiber and Omega 3 fatty acids, important for good digestion and a healthy heart, among other things.

Yield:  approximately 2 ½ cups

Besides being a natural foods personal chef in the Denver area, Lis is available for healthy food consultations and specializes in transforming cultural/traditional recipes into healthy ones.  You can contact her: lis@foodie1.com.

Lis Viehweg M.A., CNFC
Certified Natural Foods Chef
Honest Chow.  Real, good food prepared with care and a dash of humor by the curly girl….
lis@foodie1.com

Click to Buy Our Great All-Organic Skincare Line:

YumScrubhttp://bit.ly/1jKksLG

Abe’s Market bit.ly/1rueto2

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15 Whole-Body Tips for Acne Prone Skin

21 May

I’m very familiar with the ups and downs of acne because one of my children has it.  She went through the entire gamut of traditional medical methods to heal it.  This included 2 treatments of Accutane, which had devastating consequences.  Improvements were temporary at best.  It was a whole-body approach & YSO clear skin products that got it under control for good.  Below are  some of our suggestions to get you started towards an acne free complexion.

Inflammation and out of balance hormones are major contributing factors to acne.  In order to gain control of acne, the body needs to be brought back into balance.  Contrary to conventional wisdom, diet and lifestyle do play a part in feeding acne and also in healing it.  Incorporating a whole-body approach helps to bring hormones into balance and reduces inflammation thereby helping to clear skin.  Diet and life style do make a difference.

Here are 15 tips to help you get started.  It does take diligence and commitment in order to see improvement.  And it may take several weeks or months to see those improvements as the body detoxifies and begins a return to homeostasis.

  •  Eliminate or reduce foods with added hormones, such as dairy and factory raised meats. Even organic milk contains natural hormones; skim milk has less.
  •  Reduce body inflammation and bring hormones into balance by increasing omega 3.  Fish, walnuts, ground flaxseeds, Brussels sprouts, spinach, kale, and salad greens.
  •  Do not over cleanse your face.  It will dry it out, irritate, and cause over-stimulation of oil glands.
  • Be gentle with your skin.  It’s a fallacy that acne prone skin is tougher than other skin types.  Perfumes, detergents, chemicals in cleansers, toners, etc can irritate acne, make it worse. Even things like dryer sheet fabric softeners can leave a residue on the skin.
  • Whole body approach includes exercise.  Exercise helps bring fresh oxygenated blood to the skin, which brings nutrients. Exercise sans make-up, wash face afterwards.

  • May seem counter intuitive, but the right plant oils can help balance oils in acne prone skin. Ingredients in lotions can irritate and clog pores, increase oil production.
  • Try yoga.  It’s great for bringing body into balance.  Finding the right class is important.  Find one that is not over -weighted with poses, but also has breath, meditation & relaxation as a large part of class.
  • Eat fresh fruits and vegetables daily.  Eat organic if possible.  Acne prone body has enough to fight/balance without additional chemical/hormones.
  • Keep hydrated with clear liquids aka H2O – not vodka ;).  Alcohol messes up balance in body, esp. women. Stays in body longer.  Cucumbers and melons also help with hydration.
  • Eliminate or greatly reduce granulated sugar and corn syrup in your diet.  Replace with raw honey or agave.
  • There may be other skin conditions besides acne contributing skin problem & compounding acne, such as seborrhea, rosacea, or eczema
  • Check for food triggers.  These are foods that you may be sensitive to and are not aware of.  They will cause inflammation and complicate healing of acne.  Eliminate trigger foods one at a time for a couple weeks to notice any difference.  Common ones: wheat, gluten, meat, corn, soy and dairy.
  • Reduce stress.  Learn to live from your heart/soul more and the mind less.
  • Don’t use thick make-up to cover the acne.  It doesn’t hide it and only makes the condition worse.  Know, feel, & believe you are BEAUTIFUL.  I say so!!

Click to Buy Our Great All-Organic Skincare Line:

YumScrubhttp://bit.ly/1jKksLG

Abe’s Market bit.ly/1rueto2

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