Tag: honey

Glowing Beautiful Skin – What to Do and NOT Do

June 21, 2019

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Our skin reflects what is going on in our body.

What happens in our gut effects what happens throughout our entire body. So you begin with the gut to cleanse the skin. Here is a list of some of my favorite “do”s and “don’t”s for healthy skin, starting with…

What Goes Inside

NO gluten – Gluten can cause inflammation and cause irritation to the gut and digestive system. Remember, what happens in the gut effects the rest of the body. Plus, the gluten in the U.S. today is highly processed and grown with chemicals that can do lots of damage to the body.

NO dairy – The dairy industry today is quite a bit different than back in the olden days. Especially that from cows. Dairy can cause inflammation and it can cause your skin to produce excess sebum which leads to clogged pores and more acne.

NO sugar – Sugar can break down the collagen in your body and your skin can lose its elasticity. It can also cause inflammation. Opt for an antioxidant honey instead.

NO highly processed foods – All the extra sugar and chemical intake from these foods wears down the collagen and elastin in your skin. It also causes inflammation in the skin, which can lead to acne breakouts. (NOTE: Processed foods can be kind of tricky to define. It’s probably a good idea to know what processed foods are.)

Stay hydrated – Even when you don’t feel like drinking water adding some cucumbers and watermelon to your diet (especially during the summer) is a delicious way to stay hydrated. 🙂

EAT probiotics – The good bacteria in probiotics helps keep your gut healthy. Having a healthy gut helps to have healthy skin.

EAT Omega-3s – Your omega-9 fatty acids are great for glowing skin. They can help soothe inflammation that can be a cause for acne breakouts as well.

EAT Vitamin C – It is well known for having antioxidant properties, and can also help against sun damage. Citrus fruits and vegetables are a great natural source of this important vitamin.

EAT Bone Broth – Bone broth is high in collagen which can help reduce inflammation and improve the skin’s elasticity.

 

What Goes Outside

Clean and treat your face at night. Your face gets dirty throughout the day, and your makeup can clog your pores, causing more breakouts.

Switching your products too regularly might not agree with your skin. Give the product time to work.

Look at the ingredients. Avoid chemicals and synthetic scents and colors. The closer to nature your products are, the better for your skin. Do you know how much FOOD you can put on to help your skin health?? There are a lot I could name, but I’ll just give you three favorites.

  • Apple Cider Vinegar – Apple cider vinegar can help to kill pathogens and helps to cleanse the skin. It contains potassium and magnesium to help balance gut bacteria, which is vital to skin health. It is also a more inexpensive product…and it can go a long way.
  • Coconut Oil – Coconut oil can help strengthen the epidermal tissue, ease sunburns and is even a good makeup remover. It contains anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, plus a lot of healthy fats that help nourish the gut and improve immune function. A way to improve your skin health from the inside out!
  • Raw Honey – RAW honey is full of enzymes, nutrients and vitamins for the skin. It also contains antiseptic qualities that can help with rashes, scars and wounds, and may help to reduce breakouts and contain moisturizing properties.

Essential Oils

  • Lemon – Lemon just seems to brighten up everything! And your face is no exception! It is antibacterial and it can help lighten dark spots and tone the skin. avoid applying lemon, or any citrus oil, to your skin that will be exposed to sunlight or UV light for 24 hours.
  • Lavender – Lavender contains antimicrobial and antioxidant characteristics that make it great for the skin. It is one of the more gentler oils so it can be soothing for itching and burning skin. And soothing to the nose as well.
  • Frankincense – Frankincense has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. It may help to strengthen and tone the skin and may improve elasticity. It may also help to reduce the appearance of scars and acne.
  • Tea Tree – Tea Tree oil has long been used in Australia to help fight inflammation, break outs and some redness on the skin. It is usually very gentle on the skin and is great when combined with a carrier oil…such as coconut oil.

Natural Sugar Alternatives That Still Give You the Sweetness You Crave

July 20, 2018

Different Kinds Of Sugar In The Spoons

Sugar is a real problem in our country today. We put it in everything – our average meals are packed with it, even without us knowing it.

When we cook or bake we heap more sugar into our bodies, not realizing the damage it is doing. Though some sugar is needed for proper brain function, diets high in sugar can hurt the brain and make stress much easier to attain. Regular sugar is toxic to the body. It comes from genetically modified beets and GMO corn. Americans take in 400 calories from added sugar a day. HFCS is pushed as a natural sweetener. It is produced from genetically modified corn. It is believed to lead to increased storage of fat in the liver, resulting in Fatty Liver and digestive upset.

This is not to put a damper on your life and tell you you can never have sugar. On the contrary! There are alternatives to regular sugar that you can use to satisfy your sweet tooth AND that are actually nutritious for your body! 🙂

These are much easier for your body to digest and process:

Healthy Sugar Alternatives

  • Honey – Raw honey has many health benefits, so you really want to be sure the label says “raw”. You don’t want to cook with raw honey. To make sure you are getting as much nutrients from raw honey as possible you want to keep it away from heat.
  • Coconut Sugar – Comes from coconut juice, which is full of potassium electrolytes and nutrients. This is great for baking because it is an equal comparison to sugar… without the toxins. 🙂
  • Maple Syrup – Maple syrup is higher in antioxidants than regular sugar, making it one of the healthier sugar substitutes. You want to look for Grade B or Grade C USDA-certified organic.
  • Stevia – A low-calorie, all-natural sweetener. It comes from the leaves of a flowering plant. AND, there is no sugar involved at all 🙂 . Stevia is 200 times sweeter than sugar, so be careful and don’t use the same ratio in your cooking! 🙂

 

I have a sweet tooth as much as anyone, but even with nutritious natural sweeteners, too much a good thing can be too much of a bad thing. Here are just a few foods you can try to help keep those sugar cravings at a healthy level.

Help Cut Sugar Cravings

  • Probiotics – Candida yeast in the body feeds on sugar. Consuming probiotics can help reduce those yeasts. Kombucha, Kefir and Greek Yogurt are some favorites.
  • Protein – Helps stabilize blood sugar levels
  • Healthy Fats – After eliminating sugar, the body turns to fat for energy. Eating healthy fats is a much better way to fuel the body. Avocado, nuts, coconut oil… just to name a few.
  • Herbs and Spices – Ginger and Tumeric have anti-inflammatory properties and can help with blood sugar.