Is stress wreaking havoc with the appearance of your skin? It probably is! If you're like most Americans, you find yourself feeling stressed quite often. We tend to stress out about our health or lack of it, our diet, insufficient exercise, our weight or body image, the economy, our job, finances, our relationships, our kids, upsetting news - war, crime, death, global warming, etc. The list could go on and on.
Not only can stress lead to fatigue, tension headaches, and irritability, but prolonged stress can have long-term negative effects on the body and skin. Acute stress of any form will cause a lowering of the immune system's defenses - albiet a temporary one. Chronic stress, on the other hand, whether due to lack of sleep, poor nutrition, tension at work, loss of job, severe illness, daily hassles such as long lines, traffic congestion, road rage, ill-behaved kids, lack of exercise, overwork, emotional challenges, outdoor pollution, heavy metal exposure, indoor chemical pollution, or noise will, over time, significantly lower the immune system's defenses or response mechanisms. This puts us at greater risk for health problems down the road, for sure!
Stress can and does have a significant impact on your skin's health and appearance. A stressed out mind or body can exhibit this "distress" on the skin's surface with a wide range of symptoms. What are these symptoms? Red, itchy, mysterious rashes; myriad inflammatory reactions; roseacea on the face; acne; eczema; psoriasis; a dehydrated complexion; accelerated formation of "liver spots or age spots" on the face, arms, legs, or chest; accelerated aging of the face - sagging jowls and deepening creases; and lackluster tone to the skin.
Stress can either cause your skin to flare up and look red and "angry" or it can have the opposite effect and lead to a sallow, pale, lifeless complexion that makes you look as if you will wither away and die. I'd rather learn to deal with my life's stresses than opt for one of these looks - wouldn't you? Don't let stress zap / sap your energy and good looks!
What is a stressed-out individual to do? Here's my list:
- Slow down - life is not a race to the finish line.
- Breathe from your lower diaphragm - remember life is too short to run around exhausted.
- As the saying goes, "Don't fret the small stuff"!
- Eat right and exercise regularly - treat yourself as the king or queen that you are.
- Be cheerful - it calms those who are stressed-out around you.
- Unwind your mind. Take a moment and focus on something that makes you smile.
- Always remember . . . someone else's situation(s) are worse than yours.
- Handle the heavy and important tasks first - when energy is greatest - and do the minor tasks later in the day.
- Be flexible - a flexible mind and body are healthier in the long run.
- Don't get too stressed when your expectations are not met.
- Take a yoga class once a week - at least.
- Pamper yourself - you're all you've got.
- No one is perfect - not even you - so quit pressuring yourself. Just be your best.
- Remember, you can only change your own behavior - quit trying to change others.
- Laugh, love, and hug more.
- Kiss your kids and your mate everynight before you fall asleep.
- Watch what you say to others and how you say it. Tongues can be sharp and cutting. Master your communication skills.
On the nutrition side of things . . . I will recommend that you add goodly amounts of a quality barley grass powder to your daily diet, plus chlorella and blue-green algae tablets or powder, omega-3 oils from raw, fermented cod liver, and eat plenty of cold-water, fresh fish. I love what mega-amounts of chlorophyll does for the skin. Chlorophyll is concentrated sun energy and loaded with vitamins A & D and micro-minerals. Quality fish oils help soften and heal the skin. A diet of 50% or more raw foods will do wonders for your energy level and appearance. If you add all of these ingredients to your daily diet, I guarantee that you will see a significant improvement in the texture, tone, and color of your skin. It will "youthify" right before your eyes. Be consistent with a good diet, supplements, daily exercise, and practice low-stress living. No one is immune to the negative effects of stress, but you can fortify yourself so that you can successfully deal with the big blows that life will inevitably toss your way.
NOTE: This article is by Stephanie Tourles, lic. holistic esthetician, herbalist, and certified aromatherapist, and author of, "Organic Body Care Recipes". This information is for educational purposes only. The author does not assume any liability in relation to the information given. Please use your common sense when adding supplements to your diet or altering your lifestyle and seek professional guidance if you have any questions.
Showing posts with label blue-green algae. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blue-green algae. Show all posts
Monday, June 29, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Edible Skin Care Recipes, Part 1
Ever visit a lovely, tranquil farm and see the beautiful vitamin-pill trees growing in the orchard down by the brook? Of course not! We're so busy these days that we've become a nation of pill poppers. We swallow our "once-a-day" in an effort to ensure that we get a nutritious and balanced diet - instead of paying close attention to what we actually eat. We consume so much fast food and junk food that many of us seem to think that a fractionated, synthetically-derived pill will fill the gaps in our diets. Not so!
Sure, laboratory-made vitamin and mineral supplements have their rightful place in certain disease conditions and deficiencies - for short-term usage only - but for general health and well-being and the prevention of disease, consumption of whole, unprocessed foods as Mother Nature presents them is the way to go. Additionally, naturally-derived supplements such as herbal capsules, tinctures, teas, and herbal syrups, plus brewer's yeast, spirulina, blue-green algae, chlorella, and barley and alfalfa grasses,to name a few, are wonderful, nutrient-dense foods to include in your beautiful-skin regimen.
The recipe that follows and the future edible skin care recipes that I will share with you in the next few weeks, are chock-full of easily absorbable vitamins and minerals. They'll also provide you with a delicious way to boost your energy level as well as your natural immunity.
Recipe: SKIN-SATIONAL HERB TEA
This herb tea, also referred to as a herbal infusion, is a tasty blend that, hot or cold, helps replenish a deficient system and restores lackluster skin, hair, and nails. All herbs in this formula are in dried form. Please purchase organically-grown herbs whenever possible.
2 tablespoons lemon balm leaves
1 tablespoon lavender flowers
1 tablespoon peppermint leaves
1 tablespoon chamomile flowers
1 tablespoon rose petals
1 tablespoon nettle leaves
1 tablespoon alfalfa leaves
1 tablespoon rose hips
2 teaspoons dandelion leaves
2 teaspoons raspberry leaves
1/2 teaspoon ginger root
To Make: Combine all herbs in a medium-size bowl and stir to blend. Store in a tightly-sealed tin, jar, or plastic tub or bag away from light in a cool, dry location. Best if used within 6 months.
To Use: Bring a cup of water to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from heat and add 1 teaspoon of dried tea blend. Cover and allow to steep for 10-15 minutes or longer. The longer it steeps, the more nutrients will be infused into the water. Strain before drinking. Add honey, cream, or lemon if desired. Drink 1-2 cups daily.
Yield: Approximately 30 cups of tea
Disclaimer: This article was adapted from the book, "Naturally Healthy Skin" by Stephanie Tourles, Storey Publishing, 1999. All recommendations are made without guarantee on the part of the author. The author disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information. It is for educational purposes only. Please seek the advice of a qualified herbalist if you have any questions regarding herb usage.
Sure, laboratory-made vitamin and mineral supplements have their rightful place in certain disease conditions and deficiencies - for short-term usage only - but for general health and well-being and the prevention of disease, consumption of whole, unprocessed foods as Mother Nature presents them is the way to go. Additionally, naturally-derived supplements such as herbal capsules, tinctures, teas, and herbal syrups, plus brewer's yeast, spirulina, blue-green algae, chlorella, and barley and alfalfa grasses,to name a few, are wonderful, nutrient-dense foods to include in your beautiful-skin regimen.
The recipe that follows and the future edible skin care recipes that I will share with you in the next few weeks, are chock-full of easily absorbable vitamins and minerals. They'll also provide you with a delicious way to boost your energy level as well as your natural immunity.
Recipe: SKIN-SATIONAL HERB TEA
This herb tea, also referred to as a herbal infusion, is a tasty blend that, hot or cold, helps replenish a deficient system and restores lackluster skin, hair, and nails. All herbs in this formula are in dried form. Please purchase organically-grown herbs whenever possible.
2 tablespoons lemon balm leaves
1 tablespoon lavender flowers
1 tablespoon peppermint leaves
1 tablespoon chamomile flowers
1 tablespoon rose petals
1 tablespoon nettle leaves
1 tablespoon alfalfa leaves
1 tablespoon rose hips
2 teaspoons dandelion leaves
2 teaspoons raspberry leaves
1/2 teaspoon ginger root
To Make: Combine all herbs in a medium-size bowl and stir to blend. Store in a tightly-sealed tin, jar, or plastic tub or bag away from light in a cool, dry location. Best if used within 6 months.
To Use: Bring a cup of water to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from heat and add 1 teaspoon of dried tea blend. Cover and allow to steep for 10-15 minutes or longer. The longer it steeps, the more nutrients will be infused into the water. Strain before drinking. Add honey, cream, or lemon if desired. Drink 1-2 cups daily.
Yield: Approximately 30 cups of tea
Disclaimer: This article was adapted from the book, "Naturally Healthy Skin" by Stephanie Tourles, Storey Publishing, 1999. All recommendations are made without guarantee on the part of the author. The author disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information. It is for educational purposes only. Please seek the advice of a qualified herbalist if you have any questions regarding herb usage.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Maximize Your Nutrition: Part IV
Essential Fatty Acids: Raw Sunflower & Pumpkin Seeds
I realize that at the beginning of the "Maximize Your Nutrition" segment . . . I told you there would be three parts to the discussion . . . but I just had to add a "Part IV" regarding the importance of essential fatty acids to skin care.
There is a simple snack mix you can make that will boost the vitality of your skin and health. Mix equal parts of raw, hulled sunflower seeds and raw pumpkin seeds (sometimes called pepitas) in a plastic container or bag and carry this tasty, crunchy treat with you as a healthy fast-food snack or toss it in your daily salad in lieu of white-bread croutons. For a zestier taste, sprinkle a bit of your favorite salt-free seasoning on the mix.
These seeds have essential fats and substantial amounts of iron and zinc. Raw, unprocessed, unheated omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids may be two of the most powerful tools in your anti-wrinkle arsenal. Fat preserves your skin's suppleness and youthful dewiness. Raw fats also have potent anti-inflammatory properties, promoting heart health, relief of pain, and reduction of roseacea in the skin.
Other sources of essential fatty acids include daily consumption of a tablespoon or two of fresh flaxseed, extra-virgin olive, fish, or unrefined coconut oil. Try to mix them up and have a different one every day or so. A quarter-cup of raw walnuts is also a good, crunchy vegetarian source of omega- (or take a few capsules if you can't stand the fishy taste).
(NOTE: Portions of this article were adapted from the book, "Organic Body Care Recipes", by Stephanie Tourles, Storey Publishing, 2007. The information in this article is true and complete to the best of my knowledge. The author disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information and recommends that the reader use his/her common sense. This information is for educational purposes only.)
I realize that at the beginning of the "Maximize Your Nutrition" segment . . . I told you there would be three parts to the discussion . . . but I just had to add a "Part IV" regarding the importance of essential fatty acids to skin care.
There is a simple snack mix you can make that will boost the vitality of your skin and health. Mix equal parts of raw, hulled sunflower seeds and raw pumpkin seeds (sometimes called pepitas) in a plastic container or bag and carry this tasty, crunchy treat with you as a healthy fast-food snack or toss it in your daily salad in lieu of white-bread croutons. For a zestier taste, sprinkle a bit of your favorite salt-free seasoning on the mix.
These seeds have essential fats and substantial amounts of iron and zinc. Raw, unprocessed, unheated omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids may be two of the most powerful tools in your anti-wrinkle arsenal. Fat preserves your skin's suppleness and youthful dewiness. Raw fats also have potent anti-inflammatory properties, promoting heart health, relief of pain, and reduction of roseacea in the skin.
Other sources of essential fatty acids include daily consumption of a tablespoon or two of fresh flaxseed, extra-virgin olive, fish, or unrefined coconut oil. Try to mix them up and have a different one every day or so. A quarter-cup of raw walnuts is also a good, crunchy vegetarian source of omega- (or take a few capsules if you can't stand the fishy taste).
(NOTE: Portions of this article were adapted from the book, "Organic Body Care Recipes", by Stephanie Tourles, Storey Publishing, 2007. The information in this article is true and complete to the best of my knowledge. The author disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information and recommends that the reader use his/her common sense. This information is for educational purposes only.)
Monday, February 23, 2009
Maximize Your Nutrition, Part II
This is Part 2 to last week's blog regarding "eating for health and beauty".
"Whole-Food Supplements"
Along with a whole-foods diet, nutritional supplements also have their benefits towards your well being. No matter how balanced you think your diet is, virtually everyone has a deficiency or low-intake of one nutrient or another. Supplements help fill in the nutritional gaps so that you look and feel your best - giving you the appearance of youth (or actually prolonging your youth) from the inside out.
While many professionals believe differently, I believe that the most effective supplements are derived from whole, real foods (as opposed to being entirely synthetic). I take my three favorite supplements on a daily basis - a green drink blend, OPC's, and a mix of raw sunflower and pumpkin seeds. Combined, they contain all of the specific nutrients that help combat aging, nourish skin, hair, and nails, and promote well-being.
This week, I'll discuss my Green Drink Blend and next week I'll conclude this three-part series with a discussion of my other two favorite supplements. Every morning, I toss a handful of frozen raspberries, strawberries, mango chunks, or a frozen banana into the blender, then add a cup or more of freshly-made almond milk, raw skim cow's milk, or unsweetened soy milk, a dollop of raw goat or cow's milk yogurt, and two tablespoons of an organically-produced, green plant powder. The powder I use contains "powerhouse plants" including chlorella, a single-celled green algae; blue-green algae; barley grass; wheat grass; and alfalfa.
When cloosing a green-plant powder blend, make sure the product label states that the ingredients were organically grown and were processed rapidly, immediately after harvesting to preserve the live enzymes and vitamins they contain. The grasses taste the way a freshly mowed lawn smells - sweet and green. The blend is also available in easy-to-swallow capsules.
Green drink blends are ideal for those of you with with digestive difficulties in that the live enzymes aid digestion and enable proper assimilation of vital nutrients. Here's to your health.
(Note: Portions of this article are adapted from the book, "Organic Body Care Recipes" by Stephanie Tourles, copyright 2007, Storey Publishing. The author disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information and recommends that the reader use their common sense. This information is for education purposes only.)
"Whole-Food Supplements"
Along with a whole-foods diet, nutritional supplements also have their benefits towards your well being. No matter how balanced you think your diet is, virtually everyone has a deficiency or low-intake of one nutrient or another. Supplements help fill in the nutritional gaps so that you look and feel your best - giving you the appearance of youth (or actually prolonging your youth) from the inside out.
While many professionals believe differently, I believe that the most effective supplements are derived from whole, real foods (as opposed to being entirely synthetic). I take my three favorite supplements on a daily basis - a green drink blend, OPC's, and a mix of raw sunflower and pumpkin seeds. Combined, they contain all of the specific nutrients that help combat aging, nourish skin, hair, and nails, and promote well-being.
This week, I'll discuss my Green Drink Blend and next week I'll conclude this three-part series with a discussion of my other two favorite supplements. Every morning, I toss a handful of frozen raspberries, strawberries, mango chunks, or a frozen banana into the blender, then add a cup or more of freshly-made almond milk, raw skim cow's milk, or unsweetened soy milk, a dollop of raw goat or cow's milk yogurt, and two tablespoons of an organically-produced, green plant powder. The powder I use contains "powerhouse plants" including chlorella, a single-celled green algae; blue-green algae; barley grass; wheat grass; and alfalfa.
When cloosing a green-plant powder blend, make sure the product label states that the ingredients were organically grown and were processed rapidly, immediately after harvesting to preserve the live enzymes and vitamins they contain. The grasses taste the way a freshly mowed lawn smells - sweet and green. The blend is also available in easy-to-swallow capsules.
Green drink blends are ideal for those of you with with digestive difficulties in that the live enzymes aid digestion and enable proper assimilation of vital nutrients. Here's to your health.
(Note: Portions of this article are adapted from the book, "Organic Body Care Recipes" by Stephanie Tourles, copyright 2007, Storey Publishing. The author disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information and recommends that the reader use their common sense. This information is for education purposes only.)
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