Health Tip of the Week: Best Way To Sleep

Let’s be honest, we’ve probably all been told that we really should sleep on our backs, that that’s the best way for your spin, and it’s true, it is, but how many of us are really going to do that? So instead of telling you just to do that here is a write up done by Dr. Dan DeReuter on some adjustments you can make on the way you sleep now.

Back Sleepers
Yes, this is actually the preferred position to sleep because it places the least amount of stress to your spine-IF you:

Place a cervical roll or rolled-up towel under your neck. Make sure that your head is in a neutral position (that you are neither looking up or down). If you find that you cannot be “in neutral” then you need a smaller roll.

Place a pillow under your knees-This takes stress off of your lower back. You could buy a special pillow for this, but a regular pillow works just fine.

Side Sleepers
If you sleep on your side, then follow these tips to minimize the amount of stress to your spine.

Use a cervical pillow-Ideally, the pillow should take into account how wide your shoulders are (the wider your shoulders, the taller the pillow should be). This is because you want to keep your neck in a neutral position.
Place a pillow between your knees. Not only will this feel more comfortable, if you have hip joint pain this definitely helps. Try not to sleep on your side with your arm up over your head-this causes stress on the nerves that come out of the neck and into the arms and cause tingling or numbness down the arms.

Sleep on your Belly
This position places the most stress on your neck. In this position you have your head turned to one side or the other for hours at a time. This is quite stressful to your neck muscles and joints.

Your body will try to shift your position to compensate. This is why people who toss and turn the most are belly sleepers.

Place a pillow under your waist, and do not use a pillow for your head.

Sweet Dreams!

Article Source

Making your own lotion

Ok, first things for I have to say I haven't try this but I really want to! I think the biggest part is the look of it...it looks very messy, and detailed and that sort of puts me off of it, but I think I just need to put aside some time and give it a go!

Here is a list of what you need:

• Blender
• Spatula
• Thermometer (meat)
• Double boiler or pot with a measuring pyrex or bowl suspended in the water
• Clean jars
• Coconut oil (can also use jojoba or sweet almond)
• Olive oil
• Beeswax (100% pure)
• Distilled or purified water
• Borax
• Essential oils
• Optional aloe vera gel and vitamin E

All the other details for this great recipe are at An Austin Homestead. If you're not interested in this project you should still check out the blog! It's got lots of goodies I think you'd enjoy!

Candida Diet Breakfast: Mung Bean Pancakes

2 cups mung beans soaked overnight

3 cloves of garlic

Salt and pepper to taste

1 teaspoon chopped ginger root

Dill or scallion or other herbs to taste

Water

Crush everything in food blender until you have smooth a paste/batter. Then drop pancakes onto a hot skillet, with a small of coconut or olive oil.

Tip: Try putting a little spinach in for a little something extra

Candida Diet Lunch: Roasted Vegetable Salad with Boiled Egg

For 2 servings:
Source

4 boiled eggs
2 Bell Peppers (any color)
2 tomatoes
1/2 a zucchini
6 shallots
3 cups of baby spinach
Olive oil
Salt and pepper

Heat the oven to 450 degrees F. Place chopped up peppers, tomatoes, zucchini and onions in a roasting pan. Toss with the olive oil, salt, and pepper to mix and coat. Spread in a single layer in the pan. Roast for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are lightly browned and tender.

Hard boil the eggs, peel, cut in half and set aside.

In a large bowl add 3 cups of baby spinach, chopped up vegetables, egg halves and serve. Add some extra olive oil and a squeeze of lemon if you like.

Health Tip of the Week: Preventing & Getting Rid of Split Ends

I had really long; half way down my back hair a couple of months ago but cut it off into a cute little bob. Although I love it part of the reason I cut it was because I had constant problems with split ends. I got haircuts regularly but I guess somewhere in there I still wasn’t taking care of my hair enough (I think some of it had to do with the water in our apartment but that’s another story). I read in a book (Baby Proof) the other day about doing a sort of test of beauty on women. You take a woman that’s pretty but then imagine she has horrible, puffy, out of control hair and then ask the question “Is she still pretty?” The argument was that hair is a huge contributing factor to a woman’s beauty so it’s not really a fair test. Anyways, what I’m getting at is that we all love having wonderfully beautiful hair so here are some steps to take to give your hair a fighting chance to show off and to help you really take care of it well.

To reduce tangles and get rid of split ends, brush your hair before you take a shower. While you’re in the shower, try not to bunch up your hair while you’re washing it. Make sure your hair hangs straight down, apply shampoo near the top of your scalp, and work the lather downward by gently working your fingers in a zigzag motion down the length of your hair. This will prevent tangles that encourage breakage when you brush after your shower.

To get rid of split ends, use plenty of conditioner during and after a shower. Some conditioners are good for your hair, and others aren’t. Generally speaking, those conditioners that are more expensive or found in reputable hair salons are the better conditioners. Conditioner will not only help keep your hair feeling luxuriously smooth, but it will also help prevent breakage and the resulting split ends by lubricating your hair. The problem here is that conditioners that make your hair easy to brush tend to leave more residues.

As a rule, hair specialists tell you not to brush your hair while it’s wet if you want to get rid of split ends. This is where the last two steps come into play. Let’s be honest with ourselves, and admit that we need to brush our hair while it’s wet because we don’t have a lot of time in the morning. If you did the first two steps above properly, and you didn’t bunch your hair up with your towel, you should be able to brush your hair quite easily when it’s still wet.

Don’t use hair dryers, curling irons, or hair straightening devices if you’re serious about getting rid of split ends. Anything that uses heat to treat your hair, barring “thermal hair treatments,” is bad for your hair. Instead of frying your hair on a daily basis, why not do what I do and take a little more time in the morning to allow your hair to dry without a hair dryer. Make sure to brush your hair in such a way as to spread it across yourself, exposing more surface area and thus reducing the time it takes to dry.

If you have split ends already and you want to get rid of those split ends, make sure to cut at least 1 and ½ inch up the hair to prevent further splitting. Split ends do have a tendency to keep splitting if you give them the chance. If you have time during the day, or in the evening, check your hair occasionally for split ends and simply cut about one to one and a half inches above the split end, and apply a conditioning treatment (pomade?) to the recently split end to ensure not more splitting.

For more info click here

Why you should always have coconut oil in your house

So I'm a huge lover of coconut oil. I've been using it for baking, cooking and most importantly making my popcorn and just recently read about how it can be used as a personal lubricate and that got me thinking "What all is this stuff good for?" so I thought I'd do a little research and find out. This post could be so much longer but I wanted to give you a general idea of all the major things you can use coconut oil for. It's great stuff, it makes your skin super soft, and I'm going to go home tonight and try it on my ends (they are dry the the desert!). If you're not convinced already that you need to get some of this stuff read on and you will be soon!  

Hair Care:
Coconut oil is one of the best natural nutrition for hair. It helps in healthy growth of hair providing them a shiny complexion. Regular massage of the head with coconut oil ensures that your scalp is free of dandruff, lice, and lice eggs, even if your scalp is dry. Coconut oil is extensively used in the Indian sub-continent for hair care. It is an excellent conditioner and helps in the re-growth of damaged hair. It also provides the essential proteins required for nourishing damaged hair.


Skin Care:
The benefit of coconut oil on the skin is comparable to that of mineral oil. It's great as a moisturizer and general lotion. It also delays wrinkles, and sagging of skin which normally become prominent with age. Coconut oil also helps in treating various skin problems including psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and other skin infections. Coconut oil also helps in preventing premature aging and degenerative diseases due to its antioxidant properties.

Heart Diseases:
Coconut Oil contains about 50% lauric acid, which helps in preventing various heart problems including high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. The saturated fats present in coconut oil are not harmful as it happens in case of other vegetables oils. It does not lead to increase in LDL levels. It also reduces the incidence of injury in arteries and therefore helps in preventing atherosclerosis.

Digestion:
Coconut oil helps in improving the digestive system and thus prevents various stomach and digestion related problems including irritable bowel syndrome. The saturated fats present in coconut oil have anti microbial properties and help in dealing with various bacteria, fungi, parasites, etc., that cause indigestion. Coconut oil also helps in absorption of other nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and amino acids.


Immunity:
Coconut oil is also good for the immune system. It strengthens the immune system as it contains antimicrobial lipids, lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid which have antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties. The human body converts lauric acid into monolaurin which is claimed to help in dealing with viruses and bacteria causing diseases such as herpes, influenza, cytomegalovirus, and even HIV. It helps in fighting harmful bacteria such as listeria monocytogenes and heliobacter pylori, and harmful protozoa such as giardia lamblia.


A few more things it's good for are your:

Liver
Kidneies
Stress relief
Dental care
Diabetes

These are the two brands that I've tried and they're both wonderful!

For more info and the site I reference, click here 

Health Tip of the Week: The Gallbladder Cleanse

What you need:

4 tbsp Epson Salts
½ cup Olive Oil
1 Large Pink Grapefruit
Jar (with lid)

Choose a day for this cleanse like a Saturday so that you can rest the next day. Take no medications, vitamins or pills that you can do without as they may prevent success. Stop any parasite program, and discontinue use of kidney herbs the day before. Eat a no fat breakfast and lunch such as cooked cereal with fruit, fruit juice, bread, preserves or honey. DO NOT eat any milk, butter, cheese etc. Bake potatoes and other vegetables are allowed with salt only. This eating batter allows bile to build up and develop pressure in the liver. Higher pressure pushes out more stones.

Before 2pm- Drink a tall glass of juice (before 2pm)

2pm- DO NOT EAT OR DRINK AFTER 2PM (If you break this rule you could feel ill later)

Get your Epson sales ready. Mix 4 tbsp in 3 cups of water and pour this into a jar. This makes 4 servings- ¾ cup each. Set the jar in the refrigerator to get ice cold. (this is for convince and taste only).

6pm- Drink one serving (3/4 cup) of Epson salt water. If you did not prepare this ahead of time, mix 1 tbsp in ¾ water now. You may also drink a few sips of water afterward or rinse your mouth. Get the olive oil and grapefruit out to warm up.

8pm- repeat drinking another (¾ cup) of Epson salt water. You have not eaten since 2pm but you will not feel hungry. T is not recommended that you get any chores done before going to be because once you’ve taken the mixture the body needs to be still.

TIMING IS CRITIAL FOR SUCCESS. DO NOT BE MORE THAN 10 MINUTES EARLY OR LATE.

9:45pm- Pour ½ cup olive oil into the pint jar. Squeeze the grapefruit by hand into the measuring cup. Remove pulp with fork. You should have a least ½ cup or more (3/4 cup is best). Add this to the olive oil. Close the jar tightly with the lid and shake hard until watery. (only fresh grapefruit juice will do this)

10:00pm- Drink the grapefruit/olive oil mixture. You can drink through a large plastic straw if you need to, which will make it go down easier. You may use ketchup, cinnamon, or brown sugar to chase it down between sips if you need to. Take it to your bedside if you want, but drink it sitting up. Get it down within 5 minutes (15 for elderly or weak persons). Lie down immediately. You might fail to get stones out if you do not.

It is important that as soon as you drink the mixture to lie flat on your back with your head high on a pillow. Try to visualize stones moving out of your body. Keep still for 20 minutes. You may feel a train of stones traveling down the bile duct like marbles. There is no pain because the build valve is open due to the Epson salts. Go to sleep, this will insure success.

Next morning- upon awakening take your third dose of Epson salt water. If you have indigestion or nausea wait until it goes before drinking the salt water. You may go back to bed after drinking the mixture; it is advised not to take it before 6am.

2 hours later- Take the fourth and last dose of Epson salt water. Drink ¾ cup of the mixture (this should be the amount that is remaining). You may go back to bed if you needed.

After 2 more hours- you may eat. Start with fruit juice. Half an hour later eat fruit. One hour later you may eat regular food but keep it light. By supper you should be fully recovered.

You will notice during the cleanse that you body will flush out objects that look somewhat green and odd shaped. They are slimy to the touch and come in different sizes, ranging from the head of a pin all the way up to a nickel coin or a bit larger. Each flush is different, some will produce a slight amount of stones, and other may yield cups.

After the cleanse it is recommended to drink two cups of Dandelion tea for 10 days, or check with your practitioner about dandelion capsules.

Health Tip of the Week: Gallstone Cleanse

I was suffering from intense headaches for a few months when my naturopath suggested I might have gallstones and that could be contributing to the headaches. I didn’t know why I (healthily, young etc.) would have gallstones but I was willing to find out. He gave me a cleanse and I was supposed to do it three times over two months. It’s a pretty intense cleanse, and I wouldn’t suggest you trying it unless you are serious about this, and really want to do it right.

After doing the cleanse just once I knew I had gallstones. I don’t want to be gross but I was shocked at the stones I passed, some of them were as big as quarters and some as small as peas and pin heads.

I did go forward and finish the three cleanse and I was happy I did. So if you are “all about the cleanses” and want to try this one, or if you are struggling with this and don’t want to go for surgery I would suggest trying this first! If you do it right it works!

Check back next week for the complete cleanse and instructions! But in the mean times here are some things you should know about your gallbladder and gallstones.

About Gallstones

One in ten people suffers from symptomatic (painful) gallstones, making gallstones one of the most common digestive disorders in the world. They are also among the most painful. Gallstone attacks are caused by an inflamed gallbladder going into spasms when a stone hits the sensitive inner lining of the gallbladder. The pain starts in the upper-right abdomen and can last for days.

Gallstones are also extremely dangerous. If left untreated, they can lead to potentially fatal complications such as ruptured gallbladder, liver failure and pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). Each year, thousands of people die from conditions brought on by untreated gallstones, and thousands more undergo risky surgery to remove their gallbladder.

You might have gallstones and not even know it. Millions of people carry so-called 'silent' gallstones that do not cause symptoms yet continue to grow in the gallbladder. Eventually, they grow large enough to cause pain or internal damage.

Why Do Gallstones Form?

Gallstones are not just a problem of the gallbladder - they're also a problem of the liver. New research on gallstones has revealed they're formed by a combination of poor liver function and incomplete gallbladder contractions.

Your liver produces a digestive fluid called bile. This fluid is stored in the gallbladder and breaks down dietary fat. When we eat foods that contain fats, the gallbladder contracts completely, releasing the bile into the small intestine.

Because the liver also acts as the blood's main filter, it is exposed to many toxins. These toxins take their toll on the liver and weaken it. Instead of producing free flowing bile, the liver produces thick, sticky bile over-saturated with cholesterol.

Gallstones form when this bile builds up in the gallbladder. Usually, the gallbladder fully contracts and empties out bile. However, many people have gallbladders that only partly contract. These partial contractions leave behind bile sludge in the gallbladder. Eventually, the cholesterol molecules in the bile sludge harden to form gallstones.

Candida Diet Supper: Shrimp and Broccoli Stir-fry

Source

For 2 servings:

1 lb. frozen raw shrimp, thawed
1 head fresh broccoli
1 chopped red pepper
2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup water
2 tsp. grated fresh ginger root

In heavy skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and vegetables and stir fry for 2-3 minutes. Add water, ginger root and thawed shrimp. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for an additional 4-5 minutes until vegetables are hot and shrimp is pink.

How to make honey lemon troat lollies

Don't these look great? I'm going to give it a go once I've eaten through all the ones I have in the house (I'm trying not to buy/make in excess!)

Honey Lemon Throat Lollies

2 C. sugar
1/2 C. honey
3/4 C. water

juice of 1/2 lemon

1-2 Zinc tablets, crushed (optional)
1-2 Vitamin C tablets, crushed (optional)

Looks yummy right? Get all the details from the original post at Heart, Hands, Home: Putting Proverbs 31 Into Action

Candida Diet Lunch: Brown Rice Salad with Green Apple and Feta

This sort of salad is not normally my cup of tea but I am always trying to get myself to try new things so here goes!

For 2 servings:
Source

1/3 cup wild or brown rice

Goat Feta Cheese (small chunk)
1 Green apple

1 Red bell pepper

1 Celery stalk

2 Spring onions

1 garlic clove

Sunflower seeds (handful)
1 Lemon squeeze

1 tbsp Olive Oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Cook rice as directed. Chop up all the ingredients and add everything to a bowl.

Candida Diet Supper: Cabbage Rolls

Don't these look great? I can't wait to make them! I've always wanted to try making cabbage rolls, but it just seems like something I should do with my mom, or an aunt or something, because of my heritage I think I have it in me that this is something I'm supposed to do in a group of ladies. I think either way I'll do it with my mom. Oh, I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!

For 4 servings:
Source

1/2-1 pound of organic lean minced Beef or Lamb
1/2 cup brown rice
1 organic egg
1 head of cabbage
1 medium onion
4 garlic cloves
4 tomatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt

Tear 6-8 leaves off the cabbage and cook in boiling water or steam until wilted enough to be flexible. Set aside to cool.

In a large bowl mix the meat, uncooked brown rice, 1/2 chopped onion, egg, 2 minced garlic cloves and salt. Roll the meat and rice mixture in the cabbage leaves and put them in baking dish. For the tomato sauce, sauté the onion, garlic and chopped tomatoes in a wide based pan.

Place the stuffed cabbage leaves in a baking dish, cover with the tomato sauce, add 1 cup of water and cover. Bake in the oven 350 degrees for 1 hour. Serve with a dollop of plain yogurt

Candida Diet Lunch: Chicken Quinoa Salad

Chicken Quinoa Salad

Oh I love quinoa!! I am so excited about this recipe! I usually just through in whatever veggies I have to my quinoa along with some coconut milk and we're good to go but it's nice to follow a recipe for a change!

For 2 servings:
Source

1 chicken breast

2/3 cup of cooked quinoa

2 cups of spinach

2 medium tomatoes
1/2 a cucumber

1 avocado
2 shallots

1 garlic clove

Juice of 1/2 lemon

2 tablespoons olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Cook the quinoa as directed. Chop up chicken, pan-fry until cooked, about 5 minutes. Now chop up the veggies, toss everything in a bowl and serve.

Alternative: You could also put the veggies in when the quinoa is cooking! No longer a salad but still a very good meal!

Cadida Diet Lunch: Turkey Pasta Salad with Cilantro Pesto

For 2 servings:
Source

1 cup brown rice pasta
200-300 grams of turkey thigh (or turkey breast if you prefer)
1 medium onion
1 medium tomato
1 lemon
1/2 cup fresh cilantro
1 handful of almonds
Olive oil

Cook the pasta, then set aside when ready. In a pan, sauté the turkey and the chopped up onions for 5-10 minutes, then set aside.

Meanwhile, use the food processor to mix up half a cup of cilantro, a handful of almonds, a squeeze of lemon and 2 tablespoons of olive oil. This is the cilantro pesto.

Chop up the tomato, then add everything to a bowl, mix together and serve.

Candida Diet Supper: Lamb Coconut Curry

For 2 servings:

500 mg minced lamb
4 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 medium onion
1 can coconut milk
2 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 chili pepper (seeds removed)
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/2 teaspoon curry powder
Salt to taste

Chop up the onions, garlic and chili pepper - you can use your food processor to save time. Add them to a frying pan with the lamb and a tablespoon of coconut oil for 5 minutes. Then add all the other ingredients, and simply leave it to simmer for 30 minutes on a low heat.

Serve with wild or brown rice (optional).

I shared this recipe at:

Candida DIet Supper: Quinoa Meatloaf

Source

This meatloaf is so tasty! It is really moist too and you feel really healthy eating it too which I always love!

For 2 servings:

1 pound minced beef

2 eggs
1/4 cup of uncooked quinoa

1 medium onion
3 garlic cloves
2 chilies
1 tablespoon coconut oil or olive oil

1 teaspoon Thyme

1 teaspoon Rosemary
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon salt

Cook quinoa as directed. Preheat oven to 350 F. Add onion, chili, and cloves to a food processor and chop finely. Add cooked quinoa and all ingredients to a large bowl and mix together. Grease a loaf tray with coconut or olive oil, then add the mixture and bake for 1 hour.

I've shared this recipe at:

Show & Tell Party
Idea Sharing Wednesday 
Whatever Goes Wednesdays

Health Tip: Piggy Polish

Non toxic Low Odor Water-based formula Hypoallergenic Fun, vibrant colors Dries to a hard, durable finish Cruelty-free Safe for use during Pregnancy!

Piggy Paint is specially formulated from God’s natural ingredients and dries to a hard, durable finish. There are no toxic chemicals; it’s free of formaldehyde, toluene, phthalates, Bisphenol A, ethyl acetate and acetone. Click here to see how our polish compares! Say good-bye to harsh, smelly chemicals and hello to Piggy Paint…it’s as Natural as Mud!

Doesn't this stuff look great? I haven't found a place out here yet that sells it (and I'm trying to use up what I have before I buy new polish) but I can't wait to try it!

Source

Making Change: Eos lip balm

I know this isn't my usual Making Change post style, but I think a good, healthy product can contribute to change, and if it's stylish and popular, well then even more power to it!

Here's a quote and info from the website:

"Can a lip balm make you smile? We think so. That's why we invented this one.

• Long-lasting moisture
• Shea butter & vitamin E
• Smoothes on clear
• New smooth sphere precisely glides on to lips
• Twist-off top
• Gluten-free
• Paraben-free
• Petrolatum-free
• Phthalate-free

eos lip balm is 95% organic, 100% natural, and paraben and petrolatum free. Packed with antioxidant-rich vitamin E, soothing shea butter and jojoba oil, eos keeps your lips moist, soft and sensationally smooth."

Health Tip: The Benefits of Blackstrap Molasses

I am really low in iron. Not sure what's wrong with my body (I could try to explain the process of how I got low in iron but it's complicated and long!) but I know what I can do to start making positive changes! My holistic doctor told me to start taking blackstrap molasses, 2 tablespoons a day. I did, and wow, what a difference! More energy, and just all around more alert which I was so lacking! I'm not the best at explaining certain health tips so I thought I would being you part of an article from Zen to Fitness! If you're not convinced after this well, you've got a problem!

Blackstrap Molasses is a syrupy sweetener that can be bought pretty cheaply these days. Thankfully it is very different to other sweeteners which are highly refined, processed and stripped of all their nutrients (Glucose Syrup, White Sugar, High Fructose Corn Syrup etc….). I am a big believer in getting our vitamins and minerals from real food – For me a small amount of real food nutrients are far better utilised by the body than any synthetic vitamin could ever be.
Now I know a lot of people will think this post is basically touting sugar, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. As blackstrap molasses is totally different from other types of sweet foods or sugars and works as a very healthy sweetener for tea, coffee, oatmeal and many other dishes.

Our society is so chemical laden that we are leeching the minerals that we need from our systems. Blackstrap puts back some of those minerals naturally.

This is because Blackstrap Molasses is one of the most nutrient dense foods around – full of vitamins and minerals containing the following:

- Iron
- Calcium (more calcium than dairy)
- Magnesium
- Mangenese, Chromium, Molybdenum, and many other trace minerals.
- B Vitamins
- Vitamin E

The high and bio-available source of Iron makes it a great addition to females diets as well as growing children – To put it in perspective Molasses has more iron than red meat. It is also rich in calcium which makes people think of dairy or green vegetables as the only source. We forget how important calcium is for metabolism, muscle contractions and correct cell function. 2 TSP’s of blackstrap molasses will provide you with a large proportion of your daily needs of many of these vitamins and minerals, most importantly though they come in a form that our bodies are familiar with and can make use of.

Candida Diet Breakfast: Rice Pudding

1 cup cooked brown rice

2 tbsps coconut oil

Cinnamon

Stevia

Add 2 tablespoons of coconut oil to the cooked rice. Mix in cinnamon and Stevia to taste. I love a nice and simple recipe, but something that tastes so good!