Apple Cider VineGREAT!

For my final health instalment this month, I want to talk a little about Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV).

I was introduced to ACV at a very early stage in my life. If you’ve used ACV before you should know that it smells quite rank. When I was younger, my sister drank a tablespoon of it every day and then proceeded to chase me around the house with the spoon (it’s actually quite hilarious now that I think about it).

So yes, I’ve known about its benefits for ages but the odour has always put me off using it. 

ACV is a type of vinegar made from fermented apple juice or apple must. Unpasteurized or organic ACV contains mother of vinegar, which has a cobweb-like appearance and is very healthy.

I know there are many advantages to drinking ACV but I still can’t bring myself to consume it. I frequently use it topically and it really works wonders. I’ve used it for breakouts, rashes, allergies and bug bites and it cleared my skin overnight in most cases.  The scent of the ACV can be camouflaged with lavender, rosemary or even tea tree oils. However, I use the ACV as is (pour it straight onto a cotton pad and wipe the effected area) and the odour evaporates and disappears after a few minutes. Many people dilute ACV with water and use it as a toner.

The benefits of ACV come from its powerful healing compounds which include acetic acid, potassium, magnesium, probiotics and enzymes. Acetic acid has the ability to kill dangerous “bad” bacteria, and at the same time to foster the growth of beneficial “good” bacteria. It essentially acts as a natural antibiotic and naturally provides numerous benefits related to skin, digestion and immunity health without any side effects.

Benefits of consumption

Drinking straight vinegar can erode tooth enamel and even damage the oesophagus, so always dilute vinegar in water before drinking it.

·         Lower Blood Pressure

·         Balances Blood Sugar and Improves Diabetes

·         Reduces Sugar cravings and improves Detoxification

·         Partially blocks the digestion of starches (less sugar is absorbed into the blood stream)

·         Can Support Weight Loss and Metabolism

·         Regulates Your Bodies pH (reduces your risk of chronic and can dramatically increase your energy)

·         Can Treat Acid Reflux and Heartburn

There are many uses of ACV around the household as well. Here’s a cute little infographic by swansonvitamins.com with some of its many uses.

 

Look for cloudy vinegar; this is the sign that the friendly enzymes and bacteria (“mother”) that promote healing have not been removed. One of the most recommended brands I’ve seen is Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar. I’m not sure if you get Bragg’s in SA, I buy Earth Products Organic Apple Cider Vinegar.

 

 

Enjoy the bright CIDER life…

♡, Sana xx

 

when life give you lemons... say YAY!!

My third health installation for January is going to be about Lemons :)

You may already know of a few of these benefits but I promise you this will be worth the read!

The health benefits of lemons are due to its many nourishing elements like vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin A, vitamin E, copper, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, phosphorus and protein. Lemon contains antioxidants and cancer fighting properties.

 

 

 

The juice of a lemon helps with the following:

·         Skin Care: One of my main uses of Lemon juice. It can help exfoliate and lighten dark spots on your face, body, hands and feet. Apply the lemon juice to your dark spots using a cotton swab or ball. Rinse after 15 minutes or once the lemon juice dries. Avoid the sun during this time. Using lemon juice on old burns can help fade the scars.

 

Being a natural antiseptic medicine, the juice can be applied to reduce the pain of sun burn and bee stings, since lemon is a cooling agent. It is also good for acne and eczema. It acts as an anti-aging remedy and can remove wrinkles and blackheads. Drinking lemon juice mixed with water and honey brings a healthy glow to the skin.

·         Hair Care: Lemon juice has proven itself in the treatment of hair care on a wide scale. The juice applied to the scalp can treat problems like dandruff and hair loss. It can also be used to lighten hair in the Sun (mix with oil to keep your hair from drying out).  

·         Dental Care: If fresh lemon juice is applied on the area of a toothache, it can assist in getting rid of the pain. Massaging the juice on the gums can stop gum bleeding, while eliminating the bad odours that can come from various gum diseases. Additionally, it can be used in the regular cleansing of your teeth (add a drop of its juice onto your normal toothpaste). Be careful, lemons are highly acidic, so if your mouth starts burning, rinse your gums and mouth quickly with water. It can also cause enamel erosion so make sure to rinse well!

·         Immune System: Lemon is packed with vitamin C, which can help boost the immune system. One lemon contains a whopping 187% of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C. It also helps increase your energy levels due to the presence of other essential vitamins and minerals.

·         Fever: Lemon juice helps to break fevers by increasing perspiration.

·         Indigestion and Constipation: Add a few drops of lemon on your dish and it will aid in digestion. It acts as a blood purifier and a cleansing agent for your tummy. Whenever you have a heavy lunch or dinner, drink lemon juice mixed with soda water (add crushed mint leaves and honey for flavour). Eat the little lemon wedge that comes with your drink at a restaurant. It’s great for you!

·         Internal Bleeding: It has antiseptic and solidifying properties, so it can stop internal bleeding. You can apply lemon juice to a small cotton ball and place it inside your nose to stop nose bleeds (will definitely be trying this!).

·         Weight Loss: I think we all know this one! Drinking lemon juice mixed with lukewarm water, increases the metabolism which helps reduce body weight.

Special Tip: Lemon water is perfect to take with you and sip all day.

·         Detox: The enzymes in lemons help stimulate liver functions and aid in the elimination of wastes from your body. It will also suppress your appetite so you are more successful and have fewer cravings while on your detox or cleansing plan.

·         Respiratory Disorders: Lemon juice assists in relieving respiratory problems and breathing problems, such as asthma and throat infections. The lemons are a powerful antiseptic and can kill bacteria in the body that makes you ill and causes a build-up of mucus.

·         Blood Purifier: Diseases like cholera and malaria can be treated with lemon juice (as an aid).

·         Arthritis: It is also a diuretic and can treat rheumatism and arthritis. It helps to flush out bacteria and toxins from the body.

·         Kidney and Gall Stones: Lemon juice can dissolve lumps on the skin, so it can be applied at the places where the skin has hardened up, like the soles of feet and the palms of your hands. Drinking lemon juice with water can help patients reduce stones for the same reasons.

·         High Blood Pressure: Drinking lemon juice is helpful for people suffering from heart problems, because it contains potassium. It controls high blood pressure, dizziness, and nausea, because it provides a calming sensation to both the mind and body. It is commonly employed to reduce mental stress and depression.

·         Type 2 Diabetes: Consuming the soluble fibre found in lemons helps stabilize your blood glucose levels and keep them within a healthy range by helping your body to slow down its absorption rate of sugars.

 

So those are some wonderful uses of lemon juice, but wait, don’t throw away those peels just yet!

Uses of Lemon peels:

Lemon peels contain about 5 to 10 times more vitamins than lemon juice! Remember, organic will be your best bet when consuming the peel to avoid eating any pesticides.

Culinary

·         Lemon Zest: you can freeze this and always have it on hand when needed. It’s a common ingredient in both sweet and savory dishes.

·         Also use the peels to make Lemon Pepper, Candied Lemon, Lemon Olive Oil, Lemon Extract or Herb-Lemon Zest Butter. There are recipes for these and many other delicious treats online.

·         Adding some lemon peel (with traces of pulp removed) to your brown sugar can help keep it moist and easy to use.

Cleaning

·         All-purpose cleaner. Also known as lemon vinegar, this stuff is awesome at cutting grease and disinfecting. To make, simply place a bunch of lemon peels in any sized glass jar. Pour white vinegar over. Put the lid on and let it sit for 2 weeks (I promise, it’s worth the wait). Then strain the liquid. Combine this with water (using a 50/50 ratio) and then use as you would your normal cleaner.

·         Get rid of ants and pests. Place small slices of lemon peel along thresholds, windowsills, door entrances, or near cracks or holes where ants or pests are lurking about. Lemons are also effective against roaches and fleas.

·         Place a lemon peel or two inside your fridge to absorb smells and bring a bright citrus scent.

·         Throw a few lemon peels in the bottom of the can. This will also help absorb odours and keep things smelling fresh.

·         You’ll make your house smell heavenly simply by adding lemon peels to simmering water. Throw in some cloves and cinnamon sticks. This adds a wonderful scent and humidifies the air.

·         Make your pots shiny and new. I’ve tried this and the results are amazing! Boil water with some lemon slices and it will remove all those dark stains in your pot.

·         Add lemon peels to your dishwasher every now and then to help rinse and deodorize it.

·         Bake discarded lemon peels until they darken. These create natural, fragrant firelighters. So cool, and great for your braai-aholics!

Beauty & Body

·         Pop them in your blender to make a fantastic skin scrub or mask. Can help lighten age spots. Apply the affected area and leave on for an hour. (I’d avoid too much sun exposure while it’s on your face.)

·         Whiten fingernails by rubbing with a lemon wedge.

·         Suck on a slice of lemon to help you stop feeling nauseous.

·         Use a half lemon sprinkled with baking soda on dry elbows; just place your elbow in the lemon and twist the lemon (as if you are juicing it) for several minutes. Rinse and dry.

·         Rub your teeth with the outer shell (the inner side touching your teeth) of a lemon after removing the juice. Helps with whitening.

·         Eating lemon peel can help decrease the body’s cholesterol level which in turn can promote better heart health. In addition, the potassium found in the peel can help maintain blood pressure levels.

·         Two of the nutrients in lemon peel are limonene and Silvestro Q40 and both fight cancerous cells. In addition, the flavonoids that can be found in the peel can help counter cancerous cell division.

·         Eating lemon peel has shown to help prevent osteoarthritis, inflammatory polyarthritis, bone fractures, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis because of its calcium and Vit C content.

·         Lemon peels have all the same benefits as its juice listed above: boosts immunity, metabolism, digestion, oral health, weight loss, skin, eradicates toxins, cleansing the liver, helps with ear infections, improves blood circulation, reduces muscle contractions, prevents strokes, etc.

The best way to consume lemon peels are to freeze them and crush them over your food.

Fun fact: Lemon is classified as a fruit, mainly because it has seeds.

That’s it from me today. Now you understand why when life throws you lemons, you should say YAY!

♡, Sana xx

Reintroducing Castor Oil

In continuing with my natural, organic health&beauty theme, today I’m going to tell you about Castor Oil.

Castor oil is a vegetable oil obtained by pressing the seeds of the castor oil plant (Ricinus communis).

This oil seems to have a bad reputation amongst most people as being something hazardous and also something given to us as a punishment (more on this later). The truth is that, it is not only safe, but even suitable for small children.

I use it mainly for hair growth but I’ve come across many other benefits, all of which I’ll share with you below.

·         It promotes hair growth. Apply warm oil to your scalp with your fingertips, massaging it in. If it is done every night, you will see the difference in as little as two weeks. Helps with dry scalp and dandruff too.

·         Castor oil can be used to enhance the natural colour of your hair and make it look rich and thick. When applied on the hair, it preserves the moisture in the hair shaft and makes each strand thicker and darker. Can also help prevent and repair split ends.

·         If you have sparse eyebrows, the oil can be applied with the tip of your finger over the area. Hair will grow denser there- I’ve witnessed this working first-hand on my mum.

·         Applying castor oil to the eyelashes every night with a mascara brush can give you thicker and darker eyelashes over a period of time.

·         It does wonders for dry and cracked lips.

·         Spot treatment for skin problems. Use castor oil to treat acne, warts, and skin tags that seem to appear for no reason. Most of these problems seem to get resolved with regular application for one or two weeks. It helps to decrease the inflammation from the acne and kills bacteria which helps the acne to clear up. It works really quickly, too so put it on before you go to bed and you will notice a drastic improvement when you wake up in the morning.

·         Great for eliminating and preventing wrinkles as it promotes the production of elastin and collagen. This is also good for reducing the appearance of scars and stretchmarks. If you want to use castor oil on your face, you first need to mix it with a carrier oil (pick one based on your skin type).

·         Castor oil can be used to moisturize dry skin. It’s thick and penetrates deep into the skin tissue and nourishes it with fatty acids. Apparently it does not promote hair growth on the body. It may be kind of sticky at first, but once you get it on the skin in a thin layer, it gets absorbed rather quickly, leaving no oily feel. Mix it with our friend, coconut oil, for easy application.

·         It’s considered a warm oil that promotes the circulation of fluids in the body. It is excellent as massage oil, and can relieve the soreness resulting from overworking the muscles.

·         Massaging just a small amount of castor oil into your cuticles and on your fingernails each day for a couple of months will give you long, healthy and beautiful nails.

·         Natural sleep aid. This is one I’m excited to try! It is not clear exactly how castor oil induces sleep, but people who use it on their hair or around the eyes vouch for its effectiveness (I will also add an update once I try). Dab a bit of castor oil on your eyelids. Be prepared for a longer than usual sleep (7 to 8 hours), so if you’re setting up the alarm to go off after 5 or 6 hours, you will wake up groggy. It also works great to remove tiredness from around your eyes and will leave you looking and feeling a bit more refreshed in the morning.

·         Soothes joint pain. The anti-inflammatory properties of castor oil eases up the congestion and gets the lymph vessels moving freely. What is amazing is that mere topical use is found to bring about these internal changes.

·         Treats fungal infections. It can be used to treat common fungal diseases like ringworm and athlete’s foot and is as effective as pharmaceutical drugs, if not more, but without any of the toxic side effects.

·         Can help to relieve calluses and corns on feet by helping alleviate the pain and swelling that they cause and ultimately make them disappear over time. This takes a few applications but definitely works.

·         Rubbing a tiny bit on a baby’s tummy helps to relieve colic.

·         The oil is naturally anti-allergic and taking a few drops a day can greatly reduce the symptoms of hay fever and other allergies. Consult your doctor before using castor oil orally. I know castor oil has an awful taste so not sure if I’m willing to try this one.

·         Castor oil can help you fight infection and energize the immune system. In studies, when castor oil was applied to the outside of the body, the white blood cell count was increased within 24 hours of application.

·         Laxative. The usual dosage is 1 to 2 tbsp. for adults and 1 to 2 tsp for children 2-12 years old. Children under 2 years shouldn’t have more than a teaspoonful at a time. You can expect a complete clean out within 2 to 5 hours of taking the oil.

Warning! Unlike Coconut Oil, Castor oil should not be ingested by pregnant women. Inducing labor is one of the ancient uses of castor oil, but all doctors now advise against it because excessive water loss from loose motions may dehydrate the mother. Consuming castor oil causes strong pelvic muscle contractions which carries the risk of miscarriage or premature birth.

Before you use castor oil internally or topically, perform a skin test using a very small amount of the oil to check for allergic reactions.

So those are some of the great uses of castor oil. Before I go let me tell you a bit more about why this oil has a bad reputation…

Firstly, the castor oil plant, including the castor bean, contains a highly potent toxin called ricin (a few grains of this could kill an adult), but it is deactivated during the oil extraction process. Not many people trust this process.

Secondly, back in the day, parents often punished children with a dose of castor oil. It's very thick, and has a funky smell, and tastes pretty bad. This is akin to putting soap or chilies in the mouth these days.

Lastly, a heavy dose of castor oil could be used as a humiliating punishment for adults. The most famous use as punishment was from Mussolini. Political dissidents were force-fed large quantities of castor oil. Victims of this treatment did sometimes die, as the dehydrating effects of the oil-induced diarrhea, not from any toxic substance. Today, the Italian terms “manganello” and “olio di ricino” still carry strong political connotations. These words are still used to satirize patronizing politicians, or the authors of disliked legislation. They should be used with caution in common conversation.

*Fun fact*: As a means of punishment or torture, force-feeding castor oil still lives on in animated cartoons such as Tom and Jerry.

 

The name "castor oil", probably comes from its use as a replacement for castoreum, a perfume base made from the dried perineal glands of the beaver (castor in Latin). Ew!

 

♡, Sana xx

i'm cocoNUTS for this oil!

Happy New Year everyone!

I thought I’d start the year off with posts on ways to enhance your beauty and health using natural products.

This week I want to talk about the queen of all oils: Coconut Oil. I have heard about the benefits of this oil for years but it only piqued my interest last year when I read about how good it is for your skin.

The article I read claimed that regular use of organic coconut oil reduced the appearance of wrinkles, stretchmarks and pigmentation. I was at the time concerned with the latter two and was on the lookout for natural, chemical-free products, so I decided to give it a go!

Before this I only used coconut oil on my hair and more recently in my cooking. Once I began using it on my skin, I came across countless other fantastic uses for it, some of which I will share with you today.
 

Coconut oil, or copra oil, is an edible oil extracted from the kernel or meat of mature coconuts harvested from the coconut palm.

Topical

The fatty acids, antioxidants and antibacterial properties in Coconut oil protect and heal the skin.

§  Replace your cream/lotion with coconut oil, it is nourishing and moisturising.

§  Use it as a deodorant.

§  It’s an excellent eye-makeup remover.

§  It may help lighten age spots when rubbed directly on the skin.

§  A natural low SPF sunscreen when used topically.

§  Rub on lips as a natural lip balm.

§  Use as a natural shave cream and after shave lotion.

§  Use as a whitening toothpaste.

§  Rub on cuticles to help nails grow.

§  Rub into elbows daily to help alleviate dry, flaky elbows.

§  Use on skin to avoid new stretch marks (even during pregnancy).

§  Can prevent wrinkles and sagging skin. Use it as an anti-aging facial moisturizer.

§  Soothes skin, even in cases of psoriasis, eczema and poison ivy.

§  Reduces appearance of scars and stretch marks.

§  When used consistently on skin it can help get rid of cellulite.

§  Rubbed on the inside of your nose it may help alleviate allergy symptoms.

§  Can help reduce appearance of varicose veins.

§  Can help speed healing of sunburn.

§  Can reduce the itch of mosquito bites.

§  Naturally clears up cold sores.

§  Rub into scalp daily to stimulate hair growth.

§  A tiny dab rubbed on your hands and then through hair makes a great anti-frizz treatment.

§  Use as a diaper cream (just rub on baby’s bottom) and on nursing nipples to sooth irritation (also great for baby!)

Consumption

Coconut oil is rich in healthy fats (lauric acid), it’s nutritional and has antimicrobial properties.

§  Good for digestion.

§  May contribute to better focus and mental performance.

§  Coconut oil contains specific fats that support the body’s natural hormone production.

§  It has antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties that make it beneficial for immune support.

§  A great cooking oil with a high smoke point. Great for baking, stir-frys or as a dairy free replacement to butter.

§  Try adding to foods or smoothies daily for energy.

§  Helps boost metabolism when used in foods.

§  Coconut oil improves antioxidant levels and can slow aging by reducing stress on the liver and by lowering oxidative stress.

§  It has been shown to increase absorption of calcium and magnesium.

§  Can help speed weight loss when consumed daily. It helps to burn fat and decrease appetite. Also great for building muscle.

§  It can help improve sleep when taken daily.

§  It may support healthy thyroid function, improve insulin levels and can help with depression and anxiety.

§  Some studies show it can boost circulation and help those who often feel cold.

§  Safe to use in pregnancy, and will provide baby necessary fats for development.

§  Used for oil pulling for oral health.

§  Blend a tablespoon into hot tea to help speed recovery from cold or flu and sore throat.

§  Its anti-inflammatory properties can help lessen arthritis.

§  Ingesting coconut oil daily can help with allergy symptoms.

§  Nursing moms can take a couple tablespoons a day to increase milk supply and nutrients.

§  Proven Alzheimer’s natural treatment, prevents heart disease and high blood pressure, cures kidney infection and protects the liver, reduces inflammation and arthritis, can prevent insulin resistance and Type II diabetes, prevents osteoporosis and is used for cancer prevention and treatment.

As you can see there are so many benefits of using and consuming Coconut oil and the ones I listed are for using the oil on its own, in its natural state. By mixing it with other organic products the uses and benefits increase tenfold!

I’ve been using coconut oil on my skin for a year now. I have to admit I haven’t noticed any reduction in the appearance of scars or marks and it didn’t prevent new stretchies from appearing either. I am going to try mixing it with pure cocoa butter and hopefully that will combat these issues.

Also, you need to continuously apply it (perhaps even twice a day) to keep your skin properly moisturized. Nevertheless, there are still many benefits to using it and I feel at ease using a natural product on my skin.

After learning the advantages of consuming the oil, I’ve started taking 2 tablespoons of it every morning. I’ll keep you updated on what happens.  

I also want to try oil pulling but not sure I’d be able to swish something around in my mouth for 20 minutes…

I use the Lifestyle Food Organic Virgin Coconut Oil from Dischem. There’s an odourless version available too. In summer, its best to keep in a bottle because the oil will be in a liquid state and can get quite messy. In winter the tub is fine.

 

Go Coconuts!

♡, Sana xx