Educating people with natural health resources.

Boosting your well being with ingredients in your cupboard:

• helps lower blood pressure – hibiscus tea , 3 cups/day lowers by 7 pts

• prevent osteoporosis – tomato juice because of lycopene, protect bones 2 c /day

• home remedy to help heart burn – baking soda and H2o, neutralizes 1/2 t per 8 oz cup water no more than 3 cups per day

Yesterday, I attended a business seminar with Priscilla who has battled with cancer, undergone chemo therapy and tackled the side affects all the while keeping a positive out look. The cancer is now in remission. However, as her hair grew in and got longer, it was noticeably different in texture and excessive dryness. When I asked her about conditioning her hair, she said nothing was working because after chemo, the hair strands grow back flat instead of round like mine so the conditioners cannot penetrate to the follicle.

Post-cancer patients hair strands are compact and conditioners bounce off rather than penetrate.

This is what I recommended to Priscilla:

• coconut oil
• Greek yogurt
• cucumber
• honey
• ginger
• mint (fresh)
• tea tree oil

Using a pistil and mortar, grind and crush the mint and ginger. Add the tea tree oil and continue to mix. Transfer to a blender or food processor. Add honey and cucumber that has been chopped into chunks. Blend until smooth and creamy. Add Greek yogurt and coconut oil. Blend again. Transfer to a glass jar and refrigerate.  When ready to use, BEFORE shampoo, massage on scalp and work to ends of hair. Cover hair with plastic cap or plastic food wrap. Keep on for at least an hour. You can sit under a dryer for 20 min then wrap head with a towel for remainder of time.

Shampoo

What do the different ingredients do for your hair?

• coconut oil - Coconut oil, being a triglyceride of lauric acid (principal fatty acid), has a high affinity for hair proteins and, because of its low molecular weight and straight linear chain, is able to penetrate inside the hair shaft and make it stronger.
• Greek yogurt - makes hair shiny and soft, it is a good hair mask and face mask to work as the exfoliating as well as moisturizing element.
• cucumber -  It is rich in silica; the high content of silicon and sulfur in cucumber juice nourishes hair and promotes growth.
• honey - Using honey as a hair conditioner will increase the health of your hair follicles and your scalp at the same time.  It also adds shine and prevents hair loss. It has cleansing properties to gently rid the hair product build-up without stripping it of it's natural oils. Honey forms a protective layer on your hair, helping to prevent damage from products, styling and the elements.
• ginger - an activator/catalyst stimulates and increases blood circulation
• mint (fresh) - an activator/catalyst stimulates and increases blood circulation
• tea tree oil - The oil has a moisturizing component, which can improve the texture of dry or frizzy hair.It is free of chemicals, dyes and other artificial ingredients, it is a healthy alternative to using chemical shampoos and conditioners. Tea tree oil is used as an antibacterial and antiseptic agent. These properties make it ideal for keeping hair healthy since it will thoroughly clean your hair and scalp by deeply penetrating into your skin.
• heat - opens the cuticles to allow deep penetration of conditioner

The hair follicle is a skin organ that produces hair and penetrates the dermis layer.

The ginger and mint stimulate the skin and as activators/catalysts carry the other ingredients through the sheath into the fiber area with the assistance of coconut oils ability to penetrate deep into the follicle. The Greek yogurt exfoliates the debris from the hair strands allowing its protein and the protein of the coconut oil  to penetrate . The cucumber nourishes because of its silica content while the tea tree oil and honey moisturizes and adds shine.

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We found this method to lose weight on e-how after we had been recommending it for years. this really works. Just remember to drink lots of water.

The kernels of sunflower seeds are high in fat but when eaten in moderation, are healthy snacks that provide health benefits that support your weight loss program. Sunflower seeds are sold with or without shells and are either raw or roasted. They are a good source of protein, Vitamin E and other vitamins and minerals. Almost 90 percent of the fat in the kernels is unsaturated and helps prevent heart disease. Their high fiber content promotes a healthy digestive system. An ounce of sunflower seeds (about 300) has 160 calories and 5 grams of protein.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Instructions

   • 1
     Sunflower seeds with shells

     Use sunflower seeds to satisfy your hunger pains. Eat a small amount of raw seeds when your body craves food. They are high in protein and fiber that create a sense of fullness.

   • 2

     Take time chewing them before swallowing. This gives the body time realize that its hunger has been satisfied. The seeds stay in the stomach longer than other foods, prolonging the feeling that your appetite has been satisfied. Use the feeling that your appetite is satiated to reduce or eliminate your consumption of other foods.

   • 3
     Sunflower seeds help the digestive system process foods efficiently.

     Determine the amount of fiber allowed in your diet and eat the seed kernels as a source. Sunflower seeds are a dense, high bulk food that help the digestive system to process food efficiently.

   • 4

     Replace some unhealthy fats in your diet with the unsaturated fats found in sunflower seeds. Saturated fats are found in meat, skin on poultry and whole dairy products.

   • 5
     Sunflower seeds are a tasty substitute for croutons on salads.

     Use sunflower seeds to add flavor and crunchiness to foods. A small handful can be sprinkled on yogurt, breakfast cereal or in a salad as a substitute for croutons. Increase the nutritional value of breads and muffins by adding the seeds. Add crushed seeds as a coating for fish or chicken. Use them to add a nutty taste to stuffing.

Tips & Warnings

• Raw sunflower seed kernels are the best choice. Seeds that are heated and processed destroy some of the nutrients. These products may contain added fats, sugars, salt, MSG and other additives.
• If your diet is currently low in fiber, sunflower seeds should be introduced in small amounts at first. The recommended daily intake should eventually reach 20 to 35 grams of fiber.
• The digestive tract needs time to adjust and too much fiber in the beginning may create unpleasant side effects such is as flatulence, stomach pains, constipation or diarrhea. Cut down the amount of seeds eaten to alleviate these systems. Give your body time to adjust to the added bulk. Eating a lot of the shells of sunflower seeds is potentially harmful to your digestive system and can create a build up of feces in your body known as impaction. If the shells are not softened by chewing, a sharp piece could pierce or become attached to the linings of your digestive organs.

References

• North American Vegetarian Society, Nuts & Seeds By Dina Aronson, MS, RD and Dina Kimmel, RD:”Ancient Foods That Are Still Nutritional Gems Today
• Canadian Beef:”What’s New — Can Protein Help with Weight Loss?”
• Asian Food Information Centre: “Dietary Fiber – an Essential Ally in Weight Management
• National Sunflower Association:”Sunflower Seeds: Ideal as a Snack and an Ingredient”
• National Sunflower Association:All About Sunflower – Frequently Asked Questions”

My  3 year old son loves to play at the park and in dirt, you know that thing all little boys like to do so much. With him doing all this and other boy things that gets him dirty,  he does not always wash his hands before he touches his face. This leads to him getting lots of eye infections. My son gets eye infections so much it make makes me look like a negligent parent. I am doing everything a responsible parent should do, but he still gets these eye infections. For those parents who know what I am taking about, here are some things I discovered we can do for our children before we take them to the doctor.Below is  a website I found on suggestions on  what we can do at home to help our children. If you have any questions or would like me to find some more  home remedies for different things that will help our children before we take them to the doctor please feel free to e-mail me.

Posted by Ashley Contreras for Mama Vega

ashley_contreras@mamavegasbistro.com

http://www.nativeremedies.com/ailment/natural-treatments-for-eye-infections.html#question3

After seven pages of herbs that protect the brain and memory on herbcompanion.com, I have compiled a quick list of herbs that promote a healthy brain. This article includes detailed descriptions of the herbs along with products they recommend buying. Very thorough and scientific, yet very enlightening. Happy Thinking.

1.Gingko

2. Ashwagondha

3. Asian and American Ginseng

4. Rhodiola

5. Gotu kola

6. Sage

7. Chinese Club Moss (specific cases of Alzheimer’s disease)

8. Turmeric

9. Green tea

http://www.herbcompanion.com/health/herbs-for-memory-maintain-your-brain.aspx

Chianti for Mama Vega

Generally raw things are good and healthy for the body. When it comes to milk it is better to do the research since you cannot simply go and wash it off in your kitchen sink. Here are two sites that should hopefully help in this decision or clear up confusion. This website is Pro-raw milk:

http://editor.nourishedmagazine.com.au/articles/what-is-raw-milk-and-is-it-healthy

This link here represents the FDA’s warning against drinking raw, unpasteurized milk. When it comes to drinking milk, get in the know.   Happy drinking and digesting.

http://wholefoodsmagazineonline.com/news/breaking-news/raw-milk-and-weight-loss-supplements-under-fire

Chianti for Mama Vega

Deliciously sweet with musky undertones and a soft, butter-like consistency, it is no wonder the papaya was reputably called the “fruit of the angels” by Christopher Columbus. Once considered quite exotic, they can now be found in markets throughout the year. Although there is a slight seasonal peak in early summer and fall, papaya trees produce fruit year round.

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=47

Ashley for Mama Vega

The mango originated in Southeast Asia where it has been grown for over 4,000 years. Over the years mango groves have spread to many parts of the tropical and sub-tropical world, where the climate allows the mango to grow best. Mango trees are evergreens that will grow to 60 feet tall. The mango tree will fruit 4 to 6 years after planting. Mango trees require hot, dry periods to set and produce a good crop. Most of the mangos sold in the United States are imported from Mexico, Haiti, the Caribbean and South America. Today there are over 1,000 different varieties of mangos throughout the world.

Here is a quick list of super foods to increase circulation. Some you may already have in your kitchen, others maybe not. Either way this is a “top 10″ that is nice and easy

http://www.healtharticles101.com/top-10-foods-that-increase-blood-circulation/

Chianti for Mama Vega