Posts Tagged: skinfood
Skinfood: Ayurvedic Golden Milk / Turmeric Latte Recipe
Day 18 of #SixtyDaysofSelfCare – I was inspired by this post by @urbanorganica and this one by @inspiringquietly to make some chocolate golden milk (find the recipe here), but I was all out of cocao. I decided to try Jean Godfrey June’s turmeric latte recipe from goop – another modern twist on Ayurvedic golden milk. It was delicious and I love the idea of putting it in a blender after heating it up. It’s a great way to get some turmeric and coconut oil into your diet everyday. I’ve had four in the last few days and I feel that my skin, body and energy levels are already benefiting from it.
Turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. It’s great for the joints, brain, heart, skin & immune system, and has been proven to alleviate the symptoms of depression. It’s also known to increase flexibility of the tendons (perfect for yogis & dancers).
Tips:
* I didn’t have any fresh turmeric so I used 1 tsp of the powder.
* I ended up straining it after I blended the almond milk + ginger.
*I added a pinch of pepper to it which helps your body absorb the curcumin in turmeric by 2000%
* Be careful with the turmeric because it may stain your blender – you might want to blend the ginger + almond milk first and then add it back to the pot to stir in the rest of the ingredients.
(Find it here: http://goop.com/great-skin-inside-and-out/ there are lot’s of great skin care tips there, too.)
-Liz
+ Curious about more ayurvedic herbs for great skin? Check out this post
+ Want more holistic health / natural skin care / self-care tips and tricks sent to your inbox? Sign up here
Schizandra Berry for vibrant health and beauty
Hello!
Today I wanted to share one of my favorite herbs, and one of the most powerful and beneficial around: Schizandra berry.
I’ve been taking this herb for several years, and I’m excited that I finally got my hands on some of the highest quality Schizandra out there (and I want to share the wealth!)
It has been one of the top herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years, promoting vibrant health and beauty. It’s said to “calm the heart and quiet the spirit” and to “prolong the years of life without aging”
It’s known as Wu Wei Zi, often translated as “five flavor fruit” – and is the only herb with all 5 flavors ( sweet, salty, bitter, sour and pungent ). It benefits, tonifies, and balances all organs and meridians in the body, and is an adaptogen (helping you deal with physical and mental stress.)
“If used for 100 days successively, Schizandra is said to purify the blood, sharpen the mind, improve memory, rejuvenate the Kidney energy (especially the sexual functions in both men and women), and cause the skin to become radiantly beautiful.” – Ron Teeguarden.
It also:
Improves eyesight (In Russia Schizandra is considered eye food, and is a registered medicine for vision difficulties. [Source]
Cleanses the liver
Improves alertness and concentration
Strengthens the respiratory system
Boosts energy at a cellular level
Helps skin retain moisture
Promotes beautiful eyes & hair
Safely detoxifies the body
Helps speed recovery after surgery
Normalizes blood sugar
Improves mood
etc..etc..etc.. (learn about more of Schizandras benefits, here. Yes – there are even more benefits!)
Where to find it, and how to prepare?
I’ve made schizandra berry tea & tinctures with berries from Mountain Rose Herbs* in the past ( Learn how to make your own tincture, here:
http://thelotusroot.com/making-herbal-tinctures/
Lately I’ve been mixing 1/4 of a teaspoon of schizandra powder in hot or cold spring water.
As I mentioned, I just got my hands on some really high quality Schizandra extract from Lucidera* (Organic, American grown in pristine soil, highly concentrated, freeze-dried to retain nutrients, etc..) As luck would have it, Nick, the owner of Lucidera sent out a coupon code yesterday as I was working on this post. I emailed him to find out if I could share it with you, and he generously offered to create an exclusive 20% off coupon code and extend it to March 20th at Midnight, EST. Sign up here to get the code!
*I have no affiliations with these companies. I just love supporting and spreading the word about businesses with sustainable practices, who are going above and beyond with the quality of their products. I love researching this stuff, and being able to share it with you. It hurts my heart when people think herbalism doesn’t work because they’ve only tried low quality herbs.
Let me know if you try schizandra, and what results you get!**
To your health!
Liz
You may also be interested in Triphala – an Ayurvedic herb for healthy skin, detoxing, and more
Could you use a little more healthy living, skin loving inspiration? Sign up for weekly updates, HERE
**Disclaimer: Not recommended if you have epilepsy, or are pregnant or nursing. May cause gastrointestinal upset in some individuals, although it’s rare. If you have any health conditions, please do your research or check in with a qualified physician before using schizandra.
The information in this post is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Triphala for healthy skin, detoxing, and more
Triphala is a highly revered, time-tested ayurvedic herb which is thought to be beneficial to every system and organ of the body.
It helps regulate & cleanse the digestive system. It’s so gentle that it’s considered safe enough to be taken everyday. It also helps cleanse the blood & liver, and doesn’t deplete the body because of its high nutritional content. These cleansing actions are extremely beneficial to the skin. It’s helpful for the eyes, respiratory, glandular, cardiovascular and immune systems.
It’s believed to be anti-aging, and is known in ayurveda to speed healing, and to rejuvenate every part of the body. It’s great for all three doshas, and considered safe for most people, from infants to the elderly* (although it’s normally not recommended if you’re pregnant or nursing / ** if in doubt make sure to check in with a qualified physician.)
Triphala is made up of 3 nourishing fruits, including vibhitaki/bibitaki, haritaki, and amla/amalaki. Amla is extremely high in heat stable vitamin C (which is normally very easy to destroy with temperature changes). It’s said to have 20 times more vitamin C than oranges.
Vitamin C can hydrate the skin and increase collagen production (preventing wrinkles & increasing elasticity). It can also help strengthen the blood vessels below the surface of your skin, which can help repair or prevent broken capillaries & spider veins.
How to take it: You can find triphala in capsules (from brands such as Organic India or Gaia Herbs) or buy it in loose powder form – I got mine at Mountain Rose Herbs. ( I’m not affiliated with any of these companies, just a fan of their high quality products & sustainable practices.)
I usually take 1/4 of a teaspoon of the powder in some warm spring water with about 1 tsp of honey. You can start with 1/8 of a tsp of the herb and slowly work your way up to 1 or 2 tsp depending on your own needs and tolerance for it. Check out this article to learn more about dosage. Feel free to take it plain or with the vegan sweetener of your choice (a little bit of coconut sugar?)
It is quite bitter, so for me the honey helps it go down more smoothly (the taste has actually grown on me). I like taking it this way instead of in capsules since the bitter flavor helps get digestion going. It’s suggested that you take it first thing in the morning or right before bed.
You can also take it in a cup of tulsi tea, which tastes great, also has amazing health benefits and is said to amplify some of triphalas actions.
Do you ever take triphala? I’d love to hear how you’ve benefited from it. <3
Liz
*Disclaimer: The information on this website is for informational purposes only. The information shared is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. **Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have. Use your own discretion and do your research before trying any herb, essential oil or health regimen, especially if pregnant, nursing or have a health condition.
Could you use a little more healthy living, skin loving inspiration? Sign up for weekly updates, HERE
Want to learn about more herbs for glowing skin? Check out this post
Ayurvedic herbs for the skin
Today I wanted to share this video by Prashanti de Jager, one of my favorite herbalists, on the top ayurvedic herbs for clear & healthy skin.
(Spoiler alert: the herbs are triphala, turmeric, brahmi, and neem – more about triphala and how to use it HERE.)
To sum it up: Any herb or food that is rich in antioxidants, bioflavanoids, or is cleansing to the liver and/or blood is great for your skin. Herbs / foods that support the immune system improve the health of your skin as well.
He also touches on why it’s a good idea to use herbs & herbal based products.
+ Learn more about the health + beauty benefits of turmeric {and a healthy hot cocoa recipe}: here
+ Learn how to make a delicious turmeric / cocoa / peanut butter smoothie: here
+ Sign up for weekly health & natural beauty tips: here
Hot cocoa with a healthy kick
Golden milk is a hot ayurvedic drink traditionally made with milk, honey & turmeric (and a few other ingredients, depending on who you ask.)
I’ve put my own spin on this by adding some mineral rich cocao and a few more spices.
This is my absolute favorite way to get turmeric into my body, and it’s perfect for this time of year.
It gives my mood a boost, and the spices in this drink make it extremely nourishing & warming.
All of the ingredients have amazing health benefits (especially when taken together) – here are just a few:
- Raw cocao is rich in magnesium, antioxidants and those “bliss chemicals” we love so much (phenylethylamine & anandamide).
- Curcumin is the compound in turmeric that makes it a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. It’s great for the joints, brain, heart, skin & immune system, and has been proven to alleviate the symptoms of depression. It’s also known to increase flexibility of the tendons (perfect for yogis & dancers).
- The pinch of pepper in this recipe actually boosts your bodies ability to absorb the curcumin in turmeric by up to 2000 percent! [Source]. It also gives the drink a great kick and makes it taste a bit like chai.
- The healthy fat in coconut oil also allows the curcumin + the magnesium in the cocoa to be absorbed better.
“When eaten with fat, curcumin can be directly absorbed into the bloodstream through the lymphatic system, thereby in part bypassing the liver.” [Source]
I could probably go on all day about the health benefits of the rest of the ingredients, but on to the recipe…
Chocolate golden milk
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of almond or coconut milk (or the milk of your choice)
- One 1/2 inch piece of ginger
- 1/2 a teaspoon dried turmeric powder (or one 1/2 inch piece fresh turmeric)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons raw cocao powder
- Raw honey to taste – I used 1 1/2 tablespoons ( feel free to substitute coconut sugar or the sweetener of your choice if you’re vegan or want to use something low glycemic.)
- 1/2 tsp unrefined / cold pressed Coconut oil (or ghee if you’re not making it a vegan drink.)
- a pinch each of cayenne, cinnamon & black pepper
- optional but delicious: a few cardamom pods (cracked open)
Directions
- Add milk to your pot and start to simmer on medium heat..
- Add your piece of ginger.
- Stir in the other ingredients.
- Bring to a boil, turn down the heat and let it simmer for about 5 – 10 more minutes.
- Pull out your piece of ginger (and turmeric if you used the fresh root)
- Pour into a mug and enjoy.
I hope you give this one a try – Share a pic of your chocolate golden milk with the hashtag #herbalmedicineeveryday on instagram and let me know what you think!
Liz
If this drink sounds good, you may also enjoy this raw cocao turmeric smoothie recipe.
Could you use a little more healthy living, skin loving inspiration? Sign up for weekly updates, HERE
Disclaimer: Please note this article is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose or suggest treatment. Please be sure to do your research and consult with a medical professional before consuming any new herbs or spices, especially if pregnant, nursing, or have any medical conditions.
The lowdown on Olive Oil
Extra virgin olive oil has been used for centuries for health & beauty.
Read on to learn my top 7 favorite reasons to use olive oil everyday:
1. Olive oil is rich in vitamins E and K, fatty acids + antioxidants, which are all great for the skin topically and internally.
2. When applied to your skin, olive oil helps build a barrier to prevent moisture loss. This keeps your skin soft and supple. It also provides a layer of protection from damaging environmental toxins (air pollution, uva radiation, tobacco smoke, etc).
3. It can help keep your skin youthful. The antioxidants in olive oil can help prevent the loss of collagen & elastin caused by free radicals (which can cause wrinkling and sagging of the skin).
4. Olive oil has an anti-inflammatory compound called oleocanthal, which can help calm inflammatory conditions like psoriasis, eczema and dandruff. Oleocanthal has been found to have an anti-inflammatory effect similar to Ibuprofin. [Source]
5. The polyphenols in olive oil have antimicrobial benefits, which can help protect you from skin infections caused by bacteria & yeast.
6. Olive oil has a longer shelf life than many other vegetable oils.
7. According to a recent study, “extra virgin olive oil may reduce DNA damage caused by consuming genetically modified soybean products. “ More info here: http://www.oliveoiltimes.com/olive-oil-health-news/olive-oil-may-reduce-dna-damage-gmo-soybean/40424
Tips:
- Olive oil is best absorbed by the skin after showering.
- Use it for massage or as a carrier oil to apply essential oils.
- When using it on the skin, you can mix it with an oil that is more quickly absorbed (one of the reasons I combine it with jojoba oil in my amethyst body balm)
- Add 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil to your diet everyday to get the health benefits.
- Look for organic, extra virgin olive oil in dark glass. Note: Its come out recently that a lot of extra virgin olive oil sold in stores has been mixed with another, less expensive oil. (Check out this list of some of the fraudulent oils) It’s worth it to pay more to get the real thing. Here’s a brand I stumbled across while doing research. I’m not affiliated with them, but wanted to give you a good idea of what to look out for in quality olive oil.
- Its best not to cook with olive oil. According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, “Due to its chemical structure and a large amount of monounsaturated fats such as oleic acid, cooking makes extra virgin olive oil very susceptible to oxidative damage. Consuming oxidized, rancid oil is not going to benefit your health, so when you need an oil to cook with, coconut oil is the ideal choice, because it is one of the only commonly used vegetable fats stable enough to resist heat-induced damage.”
- Store your olive oil in a cool, dark spot.
What’s your favorite way to use olive oil? Inspire others to stay healthy by sharing it on my facebook page!