Tag Archives: health benefits

kombucha

HOMEMADE KOMBUCHA

For this post, I’m sharing one of the weird things I do.  I make Kombucha.  Some people love it, some people hate it.  I’m one who hates it, but it’s worth the effort.  I may have to hold my nose and gag a little when I drink it, but I do it because I believe it’s doing really good stuff for my body.  It’s referred to as ‘functional food’ with tremendous health benefits.  read more…

kombucha

Are you ready for this?…

Kombucha is fermented by bacteria and yeast commonly known as a “SCOBY” (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast)

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ALOE GLOE Organic Aloe Vera Water

In a recent post, I showed you how I make our AFTER SUN LOTION with Aloe vera and essential oils.  It’s been fun getting feedback from you guys who have made it!  It really DOES work so well!

Topical Aloe application, however, is just the tip of the Aloe vera iceberg in terms of health potential.  So I thought it would be fun to stay with the Aloe theme but this time talk about drinking Aloe vera!

aloe vera water

 

I bought this one (of course it includes coconut water which feeds my coconut obsession)  but there are other kinds too.  I choose to drink this brand – ALOE GLOE – because I trust the company.  I think this tastes good and is very refreshing. It’s got a mild taste and is lightly sweetened with organic cane sugar and organic stevia and has only 18 calories per serving.  If you don’t like drinking it, you can add it to smoothie or something.  It’s packed with vitamins and is clinically proven to improve skin and cardiovascular health (for all you nerds out there, I have more details on the benefits below)

Do you drink it?  What’s you favorite?  I’d love to know!

Click the link below for 12 pack (15 oz) of Aloe Gloe Organic Aloe Water

   


Some of you are like me and want to know why in the world we would buy this and then drink it. The answer ‘It’s good for you”  isn’t good enough.  Tell me why!  I don’t like to do things blindly.  So if you’re in my camp I included some benefits discovered from research below.

For the others, this is all TMI… and that’s ok too!   You guys should definitely just trust me that it’s GOOD FOR YOU, be done reading this post and now click the link above to buy your Aloe Gloe!  THE END and thanks for reading!

WHY SUPPLEMENT ALOE VERA 

ANTIOXIDANTS >>> Phase II enzymes are known to reduce oxidative stress (… aging process…), and Aloe vera has been shown to stimulate the production of natural Phase II antioxidants. Daily dosing of Aloe vera can stimulate a person’s natural, inherent antioxidant system to help fight oxidative stress.  source

INSIDE BEAUTY >>> Thirty healthy female subjects over the age of 45 were orally supplemented with either a low or a high dose (low dose=1,200 mg/day; high dose=3,600 mg/day) of Aloe vera gel for 90 days. After completion of the 90-day period, the KFDA concluded that ingested Aloe vera gel resulted in a significant reduction in facial wrinkles and a significant increase in skin elasticity. There were no adverse events reported. There was also an increase in collagen production and a decrease in collagen-degrading MMP-1 gene expression.  source <<<  DONE.  NUF SAID.  I’M IN.

CARDIOVASCULAR BENEFITS >>> Cardiovascular disease is the number-one killer in the United States. Lowering cholesterol is a key prevention in mitigating the risk of heart disease. A number of studies done in the United States and abroad have shown Aloe vera taken as a supplement can help maintain healthy cholesterol levels. One human clinical study showed that the group taking aloe experienced a 10% drop in total cholesterol. This same study showed a drop in LDL and triglyceride levels to near optimum levels.

Cardiovascular health, as well as metabolic syndrome and related issues like diabetes, is also linked to oxidative stress. A recent placebo-controlled human clinical trial showed that the group taking Aloe vera had a significant reduction in risk factors associated with oxidative stress, including C-reactive protein, a marker of oxidative stress and inflammation. In the Aloe vera group, C-reactive protein dropped by 38%, and isoprostanes, compounds formed by the peroxidation of essential fatty acids, dropped by 32%.  source

IMMUNE HEALTH >>> Science has shown us ways to enhance our innate immune systems through supplementation, with tests now able to determine if an ingredient is increasing Peripheral Blood Monocyte (PBM) CD56 and the cell-killing capability of natural killer cells.

A study sanctioned by the Korean Food and Drug Administration indicated that the group taking an Aloe vera supplement saw increased PBM CD56 and the cell-killing capability of natural killer cells, indicating immune enhancement. As a result of this study, the KFDA has allowed immune-health claims to be made for products containing Aloe vera.  source

There are other benefits being discovered, but I’m sold from just this.

   


OUR STORY —> aloegloe.com
For us, Aloe Gloe is so much more than just a beverage.

While surfing in Manhattan Beach, co-founder Danny Stepper had an accident that gashed open his forehead. After getting stitches, his doctor prescribed not only applying Aloe Vera to the scar but also recommended drinking it. The problem was he couldn’t find any healthy options that weren’t full of sugar, organic or local. Luckily for Stepper, he and his friends are in the beverage business.

Aloe Gloe is part of L.A. Libations, an emerging beverage incubator that was founded by Stepper, Pat Bolden and Dino Sarti. The three first met while working as merchandisers for Coca-Cola Enterprises and after many successful years in the beverage industry they reunited to create L.A. Libations and in turn their own passion project, Aloe Gloe.


Don’t forget to check out my ALOE VERA AFTER SUN LOTION! 

DIY After Sun Lotion

CHEERS TO BETTER HEALTH!

COCONUT OIL – WHAT KIND TO USE

Confused about Coconut Oil?  
Well I hope this can answer some questions on why it’s
“THE HEALTHIEST OIL ON EARTH”
 
I buy my Coconut Oil from

1.  GOLD LABEL VIRGIN COCONUT OIL

  • no hydrogenation or trans fats
  • non-GMO*
  • it DOES taste and smell like coconut
  • no solvents used in processing
  • high MTCs/Lauric acid*
  • no refining
  • made from fresh coconuts
  • hand made, not machine made
  • highest level of anti-oxidants
  • USDA certified organic
2.  GREEN LABEL VIRGIN COCONUT OIL
  • no hydrogenation or trans fats
  • non-GMO*
  • it DOES taste and smell like coconut
  • no solvents used in processing
  • high MTCs/Lauric acid*
  • no refining
  • made from fresh coconuts
get it in ORGANIC or NON-ORGANIC

Use REFINED COCONUT OIL for cooking!
It will not smell or tast like coconut.
Replace your other oils and butter with it.
Coconut oil is very stable at high temperatures.

  • no hydrogenation or trans fats
  • non-GMO*
  • no scent or taste
  • no solvents used in processing
  • high MTCs/Lauric acid* 

Read here for more info on Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil

Watch the short COCONUT OIL REVIEW video below and find out why I’m sold out to this company!

* GMO: Genetically Modified Organism – check out Organic Authority for more info
* Lauric Acid:  disrupts the lipid membranes in organisms like fungus, bacteria and viruses thsu destroying them.  Many people who regularly consume coconut oil experience less sickness.  Breast milk is the only other natural source that contains such a high concentration of lauric acid, which could explain the drastic decrease of infections of all types in breast-fed babies
 Learn more: naturalnews.com 
SHOP NOW from Tropical Traditions!
 If you order by clicking on any of my links and have never ordered from Tropical Traditions in the past, you will receive a free book on Virgin Coconut Oil, and I will receive a discount coupon for referring you! 

HUMMUS and BELL PEPPERS

Cut up some peppers and grab some hummus.
PERFECT.SUMMER.SNACK
source

By choosing COLORFUL, SWEET BELL PEPPERS
instead of chips, you will…
  • Lower your risk of cancer!
  • Improve your immune system!
  • Fight against vision loss!
  • Protect against cardiovascular disease!
  • Help keep fluids & minerals in balance!
  • Enhance muscle function!
  • Help regulate your digestion!

I LOVE chips, but when I look at it this way, I have NO problem putting down the bag and grabbing the veggies!

HUMMUS
No cholesterol or saturated fats!
Rich in protein!
A great source of calcuim!

BENEFITS OF COCONUT OIL

 

Coconut Oil has been described as the “Healthiest Oil On Earth” 

It is rich in
FIBER, VITAMINS, AND MINERALS!
Here are some health benefits:
  • hair care
  • skin care
  • stress relief
  • maintaining cholesterol levels
  • weight loss
  • increased immunity
  • proper digestion & metabolism
  • relief from kidney problems
  • heart diseases
  • high blood pressure
  • diabetes
  • cancer
  • dental care
  • bone strength 

Check out The Coconut Research Center for a list of various references on scientific research done on coconut oil.



This is what Dr. Oz has to say about the 
amazing benefits of coconut oil:

 

Diabetes This is one fat that diabetics can eat without fear. Not only does it not contribute to diabetes, but it helps regulate blood sugar, thus lessening the effects of the disease. Island people have consumed large amounts of coconut oil for many generations without ever encountering diabetes, but when they abandoned it for other foods and oils, the results were disastrous.

Weight Loss The connection between coconut oil and weight loss is interesting. Farmers in America discovered this early last century when they tried to fatten their cattle by feeding them coconut oil. Instead of gaining weight, their cattle lost weight! So again, this is not news. Do a simple Internet search such as “benefits of coconut oil” and you will get plenty of details.

Bone and Dental Health Coconut oil improves calcium and magnesium absorption in the body, which in turn is greatly beneficial to dental and bone health. The improved calcium absorption created by coconut oil use ceases tooth decay and aids in the development of strong teeth. The combined increased calcium and magnesium absorption are of great benefit to middle-aged women who may become afflicted with osteoporosis.

Coconut Oil: A Good Saturated Fat? You may ask, isn’t coconut oil a saturated fat? And aren’t saturated fats harmful? Yes, coconut oil consists of 90% saturated fats. But whether or not saturated fats are harmful depends on who you ask. Among mainstream nutritionists, the idea that saturated fats cause heart disease is an “absolute truth” that is never questioned. Those who question this belief, however, point out that mankind has been consuming mainly saturated fats – in the form of butter, lard, coconut oil, etc – for thousands of years, yet heart disease was rare before the 1920s. If anything, the rise of heart disease in recent decades may correspond to the increasing use of polyunsaturated vegetable oils like corn, safflower and canola, as well as margarine.


the BEST PLACE to buy COCONUT OIL is TROPICAL TRADITIONS!

Read more about 
HANDCRAFTED VIRGIN COCONUT OIL 
and
 MASSED PRODUCED MACHINE MADE COCONUT OIL here.

People are using Coconut Oil for…

Check this out for recipes and tutorials!
Check this out to learn more about the different types of Coconut Oils.

Consult you doctor before you try coconut oil for medical purposes.

 

SUN vs SUNSCREEN

We have plenty of warning about the damaging effects of the sun, but what we don’t hear as much is the damaging effects of sunscreens.  According to Dr Josh Ax, they are filled with damaging toxins that can cause cancer!  If you are like me, your head is spinning and you are thinking, “Well, I guess EVERYTHING causes cancer, so why even try.”   It feels hopeless and confusing.  I think it’s a topic for which we need to be informed and have discernment about.  We all have to make the best educated decision for ourselves and our family.
We all know that getting burned by the sun
increases our risk of skin cancer.
BUT… The sun is also really great and necessary.
It is the natural and best way to which we get vitamin D.  And sunscreen can reduce vitamin D production by as much as 97.5 to 99.9%.
This important hormone is known to:
  • Support your cardiovascular health
  • Promote optimal cholesterol levels
  • Enhance your muscle strength
  • Help produce optimal blood pressure levels
  • Help maintain a healthy immune system
  • Support healthy kidney function
  • Promote healthy teeth
  • Help keep your bones strong and healthy
THIS DAY THE SUN WAS NOT THE BAD GUY!
My family spent a week enjoying non-stop fun at the Port Royal Ocean Resort in Texas.
Our time was spent at the pool, then on the beach, and back to the pool again!  
Being that we were in the sun all day, I used more sunscreen that normal to keep my family from burning.  I did not have the natural sunscreen I was use to using, so I lathered on whatever I had access to.
I used Ocean Potion Suncare Instant Dry Mist
Fruity Fragrance Spray
 SPF 50
on my daughter, Taylor, and this is what happened:
 First day out in the sun with the sunscreen.  A few hours in the sun and it looked like her face was starting to burn.  So I reapplied the sunscreen… 3 more times that day.
 
We spent the next day at the pool and beach… applying the same sunscreen.  By the end of this day, Taylor started feeling sick.  “I felt like I was going to throw up and pass out.” I thought she was dehydrated and had been in the sun too long.

 

That night was when I realized something was terribly wrong.  At this point her face started to swell.
This just makes me sick.
I took her to the doctor to find out that she had experienced a reaction to the sunscreen…probably to the fragrance that was in it.  It caused her face to burn.  
 I was so scared her face wouldn’t be the same.

After a few days of a liquid steroid, the swelling went down and her face started to peel.
We thank God that she healed completely and is back to her natural, beautiful self!

Thank you Taylor for giving me permission to post these pictures.  She wants to spread awareness and hopefully prevent this from happening to anyone else.

Click here for my DIY AFTER-SUN LOTION. 

Below are the sunscreens I trust for my family now.