The Benefits of Coconut Oil

This article was sent to me by Tera Warner.  I am a great fan of hers and this is the very information I have been looking for.  READ........and LEARN

Update!  I originally bought Coconut Oil from the niternet and paid about £8 for it including postage.  I have just seen exactly the same thing  "KTC Pure Coconut Oil" in Tesco's for £2.25.  So if you want to try it - it just got cheaper!!! 

The Benefits of Coconut Oil

- by Rachel Redondo

There is something absolutely amazing about coconut oil. It’s like a gift from Mother Earth herself and it is the gift of all gifts indeed! There are so many health and beauty benefits from this one item alone, that it trumps all other beauty products in my book. It’s the one product that I will not go without and I buy in bulk (1 whole gallon at a time) because it has so many beneficial uses! Coconut oil is Queen! Here are a few reasons why:

It’s anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-microbial, anti-parasitic, and anti-inflammatory. Its non-toxic to humans and animals and it fights infection! It can be taken internally or externally for many different ailments or general health and wellness uses. It can be used as a personal hygiene tool as well as a preventative, aid, relief, or cure for many diseases. It can be used for cooking and also for many general around the home solutions for common household fixes. Coconut oil is THE item to have.

Coconut Oil Can Replace Many Toxic Beauty Care 

Products

After learning about the toxins and chemicals in the lotions and potions in our everyday household items, I tossed everything I had, and read everything I could on a healthy replacement. BAM! My ever growing love affair with coconut oil began.

In my household I like to buy a huge bulk gallon sized bucket of it. This is because I use it for so many different purposes throughout my home. It can be used to replace almost everything!  I have saved so much money just by replacing many house hold products with coconut oil. I actually like to buy different sized glass containers (variety sized mason jars work perfect), put some coconut oil in them and store them in specific areas throughout my house.

I keep one next to my shower as I use it both as a hair conditioning treatment and also as an all over body moisturizer. It cured my dry legs when I started using it after shaving to keep me smooth and moisturized and to prevent razor burn. I use it as a hair and scalp conditioner to give me healthy shiny locks and a moisturized, dandruff free scalp. You just goop it on, massage it in, and throw a shower cap on and let it sit over night. It keeps my locks luscious and my scalp flake free. I also like to use is as a lip conditioner, so I keep a little container handy in my purse.

I keep a little jar next to my bathroom sink to use in the morning before I brush my teeth as an “oil pull” source that helps stop gum bleeding and receding, and restores dental hygiene to great health. To oil pull, you just put a teaspoon of oil in your mouth and allow it to melt as you swish the oil around for 10 minutes. I usually do this right when I wake up and before brushing. Afterward I mix a bit with baking soda and brush my teeth with it as the anti-bacterial properties keep my mouth and gums free of the bad bacteria that cause damage to gum tissue. Doing this each morning helps keep my mouth healthy and happy.

You can even use coconut oil as makeup remover, hair gel, massage oil, or even for those moments in the bedroom when you need a little extra slipperiness (::blush::).

Coconut Oil for First Aid and General Health

You can use it on bites, burns, and bruises for a quick pain relief and as an aid in a quick recovery. It reduces scarring and promotes healing.

If you take 1-2 tablespoons by mouth (like in a smoothie!) each day, the health benefits are endless. It helps clear acne, boosts your immune system, reverses aging, and helps promote your skins healthy glow. It’s been linked to the aiding, preventing, and relieving of several health problems including skin, liver, lung, and kidney diseases. It’s been known to help provide relief or aid in curing several diseases when applied topically, such as acne, athletes foot, canker sores, cellulite, cuts scrapes, burns, warts, etc.

Coconut Oil for Cooking and Uncooking

One of my most favorite uses for coconut oil is as a main ingredient when I make raw chocolate. Super yum! Its quick, easy, and sugar free. My recipe calls for only uncooked ingredients so it keeps the nutrient content high and its more easily processed and converted in your body (Recipe to come. Next post!)

When cooking, most oils are unsafe to use as the high temperatures required for cooking coverts the properties in most oils to dangerous substances in the body. But, if you are to cook with oil, coconut oil is said to be the best choice.

Coconut oil is incredible. It is truly a gift. The uses really are endless so be creative!

What do you love to use coconut oil for?  Let us know in the comments below!

Ready to Learn More About Pure, Health-Enhancing 

Beauty Care?

For a complete, , please join us for the upcoming . It’s 30 days of learning the most efficient, empowering natural beauty tips you need to know. Wrinkle-cream and powder puffs just don’t cut it anymore for women who long to reveal their natural, radiant beauty and sparkle with a vibrant glow reflective of the health and well-being happening on a cellular level.

You can read this article by Rachel Redondo here:- http://www.bodyenlightenment.me/blog/2012/03/benefits-of-coconut-oil/

Sugar Detox

Every time I manage to give something up I end up acquiring a new addiction.  When I gave up drinking I was so successful that I decided to give up smoking 3 weeks later.  I thought I had cracked it.  Unfortunately I then reacquired my habit of eating enormous amounts of chocolate each day.  It didn't happen straight away.  At first I was just eating one bar a day.  I didn't realise that without the alcohol my stress levels were going through the roof.  I had been drinking to blot those out and very successfully too, might I add.

11 Things a Sugar Detox Can Do for You

By Dan DeFigio from Beating Sugar Addiction For Dummies

Sugar, in excessive amounts, is one of the most harmful substances you can eat. When you look at a piece of candy, a soda, or a bag of pastries, you may not think of the word toxin, but refined sugars (along with other artificial sweeteners) place a huge physiological stress on your body’s systems.

High blood sugar levels cause damage to blood vessels and organs, and high insulin levels promote fat storage. Sugar makes your immune system less effective and creates a strong inflammatory response throughout the body. Getting off sugar can end all that!

Aiding weight loss

When you stop feeding yourself empty sugar calories, and when your insulin levels aren’t elevated from eating too many carbohydrates, you begin to lose weight. More specifically (and more importantly), you begin to lose body fat.

B12 deficiency: a silent epidemic with serious consequences

By Chris Kresser on May 6, 2011 

What do all of these diseases have in common?

• Alzheimer’s, dementia, cognitive decline and memory loss (collectively referred to as “aging”)
• Multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurological disorders
• Mental illness (depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, psychosis)
• Cardiovascular disease
• Learning or developmental disorders in kids
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Autoimmune disease and immune dysregulation
• Cancer
• Male and female infertility

Answer: they can all mimic the signs and symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency.

B12 deficiency: an invisible epidemic

B12 deficiency isn’t a bizarre, mysterious disease. It’s written about in every medical textbook and its causes and effects are well-established in the scientific literature.

However, B12 deficiency is far more common than most health care practitioners and the general public realize. Data from the Tufts University Framingham Offspring Study suggest that 40 percent of people between the ages of 26 and 83 have plasma B12 levels in the low normal range – a range at which many experience neurological symptoms. 9 percent had outright deficiency, and 16 percent exhibited “near deficiency”. Most surprising to the researchers was the fact that low B12 levels were as common in younger people as they were in the elderly.

That said, B12 deficiency has been estimated to affect about 40% of people over 60 years of age. It’s entirely possible that at least some of the symptoms we attribute to “normal” aging – such as memory loss, cognitive decline, decreased mobility, etc. – are at least in part caused by B12 deficiency.

4 Herbs to Cleanse Your Liver

• by Michelle Schoffro Cook

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The liver is arguably your body’s most important detoxification organ.  It helps with the digestion and metabolism of fat, and detoxifies your body of harmful pollutants, food additives, and other toxins.  Here are four herbs to help cleanse your liver:

Milk Thistle (Silybum Marianum)The primary medicinal ingredient in milk thistle is called silymarin.  This compound protects the liver by inhibiting damaging substances in the liver that cause liver cell damage.  Silymarin also stimulates liver cell regeneration to help the liver rebuild after it has been damaged.  Silymarin also helps to prevent the depletion of the nutrient glutathione—one of the most critical nutrients for liver detoxification.

Silymarin in milk thistle seeds is not very water-soluble so does not extract well into tea.  Instead, take a standardized extract containing about 140 mg of silymarin for liver cleansing and protection.

Dandelion Root (Taraxacum Officinale)Nature grows a liver-cleansing pharmacy every spring.  It is the dreaded weed that most people curse as it pokes its yellow-flowered head through the green of their lawn.  Dandelion is one of Mother Nature’s finest liver herbs.

The Australian Journal of Medical Herbalism cited two studies that showed the liver regenerative properties of dandelion in cases of jaundice, liver swelling, hepatitis, and indigestion.  If you choose to incorporate dandelion root into your liver cleansing efforts, take 500 to 2000 mg daily in capsules.  Alternatively, you can make a decoction by using two teaspoons of powdered dandelion root per cup of water.  Bring to a boil and simmer for fifteen minutes.  Drink one cup, three times daily.

Globe Artichoke (Cynara Scolymus)Globe Artichoke contains compounds called caffeylquinic acids which have demonstrated powerful liver regenerating effects similar to milk thistle.  Globe artichoke is usually found in capsule form.  Doses range from 300 to 500 mg daily.

Turmeric (Curcuma longa)A commonly-used spice in Indian curries, turmeric helps regenerate liver cells and cleanse it of toxins.  Turmeric also increases the production of bile to help expel toxins and may help reduce liver inflammation.  In studies turmeric has also been shown to increase levels of two liver-supporting enzymes that promote Phase 2 liver detoxification reactions.  Turmeric comes in capsules and tablets, sometimes under the label, “curcumin,” which is the key ingredient in turmeric.  Follow package instructions.  You can also add ground turmeric to soups, stews, and curries.

Always consult your holistically-minded physician prior to taking any herbs.  This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat illness.

Adapted with permission from The 4-Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan by Michelle Schoffro Cook, PhD.

You can read the article here:- http://www.care2.com/greenliving/4-herbs-to-cleanse-your-live.html?page=1

Crack of Sparrows - 10 tips

Well I have two alarms set with a 15 minute interval so I must hit the snooze button about 4 times.  By this time I have lost the will to live and have to mentally shout at myself to make sure I get up before I fall asleep again and make myself late for work.

Sound familiar?
               

Image courtesy of Grant Cochrane / FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

Everything after this is now going to be rushed.  Get up, go to the toilet, lean against the wall whilst I clean my teeth as I haven't got the energy to hold myself up, put the kettle on, put the toast in, start making my pack up for lunch, turn the television on and watch the news because it shows the time at the bottom of the screen.     HELLO! HELLO!  No, it's no good she is still on autopilot.  Oh! My! Goodness!  I just remembered I haven't ironed my uniform.

If you are saying to yourself "What a way to start the day!" you are absolutely right.  So let's find a better way to start the day.  Apparently, we should be taking on some water before we add all that caffeine and craziness.

So a few suggestions from me.

Just pick one from the list and do it religiously for 3 weeks.  3 weeks is sufficient to break a habit.

1.     Drink a large glass of water before you eat or drink any of your breakfast.
2.     Stand on one leg when you clean your teeth, improve your balance and make sure
        you are awake.
3.     Don't ever press that snooze button - you are setting yourself up for low esteem for
        the day.
4.     Prepare your lunchpack the night before.
5.     Drink milk (dairy/coconut/almond etc) for breakfast instead of tea or coffee.
6.     Iron what you are going to wear the night before.
7.     Put on some favourite music to energise yourself instead of watching the television.
8.     Always have some protein for breakfast.  Meat, fish, eggs, milk, cheese, yogurt,
        beans, soya.
9.     Go to bed 5 minutes earlier.  There is a correlation between more sleep and gradual
        weight loss.
10.   When winter is coming on, for a warming breakfast try some porridge or a home
        made soup with added veg.

Want to do some healthy cooking?

Water and Drinks

Your body needs water or other fluids to work properly and to avoid dehydration.

This article explains how much we need to drink, how to spot the signs of dehydration and how to choose healthier non-alcoholic drinks. For advice on alcohol, see our Alcohol section.

Water makes up about two-thirds of the weight of a healthy body.

Most of the chemical reactions that happen in our cells need water in order to take place. We also need water so that our blood can carry nutrients around the body and get rid of waste.

How much should we drink?

To stay healthy, it's important to replace the fluid we lose when we breathe, sweat or urinate.

We get some fluid from our food but most comes from drinks.

The European Food Safety Authority recommends that women should drink about 1.6 litres of fluid and men should drink about 2.0 litres of fluid per day. That's about eight 200ml glasses for a woman and 10 200ml glasses for a man. 

However, the amount a person needs to drink to avoid getting dehydrated will vary depending on a range of factors, including their size, the temperature and how active they are. So, for example, if you're exercising hard in hot weather you'll need to drink more.

All drinks count, including hot drinks such as tea and coffee, but water, milk and fruit juices are the healthiest. It is best to avoid alcoholic drinks.

Try to avoid sugary, soft and fizzy drinks that can be high in added sugars. These can be high in calories and bad for teeth.

Signs of dehydration

When our bodies don't have enough water, we are said to be dehydrated.

One of the first signs of dehydration is feeling thirsty.

If you think you may not be getting enough fluids, check whether you have any of these other common signs of dehydration:

• dark urine and not passing much urine when you go to the toilet
• headaches
• lack of energy 
• feeling lightheaded 

To read the original article please go to:- http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pages/water-drinks.aspx

So What About the Belly Dancing

Well, there is a lot to tell but here I would just like to mention NADA, Northern Arabic Dance Association, and MADN, Mosaic Arabic Dance Association.  They both run insurance schemes for Belly Dance teachers who are their members.  They are "block" insurance schemes whereby all the teachers are on one policy so economy of scale is possible, i.e. it's cheaper.

To find out about these two associations please visit
http://www.nada.uk.com/
http://www.mosaicdance.org/

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TRY BELLY DANCING both these sites have a teacher directory.  Get that body out there!!

Shira's website has a seemingly unending array of information on all aspects of belly dance. 
 http://www.shira.net/

Belly Dance is good for overall body toning

Belly Dance is Good for Overall Body Toning Belly dance works on so many levels...... A regrettable aspect of modern life is that we don't use our bodies enough. Computers and cars mean we sit and stay inactive so much and we can't do anything about that. But we can find something energetic and fun to do outside those times! Muscles that don't get used much become "flabby" looking.  Conversely well toned muscles look shapely. With our style of energetic and celebratory belly dance your legs, bum and arms will become more shapely and your waist will pull in as the obliques (diagonal muscles from the ribs to the hip) tone up, particularly with our style of belly dance. Kylie Minogue swears that her shape, particularly her bum comes from dancing. Our style of belly dance uses all the muscles in the body in a really enjoyable way. What is of particular significance is the way all the smaller underlying muscles get used. The problem with conventional muscle training regimes is that they tend to focus on only the large really obvious muscle groups and there can then be a tendency to develop a "hard" muscular look.  The belly dance we do tends to use all the muscles more evenly so you tend to develop a nice overall tone as the pictures of Zehara show. Yet Zehara has never done any physical training other than her dancing. (Other than an odd bit of stretching here and there).  Our classes are upbeat and rely on generating celebratory and uplifting atmosphere created by charismatic and expert belly dance teachers, good sound systems and using the best World Music around.

Go to Zehara's site to learn more  http://www.zehara.co.uk/healthbenefits.htm

The Bowen Technique

If you have never heard of this technique, I can tell you I have experienced this treatment with good effect so I recommend you find out more about it if you have some physical problem, e.g. frozen shoulder, sciatic nerve pain, stiff neck.

I wasn't expecting to benefit psychologically and emotionally too but I did!

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We believe that the Bowen Technique is one of the most versatile and effective therapeutic treatments available today offering significant relief for many conditions. After taking a comprehensive case history and discussed your condition in detail, a treatment will consist of a series of gentle moves on skin or through light clothing, with the client usually lying on a bed or treatment couch, although it is possible to be treated seated. A session usually lasts up to an hour and frequently results in a deep sense of relaxation helping the body to recharge and balance itself. 


more:- http://www.bowen-technique.co.uk/

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The Bowen Technique, a healing, often miraculous, life-changing hands-on therapy, is revolutionizing the healthcare world!

A simple and powerful technique that helps relieve all kinds of pain, it is so gentle that it can be used on anyone, from newborn infants to the elderly.
The Bowen Technique is not massage, acupressure or chiropractic.  There is no manipulation, adjustment or force used.  The practitioner uses thumbs and fingers to gently move muscles and tissues.   In between each set of moves, the practitioner leaves the room.

These pauses and the gentleness of the treatment are what make Bowen unique.   It offers rapid, long-lasting relief from pain and discomfort.   Most conditions respond within 2-3 treatments.

While it can help speed up recovery time, the Bowen Technique is not meant to replace medical treatment.   However, due to its high rate of success, more and more members of the medical profession continue to be amazed at its effectiveness and have begun to add the Bowen Technique to their practices.

more.....http://www.boweninfo.com/index.htm

Many of us indulge in a drink now and again but sometimes in response to great stress we hit the alcohol bigtime!  Please read this lady's experience, which is frightening but also a reality check.    

If your drinking is in response to a separation or divorce please have a look at http://isdivorcetheend1.blogspot.co.uk/
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who is killing your spirit?

There are so many reasons why women turn to drinking. For me, and many others, it was a gradual roughening up of my confidence, a wearing down of
my resilience, a slimy fatigue on the face of life’s challenges; a series of
mental and physical batterings that made me feel so low about myself that drinking seemed like a reasonable thing to do, week in, week out, year in,
year out, decades in , decades out. More than three quarters of my life
spent relying on alcohol to make it all better.

Get Rid Of Bruises By Running?

Now here is a really intriguing idea.....from a site called Helping Articles (unable to find this site now!)

I had to read this twice before I could take it in.  I have just started running and when I say running I mean in a very non-runner-like way.  Run for 100 steps then walk until your breathing has returned to normal.  Then run another 100 steps etc.

Well I only do this twice or three times each morning on the way to work.

I have developed a bad knee now so I am not running at the moment but I am determined to find out if running is for me. 

An Active Running Regimen Can Help You Stop Bruising Easily!

Are you ready to be rid of those bruises that are bugging you so badly? As you continue to age, it becomes very hard to prevent or reduce bruising easily. In addition, there are many people that think there is something medically wrong with them that would explain all of the bruising. However, most of these people that go to the doctor to inquire about this issue find out that it is just due to the body’s aging process.

After you have determined that the bruising occurring to your body is not some medical disorder and is simply because of age, you can evaluate many different ways to help prevent bruising. This can be done by paying proper attention to the root problem of easy bruising and getting educated by gathering the proper information. As the body ages more and more, your blood vessels become more fragile, and even a slight bump can put bruises at the points of contact. Therefore, explore how beneficial a regular running routine may be to help avoid bruising from happening at all.

One thing you will see right off is that running regularly will increase your heart’s pumping ability substantially. If you remain consistent with your running regimen, you will see how well this works to help prevent bruising from occurring at all.

When you are practicing a consistent running regimen, it forces the cardiovascular system in your body to exert itself more, which will improve your aerobic capacity. Whenever your blood vessels become stronger than what they were, you will surely see that those slight bumps and bangs are not doing the damage they once did resulting in bruising. You may just be thinking you are only exercising your legs when you are running, but your whole body is benefiting from the exercise.

Are you 50 yet?

Well apparently there is a difference in how you should think about your diet.....

This is from Natural Health and Organic Living blog by Aree Bettermann

If you’re someone who’s beyond the age of 50 who is looking to lose some body fat, you might start to wonder if there should be a difference in the approach you use versus the approach of someone who is younger. 
After all, your body is different now than when you were in your twenties, so it only stands to reason that you may need to use a different type of diet. 
So what differences should someone over 50 take note of? What alternations will best help you see success?
Let’s go over the main things that you should know so that you can get right on track to progress. 
Alterations To Your Calorie Intake 
The very first thing that you will likely want to do is use a slightly lower calorie intake at this point in your life. Now, there is the common saying that the metabolism naturally slows with age. While this is true, it’s not for the reason many people believe. 
The primary reason why your metabolism will decrease as you get older is because you’re losing lean muscle tissue. If you’re someone who has been active for the last 20 years, then you likely don’t need to use a reduced calorie intake as you will have more lean muscle tissue. 
If you haven’t been exercising though, then a slightly lower calorie diet is in order. Try starting at around 10 or 11 calories per pound of body weight.

This article was published on tophealthystore99's blogspot which can no longer be found

How do you milk a coconut then?

OK, so I tried the coconut milk and the almond milk and any other non dairy milk I could find in the shop.

And guess what, I liked them all and they didn't taste very much different to cow's milk to my palate.

To be fair though I don't have milk in coffee and I very rarely drink tea so I was using the coconut milk in cooking only.  BUT I tried it just as a drink on it's own and  I LOVED IT!

Here are some recipes using coconut milk so you can try it.  For others go to 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/coconut_milk
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Coconut milk recipes

Coconut milk is not the liquid from inside the nut, but the extract of freshly grated coconut flesh. The flesh is first soaked in hot water, then allowed to cool, after which the liquid is strained off. This process that yields both coconut milk and coconut cream. The two liquids will separate when left to stand: the thick white cream will rise to the surface of the liquid leaving the clear watery milk below. Coconut milk gives a distinctive taste and smoothness to curries, sauces and rice.

Recipes using coconut milk

Main course

• Mussel broth

  By Paul Ainsworth

• Turbot cooked in coconut milk, frozen lettuce and confit English asparagus

  By Glynn Purnell

• Coriander fish curry with pilau rice and coriander flatbreads

  By James Martin

• Thai coconut mussels

  By James Martin

• Jungle curry of guinea fowl with coconut and lime rice

  By John Torode

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