The Key to Having Natural Beautiful Skin

Beautiful skin!  It's something we all aspire for, women and men.   No one wants dry, blotchy, rough, uneven skin and we certainly try to avoid getting acne.  We will go to get our facials and expensive creams in hopes of getting and maintaining the perfect youthful and soft skin.  In the end, what ever the creams and facial couldn't fix we will cover up with make up.  I have been there so many times and this is why I can speak on it so well.

How satisfying is this routine?  I will admit that it can be fun to try new creams, wearing make up, and there is definitely nothing wrong with a facial but it kind of takes the fun out of it when you have to depend on these things to have the type of skin.

We all have envied the lady who proclaims to have on no make up and seems to have great skin.  We assume it's just in her genes and we wish that we had her natural beautiful skin.  Well, I have a secret to share with you.  Your quest for naturally beautiful skin is no further than your plate!  It is pretty much known that eating healthy improves your over all well being inside and out.  But there are certain foods that will do wonders for your skin.

First, I will briefly cover the foods that you should avoid because they are known for damaging the skin.  Refined carbohydrates, sugar, salty foods, bad fats, soda and caffeine are all damaging to the skin especially when consumed over a long period of time.  Refined carbohydrates clogs pores which causes acne.  These food include any cakes, sweet, and processed foods.  Sugar affects the collagen in your body by depleting the function of protein in the body.  Too many salty foods draw out the moisture in the skin cells which will lead to loss of elasticity.  Eating bad fats depletes the amount of oxygen to the skin cells.  Oxygen supports the production of elastin and collagen in the skin.  Soda contains a lot of sugar and artificial ingredients.  As we have already mention these ingredients affects the skin in a damaging way which will lead to skin rashes and acne.  Caffeine amplifies any stress that you may endure which then deprives the skin of oxygen and blood.  This will make the skin look lifeless and dull.

Now that we have covered what will harm our skin when consumed, I will go over what is the best foods to eat for our skin.  I want to share what I have found to be the top five foods that are great for the skin and also give information on foods that are not the top five but  are also very helpful to the skin.  The top five foods would be water, Salmon (and other fatty fish), blueberries, carrots, and green/black tea.

Water is needed to keep the skin hydrated.  For men up to 60% of the body is made up of water and for women it is 55%.  Water prevents our skin from being dry and it rejuvenates our skin cells.

Salmon and other fatty fish contains the healthy fats that we need for our skin.  These fats or Omega-3 nourishes the skin and reduces the production of inflammatory substances in the body.  It also prevents pores for clogging and skin from wrinkling.

Some experts consider blueberries to be the food that contains the most antioxidants which protect the skin from cell damage.  This berry contains a load of vitamin C, E, fiber, and riboflavin which all fights the aging process of the skin leaving it looking younger longer.

Vitamin A is also know for protecting the skin cells from damage.  The carrot is a vegetable that provides a great amount of Vitamin A along with potassium and biotin.

A lot of people do not know or are just learning the benefits of green and black tea.  Some are still not aware of all the benefits it provides the skin.  These teas are rich with antioxidants that protect the skin and fights acne.  Green tea also protects against sun damage and ultra violet light.  This protection will ultimately reduces the risk of cancer.

Those are the top five basic foods that I found to work wonders for the skin.  This list is great to start your quest for beautiful skin.  But there are also a few other foods that I must touch on that are fantastic for the skin.

Sweet potatoes!  A lot of people love them so maybe this food will be an easy one to incorporate into your meals.  This root is know for giving skin an even and smooth complexion.  There are large amount of beta carotene in sweet potatoes which converts to vitamin A in the body.  A serving of sweet  potato can give you up to 700% of the US RDA for vitamin A.   Keep in mind that a lot of the creams we purchase contain retinol and retinoic acid are derived from vitamin A.

Watercress is currently being raved about due to it's profound affects the battle against aging.  Like most vegetables, you will get the benefit that watercress provides if you eat it raw.  You can put it in a salad, smoothie, a sandwich or even on pasta.  Research has shown that if you eat watercress once a day you should notice younger skin and even a noticeable reduction of facial wrinkles.

Other foods that are recommended to include in your diet to achieve healthy skin include beans, peas, lentils, nut, tomatoes, mackerel and other fatty fish.  The beautiful thing about the foods mentioned is that not only will you have beautiful skin but you well be healthy from the inside out.

So go head and fix yourself a watercress salad topped with Salmon or juice vegetables and fruits to make a great power breakfast drink when you're on the go.  You may be able to reap the benefits of having someone ask you what type of make up do you wear and you can say, "I'm not wearing any".

I hope you have enjoyed my findings on how to have life long beautiful skin.  My name is Nicole Coles and I have a passion for all things natural.  I believe that going back to the basics of real food and skin care is the key to a long healthy life.  I have always had this passion but it intensified when I lost my father to diabetes complications in 2011.  Because I now believe whole heartily that our food is our medicine, I dedicate my life to researching, learning, and then sharing what are the best foods to eat to be in the best physical and mental health possible.

nicolecoles.blogspot.com
first photo is from www.comluv.com

Recipe Sharing Time

I want to start off this post by apologizing for being missing in action for A LONG TIME.  I have been busy dealing with a lot of family things that have come up it has consumed my time.  I am now back and will be posting again! YAY!

Today I just wanted to share a recipe that I absolutly love.  I have had so many friends and family ask be for the recipe so here it is everyone!  

Mexican Salad

Cilantro Dressing:

1/2 cup Grapeseed oil
2 Limes (juiced)
2 Tablespoons White Wine Vinegar
1/4 Teaspoon black pepper
1/2 Teaspoon Pink Himalayan Salt
1/4 cup Sour Cream
1/4 cup real Mayonnaise
1 Clove of Garlic
1 Cup fresh Cilantro Leaves

Blend all ingredients together and store in an air tight container.  (Lasts a week)


The Salad: (For one serving)

Chopped Romaine Lettuce 
Quartered grape tomatoes
1 diced Red Bell Pepper
1 Cup on grilled corn or corn seasoned with Mexican seasoning 
1 Avocado diced
1 medium Red Onion diced
1 cup of Black beans (optional-seasoned with Mexican seasoning) 


Layer your bowel with the lettuce first.  Top the lettuce with each salad ingredient and drizzle your cilantro lime dressing on top and ENJOY!!

Inspired by Simplyscratch.com 

The Beauty and Benefits of Using Cast Iron Cookware

Cast iron ware to me was just something that my grandparents used back in the day and that now we have evolved to using better ware.  I couldn't have been more wrong.

Cast iron ware is iron that has been heated and casted into cookware.  People who love to cook and chefs love to use them because they will last you a life time.  The cookware cooks your food so wonderfully because it distributes heat evenly though out the pan and retains the heat.  It is also non stick and oven safe.

To have a non stick cast iron pan you must season it before you use it for the first time.  You can do this by rubbing a thin layer of oil (use the of your choice) evenly throughout the pan using a paper towel.  I prefer to use coconut oil.  This should leave a light layer of shimmering oil though out the whole pan.  Do not leave any excess oil in the skillet.  Pre-heat your oven to 250 degrees and bake the skillet for an hour.  After baking it for an hour take it out of the oven and let it cool for a while.  When your skillet is cool enough to touch rub another thin layer of oil on the pan and bake it for another hour.  You can repeat this as many times as you like, but two to four times should be enough depending on how raw the iron pan is.

Another reason cast iron ware is loved by many is because it is actually healthier.  The act of cooking takes away vital nutrients and minerals from our food.  Cooking with cast iron ware does the opposite of this.  Cast iron released iron into your food, especially acidic foods, which increased the amount of iron in the food that you are cooking.  This is beneficial to everyone especially women.  Women are more likely to be iron deficient.

Some of the ways you can use cast iron is on the grill to saute veggies, making deep dish or pan pizza, to bake dishes like peach cobbler and to bake biscuits.  You can bake corn bread, pasta dishes, a roast, or fry chicken.  You can use the cook ware for cooking just about anything.

Please keep in mind that cooking with cast iron eliminates the need for Teflon and other non stick pans which has fluorocarbons  in it (PFC's).  PFC's is a chemical that has been linked to cancer. So, using cast iron is one of the safest and healthiest things you can do for you and your family and the best thing about them is that they last a life time so you can pass it down to the next generation.

My Love For My Local Farmer's Market

My Farmer's Market Goodies For Today

I just love going to the farmer's market with my friends on Fridays.  It's a good way to have some me time and catch up with my fiends to find out what good things they have been up to through the week.  

It also is a great way to purchase fresh local foods and natural skin products.  They have a tea/herb/oil stand where I love to purchase my tea.  Other stands includes produce, fresh bead, honey stand, sea food stand, and even a homemade dog food stand.  

One of my favorite stand to visit weekly is the Amish stand.  All of their meats, deli meats, and dairy foods are antibiotic, steroid, and preservative free. You can also purchase raw milk there.   I love to get their homemade Amish butter and their cheese which taste so different than the processed cheese you buy at the grocery store.  I can spend all day there browsing and shopping.  

So, if you have a farmer's market near you I urge you to go and see what goodies you may have been missing out on.  Have a wonderful and blessed day!

Not All Fast Food Is Bad

Fast Food Surprise

Fast food restaurants are known to be fun and inviting places to dine where the flavor filled food is served in a timely matter.  These experiences are always fun and it will give you a break from cooking at home and they serves as a quick meal for you when you are already out on the go.

The problem with most fast food restaurants comes with the health quality of the fast food.  The food is filled with  unhealthy fats, preservatives, sugar, calories, sodium, and carbohydrates.  Even though fast food provides great flavors and is filling it gives very little real nutrition to the body.

There is a light at the end of this long fast food tunnel.  I have fantastic news to share with all my viewers in or around the Maryland area!  I have found that there are great fast food places out there that serve fresh healthy food.  This past weekend I was in Baltimore taking care of some business with my family.  After quite  a few hours out around town my kids started complaining about how hungry they were.  My husband and I started to feel the hunger pains also but with trying to eat healthy we were struggling to think of the best place to eat.  We decided to check out Owings Mills Mall and see if there were some new places open since we had not been there in a while.

When we went inside I spotted a lovely place called "The Big Bean Theory" that caught my eye.  What  first got my attention was the display case of vegetables and then the awesome name .  With excitement I then realized this is no ordinary fast food place.  I thought to myself, wow, no burgers, fries, subs, pizza, or fried chicken here.  Finally something different to eat!  The employees were very informative and friendly.

I came to learn that the owner, Chef Eula, has spent years of perfecting her healthy and quite delicious creations and now is able to serve them to her community at her place, "The Big Bean Theory" inside Owings Mills Mall.

I had the Salmon sandwich with a amazing white tea.  My meal is pictured below.  The Big Bean Theory also offers vegan and vegetarian dishes that is all made with fresh (local when possible) ingredients at a great price.

This is a great grab and go HEALTHY and DELICIOUS fast food restaurant that I felt I had to share with you.  So if you are in the area stop by and later let me know what you thought.

What's The Hype about Commercial Deodorants

There had been a lot of talking about how antiperspirants and deodorants are doing harm to our bodies and now some are finding ways to to avoid any dangers that could be coming from their deodorant.  Some wonder how much truth is there to this.  The talk about danger in using commercial deodorant started after some research findings came out and since then people have been very cautious. 

Parabens and aluminum which are found in some antiperspirants and deodorants have been suggested to be linked to breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease.  Parabens are preservative that is found in some products in the cosmetic industry.  According to Steven Chang, M.D, in the 1960s some studies where done and the studies suggested that the levels of aluminum seemed to he higher in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease.  The research also suggests that breast cancer cells may grow due to aluminum and parabens being applied to underarm skin.  Parabens have been found in large amounts of breast cancer tissue.

The good news is that the National Cancer Institute and Alzheimer's Association suggest  that beyond the lab there is no direct link to cancer and Alzheimer's due to the use of personal care products.  Many see these findings as no solid proof of any danger in deodorants.  But some people still take heed to the study and want to play it safe  by carefully reading the labels and avoiding antiperspirants and deodorants with parabens and aluminum.  Some are also choosing to make their own deodorant.  I am one of the people who has decided to take heed and has made my very own homemade natural deodorant.  Below I will share with you the recipe.  

Ingredients:

8 Tablespoons of coconut oil (in it's solid state)

1/4 cup of baking soda

1/4 cup of cornstarch (use arrowroot powder if you have sensitive skin)

Tea Tree oil (10 drops)

vanilla oil (10 drops)

**you can use any oil that you like for the sent you want to in your deodorant.  I chose tea tree oil because it act as a anti fungal, antibacterial, antiseptic agent**

Directions:

1.  Combine baking soda and cornstarch or arrowroot powder.

2.  Slowly add coconut oil and mix.

3.  Add the oils and mix until firm like the texture of commercial deodorant.  If it is too wet you can add               a little cornstarch or arrowroot powder.

4.  You can scoop the deodorant into an old deodorant dispenser or into a small container with a lid and apply the deodorant with your fingers.

A Trip To The Health Food Store

The goodies we found at our local health food store!

                      

This past weekend the hubby and I visited a local health food store.  We went there to pick up some fresh juice and produce but came back home with what we hope will make a significant difference in our health.  As you may know, I am looking to lower my blood pressure naturally and for my husband, he is looking for more energy.

I picked up some information on Diatomaceous Earth (food grade).  DE is a natural source of silica which is necessary for calcium absorption.  It is also known to regulate bowel movement, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, help stabilize blood-sugar levels, increases energy, nourishes skin, hair and nails, calms nerves, improves sleep, helps with weight loss and joint issues, cleanses digestive tract of parasites and detoxifies heavy metal while not interfering with  medications.   DE can be used for numerous things while still safe for human and animal consumption.

A couple of employees at the store said that they are currently taking DE and are very happy with the results.  I started to wonder why DE and it's benefits are not well known if it's suppose to be so good.  I found out that, like so many other things I'm learning about, it can not be patented for profit so mainstream companies have kept quiet about it.

After quite a bit of research, I have decided to try it for about a month to see if reap any of the benefits.       I will keep you all posted as the month goes on.  If you are interested in DE, I will provide a link below that will give you a lot more information about it.

My husband spoke to one of the personnel that I spoke to about the DE.  He was looking for something to give him energy during his long travel for work.  He currently is taking an energy aid but wants something that is more natural and healthy.  The lady that was helping us swore by Bee Pollen!  Yes, bee pollen.  Of course it wouldn't be wise to try this if you have a bee allergen.  It looks like very tiny pellets and it needs to be kept refrigerated.  Apparently bee pollen is the most complete whole super food available to humans and contains over 185 nutritive substances.  It is extremely high in protein, contains a host of amino acids, and contains most every vitamin.  Bee pollen also contains 5,000 enzymes an co enzymes.  It is documented that bee pollen supports healthy red blood cells, healthy skin, give you max energy, sexual stamina, mental capacity, supports thymus gland, positive mood, and longevity.  Here is a link that will give you more information if you are interested:  www.mercola.com

YOU SHOULD  ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE TRYING ANY OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED.