Dry hair? Oily hair? Dandruf? Try these natural conditioners!

Why make an expensive trip to the salon for a most likely "chemical solution" to your hair woes when you could do it at home for less?
Make these hair masks to moisturize and revitalize your hair using all-natural ingredients you probably have sitting in your refrigerator or cupboard right now!

DRY hair –Olive Oil and Egg
In need of some major TLC?? Combine three tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil with two eggs and apply the mixture to your hair and let the mixture sit for 20 minutes before rinsing in the shower.
The olive oil will help hydrate brittle locks, while the protein in the eggs will promote healthy hair growth.

ALL HAIR TYPES — Avocado and Honey

Mask a ripened avocado and mix in a tablespoon of organic honey and allow it to sit for 20 minutes before rinsing it off in the shower.
Avocados are rich in a variety of vitamins and nutrients, including vitamin E and protein, both of which your hair needs to remain soft and healthy. Meanwhile, honey is a natural antibacterial agent.

OILY hair — Apple Cider Vinegar and Lemon
Combine 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar with the grated peel of an entire lemon and allow it to set for 15 minutes to absorb the excess oil from your scalp, and then rinse in the shower.
Apple cider vinegar will remove build up from styling products and conditioners and strengthen the hair shaft, leaving you with soft, shiny strands. It will also balance hair’s pH level, kill bacteria, and is a cure for dandruff.

DRY, flaky scalp hair — Banana, Honey and Almond
Mash together 1/2 a ripe banana and add two tablespoons of honey and a few drops of almond oil and allow it to set with a shower cap on for 20 minutes before rinsing.
Bananas can increase the moisture of your hair, smooth frizz and soothe your itchy scalp.



I can't claim to have come up with these, nor do I know who did.  They were sent to me in one of those "spam" emails that someone forwarded to EVERYONE in their email address box. LOL
Do you have a "hair solution" that you are willing to share?  Comment here or email me!

Cinnamon and Honey Can Cure What?

I recently read....

"Facts on Honey and Cinnamon: It is found that a mixture of honey and Cinnamon cures most diseases. Honey is produced in most of the countries of the world. Scientists of today also accept honey as a 'Ram Ban' (very effective) medicine for all kinds of diseases. Honey can be used without side effects for any kind of diseases.

Today's science says that even though honey is sweet, when it is taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm even diabetic patients. Researched by western scientists:

HEART DISEASES: Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, apply it on bread instead of jelly and jam and eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces the cholesterol in the arteries and saves the patient from heart attack. Also, those who have already had an attack, when they do this process daily, they are kept miles away from the next attack. Regular use of the above process relieves loss of breath and strengthens the heart beat. In America and Canada, various nursing homes have treated patients successfully and have found that as one ages the arteries and veins lose their flexibility and get clogged; honey and cinnamon revitalize the arteries and the veins.

ARTHRITIS: Arthritis patients may take daily (morning and night) one cup of hot water with two tablespoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon powder. When taken regularly even chronic arthritis can be cured. In a recent research conducted at the Copenhagen University, it was found that when the doctors treated their patients with a mixture of one tablespoon Honey and half teaspoon Cinnamon powder before breakfast, they found that within a week (out of the 200 people so treated) practically 73 patients were totally relieved of pain -- and within a month, most all the patients who could not walk or move around because of arthritis now started walking without pain.

BLADDER INFECTIONS: Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink it. It destroys the germs in the bladder.

CHOLESTEROL: Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of Cinnamon Powder mixed in 16 ounces of tea water given to a cholesterol patient was found to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10 percent within two hours. As mentioned for arthritic patients, when taken three times a day, any chronic cholesterol is cured. According to information received in the said Journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complaints of cholesterol.

COLDS: Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon lukewarm honey with 1/4 spoon cinnamon powder daily for three days. This process will cure most chronic cough, cold, and, clear the sinuses.

UPSET STOMACH: Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomach ache and also clears stomach ulcers from its root.
GAS: According to the studies done in India and Japan, it is revealed that when Honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.

IMMUNE SYSTEM: Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacterial and viral attacks. Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts. Constant use of Honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles (where DNA is contained) to fight bacterial and viral diseases.

INDIGESTION: Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food is eaten relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals

INFLUENZA: A scientist in Spain has proved that honey contains a natural 'Ingredient' which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from flu.

LONGEVITY: Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly, arrests the ravages of old age. Use four teaspoons of honey, one teaspoon of cinnamon powder, and three cups of boiling water to make a tea. Drink 1/4 cup, three to four times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft and arrests old age. Life spans increase and even a 100 year old will start performing the chores of a 20-year-old.

RASPY OR SORE THROAT: When throat has a tickle or is raspy, take one tablespoon of honey and sip until gone. Repeat every three hours until throat is without symptoms.

PIMPLES: Three tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder paste. Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it off the next morning with warm water. When done daily for two weeks, it removes all pimples from the root.

SKIN INFECTIONS:Applying honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts on the affected parts cures eczema, ringworm and all types of skin Infections.

WEIGHT LOSS:Daily in the morning one half hour before
breakfast and on an empty stomach, and at night before sleeping, drink honey and cinnamon powder boiled in one cup of water. When taken regularly, it reduces the weight of even the most obese person. Also, drinking this mixture regularly does not allow the fat to accumulate in the body even though the person may eat a high calorie diet.

CANCER: Recent research in Japan and Australia has revealed that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully. Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer should daily take one tablespoon of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder three times a day for one month.

FATIGUE: Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more helpful rather than being detrimental to the strength of the body. Senior citizens who take honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts are more alert and flexible. Dr. Milton, who has done research, says that a half tablespoon of honey taken in a glass of water and sprinkled with cinnamon powder, even when the vitality of the body starts to decrease, when taken daily after brushing and in the afternoon at about 3:00 P.M., the vitality of the body increases within a week.

BAD BREATH: People of South America, gargle with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water first thing in the morning so their breath stays fresh throughout the day.

HEARING LOSS: Daily morning and night honey and cinnamon powder, taken in equal parts restores hearing. Remember when we were kids? We had toast with real butter and cinnamon sprinkled on it!"*

So...do you use any homeopatic medicine?  What have your results been?  What do you suggest?
*Disclaimer:  Someone posted this on Facebook without crediting the source.  When/if I find the source, I will update the post to credit!

Do you wash your hands correctly?

Flu season is upon us!  Please remember to WASH YOUR HANDS!

Face it. You touch A LOT of stuff!  Your hands are gross. Then you shake somebody's hand and pass those germs along.  Or worse yet for you, you reach into that bag of potato chips for a snack... and you lick your fingers.

Maybe someone taught you to sing a song (like the Alphabet song) when you were young to ensure you washed your hands long enough... but how you wash your hands matters too!

To really get rid of germs so please follow these 8 easy steps...

Then turn the water off with your elbow or a paper towel.  

Also use your paper towel to open the bathroom door.  No towels - just "sanitary" hand driers? Use your shirt to open the door or wait for someone else to open the door.

OK - so some of you are hand sanitizer freaks.  That is good in a pinch and all... but nothing beats a good scrubbing under the finger nails to get your hands truly clean.  I mean really, would you want your surgeon to just grab a squirt of hand sanitizer before doing your operation?

Be healthy everyone!

Sarah

Follow me at Twitter.com/SarahMarrinan

How To Moisturize Skin Naturally

Not taking any credit for this but wanted to share!

How To Moisturize Skin Naturally
By Paula Parker on July 20, 2009

Dry, itchy skin. It's uncomfortable and makes skin look older, who wants that? Using lotions and body oils works for some people, but many people can't use these products due to allergens and a sensitivity to certain skin irritants. For these people, using natural methods and products can moisturize their skin. There are foods you can eat--and supplements you can take--that help your skin retain moisture, too.
Step 1

Take warm--not hot--showers, using a body wash that does not have sodium lauryl sulphate, which can dry skin and cause irritation. While your skin is still damp from the shower, apply a moisturizer that has vegetable oils--like olive, coconut or almond--and not mineral oil, which comes from petroleum.
Step 2

Use a steam bath. If you don't have a steam facial, put a pan of water on the stove--you can add lavender essential oil, which is an antiseptic--and bring the water to a boil. Take the pan off the stove. Drape a towel over your head and lean over the pan until the steam subsides.
Step 3

Peel and mash papaya. Mix in 2 tbsp. of honey. Spread the fruit and honey mixture over your face and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse it off and wash your face with a mild hypoallergenic soap. Exederm makes cleansers and moisturizers that are free from allergens and irritants.
Step 4

Add foods and supplements to your diet that promote healthy skin. Magnesium hydrates skin; foods rich in magnesium are meat, seafood, dairy, bananas and tofu. If you take a supplement, use no more than 400 to 800 mg each day. Vitamin A is used to fight wrinkles and can be found in fish oils, cantaloupe, carrots, sweet potatoes, leafy green vegetables, peaches, apricots, papaya and mango. Vitamin C builds the collagen in your skin; take 50 to 60 mg each day. Vitamin E prevents free radicals and is found in grains, legumes and nuts.
Step 5

Drink 8 ounces of fluids each day. Stay out of the sun, use sunscreen and wear a hat to protect skin from the drying effects of the sun.

Paula Parker - Since 1995, Paula K. Parker has written more than 2000 articles for publications including PB&J, Disney's Family Fun, ParentLife, Living With Teenagers, and Thomas Nelson's NYTimes Best-selling Resolve. After 17 years of homeschooling her five children, Paula discovered that motherhood doesn't stop with an empty nest.

Lack of Energy?

Common Causes of Low Energy & Fat

*Anemia or Low Blood Sugar
*Sleep disorders
*Chronic pain
*Allergies
*Underactive Thyroid
*Use of alcohol or drugs
*Depression, Anxiety and grief

*Poor diet or dieting too much
*Certain medications such as antihistamines, blood pressure meds, and steroids
*Illnesses such as infections, heart failure, diabetes, arthritis, autoimmune diseases and cancer.

Energy Boosting Foods
Topping the list of foods found provide to an energy boost include: eggs, figs, molasses, green veggies, almonds, beets, oatmeal, lentils, bananas, sardines, yogurt, apples, brown rice, cantaloupe and parsley. Of course lots of water should be on your menu too, as lack of it is the number one cause of fatigue.

In contrast, foods that can drain your energy levels and drag you down when blood glucose levels plummet after the initial high include:

• fatty, sugary snacks such as doughnuts, pastries
• fatty, salty snacks such as crisps, pork pies
• cakes, biscuits and confectionery
• alcohol - stick to a maximum of one glass of red wine daily if possible

*(Smaller meals throughout the day are much healthier for you and distribute the energy from food more effectively, maintaining balanced sugar levels. Another thing to consider is eating enough. If you drop your calorie intake below 1,000 a day, your body goes into starvation mode and thus slows your metabolism. Your body essentially forces you to slow down so that it can reserve energy.)

Exercise & Deep Breathing
The good news is that any amount of exercise is good for you, whether it's pushups on the living room floor, or doing some stretches in the shower. If you want to try some of the energy and body work methods, yoga, tai chi, qigong and reiki are all said to help improve energy levels. Try taking a few deep breaths while waiting at a red light or sitting on hold... The oxygen = energy and the bonus is relaxation!

Herbal Boosters, Nutrients and Vitamins

Make sure you get enough vitamin D, Iron, Zinc and vitamin E...

Some herbs shown to increase energy include: ginger, gingko biloba, licorice root, Siberian ginseng, carnitine, creatine, trimethylglycine, maca, rhodeola, royal jelly, turmeric, gotu kola, green tea, and maitake. Bee pollen is another thing you can try, often referred to as a "superfood".

If stress is the cause of your low energy levels, you can help counteract the effects by taking a special B-50 vitamin formula which contains more B vitamins than regular vitamin formulas. Other supplements you may benefit from include: L- Carnitine, coQ10, and NADH.

Eating Healthy: Part 1 (Grocery Shopping)

Eating healthy is the easiest way to improve your health but searching the web for healthy ways to eat can consume hours if not days of your life. In my opinion, the best start to healthy eating is a healthy grocery list so I set out to find the "must adds" (and the "skip it") foods to get my weekly shopping list started. (I concentrated on on medical and health websites when researching.) Keep in mind, eating habits don't change over night so this will take time!


MUST ADD these to your grocery list:
The Mayo Clinic list these as top 10 foods:
* Almonds
* Apples
* Blueberries
* Broccoli
* Red beans
* Salmon
* Spinach
* Sweet potatoes
* Vegetable juice
* Wheat germ

Additional "good adds"
*Butternut Squash
*Grape Tomatoes (Tomatoes in general)
*Kale
*Artichokes
*Bok Choy (Chinese Cabbage) or Cabbage
*Peppers
*Citrus Fruit, Pomegranate, Apricots, Kiwi, Avocados, Raspberries (berries in general), Cantaloupe, Bananas...
*Celery
*Watercress and Arugula
*Dried Beans (Beans in general)
*Edamame (young soy beans)
*Seafood (in general)
*Turkey
*Lowfat/Non-fat, Low Calorie Yogurt
*Oats (Oatmeal)
*Lentils
*Whole-grain rye crackers (usually called crispbreads)
*Quick-cooking or regular brown rice (more nutritious than enriched white rice)
*Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah or kee-no-uh)-can be used in place of rice, couscous or any other grain
*Olive Oil
*Onions & Leeks
*Ginger
*Garlic
*Cinnamon
*Honey
*Brazil Nuts (nuts are generally full of essential vitamins, minerals and fiber)
*Raisins
*Figs
*Pumpkin Seeds
*Skim Milk
*Cranberry Juice (low calorie or unsweetened)
*Unsweetened Natural Tea
*Water

Things to SKIP (don't worry - substitute suggestions included!)
*Chips (substitute with Rice/Popcorn Cakes)
*Non-dairy topping i.e. Cool Whip (substitute vanilla yogurt)
*Doughnuts (substitute with Whole Grain Bagels)
*Alfredo Sauce (substitute with red sauce or a homemade, low fat version of the Alfredo sauce)
*Traditional pasta (substitute with whole grain pasta)
*Sausage (substitute with turkey sausage)
*Fried Chicken/Chicken Nuggets (substitute with grilled/boiled/baked chicken - use fiery spices and grill to enhance flavor)
*Processed cheese (substitute with the real thing - in moderation)
*White bread/buns (substitute with whole grain wheat bread/buns)
*ALL frozen/prepackaged "restaurant appetizers" and breaded products ("In-a-hurry" substitutes: frozen stir-fry with grilled chicken or shrimp, precooked grilled chicken with microwave brown rice/veggies...)
*TV Dinners (If you must - watch labels for calorie, fat, sodium and nutritional facts!)
*Frozen Pizza (If you must, watch labels and chose varieties such as DiGiorno Harvest Wheat Thin Crispy Crust Supreme Pizza)


I once heard that if you shop only the outer ring of the grocery store and the "natural foods" isle, you will save yourself from the temptation of "bad foods" and I think (looking at the list above) there is some truth to this idea.

What to do with these things once you have them home? As I find good/easy recipes for these foods, I will post them!

If one oversteps the bounds of moderation, the greatest pleasures cease to please.
-Epictetus

*It is understood that many of these items do not fall into everyone's budget - but if you pick and choose what's on sale each week, you can do quite well! Watch for my post on saving $!