Berry Glow

BERRIES.
Simply looking at them makes me feel playful & alive. I mean, is there any more perfect, gorgeous shades of pink & red? There is just something magic about it.

And really, there is. Aside from my visual love affair, science has something to offer about the possible attraction. Yum. Gotta love the logic. And who says you have to EAT them to actually feel the love?

 

the strawberry:  (Fragaria ananassa) Bursting with the natural goodness of antioxidants, flavonoids, polyphenols, vitamin C, phosphorus, calcium, potassium, dietary fiber, folates and vitamin A * Strawberries are completely cholesterol free & extremely low on calories. Because of the amazing punch they pack with their antioxidant count, their regular consumption has been known to keep your heart & organs extremely vital. Strawberries reduce the free radicals (aka cellular waste, from all the hard work they are doing!) in your system, which in turn lessens the stressful impacts on your body. You feel, and ARE a more youthful, vibrant you. The oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) of 100g (about 1 container) of strawberries is 1,540 units A study was conducted on strawberries by Dr. Gene Spiller of the Sphera Foundation with results showing that antioxidant levels in the body increased remarkably 30 to 60 minutes after eating strawberries. .
for your SKIN: When used as a face mask, strawberries gently refresh & exfoliate your skin because of the presence of salicylic acid (to help balance oils) & a cornucopia of antioxidants which keep skin full of elasticity, hydrated & remove the effects of environmental stress on the face. Add a dash of cinnamon to your mask to enhance circulation & increase cell renewal. Cinnamon has really helped to keep the oils on my skin in balance. * After all masks, I will typically wash with a gentle cleanser & use shea butter as a moisturizer.


the raspberry: (Rubus idaeus) This beauty runs the scene with anthocyanins, pelargonidins, gallic acid, cyanidins, coumaric, catechins, kaempferols, ellagic acid, ferulic acid and salicylic acid.  What?! Not to fear. Those illegible words, they fight for the good guys.  Raspberries also are a bountiful source of Vitamin C, manganese, magnesium, potassium, vitamin B complex, folic acid, copper, iron and dietary fiber. If you are looking to balance your weight, raspberries are rich in dietary fiber & play a magical trick to make you feel nice & full. Raspberries have an ORAC of 4,900 units per 100g (about 1 container).  The high levels of manganese present in it increase your basal metabolic rate which is the amount of energy you burn while at rest. Nice! So does that mean that you can maintain your health by lounging? Yes indeed. The more the basal metabolic rate the better the weight loss.
for your SKIN: With a similar profile to strawberries, raspberries can be mashed into a face mask to exfoliate & rejuvenate your skin just the same. Suggestion: Mix strawberries, raspberries & cinnamon together :)

 

the cranberry: (Vaccinium macrocarpa) Being one of the world's healthiest foods isn't easy... and being practically a pure ANTI-OXIDANT... now that's, working overtime. The oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) of 100g (1 container) of cranberries is roughly around 9,584 units. Cranberries are a rich source of essential micronutrients such as manganese, calcium, magnesium, vitamin C, fiber, and vitamin K. Like other berries, they are also rich in phytochemicals, flavonoids and polyphenols. Cranberries are known to be anticarcinogenic & act as anti-clotting agents (for those on blood thinners, it is suggested not to ingest cranberries). They are also used in preventing recurrent urinary tract infections and are so healthy for your heart!
for your SKIN: Pour 4 tbsp. of cranberry concentrate (no sugar) into your bubble bath & soak up the benefits. Also excellent as a hair rinse or to add to your shampoo. Use with caution if you have chemically bleached hair; blondes tend to soak up the reddish hue.

the blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium)  With all the goodness of anthocynins, luteins, flavonoids, antioxidants and phytochemicals, blueberries have the amazing ability to greatly reduce inflammation. They are also known to improve vision. Blueberries have an oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) of 2,400 units. A cup of blueberries which is roughly around 145g supplies over 30 percent of our daily requirement of vitamin C which helps to fight infections and scavenges harmful free radicals besides being anti-inflammatory in nature. Blueberries have been found increase mind & memory health, and keep our brains functioning optimally. The phytochemical pterostilbene (a methoxylated form of resveratrol) present in blueberries keeps glucose levels healthy.

for your SKIN: Mash together blueberries & honey (antibacterial & full of minerals!) to make a refreshing face mask. Amazing for refreshing areas around your eyes. For a feel-good body scrub, start with a base of sugar & add just enough of the blueberry/honey mix so that it sticks to your skin. This is my favorite way to exfoliate my whole body every once in a while. Exfoliation will keep your skin healthy & vibrant, plus it feels so, so awesome.

 

 

  berrrrrrrry good ideas:

* Freezing them & eating them as a snack

* Freezing them & Blending them with Fozen Banannas in a Food Processor = Best "ice cream" ever!

* Purchasing them in powdered/concentrated form & mixing them as a tea.

* Simply adding them whole to your water bottles for a naturally flavored-water. Over the day, this just gets better & better....

lots of love,
Alana

Jump Start the Healing Process & See Immediate Results

When it comes to healing troublesome skin conditions such as acne & eczema, paying your body respect & giving it nutritious support from food, vitamins & digestive strengthening herbs, is without a doubt the best medicine that is available to us. But sometimes we need some encouragement; a protocol that will save us years of detoxing & healing just using dietary changes.

No matter where you are at on your journey to healthy, beautiful skin: Jump on to exploring colon hydrotherapy, quality digestive enzymes & probiotics will elliminate years of waiting to see a change.

The 3 Treasures:

HYDROTHERAPY
There is a lot of controversy out there with colon hydrotherapy, but I believe that the only way to really know if something is right for you or not, is to simply give it your own test run. It certaintly will not hurt you. The body has amazing natural healing abilities on its own. But I will say, that as soon as I opened myself to using hyderotherapy, my healing abilities increased a million-fold. The Hydrotherapy was able to assit my body in clearing digestive blocks, which not only left my skin feeling healthier, but also left me mentally feeling focused & energized.

For Qualified Practioners in your Area: http://www.colonic.net/

In combination with Hydrotherapy, the use of quality Digestive Enzymes & Probiotics, has changed my skin dramatically.

ENZYMES
It is important to find enzymes that have been evaluated for potency by the FCC - & this is seen in the way they measure dosage on the ingredients. You don't want an enzyme supplement that is measured just in milligrams. You want to see some crazy measurements like HUT, DU & BGU's. Ideally, you will also want a supplement that covers a wide variety of enzymes such as Amylase, Protease, Cellulase, Lipase & Lactase, just to start. The broader the spectrum the better. You can take enzymes away from meals in order to cleanse your blood & help manage bacteria in your system - or with your food to actually digest & breakdown carbs, protiens, fats & so on.

PROBIOTICS
Probiotics is a fun one - I recently learned that what may seem to some as overdosing on them, is actually incredibly benefical. A friend of mine & I split a bottle of Garden of Life Raw Probiotics & took the whole thing internally right before bed. I woke up feeling amazing & my digestion was spot on. If you aren't used to lots of fermented, cultured foods - you may notice some cleansing effects - multiple bowel movements & some gas - but! With all those toxins cleared, your colon will thank you by giving you light, blissful state of mind. 

After years of using different dietary approaches, tonifying herbs & different cleanses, these 3 simple regimens trump them all! You can be anywhere on the journey & start here. I highly recommend exploring these 3 treasures.

Cheers to your health :)