by Edna Soua
These days, the health and beauty industries are constantly looking for exotic ingredients from remote regions of the world…a super berry from Brazil, healing mushrooms from China, and now…a rare oil from Northern Africa. Argan Oil is the latest thing in skin and hair care products. It’s extracted from the seed of the Argania spinosa tree that grows in southern Morocco. Argan oil is to the Berber culture, what olive oil is to the Greeks…and it has been around just as long too.
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April 13th, 2010
Many people don’t realize that almost all liquid drinks — whether juice, milk, or even sodas — go through a pasteurization process, where the liquid is heated to kill bacteria. Liquids that do not go through this process are required by law to carry a nasty warning, such as:
WARNING: This product has not been pasteurized and, therefore, may contain harmful bacteria that can cause serious illness in children, the elderly, and persons with weakened immune systems.
No doubt, there’s not a drink company around that wants this warning on their product! But along with the killing of bacteria, heating the liquids also kills some of the nutrients and you end up with a less-healthy product as a result. When you drink 100% pure orange juice in a bottle, you are not getting fresh-squeezed oranges. You’re getting (more…)
March 26th, 2010
What’s more important than finding that perfect anti-aging formula or the latest exotic ingredient from Brazil or China? Without question, mild and consistent skincare done every day without fail is by far the most important way to get results. Exfoliation and moisturizing must be done regularly to be truly effective…so even if you’re using last year’s products, using them consistently will put you in the lead.
February 27th, 2010
Why do you think the Bloody Mary is typically a morning drink? Because it’s been known for ages that tomato juice has vitamins and minerals that help you recover from a hangover…of course, drinking vodka the morning after is probably not a good idea. But a good Virgin Mary is a great health tonic…and not just for those bitten by the dog. But for health, let’s take it up a notch…add a green drink powder, tumeric, a touch of garlic oil, liquid vitamin B complex, and some cayenne pepper and you have a delicious Healthy Mary that will cure any hangover and then some!
February 27th, 2010
The Greens Today blend is formulated to offer great nutrition, plus cleansing effects and immune support. It features a heavy dose of greens (mostly Spirulina, broccoli, alfalfa and barley grass — a very good mix), plus antioxidants (green tea, beet root, acerola, bilberry and others). That covers over 50% of the mixture. What’s great about this formula are the extra herbal additions. Some highlights include Pine Bark Extract (one of my favorites for immune support and antioxidants), artichoke (appetite suppressant), Licorice Root (adaptogen for brain and immune support), plus Horsetail Root, Astragalus, and Dandelion (all excellent herbs for health and wellness). Finally, there is a small amount of these powerful additions: Maitake and Reishi mushroom (brain support and disease fighting properties), Royal Jelly (pure nutrition), and CoQ-10 (essential supplement for health and energy). (more…)
February 27th, 2010
Green Magma is formulated with a different philosophy than most other green drinks. It contains only one active ingredient, which is barley grass juice powder. Except for a little sweetener from the maltodextrin and brown rice, this is essentially like getting pure barley grass. Naturally, I tend to prefer the more robust mixtures, but that does not mean some people will not benefit greatly from getting a pure barley grass formula. Others might like to add extra barley grass to their other green drink formula — using Green Magma as the source. There are many studies showing the benefits of this grass, so people who are sold on its benefits might do well to get a green drink like this one. The quality of the grass in this mixture is quite high. The price tag is also on the high side at $4.50 per ounce.
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February 27th, 2010
Vega is designed differently than most green drinks. It provides a larger than usual amount of protein, which makes it a cross between a protein drink and a green drink. The protein comes from hemp and green pea mostly, but also contains some rice and flax. The last two would be fillers to most people, but they do provide some protein. These ingredients give the mixture a slightly gritty texture, but you can easily overcome that by mixing with a “thick” fruit juice or nectar.
After the protein, the formula contains Chicory Root, which is generally considered filler, but does contain vitamin C and fiber to aid in elimination and cholesterol reduction. The formula is also high in Maca Root, which is excellent for natural energy and hormone balance and is used as a general tonic and libido enhancer. However, Maca is one of the ingredients I consider to be “average” in terms of benefits-to-bulk ratio (see my list of best, average and worst ingredients here). Finally, Vega lists Chlorella and Essential Fatty Acids on the label representing 3,250 mg of the mixture. That’s where the nutrition is…but it’s not as high as I’d like to see it. (more…)
January 10th, 2010
You’ve probably hear about bird’s nest soup, a traditional and ancient Chinese delicacy said to be a powerful health and vitality tonic. Well, the beauty industry is beginning to catch-on to this unusual ingredient for skincare and haircare products. If it works for the inside of the body…chances are, it works on the outside too.
January 10th, 2010
Never underestimate the value of relaxation for your health. Studies show that people who reduce stress through meditation, quiet time, reading, or other relaxation practices are healthier and have longer-lasting energy than those who don’t. What are some of the things that relax you?
January 10th, 2010
To move into summer season with hydrated, soft, beautiful skin, try this little mixture of vegetable oils:
¼ cup of grape seed oil
¼ cup of sweet almond oil
¼ cup of olive oil
¼ cup of sunflower oil
½ tablespoon of sesame oil
5 drops of rosemary essential oil
Mix all the oils in a glass or ceramic bottle (plastic is ok if you don’t have glass). If stored properly, the mixture should last at least two months. You can substitute other essential oils for rosemary, such as geranium oil or lavender oil.
December 5th, 2009
The egg is no longer the bad boy of health and beauty. Those days are over! Now, it’s back with a vengeance as recent studies have shown that it’s a healthy food that will not increase body fat.
Eggs contain amino acids that help restore antibodies and build hormones, plus vitamins, minerals, lipids and antioxidants (beta-carotene for one).
The protein that eggs provide is highly digestible and offers the body amino acids for increased muscle mass. It makes a great substitute for red meat. But be careful about frying your eggs in butter or oil, as that increases calories and fats.
December 5th, 2009
by Edna Soua
Indian women so often have such beautiful skin. Have you ever wondered why? Well, there are many secrets that come from India and the special fruit call Indian Gooseberry is one of them. Indian Gooseberry (Phyllanthus emblica) is a a berry-like, greenish-grey bark and greenish-yellow flowers that grow in India, but different kinds of plants in the same family Euphorbiaceae are found in many subtropical and tropical countries, including China, Malay Peninsula and Indonesia. The fruits are green, tender, fleshy and have a very sour taste, making them inedible by themselves.
The Indian Gooseberry has anti-inflamatory, antimicrobial, and hepaprotective properties, plus it’s a diuretic, laxative, trichogeneous (hair treatment) and antpyretic.
In the Hindu culture, the Indian gooseberry is known as Amla, and is used for memory and as an immune system booster for people in general, but particularly for the elderly. In Sanskrit it’s called amalaki or dhartriphala, meaning the nectar fruit. It’s a key ingredient in Ayurvedic medicine and is used for preventing common colds, diabetes, heart diseases, gastrointestinal problems, cancer, scurvy, eye disorder and signs of aging.
The chemical compounds found in Indian Gooseberry are ascorbic acids, alkaloids, polyphenols such as tannins, amlaic acid, Kamphor, quercetin, rutine, B-Sitosterol, ellagic acid and gallic acid.
Indian Gooseberry is well known in India for being a great natural source of Vitamin C, which is responsible for the synthesis of collagen in the body and is a powerful antioxidant. Because of that, the cosmetic and beauty industries are adopting the Indian Gooseberry in their formulations, especially for anti-aging products. The Indian Gooseberry is available in powder or in juice in most Hindu markets. Now you know the secret.
November 17th, 2009
by Edna Soua
This Fall season, we’re all probably going to be thinking about staying warm and healthy. If you think about soup on those cold days, good choice. But I suggest adding some medicinal food to yours. Don’t worry I’m only talking about mushrooms, specifically Reishi and Shiitake.
These mushrooms are best known in Asia for boosting the immune system, curing headaches, cold and flu, and increasing vitality and intelligence. The Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) is known in Chinese Medicine as ling zhi, which means “herb of spiritual potency.” But in Greek, it’s Ganos (meaning brightness), dermos (meaning skin), and lucidum (a Latin word meaning shining). You get the idea, right?
The Reishi, Powerful Compounds for Health
The Reishi mushroom is used to treat the heart, liver and lungs. Also it’s prescribed for insomnia, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, blood sugar imbalance, palpitations and forgetfulness. Many use it for coughs and wheezing from dampness affecting the lungs. Also the Reishi mushroom has potent anti-aging, anti-tumor, anti-virus, and anti-bacterial properties. Put that in your soup!
But culinarily speaking, the Reishi mushroom has a bitter and woody flavor, not being the most popular mushroom in the kitchen. It’s also available dried in Asian markets. Those Ganoderma species can also be found in different colors and forms in America, Africa, Europe and Asia. The species grows as a parasite on wide variety of trees, especially maples. The Reishi contains triterpenes, polysaccharides, peptidopolysaccharides, palmitic acid, fumaric acid, ricinoleic acid, glucosamine, resins, alkaloids, amino acids, coumarin, mannitol and purines. All amazing stuff.
The Shiitake: Healthy and Delicious
The Shiitake mushroom (Lentinus edodes) is very well known for being affective against several diseases, including cancerous cells, hepatitis B, HIV, influenza and other diseases caused by viruses. The shiitake compound called lentinan was known world wide for boosting the immune system and offering numerous other affects, like improving circulation, reducing cholesterol and promoting longevity.
The Shiitake mushroom is the most popular Japanese mushroom, with its smoky aroma and meaty texture. It’s as enjoyable as a natural medicine as it is as a food. The Shiitake is also called the Black Forest mushroom, Japanese mushroom, Oakwood mushroom or Golden Oak mushroom. The name Shiitake is derived from the Japanese Shii meaning the tree where its is found, and Take meaning mushroom. The Shiitake mushroom is a great source of protein, iron and vitamin C.
Start Cooking!
With these kinds of mushrooms that can improve health, fight infections, improve energy, and keep you young and healthy, you are ready for the fall and winter months…and plenty of good meals! Here’s something else: In researching this article, I also found an amazing spice mixture that includes both Shiitake and Reishi mushroom, among other healthy (and tasty) ingredients. It’s called SuperFood Seasoning and you can find it at PotofGoldProducts.com What a great way to add more medicinal mushrooms to your cooking.
October 15th, 2009
UPDATED Dec 2010
New Formulation
One of the best green superfood drinks is now a bit better with a new, updated formulation that provides more nutrition for the same price — and enhances the taste for better combining with juices, chocolates, or milks. The new formulation has some added greens, including basil leaf, moringa leaf (a super botanical from India that helps purify the blood, calm the nerves and much more), yacon leaf (detoxing and sweetness without sugar), and alma berry. It also has a few extra seaweeds, which gives the product a wider variety of nutrients. In all, Vitamineral Green now has a more robust formulation and a better flavor.
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June 20th, 2009
by Edna Soua
Spring is here and it’s time to start showing our bare arms and legs again. And this is when that dark spot on my leg appears again…and never gives me a break! Ok, so I’ve decided to get rid of it once and for all through a natural treatment and I found just what I needed, a plant extract called uva ursi. Here’s a small distillation of what I’ve learned about this plant.
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May 23rd, 2009
Here’s a quick article to cover some of my favorite green drink recipes. Modify these basic ideas in any way you see fit…and remember that each green drink tastes different. These all work well with neutral-tasting drinks and I’ve made notes for mixing with green drinks that have more “flavor” to them.
Enjoy and send me your ideas!
Chocolate, Peanut Butter Smoothie
Mix 12oz of vanilla almond milk with 2 tablespoons of pure cacao powder, one small ripe banana, and two tablespoons of organic peanut butter. Add your green drink powder (your normal serving size) and honey or unrefined sugar to taste. I also add liquid B complex (half dropper), olive leaf extract (half dropper), mushroom powder (or extract), and dandelion extract (full dropper). If you have some bee pollen, throw a teaspoon in too. This does not work well with green drinks that have a strong fruit flavor.
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May 6th, 2009
by Edna Sousa
Two weeks ago, I was hiking not too far from my town and I found a very interesting plant, called Sow Thistle (technical name, Sonchus oleraceus). This plant is part of the Milk Thistle family and looks a lot like a dandelion plant. These plants belong to the Compositae family and include lettuce, daisies, sunflowers, absinthum, chrysanthemum and many others.
The Sow Thistle has a different name in Portuguese. In my native Brazil, it’s called serralha, or cerraja in Spanish. In French it’s laiteron maraicher, in Italian it’s crespigno-cicerbita, in Chinese it’s da’ ji, and in German it’s kohl-gansedistel. This plant is used in Brazil as a natural vitiligo cure.
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April 21st, 2009
Juvo has a unique an interesting formulation that, I think, you need to try for yourself and see if it works for you. The mixture is fairly heavy in grains (millet, rice solids, various beans), which act as filler and also provide some cleansing action and some protein. Once you get beyond this, the mixture starts looking interesting — with a healthy dose of veggies (kale, beet, parsley, carrot, tomato, pumpkin, radish, and cabbage) and a huge amount of alfalfa as the primary green superfood (other greens include spirulina and chlorella, radish leaves and seaweeds). The mixture also offers plenty of fruits (lingonberry, black currant, aronia, concord grape, pomegranate, sour cherry, acerola, blueberry, cranberry, elderberry, and many others). (more…)
April 12th, 2009
Mighty Greens is made by one of the nation’s most reputable wheat grass growers. They supply a great many of the formulators of other green products and now they have created their own green formula, getting the non-wheat-grass ingredients from some of their own best customers. The formulation is designed to do one thing very well: provide green superfoods. Not surprisingly, it’s heavy in grasses and has a good deal of Spirulina and some chlorella. The fillers are soy lecithin, which has some nutritional benefits along with being a filler, brown rice bran, and apple pectin fiber. There’s not much else to this product…just a little royal jelly (excellent addition and very nutrient rich) aleo vera, pineapple powder, dulse (a seaweed that’s full of nutrients), ginseng, grape skin extract (also full of nutrients and antioxidants) and some herbs like ginko, bilberry leaf and ginger.
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March 22nd, 2009
Have you heard about Shea butter from Africa? It’s an amazing fruit extract that is thick and rich like cocoa butter and is one of nature’s greatest skin protectors and moisturizers. You can find it in all sorts of skin care products, from hair conditioner to soap. Look for it at your local natural products store.
March 7th, 2009
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