Holistic Feathers

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Personally, I don’t need any excuse but hey, if its healthy then its got to be a winner of an excuse!!!!!!

Is raw chocolate good for you? We might all like to think that it`s great for our bodies, but is this true or not? Here`s a quick rundown on the history of cacao and its possible benefits to raw foodists and anyone who is interested in going the whole nine yards to look after their health.

First of all, a little education on the matter…cacao, which is what chocolate is made from, comes from the cocoa plant which is native to the tropical regions of the Americas. The Maya believed that cacao was discovered by the gods, and they would hold an annual festival in celebration of the gift. The use of cacao is described in ancient texts in various mixtures for culinary, ceremonial and medicinal uses. It is thought that the first European to come across the delicious food was Columbus in 1502.

Raw chocolate is an almost complete foodstuff. It is loaded with more than 300 chemically identifiable compounds, and is higher in anti-oxidants than green tea and wine. It also contains protein, fats, calcium, iron, carotene, thiamine, riboflavin, and magnesium, which is essential for the correct functioning of the brain. Cacao contains caffeine, which means that a raw chocolate drink or desert will give you a similar kick to that of coffee, but in a healthier and raw way.

One thing to note about cacao is that it seems to affect different people in different ways. It would seem that each individual should try it for themselves and find out how it affects them. Some people claim to have energy and feel great with raw chocolate, and they also say that eating raw chocolate allows them to stay on the raw food diet. Others find that the cacao gives them too much of a kick to the point where they actually feel jittery. So, try it and find out for yourself.

When you try it, some benefits you may experience include:

- Increased sex drive (yes, “they” were right; chocolate is an aphrodisiac).
- Short term trials have shown that raw chocolate may be good for the heart, in that it can lower blood pressure and the flavanoids in it may reduce the risk of cardiovascular mortality.
- Raw cacao decreases appetite in some people.
- Raw chocolate contains chemicals which, when consumed, make us feel happy, so it is great for when you need cheering up.

Bottom line is that having a bag of raw cacao powder or chocolate nibs in the press is a raw foodist`s first line of defense against attacks of the sweet tooth, and it’s really good for you too. A very easy dessert to make includes hazelnut meal, dates, raw cacao powder and coconut oil. All blended up and put in the fridge for a few hours makes a very tasty and filling fudge-like treat.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cacao
http://www.therawfoodworld.com/prod…

Raw Chocolate face mask

You can also try out the Raw Chocolate Face Mask, if you’re still not too convinced of how great it tastes … the perfect antidote for stress, both for your skin and for you!!!!

(c) Matt Monarch has been on a 100% Raw Vegan Diet since 1999; he eats only raw vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and seaweeds. He is currently the owner of three different health-promoting websites.
In partnership with Raw Food Pioneer and Nutritionist Dr. Fred Bisci, Matt has co-created www.TheRawFoodWorld.com, which sells support tools to help people live free of degenerative disease. Matt’s other websites are www.RawSpirit.org and www.LivingNutritionals.com.

Discovered at Natural News

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Skin brushing and the lymph system

Is skin brushing all it’s cracked out to be? What is it anyway? Well, basically, the idea is that you use a bristly brush, made of natural fibers, to brush dry skin in order to boost circulation, rid the body of toxins, and remove dead skin from the surface. The result is healthier skin with more vitality and less toxins in the body.

One of the main benefits of skin brushing is that it stimulates the lymphatic system (source: http://www.therawfoodworld.com/prod…), which is a network of lymph fluid within the body. The lymph system has a few functions, and its correct working is very important to the health of the body. One of its functions is the protection against invading disease and micro-organisms. Another important function is absorbing fat and fat soluble vitamins from the digestive system and the transport of those nutrients to where they need to go in the body. It`s a great system, with one slight draw back; it doesn`t have its own pump, and so, the movement of the lymph through the lymph system is dependent on good breathing and circulation. This is where skin brushing comes in. Brushing the body with a brush of natural fibers, from the extremities (the legs and arms) towards the heart, boosts what may be an otherwise sluggish flow of lymph. This makes the entire system function so much better.

Having a lymph system which functions well will increase the quality of not only your health, but also your appearance. Cellulite is, in part, caused by a build up of toxins in the blood, which a good lymph system will help to eliminate. Also, skin brushing gets rid of dead cells off the surface of the skin, without removing too much of the natural oils which your skin has. So, it`s a natural way to get healthier skin.

Skin brushing is a cheap and easy technique which won`t take much time out of your day. Make sure you buy a brush with natural fibers, so as not to irritate the skin. Start a ritual of skin brushing before your shower each day. The idea is to brush hard enough to create slightly flushed skin, but not so hard as to cause pain or irritation. Start with your feet, brushing up towards your knees, and traveling on upwards until you`ve done both legs. Then work from the hands, up the arms, towards the heart. Finally, brush the torso, using strokes in the direction of the heart. Within just a week or two you`ll start to notice a difference in the quality of your skin.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lympha…

(c) Matt Monarch has been on a 100% Raw Vegan Diet since 1999; he eats only raw vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and seaweeds. He is currently the owner of three different health-promoting websites.
In partnership with Raw Food Pioneer and Nutritionist Dr. Fred Bisci, Matt has co-created www.TheRawFoodWorld.com, which sells support tools to help people live free of degenerative disease. Matt’s other websites are www.RawSpirit.org and www.LivingNutritionals.com.)

Discovered at Natural News

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Our hair takes a battering every day of our lives. Indoors it’s the central heating that dries it out; in the fresh air, our hair is assaulted by the strong rays of the sun, and in towns and cities the very air that we breathe is laden with chemicals of all sorts. No wonder we resort to buying expensive shampoos and conditioners, rinses and colourants to try and improve the condition and appearance of our hair.

But what are we actually buying in our celebrity-recommended products? What are we putting on our poor damaged hair?

If you look at the list of ingredients – on a bottle of conditioner for example – you may well find ceteraryl alcohol, cyclopentasiloxane, strearamidopropyl … and the rest. Somewhere well down the list there may be, if you’re lucky, some almond oil or a little sunflower extract.

Is this really how you want to treat your hair?

It’s easy to make herbal shampoos and conditioners at home. Not only do you know exactly what’s going on your hair but you can experiment and develop the perfect shampoo and conditioner that are just right for your hair.

Most recipes use liquid castile soap, which is a very mild and simple soap. You should be able to find this in good chemists or health stores and certainly on the Internet. Dr Bronner’s is a recommended brand.

Keep refrigerated after making and use within one week.

Herbal Shampoo

We’ve used cups for measuring out ingredients. The measurements don’t have to very accurate and we suggest you use a medium-sized mug. For information, a cup is 8 fl oz, which is slightly smaller than most mugs, which are 10 fl oz (half-pint).

• ¼ cup of castile liquid soap
• ½ cup herbal infusion (see below)
• ½ teaspoon almond oil
• 1 drop essential oil (choose to complement the herbs)

Pour all the ingredients into a well-washed old shampoo bottle. Shake well. Use as required.

Herbal infusion

Place ¼ cup fresh herbs or 2 tablespoons dried herbs in a small pan and cover with a cup of spring water. Bring to the boil, remove from the heat, cover and leave for 30 minutes. Strain and discard the herbs. Use the infusion as required.

For normal hair: parsley, nettle, rosemary, dandelion
For dry hair: chamomile, red clover, elder flowers
For oily hair: thyme, lemongrass, watercress
For dandruff: nettle, comfrey, peppermint
For blonde hair: chamomile (tea bags are fine)
For brunettes: rosemary or sage

Jojoba Conditioner

• 1 cup rose water
• 1 tablespoon jojoba oil
• 10 drops vitamin E

Place all the ingredients in a well-washed shampoo bottle and shake vigorously until combined.

To use apply to wet hair. Massage in thoroughly, leaving it for a few minutes for best effect. Rinse thoroughly before shampooing lightly and rinsing again.

Rosemary Conditioner

Add 3 drops rosemary essential oil to 1 teaspoon slightly warmed olive oil in a small screw-topped jar. Shake vigorously and apply to wet hair. Massage in thoroughly. Wrap a warm damp towel round your head and go and relax for an hour while the oils do their work. (Soak the towel in hot water and wring out. You may need to warm it occasionally.) Rinse well.

Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse

• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 litre water

Mix together the cider vinegar and water and use it as a final rinse for your hair. If you rinse your hair over a bowl you can rinse it several times using the cider vinegar water. It leaves hair soft and shiny as it restores the hair’s natural pH balance.

Herbal Vinegar Rinse

• 1 cup mixed herbs – lavender, sage, rosemary, chamomile or to taste – crushed a little
• Apple cider vinegar

Place the herbs in a large screw-topped bottle – you need to half-fill whatever size jar you have. Fill to the top with the vinegar and leave to mature for 2 to 3 weeks, shaking each day. Strain and use 1 tablespoon at a time in your final rinse water.

(c) HerbExpert.co.uk

www.holisticfeathers.co.uk

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Like pieces of a puzzle, the many different aspects of your being come together to form the person that you are. You work and play, rest and expend energy, commune with your body and soul, exalt in joy, and feel sorrow. Balance is the state that you achieve when all of the aspects of your life and self are in harmony. Your life force flows in a state of equilibrium because nothing feels out of sync. While balance is necessary to have a satisfying, energetic, and joyful life, only you can determine what balance means to you.

Achieving balance requires that you assess what is important to you. The many demands of modern life can push us to make choices that can put us off balance and have a detrimental effect on our habits, relationships, health, and career. In creating a balanced lifestyle, you must ascertain how much time and energy you are willing to devote to the different areas of your life. To do so, imagine that your life is a house made up of many rooms. Draw this house, give each part of your life its own room, and size each room according to the amount of importance you assign to that aspect of your life. You can include family, solitude, activities that benefit others, healthy eating, indulgences, exercise and working on self. You may discover that certain elements of your life take up an inordinate amount of time, energy, or effort and leave you with few resources to nurture the other aspects of your life. You may want to spend less time on these activities and more on the ones that! fulfill you.

A balanced lifestyle is simply a state of being in which one has time and energy for obligations and pleasures, as well as time to live well and in a gratifying way. With its many nuances, balance can be a difficult concept to integrate into your life. Living a balanced existence, however, can help you attain a greater sense of happiness, health, and fulfillment.

(c) Daily Om

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Dan speaks a whole load of sense in one of his latest newsletters from www.thepowerofpositivehabits.com

PH Level … what the heck is a PH level?

I am sure that is what most people will say when they read this …

Your PH level is the Acid/Alkaline level of your body and it is EXTREMELY important.

Let me ask you a question. Have you ever seen an ad on television for an anti-acid product like Tums, Priolsec, Pepcid AC or Zantac 75?

I bet you answered YES!

Let me ask you another question. Have you ever seen an ad on television telling you to check your PH levels?

I bet you have not!

Why? Because, drug companies make billions selling you these products.

Did you know that almost all acid problems are caused by an acid/alkaline imbalance in your system? Did you know that you may be able to throw away all those pills if you simply balance your PH?

Did you know that MANY diseases have their root cause in an acid imbalance? If your body is too acidic you may well suffer from constant indigestion, heartburn, fatigue and many other symptoms.

How can you check your PH levels and correct them if your body is too acidic? PH urine test strips are available at most health food stores and drug stores.

Make it a habit to check your PH levels at least once per month. If your body check out to be too acidic do the following:

1. Add more fruit to your diet such as Watermelon, Mango, Papaya, Grapefruit, Limes

2. Add more vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, and garlic.

3. Squeeze lemon in your drinking water.

Stay away from:

1. White flour

2. Pork

3. Beef

4. Shellfish

5. Cheese

6. Ice cream

(c) Dan Robey

www.thepowerofpositivehabits.com

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(NaturalNews) There seems to be a lot of question about which healthy spreads should be used to replace butter. Since the word is finally spreading about the harmful nature of trans fat, margarine has been officially declared as a substance which should be avoided. Of course, in its place have rushed countless other butter alternatives which do not contain hydrogenated fats. But now that refined vegetable oils, additives and preservatives are coming under fire, it leaves the question what in the world can we spread on our toast? The answer is simple and natural: go back to butter.

Of course, most people balk at the suggestion of eating real butter. After all, won’t butter cause heart disease and all kinds of other frightening health conditions? Although the claim that butter is harmful has been a popular one in the last 70 years, it’s an assumption with no foundation. In fact, statistics show the rate of heart disease has increased as butter consumption has decreased.

Butter is filled with essential vitamins and antioxidants in their most natural and absorbable state. Butter is actually a better source of vitamin A than carrots, especially for people who have trouble converting the beta-carotene in carrots into vitamin A. You can also find vitamin E and selenium in butter. These along with vitamin A actually protect the heart from free-radical damage, which is a factor in weakened arteries. On the other hand, fabricated spreads are filled with rancid and refined vegetables oils that cause free-radical damage.

The vitamin A in butter is a vital nutrient which strongly impacts growth in children. Deficiencies can affect the development of teeth, bones, and vision. Low-fat diets are often recommended for children even though these diets have been linked to a failure to thrive as published in Pediatrics in March of 1994. Low-fat diets which remove butter from children’s lives may be cutting out their only source of absorbable vitamin A.

Another common misconception propagated by modern industry is that the fat in butter is bad for us. Butter is comprised of mostly short and medium chain fatty acids. These fatty acids can protect against cancer and boost immunity. They are also antifungal. Short and medium chain fatty acids are also more easily broken down for energy, which means its actually less likely that the fat in butter will be stored in the body.

The essential nutrients found in butter are not commonly found in other foods that are considered palatable in American society, which makes butter all the more necessary to our health. So many of our foods are manufactured fabrications that can’t possibly offer the same health benefits as their natural counterparts. It’s time to start choosing the real thing. It’s time to bring butter back to the table.

Fallon, Sally and Enig, Mary G. Why Butter is Better. Health Freedom News. (1999)

McCullough, Fran. Butter’s Good for You. The New York Times. (2007)

(c) Elizabeth Walling (Natural News)

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