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Monday, August 31, 2015

Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid Serum




Vitamin C and hyaluronic acid are the new it couple. You can find this duo on many store shelves in pricey little bottles, jars, serums, packs and pastes. The benefits of this star couple are actually quite impressive. Vitamin C is a known antioxidant, however, it also aids in healing the skin, suppresses melanin and helps lighten hyperpigmentation (age spots, acne discoloration, etc.), strengthens capillary walls and supports healthy collagen formation.

There are several different vitamin C serums online, one of which is from blogger and esthetician Jenni from Jenni Rain Cloud. She had the brilliant idea to only make enough serum to last 3 to 5 days. Not only does this remove the need for it to be refrigerated like other online recipes but it also ensures that the Vitamin C in your serum stays active. Vitamin C has a very short shelf life and all those amazing benefits are literally dead in the water after a few days. That means all of those expensive Vitamin C creams that you are trying to make last a few months is nothing but a glorified emulsion of water and oil. My recipe below is based off of Jenni's with a few exceptions, one being the addition of hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a strong water binder that helps the skin to retain water, making it look moist and smooth with the added benefit of helping to temporarily plump fine lines and wrinkles. Along with the Vitamin C, this serum is your anti-aging Hercules and it only takes minutes to make!


Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid Serum
By: Living Life Granola
Printable recipe here.
1 tsp Collagen Replenish with Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C (Find here.)
1 1/2 tsp distilled water
1/4 tsp glycerin
1 capsule Vitamin E
1 dark colored glass dropper bottle

Mix all ingredients in a small bowl until the powder dissolves. Carefully pour the liquid into the glass dropper bottle. Vitamin C oxidizes quickly in air and light so keep the cap on when not in use and store in a dark cabinet. Shelf stable for 3 to 5 days or 1 week in the fridge.

If you have sensitive skin, do a patch test first to check for any possible irritations.


The jar of Collagen Replenish costs a little under $15 and will cover over 2 months worth of serum-making. One bottle of a store bought serum that only lasted for about a month, without the benefit of active Vitamin C, cost me close to $20. No matter how you look at it, the homemade is the better bargain all around. Not having to trudge to the fridge morning and night in the middle of your cleansing routine is another bonus. Don't forget to follow up with Cheaters Face Lotion. Here's to youthful, beautiful skin... naturally!


Linked with the Homemade Monday blog series.

Monday, August 24, 2015

Why You Should be Soaking Your Grains and Nuts




Last week I took a little hiatus for my kids' first day back at school. This week I'm back with a long overdue post on the importance of soaking grains and nuts before consumption. Not only has the wheat that we eat changed since our grandparents' day but how we consume it and other grains has as well. Soaking grains, and then going through the process of sprouting them, is a time-consuming and therefore forgotten practice. However, it is one that will yield countless dividends on your health.

All grains, seeds, nuts and legumes contain phytic acid, a phosphorus-bound organic acid, in the outer layer or bran. While phytic acid can sport some health claims, unfortunate side-effects like bone loss can occur when eaten in excess (like most American diets). Phytic acid binds with calcium, magnesium, copper, iron and zinc in the digestive tract impeding absorption of these minerals.

In addition to phytic acid there are also enzyme inhibitors that protect the seed from germinating under less than ideal conditions but can wreak havoc in the body. If the diet is high in these inhibitors then over time it can lead to obesity, lethargy, gas, bloating, high blood pressure, gastrointestinal difficulties, enlarged pancreas, diabetes and destruction of the body's own naturally produced enzymes.

With gluten sensitivity, IBS and other gastrointestinal disorders on the rise, I feel it is important that we get back to our ancestral roots of soaking, fermenting and even sprouting our grains and nuts.Whether your ancestors hailed from Europe, Asia, Africa or Latin America, every traditional cultural diet prepared their staple grains in these ways.

When it comes to soaking grains and nuts, there are three different mediums that can be used: warm acidic liquid, fermenting and brine. Soaking in this manner greatly reduces the phytic acid content and breaks down the enzyme inhibitors. Not only does this allow the body to absorb all the nutrients but it also increases the vitamin content and makes these nutrients more bio-available to your body. Win-win! Fermenting grains also provides lactic acid and lactobacilli to help break down complex starches, irritating tannins and difficult-to-digest proteins (like gluten).

An acidic liquid is warm water (between 95 and 115 degrees Fahrenheit) with lemon juice or vinegar added to it. Slightly warm up half the amount of water that the grain or legume calls for and add in the grains and acidic medium, stir, cover and let sit for at least 8 hours. After eight hours, add in the rest of the water and cook as normal. Cooking time may be reduced. A good tip would be to start soaking any grains for the night's dinner right after that morning's breakfast.

Fermentation works best for stone ground flours and oats that are going to be used for baking, oatmeals, pancakes and the like. In this method the grains are soaked in either cultured buttermilk, yogurt, kefir or a whey/water mixture for 12 to 24 hours. The full 24 hours provides the best results, especially if you are working with a recipe that requires rising dough. I'll have more specific recipes in later posts but if you are in a hurry to try this method, the Nourishing Traditions cookbook that I reference below has a ton of great ideas to try.

The third method, soaking in brine, is reserved for seeds and nuts. There are different soaking times that are listed in the chart below. I like using mason jars to soak nuts in overnight. Just place the nuts and salt into the jar and fill with filtered water. Leave on the counter for the specified amount of time. After soaking, drain in a colander and spread out evenly on dehydrator trays to dry. (The oven can also be used. Put on the lowest setting and dry 1 1/2 to 2 hours. The nuts will no longer be raw using this method to dry.) Dehydrators vary in settings and results so make sure to taste test during your first run.  I usually do the full 24 hours dry time on 105 degrees Fahrenheit. Finished nuts will be crisp, completely dry... and very yummy.

Nut
Quantity
Salt
Soak Time
Dry Time
Dry Temp.
Almonds
4 cups
1 tbsp
7 to 12 hours
12-24 hours
105-115 F
Cashews
4 cups
1 tbsp
2 to 6 hours
12-24 hours
150 F
Hazelnuts
4 cups
1 tbsp
6 to 8 hours
12-24 hours
105-115 F
Macadamia
4 cups
1 tbsp
4 to 8 hours
12-24 hours
105-115 F
Peanuts
4 cups
1 tbsp
7 to 8 hours
12-24 hours
105-115 F
Pecans
4 cups
2 tsp
7 to 8 hours
12-24 hours
105-115 F
Pepitas
4 cups
2 tbsp
7 to 8 hours
12-24 hours
105-115 F
Sesame
2 cups
1 tbsp
7 to 8 hours
12-15 hours
105-115 F
Sunflower
4 cups
2 tbsp
7 to 8 hours
12-24 hours
105-115 F
Walnuts
4 cups
2 tsp
7 to 8 hours
12-24 hours
105-115 F



At this point, I'd like to share my experience of when I first became aware of the practice of soaking grains and nuts. I can sum it up in two words: panic attack (because that's how I roll). However, I'm one of those people that has to jump right in and do everything all at once- right now. That never works for anyone. Soaking really doesn't create more hands-on time but it does require a bit of forethought and meal planning. This takes time, patience, practice and a good bit of humour. I can say it is worth it in the end. Certaintly for your good health, but also, soaking and fermented grains and nuts have led to some of the tastiest meals and baked goods that my family and I have had the joy in eating.


 Sources:

Fallon, Sally. Nourishing Traditions. Washington: New Trends Publishing, Inc, 2001. Print

http://www.organiclifestylemagazine.com/issue/11-sprouting-to-remove-enzyme-inhibitors/

Morris, Julie. Superfood Kitchen. New York: Sterling Epicure, 2012. Print



Linked with the Simply Natural Saturday blog series.

Monday, August 10, 2015

Fizzy Toilet Bowl Cleaner




Making time to clean my toilets is never a high priority- neither is spending a lot of time making the stuff that will actually clean it. This cleaner works just like a fizzing bath/toilet bomb but in a powdered form and it only takes 5 minutes to make. Cleaning the toilet will go just as fast. Just dump a scoop into the bowl and the fizzing action will start working right away. You can start scrubbing right then or let it sit a bit while the rest of the bathroom gets cleaned.

This cleaner utilizes four strong anti-bacterial essential oils that will kill any nasties lurking under the bowl but won't leave behind any hazardous fumes for you or family to breathe in. This fizzy scrub actually smells quite good!

Since powders are used to make this cleaner, it will be easy for the particulates to make their way into the air. I wear a face mask while mixing to prevent breathing any of this into my lungs. Even a bandanna tied around your mouth and nose will do the trick. This is not a concern when using the cleaner in the toilets- just for the mixing part.




Fizzy Toilet Bowl Scrub
By Living Life Granola
Glass jar with tight fighting lid or another air-tight container
1/8 cup scoop (I use the scoop that came with the oxygen powder.)
1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup oxygen whitening powder
1/2 cup citric acid (mountainroseherbs.com)
24 drops lemon essential oil
21 drops scotch pine essential oil
8 drops tea tree oil
7 drops cinnamon essential oil
*optional but recommended: face mask or bandanna tied around nose and mouth

Mix together the baking soda, oxygen whitening powder and citric acid until well combined. Add essential oils while stirring the baking soda mixture. Use the back of the spoon to crush any clumps that may form from the oils. Transfer to the glass storage jar with a tight-fitting lid and let sit for 4 days to synergize. To use, pour 1/8 cup of scrub into the toilet bowl.  The scrub can either sit for while or be used with a toilet brush right away.


The tight-fitting lid is important for keeping moisture out of the container. If moisture does find its way in then your nice loose, powdery cleaner will turn rock hard. Cleaning toilets is chore enough- the cleaner shouldn't be adding to it!


Linked with the Homemade Monday  and Simply Natural Saturday blog series.

Monday, August 3, 2015

DIY Wood and Cabinet Polish



When it comes time to make my wood furniture shine, this homemade cleaner does the trick. It also leaves behind a delightful lemon fragrance. The fragrance comes naturally from essential oils so you need not be afraid of any dangerous phthalates that can come from the artificial counterparts. You can check out the rating for the well known lemon-scented wood polish here. (EWG.org is a great website to look up all of your commercial cleaning products to see whether or not they are truly safe for your household.)  Give this polish a try to save your money and your health!

This polish is composed of mostly water so it is important to make sure that your furniture is completely dry after wiping it down to avoid any possible warping. This is a polish, after all, so a buffing motion will really help bring out the shine on your furniture (not to mention helping to tone the arms- it is still tank-top season!). I have been using this polish for years with great results. If you are interested in safer dusting for non-wood surfaces, check out this post .


DIY Wood and Cabinet Polish
By: Living Life Granola
1 16 oz spray bottle
1/4 cup white vinegar
2 tsp olive oil
8 drops lemon essential oil
Water to fill bottle
Funnel (optional)

Place the funnel on top of the open bottle and fill with the ingredients in the order they are listed. Screw the spray top back on the bottle and shake well. Shake before use. Store out of the light in between uses. Use within 6 months.


Although cleaning is not a favorite task of mine, this lemon-scented wood polish is a definite pick-me-up that has me whipping through the house in no time. I can also feel good about not filling the air with harmful carcinogens and other bronchial irritants. Remember that breathing happy should also be breathing healthy no matter what part of your home you're sprucing up!


Linked with the Simply Natural Saturdays blog series.