Avocados for skin health

Tags

antibacterial agent, Avocado, Chemical peel, fatty acids, Guacamole, Honey, lactic acid, monosaturates, polyunsaturates, saturates, Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Yogurt

My philosophy is if certain foods are healthy for you internally, why not use them topically on the skin.  Avocado is a fruit (not a vegetable) that is good for heart health, but also great for the skin, especially during the winter.

Avocados consist of the following fatty acids:  71% monosaturates, 13% polyunsaturates and 16% saturates.  These fatty acids along with Omega 3 fatty acids help to protect and moisturize the skin inside out by absorbing fat-soluble Vitamins A, D, E and K.  Vitamin E helps to heal the skin, but Vitamin D is especially important because we have less absorption of natural Vitamin D from the sun during winter months.

So the next time you make guacamole, save some avocado for at-home facial treatments.  It can be used by itself, but works best when mixed with honey and plain yogurt (1T plain yogurt, 1t honey and ¼ avocado).  Blend ingredients together and apply mask to the face.  Let stand for 15-20 minutes, rinse off with warm water and moisturize.

Avocado will act as a powerful antioxidant and moisturizer, the honey will serve as a humectant to pull moisture into skin tissue as well as act as a natural antibacterial agent.  The yogurt will help with cellular turnover.  Yogurt, after all is a dairy product that contains lactic acid.  This will help to minimize dead surface cell buildup on the skin and will be like having a natural chemical peel.  This mask can be used as often as needed.

Don’t throw the seed away.  Let it sit in a sunny windowsill until it is completely dry.  Crack open and grind it in coffee grinder.  Save in an air tight container and use the ground avocado seed as a scrub in your next facial

Yogurt and skin health

Tags

acne, dry skin, gut, Honey, Hyperpigmentation, lactic acid, Rosacea, Yogurt

Yogurt is not only good for a healthy gut; it is also beneficial to the skin.  The probiotic properties in yogurt are beneficial for those who suffer from acne, rosacea and dry skin.

I have many of my clients use yogurt as a cleanser because it is gentle to the skin and does not disturb the skin’s pH balance.  Because yogurt is a dairy product, it has lactic acid which can help keep the skin free of dead surface cells and act as a natural skin brightener to address hyperpigmentation.  Yogurt improves moisture, elasticity and helps smooth rough, dry skin.

Which kind to use?  When it comes to skin care, plain yogurt is best.  It has the most active cultures and less artificial sugars than those with fruit (besides acne loves sugar!).  If you are using yogurt in a masque, you can add organic honey to your yogurt treatment.  The honey will act as a humectant to add additional hydration and the antibacterial properties in honey will also reduce p. Acnes bacteria on the skin.

To read more on this topic, click on the following link:

Brones, A. (2014). Care2, “Yogurt facial?  Probiotics are really good for your skin too”.  Retrieved September 3, 2014, from:  http://www.care2.com/causes/yogurt-facial-probiotics-are-really-good-for-your-skin-too.html.

Foods for a healthy gut

Tags

Human gastrointestinal tract, Kombucha, prebiotic, Probiotic, Sauerkraut, Strained yogurt, Yogurt

Your gut can easily become unbalanced because the food we consume is more complex today, artificial and can be upset by medicines like antibiotics. To balance the flora in the gut, here is a list of pro and prebiotic-rich foods to help maintain a healthy gut and skin:

Kefir – a form of drinkable yogurt that contains oligosaccharides and complex carbs.

Greek Yogurt – choose Greek yogurt that contains only milk and cultures (no added sugars or fruit). A 6 oz. serving of Greek yogurt contains 15-20 grams of protein and amino acids to help jump start your metabolism.

Real Sauerkraut – freshly cooked sauerkraut is best for the digestive system, do not use canned because it has been pasteurized.

Kimchi – it’s hot, but this fermented cabbage dish is like a tonic for the gastrointestinal tract and beneficial for the immune system.

Artichokes – a potent prebiotic that contains undigestible nutrients. Other prebiotics include lentils, bananas and asparagus.

Kombucha – a fermented tea that is full of beneficial bacteria that coats the digestive tract and is full of healthy B vitamins.

Miso Soup – fermented soybeans that contain beneficial bacteria and isoflavones and a good source to protect the body against cancer.

To read more on this article, click on the following link:

Zerbe, L. (2013). Rodale News, “7 Essential Foods for Healthy Digestion”. Retrieved July 19, 2013, from:
http://health.yahoo.net/articles/digestive/photos/7-essential-foods-your-gut#7

Blackberry-Honey Yogurt Popsicles

Tags

Blackberry, Blueberry, Honey, Popsicle, Yogurt

3 cups whole-milk yogurt

2 cups fresh blackberries, divided

1/3 cup honey

2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil (optional)

Making the popsicles:  Add yogurt, 1 cup of the blackberries, honey and basil, if you are using it, to a blender.  Blend until everything has turned purple and has a smooth texture.

Filling the popsicle molds:  Plop a whole blackberry into a popsicle mold.  Pour a bit of the yogurt mixture into the mold.  Plop another blackberry and more of the mixture.  Repeat until mold is three-fourths full.  Repeat with remaining popsicle molds.

Freeze until popsicles are frozen through, about 1 hour.

Taste for Life, July 2013, p. 14