Thursday, February 28, 2013

Acne, Some Help, Oil Facial

One of the signs of both hypothyroidism and adrenal fatigue is acne. I thought it was fitting to talk about acne beings we have been talking about both of these issues and offer some ways of helping to deal with it and over come it.

Hormonal imbalances are not the only reason for acne, but they are a contributing factor. A lot of women have more acne with their cycles, one way you might know it is coming. This is the shift in hormones. Other reasons for acne are over growth of yeast in the gut, candida, "bad" bacteria over growth in the gut wall, eating excess sugar, no only from the normal sugary food, but also grains, I know this is true for me. Also, a deficiencies in some vitamins and minerals can also cause acne. For some people, you just have the type of skin that is more prone to acne, I feel your pain because I am there with you. I have taken several steps that have dramatically reduced my acne. And no, it is not taking the "Pill".

As far as balancing the gut, riding the body of candida overgrowth and bad bacteria, balancing hormones, comes down to eating a healthy diet like I talk about on this blog. Eating a Primal/Traditional diet has helped my acne as well as most others who follow the lifestyle. It is about eating healthy real food, consuming good bacteria, eating bone broths, not consuming excessive amounts of sugars, eating healthy fats like butter and coconut oil, which coconut oil has the benefit of being antibacterial, antiviral and antimicrobial. Only eating real food, what God has given us.

You might be saying, I have been doing this for some time and I still have acne. Remember, this takes time. It takes time to heal your body and replenish the vitamins and minerals our bodies need to function as they are intended to function, with amazing glowing skin.

To help speed up the healing processes and achieve radiant skin, there are a few minerals to make sure you are in-taking in optimum amounts. These are: zinc, copper and selenium. These are also very important in helping the thyroid function properly. Foods you will find these in:
Chia seeds
Ocean foods, both proteins and veggies
Brazil nuts
Bone broths
Beef
Eggs
You might also find it helpful to supplement for a time while trying to raise your levels. Try and find a food based supplement from a respectable company. Do keep in mind, you cannot out supplement a bad diet, you have to change your diet if you want lasting results.

The health of our skin does come from our diet and guts, but we need to also look at what we are putting on our faces. For the past several months I have been doing oil facials, with wonderful results. It sounds crazy, but a basic chemistry principle is likes dissolves likes. We want to dissolve the oils causing the bacteria to grow in the pores with oils that will help the pores heal and resist the bad oils. I use a combination of magnesium oil and coconut oil.
Soak a cotton ball in he magnesium oil, rub it all over your face.
Then, rub coconut oil on your face and massage it deeply into your pores. There is no need to wet, wash or remove make up first, this will do it all.
Allow it to sit on your face for several minutes, to about 10.
Wet a wash cloth in as hot of water as you can bear, ring it out so there is not dripping water and place on your face. The steam from the hot cloth with help to dissolve the oils and open up the pores to release the bad stuff and allow the good stuff to come in. Let sit on your face until cooled off. If you desire, repeat with the other side of the cloth. You can put more coconut oil on after, I usually find I do not need any more.
Others use different combinations of oils, such as caster oil with olive oil, or jojoba oil. You need to figure out what will work for your skin.
I do this at night, use it in my routine for bed. I do deep breathing while the cloth is on my face to release the stress from the day and calm my  mind. Seems to work and help.
In the morning before showering, I spray a combination of raw apple cider vinegar and water onto my face, this helps to neutralize the skin. Once in the shower, I rinse it off. Once out, I put a small amount of coconut oil on my skin, I do not use any other chemicals.

Be aware, the first few weeks, I broke out more while my face was detoxing. This is normal. Do not plan important pictures or a vacation, something extra special the first few weeks of doing this. Stick to it and your face should calm down and begin doing much better, in my experience and from  what I have read from others. Of course we will not ever have that perfect, pore free, smooth skin, like the models, which neither do they, it is all air brushing. We can have clean, radiant, glowing skin though!

Saving the world one stick of butter at a time.
God bless,
Jenn







   

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Tuesday Recipe: Lemon, Bacon Chicken

It has been awhile since I posted a recipe, so I thought I had better get on that. Today's recipe is a really simple chicken recipe. I made it to go along with a leek and potato soup. Simple. easy and tasty.

What you need:
Enough chicken breats for all you are feeding
Lemon juice and zest
Sea salt and pepper
Bacon grease, or some other oil, like butter
Lemon pepper
Smoking hot paprika, if you do not like the heat, any type of paprika will work

Method:
Flay the chicken in half. Place a piece of plastic wrap over the top and pound the chicken with a mallet, the step is not necessary, but will help your chicken to be tender and more juicy. It also cuts down on the cooking time because it will be thinner. If cooking bacon, begin cooking on the stove top and save the grease. If using bacon grease from previous bacon cookings or other type of oil, melt in a pan on the stove top. Once hot, place the chicken in the pan. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, lemon pepper, paprika, lemon zest and juice. After a few minutes, turn chicken over and sprinkle with all of the seasonings again. Allow to cook until finished. Depending on the thickness will depend on how long it takes to cook, plan several minutes to a side. When the chicken is cooked, it will be firm to the touch. Serve with a simple veggie, soup or salad and you are good to go. Enjoy the yumminess!

Saving the world one stick of butter at a time.
God's many blessing be abundantly showered upon you,
Jenn

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Lent Fast


I am a day late on doing this, plans changed yesterday so here we are today.
As Catholics we began the Lenten fast yesterday, I guess you would have to live in a box to know that. Anyway, Lent is a time for stripping our souls of the things of this world, face our demons that are keeping us from God, praying, fasting and alms giving. It is a beautiful 40 days.

If you are not Catholic and even if you are, you can use this time to cleanse your body. Cleanse your body of toxins both from food, drink, what you put on your skin and your mind.
Suggestions:

  • Soda, pop, Coke, Pepsi, what ever you call it. Take these 40 days to end your addiction to it.
  • Grains, in this time you could find out if you have a gluten intolerance.
  • Omega 6 vegetable oils
  • Processed foods
  • Sugary treats
  • Drinking too much alcohol 
  • That item you know you need to stop eating, good time to do it.
  • Instead of using store bought lotions, switch to coconut oil
  • Stop using shampoo and conditioner or make your own
  • Begin making your own cleaning supplies. Use white vinegar and hot water instead.
  • Just a few ideas.


Of course you do not need to do everything all at once. Take one, two, maybe three changes and make them. If you try to do too much all at once, it will not turn out so well. Make one change, feel the difference in your body and build on your momentum.

Maybe you already have to food thing down and clean living, or want something else beside food to change. How about working on your mind. There is a deep mind body connection. Maybe some of your health issues are steaming from your mind.

  • Maybe you need to forgive someone.
  • Let go of what you mule over and over and over and over....
  • Stop the negative self talk and self hatred.
  • Find peace with yourself or someone else.
  • Choose to be happy.
  • Allow yourself to heal and let go of the past, move forward.


You can also work on your stress levels. Such as:

  • Having more fun in your life.
  • Leaving work on time every day to go and do something you enjoy.
  • Spend more time in the sun
  • Play
  • Begin the practice of deep breathing


Take something from each list or one thing and give it your best. It is amazing what 40 days of changing one thing in your life can do. Be assured there are many of us with you working on changing our lives as well, you are not in this alone. Begin today and let me know how it goes at Easter! The positive changes in your life, feeling better due to eating real food, finding peace, how working on forgiving someone helped you overcome some health issue. What ever your success is, share it. I want to be able to share in your joy and triumphs!

Saving the world one stick of butter at time.
Many blessings during this solemn time,
Jenn

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Hypothyroid/Adrenal Fatigue and Food



In our continued discussion about hypothyroidism and adrenal fatigue, I thought it would be a great idea to talk about foods that are best eaten and those best to avoid. Remember, food is the most powerful medicine, it has the ability to heal and destroy.

Lets begin with foods we should be eating. Always more fun.
Basically fowling a primal traditional eating plan is the way to go. If you are eating close to what I talk about on my blog and the other sites I recommend, you are in great shape. Eating a real food diet is the way to go. Some foods you might want to consume more of are:

Foods rich in iodine, sea vegetable, sea creature, code, shell fish and crustaceans, pastured egg yolks and pastured dairy are can be rich sources and Himalayan salt. If all else fails, supplement. This seems to be a reliable source of kelp

Foods rich in Vitamin A and D, code liver oil, the best brand is Blue Ice, Fermented, liver, butter, cream and raw milk from pasture feed cows as well as the meat and marbling. By eating more fat and less sugar, you will help to stabilize blood sugar levels which tends to be an issue with adrenal fatigue. Eat more fat.

Magnesium rich foods, nuts and seeds, dark chocolate and molasses. Most of these foods are not enough though today, so putting magnesium oil on your skin and soaking in the tub with Eposm salt are great ways to increase your intake.

Foods you want to avoid or limit consumption of:
Processed foods should be avoided. They are devoid of nutrients and put a lot of stress on the body.

Soy is NOT good for the thyroid. Until you can get your symptoms under control, I would suggest avoiding soy all together. Once you are more stable, on occasion adding in traditional types of soy products like natto or tempeh in small mounts can be ok.

You will also want to avoid goitrogenic foods. These foods act like a anti-thyroid drugs. They block the body's ability to use iodine properly, for secreting the hormones and conversion of hormones, not a good thing. These foods include:

  • Bok choy
  • Broccoli/broccolini/Chine broccoli 
  • Brussel sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Cauliflower 
  • Collards
  • Daikon
  • Kale
  • Kohlrabi
  • Millet
  • Mustard
  • Peaches
  • Peanuts
  • Pine nuts
  • Radishes/Red radish
  • Rutabaga
  • Spinach
  • Strawberries
  • Turnips
  • Watercress 
As with soy, it is best to avoid these foods all together until you have your symptoms under control. The fruits and nuts should not be as damaging in moderation. When adding the cruciferous vegetables  back into your diet, be sure they are properly prepared by cooking them. Eating these foods raw or juiced will increase your risk of hypothyroidism or the inability to treat it properly. You will be exposed to too many goitrogens otherwise. 

Foods high in beta carotene should be limited. Remember, beta carotene is only a precursor to Vitamin A and should not be relied on for your Vit A intake. 

I think that about sums it up. It is really basic for the most part, eat real food and watch out for the goitrogenic foods.

Saving the world one stick of butter at a time.
God's abundant blessings upon you,
Jenn










Monday, February 4, 2013

Love Is In the Air!



It is February, we all know what that means, on the 14th is Valentine's Day. Love, romance, a time when guys spend money to tell their wife, girlfriend, mom, they love them because they do not do this the rest of the year. Women are becoming just as bad though. I will do something special for them on Valentine's Day and I am all set.

Here is my challenge for everyone:
Instead of doing something special for those you love just one day this month, do something EVERY DAY this month. Make it a month of love instead of a day.

I know you are thinking, that could get really expensive. Yes, if you go buy something every day. That is not what I am talking about anyway. I am talking about, really working on your marriage, making an effort to show your spouse how much they mean to you, why you love them and want to spend the rest of your life with them. Reaching out to your children so they know they are special, they have your true support, that they are loved. Expressing appreciation to those closest to you for all they give you. None of this means you have to spend money. Remember, it is in the little things we show our love the most.
Things you can do:
Give your spouse a massage.
Wash the dishes.
Take over the cleaning up, homework with kids, putting them to bed, and allow your spouse to soak in the tube or have time to themselves to do something they enjoy.
Leave little messages for each other, why you love, wishing them encouragement, let them know you have their back and support them.
Help the kids make Valentine cards and go to a rest home to visit those who have no one, show them love.
Going for a walk together.
Allow your spouse to tell you how they are feeling without showing disinterest , getting upset, just listening and taking to heart what they are saying.
If you have children, get them involved making a special dinner and then celebrate together.
Take the time to eat together as a family as often as possible, say five nights a week.

This is a VERY short list, but maybe it can help get the creative juices flowing. Try it for the month and see how your relationships change. By you putting yourself out there and doing small acts of kindness every day, hearts can change, maybe you will save a relationship, create a deeper connection with those you love. Who knows what changes are awaiting you, but I can assure you, they will be fantastic! Maybe, you will find it so helpful, you will not stop at the end of the month, but keep it going every day, every month. Begin today and let me know how things went.

Saving the world one stick of butter, and a little love, at a time.
God's love be showered upon you as you embark on this journey of love,
Jenn