Nuts about Brazil Nuts

Simple lifestyle changes for optimal health:  One Brazil Nut a Day

I take a brazil nut once a day if I remember -maybe more gingko would helpJ  Why because brazil nuts are loaded with selenium, crucial for proper functioning of the body and excellent for the health of the skin.

Selenium is a trace mineral and antioxidant, and is required for the proper activity of a group of enzymes collectively called glutathione peroxidase. These enzymes each help turn toxic hydrogen peroxide into harmless water.   Of the eight known glutathione peroxidase enzymes, five of them require selenium.   Well, I am don’t completely understand that, but if we did not get rid of the hydrogen peroxide produced from the many reactions that takes place to keep us alive, we would die.  What I better understand is selenium is involved in recycling of vitamin C from its spent form back to its active one, allowing for greater antioxidant protection.  Wow, that is what I am interested in!

The selenium content in foods depends on the concentration of selenium in the soil where the crops were grown, but unfortunately nearly all trace minerals are widely depleted in the soils that grow our food including Selenium.   That's because conventional agriculture extracts these minerals from the soils, year after year, while replenishing none of them.  Besides the brazil nut, other foods are  Besides the Brazil nut which has the highest amount of selenium,  other good sources of selenium: Sunflower Seeds, Fish (tuna, halibut, sardines, flounder, salmon), Poultry (chicken, turkey), Eggs, Mushrooms (button, crimini, shiitake),Grains (wheat germ, barley, brown rice, oats), and onions.

Horsetail

Selenium is very important for healthy skin.  In addition to Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Beta-carotene, Omega 3, Selenium, a strong antioxidant helps protect the skin from sun damage and maintain firmness and elasticity.   Other plant sources of selenium are chickweed and horsetail.  Well right now in the spring, you can go out on most paths and find chickweed growing along the path.  Take a nibble, your body will love it!   Another plant is horsetail.  Besides being high in silica, horsetail is also sooths and tightens tissue.  If you ever get the chance to look at horsetail, look at the various joints-natures signature telling youthat it is good for your joints.  Because of horsetail's excellent support for the skin, I include it in my botanical complex in  my Vitamin A Night Crème-Nutrition from Mother Earth. 

 

 

 

Aloe Vera for Digestive and Immune support and brain function

Simple Everyday Life Changes for  Optimal Health.

Since I started studying natural health 6 years ago, I have always been interested in supporting my body with the full range of nutrition with simple everyday foods that are readily available and meets the common pocket book.   This series of blogs will contain highlights of such foods leaving you to do more research if desired.  As some of you know, I own a naturally pure skincare line called Zenjenskin.  Many of the suggestions on what you can take internally works well topically as well supporting my passion that beauty is from the inside out.  Our first topic is about Glyconutrients found in Aloe Vera.

Glyco What?  Well even though you may not have heard of it, we ingest some glyconutrients every day as they are essential to the needs of every cell in our bodies.  Unfortunately, most of us don’t get enough of them leaving our bodies depleted.  For example, today, it would take 53 peaches to give you the nutritive value that a single peach gave you in 1950.  Partly because our soils are depleted and partly because our diet has changed from eating lots of nutritionally based foods to fast food.

What is a Glyconutrient?

Glyconutrients are polysaccharides found in mushrooms, breast milk, some plant gums, sea brown algae, and aloe Vera.  Polysaccharides are involved in the everyday process of cell to cell communication- the thing that happens so our cells will live on.  Um, this is where those of you interested can do some research on your ownJ   Since we are not all mushroom, brown algae, plant gum and breast milk consumers; we are going to focus on ALOE VERA.   

Aloe Vera has been known for centuries for its healing powers of wounds, burns, the prevention of infection, and taken internally, it is a great support for digestion (having prebiotic effects), immune support and optimal brain function.   You only have to slather a bit of aloe Vera on you to know that it is cooling and soothing and will quickly calm a burn.  Hmmm, didn’t know about the brain function.  You can be sure I will be taking more of that.

There are over 150 nutritional ingredients in Aloe Vera working all together in a synergistic way to create healing and health giving benefits. The ten main areas of chemical constituents of Aloe Vera include: amino acids, anthraquinones, enzymes, minerals, vitamins, lignins, monosaccharide, polysaccharides, salicylic acid, saponins, and sterols.   Another mouth full more those who like to do research-anyone?   What is most impressive to me is that it takes 22 amino acids to build protein, our bodies produces all of them except 8 called essential amino acids.  Aloe Vera has those 8 essential Amino Acids.  Kudos to you Aloe!!!

How to apply this to everyday life?

This is what I do.  When I am filling up my water bottle with purified water, I put a tablespoon of aloe Vera in it.   Simple-done.   Told you it would be simple.  Please buy organic, it is reasonably priced.

Topically, Aloe Vera is nutritional, soothing and calming and for those reasons, it is the base of all my skin care products.  You can check out my website at www.zenjenskin.com or follow me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/zenjenskin for more information about the healing powers of plants and food.

Clay is just dirt? Right?

 What about Clay?  It’s just dirt right?

Uh, Yep and No. Clay does come from the soil, but it is mineral rich and is known widely for its amazing detoxing and purifying properties used externally and yes internally.  Eating  clay, REALLY.  I admit, even with the information I have, it still is hard for me to drink the muddy, murky looking concoction.  This blog explores the minimal facts about clay…..please explore further on your own before you tread down this path in hopes of ingesting all the benefits of pure calcium benonite clay.   

There are many types of clay, but only one I know about that you should ingest pure calcium benonite clay.  First, let me tell you about the different types of clay that can be used on the skin to exfoliate, detox, soak up excess sebum (oils on the skin), clarify, tighten and bringing color to your skin.  It is one of the best instant treatments I know of to look amazing.

Kaolin and bentonite clays:  These natural Earth clays help clarify the skin, absorb excess oil and reduce shine.   

Rhassoul Clay contains high percentages of silica and magnesium along with potassium and calcium, its high mineral content, effectively draws out impurities, buffs and polishes and immediately tones the skin without irritation.  

French Green Clay has excellent absorbing agents as it absorbs the extra oil from the skin, which is good as this extra oil may lead to acne marks and blemishes."  Green clay is the choice for sensitive or acneic skin.

Topical Uses:  Making a clay mask is a treat.   When ever I am going out on for a special occasion or just want to feel and look better, I mix clay with several different options depending on what I feel like.  Some of the options are juice for additional exfoliation, egg white or coffee juice for tightening, lavender or tea tree oil for blemish control and calming the skin. 

Mix it up to a creamy consistency, and lather on your face or other body parts.  When you start to see it drying (which usually means it gets lighter in color) but it still feels a bit sticky, it's time to wash it off with warm water. I like to follow it up with a toner for extra added benefit.  You will not believe how wonderful you will feel after only a few minutes of treatment with  Bentonite Clay as a face mask. Your skin will look amazing with this simple treatment.

Clay taken internally for health benefits.   The choice of taking clay internally is Pure Calcium Kaolin Clay.  Pure Calcium Bentonite clay contains more than 70 trace minerals. By mixing Pure Calcium Bentonite clay with water either internally or externally the expanded particles develop into a large surface which enables them to pick up many times their own weight of various body toxins. This wide surface is made of a great number of tiny platelets, each with a negative electrical attraction for positively charged toxins. Bentonite clay's negative charge is responsible for its amazing detoxifying properties: it is a magnet for many toxic elements present in the human body (heavy metals, pesticides, and free radicals), which are positively charged. This physical pulling power of Pure Calcium Bentonite Clay also has an absorbent action (like sticky paper) as toxins are drawn into the porous surface of the clay.  For more information go to www.livingclay.com  

Here is a bowel detox I am going to try.  Again, please seek do research on your own or seek medical attention for your own safety.

Bowel Detox

Mix 1 tsp. (4.93 ml) of bentonite clay, 1 tsp. (4.93 ml) of powdered psyllium (not whole psyllium seeds or un-powdered husks), and 1/2 tsp. (2.46 ml) of ginger powder with 1 cup (250 ml) of organic apple juice

Shake the mixture well until all of the lumps are dissolved. Drink the shake immediately before the psyllium makes the mixture become gooey. Do not consume any food within 2 hours before or after drinking the shake because the food will be absorbed by the clay. Do not drink more than 5 shakes a day.    I would also add to this a daily lemon water drink.  Also be sure to drink plenty of water because bentonite clay can cause you to be constipated.  Also during a bowel cleanse, it is best to eat as little as possible sticking to juices made up of anything you like. 

I hope you enjoyed this little snippet on Clay and will get back to me with any information or experiences you would like to share.

Hope you are having an awesome day!

Jennifer Maves
www.Zenjenskin.com 

Visit my website for other amazing skin care treatments

Rooting in Silence

 

 

I love to walk along the path during the winter months.  It is so quiet and peaceful.  It is a time of rooting down and resting like our plants relatives.  I rest in gratitude over the last year and contemplate the promise of new beginnings.     One of my favorite plants in the winter is the White Pine.  I love the smell mostly.  It brings a calm serenity to my mind.

 Besides the lovely aroma, the White Pine is wonderful for Cold remedies.  It has 10 times more Vitamin C than an Orange.  One year when I was struggling with a lingering cold, I wanted to use a plant that was available, so I turned to the white pine.  I gathered the fallen fronds, packed them into a jar, covered them with cold water, added 1 TB. fennel and let it sit for 6 hours.  After removing the matter, I drank the juice.  My cold disappeared rather quickly.   Thank you White Pine!

Other plants I look for in the winter are Chickweed and Burdock.  Chickweed is a highly nutritious emerging first in early Spring, disappears during the hot weather and reappears when the weather cools again. It is a welcome surprise because most the of the wild edibles are dormant until next Spring.  I suggest when you find a patch, pick it, eat it raw, or blend in smoothies or make it into a pesto.

The Burdock Root is best harvested in the late fall.  Burdock root is a wonderful blood cleanser which is great this time of year after all the rich holiday treats. It can be taken orally or used topically as a remedy for skin disorders.   I like adding it to soups, and Chai Teas dried or fresh. 

Thank you and Namaste to all my Zen FriendsJ

www:zenjenskin.com               Like me on Facebook        zenjenskin@gmail.com   828.777.8044

 

                    ZenjenSkinNews

I am proud to announce that Zenjenskin products are now sold locally at:

South Asheville

Katuah Market- Local by Nature located is Biltmore Villiage Asheville

www.katuahmarket.com

Downtown

French Broad Coop Food for people- Not for profit is located downtown Asheville

www.frenchbroadfood.coop.com  

 

 

 

                                

 

 

 

 

 

Honeysuckle for love and passion

Honeysuckle flowers invoke dreams of love and passion
Living in the Blue Ridge Mountains, I have the privilege of enjoying many botanical delights. We have numerous wild, invasive plants and when I hear that a plant is invasive my interest peaks because it means it’s plentiful and if it’s plentiful to me that’s nature’s way of saying, “I’m available for you and your health. Come get me.”Let me introduce you to one of my favorite wild invasive plants.
If you have ever walked past honeysuckle vines, which are plentiful in our area, a sweet, pungent aroma will fill your senses.   Perfume companies have long recognized the pleasant aroma and have used it in potions for many years.   The honeysuckle flower has a reputation for being associated with love and the bonds of love due to its sweet aroma and the fact that its flower looks like two lovers intertwined. The scent of honeysuckle is said to cause dreams of love and passion.  Oh la la!
 Plucking off a flower or two and sucking the honey at the base of the flower is an experience like no other. It is one of my favorite childhood pastimes that has continued into adulthood. Wild honeysuckle (Japanese Honeysuckle or Lonicera Japonica) contains sweet nectar that’s just like… you guessed it…. honey.  Honey bees like it too, but their bodies are too large to get inside the horn shaped flower, so they poke holes in the outside of the flower and take honeysuckle nectar without pollinating the blooms. The task of pollinating is left to the long tongued moth.
The flowers of the Honeysuckle have anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anti-bacterial, and astringent properties.  The nutrients in Honeysuckle are many, including Vitamin C, Bioflavonoids, Antioxidants, Quercitin, and Salicylic Acid.
Skin Care Benefits
Vitamin C:  protects and supports collagen in the skin.
Bioflavonoids: powerful antioxidants which give protection from free radical damage and boost the action of Vitamin C.
Antioxidants:  fight free radicals and protect your skin from oxidative damage
Salicylic Acid:  a gentle exfoliator which reduces buildup of dead skin cells and products on skin
Anti-inflammatory:   calms inflammatory conditions common in sensitive skin
Anti-bacterial:  helps fight infection common in acneic skin conditions
Astringent:   tightens the pores of the skin

Coming Soon:  Honeysuckle Toner for all skin types especially Sensitive Skin.  Visit
Zenjenskin.com  for more details.

Other benefits

The actions of Bioflavonoids, Vitamin C and the antiviral properties of the honeysuckle flower make it a good choice for cough and flu remedies.  An infusion of the flowers can be used as a tea for coughs and colds as well as upper respiratory tract infections.  In addition, the combination of Quercitin, and Vitamin C has anti-viral properties and is helpful is reducing the histamine reaction common in allergies and asthma.

Honeysuckle Sore Throat Remedy

Ingredients:
2 cups honeysuckle fresh edible flowers (and leaves)
1 quart purified water
1 cup honey
Directions:
1. Gather two cups of leaves and flowers from wild Honeysuckle vines (make sure they haven't been sprayed).
2. Bring 1 quart of water to a boil and add the two cups of honeysuckle leaves. Gently simmer for 10 minutes and strain.
3. Add the "tea" back to the pot and add 1 cup of honey, bring to a boil and boil for one minute and remove from heat.
4. Store in fridge up to a month or freeze in small batches and take out as needed.
5. Dosage: 1 oz every two hours for children.
More honeysuckle recipes can be found at:
http://www.facebook.com/notes/back-to-the-basics-hope-for-the-best-prepare-for-the-worst/honeysuckle-heres-some-recipes-to-try-next-time-they-bloom/10150290286345242

Purifying properties of cinnamon

Reveal the natural glow of your skin with the purifying properties of cinnamon.

This sweet, savory spice which is often associated with the warmth of the holidays, but I use cinnamon almost every day.  I sprinkle it on yogurt, oatmeal and add it my homemade Chai (recipe below)  Loving this spice,  I was especially excited to find that you can compound it into your skincare as a safe, natural skin lightening agent as well as a super antioxidant.  It balances skin tone leaving you with a flawless complexion.

Many traditionally used skin lighteners such as, hydroquinone and corticosteroids have effectively been used to reduce hyperpigmentation.  However these synthetic products have been associated with negative effects, such as cell toxicity, the reason why they are tightly regulated or banned. This has led to the search for more natural and safe plant based skin solutions.  Cinnamomum was found to have significant natural skin lightening properties due to its impact on melanin levels.

Because of Cinnamon’s potent antioxidant properties and its ability to naturally lighten and even skin tone, I have incorporated  it into ZenJen Skin Perfecting Sweet Orange Lotion.  So now I get the benefits of cinnamon from the inside out.   Skin Perfecting Sweet Orange Lotion

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Chai Recipe

Ingredients:

1/4 cup either, Dandelion Root, Burdock Root, or Chaga (either ground and/or

chopped finely)

1/2 Tablespoon Ginger (dried and sifted)

1 Tablespoon Cinnamon (chips)

1/2 teaspoon whole Cloves

1/2 teaspoon Black peppercorns

1/2 teaspoon Cardamom pods

1/4 cup Low fat milk

Honey to taste

A pinch of Nutmeg

Bring water to a boil in a medium pan. Add

All the spices and roots, cover and simmer for about

40-45 minutes then strain and set aside.

Stir in honey, top with frothy milk and sprinkle

with nutmeg.

About Me

Welcome to my blog and join me along the natural path as I discover natural remedies from Mother Nature as it relates to the skin inside and out.

My name is Jen and I am the founder and creator of an organic anti-aging skincare line.  My journey  began  about 6 years  ago when I was blessed to move to the mountains of North Carolina.  My home is in Asheville where I spend many hours walking in the mountains with my best friend Ray (dog) discovering the many plant and trees useful for food and medicine.  

I chose Asheville because I love the mountains and wanted to live in an area where natural healing is taught and the residents are very knowledgeable.   When I arrived, I enrolled in a 9 month herbal medicine course where I began learning all about the healing powers of plants.  Soon after, I enrolled in a class working towards a diploma in Holistic Health.  My classed ranged from Physiology and Anatomy, Nutrition, to Essential Oils.  Three years later, I received my diploma. 

During that time, I learned how to make tinctures, medical teas, healing salves, nourishing oils and extracts.  As my passion grew, I focused on how nutrition and more specifically plants nourishes and supports the skin.  Out of all these experiences grew my anti-aging skin care line, Zenjenskin.

Follow me along the natural path as I share with you articles, recipes, and stories as they relate to Skin food from Mother Nature.

 

View zenjen's products at zenjenskin.com

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