Cod Liver Oil --- Tastes Bad, But Is Really Good.

Hey Everyone,

I can remember the very unpleasant childhood memory of a daily dose of a teaspoon of Cod Liver Oil. My mother would call me into the kitchen or bathroom with that spoonful of yucky stuff. It was horrible tasting and sometimes even made me gag! My mom even tried to get the oil in different flavors like Mint or Cherry. And what did it do to the taste? NOTHING! It tasted like Mint flavored yuckiness!! Anyway, she gave it to me in attempt to keep me cold free during the winter months and to keep my skin clear and hair healthy year long. You know what? It worked! Let's see why...

Cod Liver Oil has high levels of the omega-3 fatty acids, and very high levels of vitamin A and vitamin D (remember my post on Vitamin D deficiency??). It is widely taken to ease the symptoms of arthritis as well as other health benefits. but has also been clinically proven to have a positive effect on heart, bone, and brain as well as helping to nourish skin, hair, and nails.

Cod liver oil is effective in treatment of household burns because of its high vitamin content, often leaving no burn-related blister.

Use of cod liver oil during pregnancy is associated with lower risk of Type I diabetes in the offspring.* This effect was found only in mothers taking cod liver oil, not in mothers taking multivitamin supplements. Cod liver oil taken by nursing mothers improves the breast milk by increasing the amount of fatty acids, which promotes brain development, and the amount of vitamin A, which helps prevent infections. However, pregnant women should always check with their doctors regarding the safe amount of Cod Liver Oil to take and should never take more than is recommended as excessive amounts of Vitamin A can be very detremental to the health of the child.

So you see... Even though it tastes really bad, Cod Liver Oil is beneficial to our health in so many ways. Although you can take this supplement in pill form, it works best when you take the oil directly. You can find it anywhere from the GNC to Walmart.

So.. hold your nose and grin and bear it (and have a lot of orange juice to wash it down with). You will see that in this case, the good definitely outweighs the bad! Protect your body, protect your skin!

With Sweet Goodness,

Shermaine

*Stene LC, Ulriksen J, Magnus P, et al. Use of cod liver oil during pregnancy associated with lower risk of Type I diabetes in the offspring. 2000. Diabetologia 43:1093-1098. DOI: 10.1007/s001250051499 PMID 11043854 full-text (free)

Spirulina -- What's That?

Hey Everyone!

I take Organic Spirulina every day. I do so because I have a tendency to run B Vitamin deficient and anemic. So this morning as I took my pill, I thought this would be a perfect topic for my blog as I told you I would be concentrating on strengthening the immune system so hopefully we don't have to ingest so many medicines this winter.

So here we go! Spirulina is a cyanobacteria (Blue Green Algae). Cyanobacteria are found in almost every conceivable environment, from oceans to fresh water to bare rock to soil. Aquatic cyanobacteria are probably best known for the extensive and highly visible blooms that can form in both freshwater and the marine environment and can have the appearance of blue-green paint or scum. Scum? Sounds appetizing, right? Keep reading... Spirulina is cultivated around the world, and is used as a human dietary supplement as well as a whole food and is available in tablet, flake, and powder form.

Spirulina contains an unusually high amount of protein, between 55% and 77% by dry weight, depending upon the source. It is a complete protein containing all essential amino acids, when compared to the proteins of meat, eggs, and milk. It is, however, superior to typical plant protein, such as that from legumes.

Spirulina provides docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). DHA is the most abundant omega 3 fatty acid (polyunsaturated fatty acids, PUFAs) in the brain and retina. It comprises 40% of the PUFAs in the brain and 60% of the PUFAs in the retina. 50% of the weight of the neuron's plasm membrane is composed of DHA.*

Spirulina contains vitamin B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (nicotinamide), B6 (pyridoxine), B9 (folic acid), vitamin C, vitamin D, and vitamin E. It has also been shown that people who use Spirulina regularly have had their blood pressure and cholesterol levels improved.

So... I know you all have seen the green powder at your health food store and it doesn't look tasty. But, Spirulina is a great supplement for keeping our immune systems healthy. ...and in pill form, you don't even have to taste it (wink!)...

Protect your Body... Protect your skin!

With Sweet Goodness,

Shermaine

*Meharban Singh (March 2005). "Essential Fatty Acids, DHA and the Human Brain from the Indian Journal of Pediatrics, Volume 72" (PDF). http://medind.nic.in/icb/t05/i3/icbt05i3p239.pdf. Retrieved October 8 2007.

Echinacea -- Our Wintertime Friend

Hey Everyone,

For the past few months, we have been constantly hearing about the H1N1 virus and the flu. It has everyone in a panic and now people are lining up for this new vaccine. I realize that this is needed.. I too will be getting the shot as soon as it's available.

But I was thinking.. I haven't heard anyone talk about what can be done to strengthen our immune systems. Cold and flu viruses prey on weak immune systems. And although there are medicines to help get rid of these viruses, shouldn't we be trying to prevent getting them so there's no need for these medicines? For the next few posts, I'm going to concentrate on our immune systems... A Sweet Existence means living our best life... A Sweet Life.. And staying healthy is a part of this existence. So here we go...

Echinacea (shown in the picture above) is a genus of nine species of herbaceous plants in the family Asteraceae which are commonly called purple coneflowers. All are endemic to eastern and central North America, where they are found growing in moist to dry prairies and open wooded areas. It was widely used by the North American Plains Indians for its general medicinal qualities. Echinacea was one of the basic antimicrobial herbs of eclectic medicine from the mid 19th century through the early 20th century, and its use was documented for snakebite, anthrax, and for relief of pain. In the 1930s echinacea became popular in both Europe and America as a herbal medicine. According to Wallace Sampson, MD, its modern day use as a treatment for the common cold began when a Swiss herbal supplement maker was "erroneously told" that echinacea was used for cold prevention by Native American tribes who lived in the area of South Dakota.

A 2007 study by the University of Connecticut combined findings from 14 previously-reported trials examining Echinacea and concluded that Echinacea can cut the chances of catching a cold by more than half, and shorten the duration of a cold by an average of 1.4 days.

Echinacea can be found everywhere from WalMart to Whole Foods. So let's strengthen our immune systems and have a "Sweet" winter. You know what they say... An ounce of prevention..! Protect your body!

With Sweet Goodness,

Shermaine

Jojoba Oil... How Fabulous!

Hey Everyone!

Jojoba Oil... We've seen it in cosmetic products for years. But all anyone has ever told us is that it's great for the skin.. But why? I think today's the day we shed some light on this fabulous oil...

Jojoba Oil is the liquid wax produced in the seed of the jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) plant, a shrub native to southern Arizona, southern California and northwestern Mexico. The oil makes up approximately 50% of the jojoba seed. One reason is it is favored by the cosmetics industry is its stability. Jojoba Oil is more shelf stable (You can keep it longer before it spoils) than several other commonly used oils including Sweet Almond Oil and Safflower Oil.

Another reason is that Jojoba Oil is a great moisturizer for our skin! This is because Jojoba Oil's chemical composition is similar to Sebum. Sebum is excreted from the sebaceous glands in our body which lubricates our skin; which explains why absorbs so quickly into the skin and is non-irritating (it mimics what our body's already produce -- therefore you are not introducing something completely foreign that your body may reject, thereby causing skin irritation)...

But did you know that Jojoba Oil is eco-friendly as well? Jojoba oil is also used as a replacement for whale oil and its derivatives, such as cetyl alcohol. The ban on importing whale oil to the US in 1971 led to the discovery that it is in many regards superior to sperm oil for applications in the cosmetics and other industries. That's great news for the whales who are very quickly reaching extinction...

Great for your skin and great for the environment... Why would you not include this amazing natural ingredient to your skin care "arsenal"?

The Body Patisserie features this fantastic ingredient in their Body Creme, Body Glace, Body Polish and Body Butter Souffle!!!

Protect your body.... Protect your skin!!

With Sweet Goodness,

Shermaine

Calendula -- More Than Just A Pretty Flower

Hi Everyone...

When I was a child, my mother always had beautiful potted marigolds in the house during the spring and summer months. But I'm sure my mom didn't know that there was more to this plant than simply it's beauty. There is!!!

Calendula (Marigolds) are a member of the daisy family Asteraceae, native to the area from Macaronesia east through the Mediterranean region to Iran. They are "Pot Marigolds", not to be confused with Marsh Marigolds or Corn Marigolds. I'm talking about the ones that you buy each spring at the Home Depot or Lowes...

Anyway, besides being a pretty plant, the petals are used to make an extract which is fabulous for our skin! It's anti-inflammatory properties suggest that it is ideal for acne and eczema as it soothes irritated skin. More and more this tincture is being introduced by the cosmetics industry in their skin care products. It's even being used in stretch mark creams because of the soothing effects on a mommy's tender belly..

Calendula is also considered edible. It is often sprinkled on salads to add color and unique flavor.

So next spring when you see the marigolds for sale, I hope you'll remember that they're not only great to the eye, but great for your skin!

Protect your skin, Protect your body.

With Sweet Goodness,

Shermaine

Shea Butter - Did you know???

Hey Everyone....

Most of you should have already heard of (or used) Shea Butter. However, for those who haven't, let's go through a quick overview...

Shea butter or Shea nut butter is a slightly yellowish or ivory-colored natural fat extracted from fruit of the shea tree by crushing and boiling. Shea butter is widely used in cosmetics as a moisturizer and an emollient. The shea or karite tree, formerly Butyrospermum paradoxum, is now called Vitellaria paradoxa. It produces its first fruit (which resemble large plums) when it is about 20 years old and reaches its full production when the tree is about 45 years old. It produces nuts for up to 200 years after reaching maturity. The shea tree grows naturally in the wild in the dry savannah belt of West Africa from Senegal in the west to Sudan in the east, and onto the foothills of the Ethiopian highlands.

Shea butter is marketed as being effective at treating the following conditions: fading scars, severely dry skin, blemishes, dark spots, skin discolorations, chapped lips, and stretchmarks. I chose Shea Butter as one of the ingredients for The Body Patisserie's Body Butter Souffle because it was gentle for my eczema ridden skin. Shea butter provides natural ultraviolet sun protection, although the level of protection is extremely variable, ranging from nothing to approximately SPF 6

But there are a few things you may not have known about this wonderful ingredient.

Did you know that pure Shea Butter is edible? In West Africa, the ingredient is used as a cooking oil and also as a substitute for cocoa butter in the Chocolate industry.

Did you know that toilet paper manufacturer Andrex released a Shea Butter enriched toilet roll to the UK market in Summer 2009? (talk about gentle to the touch)

Did you know that in Nigeria, it is believed to be very effective in the management of sinusitis and relief of nasal congestion? This is due to its emollient properties which helps in relaxing the tension in the face skin thus easing respiration. All one needs do, if one has sinus problems or congestion, is rub a considerable amount of the butter in and around the nostrils.

Did you know Shea butter is used in some indigenous ceremonies? Followers of the Holy Spirit Movement rebel group of Uganda smeared their bodies with shea butter in the belief that it would stop bullets! (ok... this is where the disclaimer comes in! Please do not attempt to use shea butter as a means of repelling bullets -- there is no scientific evidence that supports this practice and is deemed fatal if attempted)... I just thought it was an interesting tidbit, but I have to protect myself, you know???

Anyway, Shea Butter is a great emollient and moisturizer to be used in soaps and skin care! Give it a try... You may like it too... Protect your body. Protect your skin.

With Sweet Goodness...

The Blueberry... Superfood???

Hey Everyone,

Ok.. You all know about my increasing search for those foods which will assist me in my quest for optimum health. So, here we go!

The blueberry... Ahhh... We are all familiar with this wonderful berry atop pancakes and in jams and jellies, but there's so much more to these spheres of sweetness!

Because we all know what a blueberry looks like, I'll save that part of the research portion of this. However, lowbush blueberries (better known as wild) are grown predominately in North America, specifically Quebec, Canada and the northeastern region of the United States. "Wild" has been adopted as a marketing term for harvests of managed native stands of low-bush blueberries. The bushes are not planted or genetically manipulated, but they are pruned or burned over every two years, and pests are "managed". Maine produces 25% of the supply of wild blueberries in the United States, while Quebec produces 40% of Canada's supply.

But did you know that researchers have shown that wild (lowbush) blueberries contain anthocyanins & resveratrol (best known for being found in red wine) which inhibit cancer cell prevention* and protect the cardiovascular system? And did you know that chemical isolated from blueberry leaves can block replication of the hepatitis C virus and might help to delay disease spread in infected individuals?** Numerous studies have shown blueberries to improve nighttime visual acuity and promote quicker adjustment to darkness and faster restoration of visual acuity after exposure to glare (Bilberries, a cousin to the blueberry, were ingested in the form of jam by British Pilots in WWII before night missions). And researchers have found that blueberries help protect the brain from oxidative stress and may reduce the effects of age-related conditions such as Alzheimer's disease or dementia.

Plus.. they taste scrumptious!!! So I ask again... The Blueberry... Superfood??? I say indeed.. Protect your body, protect your skin!

With Sweet Goodness,
Shermaine

*Yi W, Fischer J, Krewer G, Akoh CC (September 2005). "Phenolic compounds from blueberries can inhibit colon cancer cell proliferation and induce apoptosis". J Agric Food Chem. 53 (18): 7320–9. doi:10.1021/jf051333o. PMID 16131149.

**The hepatitis healing power of blueberry leaves