Wellness Fix: Pure Honey and Fresh Lemon to the Rescue

In the past week, I've been sick with a dreadful bout of sore throat, voice loss, sniffles, coughing (uncomfortable, mostly at night...The worst), and aches.   It’s likely that working too much and neglecting nutrition probably left my immune system even more susceptible to getting sick. 

We can avoid getting sick by maintaining a good diet and taking vitamins? Mum's advice on one sure way to keep the "cooties" at bay (and this is super easy): 

Every morning, have a spoonful of raw honey (in raw form, it should be a pale yellow color and very thick) with organic cinnamon sprinkled over it. Try to take this before breakfast and it’ll ramp up your defenses! Take it straight and not in your tea; it’ll just turn to sugar once in the tea. This is a preventative way to boost our immune system.

Another way, more reactive than proactive- and I find this helps especially with voice loss is taking a shot of freshly squeezed Lemon (2 tablespoons will do). Follow directly with a teaspoon of honey.

Leave us a quick comment on how YOU boost your immune system. We'd love to hear from you.

~ Maryam 

RESCUE ME, ROSEMARY! by Maryam Moma

Fresh Rosemary Herb

Think back, focus on the history of your hair. Our hair takes an awful beating between heat styling, coloring, teasing, and all the other abuse we inflict on our helpless strands. Not only that, but our hair changes with age and usually for the worse, not the better. There isn’t much we can do against hormones and changes due to time taking its course, but we can sure do our best to keep a healthy scalp in order for healthy, abundant hair to grow in. I’ve got one secret weapon in my hair arsenal that can’t be beat: Rosemary.

I’ve been using rosemary oil on my scalp for months (since the winter set in), and it’s made a huge difference in my scalp, stopping itchiness and dryness in its tracks! Normally have a very dry scalp, but the rosemary oil keeps it supple and healthy. It amazes me how much this natural remedy has helped my hair! I put a few drops of rosemary oil in each parted section (4) of wet hair.I then massage through my entire scalp with my fingers… It takes maybe two minutes. You can pick up an organic rosemary oil from Whole Foods or any other natural foods store.

If you want to super charge your rosemary routine, pick up Yamerra's Rejuvenating Lemon Fire Bliss with healing rosemary  . After shampooing, saturate your hair with the oil, put on a shower cap, and hold a blow dryer over it for 5 minutes. Leave it on for an additional 15-30 minutes and then rinse out and style as usual. Or if your hair is in really bad shape, apply a small amount to the ends of your hair and leave it in as you style. You can also apply this to your scalp for maximum conditioning! If you’ve got dry, brittle, damaged hair, rosemary is an ingredient you definitely want to take advantage of for softer, stronger, and healthier hair.

Yamerra's Healing Lemon Fire Bliss Hair and Body butter is nutrient rich, includes Rosemary among other restorative herbs for scalp, hair and skin. SAVE big and use a product that has the ability to cater to you- Head-to-Toe!
PICK ONE UP HERE

Why You Should Have Apple Cider Vinegar EVERYDAY: Health and Beauty Benefits

Beauties, 

I have been struggling with increasing the alkalinity level in my body. Taking only two table spoons of raw Apple Cider Vingear a day together with changing my diet (cutting out processed sugars and products high in wheat content, high carbohydrates and starches, and instead eating high amounts of super foods, vegetables and proteins) has really made a HUGE difference in how I feel and LOOK!

An Apple Day, keeps the doctor way! With Raw Apple Cider Vinegar

you will forget what hospitals look like!

I must admit that I have known about  Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV), but have only incorporated it into my daily diet recently – who would have ever guessed that this natural and fermented liquid could be useful for a myriad of health issues?

Over the years, as I have learned more about this natural health aid, I have been amazed at some of the conditions it can be beneficial for. In fact, it is often touted as Mother Nature’s perfect food and is wonderful in helping to maintain the body’s vital acid-alkaline balance. I am referring to the raw, organic, unpasteurized Apple Cider Vinegar that still has the “mother” floating in it, such as  Bragg Organic  Apple Cider Vinegar.

Only raw organic apple cider vinegar has the actual “mother of vinegar” that makes this vinegar so beneficial to our health. The “mother” is made up living nutrients and bacteria that you can actually see as they settle in the bottom of the bottle like sediment. The “mother” is believed to have anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.

What is in ACV to support it’s reputation for health benefits?

Nutrients Available is ACV:

• Malic Acid – helps in fighting fungal and bacterial infections
• Beta-Carotene-helps in countering damage caused by free-radicals
• Calcium – helps create strong bones and teeth.
• Potassium – helps to prevent brittle teeth and nails, hair loss and sinusitis.
• Pectin – the fiber that helps to regulate blood pressure and reduce bad cholesterol.
• Acetic Acid – helps to slow down the digestion of starch which can help to lower the rise in glucose that commonly occurs after meals.
• Ash – gives ACV its alkaline property which aids your body in maintaining proper pH levels for a healthy alkaline state.

POTENTIAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF ACV:

Rich in Enzymes & Potassium Supports a healthy Immune System Helps to Eliminate Heartburn naturally Helps to Improve Bowel Irregularity Helps to control weight by breaking down fats so that your body can use them rather than store them Helps with Joint Pain and Stiffness Helps to Clear Up Skin Conditions, boosts radiance Promotes Digestion & ph Balance Helps soothe Dry Throats and Reduce Sinus Infections Helps Balance High Cholesterol Helps to Prevent Against Food Poisoning Helps remove Body Sludge Toxins Helps to Improve Metabolism which encourages Weight Loss Can help to reduce Bad Breath Can be a natural remedy for Diarrhea Potentially helps to reduce the levels of glucose in the blood, thus controlling blood sugar levels Can help alleviate Menstrual Pains Can help reduce appearance of Cellulite

Here are 6 ways to EASILY add it to your diet (unless you are currently eating a diet that eliminates Vinegars):

How to Add ACV into your Diet:

Use it in your Salad Dressings Add a splash to your sauces once they are done cooking (will brighten the flavors) Add a splash to your soups once they are done cooking (will brighten the flavors) Add it to Roasted Vegetables right before eating Use it in your Meat Marinades Make a sipping drink from it (Recipe Below)

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR SIPPING DRINK:

Ingredients:

• 2 – 3 teaspoons Raw Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
• 16 ounces Filtered and Purified Water
• Raw Local Honey (to suit your taste)
• 2 Cinnamon Sticks (optional, but a nice flavor enhancer and stirring medium to keep the “mother” suspended)

Directions:

1.  Mix ingredients together in a glass container and sip throughout the day. It is preferable to sip throughout the day, rather than drinking all at once, to help maintain a balanced alkalized state in your body. Always stir before drinking as the “mother” will settle.

Note: You can just barely warm this concoction on the stove if you would like to sip it warm, but do NOT allow to boil or even simmer. The point is to keep the Apple Cider Vinegar in the raw state.

EAT RIGHT. BE WELL. BE BEAUTIFUL.
xo, 

Yamerra

A New Health Habit for 2013: GLOW

Beauties, 

We highly recommend adding a special dose of "GLOW" Smoothies in your diet in 2013 and Beyond! Drinking this blend every day (preferably in the morning) will give you a mega dose of chloraphyll, which is said to help to rid your body of toxins. Try out the super vitamin packed smoothie and see how it makes a difference for you! This is definitely one healthy habit I plan to keep in 2013. Check out the ingredients below:

Incorporate a Healthy"Glow" Blend Smoothie in your  diet and Embolden Your Skin to Greater Heights of Radiance! Let's Do it in 2013 and Beyond!!!! xo

GLOW Smoothie

1 ½ cups water
2 cups chopped organic romaine lettuce
3-4 stalks organic celery
3 cups organic spinach
1 organic apple, cored 
1 organic pear, cored
1 organic banana

Juice of ½ fresh organic lemon

Blend all of this together and enjoy! 

Love, 

Yamerra

Happy Holidays Beauties! 

We are discussing healthy and delicious winter treats that help maintain skin radiance... Especially as we are gearing up to go home and see those special people in our lives. I know right?!!! All the pressure, to get the right gift, to try to eat right and not break too far away from your regular diet...? And to look graceful, healthy and radiant through it all! Food certainly takes center stage this time of year, but if you’re looking to curb your calories but still want to indulge your senses (and your skin), here are my Holiday beauty product picks!

Fresh Maple? YES....

Not just for pancakes or waffles, there’s something about the scent of maple that conjures up images of the leaves changing colors in New England—and this sweet treat is rich in antioxidants as well. If you want the sensory experience without the waistline-expanding calories, try a highly nutrient Maple and oats facial mask at home.

What you'll need: 1-2oz of fresh dry oats, 2 teaspoons of fresh maple, 1 egg (egg white only). Mix and apply to face and neck. Leave fore 12-15 minutes. Rinse throughly with luke warm to cool water.

More than a culinary treat, pumpkin contains good-for-your skin antioxidants and exfoliating enzymes that protect skin from damage, smooth rough texture and keep pores clear. We recommend a DIY fresh Pumpkin and honey mask that really helps to restore damaged skin, especially with the Vitamin E found in Honey,  your skin will look fabulous for the holidays!

I L.O.V.E Pumpkin Anything!

What you'll need: 1-2oz of freshly blended pumpkin and 2 teaspoons of honey. Mix in a bowl and apply to face and neck. Leave for 12-15 minutes and rinse with luke warm water.

Collect Pumpkin pulp, blend, add honey then apply to face and neck.  Image from charlestonmag.com

Yummm, apple cider…

When you reach for that mug of apple cider, did you ever think your hair would like to get in on the action? Try a DIY fresh deep cleansing and conditioning treatment for your hair. Add a touch of fresh apple cider to some olive oil and apply to dry hair. Make sure to massage into scalp. Wear a shower cap for about  15 mins, and then rinse. The blend washes away product buildup, while conditioning and softening the hair.