Sunday, May 30, 2010

Organic Hemp for Beautiful Lips


Colorganics makes what I think is by far the best lip liner of all time. This organic lip liner gives natural looking color, stays on for a long time, and moisturizes my lips with organic hemp seed oil. My favorite color is Spice. I also enjoy the lipsticks which provide stronger color and lip tints, for a sheer lighter color.

Along with great products, I feel good buying from Colorganics because they support social responsibility and environmental sustainability. The are also a member of the Green Business Network by Green America.

Check out their website for more information:
www.colorganics.net/lipliners.html

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Reading Faces

Do you want to look in the mirror and be able to read what your face is REALLY telling you? Well, you can if you study Oriental Facial Diagnosis.

This kind of diagnosis allows you to observe and examine people's faces, or your own, to help you understand more about someone's personality, upbringing, ancestors, current state of health and functioning of their internal organs.

One interesting example of a person's appearnace and reading their internal state is sanpaku. Sanpaku is the abnormal expansion and contraction of the eyeballs. This word is Japanese and means "three whites," which illustrates that the eyeball is in an abnormally high or low position. Here is an example of lower sanpaku.


Lower sanpaku usually means that there is an abnormal expansion of the eyeballs, which shows that the whole physical and mental metabolism is becoming slower and weaker. This is usually because of the overconsumption of yin foods (such as milk and cream, nightshade vegetables, fruits, nuts, oils, spices, sugar, aromatic and stimulant beverages, alcohol, chemicals, and drugs/medications). There have been some instances of lower sanpaku being caused by overconsumption of extreme yang foods, such as salt.

For more information about Oriental Facial Diagnosis, check out the books Your Body Never Lies or How to See Your Health: Book of Oriental Diagnosis, both by Michio Kushi. You can easily find these books in the "Books I Love" sidebar section of my blog. Enjoy!

Monday, May 24, 2010

Superfood Trend: Quinoa


Quinoa is the latest and greatest food trend sweeping the nation! With it's whole grain status and reputation for being full of phytonutrients, antioxidants and high in complete protien (including all nine essential amino acids), what more could you want?

Quinoa is a great source of vitamins and minerals, and because of its whole grainy-ness, keeps you feeling fuller for longer, which can help with weight-loss.

Quinoa is also very easy to prepare and cooks in anywhere from 15-20 minutes. Try sauteing some vegetables, seasoning with anything like sea salt, soy sauce, lemon juice or garlic, and tossing the vegetables and quinoa together for a light and healthy salad.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Get Healthy in Arizona


Want to feel better and look great naturally?
Well, now you can with private cooking services that are easy and affordable!

Private Cooking Instruction
Enjoy learning how to make delicious, healing meals in the comfort of your own home. Choose to learn about food energetics, healing specific ailments, menu planning and shopping for excellent quality foods.

Private Cooking Services
Relax while someone else does the cooking! Have a healthy and delicious meal prepared in your home.


Ellie Kumayama has 9 years of cooking experience and is a graduate of the Kushi Institute Macrobiotic Leadership Program. She was also Director of the Kushi Institute Summer Conference for 2 years and has studied with some of the leading natural foods cooking instructors in the world.

For more information and to negotiate prices email
Ekumayama@yahoo.com

Feel-Good Fashion: Paper to Pearls


Want to accessorize fabulously and do good at the same time? Paper to Pearls makes beautifully handmade, fair trade necklaces crafted from recycled paper by poverty stricken women in refugee camps in northern Uganda.

The income these women earn helps them to buy more nutritious food for their families, have access to better health care, send their children to school and have income to spend in their communities. It also helps them to gain pride, dignity and hope for the future.

In addition, net revenue from the necklace sales is given back to beaders in the form of education, training and entrepreneurship development.

Check out Paper to Pearls


Monday, May 10, 2010

Sugar Busters- Take the Challenge with Ellen


Ellen is officially giving up SUGAR, so if she can do it, so can you! Take the challenge and clean out your body to feel and be your best. Not only does sugar suppress your immune system, promote inflammation, and make you cranky, it can also have serious long term negative effects on your health.

Here is a great website listing 146 reasons to lick your sugar habit:

http://www.rheumatic.org/sugar.htm

Check out Ellen's video where she officially gives up sugar.
No More Sugar for Ellen

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Tasty Tips for Choosy Kids


My first macrobiotic article has been published on the awesome resource website the Macrobiotic Guide, based in the UK! For some great tips on how to get your kids to eat healthily and enjoy it, check out the article. There are also easy and delicious free recipes with pictures.

 http://www.macrobiotics.co.uk/articles/Tasty_Tips_for_Choosy_Kids.htm


Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Savor the Spices: Indian Curried Vegetables


Here's a healthy vegetable dish for warm weather with a little bit of spice and a lot of flavor. The kuzu in this dish is great for supporting good digestion. Feel free to add tofu and serve with brown rice to make a complete meal. This dish was so good that I ended up eating most of it myself!

1 Tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1/2 Head of cauliflower, cut into florets
1 Kohlrabi, cut into large cubes
1/4 Butternut squash, cut into cubes
1/2 Cup water
1 Cup organic frozen green peas
1 Tablespoon kuzu
3 Tablespoons cold water
Sea salt
Indian curry powder

1. Heat sesame oil in a skillet on the stove over medium heat.
2. Add the cauliflower, cubes of kohlrabi and squash to the heated oil and saute for 10-12 minutes to sweat the vegetables, which intensifies the flavor. Make sure the vegetables do not brown. If they do, turn down the heat a little.
3. Add 1/2 cup of water, cover the skillet with a lid and let the vegetables cook for 10 minutes.
4. Add the peas and stir the vegetables to incorporate them into the dish.
5. Dissolve the kuzu in the 3 tablespoons of cold water in a small bowl.
6. While stirring the vegetables in the pan, slowly pour in the dissolved kuzu. Continue to stir the mixture to avoid clumping.
7. Keep stirring the vegetables until the kuzu thickens and becomes clear.
8. Season the dish to taste with sea salt.
9. Add as much or as little curry powder as you like. Serve and enjoy!