Discover Wellness February - Issue 35

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WELLNESS Published monthly by Jennifer Reed, R.H.N. Discover Wellness is a monthly newsletter published in Quesnel, B.C., featuring various health and wellness articles from local (B.C.) professionals and enthusiasts, delicious recipes from holistic nutritionists and a professional directory showcasing our many local health and wellness leaders.

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For more information about distribution, features and benefits, contact Jennifer at 250-255-2449 or email jennifer@spiralhealth.ca.

To subscribe online please visit: www.spiralhealth.ca.

The opinions expressed within are those of the writer and not necessarily those of Spiral Health. Those with health concerns should seek professional advice from a healthcare provider as all content found in Discover Wellness is for informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute for professional healthcare advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Even if you don’t technically know what cellulite is or why it develops, you most likely do know what it looks like. Cellulite is a collection of lumps that many say resemble cottage cheese, that form underneath the skin giving it an uneven appearance. Cellulite usually collects around the thighs, stomach, and butt and concern over its mysterious appearance has boosted sales of miracle cure products the world over.

Unfortunately it seems most of these products have been declared relatively useless in the fight against cellulite and since many contain harsh and unnatural chemical ingredients they should be avoided anyway.

So what is cellulite? These lumps are actually just collections of fat that push against the connective tissue underneath the skin, which causes the surface of the skin to dimple or pucker. Whatever it is, most women would be happy to ban the cellulite for life if they only knew how. The battle against cellulite can not be won with a bottle of cream though. It needs to be fought from the inside of the body out. Here are some green and natural ways to fight the lumps.

Exercise and burn fat. Slimming and toning is the most important step to getting rid of cellulite. Eliminating excess fat and flushing your body with lots of water to remove toxins will help to reduce the appearance of cellulite. Exercise also helps to encourage circulation and lymph flow which will help with the removal of toxic buildup and cellular health. If you are already slim, then concentrate on toning and muscle strength, which will help burn away fatty deposits that even thin skinny people have.

Dry Brushing and Massage. These two practices help improve lymph flow and propel fluid in cellulite affected areas. You need to get the bad stuff mobilized and moving out of the body and as your body becomes congested. Massaging and dry brushing help to get your body systems working more effectively and get rid of the build-up. You can try home massagers, have your spouse be your personal masseur, and even regular visits to your massage therapist. Dry brushing is usually done in the morning before showering. Just spend 5-10 minutes using a soft bristled brush all over your body, using upward strokes towards the heart. Afterwards you can take a shower to wash off exfoliated skin - another benefit of dry brushing.

Get regular - It is not uncommon for women who have cellulite issues to also have issues with irregular bowels. In general they seem to struggle with releasing waste matter the way they should be. Start eating a balanced, organic diet with lots of fiber. Green smoothies in particular are wonderful for regularity. Just add a couple handfuls of spinach or kale and a couple frozen bananas to a blender with a few cups of water and enjoy! Many natural living enthusiasts also swear by using Colema boards, which are basically fancy home enema systems.

Also drink lots of water and perhaps do a juice fast one weekend a month to help regulate your bowels.

Try these techniques for a few months and marvel at the results. Nothing in a bottle can even come close.

Know What’s In Your Skincare Products

Many women today use a wide range of skincare products. These products might include cleansers, moisturizers, toners, and shampoos and they might be used several times a day throughout most of their adult life. Women have come to rely on these products but how many take the time to read the ingredient list on these beauty products? Do they know what they are using and if they might be putting potentially dangerous ingredients on their bodies? Most women are probably not aware of the harmful ingredients in their everyday self-care products.

skin irritant and when companies test new healing ointments or creams, SLS is the irritant they first rub on the skin to irritate it so they can then see how well their new product works to heal the inflammation. SLS can infiltrate the eyes, brain, heart, and liver with potentially harmful effects according to the journal of the American College of Toxicology. SLS can cause rashes, eczema and other skin irritations. Even more shocking is the fact that some products containing this ingre dient are labeled as natural or organic because SLS is a detergent derived from coconut oil.

Unfortunately, there are many skincare products on the market that have questionable and dangerous ingredients. Some of these ingredients include synthetic fragrances, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or SLS, Phthalates, and Parabens.

Synthetic perfumes or fragrances can contain hundreds of chemicals. Some, such as methylene chloride are carcinogenic and others might cause headaches, dizziness, coughing, vomiting and skin irritation.

But what are they and why should they be avoided?

These ingredients hardly sound beneficial or even appropriate for our skin care needs. So what can you do to avoid these dangerous ingredients? First, read the ingredients list before purchasing a product. Take the time to research the ingredients you are unsure of. Second, find reputable companies that offer organic and 100% natural products. This may be a tall order since there is no regulation for organic bath and body products in most countries. Ask around and you will be able to isolate ethical companies using safe ingredients. Third, try making some of your own skincare products. When you make your own you know exactly what is in them and you can feel comfortable that they are safe. A good rule of thumb is to only put on your skin what you can eat.

Parabens are preservatives put into beauty products to extend their shelf life. They have no benefit to us only the manufacturing company. They do in fact have adverse effects for us though, including estrogenic qualities. They have produced abnormal hormonal effects following application on laboratory animals, particularly males, that resulted in decreased testosterone levels and other varied abnormalities. They have also been found to accumulate in the breast tissue of women with breast cancer.

Phthalates are a group of chemical compounds that are basically used as plasticizers (substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility). It is hard to imagine that we need plasticizers in our skincare products but you can find them in cosmetics, soaps, and various lotions. High Phthalates doses have shown hormonal activity in animal studies and have resulted in damage to the liver, the kidneys, the lungs, and the developing testes.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or SLS for short is an ingredient that gives a product like a shampoo or facial cleanser its foaming ability.

Most people equate cleaning ability with the amount of suds or bubbles created, so companies use SLS to give us the impression that it is an effective cleanser. SLS is a known

PURICA PURICA Presents Presents Jason Jason Watkin Watkin

Reducing Stress to to Achieve Achieve 360 360 Degrees Degrees of of Wellness Wellness

PUBLIC PUBLIC SEMINAR PUBLICSEMINAR SEMINAR

• A road map for overcoming stress, inflammation & pain naturally

• How mind state affects the health of the body and how wellbeing is literally a state of mind

HONEY PEDICURE Did you know stress can actually show up in our feet? Our feet are in need of some major pampering on a regular basis. This natural regime is the perfect remedy for removing some of those toxins, and giving your feet the attention they so much deserve.

Honey is used as an ingredient in each of the following steps.

Be sure to look for honey that is locally produced and organic.

(If you are vegan, you can leave out the honey and go for some organic agave nectar.)

You will learn:

• Positive lifestyle practices designed to develop a calm and clear mind

AT-HOME

All-natural detox:

Jason Watkin

Founder and Formulator for Purica

• How we perceive and process potential stress, strain and discomfort • How to tune into wellbeing physical and psychological • How natural supplementation can help provide support

2 bags of black tea (look for fair-trade brands in stores) Teaspoon of honey Teaspoon of lemon Bucket of warm/hot water Soak your feet in the mixture for at least ten minutes. Be sure to use a pumice stone to remove dead skin. Proceed to the next step.

Foot scrub: 1 cup of Hawaiian sea salt (or any sea salt will do) Teaspoon of honey Three tablespoons of coconut oil (or any oil) After combining these ingredients, massage onto your feet, paying extra attention to achy spots. While you’re at it, massage into your hands as well. Rinse off with warm water.

WHEN: Sunday March 5th 12-1PM followed by Q&A WHERE: Discover Wellness Fair - Quesnel Senior Centre Saturday, March 4th 10am-3:30pm Sunday, March 5th 10am-3pm COST: $5 one-day Adult Pass, $8 two-day Adult Pass Children 12 and under are free

Sponsored by

Moisturizing salve: A tablespoon or two of honey A teaspoon or two of coconut oil (sweet almond oil would as well) Stir together the above ingredients in a bowl. Place the bowl in a larger vat of warm water to heat the honey/oil mixture as you detox and scrub. Slather onto your feet and read your latest copy of Discover Wellness Magazine for 10-15 minutes. You can wrap those puppies up in saran wrap or old socks for an extra touch. When the time is up, rinse off thoroughly with warm water and your favorite gentle organic soap.

Moisturize those deserving feet with shea butter and slip into some fuzzy slippers. Enjoy!

Attend the Event & Receive 15% discount on Purica Products

Epic Bruschetta Recipe created by Hillary Shearing Certified Holistic Nutritionist My Awesome Foods www.myawesomefoods.com Ingredients 1 vine ripened tomato 1 container of cherry tomato's 3-5 cloves of garlic 1/2 of a red onion 3/4 cup of fresh basil (minced) 1/2 Tbs of Olive oil 1 Tbs of Balsamic Vinegar 2 cracks of rock salt 1 Tsp of Pepper

Instructions Mince your garlic, basil and onion.

Toss all together with salt, pepper, oil and vin.

Let sit in the fridge for 30 min before serving. (if making way ahead of time, reserve oil and vinegar and toss 30 min before serving).

Serve with thin sliced baguette or rice crackers.

Lavender Essential Oil for Hair Growth

When you think about lavender, our first thoughts probably turn to how peaceful and calming it is, especially when used in aromatherapy.

It’s the soothing properties that makes lavender oil such a potent cure for insomnia and has even been shown to reduce the effects of PTSD. But did you know that you can use lavender oil for hair growth?

Extracted from the blossoms of the lavender plant which in Latin translates to “wash,” lavender oil has been shown to be very beneficial in the treatment of hair growth, even in patients with alopecia.

When nature provides natural solutions, letting go of our chemical laden hair growth shampoos becomes that much easier. The nutrients found in lavender oil help to stimulate hair growth and promote full and healthy hair.

How To Use Lavender Essential Oil On Your Hair Using an organic lavender essential oil is best for a hair growth treatment and by massaging it into your scalp you will be promoting blood circulation which in turn will promote hair growth and keep you follicles strong.

When it comes to hair growth, using lavender with a combination of other oils such as jojoba, basil, and rosemary is best, with the mixture being stored in a darkened glass bottle. This ensures no loss of nutrients since light waves are unable to penetrate the bottle.

Jojoba is no only useful in treating dry scalp, but it’s properties are able to help the hair cells reproduce at a fast rate since it is the one oil that most closely mimics our body’s natural oils. Rosemary also helps to stimulate hair growth, with some people even seeing success in preventing baldness.

These oils all work together in maximizing your hair’s growth potential, try the following recipe.

Lavender Oil Hair Growth Recipe 10 drops lavender essential oil 10 drops rosemary essential oil 5 drops basil oil 4 oz. jojoba oil Mix well, and massage into scalp and hair.

Use daily until you see a noticeable difference.

Benefits Of Using Lavender Essential Oil For Your Hair Because lavender essential oil is such a powerful antiseptic, it provides great cleaning and can aid in ridding your hair of lice, dry skin, and dandruff.

Long term, by using lavender oil on your hair, you will also be protecting your hair and scalp against viruses, fungi and other microbes.

On a day to day level, this means less itching!

Organic essential oils are available from Green Sisters here: Green Tree - Quesnel Ave Maria - Prince George Hobbit House - Williams Lake Higher Ground - 100 Mile House www.greensisters.ca