Rub - a - Dub - Dub... Here is How You Scrub...

A Little History…Did you know that the ancient Greeks and Romans didn’t bath with water very often? Instead they would apply a thin coat of olive oil all over their body and then scrape off the dirt and dead skin cells that the oil lifted off. The term “Greasy Italian” now takes on a new meaning, doesn’t it?

This was also the practice of our great grand parents and earlier generations until recent sales of soaps, shampoos and lotions became a multimillion dollar industry.

I remember my mom telling me that they rarely washed new born babies; instead they “oiled” them. Don’t throw away your shampoo and deodorant yet; but we might want to take a longer look at the crazy chemicals on the label and make some changes to more natural products.

Some folks pay big bucks at beauty salons for "hot oil treatments" for dry hair. I remember as a kid my mom would put warm oil on her hair and then sit under a heating cap. She would then shampoo and have beautiful silky hair.

Tip: Keep a spray bottle of light olive oil with a couple of drops of essential oils like eucalyptus, peppermint, or orange oil in your shower. Spray and rub in the oil at the end of your shower and let the water rinse off the excess oil. You may want to use a separate towel to dry your hair.

In the summer I use coconut oil at the end of my shower. Coconut oil is believed to have antibacterial and antiviral properties; and it feels a little lighter on the skin than olive oil. Some people even use Coconut oil as a natural deodorant but I am not ready to go that free yet. If you decide to try it please let me know how it works for you.

Coconut oil is the perfect make up remover – even for water-proof mascara.

Antiperspirants and breast cancer? It has been suggested that antiperspirants may be a contributing factor in America’s increased rate of breast cancer in men and women. It is believed that prolonged use of antiperspirants block the ability of the lymphatic glands in the underarm to detoxify causing toxins to back up into the surrounding tissues causing disease. Antiperspirants usually contain aluminum (aluminum chlorhydrate) which is believed to increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. So you might want to stick with deodorant but drop the antiperspirant part of your hygiene routine.

Dry Brush Bath

Several years ago while attending a health seminar; a German health trainer told us that we should incorporate a daily “brush bath” into our morning health routine. He instructed us to use a natural bristle brush on our skin in small circular motions starting with our extremities working toward the heart. He told us to pay special attention to behind the knees, the bend in your arm, thigh, under arm, and neck where your lymph glands are located. This stimulates the lymph system, increases detoxification, blood flow and slightly increases the metabolism. He encouraged using coconut oil after the brush bath to moisturize and help protect against bacteria.

Stsh,Stch, Stch….

Magic 5-Minute Chocolate Mug Cake

Magic 5-Minute Chocolate Mug Cake

Not so Healthy Version

This recipe is magic in 4 ways:

1. Magic in how quickly you can satisfy your chocolate craving any time of the day or night.

2. Magic in how quickly it draws people to the table that you didn’t even know were home.

3. Magic in how quickly it disappears

4. Magic in how your kids love to make it for you

What You’ll Need:

4 Tablespoons All purpose Flour

4 Tablespoons Sugar

2 Tablespoons unsweetened powdered cocoa

1 Egg

3 Tablespoons Milk

3 Tablespoons Cooking Oil Or 2 Tablespoons butter- melted

3 Tablespoons Chocolate Chips – I add 2 different kinds of chocolate

¼ Teaspoon vanilla extract

1 Large Coffee Mug

Powder Sugar

What to Do:

1. Add dry ingredients to mug. Mix well.

2. Add egg and mix thoroughly

3. Pour in milk and oil (make sure to stir the bottom edges)

4. Add chocolate chips and vanilla extract. Mix again

5. Put mug in microwave and cook for 3 minutes on high (the cake will rise above the top of the mug – that’s OK)

Note: Or pop it into a 350° oven for 25 minutes

6. Allow cake to cool a little, then tip onto plate. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, or pour on caramel sauce, or a scoop of ice cream…

Serves 2

Options:Add Nuts, or orange zest, or ¼ Teaspoon Espresso Powder or ¼ Teaspoon of cinnamon or ¼ Teaspoon mint extract

Magic 5-Minute Chocolate Mug Cake – (Ronda’s Healthy Version)

Magic 5-Minute Chocolate Mug Cake – (Ronda’s Healthy Version)

This recipe was adapted from Cricket Children’s Magazine but don’t let that fool you. This recipe is dangerous! You can enjoy a hot volcano cake any time of the day in just 5 minutes.

What You’ll Need:

4 Tablespoons Whole Wheat Pastry Flour - organic

4 Tablespoons Agave - organic

2 Tablespoons unsweetened powdered cocoa

1 Egg- free range

3 Tablespoons Milk - organic

3 Tablespoons Grape Seed Oil (or coconut) Or 2 Tablespoons butter- melted

3 Tablespoons Chocolate Chips – may use wheat sweetened

¼ Teaspoon vanilla extract

1 Large Coffee Mug

Powder Sugar (we skip this part and pour on Chocolate Agave Syrup)

What to Do:

1. Add dry ingredients to mug. Mix well.

2. Add egg and mix thoroughly

3. Pour in milk and oil

4. Add chocolate chips and vanilla extract. Mix again

5. Put mug in microwave and cook for 3 minutes on high (the cake will rise above the top of the mug – that’s OK)

Note: if you don’t like using the microwave for health reasons pop it into a 350° oven for 25-30 minutes

6. Allow cake to cool a little, then tip onto plate. Sprinkle with powdered sugar – or Agave Chocolate syrup

Serves 2

Options:

Add Nuts, or orange zest, or ¼ Teaspoon Espresso Powder or ¼ Teaspoon of cinnamon

Gluten Free Chocolate Cake in a Mug

4 Tbsp ground almonds ( almond flour )
4 Tbsp Agave
2 Tbsp cocoa powder
1 egg
3 Tbsp milk
3 Tbsp Grape Seed oil or Coco nut oil- or 2 Tbsp melted butter
3 Tbsp chocolate chips
dash of vanilla
pinch of salt
pinch of baking soda

1. Add the dry ingredients to the mug and mix well.
2. Add the egg to the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly
3. Add the milk, vanilla and oil - mix well.
4. Add the chocolate chips and stir.
5. Cook on high for 3 minutes in a 1000 watt microwave
The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!
6. Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.
7. EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).

Health Tip:

Don’t blend your yogurt into your smoothie -gently stir it in

When making your smoothies if you plan on adding yogurt or kefir to get the benefit of those wonderful pro-biotics – make sure that you blend your drink first then gently stir in your yogurt or kefir at the end. The action of the blender kills many of those live cultures.

Antibiotics were a wonderful medical breakthrough that has saved countless thousands of lives. However, taking broad spectrum antibiotics for colds and flu indiscriminately kill all types of bacteria they come in contact with. This means the good bacteria in our gut that aids in health and digestion die too. Research suggests that it can take up to five years for our systems to come back into balance after using antibiotics. That is where the acidophilus in yogurt and kefir products may help bring our digestive systems back in order.

This is one of our family’s favorite healthy desserts. We make it once or twice a week. My dad who is chocolate freak but a borderline diabetic can get his chocolate fix without spiking his blood sugar.

Agave Chocolate - Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

½ Cup Agave Nectar

1/3 Cup Cocoa Powder

1 Tablespoon Vanilla (I always go heavy on the vanilla)

4 Cups Organic Whole Milk *

½ Cup Mini Chocolate Chips (optional) or wheat sweetened chocolate chips

In a large bowl whisk together the agave and cocoa powder. Add vanilla and whole milk. Pour into freezer container and fill with milk up to fill line. Add Chips and put on lid. Follow directions to freeze.

*Coconut milk can be substituted if you prefer a non-dairy ice cream.

*If you want a creamier ice cream you can use 2 cups of organic whole milk and 2 cups of organic cream instead of the 4 cups of organic whole milk.

Agave Chocolate Almond Ice Cream

½ Cup Agave Nectar

1/3 cup Cocoa Powder

1 Teaspoon Vanilla

1 Teaspoon Almond extract

4 Cups Organic Whole Milk

½ Cup Chopped Almonds

½ Cup Mini Chocolate Chips (optional)

I Like-ah Dah Juice!!!

Juicing Day

Most centrifugal force juicers like the popular Jack LaLanne juicer can not juice wheat grass. A masticating juicer like a Green Star is optimal. We “juice” our wheat grass by clipping one cup of grass and adding ½ cup of pure water to the dry container of our Vitamix. We blend until it turns to green pulpy liquid. Then, we strain out the pulp through a simple wire tea strainer into a glass. Usually we add it to our carrot juice mix.

Warning: Never drink more than a 1 or 2 ounce shot of wheat grass at a time.

When we juiced our first batch of wheat grass with water in the Vitamix we figured that the water in the blender had diluted it quite a bit so we drank about ½ cup – WRONG! We initially felt an energy rush which was followed closely by an upset stomach and nausea. We didn’t actually throw up, (sorry for that visual) but it was very close. Isn’t it nice to know that wheat grass juice is a powerful detox-er and such a very potent nutritional boost?