Avocado- Green Gold for Skin and Hair care

Many of us enjoy avocados in a bowl of guacamole now and then, but they have more going for them than just delicious taste. For centuries, ancient Mayan, Aztec, and Incan beauties knew the avocado is also a wonderful beauty aid, rich in beneficial oils that rejuvenate the skin, reduce eye puffiness, heal frazzled hair, and much, much more.

Find out the secrets of avocado here. It’s known as “green gold” for some very good reasons!
Avocados are perishable, so be sure to use these formulas as soon as you make them. When buying avocados, look for organically-grown firm fruit with a slight “give” to the flesh. To use, cut the avocado in half lengthwise and remove the pit. Cover the unused half with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

Aztec Miracle for Puffy Eyes
This works so well it’s almost scary. Just slice a peeled avocado half into quarter-inch crescent-shapes. Lie down with a few slices under each eye and rest for around 20 minutes. You’ll love the results!

Easiest Facial Mask Ever
Just mash half an avocado and spread evenly on your clean face. Allow to remain for 15 minutes, then rinse off with warm water. This is best for dry skin types.

Shiny Soft Hair Treatment
In a small bowl, mash and combine:
1 avocado (1/2 for shorter hair)
1 egg yolk
1/2 teaspoon olive oil

Apply to hair and allow to remain 30 minutes or longer, then shampoo and condition as usual. Amazingly silky, shiny, soft hair!

Soft, Smooth Hand Trick
This gently exfoliating scrub will make your hands noticeably softer and smoother.

In a small bowl, mash:
1/4 of a peeled avocado
1 egg white
2 tablespoons oatmeal
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Combine well and apply to your hands. Leave the mixture on for 20 minutes, then rinse in warm water and pat dry.

Appealing Moisturizer
Turns out we’ve been throwing away (or composting) a valuable part of the avocado!! You can use the inside of the peel as a fabulous humectant and oil-rich moisturizer. Just lightly apply the inside of the peel to your clean face, using gentle upward strokes. You can leave the oil on your face all night or rinse after 15 minutes. Makes a great foundation for your foundation or powder!

Oily-Skin Masque
In a small bowl, thoroughly mash and combine:
1/2 avocado
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 egg white

Apply evenly to a clean face and allow to remain 20 minutes, then rinse with warm water and a cloth. Follow with an astringent, if you like.

The Doctrine of Signatures

Every whole food has a pattern that resembles a body organ or physiological function and that this pattern acts as a signal or sign as to the benefit the food provides the eater. Here is just a short list of examples of Whole Food Signatures.

A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye...and science shows that carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.
A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart is red and has four chambers. All of the research shows tomatoes are indeed pure heart and blood food.
Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows that grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.
A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds are on the nut just like the neo-cortex. We now know that walnuts help develop over 3 dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.
Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.
Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet the body pulls it from the bones, making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.
Eggplant, Avocadoes and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats 1 avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? .... It takes exactly 9 months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).
Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the motility of male sperm and increase the numbers of sperm as well to overcome male sterility.
Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.
Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries.
Grapefruits, Oranges, and other citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.
Onions look like body cells. Today's research shows that onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells They even produce tears which was h the epithelial layers of the eyes.

"The news isn't that fruits and vegetables are good for you, it's that they are so good for you, they can save your life."

David Bjerklie, TIME Magazine, Oct. 2003

Power Foods for Pregnant and Nursing Women

Berries
Why? These colorful fruits top the charts with their antioxidant content and have been shown to help with brain, eye and vascular health. Antioxidants are compounds that protect cells from free radical damage. Free radicals are highly reactive particles - induced by such things as cigarette smoking, sunlight and excessive exercise - that damage cells throughout the body by triggering oxidative reactions. Berries also provide fiber, which is beneficial for pregnant women.

Did you know? One way to ensure you are eating the recommended servings and variety of fruits and vegetables is to eat a colorful diet. Most experts agree that the colors in foods, also known as phytochemicals, impart numerous health benefits. As a general rule, have at least three natural colors on your plate at each meal. For added antioxidant content, experiment with fruits and vegetables in new varieties of colors. Look for purple cauliflower, red or yellow carrots, purple potatoes, pink radishes, red cabbage, blood oranges, purple beans and more.

How? Berries are delicious when fresh, but frozen berries are available all year round and are a nice addition to smoothies, muffins, pancakes or salads. They also make a wonderful sauce when cooked with a little maple syrup and water. Try also all-fruit berry jam or berry juice (great mixed with some sparkling water).

Sweet Potatoes
Why? Sweet potatoes have a stellar nutrition profile. They are an excellent source of vitamin A (as colorful beta carotene) and a good source of vitamin E.

Did you know? By eating sweet potatoes with a little fat, you will increase the absorption of nutrients, including beta carotene.

How? The easiest way to prepare sweet potatoes is by simply baking them in the oven at 400°F for one hour. You can bake several at a time, then store in the refrigerator for a few days until needed. Baking brings out the natural sugars in sweet potatoes, and will make your kitchen smell wonderful. Due to their skin (be sure to eat the skin for added nutritional benefits), they are easily portable. Eat as a side dish to a main meal, as a snack, or for breakfast, with hard-boiled eggs.


Avocado
Why? Enjoyed by many due to their smooth texture and mild flavor, avocadoes are an excellent source of potassium, folic acid, and vitamin C. Nutrient-dense avocados also contain healthy monounsaturated fats.

Did you know? Avocadoes contain significant quantities of the antioxidant lutein, which has been shown to be beneficial for eye health.

How? Avocadoes are great eaten plain or on salads, but can also be used as the base for a guacamole-type dip, perfect for snacking raw with veggies.


Legumes
Why? Legumes, or dried beans, are a vegetarian source of protein and are fiber-rich. Many varieties are an excellent source of iron, folate and magnesium. These are an important source of minerals and nutrients for vegetarians.

Did you know? In a recent study, certain colored beans — including kidney beans, pinto bean, and black beans — were found to contain high levels of health-promoting antioxidants.

How? Serve legumes in wraps and tortillas, in soups, or as a spread or dip. For ease and convenience, use canned beans or ready-prepared bean spreads, like hummus. Beans cook exceptionally well in a crock pot. Crock pots are great time saving devices — perfect for stews with lots of vegetables and beans. Make extras to freeze for easy meals on busy weeknights.


Nuts
Why? A satisfying, versatile and nutritious food, nuts provide fiber, vitamin E and magnesium. Specific types of nuts have their own nutrition specialty; for example, walnuts have omega-3 fatty acids and almonds provide calcium.

Did you know? Although nuts are high in fat, they contain primarily monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat, and have not been shown to promote weight gain when eaten in moderation — about a small handful five times a week.
How? Nuts are wonderful on their own, but a trail mix with nuts, seeds, dried fruit, or dried coconut makes a delicious treat. Be sure to explore the bulk aisle for an abundant variety of nuts and trail mixes that you may not have considered previously. Roasted nuts make a tasty addition to salads and vegetable dishes. You can also try a variety of nut butters like almond butter and cashew butter - an easy snack when spread on crackers or raw vegetables. For a special treat, mix a little honey or maple syrup with the nut butter of your choice and enjoy on sliced apples or pears.

Kitchen-Made Face Cleansers

These do-it-yourself concoctions are designed for dry, oil or normal skin types. The apple cider vinegar acts as a natural astringent; the olive oil helps remove dirt; the lactic acid in the yogurt exfoliates; and the lemon juice tightens pores.

Dry Skin
1 cup plain yogurt
1/2 mashed banana or avocado
1/4 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp olive oil


Oily Skin
1 cup plain yogurt
1/2 tsp olive oil
1/4 tsp lemon juice


Normal Skin
1 cup plain yogurt
1 tsp olive oil
1/4 tsp apple cider vinegar
Choose one cleanser, depending on your personal skin type. Combine all ingredients well. Scoop out approximately 1/4 cup and apply all over face with a soft, circular motion. Rub into skin for at least one minute. Rinse well with cool (not cold) water. Gently pat dry with a soft cloth. Store unused cleanser in the refrigerator for up to seven days