Fed up with Store Bought Fruit Juices?

DIY: Strawberry Cucumber Infused Water

Budget conscious and tired of spending on extra dollars pricey containers of juice? 

Try making your own flavored waters at home for a healthier alternative!

Options are always available. Here, I used what I had already at home.

What you’ll need:

       1.     A glass pitcher

       2.     Bottled spring water (glass is preferred but I used what was readily available in my kitchen)

       3.     Organic everything (even the lemon juice concentrate & organic fresh or frozen strawberries,    falling short of having fresh lemons and enough fresh strawberries at home)

       4.     An awesome organic hot house cucumber

       5.     Fresh organic herbs- mint & basil

       6.     The clear liquid stevia is also organic and is certainly optional but I like just a few drops

Combine all your fresh ingredients into the pitcher and let sit overnight to allow 

the juices of each ingredient infuse into the water.

Tip: using frozen organic fruits is an excellent substitute for ice and 

infuses the water with it’s natural flavor as is melts.

The strainer helps if you don’t like leaves in your drink but sometimes they do get stuck. 

I don’t mind so much and chew on them anyway as it is a natural digestive cleanser.

A little creativity goes a long way in the kitchen.  I’ve picked up a bag of fresh 

lemons recently and some organic blackberries. I feel a new flavor coming soon!

Do you have any favorite infused-water recipes you’ve tried before and loved? 

Share your comments below!

Are you getting all of your vitamins?

'Cause great things really do come in small packages.

Keep all the vitamins,

lose the pill

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Top 5 Sun Care Safety Tips

While being in the sun has its share of benefits for health and well-being, it also carries quite a few risks if the skin is not taken care of properly. Here are 5 sun care safety tips to keep in mind before heading out to catch some rays.

The sun, a 6 billion old star remains a seasonal topic of confusion almost every summer yet it can have a year round effect. How do we understand the damage the sun can cause to our skin and how can we protect ourselves?

(Source: http://bit.ly/18LivP0)

Here are the top 5 sun care safety tips to make sure you do before heading out for a day in the sun:

1.     Avoid direct sun contact between 10 AM and 2 PM when UV rays are strongest.

(Source: http://bit.ly/14FSHge)

2. Apply sun care products 30 minutes before going outside.

3. Use a broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher.

4. Wear sun blocking clothing such as wide-brimmed hats, loose fitting light colored clothing and UV blocking sunglasses.

5. Be mindful and don’t allow your skin to burn.

“There is no safe way to tan. Every time you tan, you damage your skin. As this damage builds, you speed up the aging of your skin and increase your risk for all types of skin cancer.”¹

Personal preference and purpose are often deciding factors when purchasing sunscreens. Some prefer to use sunscreen on their face but often forget about our other body parts that are exposed to the sun especially during the summer months.

Often we think to use sun protection for the body when at the beach or when we know we will have maximum sun exposure throughout the day. If outdoor activity during the summer is your thing, then sunscreens labeled "Sport" are best which offer a “water resistant” protection, not “waterproof”. For this reason sunscreens need to be re-applied periodically throughout the day to avoid burns, sun damage and photo aging. Some people prefer lotions or creams but spray lotions are easiest to apply for the body and offer better coverage.

It is not possible to know how anyone's skin reacts to topical lotions, creams. Some sunscreens have added skin soothers and conditioners like Aloe Vera, Green Tea and Lavender, all which are very soothing and calming to the skin. Lavender is often recommended for psoriasis and Aloe Vera heals skin wounds. 

What to consider when purchasing sunscreen:   

•   Sun Protection Factor (SPF)

•   Natural/Biodegradable

•   Eco-Safe/Reef Friendly

•   UVB/UVA Protection

•   No Parabens

•   Botanical/Mineral Blend

•   Water Resistant

Coconut’s Green Market sells over 50 different sun care products and 15 brands to choose from. To easily find products go to the category "Personal Care" then go to "Sun Care" or you can use this link: “Sun Care”. As you scroll thru pages consider your outdoor activity level and personal preferences. 

Have any other ideas for sun protection you like to do? Comment below to share your input!

Resources:

¹American Academy of Dermatology

²Skin Cancer Foundation

Re-boot!

For those of us returning to work from a long holiday weekend, sometimes we need a boost of vitamins and energy to keep us going. We recommend Futurebiotics Hi-Energy Multi For Men (also available for women.) All your vitamins and nutrients along with Korean (Panax) ginseng and Eleuthero root extracts plus Bee pollen (energy filled botanicals) - time to get back to work!

The Beauty Benefits of Plant Oils: Skin & Hair

For years Mother Nature has provided us with the richest of ingredients in plants: anything from nutritious foods to the oils and byproducts they create in the process. For centuries, people have been using plant oils to treat illness, soothe physical ailments or spiritual illness. Today, we have seen the real benefits in combining and balancing these plants’ unique characteristics in order to use them for beauty benefits with the skin and hair. Coconut’s Green Market provides the top oils and their benefits here.

For centuries, people have used plants for a plethora of reasons: nutrition (such as corn, rice, beans, etc.), clothing (cotton, synthetic fibers), and also as medicine and shelter.

Now, Coconut’s Green Market provides the top oils to use in order to channel plant oils for beauty benefits to improve skin and health care:

Avocado Oil is a rich, skin-rejuvenating oil extracted from the flesh of a ripe avocado. High in oleic acid, avocado oil is great for massage therapy as well as rejuvenating dry or aging skin.

Chamomille Oils can be used in a variety of ways for both skin and hair benefits. Its anti-inflammatory properties can be calming to the skin, while certain chamomile extracts help soften, detangle and add shine to dry, damaged hair.

Coconut oil is rich in essential fatty acids. The oil from this tropical fruit nourishes and moisturizes for smooth, soft skin and can be a great addition to body creams or moisturizers.

Eucalyptus oil is great for clearing congested pores, soothing any kind of skin inflammation and helps the healing process. It’s a great addition to any acne or oily skin formulas, especially when it combines forces with tea tree oil!

Rosemary oil is known not only for healing skin, but as well as improving hair growth. By increasing circulation to the scalp, it helps promote hair growth and improving shine. It has a fresh, herbaceous scent and purifying properties. Coconut’s Green Market recommends blending rosemary oil with grapeseed and olive oils to make a nourishing scalp massage that will surely leave you feeling relaxed.

Have a favorite plant oil remedy you prefer? Share your comments with us below!