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Lemon Ginger Natural Body Scrub

8 May

For years, I have tried as much as I can to make presents rather than buying presents.

At first, it had to do with being able to give away many presents for a fraction of the cost of store-bought presents. But in reality, I just get a lot of personal satisfaction when the person receiving the present is positively impressed because I took the time to MAKE IT just for them, instead of buying something.

A lot more thought needs to go into making something… Among the presents I have made in the past are my Cranberry Preserves, Brown Rice Krispies Treats, Carob Granola, Rosemary Almonds, these Cherry Carob Cookies, Tomato Bruschetta Mix, Soy Picadillo and even Coquito for the holidays.

This year, for Mother’s Day, I decided I wanted to make something different… something that was delicious, indulgent, but not necessarily to eat. My mom and I love bath salts and anything to slather all over and smells good. So it occurred to me I could easily make a homemade mixture of salt scrub…

LEMON GINGER NATURAL BODY SCRUB

Coarse Sea Salt
Bath Oil, unscented preferably (almond or sesame oils are good choices…)
the rind of about 4 lemons, cut into small pieces
2 inches of ginger root, peeled and cut into small pieces
A plastic jar with tight fitting lid – I used a 16oz recycled jar of peanut butter…
  1. I filled the jar with sea salts about ¾ of the way… that was my measure for the 16oz jar. Pour it out onto a large bowl where you will mix in the rest of the ingredients.
  2. Then, measure in the same jar, about 1/3 of the way with body oil. Pour it onto the salt in the large bowl you have set up.
  3. In a food processor or a Magic Bullet, process the pieces of lemon rind and ginger root. Pour them into the same bowl with the salt and oil. Mix the salt/oil/lemon/ginger mixture well using a large metal spoon, preferably that can fit inside the mouth of the jar.
  4. After the mixture seems all integrated, transfer carefully into the jar you’ll use to store it finally. Leave for a few days so the oil and salts infuse well with the scent of the lemon and ginger.

Use it liberally in the shower to slough your skin to leave it super smooth and radiant.

My Mom will receive this TODAY for Mother’s Day… And my sister, on her first Mother’s Day, is also receiving one… but a little belated, because I wasn’t able to ship it out in time.

And to all of you MOMs out there… May all your days be filled with LOVE… MUA!!!

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Pineapple Celery Juice

4 May

I am into natural remedies and treatments… and lately I have not been feeling like my usual self and I have sought the help of my natural doctor. He’s an iridologist and as part of his latest treatment, he recommended me to drink 8oz of Pineapple Celery Juice daily…

I know it sounds weird… I know!! But do not shoot it down until you try it. Really…

PINEAPPLE CELERY JUICE

1 fresh pineapple, peeled and cut into long pieces
1 bunch of organic celery stalks
16oz of water
  1. Using a juicer… (my mom lent me her Jack Lalane’s Juicer) just process the pieces of pineapple and celery.
  2. Mix in the water to dilute the mixture.
  3. Place in a bottle and chill well in the refrigerator before serving.

I usually get 16oz of pineapple and 16oz of celery for a total 32oz of extract/concentrated juice.  Add the water to dilute a bit… 

What is this juice good for?? Good question… I do not question my natural doctor on what his treatments recommendations are for specifically as natural medicine has a very holistic/total wellness approach. But the flavors are certainly delicious and unique… Drink up!!

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Coconut Water – The Wonder Drink

17 Oct

I was getting ready to write a post about the wonderful cleansing effects of coconut water, based on my experience, of course.  But I also have to touch upon the fact that in NYC, coconut water is the rage…

Everywhere I went in NYC I saw coconut water – in the Chinese market in Queens, at the Food Emporium in Manhattan, at the Grand Central Market and even it was served at party I went hosted by a nutritional education program.  Apparently, it’s the hot cool drink of the moment.

It’s funny, because here in Puerto Rico, we are very familiar with coconut water.  Coconuts can be found anywhere and if you cut into one, more than likely it will have water inside.  But us, city dwellers, do not cut out own coconuts in search for their delicious, sweet water – we go to the Plaza del Mercado, the closest thing to a farmer’s market we have in PR.  At the Plaza del Mercado in Santurce, the one closest to my home, I go to the Juice stand and they sell the coconut water in ½ Gallon containers for $5, plus tax.

                                       

Coconut water is very rich in nutrients – potassium, calcium, among others.  There are many sites describing the diverse health benefits of drinking coconut water.  I have even heard that the higher the tree/plant where the fruit grows is, the more benefits it has for those who consume it… and you have seen how tall palm trees grow…

Coconut water also has a laxative effect when drank in larger quantities.  I use coconut water to cleanse my digestive system to get ready for our yoga retreats.  For these laxative properties to take effect you need to drink a ½ gallon of fresh coconut water (not the kind they sell canned or in aseptic boxes) in one sitting.  Drink it slowly, but steadily in one sitting or until you can’t drink any more.  You’ll start to feel how your intestines start moving and shaking.  I usually top it off with a Kiwi Juice to complete the cleansing effect.  Drink it when you know you’ll be able to stay home and with a bathroom nearby.  This is not the moment to decide to run errands.

If you live in NYC – I saw fresh coconut water at the Grand Central Market.  It was expensive – this little bottle was $2.99.  But I am sure that if you visit Spanish Harlem or any other neighborhood market that caters to a Latin/Hispanic community you might be able to find it cheaper and mot probably in larger containers.  Because you’ll need about 4- 5 of these little containers to get the desired cleansing effects.

I love this way of cleansing your system because you’re getting nourished while you’re cleaning.  For people with constipation problems, I would urge them to drink 16-20 ounces of coconut water on a daily basis and see what happens.  I am no doctor or medical practitioner, but I have seen the effects it has on me and believe me… you will become more regular if you drink this by the ½ gallon.

Try it… and let me know what effects it had on you.  Plus, you’ll be all the rage… how cool is that?

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Kiwi Juice

3 Oct

I have often mentioned that I subscribe to the belief that our food should be our nourishment as well as our medicine.  And I know this is a COOKING blog, but our “regularity” is very much a part of cooking and eating, particularly for our well-being.  It is recommended and advisable to “go to the bathroom” as many times as you eat… meaning that if you had breakfast, lunch and dinner, at least you should have gone to the bathroom to eliminate 3 times in one day.  If you are going fewer times than the amount of meals in a day, you’re considered constipated.

A way to help keep your regularity, while ingesting healthy foods, is by drinking laxative fruit juices… juices made from scratch, preferably without any sweeteners and with as little water as possible.  If you have a juicer is even better.  My kitchen is too small, so I do it in a blender, which most of you probably have already at home.

My potion is Kiwi Juice.  Thank God, I do not have regularity issues, but when I want to “clean my digestive system”,  this is the way I do it…

 

 

 

KIWI JUICE

6-8 kiwi fruit, peeled and cut in quarters
About 1 cup of water

 

Kiwi juice usually scratches your throat so to minimize this, I try to use only seedless pulp for the juice.  If you do not mind the scratchiness, then go ahead and use the pulp whole.

  1. Place the kiwi pulp in the blender…
  2. I do it 2 ways…  if you do not mind the seeds – cut the kiwi in half and squeeze the pulp out into the blender jar.  You’ll be left with only the skin in your hand.  If you want to eliminate the seeds – cut both ends of the kiwi fruit.  Using a serrated vegetable peeler, peel away the skin.  Using now a paring knife, cut the kiwi in half and cut carefully around the seeds, trying to avoid them as much as possible.  Then dump into the blender jar.
  3. Add water and blend well.
  4. Drink it as quickly as possible in one sitting.

 

Other people I know use apple juice, pear juice or even melon juice…  I also swear by coconut water.  I’ll tell you about it some other time.  But the key here, to use this as a juice therapy is to extract the juice pure and drink it immediately.  This is not the type of juice you water down or keep in the fridge for days.  For it to work, you do it in the moment.

Good luck and I wish you a very regular day… everyday.

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Natural Cold Remedy

22 Dec

I no longer take chemical medications when I get a cold.  I try to eat well, take a natural vitamin supplement, etc.

But still, I get the occasional cold, just like I have right now.  My mom taught me about this concoction to help the system get rid of the “stuff” congesting inside of you…rather than drying it up all inside.

It’s super easy and tastes better than any Robitussin around.

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NATURAL COLD REMEDY

1/2 cup honey
the inside clear gel of an aloe vera leaf
the juice of 2 limes
  1. Mix all the ingredients in a blender. 
  2. Drink about a 2 tablespoon measure every hour or so…  It’s super good, so you can drink it as often as you want.

If you have a cough, add in a 1/4 of a small onion to the mixture and blend. 

Feel better – I am feeling better myself…

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