Natural Fit Life-Healthy Can Be Done!: 2011-01-09

Saturday, January 15, 2011

How to do laundry without laundry detergent.

If you are like me you have probably ran out for detergent right in the middle of tackling a pile of laundry! It happened to me yesterday, so I figure I better share my little tips with you.
So if your run out of detergent and you just want to get that laundry rolling a.s.a.p there is no need to postpone the laundry till you make a trip to the store. Here are a few, very simple ways to get things done, quick and cheap! Just use any one of those ingredients that you already have in your home.
Shampoo: Use a little bit of shampoo for your load. You don't need much. 1/4 cup should do depending of the size of your load!
Dish washing soap: A little bit of dish soap will do. Not much otherwise you will have some bubbles overflowing your washing machine
White Vinegar + baking soda + (optional: lemon juice) : This is my favorite one because white vinegar is great on clothes for color protection, great germ and bacteria killer and baking soda is the most amazing cleaning supply if you ask me. To add fragrance to your laundry if you have some essential oils like eucalyptus oil or lavender oil just add a few drops.( 2-3 drops) to your water. I prefer adding the oil drops to the rinse water.
Regular bar soap: Simply pick a bar of soap, organic or regular store bought soap like Ivory soap, use a vegetable peeler and shred the soap. Add it to your washing water and Voilaaaa!!! Oh do not shred the whole bar just a little will do. Too much soap will cause studd on your load.

So do not fret when you run out of detergent just follow those quick tips from your Good health diva. Here to make your life better! ( I wish I knew all that when I was a student! Don't you?! )
Have a great week-end!

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

The Benefits of Turmeric

If you have visited this blog before you have hopefully viewed my post: Facial mask for Him! Coconut oil and Turmeric face mask.
In the video I mentioned some of Turmeric 's benefits for Skin care:

Protects form UV radiation. It is actually used in many suncreens. As well as in the production of some packaged goods to protect from sunlight
Protects the skin against acne, eczema, psoriasis and other skins conditions.
It's used as an hair growth inhibitor for arms, legs and in a mask it will help with facial hair.

In India where it is known as Haldi, turmeric is very important both for cooking as well as for beauty. It's used the morning of a wedding day as a body scrub mixed with gram flour, for a glowing and smooth skin.
Well, with this being said I wanted to elaborate about Turmeric because so few people are aware of its amazing health benefits.
Turmeric is a member of the Ginger family and it's scientific name is Curcuma Longa.

Turmeric is also known as Indian saffron. In Medieval Europe it was a cheaper substitute for saffron. It's mainly produced in India and is also grown in parts of China and Peru.Turmeric is the ingredient known for giving curry and mustard their yellow-orange color.

The Rhizomes, the root-like extensions from the stem of the plant, are the parts used to make the turmeric powder.

Among the many health benefits of turmeric:

Turmeric contains important vitamins and minerals such as iron, manganese, potassium, vitamin B6 and vitamin C. Curcumin is a phytochemical found in turmeric that has strong antioxidant properties and that has been well researched for its cancer fighting properties.

Turmeric is a natural liver detoxifier.
Provides protection from liver disease.
It is a natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent useful in disinfecting cuts and burns.
It helps in healing wounds. It speeds up wound healing and assist in remodeling damaged skin. Prevents bacterial infection in wounds.
Helps with poison ivy, mosquito bites etc.
It is a potent natural anti-inflammatory that works as well as many anti-inflammatory drugs but without the side effects. Great for arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis pains due to its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties.
Turmeric helps lower cholesterol levels.
It serves with the treatment of arteriosclerosis – may cause a reduction in bad cholesterol that can lead to blockage of the arteries.
Turmeric is an antidepressant and helps your mood. It has long been used in Chinese medicine as a treatment for depression.
Due to its antioxidants properties there are many ongoing researches on its powerful healing and preventive benefits on various type of cancers such as prostate cancer, breast cancer, skin cancer and colon cancer.
It has been researched for its preventive benefits and healing properties on Alzheimer and dementia.
Turmeric helps in reducing activity of roundworms and intestinal worms
Turmeric is also a possible (natural) treatment for uveitis, an eye disorder. Uveitis is a swelling and irritation of the uvea, the middle layer of the eye. The uvea provides most of the blood supply to the retina. Uveitis can affect one or both eyes and can also affects dogs as well as humans.
Turmeric can aid in weight loss. Curcumin in Turmeric powder has been found to help increase the flow of bile, an important component in the breakdown of dietary fat. Therefore, taking one teaspoon of Turmeric powder with every meal may be an effective weight loss aid when combined with a healthy diet and exercise program.
Turmeric can also help in recovering from a cold or flu.
Turmeric's anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal agents can help our body fight against colds, cough and flu. Therefore, when symptoms of these infections are present, simply mix one teaspoon of Turmeric powder into a glass of warm milk once per day. Also drink plenty of water throughout the day.

Ways to add it to your diet:

Add it to your green tea for a powerful antioxidant drink.
Mix and blend it into your smoothies
Add it into your stews, fish dishes, soups, omelets, salads, rice etc.
Sprinkle it over your popcorn for a yellow color without the butter

A little warning about turmeric. Just like with everything,moderation is important.
Moderate use of Turmeric powder as part of regular diet is fairly safe, and recent studies have found that a dosage of 500mg capsules of Turmeric three times per day is safe. However, prolonged consumption of high doses of Turmeric extract may cause stomach or liver distress, as well as dehydration and constipation. Therefore, it should be avoided by people with gallstones or bile obstructions. If you are currently taking blood thinners (including Aspirin), you should consult your doctor before taking Turmeric since it is an anti-platelet (prevents blood clots).
Remember to keep it away from white clothes as it's also a dye.

Thanks for reading. I hope you will add turmeric to your diet if it's not already part of it. Please let me know how you benefit from it.

Thanks heaven for little ones.

Nothing brings us happiness like having a child and nothing motivates us more to care about our health. It's been proven that having a family motivates many men to stop drinking, stop smoking, and drive more safely and being there for our children has motivated many people to eat right, exercise and make better choices.
I love to share in the joy of new parents and encourage those who for one reason or another want to improve their lives, their health or simply bring joy to others.
As a gift designer I get the chance to do some of that in creating gifts for newborns. Here are a few pictures of a gift I recently made for a friend of mine to welcome her daughter into our world. My daughter proudly selected the fabric and I made the blanket.

Blanket made by NnakoDesigns. All rights reserved2010.

If you are interested in ordering a blanket to bring warmth to a precious one during this winter season contact me at goodhealthdiva@gmail.com. I could send you pictures of different fabrics and give you a quote based on your fabric selection and the size you desire.
Thanks! Have a great week and stay warm!

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Say you care with hand made one of a kind card and a custom gift

As a card and gift designer I know that nothing boost somebody's moral and bring joy as a special gift not matter how simple it is. Below are a few pictures of my work. I have such an extensive collection that it's impossible to post all my design but those cards will give you general idea. If you have any questions e-mail me at goodhealthdiva@gmail.com
For special and not so special occasion like a Just Because feel free to contact me for your gift giving. I ship everywhere in the US and Europe.
This gift box below was designed for a new mom. My client did not know what to offer a female friend who just had a baby. I encouraged him to have a gift specially designed to pamper the new mom because the baby is always the center of attention and gets plenty of gifts yet the mom who endured 9 months of pregnancy and get overwhelmed with all the changes need to be valued and encouraged to care for herself as well.

In this box: Thank You cards to thank all the people who sent her gifts for the newborn. A variety of sponges including sea sponges. A small cup to encourage drinking a relaxing tea, some scented sachets to scent the baby's drawers, tea candles, hand towels,scented soap and designer paper napkins.

Below are images of previous Valentine Day cards that I designed and sold last year.

Card designed for a father to his daughter.All rights reserved2009.

Below are a few pictures of cards I designed with real flower

Some Thinking of You cards that fit any occasion:

FOR MEN: Coconut oil and turmeric face mask!

This homemade mask is of course one for women. I just felt that it would be fun to have a man do it. I am glad my model (smiles) was such a great sport. I think that it's important that our men learn to pamper themselves too, learn to benefit from home spa and take care of their skins!

What do you think?

A portion of the video is missing. At the end I asked my model here how his skin felt: his answer: " good and smooth"!

I love coconut oil and use it daily in my diet and my skin care regimen. Turmeric on the other hand is a herb that I just fell in love with. My mom who is a great natural health advocate was the first to tell me of the benefits of turmeric. I decided to try this simple mask last Sunday and have been hooked on turmeric ever since I researched its many health and beauty properties. I am adding it to my diet by simply adding it to my cup of tea and of course its now part of my skin care regimen. I wanted to try this on a man just to encourage men to take care of their skin. I will eventually share more about the benefits of coconut oil and turmeric for skin care. For now, just enjoy the video. Talk to you later. Oh, remember to leave your comments and become a Follower, and like the facebook page Goodhealthdiva!!! Thanks and have a great week!

To your better body and your better life!

Did you like this video? Do you have some nice skin care tips for recipe for men?