Superhero(seed) Chia for scrumptious skin!

A true superhero(seed) for your skin! Packed full of free radical eating antioxidants, these super seeds fight off toxins that speed up the aging process.  Helping save you from wrinkles and fine lines!

Chia seeds contain 3 times more the antioxidant content of blueberries and are so easily incorporated into your diet, to help ward off aging and toxins whether your 16 or 60! It’s never too early or late to start.

Chia can absorb up to 14 times its weight in water – an excellent tool for soaking up those nasty environmental toxins, toxins that speed up the aging process, along with ridding the body gently of free radicals to prevent damage to our supple skin.[1]

The vitamin and mineral content found in Chia is also extremely beneficial for skin health. Its content provides the necessary nutrients needed to sustain natural elasticity in our skin– something we lose when we age and cant produce anymore. By feeding our body with the nutrients needed to maintain skin elasticity through our daily diet– we maintain supple skin and can help ourselves look radiant and youthful even in our later years!

It’s only natural that every now and then we crave some kind of sweet treat. However, did you know that by caving in to these cravings on a regular basis actually will speed up the process of aging, making the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles appear sooner? I think we can speak for everyone here and safely say wrinkles will never be welcomed and thank goodness there is a solution to help delay the appearance of those fine lines! Chia seeds expanding super powers keep you feeling full for longer, helping reduce cravings and therefore helping to slow down the aging process.  By adding in Chia daily, you’re helping fight off aging – take that, wrinkles!

Not only are Chia seeds beneficial for your skin from the inside, they can also be used in homemade beauty products to help smooth out rough patches and maintain healthy, soft skin. Try making a super face mask jam packed full off essential fatty acids by blending some ground Chia in with an avocado. Let this mixture sit for one minute on your skin before washing off in the shower and be sure to concentrate more on rougher areas, for noticeably softer, smoother skin sooner!

[1] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22505880

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Oh-so-Handsome Hemp

Can a tiny seed really help you look your best? Surprisingly, the answer is absolutely! Hemp seeds (or hearts) contain very large concentrated amounts of Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s) and are a fantastic source of complete protein especially for those that are vegan or vegetarian. People that add in hemp to their daily diets can experience many health benefits, both inside and out.

Super-skin

• Hemp contains an excellent source of EFA’s – Omega 3, 6 and 9, including a fantastic source of GLA’s (gamma-linolenic acid), which isn’t found often in many natural oils. With EFA’s being a very important aspect of our skins well being, all of these components contribute to healthier, well maintained and resilient radiant skin.[1]
• The natural oil found in hemp is very beneficial in treating dry skin conditions and can be found in some daily skin care products. The natural hemp oil helps to bury deep in the skin, helping the skin to regenerate new skin cells, improving its texture and appearance.

Inner harmony

• Due to the high GLA content found in hemp, these little wonder- seeds can really shorten our wait to achieving optimal health. They are an amazing source of anti-imflammatory properties, including the healthy fat ratio or 3:1 omega 6 to omega 3. This can help with health conditions such as asthma, fibromyalgia, arthritis, and even PMS! As we get older, our body’s ability to convert unprocessed omega 6 into its usable GLA form decreases, so consuming it in our daily diet is extremely beneficial.
• Hemp seeds are also jam-packed full of antioxidants that help play a role in a healthy digestive system. By keeping your immune system healthy by consuming these little miracles, you can reduce your risk of dreaded diseases such as breast, colon, and prostate cancers when paired up with a healthy lifestyle.[2]
• Hemps healthy fats help control blood sugar levels by using glucose in the blood and turning it into useful energy, which can in turn be used for sustained energy throughout the busy days we lead, or even towards a good work out.[3] Hemp also contains a high fibre content, helping to regulate healthy bowel movements throughout the day. Why not try adding hemp into your meals also; it will keep you feeling contently full for longer periods of time due to it being a natural appetite suppressant, in turn leading to helping with healthy, natural weight loss. Try it, the only thing you have to lose is pounds!

[1] http://www.atlantichealinghemp.com/hemp-contains-gla.html

[2] http://hemphealer.wordpress.com/2012/03/21/hemp-its-an-excellent-antioxidant/

[3] http://www.healing-source.com/hemp_health_benefits.htm

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Essential fatty acids (EFA’s)… Is there really anything ‘fatty’ about them?

We often associate the word ‘fat’ with the consumption of heavily processed fast foods and drinks, however believe it or not, there is such a thing as a healthy fat.  Essential fatty acids (EFA’s), also more commonly recognized as the Omega’s (most importantly Omega 3’s and 6’s) and are actually very important aspect in achieving optimal health. Our body needs both Omega 3 (alpha-linolenic acid) and Omega 6 (linolenic acid) most importantly because our bodies cannot produce them, and therefore they must be consumed in our day-to-day diet for our body to function efficiently.

So what do EFA’s actually do?

You may be thinking to yourself, whats so great exactly about these ‘fats’? Well, studies have shown that these super-fats actually contribute to a number of bodily functions that we don’t even really think about – good circulation, skin function, cell division, brain development, immune system, blood pressure and clotting, having healthy reproductive and nervous systems, as well as having anti-inflammatory properties; the list goes on and on. If I haven’t caught your attention yet, how about if I told you that by consuming more foods with a high dose of omega 3 and 6, could actually increase your energy, boost your learning capability, assist in weight loss, and could potentially save your life. They improve your good cholesterol levels in the body, actually decreasing your chances for a stroke and/or heart attack.[1]

So whats the ‘catch’?

There is none. Unless you’re a super do-it-yourselfer and like catching your own fish of course. If you are a big fish eater and eat fish twice of more a week, then your well on your way to a healthy life. If your not the ‘fishy’ type, and still want to boost your diet, heres some great alternatives. Why not toss some walnuts and berries into your green leafy salad? Flax seeds, chia and hemp are also jam-packed full of these super nutrients. Its as simple as throwing in a tablespoon of hemp into your morning yogurt, or even buying free range eggs from the grocery store.  If you lead a busy, hectic life like most of us do in todays society, fish oil supplements are also available. Be sure to buy from trusted manufacturers who guarantee that their products are free of heavy metals such as lead and mercury.

Keep in mind also, to keep you on track to becoming a ‘better being’, a good balance of both omega 3 and omega 6 is important, and that more of one can cause deficiencies in the other. Eat a good balance of these above superfoods and enjoy a healthy, happy, long life to come!

[1] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10479232

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