We are mom and dad, who in addition to being parents, do research on healthy lifestyle and cancer. We would like to achieve a healthy, balanced and meaningful life. In our pursuit, we sift the healthy from the unhealthy, the simple from the complicated advice. The blog also includes random musings on topics other than health and parenting. Send us a message at applyforlife@gmail.com, mikelifesteer@gmail.com or through the contact form in the sidebar.
Do you spend big bucks on cosmetics, surgeries, or spas?
If you watch The Truth About Looking Young, a BBC documentary, you will find out that the choice to look young is in your hands, or rather - on your table. A well-known truth is being recited, "...sugar can make you look older..." Not to mentionthe health benefits of NOT eating sugar.
Other than keeping diet rich in fresh fruit and veggies, and void of sugar, you could prepare your own beauty remedies at home. These recipes do not include a hefty list of chemicals and will save you money.Below are some of my tested recipes. Skin cleanser Mix 1/3 cup of Witch Hazel (sold in all pharmacies), 1/3 cup of water (I use tap water), 1/3 cup of organic apple cider vinegar with the mother (this vinegar is usually found in specialized food stores, but you can buy it from Amazon), and 5 - 6 drops of tea tree oil (I was able to find this in the local RiteAid; however, it is also available from Amazon). Mix all ingredients in a bottle (I use an empty old bottle from Witch Hazel).
I keep the cleanser at room temperature, and clean my face in the morning and in the evening. If you are allergy-prone, always check for allergy by spotting some of the homemade remedies on the skin inside of your elbow and watch for skin reaction within 48 hours.
Anti-inflammatory facial mask
I found a similar recipe on Internet and decided to give it a try. I have been using the mask for over a month now and I believe that it reduces inflammation, but it does not dramatically improve severe acne. I use four aspirins without coating (I found these in a Dollar store), 1/2 spoon of raw honey, and a few drops of apple cider vinegar (or tap water).
Preparation: Crush the four aspirins with a mortar and pestle, add the honey and a few drops of water (or apple cider vinegar, if you prefer). Mix untilsmooth. Keep the mask on your face for at least 20 minutes. I keep mine for an hour and repeat it 3 - 4 times a week. To remove the mask, wet your hands and rub the material with gentle circular movements. The aspirin powder exfoliates when one applies this "massage" to remove the mask. If you have severe acne, gently wash off the material, do not rub the skin.
Tomorrow is the Orthodox Easter! It is therefore, very appropriate to write about basil, as in the tradition of the Christian Orthodox Church, basil is used to make holy water and pots of basil are usually found next to the church altars. In some parts of the world, bunches of the herb are also hung by the doors for good luck.
What is in it Here is the full description of what is found in fresh basil.
Grow In zone 5, basil is an annual plant. It flowers June through August in white or pale pink, and is valued not only as a superb herb but also as a beautiful decorative plant. Today I bought my first basil seeds, and seeded them on the side of the house, where I have plenty of sun and the soil drains well. I will let you know if anything comes out!
Harvest Harvest the upper 5-7 inches of the plant, wash. Preserve the fresh herb in plastic bags in the freezer with a bit of olive oil, or dry the leaves and keep in a jar. Before freezing the herb, some people blanch it quickly in boiling water.
Medicinal uses Basil is anti-inflammatory, boost the appetite, reduces stomach colics, alleviates urinary tract inflammations, soothes cough, colds and flu symptoms. Could be used as infusion of 2 tsp of fresh leaves in 2 cups of boiling water; HOWEVER, this is the maximum dose for a day; it should not be exceeded, as in large doses basil is TOXIC. This is why only a doctor should guide the internal medicinal application of this herb. For topical use, the herbal infusion is used for skin rashes, eczema, acne and wounds. Gargling with basil infusion is recommended for throat and mouth inflammations.
Other uses Basil plants can get rid of mosquitoes; even a single pot on the window could get rid of the insects. Mosquitoes with Zika virus, watch it! It seems that one can "cook" a basil insect repellent at home: prepare the basil infusion (as explained above, but with more basil leaves) and mix it with vodka at a ratio of 1:1. Pour in a spray bottle and apply on skin to keep the mosquitoes away.
Cosmetics Basil is used against acne (see above). According to this website, the juice from crushed fresh basil leaves is applied directly on the skin for up to 15 minutes.
Cooking Adding basil to foods allows for their longer storage, as the basil essential oils have antiseptic effects. There are many recipes that include basil, but most frequently it is used in pasta dishes and salads. Once, one of my relatives served me small cubes of feta cheese in olive oil with a few basil leaves and black peppercorns, it was delicious! These days, for my breakfasts, instead of cheese, I scoop a bit of low fat yogurt and sprinkle it with salt and basil. Try this if you a cheese-addict and want to reduce your fat intake.
When added to cooked dishes, basil (as other spices and herbs) should be addedafter turning the heat off. Otherwise the flavor and the healing properties of the herb are lost.
What’s in it Parsley contains flavonoids and antioxidants, folic acid, and vitamins A, K, and C. In addition to fiber, parsley contains calcium and iron (here is the full nutrition information). Excessive consumption of parsley should be avoided by pregnant women.
Grow In zone 5, U.S., parsley grows as a biennial, it flowers in the second year, and this is when I collect its seeds. I prefer to grow the Italian (flat leaf) variety of parsley. According to this website, one can start the seeds 3 to 4 weeks before the last spring frost since parsley withstands cold weather, and it can take up to 3 weeks for the seeds to sprout. To grow parsley, choose a sunny place in your garden with rich soil.
Harvesting For cooking, cut gently the individual parsley leaves on their stalks in the first year of the plant. Do not pull on the plant, since the root can re-grow new sprigs again and again. You can harvest the same plant during the entire summer and fall (parsley is the last plant to die in my garden in late fall). I use fresh parsley throughout the warm season. To store parsley for winter cooking, I wash the leaves, dry them for an hour and press tight in sandwich bags by expelling as much air as possible. The batches frozen at -20ºC last through the winter. When I cook with parsley, I take a bag from the freezer and until the herb is frozen, I crush it in the bag with my hands to skip the chopping.
Medicinal uses for parsley
According to Web MD and phytotherapy books, parsley stimulates the appetite, improves digestion, reduces gas, increases urine production, reduces spasms, and increases menstrual flow! Both parsley leaf and root can be used in teas as a diuretic to reduce excessive water in the body (as in gout and rheumatism).
Parsley is one of the herbs that fight anemia. One recipe I have tried for my own anemia was a daily dose of a cup of plain yogurt with chopped parsley and a bit of salt. Yogurt helps restore your healthy gut bacteria, and parsley’s vitamin C helps the absorption of iron.
Parsley is also antibacterial and antifungal, may be this is why is effective is reducing bad breath (just chew on a few sprigs).
Apigenin, one of the compounds in parsley, has been researched as an anti-cancer substance.
More healing properties of parsley are listed on this website.
For some of these medicinal applications, use an extract of ½ teaspoon of crushed seeds and 1 cup of water left for 8 hours at room temperature. This is the dose for one day. When using the root, use 4 teaspoons of thinly chopped root ina cup of boiling water, strain after 15 minutes. Fresh leaves are also used to prepare tea (one teaspoon of chopped leaves with one cup of water).
Cosmetics with parsley
Due to its high vitamin C contents, parsley may reduce dark eye circles. For this purpose, a few drops of juice are extracted from chopped parsley leaves, mixed with yogurt, and applied under the eyes.
Due to its antibacterial properties, parsley is also used in recipes against acne.
Cooking with parsley Almost all soups and salads I prepare include parsley. For soups, add the chopped parsley right at the end of cooking, immediately after the heat is turned off. This will preserve the healthy compounds in parsley.
Here is also a recipe for a cheap and easy to prepare vegetarian dish:
Green beans meal Soften one chopped onion and a few chopped carrots in two tablespoons of olive oil. If the veggies start burning, add a bit of water (half a cup). Once the carrots and onion are soft, add two cans (14.5 oz) of green beans (without their liquid), and water the volume of the two cans. Add 2-3 chopped tomatoes (or a 14.5 oz can of chopped tomatoes), salt, paprika and hot red flakes to taste. Bring to boil, and then turn the heat down to simmer for five minutes. Just before turning off the heat, add chopped ½ bunch of dill and ½ bunch of parsley. In summer time, serve the dish cold with feta cheese sprinkled on top. The dish is also delicious when warm and served with a spoonful of plain yogurt on top. If the green beans are fresh, increase the cooking time. You can also use green peas instead of green beans.
Mix 1/3 cup of Witch Hazel (sold in all pharmacies), 1/3 cup of water (I use tap water), 1/3 cup of organic apple cider vinegar with the mother (this vinegar is usually found in specialized food stores, but you can buy it from Amazon), and 5 - 6 drops of tea tree oil (I was able to find this in the local RiteAid; however, it is also available from Amazon). Mix all ingredients in a bottle (I use an empty old bottle from Witch Hazel). 
I found a similar recipe on Internet and decided to give it a try. I have been using the mask for over a month now and I believe that it reduces inflammation, but it does not dramatically improve severe acne. I use four aspirins without coating (I found these in a Dollar store), 1/2 spoon of raw honey, and a few drops of apple cider vinegar (or tap water). 
